How to Make a Head Dress With Tea Leaves

Tea leaves, with shiny dark leaves, are part of the genus Camellia.

Tea leaves come from the Camellia sinensis plant, which is native to Asia and grows in the warmer parts of the world. The leaves are dark green, pointed and shiny, and could be used for decorative purposes if you are careful. If you want to make a headdress using tea leaves, you may not have much luck if you don't live where tea leaves grow. Dry leaves will get brittle quite easily, and may not be good for completing this task.

Things You'll Need

• Fresh tea leaves
• Spray lacquer
• Styrofoam model head
• Plastic headband, 1 inch in width
• Hot glue
• Glue gun
• Beads, jewels or feathers

Instructions

1. Spray the back side of the tea leaves with a light coat of clear lacquer. Flip the leaves over and spray the front side. Lay the leaves on a newspaper to dry. Don't move them again until they are fully dry.

2. Place a plastic headband that is at least one inch thick onto a Styrofoam model head.

3. Place a dot of hot glue onto the stem end of one tea leaf and lay onto one side of the headband (just above where it would rest behind the ear) with the stem touching the headband and the leaf pointing upward toward the back of the model head. Place another dot of glue onto another leaf and lay above the first leaf, pointing slightly outward and slightly covering the first leaf. Continue layering, adding leaves until you reach the top of the headband (at the crown of the head).

4. Repeat the process in Step 3 on the opposite side of the headband, working your way toward the top. When done, the leaves should create a fan-type look that points toward the back of the head.

5. Glue another layer of leaves over the first layer, with each stem in between two leaves of the first layer.

6. Glue beads, jewels or feathers to the center of the headdress to create a unique centerpiece. Glue any other special additions to various parts of the headdress. You are only limited by your own creativity.

Tips & Warnings

• Lacquer will help preserve the tea leaves longer.

References

• Bullein Tea Newsletter: Post Tagged "Sinensis"