I figured I’d satisy my desire for the “traditional” ginger cookie and my tastebuds, with the sugar cookie. But I also added an additional item… when grating the ginger root, and releasing that heavenly ginger smell, I thought how much it reminded me of lemons (which I loooooove). And, because our Meyer’s lemon tree is now producing like crazy (we’re so proud, it’s our first crop), I thought I’d throw in some lemon zest as well.  I just love the idea of my now-to-be traditional Christmas cookie having an ingredient from our back yard! Oh, I feel a scrap page coming on…! Of course, any lemon will do, lol. {A note about the Meyer’s lemon: it is very “thin skinned”. Meaning, don’t be heavy handed when you zest or you’ll also get white pith… and that is bitter}

Here is the “short but sweet” ingredient list:

• A box of your favorite sugar cookie mix
• 2 tablespoons of lemon zest (you could add more if you love lemons like I do)
• 1 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon of crystallized (candied) ginger
• 1 teaspoon of allspice
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (optional)
• 2-1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• additional sugar (for rolling)

(I tend to go easy on spices, as I don’t want one flavor to overwhelm another. This could easily just become a ginger cookie, lol, so I put in more lemon zest & took it easy on the fresh ginger. My girls won’t eat them if they’re “too” spicey. But by all means, spice it up if you like it that way. If you omit the cinnamon, it has more of a sugar cookie look & taste).

 Directions:

•  Follow the directions on your cookie mix (additional ingredients will vary according to brand)
• Add in additional ingredients and stir until a dough forms
• Form into 1″ balls, roll in sugar to coat
• Space balls approximately 2″ apart
• Bake according to your mix instructions, until the edges are a light brown
• Let sit a minute on the cookie sheet before transferring to a cookie rack to completely cool

Now, because these cookies are so easy to make (and yummy), I knew I wanted to give them as homemade gifts. Check out these little projects I put together:

 I started with a chipboard flowerpot from a local craft store. I created a pot “wrapper”, printed out, then matched a paint color & painted the whole pot. When it was dry, I glued on the wrapper (with Mod Podge), and tied on the ribbon. I filled the pot with a round 5″ foam floral ball and added the grass. Then I set it aside to make the cookies! As soon as the cookies came out of the oven, I immediately inserted a cookie stick (available at your local craft store), appoximately 1-1/2″ into the cookie. You have to move fast or the cookie edges will harden & you won’t be able to insert the stick. Once inserted, let it sit for a minute or so on the baking sheet. Then carefully transfer to the cookie rack to cool completely.  Once cooled, I wrapped each cookie with a small clear treat bag (I bought mine in the craft section of Walmart), then tied off with a ribbon. This way, my “arrangement” will keep for a few days.  *A note: if you plan to wrap up your cookies, be mindful of how large you make them. You’ll want them to slide in easily.

For this next set, I picked up these adorable gift boxes at Target at the beginning of the holiday season, so not sure that they’re still available (I so wished I’d bought a dozen of them). This is just a matter of putting a dozen (or more) cookies into a bag and then into the box they go! So easy! To secure my package, I punched holes on the closure flaps, threaded the ribbon through them & tied off. I created a few gift tags similiar to the new Shoppe gift labels, available here. I just love these labels, they instantly provide the perfect personalized finishing touch. SP makes gift giving so charming and simple!

One final comment about cookie mixes… they do not all look the same coming out of the oven, lol. The mix that I used for my flowerpot, is not the same that I used for the boxes. I found that this gluten free sugar cookie mix from Cherrybrook Kitchen  produces a “puffier” cookie, that would allow me to insert the stick. Not only did I find them more “visually” appealing, now this arrangement will be safe for any gluten intolerances! The other brands (non-gluten free) produced a flatter cookie, which is perfect for stacking a dozen or so cookies into the box.

This was the most fun I’ve ever had baking & putting together baked gifts (and that’s saying a lot, because I’ve been at this for years). And although this recipe is almost easy enough to commit to memory (even for me, lol), I’ve created this recipe card for you. You can click HERE to download, or simply click the image below.  Hope you enjoy!

SP will be back tomorrow to fill you in on the blog’s HOLIDAY SCHEDULE, so be sure to check back then.  Also, don’t miss Kylie’s post above as we have TWO new blog posts for you today :o)  Have a wonderful weekend.

