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One Thrifty Chick

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Teacher Gifts {Halloween Simmering Spices}

 For Halloween this year I wanted to create something simple for the
teachers and staff at my children’s school. Now that I have 2 kids in
school full time, the amount of teachers add up quickly.  So keeping it
fun, personal and affordable is key!
I
chose to make simmering spice packets.   I did these a couple of years
ago, and they were a huge hit with the teachers.  One they said they
wanted again!  
I’ve created a tutorial so that you can
create the same things for your friends or family.  These could be used
for Thanksgiving, and even Christmas.  Enjoy!
You will need the following supplies:
  • Fresh Oranges
  • Fresh Lemons
  • Cinnamon Sticks
  • Whole Cloves
  • Whole Allspice
  • Ground Nutmeg
  • Ground Cinnamon

I like to order my spices on Amazon Prime, and a lot of times you can find them on sale in bulk.

 Preheat your oven to 250 degrees.  Start by slicing your oranges and lemons into 1/4″ slices. Place them on cookie sheets.  I reccommend using parchment paper to prevent sticking.


 

 Place them in the oven for 1 hour. Flip the slices, and bake for another hour.  If they are still too moist, flip them over and go another half hour.  Do this until they are very thin and dry.
In the meantime grab your spices and some plastic baggies.
 
I am using some pumpkin gift bags that I scored on Target clearance a few years ago.  But I have also had great luck finding fun bags on Amazon, and with prime it just makes sense.

 

Inside I will place my sandwich baggies full of spices.  Add about 5 cinnamon sticks, 3 Tablespoons of whole cloves, 2 Tablespoons of whole Allspice, 1 Tablespoon of Ground Nutmeg, and 1 Tablespoon of ground Cinnamon.

  

 

In a separate baggie, place your dried and cooled fruit slices.  I used 2 orange, and 3 lemon slices in each bag.

 

 
Tuck both baggies into whatever container you choose.  You could do this with any brown paper bag.  And you are done!  Now time to package.
 
I create a very simple word doc with easy directions on how to use the simmering spices.  I also grabbed some spooky kraft tags, and some dyed seam binding.


 

 
Be sure to tell your recipients what they will need to do in order to enjoy the fabulous fall aroma!
 
Once I cut the directions, I slipped them into each bag.
 
Then simple hold punch two holes into the top of the bag.
 
I tied the orange seam binding through and into a knot.  Then I tied my tags to that.
 
That’s it!   These gifts will bring such joy to this spooky halloween night.  
 
I dressed up a metal basket, and these gifts are ready to head out the door with my children in the morning. 
 
Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed my tutorial.  
Photobucket
Be sure to check out all of the parties I link up to by clicking here.

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Comments

  1. Elisa says

    October 31, 2012 at 8:33 am

    These look great! I love the smell of Cinnaomon, All Spice and Oranges….Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  2. Madalyn McArthur says

    October 31, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    Great idea!

    Reply
  3. Sparkle says

    November 1, 2012 at 10:01 am

    Great idea!!! That smells like Christmas… Now, I feel like a child!

    Stopped by from a linky : http://ellecrafts.blogspot.com

    Reply
  4. craftyRN says

    November 1, 2012 at 12:24 pm

    This is such a great idea!
    Could you use the spices to make mulled wine? By adding red wine instead of water?
    Thanks for sharing!

    Bridget from craftybridge.blogspot.com

    visiting from The 36th Avenue linky

    Reply
  5. Shelley says

    November 1, 2012 at 5:02 pm

    Wow! What a wonderful gift to make and give! thank you for sharing πŸ™‚

    Reply
  6. Carol says

    November 2, 2012 at 12:54 am

    I'm definitely making this to have for friends, family & neighbor gifts for Christmas. I usually bake something, but maybe I'll add this, too. Thanks so much for great pictures — I could almost smell this…..yum!

    Reply
  7. Kelli S says

    November 2, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    I love the presentation for these. Plus, I'm dreaming of how wonderful they would make my house smell! Thanks for such a great tip!

    Reply
  8. Carol, The Answer Is Chocolate says

    November 2, 2012 at 1:45 pm

    I absolutely love this idea! I think I'm going to make up a bunch of these for Thanksgiving and have them at people's place settings as a take home!

    Reply
  9. Heidi@OneCreativeMommy.com says

    November 2, 2012 at 5:41 pm

    What a fantastic idea! I would have loved to get something like this when I was a teacher. (I would love it now!) What a creative and original idea, Jennifer.

    Thank you so much for visiting and adding your idea to the Thanksgiving Treats and Fall Fun Linky Party. I’m one of your co-hosts from OneCreativeMommy.com. If you linked up from one of the other co-host sites, I hope you’ll stop by my site for a visit.

