The Perfect DIY Gift for Literary Tea-Lovers

Hello, everyone! This gift is perfect for the bookworms/tea-lovers in your life. I made this for my great grandmother, and it is specially handmade while remaining practical (and tasty). I was inspired by products sold online, book-lover teas and a bag of 'Novel Teas', so without further ado, here is my DIY version.

To make it, you will need:

-A box of a variety of teas (if you plan to use my printables, you will need raspberry, peach, black cherry, blueberry, and berry zinger flavors. I think mine was under $3 from Walmart).

-The free printables below (unless you make your own).

-A printer and ink for the printables, of course

-Scissors

-Twine

-Glue (I used Elmers, but a glue stick is best) 

-A clear gloss (I may have used Modpodge, but acrylic gloss is better)

Printable:

https://ungprod-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/lbalt0091_ung_edu/EdEhTqjZjAtAq2wgpISK7p8BqzncIPVNPO3Z7vlhGIPrBA?e=hTwXL8

Teabag Printables:

Step 1. 

Print out the label for the box.

Step 2. 

Cut it out to the correct size, stick it on with a glue stick and add a clear gloss on top. 

Step 3. 

Remove the tea bags. Print and cut out the book covers. You will need to download and save the pictures to your photos, then right click (when you're in your computer's photo library) and select 'print' or 'Print...' Then you will need to change the settings. There should be an option that allows you to print several of the same image on one paper. I chose to print about nine per page, but this will depend on the size of your paper. Hopefully that makes sense. An alternative option is to open it in a collage-editor program and print them as grid collages. 

Step 4.

Tie the covers on the right-flavored tea bags using twine. Make sure your hands and work space are clean. Needless to say, do not use glue, or the recipient can't drink with them!

Step 5.

Put the tea bags back. You're done!

I added mine to a gift box with homemade "Reading under the Stars" sugar scrub and made a homemade label for a Bath and Body Works product to turn it into a lavender "bookstore" scent. I also added soap and a candle from Erwin Rush and Bath and Body Works, and put everything on a dishcloth. Have fun crafting!

-Lauryn