Recipes, Projects & More

Homemade Chalkboard Paint

Chalkboard paint is very easy to make and the best part is the array of fantastic colors you can create.

Cup of latex house paint or acrylic craft paint
1 TBSP of non-sanded tile grout

Mix together until there are no lumps.
That is it, I told you it was easy J

Paint whatever surface you choose using a roller for a smoother finish. A brush could leave ridges when it dries. Let this dry completely.

(If you find the chalkboard surface is a little to rough once it has dried, sand the surface with very fine grit sand paper. This will give a smoother surface.

Family Photo Collage

Wooden Letters

Paint

Mod Podge

Scissors

Pen

This first part is the hardest. Making your collage of pictures. I used “PowerPoint”. Any software will do if it allows you to place and resize pictures.

Once you have a collage of photos, you then need to print if on photo laser printer. I brought my file (collage photo) on a USB drive to a print and copy store and had 6 copies printed off. It cost me under $2.50.

Place your letter on top of the photo paper, arrange it to show the pictures you want and trace the letter out on top of the paper. Cut this letter shape out staying inside your trace marks (to make it a bit smaller). When you have all the photo paper cut for your letters set the paper aside.

Paint both sides of your wooden letters with acrylic paint and allow to dry completely. (you will probably have to paint one side, allow dry and paint the other side). Do not forget to paint the sides of the letters.

Paint the letters with a coat of Mod Podge, place the photo paper on top and paint another coat of Mod Podge. Once you have finished the last letter the first ones are probably dry enough to do another coat of Mod Podge. Allow this to dry.

Paint one more final coat of Mod Podge ( this would make 3 total) and allow this to dry completely. Hang your letters and enjoy.



Easy Craft Clay

1 box baking soda (about 2 cups)
1 cup cornstarch
11/2 cups water
Sauce pan
Bowl
Spoon
Plastic wrap

Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring consistently, until it is to think to stir with a spoon

Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring consistently, until it is too thick to stir with a spoon.

Cool for 15 minutes, or until dough is cool enough to work with. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes, or until smooth.

Keep dough wrapped in plastic

This will take 1 - 3 days for the finished product to dry. Timing depends on the thickness of the item. Paint with acrylic or tempera paints.

Pom Pom Bookmarks

Yarn or bakers twine

Scissors

1. Wrap the yarn around your fingers, the more fingers you use, the larger the pompom will be (50 - 100 times)

2. When you have a good bulk on your wrapping stop but do not cut the string. Using the tail and the string still connected to the ball, tie tightly around the middle of the wad, slipping it off your fingers as you work. Be sure to get it nice and tight.

3. Measure out a length on the attached string that is about as long as you want the bookmark and then add a little bit and start wrapping again, trying to get the same bulk as the first one.

4. Tie off as you did with the first pompom and then cut through the loops (but not the connecting string!).

5. Lightly roll the pompoms in your hand to round them then trim away any excess to create a nice ball shape. Slip the connecting string between the pages of your favorite book and you are set!

Make your own paper

1. Tear up all your left over paper into fine pieces.

2. Put all your pieces of paper in a container and soak it for 24 hours.. Or put the paper pieces in a pot of water and boil for 1 – 2 hours, stirring occasionally and adding more water when needed.

3. When the paper is mushy drain it in a fine holed strainer

4. In a new bowl mix together 2 cups cold water and ½ cup flour. 

5. In a pot bring 2 cups of water to a boil and then add the flour/cold water mixture. Bring this to a boil again.

6. Remove this mixture from the stove and add 3 tbsp. of sugar

7. Allow this paste to cool down and thicken

8. From the paper remove as much water as possible and add enough paste to coat the paper nicely.

9. Sandwich the paper pulp between 2 pieces of wax paper and using a rolling pin make it as thin as possible.

10. Put this on a tray or counter and let dry completely

Jean Planters

Neighbors and visitors alike will do a double-take when they notice the new planter you've made! At first glance, it's a pair of jeans that are standing by themselves. Upon further inspection those jeans are actually a flower pot! The standing pants are an unusual way to add a little color and whimsy to a deck, garden or even a living room. A baby's jeans are perfect for making the unique planter. Although nearly any size of small jeans will work a toddler's pants are ideal.

Toddler or child’s jeans, overalls or pants

Aluminum foil or plastic bags

2 litre or 1 litre soda bottles (whatever fit’s the chosen pants)

Fabric stiffener

Roll up the bottom inch or two of the overall legs to create an attractive cuff. This helps balance the planter and gives the illusion of well-worn jeans.

Fill 2 two-litre bottles partially full with rice, beans, small rocks or similar things. It's important to put the same amount in each bottle. All you need is enough to weight the bottles down so that the standing pants aren't easy to tip over or knock down. Set one bottle into each leg of the pants. Position it so that the hems of the pant legs come all the way down and conceal the bottles.

Crumple 6- to 8-inch sections of aluminum foil into loose balls or use plastic bags. Fill the rest of the legs and/or body of the pants with balls to form the shape of an infant's body. Avoid overstuffing.

