Loose Leaf Tea Strainers as Christmas Ornaments

Over my thrifting and vintage-shopping adventures, I had accumulated a handful of loose lea tea strainers in different shapes and sizes. For whatever reason, I couldn’t stop buying them, especially when I’d spot one that was yet a different shape.

As I collected them, I realized that they were, in fact, ideal for upcycling into rustic Christmas ornaments. Between the cute little shapes, the hanging chain, and the built in hook, they ready to hang on a tree as-is!

But then upcycling fate intervened. Before I had hung the tea strainers on our Christmas tree, I stumbled across a bag of chandelier crystals while thrifting.

Why they were labeled as “phone supplies”, I’ll never know…

And that’s when I thought…why not combine the two? A little rustic with the galvanized-look of the tea strainers, and a little glam with the gleam of the crystals- the perfect odd couple. 

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Ornament Making with Loose Leaf Tea Strainers and Chandelier Crystals

First, I started by disconnecting the hanging chain on each tea infuser using jewelry pliers. 

I aimed to do this in the middle of each chain (approximately).

Next, I inserted a chandelier crystal into the chain using the crystal’s original hardware.

Following that, I put the chain back together- but a little shorter than it was originally.

Now that it’ll be an ornament, the chain doesn’t need to be long enough to accommodate a teapot or tall mug. But that is completely optional – if you typically use a huge Christmas tree, then you may want the longer chain.

But, I wanted a little more glam on the tea infusers. So, I added another chandelier crystal to the bottom of the strainer.

I fed the original crystal hardware through one of the straining/steeping holes already in the strainer. Then, I bent the wire inside the strainer to keep it secure and the crystal in place.

And just like that, the first of my loose leaf tea strainers had been upcycled into a Christmas ornament!

I did it over and over again, making each one different. I used combinations of elements from my craft stash to create them:

• Jewelry wire
• Eyepins
• Jump rings
• Vintage pearl necklace chain
• Wire cutters

That’s it! Then, I simply did this over and over again until all of the tea strainers had been converted into Christmas ornaments.

Aren’t they so pretty? I really love how they look and how customizable they are.

I know a loose tea infuser is meant to go in a mug, but they really are perfect as Christmas ornaments, too.

Loose Leaf Tea Strainers as Christmas Ornaments

I decided to do one more thing…but this is totally optional.

I had this bag of mulled cider spices– cinnamon, allspice, orange peel, star anise, and cloves that smells AMAZING. So, I decided to pour some into each tea infuser for a little holiday fragrance on my tree!

And I will not judge anyone that leans in and sniffs my ornaments; in fact, I invite them to do it!

Either way, I’m pretty sure that tea strainers and chandelier crystals are a match made in holiday heaven!

What do you think? Will you be hunting for loose leaf tea strainers on your next thrifting adventure?

And if you enjoyed this upcycling idea for unusual Christmas ornaments, then you may also be interested in a unique Christmas wreath! This plaid wreath was made from several thrifted flannel shirts.

Speaking of flannel and ornaments, I made a few different varieties of them in my book, “Crafting with Flannel”, as well! You can find my book online at Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble.

Craft on!

S

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