Hand Crafted Butterfly Teabags

I saw this idea around the blogosphere and my first thought was 'Oh my God that is so nice, but that's a lot of work.' But then I realized that although I wouldn't invest that sort of time for myself, it's the sort of thing my mother would love, and I'm willing to invest the time for her.  With Mother's Day coming up, I set to work.

I'll show you how I made them after the cut.


I found a butterfly graphic I liked, sized them and then printed them out on cardstock. The wingspan is 2 1/2 inches.

I watered down some dollar store acrylic paints and gave them a quick swipe with two colours. I was going for a watercolour look.

One of the ideas I had seen was to use organza for the teabags and while I loved the look of the fabric, there were threads falling off everywhere, so for me, that was a deal breaker.  I had planned to use coffee filters and then this jumped out at me at the dollar store.  Oh dollar store, how I love you, my pretty.

This is 4 1/2 inch iridescent ribbon (you can't really tell, but my Lord it's totally iridescent, and it's completely dreamy!) that doesn't shed threads! Love!  So I folded it width wise, and sewed 2 1/2 inch bags, leaving the top open.  I cut them apart after sewing - it's easier that way.

This is 4 1/4 inches wide, by 2 1/2 inches high, cut in half after sewing.

I filled each teabag with a very good quality Jasmine loose tea, and Chinese green tea, about one well rounded teaspoon.  By the way, loose tea can be steeped at least twice, sometimes three times.  You should do that!  There's no shame in it!

I used coordinating coloured embroidery floss for the string.  I cut seven inch lengths and knotted both ends.

Then I placed the string at the half way mark of the open end of the teabag, and sewed it shut.

I cut out the butterflies and brushed clear school glue on one side, stuck the string down, brushed a bit of glue over the thread, and stuck another painted butterfly on top. You could skip the second butterfly, but I wanted the string covered because I'm obsessive that way.

Edit: If you are obsessive like me, glue the butterflies the opposite direction from this photo ( head facing the teabag) and that way, when it's hanging down from your teapot or cup, the butterfly is facing upward rather than upside down in a nose dive. 

My mother is going to flip when she sees these. Flip!

Rosebud Tea

Tutti Frutti Tea

I might break down and make a few for myself one of these days (no I won't.)

 How pretty, right?

I had read a comment left by someone on another blog post about these teabags, and how there are chemicals left on thread after processing and my God! you better wash your thread! and I imagine the same can be said of the ribbon, and to that, I say, 'Seriously? I mean, Seriously?'  I have bigger fish to fry.  They probably contain mercury.

Also, I received a comment in a craft community, saying that since this ribbon doesn't shed thread, maybe it's fused and therefore the tea won't steep (hmmm valid concern!), and I did a test on one of the teabags, and it steeps perfectly well.  I think the tea tasted better than usual due to the addition of a butterfly.

 

Packaged and ready to go.