DIY - The Tea Kitchen

9 Innovative Tea Bag Designs

March 21, 2017

We’re used to seeing rectangular tea bags at the bottom of our teacup. No offense to the rectangle, but there’s a whole world of shapes and angles beyond the parallelogram to explore when crafting a tea bag or infuser. Like clay, tea bags are a medium for creatives to sculpt into small works of art. We’ve sourced 10 cool tea bags that will delight your senses and upgrade your tea drinking experience. Purchase or DIY, then enjoy!

1. Polaroid Frame Tea Bag Tags

These adorable polaroid tea bag tags from Photojojo! are a fun DIY project to personalize your store-bought tea bags. With some card stock and photos, you can transform teatime into a miniature art gallery. This is a perfect way to enhance the theme at a bridal or family tea, and makes a great gift!

2. Fishermen Tea Bag Holder

Ever feel like your tea bag’s missing a gaggle of fishermen? This holder from Kikkerland is here to help. Based on the Chinese legend of Jiang Taigang, a fisherman who believed that fish would come to him when they were ready, these tea bags holders evoke the virtue of patience as the fishermen hold your tea bag until it’s steeped. We could all use a good reminder to be patient, and these tea bags are the perfect cultural inspiration.

3. Hanger Tea Bags

These tea bags from Yanko Design look like a t-shirt on a hanger, perfect for the guy or gal for whom a cup of tea is as essential as getting dressed in the morning. Sleek and simple, just hang the tea bag on the edge of your mug and add hot water.

4. Butterfly Tea Bag Tags

What could be more picturesque than a butterfly perched on your cup of tea? These DIY butterfly tea bag tags from Craftberry Bush add a touch of nature to your beverage. They’re a fun project for kids on Mother’s Day, or a great craft for a bachelorette tea party or gals’ function.

5. Arrow Through My Heart Tea Infuser

This silicone heart and arrow infuses a little romance into your cup of tea. Pack the heart with loose leaf tea and stir with the arrow. Feel the love as you sip alongside Cupid’s arrow.

6. Plane Tea Bag

Drinking tea makes your mind go places. Now your tea bag can match that contemplative state with a cute airplane tea bag from Tea Heritage. Let your mind wander to distant lands and ponder global ideas as you sip your plane-soaked brew.

7. Flower Tea Bags

These DIY flower tea bags from kipi add a stunning floral touch to teatime. Major bonus: it’s super easy! All you need is a pair of scissors, a bunch of flowers, and tea bags to give your beverage a pop of color and class.

8. Yellow Duckie Tea Infuser

This duckie tea infuser brings the classic rubber duck to your cup of tea, perfect for the young tea drinker in your life, or one who’s young at heart.

9. Tea Bag Envelope & Notes

These personalized DIY tea bag notes from Oh! Crafts are a great gift for the tea drinker in your life, or even for yourself when you need a cute little reminder like “be kind” or “relax.” Simply attach a mini envelope to a tea bag and insert a sweet or encouraging note, quote, or memory. Create a set as a gift, or make them now and then for your sweetheart, roommate, or parent for the occasional pick me up.

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Tea History & Culture

Repurpose Your Teacups With These DIY Crafts

March 15, 2017

Chances are, if you’re reading this blog, you own a lot of teacups. And saucers. And teapots. If you’re looking for a crafty way to create more shelf space, consider lending a spare teacup or accessory to one of these DIY projects. From decorative accents to functional household goods, your teaware can do a lot more than just hold your favorite beverage, and each of these projects make great gifts. So break out your glue gun and roll up your sleeves for a little art therapy:

1) Teacup Planters

These DIY teacup planters from actress Eva Martino are an incredibly easy way to beautify your small house plants. Simply transfer your plant from its pot into a teacup or teapot, add rocks or Styrofoam to fill in any gaps, and water it according to its directions. The project will only take you about 10 minutes, but will nurture your plants’ growth for weeks and weeks.

