Cool Mint Lip Balm On Tuesday I showed you the sparkly strawberry lip balms I made for my Christmas cracker gifts. They'd be great for the gals, but I also needed something for the lads so I made cool mint lip balms with a white leaf atop. Christmas gift : Cool mint lip balmIngredients 2 tablespoons of white beeswax pellets (1/2 tsp for leaves)4 tablespoons sunflower oil (1/2 tsp for leaves)Few drops of cool mint flavour oilTeal food colouringPackagingEquipmentMini leaf mouldPipettesMicrowavable glass jugMicrowavable small glass jarMetal spoonScissorsSharp knife Cool mint lip balm, How-to step by step Start by placing the beeswax pellets and oil in a glass jug and heating in the microwave on low to medium power until the beeswax pellets have melted. In a small glass pot, melt half a teaspoon of beeswax with a teaspoon of oil in the microwave until beeswax pellets have melted. Wrap washi tape around each jar to secure lids. See hand-made strawberry lip balm here, with fully illustrated photos.
All Natural Lip Balm The week leading up to the new year wasn't exactly how I had pictured it. It was the last week of the boys winter break. I had envisioned walks around downtown looking at the lights, taking down the Christmas tree together, continuing our holiday baking marathon and maybe even a little post Christmas mall browsing. Thankfully, I had made a big batch of lip balm the week before Christmas to give as little handmade gifts to my girlfriends. This recipe is super simple. The recipe came from this blog last year and I tweaked it a bit and she grabbed it from this book where she had tweaked it a bit. Sweet Orange Lip Balm 8 Tablespoons Coconut Oil 3 Tablespoons Beeswax 1.5 Tablespoons Raw Honey 30 drops Sweet Orange essential oil (if you want color) 1/2 stick of natural lipstick (I like Jane Iredale and Josie Moran) Place oil, beeswax and honey in a double boiler (or heatproof bowl resting on top of a small saucepan of simmering water). Place the pan or bowl in a larger bowl full of cold water.
Bath Salts Recipe: DIY Wedding Shower Favors Posted on January 18, 2012 by Christina DIY bath salts are probably the easiest and most economical DIY favors known to man, er woman – especially with this bath salts recipe. Talk about bang for your buck! Which of your female guests wouldn’t love a luxurious soak in a tub filled with gorgeous aromas and pure, skin-softening salts? I especially loved this DIY wedding project because it gave me an excuse to open my potions cupboard. I think this would be a fabulous shower gift. Bath Salts Recipe (Fills two 150 ml containers) 3/4 cup Epsom salts 1/2 cup coarse sea salt 1/4 cup baking soda 8 drops essential oil food coloring Mix all of your dry ingredients in a large bowl. If there are lumps, crush them. Using a whisk, mix in the essential oil and food coloring. Scoop bath salts into airtight containers.
Great Harvest Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread With the kids back in school and the weather turning a little bit cooler at our house…I have been in the mood for baking some yummy goodness! My friend Stacy gave me a recipe she had that was supposed to be a Copycat Great Harvest Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread. She had tried it and really liked it, so I thought I would give it an “official” taste test of my own. After looking at the recipe, I immediately knew there were some changes I was going to make. I have tasted Great Harvest’s Pumpkin Bread and think it is really a pretty close comparison…but…my husband claimed that he actually liked this pumpkin bread better!! Here is the recipe. Great Harvest Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread Recipe Ingredients: Directions: We always add a few more chocolate chips that the recipe calls for…because sometimes our chocolate needs are more than what is called for! Some of you may have noticed that these loaves of bread are a little bit longer and thinner than your standard Bread Loaf Pan. 1. 2. 3.
How-To: "Stained Glass" Votive Holders By Jenny Ryan Many times when I’m at the grocery or drug store, I can’t resist throwing a few scented votive candles in my cart. When I’m ready to burn them, it’s easy enough to sit one on a cute little vintage china saucer, but I recently decided to try and find a fancier display solution for them. I also wanted the project to be inexpensive, and the materials used to be things I already had on hand. I was inspired by memories of making faux-stained glass in elementary school and came up with these fun little glass votive holders. This project is quick and easy, and a great way to whip up custom party décor on the cheap. Materials Tissue paper in your desired colors Mod Podge (matte finish), in a pinch you can also use school gluePaintbrush Scissors Glass containers to fit your candle(s), I used thrifted vases and wine tumblers Paper punches in various shapes Q-tips, optional Directions Step 3: Start affixing the punched-out paper shapes to the glass using your paintbrush. More: Related
Citrus Facial Refresher In a small sauce pan, bring water to a boil. Add vitamin C tablet and stir until dissolved. In a medium glass bowl, add the lemon peel. Ducklings In A Row - Hair + DIY Tutorials: I'm Inexplicably Drawn to You...DIY Magnetic Tote Bag My husband and I are really bad at the diaper bag thing. My son has sat through more than one restaurant dinner in some state of undress, including wearing nothing but a diaper at his cousin's birthday dinner, because we inevitably leave the house without adequate diapers, wipes or a change of clothes. Luckily he's old enough now that diaper blowouts are a rarity, however toddler-boredom-turned-general-naughtiness has taken hold where poop-up-the-back-of-your-shirt-and-seeping-down-your-pants-leg used to live. After one too many dinners out during which I try and fail miserably to entertain the duckling with a dull butter knife and a packet of Splenda, I decided to get wise and create a quick and easy bag that could keep the little guy entertained long enough for me to enjoy a glass of wine. Be forewarned, this little bag is addictive. 1. 2. 3. 4. In the end it was worth the wait and elbow grease, as it then went on smoothly and quickly with my remaining foam brush. 5.
