I am going to try to make these today and give them to some co-workers that could use a pick-me-up or have been helpful to me this year.
This is the blanket wincherella made for me. I am late in posting about it which may have made it seem like this kind gesture was not significant to me. That is not the case though. I simply could not figure how to write a post about it that conveyed both my gratitude for the blanket and the immediate connection I felt to it.
I moved to Florida without having any family here or close friends. I purchased a home this year. It was pre-furnished and decorated and while beautiful has been screaming for me to put my own touches on it and make it feel like home.
Growing up, we had several crocheted blankets. One a square pattern, one a chevron pattern, and one that is basically a rainbow. One came from my grade school auction that I begged my parents to buy because it is was so beautiful and two from a neighbor that also made my baby blanket. These gifts take time and concentration and now to have one of my own means so much.
Every time I was sick or sad, I was comforted by being wrapped in one of these. Every time I was stressed I laid on the couch and read with one of these.
Having this blanket not only makes my house feel like a home, it makes me feel at home.
Thank you so much!
DIY - fresh basil ice cubes!
yesterday i harvested a HUGE bunch of basil from my container garden - it filled an entire large colander once i removed all of the stems! i harvested the basil because i want to to keep producing for the rest of the summer but i didn’t really want to cook anything basil-y yesterday so i made fresh basil cubes and now i’ll have fresh basil whenever i want it for months!
here’s how you can do it too!
- after you wash your basil start filling your food processor with it - mine is very tiny so i had to keep adding basil, pulsing, and adding more until it was all in there. add a little bit of oil of you want it to get a bit pastier i think i added maybe 2-3 teaspoons of oil to my entire colander of basil.
- puree the basil until it’s chopped as small as you’d like it to be - i didn’t want mine TOO pureed so i left it a little leafy!
- now stir up the chopped basil puree to make sure the liquids are all evenly distributed and get out an ice cube tray - mine is a silicone tray from ikea but any tray should work!
- fill each ice cube mold with basil, making sure to press down so the basil really fills the mold - don’t toss the liquid from the bottom of your food processor, pour a bit into each basil cube, it’s full of good basil-y flavor!
- put the ice cube tray into the freezer! leave it there till your basil cubes are frozen. i left mine over night just because.
- once frozen remove your ice cube tray from the freezer and un-mold the cubes! you can store them in a ziplock freezer bag until you want to use them! and now you have home-grown fresh basil for the winter!
you can do this with any fresh herb! for example if you buy a bunch of dill and only need a few sprigs, puree the rest and freeze it for next time! never waste leftover herbs again!!!
Fortuneandglory, did you see this?
Tutorial on making your own Harry Potter wand.
Make homemade chalkboard paint (in any color).
I can think of a few places I’d like to use this.
I found this through a link on Pinterest, and just HAD to share!
DIY Puffy Paint:
Squeeze bottles for the paint: I used 6oz. bottle from Wilton (you can get these in the chocolate making section of any craft store…I found mine at Jo Ann Fabrics they were about $2 for 2 bottles)
- Flour
- Salt
- Water
- Coloring: You can use tempera paint (wet or dry), food coloring or natural coloring agents such as beet juice, raspberry or blueberry juice reduction, etc. For mine, I used Wilton’s gel food coloring because they already come in almost any color imaginable (plus I already had them in my cabinets and I loved the concept of keeping everything non-toxic - or edible - too! You just never know…kids are crazy)!
- Glass/Plastic bowls
- Spoons/Whisks
- Funnel: optional…but it helps with getting the paints into the squeeze bottles
Easy and inexpensive printmaking project for any age. You can use styrofoam plates or meat trays. Students can easily make a design in the plate with the back of a paintbrush. Acrylic paint or printmaking inks can be used for making the print.
(via monasequeda)
Guys: I’ve been drafted into helping my department come up with decorations for our holiday party. I want to make a good impression here, so I need some help.
I need help with…
- …finding simple, affordable craft decorations I could put together in a reasonable amount of time. Anything holiday…
Check out pinterest, they have TONS of DIY gifts and decoration ideas.
