Friday, October 26, 2012

Giant Spiders

Giant Spiders
Directions
· You need nine black trash bags and stuffing such as newspaper, left over packing materials, or even leaves.
· Fill one trash bag with stuffing and tie it closed to create the spider’s body.
· Hold the second trash bag on its side and fill the length with stuffing.
· Wrap the empty bag around the stuffing several times, so that it looks like a spider’s arm, and secure it with a tie. Repeat this for the other seven legs.
· Use a glue gun to secure the legs to the body.
You can cut off the bottom of Styrofoam cups and glue them onto the body to make eyes.
 

Halloween Lanterns

Halloween Lanterns
Directions
· 24 small googly eyes
· 12 mini paper cups
· Awl
· String of white holiday lights
· Glue a pair of googly eyes onto side of each mini paper cup, about halfway between top and bottom
· Punch a small hole in bottom of each cup with awl
· Hang string of lights. Push 1 or 2 lights through hole in each cup.

http://dealspl.us

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Kill Weeds with Non-Toxic Household Products

Kill Weeds with Non-Toxic Household Products


(image via: john-morgan)
If you want to clear your yard of weeds before everything goes dormant for the winter, don’t give in to the easy and toxic solution of RoundUp or other chemical weed killers. You can kill weeds with varying degrees of success using non-toxic methods like boiling water, vinegar and cornmeal. You can also block weeds from sprouting with weed fabric and garden mulch, or layers of wet newspaper.

www.webecoist.com

For

Weed Killers: 8 Natural Methods

http://www.diylife.com/2011/02/18/weed-killers-natural-weed-control/

Make Your Own Natural Fire Starters

Make Your Own Natural Fire Starters


(image via: design sponge)
No need to waste money on store-bought fire starters for your cozy fall and winter fires. If you have pine cones littering your yard, gather them up and try out a DIY project offered by Design Sponge. This fire starter tutorial requires pine cones, twine, candle wax and your choice of essential oils for fire starters that make your house smell good, too.

www,webecoist.com

Experiment with Natural Dye

Experiment with Natural Dye


(image via: ingermaaike2)
Dye clothing, curtains and other textiles with food items that are already in your pantry. Blackberries, spinach and red cabbage are among the fruits and vegetables that can produce beautiful natural dyes. The striking golden yellow seen above was made using onion skins!

Making Natural Dyes

Post image for Wednes-DIY: Making Natural DyesI have been wanting to experiment with natural dyes for a while now, and with all the great new fall colors that have been popping up on our website (and featured in our monochromatic trend) I decided that it was time. This is such a fun, environmentally friendly project that takes a little time, but very little cash.
For today’s DIY I’ll tell you about what natural ingredients you can use to make natural dyes, and what shades of color they will yield.
What I got: red cabbage, lemons, oranges, beets, yellow onions, blackberries, blueberries, spinach.
For bluish/purple dyes:
blackberry-dye
red-cabbage
Blackberries and red cabbage can be used to make bluish/purple dyes. It’s important to remember when working with natural dyes that experimentation is key – depending on the amount of ingredients you use and how long you leave a garment in the dye, the color you get can vary.
For pinkish/red dyes:
beets
beet-dye
blueberries
Beets and blueberries can make a really lovely dusty rose color.
For copper/orange dyes:
onions
onion-dye
I never realized what a beautiful color yellow onions can have! Their skins can make an alluring mustard yellow, coppery color.
For yellow dyes:
oranges
orange-dye
lemons
Orange and lemon peels can be used to make a soft pale yellow dye.
For green dyes:
spinach
spinach-dye
Finally, spinach can be used to make a beautiful shade of green.
Now what?
To make the dye, chop up your ingredients and put them in a pot with twice as much water as ingredients. Bring the water to a boil and let simmer for an hour. For deeper colors, you can leave the ingredients in the water (without heat) overnight.
Remove the hard materials from the mixture with a strainer, leaving you with the liquid dye.
Before dyeing, you will also need to create a fixative, which will help your fabric hold the dye.
When working with berries, use a salt fixative – put 1/2 cup of salt in 8 cups of water, put the fabric in and boil for one hour.
When working with vegetables, use a vinegar fixative – mix one part vinegar and four parts water, add your fabric and boil for one hour.
When you remove the fabric, rinse in cold water.
The fabric is now ready to dye! Just drop it in the desired color, let sit until it reaches the shade you want, remove and hang to dry.


