Bulk Potpourri Equals Many Gifts

Now this was an easy, can't mess it up craft/gift to make by yourself or with the young'ns. Well, actually, you might be able to mess it up by goofing up the scents you add to the dried botanicals. I used Cinnamon~Balsam for this Christmas blend. If I used the scented oil of, say, Lavender or Pina Colada or Georgia Peach, it could really mess with people's heads. I like to try and match the style of the florals to the fragrance.
Some other scents that would work with this blend are: Apple Cinnamon, Home for the Holidays, Christmas Tree, Cinnamon~Vanilla...you get the idea. I added about 1/2 oz. of scented oil and gentle stirred the ingredients together. My pictures are working backwards, but, all you need to do is grab a large bucket. I dumped some baby toys that I no longer needed, out of this tub; washed it really well and started grabbing my dried herbs and florals.

I buy my labels at www.onlinelabels.com. They have every shape, size and kind you could ever need and they have templates that make creating the labels a snap. I used cellophane bags and whatever ribbon I had, to make 3 dozen fragrant and timely gifts for teachers, neighbors, co-workers, friends and those that you hadn't yet realized you are trading gifts with.

I threw in dried apple slices and dices, too.

I added rose hips, amra pods and mini apples (faux). I threw in rose leaves because they look like Bay leaves.

Mmmmmm, fragrant green leaves.

These cinnamon sticks are 1 inch long. You can use whatever length you have or desire.

Here are some fir pieces. Coco Flowers and Cellulose Fiber. I always add Cellulose Fiber as an inexpensive fixative for the scented oil.

I threw in some pinecones, first. I have Mountain pine cones and Engelmann cones. You can use any cones. The best come from your own yard or park.

Lavender Sachet and Potpourri Winners

Ugh! It was a bummer to have a computer breakdown right during a giveaway. But, now I can announce those who will get a fragrant package delivered in a few days.

The winners are beautiful ladies that I am sure I would be friends with in real life and not just in blog life. All are creative, artistic,encouraging, sentimental, and super-friendly. I guarantee that if you stop by for a visit at their blog-homes that you will enjoy the cozy atmosphere at each.

Receiving french lavender in a beaded sachet:

http://pupylov.blogspot.com/~Lisa
http://hyacinthforthesoul.blogspot.com~Sarah
http://sissieshabbycottage.blogspot.com/Diana

Receiving a huge bag of Buttery Cinnamon Bun Potpourri: I am going to add some winter-y botanicals to make your potpourri more Christmas-y. :D


http://countrywingsinphoenix.blogspot.com/~Sherry

I hope you enjoy these little treats! Please send me your mailing addresses.

Pink Saturday~Not Fiesta Ware~More Giveaways

Hello Pink-Lovin’ Blog Friends! Pink Saturday is my favorite event. I have come to know that the pink-lovers are just the sweetest and kindest people out there. I hope that you visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound. You will find all kinds of pink goodness.

Homer Laughlin is the maker of Fiesta dinner ware; the restaurant quality dishes that are my favorite. My hubby knew how badly I wanted them and got me a wonderful set for our family of 7, about 17 Christmases ago. They are pink, yellow, turquoise, purple, mint green, cobalt blue and another blue and persimmon. In 17 years of hard-core use; I have broken 2 pieces on our tiled kitchen floor. Oh, they have been dropped a lot. It, thankfully, takes a lot to break them!

I happened upon a Salvation Army thrift store in a town I don’t normally get to. Of course I had to check it out and I was so glad that I did. I found these heavy plates with the sweetest pink and green flower design with vines and swirls. I flipped them over; I always flip things over to see what it says underneath, and this is what it said:

  I assume this is the same Homer Laughlin that makes the Fiesta. It never dawned on me that they would make other designs. I would like to know more about this. Does anyone out there have any Homer Laughlin that is not Fiesta?

I guess I should mention that the 6 plates @ .30 each are happily at home with me. :)

 

I have been busy making my gift items for the Holidays and have made extra to share with the readers.

I have 3 French Lavender Sachets in beaded organza bags.

And a giant 1 pound bag of Rose Hips, Perfect Little Pumpkins, Cinnamon sticks, Bael Slices and Belani Apples. Choose your scent for this potpourri: Buttery Cinnamon Buns, Apple Barrel, Pumpkin Spice, Amish Kitchen,or Vanilla-Cinnamon.

Please leave  a comment,follow or sign up to follow,and/or mention this giveaway on your blog for 1 chance each or 5 chances if you do all 3. Thanks everyone and good luck! This is such fun :D

Ohhh so Pink Saturday

One of my favorite things is my bowl with precious angels all the way around.Inside, at the moment I have pink rose petals scented with rose oil. The dried rose petals don't have much of a natural scent, but, the petals hold the oil really well. Not too strong of smell, however, just a subtle fragrance that is not overbearing. I have some French Lavender that I use sometimes; also, very pretty. I love using dried flours and make my own potpourri. I set little bowls of dried flowers around my home or put some in an organza bag with a pretty ribbon to give as gifts. I'll show more of this soon. Stop over to visit Beverly, our hostess at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/ and the other Pink Saturday participants. You will find so many things to love!

Pink rose petals with a few shells thrown in just to be different.

Emmett loves his Ballet Pink- Krylon - spray- painted- cast- iron- food bowl. He doesn't mind the pink at all.
Ahhhhh, this is the life. I love my Emmett, a rescue cat that my hubby got me for Valentine's Day.

Pink Glass

My mom just gave me this heavy pink bowl that was my grandmother on my father's side. It is something I can only appreciate now that I am a grown -up. When I visited their home as a child/teen I saw their decor as old fashioned and I was totally disinterested. For now, it is filled with pink rose petals. It would be a great serving bowl for later on.