| RE: Make Cloth Bags Out of Old Pillowcases |
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I sometimes cut them in half and make two bags out of each pillowcase. Great for packing shoes and loose items. ... View related article. |
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| RE: Milk Carton Candles |
I remember making milk carton candles in the 50's with my grandmother every year. Over Thanksgiving weekend we would make up bunches of them and they would go on top of fruit and nut baskets to be given out as Christmas gifts. She kept a box full of the baskets in the trunk of her car and handed them out to friends, family and total strangers she felt needed a lift or a smile.
She used the plain gulf wax to pour the candles. After they had set we would whip more wax and put the fluffy coating on the outside. We colored them pink, pale green, yellow or white. Each was sprinkled with a dab of colorful glitter and a flocked poinsettia blossom was added for design.
You can't find the half gallon milk cartons in most places but you can usually find them in the juice section. OJ & apple juices frequently come in the same waxed cartons. ... View related article. |
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| RE: Long Term Mice Control Solution |
Nothing works. I am 60 years old and never had a mouse problem until I moved here 4 years ago. My cat kept everything under control until I lost her one year ago. I would wake up some mornings and find one or two dead mice on the corner of my bed. Freaky.
Last Oct without Miss kitty I found myself overrun by them. I made it to the store to buy traps and killed over 50 in just 2 weeks. I put a dozen cotton balls with peppermint oil all behind the head of my bed plus sprayed my entire bedroom with it when I spotted them scurrying across the bed. I also dumped half a box of mothballs back there. Didn't stop them. I killed 18 in my bedroom in a week and watched them run behind the head of my bed and over to the other side to the trap each night.
When I moved my couch to clean behind it I found a softball sized hole chewed into the wall and holes chewed into several other walls and windowsills. They even chewed holes in the ceiling and dropped down from above. My yard became overrun with them in the spring. Every time I moved a flowerpot I would find a nest of 30 or 40 underneath. I have been unable to drive for a year and both vehicles are basically ruined.
I spent $20 on fox/bobcat urine and sprinkled it all over the yard and in the vehicles - nothing. Didn't even slow them down.
My friend in town suggested some of those electronic goodies because she was having success with them but that only lasted about two months before she was getting them again.
I am finally getting the house under control by vigilantly putting out 10 to 20 traps every night but the best thing has been my new friend. I had noticed the past few weeks that I was seeing less mouse activity in the yard and not seeing mouse poo in the outside dog dishes as often. Well I was sitting outside a few days ago when a movement caught my eye - a 5 - 6 foot black snake was slithering across to one of their favorite hiding places. I saw one mouse scurry out but no others. I would say he is enjoying his meals and as long as he stays outside he is very welcome. ... View related article. |
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| RE: Growing Fruits and Vegetables in Containers |
Since I am single and don't have a way to store them, I pack hay/straw around the potatoes as they grow. I can pull it back and grab a few potatoes and cover it back up through out the season.
I plant the Burpee Little Finger carrots and icicle radishes in pots between my lettuce. I use 3-4" deep meat trays for planters for these. ... View related article. |
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| RE: Selecting The Right-Sized Containers For Growing Vegetables |
I have been doing a small amount of container gardening for about 8 years and have expanded from 2 to 6 rows this year. I don't use anything near the sizes called for here. Some things work great, some I am still experimenting with.
With limited space I put a lot of things in hanging baskets, about one gallon size found cheaply at most discount stores. Cherry tomatoes and strawberries thrive in them. Cucumbers and snow peas produce enough for me but might produce more in a larger container.
I was given some scrap boards 1/2"x4" that I made into 8"x14" boxes and covered the bottoms with some scrap metal mobile home skirting I found (now I use window screening). They are great for lettuce, Little Finger carrots and small onions/scallions.
Last year I grew pole beans in 2 liter soda bottles. I cut the tops off and put one seed in each. I placed 3 concrete blocks in a triangle and placed the bottles in the openings. When the beans started growing I ran them up the tee pee of poles I had made from old tent poles.
I also tried squash and a few other things in the 2 liters but they did not do well but I believe it was a drainage problem. I am experimenting with several drainage solutions this year.
Broccoli has always done great in 8" clay pots.
This year I am experimenting with gallon milk jugs for the first time. I saw some videos on YT where a woman that lives near me used them to grow tomatoes out the bottom and eggplants, peppers, etc out the top. She hung them on a PVC frame. I had about 60 jugs so I figured it would be a good way to recycle. I am not doing the hanging plants but I am experimenting with many of my other plants in the top of the milk jugs.
Finally my favorite quick planter - "grow bags". I take a bag of potting soil, poke some drainage holes on one side then lay it in the garden, holes down. On the top I cut out a rectangle to expose the soil and add a few scoops of manure/compost. These are great for scallions, lettuce, peas, potatoes or a few flowers. I use these along the front edge of the patio and cover the edges of the bag with mulch.
... View related article. |
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| RE: Craft: Baby Shower Diaper Cake |
Gorgeous job! One of the nicest I have seen. I did a few diaper cakes, nothing as nice, but mostly do towel crafts and used to sell them like crazy.
Have you done a bridal shower kitchen cake? All you need is a kitchen towel set, ribbon, and a set of plastic kitchen utensils (you can buy a set of 6 for about $2-3).
Wrap the potholders around the utensils then continue wrapping with the dish clothes then finish with towels. It makes one layer with the utensils sticking out the top. Add the ribbon around the towels and done.
That is just the basic "kitchen cake". Of course with your talent you could fancy it up. I agree you have the knack and should consider looking into doing more of this. Good luck and thank you for sharing. ... View related article. |
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| RE: Save Potato Water for Watering Ivy |
I drain the liquid into another pan and add one to two cups of the cooked potatoes and put it in the fridge after it cools.
The next day I add a can of evaporated milk and any leftover potatoes*. Then I either make potato soup or use it for a base for a great chowder. Corn, oysters, leftover chicken, peas, anything in the fridge LOL - chowder is a great way to use up leftovers.
*OK sometimes I turn the leftover potatoes into potato pancakes:) ... View related article. |
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| RE: Unique Sayings to Monogram |
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I usually check sites that sell these type items and snag their ideas. As long as you aren't mass producing the items there would be no problem borrowing their ideas. They pay people to come up with the most popular ideas so use their resources. ... View related article. |
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| RE: Making a Doll Head Using Hosiery |
There are some very basic instructions on DIY:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_do ... article/0,,DIY_13753_2272830,00.html
I did a number of the soft sculpted dolls in the 80's. You need a long slender needle and begin and end your stitches through the back of the head so the tie offs will be covered by the hair.
Another hint, stuff the head very tightly then secure with a small rubber band. Now go back and tie it off with floss or heavy duty thread then remove the rubber band. This gives you a much tighter ball.
If you are worried, you could practice on muslin circles but don't worry. It is your vision and stitches can be pulled out and redone until you have the face you are happy with.
Have fun:) ... View related article. |
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