Source: Wednes-DIY: Making Natural Dyes | Free People Blog http://blog.freepeople.com/2011/08/diy-natural-dyes/#ixzz2AKp0DnEp

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Insulate Your Hot Water Pipes

Insulate Your Hot Water Pipes

Weekend Project: Insulate hot-water pipes to cut down on heat loss
Feb 11, 2010 12:01 AM
The pipes that snake out from a hot-water or steam boiler and from a water heater radiate heat much like a conventional radiator or baseboard. You might welcome that heat if you spend a lot of time in the same unheated space as your boiler or water heater.

But if you'd rather decrease the heat loss from those pipes (not to mention prevent any burn risk from them), follow the four easy steps in this latest Weekend Project (photos for all four steps are below) adapted from our Complete Guide to Reducing Energy Costs ($19.45, including shipping).

Insulated hot-water pipes can reduce heat loss and keep the water in them 2° to 4°F higher than uninsulated pipes, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. And your water heater will not have to flush and reheat the pipes each time you run hot water to the same area of your home during peak-usage periods. The only tools you need are a measuring tape, a pair of scissors, and a sharp retractable-blade utility knife.

A very important point: Check your owner's manual or on the boiler or water heater itself for the required clearance from the appliance and its flue. Certain foams could emit toxic gases if they burn.

Also find out which type of insulation and tape/wire/clamp to use. The installation here shows foam insulation, but for a gas-fired boiler or water heater, use unfaced fiberglass pipe wrap, held in place with either foil tape or wire.

Finally, measure the diameter. Plumbing pipe is measured by its internal diameter (3/4 inch is common), but the actual outside diameter will be larger, depending on the material. The outside diameter of 3/4-inch black iron pipe is more than 1 inch, for example.

1. Attach the first sleeve. Using the scissors, cut a 45-degree angle on one end of a length of insulation, then slip the sleeve over a section of pipe so that the angled miter cut ends up against the first turn in the pipe. At the other end, cut the sleeve to length with the utility knife.

2. Add the second section. Cut a 45-degree angle in the sleeve and fit it against the 45-degree angle already in place.

Insulate Water Pipes Weekend Project
3. Continue cutting and fitting. Once you've made the first few turns, the run of pipe will likely be straight. Cover the pipes up to the point they go through the wall or ceiling and are no longer accessible. Every few feet you might want to secure the insulation to the pipe using acrylic tape, wire, or a cable tie.

4. Seal the seams.
Flexible-foam sleeves like the one shown often have adhesive on the edge of the slit so that you can seal them. Remove the protective strip on each side, then push the sides together.

Insulate Water Pipes Weekend Project

Essential information:
Learn how to prevent frozen pipes at your home and use our advice to save on your utility bills. If you're in the market for a new boiler or water heater, find out whether that equipment is eligible in your state for a rebate as part of the $300 million cash for clunkers for appliances program.
 
 
www.consumerreports.org 

Make an Easy Non-Toxic All-Purpose Cleaner

Make an Easy Non-Toxic All-Purpose Cleaner


(image via: brandyfisher)
Vinegar really is pretty amazing stuff. It’s cheap, powerful and one of the safest ways to get virtually everything in your house sparkling clean. Give it extra grease-cutting power with the addition of one simple, natural ingredient: orange peels. The next time you eat an orange, don’t throw the peel away! Place them in a jar, cover them with vinegar, put the lid on and let it sit for two weeks. Then strain it and add it to a spray bottle, and you’ve got pleasant orange-scented all-purpose cleaner.

www.webecoist.com

 [Recipe at Brandy Fisher]

Put orange peels in a jar, cover with white vinegar, put the lid on and set it aside for at least two weeks. Mine sat for 4 weeks and smelled amazing when I took the lid off!
  • Strain the vinegar, mix with an equal amount of water and add to a clean spray bottle.
  • Start cleaning!

