reclycle an old door into a headboard

i love this idea! i am sure you have seen them before but have you wondered about the step by step how to? check out martha's link here

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make scented candles from used cooking oil

this is ingenious: the oon candlemaker! a little device that turns your old cooking oil into a scented candle. sign me up for  one please!

check it out here



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six uses for old pallets

remember the pallet chair i built last year? well, it is still holding together amazingly! i came across this article 6 Amazing Uses for Pallets and thought hummm... what else can be made from old pallets. let me know your ideas.

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how to make a ipad + kindle cover from a book

adding a bit of your own personality to your tablet pc is a simple as hollowing out an old book. you could buy one {like this from pad + quill} or go the diy route and create your own.

all you need is:
an old book that is at least 2" larger than your tablet pc on all sides, an exacto knife, a ruler, glue, a pencil, fine grit sandpaper + some patience.

how to:
1. open up the book + lay your tablet pc on top
2. trace the outline of tablet
3. use an exacto knife to cut shaped hole, stopping at the back cover
{it is easiest to work a few pages at a time}
4. lightly sand inside the hole to smooth pages
5. add a layer of glue where you just sanded + allow to sit overnight {with a heavy object to weigh it down}
6. insert your tablet + that's it. you are protected in cool school style!

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seed paper roses tutorial

roses for your valentine!
and these flowers create even more beautiful flowers come springtime. mine are sitting in a vase on my windowsill patiently waiting for the weather to warm up. but you could add a tag + gift a bouquet to your favorite gardener. be sure to download the tutorial at the end of this post + enjoy!



{click for larger printable view}

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paint chip valentines

check out this super cute idea for recycling paint chips from country living! 
how to:

"Press inked stamps onto the strips to form phrases like XOX and let dry for five minutes. Kahn's trick for ensuring that the ink adheres? Coat each paint strip with aerosol hair spray before stamping."

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diy wool arm warmers

this season's hottest must-have accessory will keep you warm and stylish. they are arm warmers. 
if you are a knitter, you are luck because there are hundred upon thousands of tuts on the web {like this one}. but if you are knitty challenged, you can make your own with just the sleeves off an old sweater. 

supplies:
an old long sleeved felted wool sweater
scissors
needle + thread
measuring tape

how to:
step 1. decide how long you'd like your arm warmers; just over the wrist, up to the elbow or even longer.
step 2: measure the distance between your knuckles and where you want the arm warmers to end, then add 1" {for seam allowance and hemming}.
step 3: cut the arms of your sweater off according to your desired length.
step 4: fold over the top and hem along the inside.
step 5: cut a slit for the thumb. felted wool will not fray, so stitching around the thumb hole isn't really necessary.
tada, your arm warmers are done!

note: a quirky look is to mix up the arms of two different colored sweaters; cut them up to create a striped look.

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make a sweater pillow

soft cozy sweater pillows are über popular + pricey!
but they are so easy to make. here's how...

supplies:
sweater {from your closet or thrift store}
pillow form or bating
measuring tape + pencil
scissors
needle + thread
straight pins
sewing machine {optional}

how to:
step 1: wash and dry your old sweater. turn sweater inside out.
step 2: lay your pillow form on top of your sweater lining up the design placement.
step 3: measure around the pillow leaving a 1/2" margin to sew.
step 4: mark and cut the sweater.
step 5: hand or machine sew the pieces together, being sure to leave a space for the pillow form to slip in.
step 6:and turn right side out.
step 7: insert the pillow form + hand stitch the opening closed.

now just cuddle up with your pillow, a cup of hot cocoa + a great movie!

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leftover wrapping paper idea

love this idea from martha stewart's site...
what to do with left over wrapping paper: cut strips and wrap around your reusable flatware for your next dinner party.

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diy cake stand

pretty cakes stands, like this one, are my weakness.

they add such a charming touch to any event. if you are in a pinch {or just want to have something to leave behind for the hostess}, you can make your own  + it only takes a few minutes!

supplies:

thrifted plate {goodwill, salvation army sttore, etc}

glass candlestick

permanent adhesive (like e6000)

ruler

sharpie

how to:

1. find the halfway point on the back of your plate and place a dot using a sharpie.

2. coat the rim of the candlestick with adhesive

3. adhere candlestick to back of plate using a slight bit of pressure.

4. let dry upside down for recommended drying time.

5. enjoy your lovely cake stand!

{note} you can also make two tier cake stands using one small plate and one dinner plate. just make sure the base is good + sturdy. you can also use a drinking glass or tulip shaped ice cream sundae dish for the base.

