Sherri's Helpful Hints

Scented Crafts for the Home

Potpourri Rocks craft
These handmade rocks can be added to potpourri to increase the scent and longevity of the scent. They can also be used alone, placed in a pretty bowl or placed in a seashell to fragrance the bathroom! You can add herbs, lavender flowers or rose petals to add scent, texture and color.

1 cup salt
1 cup flour
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon essential oil or fragrance oil
Food coloring, if desired, or herbs, lavender flowers or rose petals
1 to 1 1/3 cups very hot water

In a bowl, mix ingredients into a stiff dough and then shape into balls, flat stones, squares or any other shape you desire. Let air dry until hard before using.

Gel Air Freshener craft
2 cups distilled water, divided
Essential oil/fragrance of your choice.
4 envelopes Knox gelatine
Food coloring (optional)

Heat 1 cup of water almost to a boil. Add the gelatine and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and add remaining cup of distilled water, 10 to 20 drops of oil/fragrance and food coloring if desired.

You can replace food coloring and oil/fragrance with premade liquid potpourri (available at most craft stores, candle shops, etc.). Just make sure it's the concentrated kind or it won't retain its smell. The procedure would be the same. Heat 1 cup of the liquid potpourri, almost to a boil. Stir in 4 envelopes Knox gelatine until dissolved. Then stir in 1 cup cool liquid potpourri.

Pour the mixture into clean baby food jars or other containers and set at room temperature overnight until "set." You can also save store-bought containers which contained fragrance gel and use those.

NOTE: You can place the jars in the refrigerator if you need them to set more quickly, but be aware that the smell will permeate the fridge.

For gift giving, you can decorate the baby food jars by wrapping with material, or gluing on wallpaper, stickers, wrapping paper, etc.

To use, place the jar on the stovetop (not directly on the burner!) while cooking, heat in a potpourri burner, or simply set out on a table and enjoy the aroma.

Easy Potpourri Gel craft
1 cup concentrated liquid potpourri
2 envelopes Knox unflavored gelatine
Empty jar

Heat potpourri until almost to a boil. Remove from heat and add 2 envelopes of gelatine. Stir to dissolve gelatine and pour into clean decorative jar. Place piece of plastic wrap over jar and secure with rubber band. Either place in refrigerator for quick set or leave out overnight on counter. Cover with piece of starched "lace" and wrap with ribbon to decorate.

Before using, remove plastic wrap and recover jar with lace cover.

Dryer Sheet Sachet craft
2 used white dryer sheets
1 heaping tablespoon potpourri
1 length of ribbon
2 or 3 small pieces dried flowers
Tacky glue

Place one dryer sheet over top of the other dryer sheet so that the corners of the second sheets are centered at the sides of the first sheet. Place the potpourri in the center of the sheets. Gather up and tie with ribbon. Decorate with dried flowers.

Potpourri Hoop craft
Wooden embroidery hoop (3-inch for tree ornament or 4- to 5-inch for wall decoration)
Potpourri
Fine lace
Tulle or fine netting
Gathered lace trim
Glue or hot glue gun
Lace motif
Gold cord or narrow ribbon
Paint or stain

Paint or stain both hoop rings, if desired. Dry thoroughly.

Cut a piece of netting or tulle slightly larger than hoop and lay it over the smaller ring of hoop. Spread glue on central portion of netting; press potpourri evenly over this. If lace has large openings, place another piece of netting over the potpourri. If lace is fine, omit this step.

Lay a piece of lace over all. Press on outer ring of hoop, pulling all layers tight. Tighten screw on outer loop. Trim off excess netting and lace. Glue flat lace design or motif on front with clear-drying white glue. Glue lace trim around outer rim on back of hoop, using white or hot glue.

Use gold cord or narrow ribbon to hang the ornament from the hoop screw. Or, sew hanger to back and cover the screw with a bow.

Rose Jar craft
6 cups dried rose petals
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 1/2 tablespoons orrisroot (can be bought at a drugstore)

Spread petals in layers on a dry cloth or box. Place in a dry place for 3 to 4 days or until dry. Add other ingredients. Pack into a jar. Cover tightly. Let stand for 4 to 5 weeks. Stir every 3 or 4 days.

Can be used for sachets.

Courtesy of Recipe Goldmine