Shorten Your Dryer Vent Hose

Shorten Your Dryer Vent Hose


(image via: quasireversible)
Many clothes dryer vent hoses are longer than they need to be, dragging out drying times and creating a potential fire hazard. Make the hose between the back of the dryer and the wall as short as possible. Straight is best; 90-degree angles can cause flammable lint build-up.

www.webecoist.com

Use Vinegar to Make Non-Toxic Wood Stain

Use Vinegar to Make Non-Toxic Wood Stain


(image via: reloved rubbish)
Did you know you can stain wood using nothing but vinegar with some metal added to it? Chemical reactions between the acidic vinegar and the metal in objects like rusted nails, steel wool and pennies create different colored wood stains. Reloved Rubbish used steel wool to create the subtle dark stain seen above; get more recipes at Money Pit.

WebEcoist.com


If you’re looking for a natural, non-toxic wood stain, you might want to raid your kitchen. Coffee, tea, vinegar, walnut hulls and even certain berries can be used to stain wood.
Tea
One simple way to stain wood is to boil tea leaves in two cups of water until you have a deep tea concentrate. Simply brush the hot tea water onto your wood. Different teas will give you different shades. natural wood stains
Coffee
Brew some strong coffee and let it cool; then apply with your favorite brush or rag. Let it really soak the wood. It’s okay if the coffee gathers in small puddles on the wood. You’ll get a deeper stain depending on how long you let the stain sit. Check it ten minutes after application by wiping a section clean of coffee. Not dark enough for you? Let the coffee sit longer.
Walnut Hulls
Black walnut hulls, soaked for several days, create a dark wood stain. Strain the mixture before you use it. Some people prefer to boil the hulls first, and then allow them to steep.
Black Raspberries
Black raspberries are an effective wood stain when crushed and then rubbed onto wood. Allow the berry pulp to dry on the wood, and then wipe it away. Berry stains will fade in direct sunlight, so this method is better for wood that stays indoors.
Vinegar
Vinegar works as a wood stain when you add a metal object in the mix and let it sit in a glass container for a week. A handful of pennies will produce a beautiful pale Caribbean blue stain. A wad of steel wool will give you a rich reddish hue. A combination of tea and a metal object in vinegar will produce a black stain.
As with any untried stain, start with a piece of scrap wood. Use the same type of wood you’ll be staining, as stains can look dramatically different on different woods. Not only will this allow you to see if you like the stain, but you’ll have the opportunity to apply several coats to see how the shade changes and deepens. Keep track of how many applications it takes to get your desired result.
Keep in mind, too, that stained wood can change with age – often with attractive results, but be prepared to potentially end up with a different look later.
For stains that may be prone to fading, consider using a clear sealant on top of your stain.
For crafty folks who like to keep it natural, non-toxic wood stains from coffee, tea, vinegar, walnut hulls and berries are a fun, artistic and wholesome way to decorate.

The Money Pit

Friday, October 19, 2012

"Green" automatic dishwasher detergent

"Green" automatic dishwasher detergent

Ingredients: 
1/2 cup liquid castile soap
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3 drops tea tree oil
1/2 cup white vinegar

Method:

stir all ingredients together until blended. Store in a squirt top bottle. Use 2 tablespoons per load of dishes, shake well before use.






