DIY POTPOURRI GIFT JAR

This is a VERY simple project and I think the outcome is a very nice gift or a lovely thing for you to have around your  house.  All you need is a jar (please use glass or ceramic with potpourri, baskets okay too), some potpourri (I recycled) and whatever you want to use to add a festive look to the container.  BTW after Christmas very easy to swap this out for a Valentine's Day theme or St. Paddy's Day, etc. Just change  your ribbon and add-on.

Also I need to note that if  you have small children you will need to either put this up where they cannot reach or not have at all because many of the oils that are used in commercial potpourri are not safe to eat - lots of petroleum distillates, etc. We also have a family story that lends truth to the fact that some adults need to be told to not "eat the potpourri."  I had some potpourri that was yummy apple pie smelling and dear Henry (older gentlemen) was seen munching on an apple slice.  No emergency room visit was necessary.

 

Start with a nice clean jar.  I will give you the resource later for this rustic, quilted looking jar that is designed for potpourri.

 These were all the items needed - wax paper, oils and some old potpourri, plus not showing I always wear latex gloves when I am working with oils.  Just put the potpourri into a heavy plastic bag, add the oil of choice (for this I used cinnamon oil), set it out on wax paper for a day or so and then put into your container.  You can refresh the potpourri the same way.  This does not have to be expensive as the $ store had bags of potpourri - to me the fragrance is not particularly good but if you add essential oils you will get a good product at a very reasonable price.

I also want to make some pine-cone potpourri this season so will share a recipe.  I am lucky to be within driving distance of a National forest so I can go and pick up cones (if I get there before too much snow arrives).  I checked the Forest Service website and a permit is not necessary to pick up cones.

A NOTE ABOUT OILS: 

People often refer to essential oils and fragrance oils interchangeably because of their similarities, but some important differences distinguish them from each other. Essential oils are natural chemicals that are extracted from the leaves, flowers, stems, roots or bark of plants. They are not true oils, but are the aromatic and volatile essences derived from botanical s. Fragrance oils (also called perfume oils) are usually synthetic; chemists analyze the plants’ components and reproduce their chemical compositions. Although essential oil blends (combinations of essential oils) are not synthetic, some suppliers call them fragrance or perfume oils.

WINTER MIX POTPOURRI

8 lbs (approximately) Pine Cones (any type of cones or pods)
3/4 oz Bayberry Oil
1/4 oz Cinnamon Oil
1/4 oz Clove Oil
1/4 oz Orange Oil
1/8 oz Bay Oil

Use a 30 gallon trash bag 3/4 full with cones. Sprinkle the oils over the cones, mixing them so that the oils are distributed evenly. Fasten shut near the top of the bag, leaving room to jiggle and mix the cones around occasionally, for a few days 'til the scents are blended.

Display in decorative baskets or bowls along with, for color and variety, long cinnamon sticks, tangerines or cedar tips, or your own cut evergreen tips. Or keep by the fireplace and toss in for a quick burst of scent. 

Resource:

Potpourri, $ store

Jar, http://www.save-on-crafts.com/search.html?keywords=POTPOURRI+JARS 

Essential oils, drug store, grocery store, craft stores (you will find in the candle making and soap making section).

Ribbon, May Arts, red & green pom-pom

Greenery & berries, $ store pick

TOOLS OF THE TRADE TUESDAY

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

So what is this you say???  Pile of junk?  Nope, these are just a few things out of my recycle box.  I love giving gifts in unique packaging and sometimes the easiest way is in found items from gifts, food stuffs, etc.  In the back is a package of sizzle - I have lots of this in many colors from inside gift boxes, bags and baskets.  Just pull it out and put into a plastic bag for later use. The other bag has excelsior which can actually be hard to find.  It is shaved wood and in the early 1900's it was the go-to material for packaging world wide. It became less popular when it was discovered by the USDA that it was also a good place for insects to emigrate to the US and it's usage dropped dramatically. What is in use today is safe. The other items are containers that can have a new life and be recycled.  Not only is this good for the budget but a kiss to mother earth. Note: Please be careful when using for food items, make sure the item is food safe. It's worth the time and trouble to remove those pesky labels.

 

Inside what was once a container for some little bowls is an adorable watch for a niece for Christmas, nestled in recycled sizzle! Just printed out the label, added the ribbon, finished.

 

I have to admit that I did not really want to part with this wooden box that once was a container for Trader Joe's salted caramels - really a little work of art.  Made in America out of American wood.  However it has a new life as a container of fudge, a gift for a neighbor at Thanksgiving.  I just found a vintage chocolate label (not watermarked or copyrighted), printed it out on a 8 1/2 x 11 white label and then cut around the image, added the ribbon and I was done. This is really a no-fail recipe and is reputed to be from See's, don't know about that but it is darned good.

FUDGE RECIPE:

ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 (12 ounce) packages chocolate chips
• 1/2 lb butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
• 7 ounces marshmallow cream
• 2 cups nuts

directions

• 1 Mix 4 1/2 cups sugar with one (1) can evaporated milk.
• 2 Biol 7 to 8 minutes, stirring often (rolling boil).
• 3  Mix together in a large bowl; 3 packages chocolate chips, 7 oz. jar marshmallow cream, 1/2    lb. melted butter.
• 4  Cream butter and marshmallows together and add chocolate chips.
• 5  Pour hot mixture over chocolate mixture.
• 6 After chocolate has melted, add 2 cups nuts a teaspoons of vanilla, blend well, pour into buttered pans and chill in refrigerator.
• 7 Cut into squares before firm.

