These fun little herbal mug rugs make a great gift anytime you need just a little something, such as a house warming present, teacher’s gift, mother’s day gift or friend’s gift.

They may great additions to a Gift Basket. Make up a basket with special teas, pretty mug, spicy mug rugs and other tea accessories.

Add a card to the mug rugs, explaining how to use. On the card I write:

SPICY MUG RUGS

Place a cup of hot tea on these spicy mug rugs to release the aroma. When not in use, store in plastic bag to retain the aroma for the next time. Enjoy!

Mixture:

• 1 part cinnamon chips, cut into small pieces
• 1 part. whole cloves
• 1 part. nutmeg pieces or chips
• 1 part. allspice
• 1 part. rosemary needles

Or any mixture you like. This a great way to use up those old spices and dried herbs in your cabinet. Or you can just use cloves, or how about pickling spices? Stay away from ground spices unless you make a muslin liner to hold the spices, otherwise they might leach through the rug.

NOTE: Be careful and not leave these rugs on a wooden or cloth table, because again they might leach. Spices contain an oil that can affect your finish.

Equipment:

1. 4 or 8 pieces of fabric 5-1/2″ square
2. 4 or 8 pieces of low loft quilt batting 5-1/2″ square, can be a tad smaller
3. Thread to match
4. Sewing needles and pins
5. Sewing machine or hand sew
6. Scissors
7. Spoon
8. Spicy mixture
9. Stylus for turning corners
10. Ribbon for finish product

Cut fabric and batting into squares. If making two mug rugs, you will need 4 pieces of batting and 4 pieces of fabric. If making 4 finished mug rugs, you will need 8 pieces of each.

I like to use cotton fabric. Might add monogram initial to center for an elegant look.

Layer a piece of batting, place two squares of outer fabric, right side together, and top with layer of batting.

The finished piece has the batting on the inside with the right sides of the fabric facing out.

Pin together and place pins around with one end having two pins showing where to leave an opening for turning, it should be about 2 inches apart.

Sew around using a sewing machine or hand sew leaving the opening, Back sew at opening to reenforce the turning hole. Iron.

Trim off the excess batting next to 1/4″ stitching line and trim the corners for ease of turning. Check the back mug rug in above picture. Turn inside out and use the stylus to ease the corners. Iron.

Using a spoon small enough to fit inside the hole, add about 2 Tbsp. of the mixture between the batting layers. Fill over a paper to catch any spills.

Pin the opening close and whip stitch or top stitch around. Be sure opening is closed so the mixture will not fall out.

Move the spices around to evenly distribute the mixture.

To use: Place a hot cup of tea on the mug rug and smell the spicy aroma. It may need a little crunching to release the aroma.

To help retain its fragrance, store in a plastic bag or a box lined with plastic.

Note: It is not a good idea to leave the Spicy Mug Rug on a wooden table, because the oils from the spices may leach out.

Happy Crafting!