www.greenlivingtips.com

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Retro Robot Costume

Retro Robot Costume

By: Marisa Pawelko for Westcott

Read more at http://www.favecrafts.com


Retro Robot Costume

Materials:
  • 8” Westcott Titanium Bonded NonStick Scissors
  • Westcott  Hobby Knife
  • 12” Westcott Titanium Bonded Trimmer
  • Paintbrush
  • Large rectangular cardboard box for torso
  • Small square cardboard box for head
  • Small rectangular box for treat depository
  • Silver Duct Tape
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Dryer Duct Tubing
  • Computer Generated Color Printouts
  • 2 Small Flashlights
  • Classic Glossy Mod Podge
  • Elastic cord for leg tube suspenders
  • Construction paper for lining visible interiors of boxes (tin foil may also be used)
  • Sneakers
Instructions:
  1. With your 8” Westcott Titanium Bonded NonStick Scissors cut off the bottom of the torso box using child’s body as a sizing guide.
  2. Cut a square hole in the top of the torso box slightly smaller than the head box.
  3. Using your Westcott Hobby Knife cut 2 small holes in the front top corners of the torso box using the flashlights as a guide.
  4. Cut 2 round holes for arms in sides of torso box with your Westcott Hobby Knife, using the dryer duct tubing and the child’s body as a guide.
  5. Cut a round hole in the head box for the face.
  6. Cut a rectangular hole in the top of the treat depository box.
  7. Cover all cardboard boxes with aluminum foil by applying a thin coat of Classic Glossy Mod Podge, and folding excess foil around holes.
  8. Line the interior of the head and treat depository boxes with either colored construction paper or aluminum foil.
  9. Once glue has dried, neatly connect the head, torso and treat depository boxes with duct tape.
  10. Print out “Insert Candy Here” and paper command buttons using your home computer/printer and trim with the Westcott Titanium Bonded 12” Trimmer. You may also create them by hand with markers and construction paper.
  11. Have the child choose the commands for the tricks they would like to perform. Glue buttons and arrow onto costume.
  12. Using the child’s body as a guide cut lengths of dryer duct tubing for the arms and legs.
  13. For a finished look and to protect from the wire in the tubing, wrap duct tape around all 8 cut edges/ends of the dryer duct tubing.
  14. Connect the arm pieces to the torso box with duct tape on the inside of the tubes and box.
  15. Use duct tape to connect flashlights in place on inside of costume, leaving access to the power switches of the flashlights.
  16. Using the child’s body as a guide, create suspenders to hold up the leg tubes. Poke 2 holes in each leg tube and run the elastic cord through the holes. Tie the elastic cord to the leg tubes. The suspenders cross over each shoulder of the child (forming an X on the chest) on the inside of the costume, before putting on the rest of the costume.
  17. Wear thin pajamas under costume. Cover basic sneakers with duct tape, leaving access to laces or Velcro unobstructed and let the fun begin!

Read more at http://www.favecrafts.com/

Pumpkin Costume

Pumpkin Costume

By: Heather Mann for Dollar Store Crafts

http://www.favecrafts.com

Cute as a Pumpkin Costume

Materials:
  • 1 orange t-shirt (a few sizes larger than your child)
  • 1 sheet black felt
  • 1 sheet green felt
  • 1 sheet green self-stick craft foam
  • ¼-inch wide elastic (length depends on the size of the shirt)
  • 1 green pipe cleaner
  • 1 green pom-pom
  • Scissors
  • Safety pin
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks
  • Recycled corrugated cardboard (6x6-inch piece)
  • Recycled plastic grocery bags (optional)
Instructions:
  1. Make the T-Shirt: Cut eyes, nose, and mouth shapes out of black felt. Make your Jack O' Lantern facial features any shape you like. I cut 2 triangles for eyes and 1 triangle for the nose; I used a half-moon shape for the mouth, with a rectangle cut out of the flat side of the half moon to form a tooth.

    Cute as a Pumpkin Costume
  2. Cut triangular pieces from the green self-stick craft foam to border the t-shirt collar. Cut 4 to 5 triangles, depending on the size of the collar.
  3. Attach the green triangles around the collar of the t-shirt as a border.
  4. With hot glue or craft glue, attach the facial features on the front of the shirt, just below the green triangles.

    Cute as a Pumpkin Costume
  5. Cut a small slit in the inside layer of the waistband of the t-shirt.

    Cute as a Pumpkin Costume
  6. Attach the end of the ¼-inch elastic to a safety pin, and thread the elastic through the waistband until it goes all the way around and comes back out through the slit.

    Cute as a Pumpkin Costume
  7. Then, cut the elastic at the end so the length fits the t-shirt. Cinch the elastic so the waistband is slightly gathered, but not uncomfortable. Tie the ends of the elastic together and clip excess. Tuck the knot inside the waistband.

    Cute as a Pumpkin Costume
  8. Gather the sleeve in the same way you did the waistband, but cut two slits, one on either side of the seam on the bottom of the sleeve. Thread elastic into one hole and out the other, and tie knot over seam. Repeat for second sleeve.

    Cute as a Pumpkin Costume
  9. When your chid child wears costume, stuff the shirt with recycled plastic grocery bags for a rounder pumpkin shape. Avoid this step for younger children.
  10. Make the Hat: Cut a 6-inch circle out of recycled corrugated cardboard (I used a bulk cereal box). Use an old CD or plastic lid for a template, if desired.
  11. Cut an 8-inch circle out of green felt. Use a bowl for a template, if desired. This circle doesn't have to be perfect, because the edges will be hidden.
  12. Express a circle of hot glue around the outside of the cardboard circle, close to the edge..

    Cute as a Pumpkin Costume
  13. Fold felt over around the entire edge.

