Halloween Decorating

Decorating on a low budget?  Only have a small space to decorate?  There's still so much you can do that looks great and adds a spooky feel to your front porch. 

 

Normally we don't decorate for Halloween, but this year the kids really wanted to.

We decided that there were lots of things laying around that we could use to make our own decorations.  So we made a day out of it.  Not only did we save a bunch of money making them ourselves rather than buying, but we had a ton of fun.

 

We cut headstones out of old cardboard, painted it black, then painted Names and Dates in white.

 

 

 

We also cut bats out of cardboard and painted them black.

 

 

We took old weathered boards and with white paint wrote "DO NOT ENTER" and "BEWARE".

 

 

 

We even made a spooky tree.

 

 

 

What you'll need to make your own spooky tree:

Tree branch (we used a branch left over from summer tree trimming)

Flower Pot (we used an old terricotta, whatever you have laying around will work)

Foam (we used some from an old craft project, spray foam works great too)

Rocks (to weigh down your pot)

Cotton Balls or Spiderweb

 

Just put your foam in your pot.  Stick your branch into the foam.  Place rocks around or on top

of foam to add decoration, and weigh down your pot.  Pull apart cotton balls or spiderweb, and hang on tree.

 

 

Jarett had a skull (since he loves them) so we put that next to the tree & gravestones.

 

 

Here's the porch as a whole.  We might add more but I think this is pretty darn good for one day.

Especially since we made most everything ourselves.

 

 

Homemade Household Cleaners

Like so many of you I have had it with spending so much money on Household Cleaners.  I also feel that there are enough chemicals in our every day environments without adding more to every surface of my house.  That being said I started doing some research to find different reciepes for Homemade Household Cleaners.  There's alot to love about making your own Household Cleaners, for one the money you save is always great and since your using all natural ingredients there's the benifet of a healthier house without lossing any of the cleaning power. 

Until recently I had always used store bought cleaners, and have tried many different products.  It seems like they are always coming up with something new, something that works better, or lasts longer.  Really though, What are we sacrificing?  It is my belief that our children are suffering for all the chemicals we use, literaly on everything.  So I decided to make a change.  For who else can make a difference in the lives of your children better than you yourself. 


Below is a list of different Homemade Cleaners I use.  I will update with new cleaner reciepes as I continue on this journey of removing chemicals from my household.



Homemade Solution for Steam Cleaners:

• 5 cups White Vinegar
• 4 tsp Dish Washing Soap
• a few drops of your favorite scented Essintial Oils (optional)

Mix ingredients in an old cleaner or milk jug for storage.  This is just the cleaning solution, you will need to add this to water just like you would with store bought carpet cleaning solutions.  Use according to manufacture's instructions.
Note: Test a small hidden area of your carpeting before trying on the whole floor.  As with all carpet cleaners you want to test that your carpet is colorfast, and that it will not be damaged by cleaners.



Homemade Carpet Spot Cleaner

Use equal parts White Vinegar and Baking Soda, these two products fizz when mixed together.  Mix into a paste and scrub into spot using a scrub brush or old toothbrush.  Let sit on stain until dry.  Vacuum up the baking soda.  Some stains may need to be treated twice.  Note: I use an old peanut butter jar so I can store extra mixture for later use.



Homemade Fabric Refresher (Febreeze)

You will need a bottle of Fabric Softener.  Any brand or scent is fine, just make sure it has the ingredient Cationic or Ionic (this is the active ingredient that romoves smells).  You will only be using a small amount so I suggest just getting a small bottle.

Use 1 tsp Fabric Softener to 16oz Water.  Put in spray bottle, Shake well.  You can use this on all your fabric surfaces.  It not only removes smells from your furniture but also leaves a pleasing aroma in the air.



Homemade Glass Cleaner

• 2 cups White Vinegar
• 2 cups Rubbing Alcohol
• 4 drops Dish Washing Soap (optional)

Add ingredients in a Spray bottle (I just used a old Glass Cleaner bottle).  Use this on all your glass surfaces.  Fast dry.  Can use on tile as well.  You can also use this to wipe up pet urine on tile or linoleum.  DO NOT USE ON CARPET, the Alcohol may cause color loss.