This layout is so seriously sweet. Oh my, I have so felt those tender (peaceful) moments of a sleeping child, that wants nothing more than to be in their mama’s arms. Those moments just catch my breath… and mommy2two captured it so beautifully. Simply (but wonderfully) embellished, she lets the photos of  that sweet sleeping angel tell the story, but the journaling completes it. Now I could just wrap it up here, but I also want you to check out all the other awesome layouts that mommy2two shared with us this week. I loved them all, but My Sleeping Baby was truly the icing on the cake! Everything is so soft & sweet. I felt it was just perfect that she used An Affair to Remember for this memorable moment.

Congratulations, mommy2two & enjoy your $10 gift card to the Shabby Shoppe. Have a wonderful week, everyone… can’t wait to see more gorgeous layouts in the gallery this week!  Kylie will be back tomorrow with a fabulous product spotlight :)

Before I go any further on the refinishing details, I’ll give a bit of info on the game itself. Each side of the game board has a “row” of 12 long triangles, called points. The object of the game is to remove all of one’s game pieces (checkers, draughts, pawns, chips, etc) before your opponent does. To ensure that I designed the game correctly, I studied my little set, as well as did an online search of game sets. It was a bit more tricky than I had imagined (it always is)… so I’d recommend starting with a small sketch first, labeling the papers, embellishments that you’d like to use. When it comes to projects of this size, it’s good to keep in mind the motto: “Plan your work & work your plan”.  There will probably be revisions, but it’s nice to have a “game plan”, lol (pun intended). Once I had my table, my overall design dimensions were set for me. And here is what I did:

First, I created my new document size considering my table dimension as well as my printer’s paper size options. The largest paper size I could print (with Fed Ex Office) was 11″ x 17″.  My table top was 15-1/2″ x 17-1/2″, so I knew I’d need to print (2) pages separately, then join together. I created my new document at 5100 x 5100. I know this sounds large, but the final step will be to create duplicates of this master working psd file, then crop in half for the top & bottom of the game “board”. It’s also a good idea to turn on your grid & snap, as well as rulers, to make sure everything is even. (Before placing even one item, remember to consider your printer’s bleed area. You do not want anything too close to that perimeter space & have it cropped off in printing).  I wanted to establish the overall size of  my game layout, so I drew out a background rectangle, sized 15-1/4″  x 17- 1/4″ (I sized it down 1/4″ overall from the table top dimension. This allows a 1/8″ perimeter of  “wiggle” room” around the entire game, for placement).   After that,  I needed to determine the height & width that I wanted to assign my twelve alternating points (triangles), as this would affect how much space I’d have for the middle & borders. I planned to use the 1″ round chips, so that pretty much determined my triangle base width. I made the base of the triangle just over 1″ and the overall height approximately 6-1/2″ , to accomodate 5-6 chips at once on one triangle. I duplicated my original triangle & changed it’s color (remember, the triangle color alternates). After that, it was just a process of duplicating & alternating the triangles until I had 12. I made sure that they all lined up (holding down the shift key when moving) & then I linked them all together (so nothing would shift as I worked). Next, I duplicated the triangle layers, rotated (flipped) vertically & moved above my bottom triangles (again, holding down the shift key to keep them aligned), then with everything still linked, rotate them horizontally. This will keep the triangle colors alternating. Then I went through the “copy triangle” layers & renamed them to “top triangles”. For me, the most difficult part is finalizing the triangles, as everything builds around them. But from here on, it’s easy-peasy!

