Turn Tea Packages into a Decorative Wreath

Craft Your Wreath
After cleaning out your pantry and learning about the many different types of hot tea, put your new know-how (and free space) to use by making a tea wreath to adorn a kitchen wall or pantry door.

Supplies
Cardboard/foam core
Scissors/craft knife
Bowl
Pencil
Decorative paper/fabric/yarn
Decoupage glue (optional)
Ribbon/twine/yarn
Clothespins/binder clips
Glue gun
Tea bags

Instructions
1. Locate a piece of foam core or cardboard you can use to create your wreath. Filing, moving and pizza boxes all make good options.
2. Take a bowl or item with a circular mouth or base that’s about 12” in diameter and trace the outline onto your repurposed sheet of cardboard or foam core to create the wreath form. Cut out using your traced circle as a guide.
3. When creating the inner circle, the method will differ based on how you plan to attach your teabags to the wreath shape:

• Binder Clips: If using binder clips to hold your teabags to the wreath, you’ll only need the wreath to be as wide as your teabags or smaller. Use the base or mouth of a bowl or circular item to draw an appropriately sized inner circle, then cut out from your wreath form.

• Clothespins: If attaching your teabags with clothespins, place one at the edge of the wreath form and mark the length. Repeat this process a few more times around the form so you can draw a smaller circle in the center. Connect the markings to create an inner circle and cut out.

4. When covering your wreath with a decorative material, there are lots of great options. Here are just a few suggestions, but feel free to use what you have on hand:

• Sheets of Paper or Fabric: Try covering your wreath with sheets of decorative paper, like scrapbook paper, or fabric. Old pillowcases, sheets or clothing can also be used to cover your wreath. Just lay the wreath form on top of your material of choice, trace the outline of the outer circle, and cut out the full circle. Once you’ve glued the circle on top of the cardboard wreath, you’ll want to cut the interior fabric or paper into triangles, almost as if you’re cutting a pizza, then fold these triangles inward and glue them to the back of the wreath.

• Strips of Fabric or Yarn: For a more textured effect, apply a layer of glue to your wreath, then cut scraps of fabric into strips or use pieces of yarn and wrap them around the wreath until it’s entirely covered.

• Scraps of Paper: Cover the wreath shape with paper scraps (leftover pieces of wrapping paper are perfect). Cut scraps into strips or shapes and decoupage them onto the cardboard.

5. Once the wreath shape has been covered, attach a piece of ribbon for hanging. You can wrap ribbon, twine or yarn around the wreath, creating a loop for hanging, or even tie the two ends into a bow.
6. The way you attach teabags to the wreath will depend on whether you plan to display your teabags with binder clips or clothespins:

• Binder Clips: Binder clips come in many decorative colors, patterns and styles, so feel free to get creative with your choices. Simply attach the clips around the inner edge of the wreath shape and clamp your teabags in place. To create layers, insert additional teabags underneath those that are clipped to the wreath.

• Clothespins: Determine how many clothespins will be able to fit on your wreath. Using your supply of scrap paper or fabric, cover the top of each clip with a strip of paper or fabric. Glue your decorative clothespins to the wreath with a hot glue gun and use each pin to hold a different tea package.

7. To display your wreath, hang it on a kitchen wall or pantry door using a hook or nail. You’ll be able to easily grab your favorite tea whenever you like!

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