Homemade Soap Scum Remover

• Baking Soda
• Scruby rag/sponge

Wet shower and tub.  Sprinkle Baking Soda, Scrub and Rinse.  This should work in most cases.  If you have hard water or stubborn stains try this....

• 1/2 cup Baking Soda
• 1/2 cup Borax
• 1/2 cup Salt

Follow the directions above.  Use a toothbrush to get into small corners and grooves. 



Homemade Mildew Remover / Tile Cleaner

Mix equal parts White Vinegar and Water in Spray bottle.  Spray on area with mildew (Shower curtain, Tiles, Bathroom Fixtures, etc.)  Let sit for just a few minutes and wipe of with clean wet rag.  For tougher mildew spots use 3/4 part White Vinegar to 1/4 part Water.



Homemade Drain Cleaner

• 1 box Baking Soda
• White Vinegar

Pour 1/2 box of Baking Soda down drain.  Then Pour White Vinegar down drain.  It should be foaming well.  For exteremly clogged drains, wait till it stops foaming then add other 1/2 box Baking Soda and more Vinegar.  Let sit as long as possible (at least an hour but longer is better).  Rinse with HOT water.



Homemade Refrigerator Cleaner

• 2 cups Hot Water
• 2 cups White Vinegar
• 2 drops Dish Washing Soap

Mix together in large bucket (I use an old gallon Ice Cream bucket)  wipe down surfaces with rag.  I use a mircofiber rag.  These work great for catching little food debry.



Rags

I prefer to use store bought microfiber rags as they catch more dust and debry easily.  They also have a fairly scrubby texture to them so work well for scrubing.  However you can use old towels and/or shirts cut into manageable strips as cleaning rags.



Bathroom Floors/Cobwebs

In the past I used a Swiffer with either wet or dry cloths to clean my bathroom floor or to collect cobwebs around the house.  However I have found that it works just as well and costs a ton less to use Homemade Rags cut to fit my Swiffer wand and my own Homemade Cleaners. 

For Cobwebs just attach a rag to the end of your Swiffer wand (you can also drap a rag over the end of a broom).  Spritz with Vinegar (you can use Water as well, I like the Vinegar for a little extra freshening of the air).  Then simply wipe away your cobwebs.

For Bathroom Floors once again attach a rag to the end of your Swiffer wand.  Spray floor with your regular bathroom cleaner or your Homemade Tile/Linoleum Cleaner.  Wipe up.



I hope you enjoy these Homemade Household Cleaning Solutions and remember to check back as I will be adding more formulas as I continue to switch my household cleaning from store bought to homemade cleaning products. 

Cross-Stitch in Progress

I am currently working on a Baby Birth Record Cross-Stitch Pattern for my youngest son Cole.  I had been adding different blog posts with updates on my progress but have decided that it would be good to have them all together so that you all can veiw the progress in one look.  I hope you like the change and will check back periodically to see the status.  If you would like to see how to start a Cross-Stitch Pattern please refer to my post titled Starting a Cross-Stitch.



Here is the first color completed.  This is Dark Lime Green

Now I have added Light Lime Green.

I either misplaced a picture of one step here or forgot to take it. 

This is Light Dusty Green & Green.

 The Light Dusty Green is what filled in the grass on top and bottom.

Green is the darker shading around the Frog and Turtles.

Here is Dark Yellow.

Now you can see Fish starting to form with the completion of Orange.

Light Lavender was used to make up one of the Lilly Pads, part of a Teddy Bear (Frog is holding) and one of the Turtle shirts.

With the addition of Medium Blue it is really starting to come to life.

The swirl at the top will become a Snail.

I must have once again misplaced one of my pictures.  This also shows Yellow which completes one of the Turtle bellies, and the yellow flower.

Here is Light Pink.  The Small Hearts on the bottom will be Snails.

The Large Heart will stay a Heart.  I have also noted since completing this color that

I missed a spot.  There will be a larger Pink Heart at the top.