With my triangles completed, I now knew how much space I would have for the background & borders. I drew another rectangle out, layered underneath the triangles but above the “background” rectangle. This is the “field”, so to speak, and I inset approximately 3/4″ from my background rectangle (this can vary according to your design preference). At this point, I started to layer on my papers & add embellishments. However, since my “clipping masks” were so large I needed to increase the size of my papers. I couldn’t just enlarge them, as that would cause them to print out blurry. I’m certain there are different ways to approach this, but this is one way I “enlarge” papers when doing oversized projects. First, I place my paper in one corner, then I duplicate that paper, flip it horizontally, move (holding down the shift key) & align with my original. If all looks good, I merge the two layers. Then I create another duplicate (of the now-joined papers), flip it vertically, move (hold down the shift key) & align with the bottom copy. If all is properly aligned, I then merge down again. Now I have a large piece of  “paper” that I can clip onto my field rectangle shape. I do the same thing with any other large expanses (such as the inner border & background rectangle). With your perimeter borders now determined, you can now move the triangles into their final position (keeping the top set linked together & the bottom set linked together) and clip on their papers.   As they are already in alterning  colors, it’s easy to just clip on alternating paper patterns. Basically, your board is now complete, just add  borders or embellishments until your heart’s content (staying within the background rectangle perimeter, of course). For my board,  I used a combination of Autumn Medley & Bountiful, as those kits work best with my home’s color scheme. It’s perpetually fall at my house, lol!   It’s up to you how much detail you want to give your board~ I’d say I was in the middle. Just enough detail & definition to see clearly, but not too much that the design would be a distraction. I added the “Family Traditions” tag from Autumn Medley, as I feel games are just that… a wonderful family tradition!

At this point, I save the master (well, I’d say save every 5 minutes, lol), then make a duplicate & rename it bottom. Then, duplicate this copy & rename it top. Merge visible these copies (don’t flatten yet). Now you are ready to separate them for printing. If you need to, since you merged rather than flattened, you can move your board around to line it up and use your rulers to measure. Then, draw out your crop tool around the portion you need to remove… then, delete! Remember to move the board back away from the bleed area, then flatten it & save. Now go on to the other document & delete the opposite section of the game board. Move the image away from the bleed area. Flatten & save. Now you should have (2) separate, top & bottom files to send to the printer.

Creating the chip “covers” was super easy. On a new document, I drew out a 1″ circle shape & made a copy. I then clipped on the alternating papers that I’d used for the triangles. I also layered on the circular stitch from Barefoot (resized) &  the (2) different colored flowers from Bountiful. Once I had the chips designed, I saved the master. Then I created another 11″ x 17″ document for the game pieces. I duplicated the flower “masters” & flattened them. Dragging them over to the new document, I created the 30 (or more) of each color that I would need for the game. (You need 15 chip pieces of each color, but remember, you need to do both sides of the chips). I then flattened this document for printing.

Once you’ve printed your documents, it’s just a matter of trimming! However, I put this on the backburner & turned my attention back to the table. This refinishing step is basically the same as the checkerboard post. The only thing I did differently with this project, was to use spray paint instead of a latex paint. Typically, I would not spray paint furniture, lol, but you’ll notice there is a “pierced” design on the table’s side panels. I didn’t want to fight with a brush to get in & out of these spaces, nor did I feel a small roller would be the easiest route. So, using several even spray “strokes” with the can (I practiced on cardboard first), I was able to achieve nice coverage with no drips! Just a note here: it’s a great idea to apply a primer over dark wood before your paint color. But other than that, you can follow the finishing details on this post.

After I had the refinishing complete, it was now time to apply the backgammon game to the table top. I won’t kid you: this step makes me nervous. Anytime I use glue, I get nervous, lol. (It’s very helpful to have another pair of hands, as well). Before I glued anything down, however, I made guide marks in light pencil. I just laid down the top & bottom papers,aligned & made sure there was equal spacing around the perimeter. Then I lightly drew in corner guides. I applied my adhesive (I use Mod Podge), held my breath & placed each piece within those guides. I used this neato rubber “squeadgy” to smooth out any air bubbles.  The rubber is awesome, it didn’t tear my paper! (I’ve also read that it’s a good idea to spray on an acrylic sealer prior to applying to Mod Podge to reduce wrinkles). Once everything was in place, I covered my tabletop with wax paper & then piled on some heavy books. I let it sit for several hours (although I did keep checking to make sure the air bubbles weren’t popping up). After everything had dried, I sprayed on Mod Podge clear acrylic sealer. For further protection, I had a piece of glass cut from a local glass company so that we could use the table when we weren’t playing on it.  As for the chip pieces, I also spray painted those, then applied the covers with Mod Podge. When dry, I sanded the edges. And here’s the final outcome:

And because I never can remember how to set up the table, I also created a handy little “rules” book, with a thumbnail of my gameboard. It fits nicely inside the little round box that I put together to house the game’s checkers. So convenient!