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transform a wire hanger into something useful

this is not my original idea; but i l♥ve it!
it comes from emily anderson's book: Eco-Chic Home. this little project turns a wire hanger into a little container for berries + such.
adorable!

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homemade hairspray recipe

yup, it's me, meg!
yup, i am back.
so trying to post a craft a day turned out to be too lofty of a task for me + well, it just did not happen. i am willing to try again but it just may not be everyday. please join me while i work though my dawdling issues for 2011!

and now without any more ranting, here is how to create your own homemade, eco-friendly hairspray on the cheap.

ingredients:
orange
rosemary {optional but it adds extra volume to your hair}
water
alcohol {optional}

how to:
cut up one whole orange + add it along with a sprig of rosemary to a pan of 2 cups of water. boil it down {orange rinds, seeds, rosemary + all} until it you have 1/2 the amount of liquid you started with. let it cool then strain it through cheesecloth or pantyhose into a reusable spray bottle. keep stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or add one ounce of alcohol as a preservative + can be stored unrefrigerated.

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vinegar, more than just salad dressing

this inexpensive kitchen staple can multitask in any room of the house. here are a couple of my favorite eco friendly ways to use it.

- clean your steam iron

fill the water tank with white vinegar. turn the iron to the steam setting +  a soft towel. repeat the process with water, then thoroughly rinse out the inside of your iron.

- clean your coffee maker

once a month fill the reservoir with half white vinegar + halftap water. run through the brew cycle then rinse thoroughly with two cycles of cold water.

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no pectin strawberry jam

i am so excited that strawberry picking season is early this year. i just took my jars out of the cannner + am anxiously awaiting a little homemade strawberry jam on my toast!

here is my recipe for no pectin strawberry jam:

2 qts crushed strawberries 

4 c sugar

4 T lemon juice

1 T butter {optional but prevents skim from forming}

sort and wash the strawberries; remove any stems and caps. crush the berries {i use my food processor}. add crushed strawberries to large pot. add sugar and stir well. boil rapidly, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 220° - 222° F. remove from heat + skim. fill and process jars for 5 minutes. the finished product will be slightly thinner than pectin added strawberry jam. makes about four, 8 oz jars.

note: my cost per jar was just $1.75 -comparably it is $5 + up at the grocery for all natural jam.

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thrift store gem

look what i found... a great $1.50 chair at the thrift store that was just begging for a re-do. i took it completely apart, recovered the seat + back cushion then painted the frame a bright white. i am loving my new front porch chair!

note: i removed all of the rust from the screws, bolts + tacks by soaking them in a super strong glass of tea them wiping them down with steel wool. worked like a charm.

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clean + fresh smelling carpets

after a day of open windows, my carpets are still a bit musty smelling. so today i am using baking soda to tackle the problem. baking soda absorbs + neutralizes odors.

here's how to make it work for you...
liberally sprinkle baking soda on the carpet + let set overnight {or as long as possible because the longer it sets the better it works}. sweep up the larger amounts then vacuum up the rest.

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fresh air

my favorite natural air deodorizer is an open window! clean air will rid your house of pollutants. homemade cleaning products are best but no matter which products you choose, i always make sure my windows are open.

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soapwort laundry soap

soapwort comes from nature + can be returned to nature when you are done with it {think: compost bin}. it has no harsh chemicals nor environmentally destructive additives. plus, it is also very easy to grow!

soapwort soap:
2 c distilled water
2 tsp dried soapwort {available in most health food store or grow your our with soapwort seeds}
4 drops lavender oil extract

bring water to a boil; cover and simmer 20 minutes. remove from heat, add soapwort + mix. let cool, then add in remaining ingredients. bottle and store. use 1-2 oz per load in place of laundry detergent. and yes, it really does produce bubbles!

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non toxic dryer sheets

it is officially spring cleaning week in my house. lots of winter quilts to wash + store. this is how i keep them soft + static free...

instead of adding potentially toxic commercial dryer sheets, i use aluminum foil balls in the dryer {two balls tightly rolled approximately 2-3" in diameter}. I also add 1 cup of vinegar in my rinse cycle.

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crafting with nature

this is not my original idea but i think it is so clever! what a great way to bring the outside into your kitchen. looks simple enough to make: find a small stump, drill 1/2' holes on top + add a piece of felt on the bottom to make it scratch resistant.

ps the idea comes from the book, Tree Craft: 35 Rustic Wood Projects That Bring the Outdoors In

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