As I'm already working on another color I will come back to this a little later.

This is a close up so you can see the Light Blue.  It is around the Turtles Hat, and the specks on the Medium Blue Lilly Pad.

With the addition of Brown everything is starting to come together.  The spots at the bottom will become snails.

I had to add a close up of the top because I think it looks so cute lol.  The little Brown marks between the reeds will become dragonfly's.  Also I had previously missed the large Pink heart on the top but have now gone back and put it in.

Antique Gold fills in part of the turtle shell, around the hearts at the bottom and starts to fill in the centers of the reeds at the top.

Close up of Antique Gold

Pale Antique Gold completes the turtle shell, and the reeds on top.

Close up of completed turtle shell.

Close up of completed reeds.

Dark Lavender completes the shirt on the left turtle as well as the teddy bear in frogs arm and the snail shell on top.

Dark Aqua begins whirlpools in the water and dragonfly wings.

Light Aqua completes the whirlpools and dragonfly wings.

More updates will be added to this post as they are completed, so check back to see the progress.

Thanks.

Notice on Cross-Stitch in Progress

I am in the process of consolidating all of the existing updates on my current Cross-Stitch pattern into one blog.  I will be deleting all except the consolidated form once it is complete.  I am doing this so that you can see all the steps with one look, instead of needing to look up other posts if you want to see something further back.  I have 3 new colors completed but have delayed adding an update until I get the consolidation done.  I will definately have it completed by Wednesday afternoon, but if things go smoothly I should be able to have it finished by tomorrow evening.  Wish me luck.

Make Your Own Glasses From Old Bottles

Warning: This project involves Fire and breaking Glass. Use saftey equipment to prevent damage to property and injury to body i.e. Saftey Goggles, Thick Gloves, Fire Extinguisher.  Do not attempt under the age of 18.  I assume no liability for any damage or injury, all responsibility belongs soley to person attempting this project.  Also I do not promote use of alcoholic beverages, furthermore any and all persons must be at least 21 years of age to consume alcoholic beverages of any kind.

Have you ever thought "This bottle would make a really neat looking drinking glass" or wished you could find drinking glasses that had a design that's on a bottle of soda, wine, or beer?  Well here's just the thing you've been looking for......A tutorial on how to make drinking glasses at home using old bottles.

What you need:

String (thicker string seems to work better, like an old shoe string)
Lighter fluid
Small cup or dish
Lighter
Old Bottles (the thicker the glass the better it comes out, thinner glass cracks)
Water
Sand paper 

Once you have all your supplies find a safe place to work.  I suggest at the sink, and make sure that the area is cleared to prevent accidental fires. 

1.   Tie String around your chosen bottle.

 

2.  Put a small amount of Lighter Fluid in Cup or Dish.

 

3.  Dip String into Lighter Fluid (make sure to saturate it)

 

 

4.  Place String back onto the bottle

 

5.  Hold bottle over sink and Light String with Lighter.

Note: Hold bottle at a 45 degree angle with neck of bottle angling upwards

 

 

6.  Rotate the bottle while on fire and let String burn for between 10-12 seconds.

 

7.  With String still lite put under COLD running water.

 

 

Top of bottle should fall right off.  Beware of small glass fragments.

Glass will still be hot, so use caution when picking up pieces.

 

 

 

 

8.  Sand the inner and outer edges of glass with 100 grain Sand Paper until smooth.

Some areas of glass may need more sanding than others to even out the top.

 

 

 

9.  Clean glass and enjoy.

 

 

Note:  Results will vary.  As you can see in this picture the top of the C is not all intact.

 

It is trial and error, so make sure to have plenty of bottles to work with.

Works best to place String as far away from lettering or pictures as possible, but keep in mind that the neck of the bottle is thicker so may take a few more seconds to heat enough to break.

Also if the bottle does not break the first time you shock it with water you can always dry it and try again.

 

Have fun making your glasses out of old bottles but be sure to be safe and always use saftey precausions.