    Cute as a Pumpkin Costume
  14. Measure a piece of the ¼-inch elastic around your child's head going under his chin. Cut so the elastic is snug but not too tight. Glue raw edges of elastic flat to middle of cardboard circle.

    Cute as a Pumpkin Costume
  15. Cut circle of black felt slightly smaller than the cardboard disc (about 5 inches). Hot glue over exposed cardboard and elastic.

    Cute as a Pumpkin Costume
  16. Wrap green pipe cleaner around a pen to make it curly. Hot glue pipe cleaner curl to the green top of the hat. Hot glue pom-pom over the center of the pipe cleaner.

    Cute as a Pumpkin Costume

Read more at http://www.favecrafts.com


Shiver Me Timbers Pirate Costume

Shiver Me Timbers Pirate

http://www.favecrafts.com

Shiver Me Timbers Pirate
Materials:
  • Stiff felt (gray, black, brown)
  • Felt yardage (brown, 1/6 yard)
  • Black fabric (24” square or you could use a black bandana)
  • Ribbon (4 yards of 1” red grosgrain)
  • Acrylic gems, assorted sizes and colors
  • Small craft brush
  • Low-tack masking tape
  • T-shirts (white long sleeve, black)
  • Felt sheets (white, black, gold)
  • Sewing pins
  • Pencil
  • Elastic cording (black, 1 yard)
  • Foil
  • Cut and loop tape (black, 3”)
  • Scissors
Instructions:
Head Scarf:
  1. Fold square in half diagonally. Apply a very thin bead of No-Sew Fabric Glue along three edges then press in place and let dry.
  2. Glue ribbon just above folded edge. Let dry.
  3. Place folded edge to front then tie a knot in back of head to hold in place.
Eye Patch:
  1. Cut out patch pattern, pin on piece of soft black felt and cut out. Fold in half and pin to secure.
  2. Cut out skull pattern from white felt then use No-Sew Fabric Glue to adhere in place on patch. Let dry.
  3. Add a dot of Jewel-It® on skull for each jewel. Press jewel into place and let dry.
  4. Remove pin then fold patch over elastic cording and glue patch together. Let dry. Tie cording to back of head, adjust patch then trim ends if needed.
Shirt and Vest:
  1. Use scissors to cut a zigzag edge around bottom hem of white shirt. Repeat step for sleeves, cutting about 4” up from cuff.
  2. Squeeze a small puddle of OK To Wash-It® onto foil. Measure and cut four ribbons to fit around sleeves, adding about a 1” overlap to each. Place ribbon on work surface then use craft brush to paint on a thin layer of glue to one side of ribbon. Press in place on sleeve about 2” up from cut edge and add another ribbon 2” above first, holding both with small piece of masking tape if needed until dry. Repeat for other sleeve.
  3. Cut two lengths of ribbon about 12” long. Glue one in place about 2” down from neckline then another about 2” below the first. Let dry.
  4. Cut sleeves from black tee just inside seam edge. Cut off 2” from bottom edge of shirt and set aside, then cut a zigzag hem. Cut up center front of shirt curving slightly at each side of neckline. Refer to photo. Cut three 1” slits along both sides of opening where shown. Cut hem section to create one long strip then thread back and forth through openings and tie a knot at end.
  5. Cut skull and bones  from white felt sheet. Use OK To Wash-It® to glue in place on right side  f vest. Use Jewel-It® to adhere gems in place on skull for face.
Belt:
  1. Pin buckle pattern pieces to gold felt and cut out.
  2. Cut a 4” wide strip the length of brown felt. Try on belt then cut to size, leaving a 5” overlap.
  3. Use No-Sew Glue to adhere buckle piece in place about 5” in from one end.
  4. Cut buckle end of belt in a point as shown.
  5. Use No-Sew® Glue to adhere cut and loop section on back toward end of belt and let dry.
Sword:
  1. Use pencil to trace pattern pieces onto felt, tracing and cutting number indicated on pattern.
  2. Use Fabric Fusion® to glue gray sword and brown handle pieces together.
  3. Apply glue to one side of black handle section, place sword and handle piece in place then glue other black section in place, sandwiching pieces within. Hold with tape if needed until dry.
  4. Use Jewel-It® Glue to hold adhere colored acrylic gems in place.

Read more at http://www.favecrafts.com