Cinnamon Shapes

6 Tbsp of applesauce (any kind will do as long as there are no lumps of apple in it)
9 Tbsp plus 2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
Extra cinnamon for rolling out dough
Ribbon in a variety of colors (1/16th or 1/8th inches wide)
Cookie cutters of various shapes and sizes
Small straw

Instructions
In a small bowl, combine applesauce, cinnamon and cloves. Stir until blended. Work with your hands until mixture is smooth and clay like.

"Flour" pastry cloth/counter and rolling pin with cinnamon. Roll dough out to about 1/4 inch thick.

Using cookie cutters cut out shapes. Continue to roll out dough and cut shapes until dough is used up.

With a small straw, make a hole in the shape big enough for the ribbon to go through. If you wish to make designs on your shapes, use a small skewer.
NOTE: If the hole for the ribbon is too big, the shape may be brittle in that area and break.

Move shapes to a cookie sheet using a spatula.

Heat oven to 120 F. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours. Turn heat off. Leave shapes in the oven 5-6 hours or even overnight. Makes about twenty 2" shapes.

Thread ribbon through the holes.
NOTE: To dress up your shapes, use quick drying craft glue and add items such as small flowers, beads or other items.

Store in an airtight container with tissue or paper towel between.

These wonderful smelling shapes can be:

Tucked into your kitchen linen drawer
Tied in amongst ribbons and bows on a gift
Hung over a stove. The heat will bring out the cinnamon smell
Used wherever you would like to have the smell of cinnamon
NOTE: They should not be eaten.

Orange Pomanders

A firm orange
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3/8 inch masking tape
1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
A fine knitting needle, nail, awl or scewer
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 feet of 1/2 inch ribbon - cut in half
waxed paper (grease proof)
Whole cloves (approx 1 oz per orange)

Note: Ground oris root (1 tablespoon) mixed in with the cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger helps to preserve the pomander.

Mix together cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and oris root (optional). Set aside.

Start at stem end of the orange. Wrap tape around the orange. Wrap a second piece of tape in the same manner so that the orange is divided into quarters. Using an a knitting needle or other sharp object, poke holes into the orange next to the tape. Insert a clove in each hole. Make holes as close together as possible creating your own design.

Remove the tape. To make extra spicey, roll in cinnamon mixture. This step is optional.

Lay ribbon in the space left by the tape. Tie up at the top.

To preserve, place in a cool, dark closet wrapped in waxed paper (grease proof) until it is hard and dry - approx 5-6 weeks. It will shrink as it dries and smell spicey for years.

These make nice Christmas gifts or a little something to give at any time of the year.

Lavender Pillow

Materials:(makes 1)
Top - 8-inch square of material. Chose any type you wish.
Back - 8-inch square of material. This should be a cotton or muslin as it breathes; however, using the same material as the top will work
Two 6 inch square muslin or cotton or cheesecloth
1/4 to 1/2 cup of dried lavender flowers.

Pillow:
Sew 6-inch squares on three sides. Fill with lavender and sew fourth side.
Pillow Case:
With good sides facing each other, sew the 8-inch squares on three sides. Press and clip corners. Fold open side back 1/4 inch (wrong sides of material together) to make a casing and press. Fold casing again and sew in place. Press. DO NOT SEW END SHUT. Turn pillowcase right side out. Press. Attach 2 or 3 small snaps evenly across opening. Insert lavender pillow. Snap closed. Place under your pillow for a good night's sleep or in your linen closet between the sheets.
NOTE: The end of the pillow case is not sewn shut in order for you to replace the lavender pillow with a fresh pillow in the future or, renew the scent with a drop or two of Lavender essential oil.

Make your own lip balm

Materials:

2 tsp. beeswax
2 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. oil (grape seed, olive, avocado or hemp)
1 tsp. honey
vitamin E capsule
essential oil or cake flavorings
lip balm containers
disposable plastic pipettes
packing tape
optional: old lipstick & lip balm filling tray

1. Use a double boiler on low heat (or a medium size glass bowl placed in a saucepan partially-filled with boiling water) to melt the beeswax. When melted, add the oil. Use caution, wax is a highly flammable substance.

2. Remove mixture from heat and whisk in honey and vitamin E oil (pierce capsule with a pin or scissor tip), whisking until there are no clumps. Optional: add a shaving or two of lipstick to create a sheer lip color.

3. Let mixture cool, but not harden, before adding approximately five drops of either an essential oil or flavor of choice. When using oils, use only essential oils -- lip balms are in constant contact with your mouth and fragrance oils do not taste good and should not be consumed.

Flower Serving Platter

Materials:

natural paper
solid paper (optional)
leaves or pressed flowers
scissors
masking tape or painter's tape
11"x14" or 12"x16" wooden picture frame (with a fairly deep border)
pencil
ruler
two handle-type drawer pulls and associated hardware
drill

1. Remove the backing and glass from the frame

2. With the pencil and the ruler, mark where the drawer pull handles will be placed on each short side of the wooden frame. Drill and install the drawer handles. Place a wood block under the frame, if desired, to protect the work surface.

3. Cut a piece of the natural paper to fit on the frame backing and place on top. If the paper is sheer, use masking tape or painter's tape to attach a piece of colored paper to the backing, underneath the natural paper.

4. Place greens or flowers on top of the natural paper. You want whatever you're using here to be relatively flat, so keep that in mind when selecting the plants. Use a glue stick to secure the plants, if necessary. Put the glass from the frame on top, sandwiching the plant material.

5. Carefully place the decorated backing and glass back into the frame and secure.

6. Optional: You can make other styles of trays using candy wrappers or other images instead of the leaves and flowers.

Herbal Potpourri Sechet

2 oz. sweet woodruf
1 oz. each red rose petals and red clover tops
3 oz. rose hips
3 tonka beans, sliced
1 oz. orris root, cut
30 drops essential oil of choice
Muslin
Lace
Ribbon

Cut muslin hearts and sew together sachets, leaving an opening for the herbs. Tuck some of the potpourri mixture into each sachet, close up opening and trim with lace and a ribbon for hanging.

Fizzing Rose Petals

Materials:

1 c. baking soda
3/4 c. citric acid
3 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 c. sea salt
handful rose petals, fresh or dried
glass bowl
clean glass jar
glass bowl

1. This mixture can be made with fresh or dried rose petals. If you're making it for immediate use, you can use fresh petals. If you're planning on making a batch for use later or as a gift, however, use dried rose petals: moisture from fresh rose petals could cause premature fizzing.

2. Combine baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch and sea salt in a glass bowl. After mixing together thoroughly, add the rose petals

3. Fill a dry glass jar with the mixture.

*Note: It's very important to keep the ingredients dry; otherwise, the fizzing will take place in the jar and not in the tub.

4. Draw yourself a warm bath and drop in a scoopful of the mixture; or decorate the jar and give as a gift