Now, I know this was a rather detailed project. But I can truly say the most difficult part is getting the game design accurate.  The most nerve-wracking part is gluing it down, lol! Just take your time & go for it! Remember, files can always be reprinted, furniture can always be sanded & repainted. Keep in mind the goal: a unique, custom piece of furniture that will also provide hours of wonderful family time.  But whether or not you take on this project, try to fit in some “game time” this weekend! And if you’d like to learn more about backgammon,  you can read about it here.

Thanks for checking out my project & I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! See you back on Monday for LOTW!

I like to send “thank you” cards & what better time to send a note of gratitude? Here is a card I created using Bountiful and the word art from the Word Whimsy Autumn Collection.

But I couldn’t stop with just a card! I was so happy with how it turned out, that I “scraplifted” it, lol! Here is a layout that I also created with this lovely kit (word art is also from the Word Whimsy Autumn Collection):

And here is a some added inspiration from our talented Shabby Artists: 

There are abounding beautiful possibilities, lol!  Bountiful is on sale this week for only $3.71, so don’t miss it! It’s definitely a “must have” for all those gorgeous fall photos! Check back in tomorrow for SP’s next “Gallery Girls” post~ I’m definitely looking forward to learning more about our next featured scrapper! And I’ll see you back on Friday for a hybrid project with this beautiful kit. Until then, Happy Scrappin’!

Hey everyone, it’s Lu today with a hearty chili recipe! I have to tell you, my family waits all year for this recipe, lol! We enjoy it so much, it’s delicious for so many different events: football games, cook-offs, and yes, right before trick or treating! In all the excitement of costumes & candy, the little ones (and even the adults) can easily forget about eating “real” food & just fill up on all that sugar. And that would be truly frightful, lol! My tactic is to fill those little tummies first on a decent meal, then maybe they won’t gorge too much on the candy. I can try anyway, lol! What I love so much about chili is that you can make it well in advance, freeze, then pull out to defrost & warm up before heading out for the fun. I’ve always found these saucy- type recipes even better the next day!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2lbs lean ground beef
• 1 lbs lean ground pork
•  lb ground sausage (regular flavor)
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 1 can green chili peppers
• 4 cans (14 oz) petite diced tomatoes
• 1 can (14 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 can of each: pinto, light red kidney & red beans (rinsed & drained)
1 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup chili powder
1 tsp salt
• Optional: add 1-2 tbsp. Cayenne pepper

(As a note with the spices, tweak these according to taste. Little ones may not appreciate the heat and you certainly wouldn’t want to give them a stomach ache before they even get to the candy) 

Directions:

• In large Dutch oven, brown the ground beef, pork & sausage. Drain off the fat.
• Add in the onions, bell pepper, oregano, sugar, spices. Combine the ingredients, simmer covered on medium low heat for 1 hour or until vegetables are reduced down into meat mixture. Stir often (I set a timer for every 5 minutes, lol). Add a bit of water as needed if mixture gets dry.
• Add diced tomatoes, green chilis, sauce & beans. Cook covered for 30 minutes, then uncovered for another 30 minutes.

That’s it! Super easy… spoon it up, then layer on the shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream & chips (my family prefers Fritos, but I like corn tortillas). For me, the best part of this recipe is that you can turn it into another meal the next day: taco salad! Just chop up your salad & then spoon over the chili… YUM! This is actually my preferred way of eating this dish.

I’ve created a FREE recipe card to share (I worked with a template from the MADE FROM SCRATCH recipe card templates at the Shoppe), available for download HERE or just click the card graphic above.  Hope you enjoy the recipe! Have a FUN and SAFE Halloween, we’ll be looking for those layouts in the gallery!

SP will be back tomorrow with November’s FREE DESKTOP…and then, meet us back here on Monday for LOTW…

 I’ve been following Winston since he first appeared in the gallery in early September. He seems like such a rascal & is a bit irresistible, I think! Oh my… the pics of this little dude just cracks me up! Now, how cute is he snuggling up to Richie Rich? But this guy has some antics, and I’m hoping to see more “In the Life of Winston” in the gallery! Once I get past the pics, I love to study the “just so” touches of be2be. For this layout, I love how the colors from the Richie Rich doll are echoed by the colors & elements of the Festival kit, (available as a free download at the Shabby Princess site). I love the clean simplicity and use of negative space. That is a technique that I’ve rarely attempted, much less mastered, lol! So I always appreciate it when I see it. What works so wonderfully here are the colorful buttons that reinforce the multi-color polka dot paper, the accent paisley paper joined directly to that adorable photo, as well as the pins to secure it.  I struggle with “keeping things simple” (just ask my husband), but love the impact that it makes. In their own unique way, be2be’s layout’s stand out & speak volumes… just check out her gallery to see what I mean. Congrats again, be2be! Can’t wait to see what Winston has been up to, lol!

