How to Make Crafts Out of Herbs

Select dried lavender for home decor, hydrotherapy and other scented crafts.

Create crafts out of herbs that will help soothe tired muscles, add scent to your linens or decorate the walls of your home. Dried herbs are available in health food stores and specialty groceries, but you can also dry fresh herbs yourself. Tie fresh herb stems into bundles and hang them upside down in a cool, dark spot for a few weeks. To make hydrotherapy or sachet crafts, strip the dried leaves or flowers from the stems, or crush the dried material with a rolling pin. To create home décor crafts, leave the flowers and leaves attached to the stems.

Things You'll Need

• Iron
• Ironing board
• Mixing bowl
• Measuring cup
• Dried lavender
• Uncooked oatmeal
• Dry orange rind
• Dried chamomile
• Dried rosemary
• 12 crushed bay leaves
• Small scoop
• Sealable teabags
• Muslin bag with drawstring
• Picture frame
• Cardstock
• Scissors
• Clear, liquid craft glue
• Small paint brush

Instructions

Herbal Bath Bags

1. Blend together 1/2-cup dried lavender, 1/2-cup uncooked oatmeal, 1/2-cup dried orange rind, 1/2-cup chamomile, 1/4-cup dried rosemary and 12 crushed bay leaves in a mixing bowl.

2. Set up an ironing board and preheat the iron to a medium hot setting.

3. Fill a sealable teabag halfway with a scoop of the blended herb/spice/oatmeal mixture. Iron the open edge of the teabag to seal it closed.

4. Store the herbal bath bags in a closed container. Drop one or two into hot bath water.

Lavender Dryer Bag

1. Set up an ironing board and preheat the iron to a medium hot setting.

2. Fill two sealable teabags halfway with a scoop of dried lavender. Seal the teabags with the iron.

3. Insert the two teabags into a small muslin bag with a drawstring. Tie the drawstring to seal the muslin bag.

4. Toss the lavender bag in the dryer to scent towels, sheets and other linens. Store the lavender bags between the towels or sheets in your linen closet.

Dried Herb Botanical Art

1. Remove the back from a picture frame. Measure and cut a piece of cardstock to fit the back of the frame.

2. Arrange stems of dried herbs onto the center of the cardstock. Remove the herbs in order.

3. Brush a thin layer of clear drying liquid craft glue onto the front of the cardstock, wherever the herbs were placed. Lay the herbs on top of the glue. Let the glue dry.

4. Fit the cardstock back into the picture frame. The glue and the glass will hold the herbs in place.

References

• Save on Crafts: How to Make Lavender Dryer Bags

Resources

• Save on Crafts: How to Make Your Own Homemade Bath Blends