A Homespun Christmas Series, Part 3: DIY Scent-Filled Linen Ornaments (No Sewing Required)
“Brown paper packages tied up with string…”
What images come to mind when you hear that line from the song “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music?
I visualize the scene from The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe when Lucy meets the Faun, Mr. Tumnus, in the light of the lamp post: “…in the other arm, he carried several brown-paper parcels. What with the parcels and the snow it looked just as if he had been doing his Christmas shopping…”
How fun it would be today if we could come home from shopping with our packages wrapped in brown paper and tied up with string rather than our purchases being casually thrown into bags.
The ornaments in today’s post are inspired by my thoughts of brown paper packages tied up with string. You could, in fact, make these with brown paper instead of linen fabric. I chose fabric because I thought the the scent might come through the fabric better than paper, but if you don’t have fabric and like the concept…well, give paper a try!
Materials needed for one ornament:
One 7” x 9” piece of rustic linen fabric (I used 4C22 Heavy Natural Linen)
One coffee filter
2 Tablespoons of spices (I used a mixture of cinnamon, cloves, and tiny bit of cardamom, but you could use any spices of your choice) or lavender buds or other herbs
Measuring spoon (I used the 1/8 cup from my favorite set of long-handled measuring cups)
Two 3” x 3” pieces of terry cloth (old towel) or four 3” x 3” pieces of felt or quilt batting, depending on thickness
One 27” piece of jute twine
Hot glue gun (with low temp option) I use this Surebonder full-size dual temperature glue gun
Scissors
Ruler
I highly suggest lining a cookie sheet with parchment paper to make clean up easy after using the hot glue gun! I used binder clips to hold the parchment paper in place, a tip I learned from Michael at Inspired by Charm (see some of his baking recipes and you will see those binder clips neatly holding the parchment paper in place).
Begin by cutting the fabric to measure 7” x 9”. (I even made some of mine 7 1/2” x 9”.) If you are wanting to make more than one ornament, one 1/2-yard piece of 57” wide fabric will make a dozen ornaments.
Next, fill the coffee filter with 2 Tbsp. of spices or lavender buds.
Then fold the coffee filter over the spices or herbs to create an envelope.
Sandwich the spice packet between the pieces of towel, batting, or felt. (The only reason the additional fabric is used is to give volume to the package.)
Then wrap the fabric/spice sandwich in the linen fabric as though it were a gift.
Tie the piece of jute twine around it.
Add an ornament hook, and you have an ornament to hang on the tree or in a garland.
I have created a video also to show you the process of making this ornament. If you would be interested in making these and would like to purchase a kit, let me know by sending me an email along with the number of ornaments you are interested in making, and I will send you pricing information.
And, today, I am joining in a blog hop so make sure that you visit the other sites that I have linked here for some Christmas decor or gift inspiration.
Amy at Oldfield Society wrote "Leaning into a Literary Holiday Season." Amy makes lovely candles inspired by classic literature.
Elizabeth at A Well-Purposed Woman is sharing instructions for the black and white wreath.
Juliet at A Loverly Life wrote about a DIY Mercury Glass Christmas Orb.
And Cheri at This Cottage Life is offering hand-crocheted dishcloths.
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