Like many of you, I LOVE loose leaf tea. However, I'm always looking for cute and creative solutions to use my tea. These D.I.Y. tea bags are super cute. I think they would make amazing gifts! Here's how you can make your own...
Supplies needed: Coffee filters, Scissors, Sewing machine, Loose tea leaves, Stapler, Embroidery thread, Paper for tags (construction paper, old book pages, etc.), Optional: Spices (pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, ground ginger, etc.)
Step 1 - Cut two coffee filters into a rectangle. I typically just cut off the ridged part.
Step 2 - Stitch the filters together on three sides, leaving one of the smaller sides open.
Step 3 - Fill the teabag with the loose tea leaves. I use anywhere from 1 to 2 teaspoons, depending on the size of the bag and how strong you like your tea. (You can also add about 1/2 teaspoon of your favorite spices. Pumpkin spice is one of my favorites!)
Step 4 - Stitch the top of the tea bag closed. All four sides should be stitched now!
Step 5 - Fold down the corners, placing a 3-4in. piece of embroidery thread under one of the flaps.
Step 6 - Fold the tip of the tea bag down, and use a stapler to hold it shut. (You could also stitch this part if you wanted to.)
Step 7 - Cut paper tags and glue, stitch, or staple them to the ends of your embroidery thread.
To make your tea, let the tea bag steep in hot water for 3-5 minutes…and enjoy! xo. Amanda
*Amanda is one of my brand new D.I.Y. Contributors! Check my about page for a full list of contributors. I'm really happy to have added these ladies to my team so we can bring you even more inspiration this season! Oh... and I have a pretty new blog design launching very soon. I've been working on it since May, if you can believe that.... so excited to share. Stay tuned!
What a wonderful idea.
Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: olive green anna | September 16, 2011 at 01:49 PM
Adorable!!!
Posted by: gina | September 16, 2011 at 02:15 PM
I'm liking the DIY team! Looking forward to many wonderful projects to take on :)
<3 Linda
Posted by: Linda | September 16, 2011 at 02:26 PM
So adorable! Now I have an even better reason to try loose tea. :)
Posted by: Kelly | September 16, 2011 at 02:38 PM
Ahh I really want to do this now, I can't get over how easy that actually sounds! I think this DIY team is a great new addition to the site by the way :)
xo
http://kittysnooks.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Katia | September 16, 2011 at 03:09 PM
how great! i discovered her blog a few months back when searching for a tattoo shop in OKC. glad to see a fellow Oklahoman on the team! <3
Posted by: jooleedoh | September 16, 2011 at 03:21 PM
I made this for a friends birthday in February, I also ironed shut some cellophane for wrappers.
Posted by: martha | September 16, 2011 at 03:51 PM
What a great idea!! Super cute
Posted by: stela | September 16, 2011 at 04:00 PM
AH! I LOVE this. I definitely need to make some of these!
-Kat
Posted by: Kat | September 16, 2011 at 04:00 PM
what seriously great DIY! Can't wait to make these for gifts :D
Posted by: danielleorama | September 16, 2011 at 04:16 PM
Genius! All of my tea problems are solved Thank you!
Posted by: Anne | September 16, 2011 at 04:30 PM
This is sooo cute! I can not wait to make my own :) Thanks for the idea.
Posted by: CarlyMaria | September 16, 2011 at 04:32 PM
So cute! I love tea. :)
Posted by: Meagan | September 16, 2011 at 04:49 PM
This looks familiar....
http://frecklednest.typepad.com/la/2011/09/diy-tea-party.html
I enjoy your blog but hope your new DIY blogger doesn't steal all her ideas.
Posted by: stephanie @ growlingsteph | September 16, 2011 at 05:24 PM
@stephanie - I sent Elsie this post before Miss Leigh-Ann's post was up. It was merely a coincidence, and her DIY is super cute! It is tea season, after all! No ideas were "stolen", promise. :)
-Amanda
Posted by: Amanda | September 16, 2011 at 05:33 PM
Or, you can just go buy tea bags since Lipton makes those too
Posted by: Michelle | September 16, 2011 at 05:35 PM
I love, love love this idea! So cute. I think I'll be making pumpkin spice tea bags for some friends and family this fall!
<3LJ
Posted by: LauraJane | September 16, 2011 at 05:49 PM
Thanks for all the kind words!
Stephanie, It's true that this post was already scheduled *BEFORE* Leigh-Ann's post was up. It was absolutely a coincidence and I made the choice to not worry about it and still post this as planned because it's a different concept. The only real similarity is that there is a heart on the tea bag string.
Leigh-Ann is a dear friend of mine and we support her %100 and love her blog.
That said, this idea was Amanda's own. It was planned last month and I think that she deserves nothing but kind words for it because she did an amazing job!
So there you go! No sneaky business going on. No one is stealing ideas. :) Hope that clears things up!
Posted by: elsie | September 16, 2011 at 05:58 PM
that is so cute!
Posted by: Aga | September 16, 2011 at 07:27 PM
I am definitely going to try this most especially that it is starting to get chilly. it would be lovely to drink tea and cuddle with somebody on a typical cozy night. :) an added bonus is that it is very pretty to look at. i was thinking of even adding little love notes and sweet nothings at the tea tags. ;)
Posted by: Ida May Bueno | September 16, 2011 at 07:42 PM