crafts--good smells...

Pomander Balls

Supplies: Whole cloves; fruit (oranges; lemons; apples or limes); ground cinnamon (1-2 oz); orris root (1-2 oz)

Requiring some hand strength, these wonderfully smelling pomander balls are treasured by anyone who receives them. Start by washing and drying your fruit. Save yourself cloves and make prettier pomander balls by doing a little pre-planning! Mark rows or designs around where your ribbon will go. Then, insert your cloves. No, this isn't shown in photograph! Simply insert cloves into your fruit by pressing hard or using a sharp pointed object* to start the hole first. After fruit is covered in cloves, roll it in ground cinnamon and orris root mixture. Wrap it with a cloth and put it in a dark area for a couple of weeks (may be a two-four weeks) until it hardens! Mmmmmm... the smell is delicious! "Garnish" with your ribbon and VOILA! You are done!

Make several of these and fill a small glass bowl with them during the holidays! They are a great airfreshener and very Christmassy. Add a few sprigs of mistletoe to the bowl or some leaves off of any evergreen plant you already have (snip a branch from low down on your tree). Or, make one and embellish it with netting and a long ribbon to hang from a doorway.

*tip of ice pick or round toothpick

Hint

Cloves can be expensive in your local store so you may want to shop prices to buy in bulk from a craft store. I found some very good buys online.