Thanks to everyone posting all the fantastic layouts in the gallery this week, we love perusing every day to be inspired & see what is new! Have a wonderful Monday…  and check back in with us for tomorrow’s Product Spotlight. Happy Scrappin’!

Happy Friday, everyone! It’s Lu today & I’m bringing you another sweet & spicy recipe! I am definitely in the mood for fall now… and that has me craving comfort foods! I have such a sweet tooth, and even though I don’t care for pumpkin pie, I  found a wonderful recipe for Pumpkin Ginger Cupcakes on allrecipes.com…. and WOW! These little gems are tasty! They are delicious by themselves, but when you dollop them with cream cheese frosting… all I can say is, you better make two batches because they go quick. Here’s what you’ll need:

Pumpkin Ginger Cupcake Ingredients:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 (3.4 oz) instant butterscotch pudding mix
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/3 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger

 and…

• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 4 eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree

Cupcake Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease 24 muffin cups or line with paper liners.  In  a medium bowl, whisk together the first (9) ingredients.
• Beat together the butter and both sugars, until light & fluffy.
• Add in the eggs, one at a time, until each egg is blended. With the last egg, beat in the vanilla & pumpkin puree.
• Stir in the flour mixture, until just incorporated. Pour batter into prepared muffin cups.
• Bake for approximately 20-25 minures, or until tops are golden & spring back when lightly pressed.
• Cool in pan for 10 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.

Now,  you can either stop here & start enjoying or… you can proceed to the next step, the cream cheese icing! While the muffins are cooling down, now is the time to whip up the cream cheese frosting (also from allrecipes.com). If you plan to have the cream cheese icing with the cupcakes, it’s a good idea to go ahead & put out the cream cheese blocks & butter along with the cupcake ingredients, to come to room temperature at the same time.

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

• 2 (8 oz)  packages of cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting Directions:

In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese & butter, until creamy.
Mix in the vanilla, then gradually add in the confectioners’ sugar.
Store in refrigerator after use.

As fall is something worth celebrating around here, I sent these cupcakes to work with my husband to share.  He said everyone in the office just raved about them (then he asked me where I bought them, lol).  Just like with my chai tea post, I thought this was a great opportunity to show off the Fall Festival Confection Collection! The cupcake wrappers (shown in my photo at the top of this post) are the perfect attire for these sweet treats!

 These cupcakes are perfect for school bake sales, Harvest dinners (they’re already on my menu for this year) or even a weekend breakfast/brunch. I love to bake up muffins for the girls… However they are served, they’re sure to please!  I’ve created recipe cards for both the cupcake & the frosting. I used the AUTUMN MEDLEY kit in the design – and don’t forget, it is on SALE this week only as the Shoppe’s product spotlight!  Just click on the image to download (or click HERE)… and enjoy!

Just a note:   the allrecipes.com logo is being used with permission…actually – it is a requirement in their licensing that we include it on the recipe cards as well as here on the post.  Just wanted to let you know in the event you were wondering why there is a logo on one of the cards :o)

We’ll see you back on Monday with our LOTW… Have a wonderfully “sweet” weekend!

 You know, I actually felt a slight touch of fall in the air for the first time this week. Kinda early for me, too, but I was glad to feel it. The brilliant blue skies, the bright splash of orange color on the pumpkins, the golden shimmer of sun through the leaves… I love it when I see a breeze come through the trees & the leaves start swirling around towards the ground. I usually don’t stand still long enough to catch those moments often, but when I do~ I just soak it up. And that’s what this kit reminds me of, beautiful autumn afternoons.  It’s one of those kits that I want to squeeze in all the papers & elements at once, lol! I’ve comforted myself with the notion that rather than put everything on one page, I’ll just create more pages & spread it out… 

Isn’t Autumn Medley  just gorgeous? As with all SP’s products, there’s a lot of versatility to create a wide variety of  layouts. Don’t miss  the wondeful sale at  The Shoppe  to catch this fabulous kit for $5.96!