2) Teapot Lamp

This project from Country Living brings together an array of teaware to create a beautiful, unique lamp. Select your materials, and then fill the smallest among them with self-hardening clay. While the clay is still wet, insert a socket-and-cord unit. Once it’s dried, super glue your teapots, saucers, and cups together from largest to smallest, finishing with your teacup containing the socket-and-cord unit. Attach a shade to the top, add a bulb, and let there be light.

3) Teacup Vase

This teacup vase from Jennifer Rizzo couldn’t be easier. Simply find two teacups without any cracks, turn one upside down, and glue the bottoms together. You’ll get the most bang for your buck if you use at least one tall mug. Add flowers and water for an funky centerpiece.

4) Teacup Candles

This guide to making your own teacup candles comes from Inhabitat. Simply pour wax, dye, and scented oil into a teacup to create a special candle. Afterwards, enjoy your after-dinner tea by candlelight.

5) Teacup and Saucer Ring

If you love tea so much that you want to wear it on your finger, this adorable teacup ring is for you. Purchase a porcelain doll tea set (or steal one from your kid) and glue the tiny cup and saucer together. Then glue the toy unit to a ring base. All that’s left is to flash the cutest piece of jewelry in the world all over town.

6) Teacup Wine Glasses

Do you like wine, but love tea? Get the point across with these teacup wine glasses from Country Living. Glue the stem of a wine glass to the bottom of a teacup to create class and interest at your dinner party table setting.

7) Teacup and Saucer Bird Feeder

This snazzy bird feeder from Practically Functional is a cute way to attract feathered friends to your backyard. Glue a teacup to a saucer at a ninety degree angle, so that the birdseed will look like it’s spilling out. Tie the cup and saucer to a tree or bird feeder hanger with twine, and prepare for chirping.

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Tea Accessories

Get Crafty: Creative DIY Mugs

March 18, 2016

You’re sitting at home and it’s a Saturday afternoon. You’ve watched pretty much everything on Netflix. There’s nothing on TV. You just finished that book and you’re itching to do something productive. So you decide, let me make something. You’re not in the mood to whip up a feast or bake, so what are you going to do? Get crafty and make a unique new mug to enjoy your next cup of tea, of course!

I know what you’re thinking… That sounds like a lot of work. But if you take a moment to toggle over to Pinterest, you’ll be almost overwhelmed with the variety of DIY mugs that are both professional-looking and easy to make. Here are some of our favorites:

If you’re like me, you have just enough artist skill to get by. I don’t know how to paint or draw very well, but I definitely learned to color in the lines. This metallic gold woodgrain print mug can be yours in a few easy steps.

What you will need to complete this project: plain mug, stencil, permanent marker, rubbing alcohol, q-tips, an oven, and a steady hand (optional).

Next we have two simple and unique techniques to creating your mug masterpiece. In the first DIY option from TheCountryChicCottage.com, you get to drip paint on a mug and blow on it through a straw. Careful it may cause lightheadedness and giggles, but it’s definitely fun! The second from CuteDIYProjects.com can be done simply with nail polish and warm water.

What you’ll need to complete the design below: plain mug, 3 colors of multi-surface paint, a straw, a feather.

So maybe you love the marbled style, but you don’t have paint handy. Remember all that old nail polish you love, but never wear anymore? Use it to make yourself a brand new mug.

What you’ll need to complete the design below: plain mug, 2-3 colors of nail polish, and a bowl of warm water deep enough to immerse the whole mug.

Maybe watercolor prints and woodgrain isn’t your thing. But perhaps you’ve got great penmanship, a steady-hand, and you love the smell of fresh sharpie in the morning! You can make yourself a custom sharpie design; take a crack at some of these.

What you’ll need to complete the designs below: plain mug, oil paint Sharpie markers, and creative flair!

There are so many creative things to do with your mugs. And you’re only a few steps away from the satisfaction of a fresh cup of tea and knowing you’ve made a unique mug that can never be replicated the exact same way again. Share some of your favorite designs with us in the comments.

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