    Reply
  10. Kelly @ Semi Homemade Mom says

    November 3, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    This is a great idea, thanks so much for sharing! Have a great weekend! πŸ™‚

    Reply
  11. Jenn @ Clean and Scentsible says

    November 4, 2012 at 6:01 am

    I love this idea – I can almost smell it! It would also make a wonderful Thanksgiving hostess gift. Thanks so much for coming out to the party at Clean and Scentsible. I will be featuring this tomorrow. Happy Sunday!
    Jenn πŸ™‚

    Reply
  12. Lindi says

    November 5, 2012 at 12:02 am

    I always loved trying to figure out the most frugal gifts for my childrens' teachers when they were in school. The teachers always appreciated the gifts because they were homemade. I am still makeing gifts for my friends(frugal still). Last year I made homemade flavored vanillas. Follow me and I will put how to make it in one of my blog postings. L

    Reply
  13. Carol, The Answer Is Chocolate says

    November 5, 2012 at 5:11 pm

    Just wanted to let you know I included this in my link party features today!

    Reply
  14. Chrystie says

    November 6, 2012 at 8:26 am

    Awesome gift! Thanks for posting it! πŸ™‚

    Reply
  15. Lissa says

    November 7, 2012 at 8:12 pm

    Love this – what a great gift for anyone! Pinned and loved. Thank you for sharing at MightyCrafty Mondays!

    Reply
  16. Holly Lefevre (504 Main) says

    November 8, 2012 at 6:49 am

    I am excited to make these for the holidays!!!!

    Reply
  17. Liberty says

    November 8, 2012 at 4:39 pm

    Great IDEA! I always use the left over orange/grapefruite peelings for my simmer stuff, i think i'll just dehydrate those for my {christmas} packets!
    Blessings!
    http://bit.ly/ScVFnk

    Reply
  18. Jaimee @ Craft, Interrupted says

    November 9, 2012 at 1:46 pm

    I LOVE this idea!! I pinned it : )

    Reply
  19. petersmith says

    January 14, 2013 at 9:51 am

    This is such a great idea! Pawnbrokers

    Reply
  20. Tom Watson says

    September 22, 2013 at 12:58 pm

    Easily, the article is actually the best topic on this registry related issue. I fit in with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your next updates. Just saying thanks will not just be sufficient, for the fantasti c lucidity in your writing. I will instantly grab your rss feed to stay informed of any updates. Cool gifts

    Reply
  21. Helen Mclaney says

    September 25, 2013 at 8:55 am

    Jennifer this is such a great idea! The spices you included make such a great scent. I love home made gifts as well – they are so much more personal! Pinning and thanks for sharing this.

    Reply
  22. Vanessa says

    September 25, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    This is such a fabulous gift idea!

    Reply
  23. Crystelle Boutique says

    September 26, 2013 at 2:44 pm

    This is such a good idea! I can understand why they were super popular a couple of years ago. Pinning!!!

    πŸ™‚
    hugs x, Crystelle
    Crystelle Boutique

    Reply
  24. Meredith @ unoriginalmom.com says

    September 27, 2013 at 3:38 pm

    What a great gift idea! Pinning πŸ™‚ Visiting from Whatever Goes Wednesday!

    Reply
  25. Carol says

    September 28, 2013 at 12:25 pm

    We are long-past the "kids in school" time, but these would make wonderful "neighbor, friend, DIL" gifts! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
  26. Shannah @ Just Us Four says

    October 7, 2013 at 11:56 am

    This sounds awesome! I am totally doing it this weekend to add to our Boo bags for the neighbors.

    Thanks so much for sharing this at the Pinworthy Projects Party. You will be featured on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

    Reply
  27. jen hangca says

    October 19, 2014 at 5:43 am

    Oh.. Such a nice idea. We can also try this in our own home. Thank you for sharing this.

    || Send Gifts to Philippines ||

    Reply

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head shot photo welcome
Hi there! I'm Jenn, also known as One Thrifty Chick. Join me on my journey as I face life as full time concrete contractor, DIY'er, Wife, Mommy of 3, and lover of all things creative! I also run a small business where I teach and encourage women to DIY their way through life by learning new skills in workshops each month at The CRAFT House. Welcome to my blog!
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    Meet One Thrifty Chick

    Hi there! I'm Jenn, also known as One Thrifty Chick. Join me on my journey as I face life as full time concrete contractor, DIY'er, Wife, Mommy of 3, and lover of all things creative! I also run a small business where I teach and encourage women to DIY their way through life by learning new skills in workshops each month at The CRAFT House. Welcome to my blog! Read More…

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