Have a wonderful Tuesday… and join us again tomorrow for another inspiring Tips & Tricks!

For me, it’s just the perfect amount of everything: a precious photo, great color scheme & balance, wonderful titlework, awesome little details & descriptive journaling. Come to think of it, this talented lady has had a streak this week (Hey! I’m a poet & didn’t know it!!)…  Check out her gallery & see what she’s been up to lately. Congrats again, acmckelvey… enjoy your gift card to the Shabby Shoppe!

And a big thanks to everyone again for all the amazing layouts,  keep fillin’ up the gallery, ya’ll! Can’t wait to see what I fall in love with next! Check back in with us tomorrow for Kylie’s  Product Spotlight… until next time, Happy Scrappin’!

Happy Friday, ya’ll! It’s Lu & I’m here to do my first food post! I’ve been really excited about this, because I wanted to share both a recipe & a hybrid-of-sorts gift idea.

With the seasons starting to change (not for me, but for others), my “tastes” start to change as well. I start craving comfort foods, steaming cups or bowls and yummy spices! One thing I discovered awhile back was Chai tea. I know this is nothing “new”, but it was new to me. And one thing I particularly love about it is, the recipe combinations are endless… it’s all about customizing (one of my favorite words). I have read recipe after recipe, experimented & tweaked,  and tweaked some more. Finally, I’ve come up with a recipe that suits my palette, to a tea (lol). This is what you’ll need for (2) mugs of tea:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups of water
• 2-3 black tea bags
• 2 tsps ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4  tsp allspice
• 1/4  ground nutmeg
• 1 tbsp of vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups of evaporated milk, half-n-half or whole milk (equal qty to water)
• honey to taste
• optional whipped topping
• a small whisk or milk frother

Directions:

• Pour water into 2 quart heavy saucepan.
• Add tea bags (with spices) & bring to just a boil. Add milk & heat thoroughly, do not allow to boil.
• Turn off heat, discard tea bags & add vanilla extract. Stir to combine. Now, my favorite part… the froth! Roll your whisk briskly between your hands to create the froth in the saucepan. It’s so much fun! Personally, I’ve found that evaporated milk “froths” better than just whole milk, lol.
• Add honey to bottom of mugs, pour hot tea milk over to dissolve and stir.  You can also top it off with some whipping cream. That’s it… enjoy!

I have to tell you though, as much as I enjoy my Chai tea, it’s a bit of a time consuming process. Don’t misunderstand me – I’m all about the experience of a thing, but I’ve got laundry to do, you know? I decided that I needed to streamline my procedure a bit, so I decided I’d make my own tea bags. This way, I can create my own little concoction without having to measure spices every time! I ordered these press ‘n brew tea bags, they come in different sizes and quantities. I also ordered some Darjeeling loose tea leaves & filled the bags with the tea leaves and the spices. You don’t have to that, you can throw in tea bags & the spices separately, but I prefer not to swirl spice “sediment”. It’s a texture thing. I can’t eat mushrooms, either. But back to the spices…as for the ratios, I do not care for too much spice (I can’t take the heat, lol) so you may find my recipe a bit subtle.  By all means, add to or take away to suit! 

You could just stop here & really enjoy your day. Or you could share the love! I found this mixture on ALLRECIPES.COM  & thought it was a wonderful gift idea. I made some up and used the cute little tags from the Fall Festival Confection Collection.  Aren’t they just the perfect touch? Puts me right in the mood for fall (and officially, too, as the first day of autumn was yesterday)! On one side, I have my greeting and on the other side I put the ingredients & directions.

These would make a wonderful hostess gift for any holiday parties in the not-too-distant future. Or hey, you could just mix it up & keep it on hand for yourself, lol!

I also created these recipe cards for both my “traditional” chai tea & for the gift tea mixture, hope you like them! Just click the image to download, or click HERE.

Just a note:   the allrecipes.com logo is being used with permission…actually – it is a requirment in their licensing that we include it on the recipe cards as well as here on the post.  Just wanted to let you know in the event you were wondering why there is a logo on one of the cards :o)

Give these little recipes a try, it’ll start your weekend off right!  And don’t forget to check back here for our first Monday LOTW (moving from Saturday)!  Have a wonderful & relaxing weekend!