Throw-back Thursday - Fall Leaf Garland

A while back (2010?!) I did a post about how to make a dried leaf garland.  I came across it the other day an thought it was worth another look!

 

 

For the first step, look to this post for how to dry and mod-podge your leaves. Gather some strong thread or twine and a needle and you're ready to go.

I tried using thread first, and didn't like it.  It got twisted, and the leaves slid around too much.

Then I grabbed what was left of my hemp (I seriously think that I've had this since I was 12!!) and used it instead.  

This required me to use a yarn needle to poke holes first

 

I threaded the hemp through one side

 

And through the other side

 

And then do it again, and again, and again!!!

Ta-da! Now you have a festive decoration that will last for the season!

Crochet Coffee Cozy - with free pattern

The following is a post that I originally created for Kimberly's "Gift It Good" series over at Bugaboo, Mini, Mr. & Me - to check out more gift ideas, head over there!
 

The Super Simple Coffee Press Cozy

Now you're going to have to be patient with me as I'm not exactly a pro crocheter.  It is pretty easy and super cute, and definitely worth sharing.  And gifting!

Supplies:

Worsted weight yarn of your choice - sorry I didn't measure how much, I made 2 out of a brand new skein that was maybe 146 yards and there was plenty left over!

Size I (5.5mm) or if you have the Susan Bates set they sell at Michael's...the pink one.

Terminology:

Ch - chain

SC - single crochet

Sl - slip stitch

SP - space

Let's go!

Chain 46.  Without twisting the chain, join with Sl in first chain.

Row 1 - *SC in first Ch, Ch skipping next Ch*  repeat * to * and join with Sl in first SC.

Row 2 - Ch 1. *SC in SP, Ch skipping SC* repeat * to * and join with Sl in first SC.

Row 3 - Repeat row 2.

Row 4-20 - *SC in SP, Ch skipping SC* repeat * to * at end of row, Ch 1 and turn work.

Row 21 - Chain 7  (beginning of tab) Turn and SC in Ch, Ch skipping next Ch over length of the tab. *SC in SP, Ch skipping SC* for the remainder of the row.

Row 22-23 - *SC in SP, Ch skipping SC* repeat * to * at end of row, Ch 1 and turn work. (if you lost count...or if I did...you should finish row 23 at the end of the "tab" portion.  If not, add one more row)

Row 24 - 1 SC, Ch 3, Skip 1 SP. *SC in SP, Ch skipping SC* repeat * to * at end of row, Ch 1 and turn work.

Row 25 & 26 - *SC in SP, Ch skipping SC* repeat * to * at end of row, Ch 1 and turn work.

Row 27 - *SC in SP, Ch skipping SC* repeat * to *

Finish & weave in ends.  Slide on coffee press and see where the hole in the tab lines up with the rest of the cozy & sew button on accordingly.

Pattern can be made larger or smaller by chaining more or less stitches to start and by adjusting the number of rows in section 4-20.

This would make a great gift to go along with a coffee cozy and for a personal touch, throw in a couple monogrammed mugs! Check out my super simple tutorial for that with pro-tip here.

   

Custom Spice Jars Make You The Envy of All Your Friends!

One day while getting my hair cut my hair dresser and I were discussing our mutual love of Bulk Barn and she was telling me that she tossed her mis-matched spice jars, bought all new ones from the dollar store and filled them with cheap bulk spices, saving a fortune, and ending up with cute matching spice jars.  Clever girl.  So naturally when I moved out on my own and needed ALL new spices, I did the same....but craftier!

Step 1: Go to the dollarstore and find your GLASS spice jars... also, set up little backgrounds using other dollarstore items to take nicer looking pictures and get weird looks from people passing by....

I liked these, but they didn't have "shaker lids"

These were super cheap at 3/$1 but I was worried the white lids would get dirty really quick - like curried and gross.

I ended up going with these because they had 3 different hole sizes and looked pretty snazzy!

Step 2: Buy 20 of them.  Find out that the guy at the till has trouble multiplying 4x5 to get 20 and counts them all one by one.  (clearly the education system has failed somewhere...)

Step 3: I washed them.  And the realized I would need to wash them again after etching... so this step is really not necessary.