Here are some I like: DIY Photo Coasters 
(I’d use funny pictures, or topic related pictures instead of bridal)
Vanilla Sugar (great for coffee or tea drinkers!)
I shall post more later, but I have to get some things done.
Harry Potter Text Book Covers
I designed seven book covers as Halloween decorations. But the front of each book is an actual book from the Harry Potter books and movies.
A sample of the book covers…..
Standard book of Spells Quick quiz..what chapter would you find Alohamora?
The infamous text owned by The Half Blood Prince.
Gillyweed anyone?
Visit my other blog here for more photos (And detailed notes) and the link to the printable PDFs.
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MILK BOTTLE ORGANIZER
No, you don’t need to buy more containers to organize the kids’ stuff. You just need to drink more milk.
Good idea for my crayons!
(via thekidonabudget)
DIY Fall Leaf Candle
This is an idea from Gingerbread Snowflakes. Visit her website for more crafts.
You’ll need
- Dried, pressed fall leaves
- Regular Mod Podge
- A jar and a brush
Instructions
1. Dry beautiful, colorful fall leaves using this method. Drying should take only about two weeks.
2. Smear Mod Podge all over the sides of the jar. Do not apply Mod Podge to the bottom or the grooved lid area.
3. Place your dry leaf right onto the Mod Podge and press into place. Brush over the leaf with more Mod Podge.
4. Continue adding leaves and Mod Podge until your jar is covered with leaves. Overlap a few, but keep in mind that overlap areas do reduce the light that can pass through. I find that lighter colored leaves work best. Use the darker leaves as accents.
5. Once you have finished placing your leaves around the jar surface, use the flat end of your brush to create a stippled pattern in the Mod Podge areas NOT covered by leaves. This step will create a more pleasing pattern than will brush strokes when light shines through these “open” areas on the jar.
6. Let the candle dry thoroughly and then apply a second coat of Mod Podge, again “stippling” the open areas.
7. Let the jar dry several hours or overnight. Overspray with acrylic spray.
8. When dry, pop a tea light in the bottom and you are done!
Several of these, in different sizes, would be gorgeous on a fall party table.
I would do this but I don’t think there’s any trees around me here in Florida that would work well. Fall season is making me miss Ohio and the metroparks. Maybe the leaves won’t be all brown when I go home for Thanksgiving.
Now that I live in the world of leaves that other people come to see (LEAFERS! AUGH!), I think we should get together, some of us Western Mass-ers and I, and preserve a whole bunch of fall leaves, and mail them to PPT.
COLLEEN. GET THE WAX PAPER AND THE IRON.
That would make my world.
DIY Fall Leaf Candle
This is an idea from Gingerbread Snowflakes. Visit her website for more crafts.
You’ll need
- Dried, pressed fall leaves
- Regular Mod Podge
- A jar and a brush
Instructions
1. Dry beautiful, colorful fall leaves using this method. Drying should take only about two weeks.
2. Smear Mod Podge all over the sides of the jar. Do not apply Mod Podge to the bottom or the grooved lid area.
3. Place your dry leaf right onto the Mod Podge and press into place. Brush over the leaf with more Mod Podge.
4. Continue adding leaves and Mod Podge until your jar is covered with leaves. Overlap a few, but keep in mind that overlap areas do reduce the light that can pass through. I find that lighter colored leaves work best. Use the darker leaves as accents.
5. Once you have finished placing your leaves around the jar surface, use the flat end of your brush to create a stippled pattern in the Mod Podge areas NOT covered by leaves. This step will create a more pleasing pattern than will brush strokes when light shines through these “open” areas on the jar.
6. Let the candle dry thoroughly and then apply a second coat of Mod Podge, again “stippling” the open areas.
7. Let the jar dry several hours or overnight. Overspray with acrylic spray.
8. When dry, pop a tea light in the bottom and you are done!
Several of these, in different sizes, would be gorgeous on a fall party table.
I would do this but I don’t think there’s any trees around me here in Florida that would work well. Fall season is making me miss Ohio and the metroparks. Maybe the leaves won’t be all brown when I go home for Thanksgiving.
