Monday, April 29, 2013

Make Your Own Cinnamon Scented Whiskbrooms

I love this inspiring little article on making your own cinnamon scented whiskbrooms hellogiggles.com.  And to think of all the bundles of small sticks that I have put in the compost bin !!

The countdowns are beginning…the holidays are almost here! This month I’ve got some great, easy DIY gifts planned for you, starting with these wonderfully scented cinnamon brooms. Around this time of year I start to see these brooms in grocery and craft stores but the scents are a little overwhelming for me, so I’ve created these great brooms that are a big gentler on the nose but still fragrant enough to fill a room! And as a bonus, these scents are chemical free!
You’ll Need:
  • A broom with natural fiber bristles. You can also gather a bundle of small sticks and tie them together with a pretty ribbon if you don’t want to buy brooms.
  • water-soluble, clear drying, craft glue
  • paint brush
  • plastic bag
  • small spray bottle
  • ground cinnamon
  • cinnamon essential oil (not fragrance oil, those usually have chemicals in them…yuk)
  • vanilla essential oil (see note on fragrance oil above)
  • olive oil
  • optional embellishments like pretty fall ribbons, dried flowers, glitter, etc.
Apply the Ground Cinnamon
Cover your work surface with newspaper or old magazines, whatever you have lying around that will protect your work surface. Pour some of the craft glue onto a plate or into a bowl. You’ll be able to rinse any excess glue off of the dish when you’re done, so a regular kitchen dish will work for this. Use your paintbrush to apply a light coat of glue to one side of the broom or stick bundle then sprinkle the ground cinnamon over the broom/stick bundle*. Allow it to dry for a couple of hours or overnight and repeat these steps on the other side of the broom/stick bundle.
*This is a great time to also sprinkle any glitter that you’d like to use on the broom too. Sprinkle the cinnamon first and follow with the glitter.
Mix the Cinnamon Spray
I like to mix a batch of cinnamon spray so that I can make several brooms for my friends and family but also have enough to keep recharging the scent of my broom through the next couple of months.
In your spray bottle, mix together 4 tsp. olive oil with 1 tsp. cinnamon essential oil and 5 drops of vanilla essential oil. Shake well to combine and lightly spritz over the bristles of the dried broom/stick bundle. If you prefer a stronger scent, add more cinnamon essential oil. If you’re only making 1 broom, you can dab a few drops of the cinnamon essential oil directly onto the broom and follow with a few drops of the vanilla essential oil. I suggest starting with 3 drops of the cinnamon oil and 1 drop of the vanilla oil because it can get overpowering very quickly.
To allow your broom/stick bundle to thoroughly soak up the scent and oil, place it in a plastic bag for 1-2 weeks.
Add any embellishments that you’d like and that’s it! These gifts are quick, easy and cheap to make but can be so thoughtful, especially when personalized with ribbons and embellishments in the recipients’ favorite colors.
Be sure to check back next week for another fun DIY gift using spices and herbs!
DIY Gift Ideas: Cinnamon Scented Brooms

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