Monday, November 3, 2014

Homemade Thank You Gift





This one is always worth a re-run!  Great for the Holidays!


Happy November!

Every year I like to have home-made gifts to give out to friends for the Holidays.  This recipe for Stove-Top Potpourri is always a favorite and so easy to put together.  Packaging is up to you; I have used cello bags with pretty ribbons, decorated paper mache' boxes and kraft bags.  I like to put the cloves and cinnamon sticks in separate tiny plastic bags so they can be measured out without getting all over everything else.  Hope you enjoy making some!  I include the recipe with the gift, and thus the picture with the recipe on it that is shown here.  Yes, those lemons and spices went into someone's gift bag. You can change the recipe up a little depending on what you have on hand.  This recipe gives us most of the options; a lemon works nicely along with the orange!

Ingredients
  • 2 cinnamon sticks or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves or 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 orange peel, quartered (fresh cranberries are also great to add as well)
  • 1 whole nutmeg or 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 cups water
Directions
  1. Place water into a small saucepan. Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, vanilla bean, nutmeg and orange peels. Turn heat to medium until water starts to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer as long as desired. Check water level every 1/2 hour that you have simmering. Water needs to be added as needed. Do not let water evaporate. Use potpourri for 2 days (adding additional water as necessary) then discard and make a new batch.
Makes 2 cups potpourri

This is a perfect Thank-You gift for a hostess!   The little snowman is perfect for hiding away some mulling spices or chocolates!  I cut the box on my Cricut machine and punched out circles for the head and hat.  Easy and cute!

 So, let the Holidays begin!  Click on the blue DCC button to check out great thank-you gifts from more designers.

Happy Holiday Crafting!

Live Life with a Flourish,

Marilyn