 

I don't recall what was in this little can but it now contains some colored sanding sugar, nice little gift for seasonal  baking. Here is the recipe to make colored sugar: 

 Put a half cup of sanding sugar in a plastic storage bag. Add a drop of  pinch of powdered food coloring and shake until well combined. Once your sugar is the color you like, use or store it indefinitely. They say you can use regular food coloring as long as you only use one drop but I always use the powdered. The sugar in this can was put into a plastic bag and tied with a gingham ribbon.  

 

This can once contained nuts and now has some wonderful Plumeria scented bath salts. One note about making bath salts, potpourri or anything that needs to be scented.  Please use real essential oils.  They may be a little more money but the end product is wonderful and you do not get that off-putting scent of lesser products.  Here is the recipe for the bath salts:

Homemade Bath Salts Recipe

MATERIALS 

1 cup Epsom salts*
1/2 cup Kosher salt
1 quart-size, freezer-grade re-sealable plastic bag
Food coloring, powdered
Essential oils

Baking sheet

Wax paper

Funnel

Container for storage

  *Find Epsom salts at your local supermarket in the health and beauty aisle.

You can purchase a variety of essential oils, like lavender or eucalyptus, at your local craft or natural food store. Or use vanilla, lemon or mint extract that might be in your kitchen!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place both salts into the plastic bag.
2. Add a little food coloring, close the bag and shake to distribute color. Repeat this process until the desired color is achieved throughout the salt.*
3. Add a couple drops of essential oil to the bag, seal and shake to distribute the scent. Repeat this process until the desired scent is achieved, about 5-10 drops.
4. Spread out the salts on a wax paper-lined baking sheet and allow them to dry for 1-2 hours to reduce clumping
5. Carefully pour the salts into the jar with a funnel, then screw the lid tightly to preserve the scent.
6. If you are using a metal container (as I did) make sure that you put the salts in heavy plastic bag because of the corrosive nature of the salt. 

Resource:

Essential Oils, craft & natural food stores
Corel Draw Link, CorelDRAW Home and Student Suite X6 - 3 Users
Sanding Sugar Link, Wilton 8 ounce White Sparkling Sugar
Powdered Food Coloring link, Wilton 601-5580 1/2-Ounce Certified-Kosher Icing Colors, Set of 12
Christmas Graphic, Esty seller chocolaterabbit
Ribbon, Michael's
8 1/2 x 11 Label link, Avery Full Sheet Shipping Labels for Copiers, 8.5 x 11 Inches, White, Box of 100 (05353)

HOSTESS GIFT #2 TREATS FOR THE KIDS

Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispies treats with chocolate & chocolate covered sunflower seeds! Yum!

This is what you will need: Pumpkin Spice marshmallows, butter, melting chocolate,  chocolate covered sunflower seeds, Rice Krispies, straws or wooden skewer, ribbon and I forgot to put the pastry brush & non-stick cooking spray in the photo, you will also need both, pan (preferably a removable bottom pan) and either small cellophane bags or plastic wrap.

RECIPE FOR PUMPKIN SPICE RICE KRISPIE TREATS

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 4 cups pumpkin spice marshmallows
• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 8x8 pan

Instructions:

1. In a large pot melt butter over medium heat (don't burn)
2. Add the pumpkin spice marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
3. Remove pot from heat.
4. Add Rice Krispies cereal and stir until evenly coated.
5. I like to just put the mixture into the pan (sprayed with the non-stick spray) using wax press evenly into the pan, no sticky hands this way.
6. Let it sit and cool or put in the fridge for about five minutes and you can then remove and cut.

 This is why I love this pan - just put a little wax paper on your counter and turn the pan over and give a little push and out comes the treats and you simply lift off the bottom of the pan and  you are ready to cut the treats. The pan is also great for cheesecakes, fancy jello, petit fours, cakes, etc. Any item that may be a little difficult to get out of the pan, easy peasy every time and your item has nice crisp edges.

No right or wrong here - you could cut them into squares, smaller rectangles, whatever you want.  I chose to make (8) large "lollipops," out of this batch.

After cutting you will need to insert the "stick" of your choice.  Some of the children these are going to are quite young so I decided to use a straw and not give them a bamboo skewer that could turn into a weapon - safety first!  Using a skewer make a pilot hole in the treats and then you can easily insert the straw length of your choice into the treat.  I cut mine in half so they were 4" each.

To finish you will need to melt the chocolate per directions on the can.  I love the Bakers Dipping Chocolate because it is designed for the microwave and it makes this process so simple.  Using a pastry brush "paint" the treat, I painted the top and all sides, then sprinkle with the chocolate covered sunflower seeds and let them cool on wax paper.

To wrap them just cut a length of plastic wrap (making sure you have enough at the bottom for the ribbon to go around so you get a tight closure). Cover with the wrap and tie with a length of ribbon (I used 14" piece of ribbon).

I put them in a basket with a fall napkin, and they are going into the freezer until I take them on Thanksgiving day.  At that time I will wrap them in cellophane and tie off with the brown/beige gingham ribbon and add this little pilgrim graphic card that I made in Corel Draw.

Resource:

Corel Draw Link: CorelDRAW Home and Student Suite X6 - 3 Users

Orange & white straws, Hobby Lobby

Gingham Ribbon, Michael's

Graphic,  The Graphic's Fairy: http://thegraphicsfairy.com/adorable-vintage-pilgrim-boy-image/

Font on Card, Nymphette

Removable bottom pan link: Fat Daddio's Anodized Aluminum Square Cheesecake Pan with Removable Bottom, 8 Inch x 8 Inch x 2 Inch
Chocolate covered sunflower seeds, Trader Joe's and if you don't have Trader Joe's here is a link:
Trader Joe's Chocolate Sunflower Seed Drops