As the weather slips from sun-baked Indian summer to the
chill and damp of full-on fall, chances are you’ll spend less time romping in
the great outdoors and more time cooped up inside. Thanks to this DIY autumn
potpourri, there will be no reason to leave the delicious scents of the season
outside when it’s time to go in.
What You’ll Need
1 red apple
½ orange (Peel half and eat the rest!)
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon of whole cloves
1 whole nutmeg
Acorns and other tree nuts
Small pinecones
Paper towels
Cookie sheet
Scissors
Hammer
Sturdy paper bag
Bowl or jar for storage and display
Amounts will differ depending on how much you intend to make,
but to keep your mix from being too overpowering, go heavy on the big stuff—apples,
oranges, nuts and pinecones—and light on the pungent spices. Remember, you can
always store extras for other projects! The amounts listed here should make one
bowl of potpourri.
What You’ll Do
1. Slice your apple paper-thin and toss the slices onto a
cookie sheet in a single layer. Preheat your oven to 150 degrees (F) and put ‘em
in for half an hour.
2. Peel your orange, then lay the peels on paper towels,
cover with another layer of paper towels and put them in the microwave. Heat
for about five minutes on low heat.
Apple slices and orange peels not all the way dry? Store
them in a cool, dry place for a couple of days before assembling your
potpourri.
3. Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves and nutmeg into the
paper bag and seal well. Using your hammer, smash them into pieces—not powder!
To keep damage to a minimum, take your sealed paper bag
outside to crush the ingredients.
4. Time to assemble! In your bowl or jar of choice, mix the
apples and oranges with the pinecones and nuts. Sprinkle your spice bits over
top, mix well and enjoy the aroma!
Mix It Up
Does fall have a different scent to you? Try adding in
snippets of vanilla bean, fallen pine needles, and dried flowers for a
different potpourri mix.
Make It Personal
A bowl of potpourri in your room is fab, but if you want to
give your morning routine a bit of zing, try making sachets to stash in your
underwear drawer. Pulling on a bra and panties with a spicy sent will make your
autumn a.m. rush warm and cozy, and it’ll keep you smelling great all day long.
While you’re at it, why not toss one into your locker to freshen up stinky gym
clothes?
BY BRITTANY TAYLOR ON 9/22/2010 7:00:00 AM
POSTED IN diy, room decor