DIY collapsible cardboard playhouse Turn a cardboard box into hours of entertainment for your little ones with this DIY collapsible playhouse. This cardboard playhouse was created, especially with small spaces in mind, because when the kids tire of it, the house collapses down flat for easy storage. Cardboard boxes are a hot commodity in our home -- even my 8-month-old appreciates a good drum fest with empty cereal boxes. Pretty much the perfect toy, boxes are free, plentiful (if you eat the way my boys do, that is) and provide the creative possibilities that can be a great exercise for a child's imagination. My kids especially love making forts out of boxes, and it seems that for them, the smaller and cozier the better. While intended for my youngest, this easy-to-construct cardboard playhouse continues to entertain my older boys. 1. 2. Turn box on side so the opening is perpedicular to the floor. 3. Cut off the top entirely and save the piece. 4. 5. Retrieve the piece you saved for the roof of the cardboard playhouse. 6.
Peanut Butter Christmas Trees | Sweet Simple Stuff Welcome to the National Peanut Butter Cup Forest … the sweetest forest in the land ;) If my hubby got lost in this forest, he would eat his way out … or in! Anyway, I’m sure you see how super simple … easy peasy … these are to make. Here are the few items you will need … peanut butter cups (snack & miniature sizes), chocolate kisses, white chocolate (or candy melts) and white non-pariels … Melt the white chocolate (this will be the “glue” that holds each layer together) and put it in a squeeze bottle or ziptop bag with a tiny cut off corner. Set up an assembly line … Tree trunk – upside down miniature PB cup – white chocolate “glue”1st layer – upside down snack size PB cup – drizzle white chocolate around the edges & sprinkle with non-pariels2nd layer – upside down miniature PB cup – repeat drizzle & sprinkle3rd layer – chocolate kiss – repeat drizzle & sprinkle Each tree requires … 2 miniature PB cups, 1 snack size PB cup & 1 chocolate kiss Can you believe how easy that was? Like this: Related
TIPPED OUT all photos: Kristin Ess + thebeautydepartment.com post designed by kristin ess Lots of emails this week asking for a tutorial on Lauren’s temporary bright colors. Here I’ve replicated the process for you in 7 steps on an extension. TOOLS: highlighting comb, clips, foils, color brush, hair bleach with the appropriate volume (always seek a professional when using bleach), light pink color, dark pink color, light blue, dark blue, clear gloss. Step 1 Highlight the tips of the hair using hair bleach with the correct volume. Step 2 Fold up your foil and let it process until it reaches a pale blonde. Step 3 Shampoo and lightly condition bleach out of the hair. Step 4 Blow hair completely dry. Step 5 Place the hair on a foil. Step 6 Next, paint the light blue (or whatever color you choose) on the entire bottom 2/3. Step 7 Paint the very tips (or bottom 1/3) using the darker version of that color. This is such a fun summer trend and I hope everyone finds their own fun way of doing it.
Chalkboard Mason Jar Magnetic Jars Longest title ever for a craft? I just couldn't decide what to call it, so it;s a little long-winded.... But, here's a tutorial on how to make Chalkboard Mason Jar Magnetic Jars: I was sent some products to try out from Plaid, along with a gift card to Walmart for any other supplies I may need. (oh man, I must be technology challenged - I took these with my tablet and now I can't flip the pictures - so turn your head and humor me .... ) Do you remember a couple of years ago when they downsized the craft section and took out fabric (at least my Walmart did ) to make room for a bigger electronics section - - and then mine brought back fabric a few months ago and I jumped for joy - - and now the whole craft department has expanded recently - take that electronics! Including tons of products from Plaid - awesomeness! Anyways, moving on - - I picked up these super awesome mason jars - I didn't even know they made these: But there they were at Walmart, with all the other mason jars:
DIY Laced Cement Votive By Claire of Fellow Fellow Hi there, it’s Claire from Fellow Fellow here! I’ve got a really cute DIY for you today! A laced cement votive, perfect for summer nights spent outdoors. Keep reading to see the full tutorial after the jump! Step 5. Baby Rose Sugar Scrub Have you ever received roses that were stunningly gorgeous, only to be sad when they age? Well, I found the perfect solution to making our favorite rose bouquet last a little longer! Introducing: Baby Rose Sugar Scrub (my 5th sugar baby creation!). With just a few simple and inexpensive ingredients, a food processor, a pretty jar, and a few rose petals, you can make a beautiful DIY gift for yourself or for somebody you love! For this DIY sugar scrub recipe, you will need: 1.5 cups of plain white sugar1/4 cup of baby oil12 rose petalsa food processora pretty jar Here’s how this magical little rose scrub comes together: Aside from being gorgeous, roses are *thought* to contribute to our well being. Don’t you think this Baby Rose Sugar Scrub would be a beautiful gift? I made this scrub with the leftover rose petals from a bouquet of roses I received for Valentine’s Day. Do you enjoy handmade sugar scrubs as much as I do? Pages: 1 2
Christmas M&M Poem I will be sharing a few more simple and easy gift ideas in the next week or so. I don’t think you’ll mind because if you’re anything like me you’re constantly looking for cute, easy and cheap gift ideas. This next idea was inspired by a print I saw at an enrichment activity this past month at church. My friend had made little containers of Christmas M&Ms and attached this poem. You can obviously change it up however you like. I found my jar for $2 at Hobby Lobby (when their glassware is 50% off). To make things even easier you can print off the poem and attach it to a bag of M&Ms. Click on the image you want above. I think the chalk print is cuter, but I know some of you don’t want to drain all your ink so I made the other version too. I think these would be perfect for the sisters I visit from church! I think the neighbors might like them too. For more easy Christmas Food Gifts be sure to check out: Christmas Candy Bar Wrappers Hot Cocoa Gift Idea Christmas Hershey Kisses Christmas Jar Gift