Tea with Lili

I probably should have posted this before Mother’s Day, but c’est la vie.

It’s good for any gift giving scenario.

My step daughter is 3 1/2, the most knowledgeable toddler age!  I often get up super early with her on weekends.  After I make her breakfast I can begin my morning coffee ritual.  The caffeine gods must be appeased.  Lili is at that age where she likes to recite all the facts she knows about any object she sees.  I am often the recipient of a thoroughly researched lecture on coffee.  Having heard the lecture numerous times, I am familiar with the highlights.  If you would like to benefit from her wealth of coffee knowledge, see the notes!

When I asked Lili what we should make for the Grandmas, she said, “Tea!”  So tea it was.  I saw this awesome blog on Pinterest (obviously).  Originally it was intended for Valentine’s day….  But I live on the edge.

As I went through the process, I added a few tips of my own which I will list below.

Tip #1 Don’t let the toddler determine the amount  of tea for the tea bags.

Tip #2 Don’t let the toddler carry the finished product.  Especially if the lid is not secured tightly.

Tip #3 Make sure the recipient is not allergic to any components of the tea.  Like cats.

Tip #4 Don’t put cats in your tea.

MATERIALS: coffee filters, embroidery floss, sewing needle, scissors, crayons, glue, paper, loose leaf tea, puppies, rainbows, hugs, sunbeams etc…

STEP 1:  Make your tags!  I had Lianna color on one side of multiple sheets of paper.  This was her favorite part.

STEP 2: prepare your coffee filters!  Fold the coffee filter in half, and then make another fold.   Cut out into a half a heart, and it turns into two hearts.

STEP 3:  Prepare for heart surgery!  Start sewing at the top of the heart where the two sides meet.  When you start, put the knotted end of the thread on the inside of the heart.  Using small stitches, sew along the edges of the heart.  Sew about 2/3 of the way around the heart.

STEP 4: Load up!  I put 1 teaspoon of loose leaf tea in the heart before sewing it the rest of the way.  When you finish sewing, leave the remaining thread long enough to attach the heart tags.  If you have a heart-shaped hole punch I strongly suggest you use it!  I do not.  So I cut the hearts out by hand.  They are less than perfect.  Far less.

STEP 5:  Presentation!  I picked up some boxes from the dollar store.  I lined the box with tissue paper.  Before I set the tea bags inside, I wrapped the thread around each tea bag and tucked the tag in.  That way they don’t get tangled up!

We made the bow using this tutorial.  I will be using it for all future wrapping projects.  So cute & helpful!  I searched & searched for homemade bows, and this was my favorite tutorial!  You should check out her blog; I am absolutely enamored.

That was our Mother’s Day!  Both Grandmas loved it  🙂  For obvious reasons.