Make some gifts for Christmas

Tight on money this Christmas?  Or just love to make crafts?  Then make gifts!!!  I love homemade gifts, and I think others do too!

Make tea to give, the cards, and the bags!


All you need for some fantastic instant tea...
1/2 C instant tea
1C Instant Tea (I like Tang)
1C instant lemonade (Country Time)
1 tsp instant cinnamon
1/2 tsp instant clove


I then mixed all the items together.


Find some fun airtight bottles to package the tea in.  Put a cute little label on the container.
1 Tbs of tea for 8 oz of hot water.


You then can make the cute bags to put your gift in.
I took bags I have gotten throughout the year, and painted cups on them and then just made them Christmasy by putting holly and them and wrote Joy on the cup.  Feel free to get creative.





Then you can also make the card to go in the bag!

At Dollar General I got these fun cup crafts.  The one set was $3 and made 20 ornaments...that I turned into cards and also a garland for my tea table.  One set was $4.  I was able to make lots of cards!

               

First, I glued all the teacups together.


I had some fun with the to-go cups.  I added my tea logo to the to go sleeve.


I then put the teacup on the card stock with just a spot of glue... so that the teacup could be taken off and used as an ornament.


I have to say, I just love these cards.  Super fun for Christmas and for my tea brand.




Here is the garland that I made for my tea table.  I think it sooooo much fun.




Psalm 96:3
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!

Galison Tea Puzzle




"Tea Time 1000 Piece Puzzle with Shaped Pieces from Galison features a variety of cozy tea time elements such as tea pots, saucers and spoons. This puzzle includes 20 specially shaped pieces for an added challenge. Galison puzzles are packaged in matte-finish sturdy boxes, perfect for gifting, reuse, and storage.
• 1000 Piece Puzzle, Random Cut
• Puzzle Size: 27 x 20"", 686 x 508 mm
• Box Size: 11.5 x 8.5 x 2"", 292 x 216 x 51 mm, Minimal Puzzle Dust
• Includes 20 Shaped Puzzle Pieces
• Includes Puzzle Insert
• Puzzle greyboard contains 90% recycled paper. Packaging contains 70% recycled paper and is made responsibly from FSC-certified material. Printed with nontoxic inks. "  From the website

This puzzle I bought at Goodwill has a few extra large puzzle pieces in it, I have never seen anything like it.

I’m figuring out how to do puzzles with cats…it’s a balancing act. 🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛


I’m loving this fun new puzzle from Galison Puzzles !!

I ended up putting the puzzle on a piece of plexiglass that I had. It is perfect to lay the puzzle on and then also slide under the couch when I finished and the cats can't reach it. Orange Pekoe is NOT impressed, he really wants to work on the puzzle with me. And he likes when I use the large oversized felt board for puzzles, because he can snag it with his claws and knock the pieces off.

I made that mistake once...trying to use the felt board once with the cats. I ended up putting the puzzle away and never finishing. It is small plexiglass board for me from here on out! I have more control and they can't get at the plexiglass as easily, it is smaller and they can't attach their claws to it.


Fingers crossed all the pieces are in here!!!!  I have loved putting all the big pieces together...but there is a lot of navy background that is going to make it tough.


I had to use a spatula to move some of my pieces that were already together- since they were fragile.



Tonight I did kind of cheat, I used the lid to figure out where the large puzzle pieces should be. Once laying out the big pieces I could see how it should fit together.

Now I’ll work around those big pieces to finish the puzzle. I now won’t look against the picture.

A little background on not looking at puzzle pictures, when I was growing up my grandma and aunt would work on lots of puzzles. However, we could only look at the box once and then never again. It was a fun challenge not looking at the picture. I have continued that tradition most of my life. There was an awful cat puzzle I did last year, that I HAD to look to do, lol. Yet, for the most part I look once and then not again. Thanks Grandma for the fun memory and tradition.


I had so much fun working on this puzzle. I forgot how much I enjoyed doing them. Now, that I have figured out how to do puzzles with my cats, I am up for more!!! I can't wait for cold winter nights to work on more of them.



Good boy Orange Pekoe, just sitting and not touching the puzzle!


I finished and now I will glaze it an hang it.  It is missing one piece, but I plan on painting that area so that it is not noticeable.

I found this $10 frame at Mission Thrift in Orrville.  I think it is so fun!!!  Can't wait to hang it in my shop.


I also have these five cat paintings I did...at some point they will hang in my tea cafe!!!



Psalm 96:3
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!








 

Shale Craft Coffee, Cinnamon Dolce Chai, Canton OH

I was in Canton running errands on a Saturday and was pleased to find Shale open.  I tried to stop here one other time and it was closed.

This cute little coffee/tea shop is in Canton.


1160 South Main Street, North Canton, Ohio 44720



This was a really great chai!!!  I loved the flavors.  
I have to say I do get excited about the fall and Christmas chai teas that can be made!!  I mean...cinnamon, hazelnut, pumpkin spice, apple, peppermint, vanilla, caramel, candy cane, gingerbread, cranberry, eggnog, etc.  Chai teas are great on their own, don't get me wrong.  But, with just a small tweak, if not over done, a little flavoring can enhance the spices. 
The cinnamon in this chai was a great addition.  I thoroughly enjoyed it!  It was not too sweet, it was almost perfect.  I picked up more notes of vanilla and cinnamon than caramel, but I didn't mind.  It was definitely 5 out of 5 for me!


The prices are pretty good too.


This almost has a look of a car garage on the outside, but don't be fooled.  Go inside!  It is a great little shop.  And the staff was very friendly and helpful.


Very fun vibe inside.  I like the industrial feel.


 


Psalm 96:3
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!