Saturate the fabric with fabric stiffener using a large brush or soft cloth saturated with stiffener. Adjust folds and the overall shape of the jeans with your hands until you create a natural pose. Allow to dry for 24 hours.

Remove the aluminum foil balls or plastic bags

Coat the outside of the bib overalls with craft resin to create a hard glossy finish. Follow the instruction for mixing the resin and apply with a soft brush, beginning at the shoulder straps and working downward. Use care to get into creases and folds and cover all areas with a thin coat of resin.

Fit the jeans with a pot and plants

Treasure Dish

Of all crafts I have made, to date this is my all time favorite. A picture just cant capture how nice this really looks.

Clear Glass dish

Glass Beads

A print off or picture of words

Mod Podge

Glitter

Felt

Dish

Take your glass dish and cover the outside with Mod Podge. Add the glitter of your choice. I used a opal color.

Allow this to dry

Do a second coat of Mod Podge and allow this to dry completely

(I had two dished, one I left untouched and one I did the glitter / Mod Podge, the glitter one looked MUCH nicer with the finished beads.)

Glass Beads

I found that 30 pictures or words worked the best. It was layered in the dish just enough but not to much. This number is optional but I worked with 30 glass beads.

The first step is actually the hardest. You need to get a print off of the pictures you are going to use. To do this measure the back (flat part) of the glass bead and determine the picture size needed. I choose to go a bit smaller and cut the picture square so when I put the backing on (I tell you about this later) it seemed to give the picture a framed look. This made all the pictures have a similarity. I used regular photo paper for the pictures and regular paper for the words.

Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper

Once you have your photos printed and cut, you will then take a paint brush and paint the back of the bead with Mod Podge. Place your picture upside down (you want to see the picture through the bead) and paint with more Mod Podge. Set this aside on the cookie sheet to dry, still upside down.

As these are dying I am sure you will pick them up like I did and look at your work. You will probably see a lot of white. This is the Mod Podge and it just means that it is not dry. (Mod Podge dries completely clear) This drying process could actually take a couple days depending on what kind of paper you used with your pictures. Photo paper took 2 days and regular paper 1 day. You will know this is dry when there is no longer any white.

Your last step is to put a backing on the beads. It makes it a more finished look.

I used felt and it worked perfect.

Cut the felt into pieces that will fit the back of your beads. To have it a little smaller would be better than having some extra sticking out the sides.

Again using Mod Podge, paint the back of the picture and apply the felt.

Put this back in the cookie sheet, still upside down and allow this to dry.

If the bead still had a little bit of white (meaning not dry) and you put the felt on, everything will still work just fine. It just may take a little while to go completely clear.

Once everything is dry place your dish in the proper upright position and place all 30 of the Beads with the pictures facing up in the dish. Yes this will be layered and you will not see them all. That is what is nice about the dish, picking up and looking at the different beads.

Ice Candles

Things you’ll need:

 Cardboard milk carton

Candle wicks

 Candle Wax

 Ice

 Double boiler

Things to do:

 1. Start your wax melting over low heat.

 2. Trim off the top of the milk carton so you have an open box.

3. Dip the bottom of the wick into the wax and affix it to the bottom of the carton in the very center.

 4. Fill the container ¾ of the way full with ice, keeping the wick in the center of the mold.

 5. Pour melted wax directly over the ice u

ntil it’s just covered. Allow it to cool until hardened.

6. Tear the cardboard away from the candle once the wax is hard and then set the candle in the sink or a bowl until the water pockets have drained away.

Flea Killing Dog Shampoo Recipe

¼ cup Liquid Castile soap

¼ cup vinegar

1/2cup warm water

Mix all the ingredients into a squeeze bottle. Shake well.

Start at the bottom of the dogs neck and work toward their tail.

Massage this mixture in and leave it sit for 5 minutes

Rinse thoroughly; then rinse again

(I have had a few people ask me what "Castile soap" is)

Castile soap is soap that contains no animal fats. It is also known as vegetable soap. It's made primarily with olive oil but it can also contain other plant oils.  Many organic grocers and health food stores sell castile soap in liquid and bar form. 

Flea Terminator Dog Treats

3 cubes beef bouillon

1 1/2 cups boiling water

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup cornmeal

2/3 cup brewers' yeast

2 tablespoons garlic powder

2 egg yolks

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F Dissolve beef bouillon cubes in boiling water, and set aside.

Grease cookie sheets.

In a large bowl, stir together the whole wheat flour, corn meal, brewers yeast, and garlic powder. Add the yolks, then gradually pour in the bouillon water while stirring. Mix thoroughly to form a firm dough.

On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies one inch apart onto cookie sheets.

Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, then turn the oven off, and leave the cookies inside for at least 3 hours or overnight to harden. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Dog Freezie

In a bucket or container freeze watered down chicken broth with some toys and chew sticks for your furry friend.

My puppy dogs could not get enough of this treat.. I made a large one for my big dog Kyra and I made a smaller one for my little guy Buddy. The biggest problem came about when Kyra just loved it so much she kept stealing both treats. No need to worry though I made sure Buddy got his without being pestered.