Step 4: Figure out what spices you want and create your Silhouette file(s).

Step 5: Cut out your vinyl labels & attach to jars.

Step 6: Apply etching cream according to directions.

Step 7: Remove etching cream and labels. Wash the spice jars...again.

Step 8: Buy said spices at Bulk Barn (or wherever you like really)

Step 9: Fill spice jars and take many many photos with poor lighting!

Step 10: Finally put spice jars away in their home.

Oh yeah, and Step 11: do a happy dance because you spent:

$25 spice jars

~$20 on spices!

Boo-yeah! 

 

http://www.cleanandscentsible.com/2013/08/the-inspiration-exchange-no-12.html

Taking off a toilet tank!

Nothing is worse than moving into a house and finding out that the previous owner cut corners with everything - including painting AROUND the toilet tank.  It's really not that difficult, and I'm going to walk to you through it!


1) Gather your supplies:

All you should need is a wrench, flat head screw driver, a bucket (like an ice cream pail), and some rags.

2) Very important - shut off the water valve.  It's that little screwy thing at the bottom of the water hose.

3) Flush the toilet.  The water should empty from the tank, and there will still be water left in the bowl.

4) Now using your bucket and perhaps something like a sham-wow, get as much of the residual water out of the tank.  Anything that's left will end up on your floor, so make sure you do spend some time on this step!

5) Once that's done, grab your tools.  You're going to use the wrench to grab and hold the nut on the bottom of the tank.  You might need someone to help you out.

6) Using your screwdriver, unscrew the bolt from the inside of the tank.

Yours might have some corrosion on it like mine.  Once you chip away with the screwdriver, it won't be too hard to get out.  If your screw looks very stripped and corroded, you might want to buy replacements for when you put the tank back on.

7) Do both sides.  Make note of where the washers and pieces all fit for when you have to put it back!

8)  Last thing before taking the tank off, disconnect the water hose.  It will just hand-screw off.

9) Lift off the tank, and place out of the way.

10) TA-DA! Now you can paint behind the toilet.

When you're ready to put it back on, just do everything in reverse, and double check for leaks!

I'm not that handy of a person and I could do this.  My lovely sweet boyfriend showed me how to do this when I did this bathroom, and then I did the one pictured above by myself, and talked my sister through doing hers on her own too.  It really is that easy - there should be no excuse for not painting behind your toilet!  

Mini Mani-bombs

I love getting together with girlfriends to pamper ourselves.... or just use it as an excuse to drink some wine.  (even better when they come in cute bottles!)

And maybe some shots in there... just for fun?!

Anyway, I can't help but make my own spa treatments, I HAVE to share them with you!

Today I'm bringing you mini-bombs.  They're basically just mini bath bombs, for when a whole one is too big.  Like for when you want to soak your hands for manicures!

The girls enjoying their spa night!  (Leigh and Kim love being featured on my blog... apparently it makes them feel like mini celebs, little do they know how tiny my blog really is!  lol)

(Can ya tell they're all sisters?!?!)

Anyway, if you want to make some of these little lovelies, we'll get to it!

What you'll need: (I halved my original recipe to make ten of these little guys)

1/2 cup baking soda

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup epsom salts

~1 tbsp water

a couple drops food color

a few drops essential oils

1/4 cup citric acid


I apparently didn't take pics of the process, but if you go to one of my older bath bomb recipes, you'll find them. 


Mix your dry ingredients EXCEPT for your citric acid together.  


In small bowl combine water and food coloring, and then add your oils (of course they don't really mix...)


Add the wet to the dry, and mix well.  Consistency should be like wet sand.  


THEN add your citric acid and mix with a spoon (I used my hands once, and putting them right into the citric acid was a very bad idea because I had a bunch of cuts all over! ouch!)


Press your mixture into moulds and turn out onto parchment paper and allow to dry about 24 hours.  




(the "spots" you see here is just epsom salts, if you use a finer salt you don't get that)


For these mini ones I used those mould for oreo cookies that you cover in candy melts.  


To use, drop in warm water and let the fizzy goodness explode.  



Soak your hands/feet for as long as you need!



Stay tuned for the coordinating hand scrubs!