 



Teaching Kids Fire Saftey

This week was Fire Saftey week at my daughter Malorie's school.  We got to go to the Fire Station, look at the Fire Trucks, meet some of the Fire Fighters, and try on one of their Saftey Helmets.  They even had a Fire Saftey game set up for the kids to practice crawling under the smoke if they are ever in a real fire. 

My Son practicing crawling under smoke

We had a really good time, they learned lots of great information and were able to ask questions that 3,4 & 5 year olds want to know.  If your child's school doesn't offer an opportunity to get up close and personal with the Fire Station and Trucks, you should call your local Fire Station.  Most allow citizens to bring their children in for a tour of the Fire Dept. and to see the Trucks.

Kids next to one of the Fire Trucks

Since they were learning about Fire Saftey at school this week, we decided it was a good time to go over the Saftey rules for our house as well.  We taught the kids how to STOP DROP & ROLL.

Cole helping Malorie roll.



We also went over an evacuation route for each child.  This is something I strongly recomend you go over with your children at least twice a year to help them remember what to do in case there is a fire or some other emergency that requires them getting out of the house.

Here are some other suggestions I have for keeping your family safe in case of fire.

• Replace batteries in your smoke detectors every 6 months. 
• (Daylight saving days are great days to do this)
• Never put cords under carpet or furniture
• Check electrical cords for cuts or breaks
• Keep lighters and matches out of reach of children.
• Always remember to turn off your stove, oven, and other cooking sources.
• Keep flamable material away from fire places and heating ducts
• Store Fire Extinguishers in kitchen and other areas that have higher fire potentials
• Teach older children how to operate Fire Extinguishers
• Plan and practice an emergency escape route reguarly
• Teach children the importance of STOP DROP & ROLL
• Teach children the ways to put out different types of fire
• wood, cloth, and/or paper - water or class A fire extinguisher
• grease - cover pan with lid, douse with baking soda or use class B fire extinguisher
• electrical charge - use class C fire extinguisher

We are quickly coming to the Christmas season in which there tends to be a higher number of accidental fires.  Be sure to check your tree and outdoor lights for any breaks in the cord and run them in safe areas of the yard and house.  Also if you use a live tree make sure to check the water level daily.  Water needs to be above the cut base of the tree at all times.

A few tips on picking a live tree

• The fresher the better - it is best to go somewhere that your tree is still growing until purchase.
• If you only have pre-cut trees available in your area make sure to pick a healthy tree
• The limbs should be very flexible and the trunk should be sticky from sap being released
• Pull on the needles, if they come off easily this tree is old and you should keep looking
• If lots of needles come off from minimal handling of the tree choose another one
• When you get your tree home cut off the bottom 2 inches of trunk, just like flowers they need a fresh open cut to be able to suck up water



PAINTING

Recently I've been interested in updating some of my bathroom decorations.  So even though it's been years since I last painted I decided to try to paint a picture myself to hang in the bathroom.  I have never been an amazing artist but I figured "what would it hurt to try".  I'm pretty pleased with my results considering it's been so long since I have really tried my hand at drawing or painting. 

This is the final result.  I was considering putting some writing in the spaces but once I was done with the leaves I didn't feel there was enough extra room.

Below are my how to steps.

 I used an old piece of siding, I liked the old weathered look it had already so did nothing to it besides dust off.  You can use any piece of wood or a canvas if you prefer. 

I then used a size 5 round tip brush to make my tree trunk.  When painting a tree keep in mind that not all trees are straight so use your imagination while working.

I then made some large branches coming off my tree trunks.  Still using the same brush.

Then I did some smaller branches coming off the larger ones.  Also using the size 5 round tip brush.

Note: I tried to keep the shape of a Y in mind as I worked on each section of my trees.  You don't have to have both sides of the Y every time, and it doesn't need to be perfect but I found it helped.

You will now need a smaller brush to make even smaller twig branches coming off the existing branches.

I used a size 1 round tip.

If you like you can now be done with your painting.  I personally thought it looked really neat with the bare branches but decided that I wanted to add some color. 

I decided to add my leaves using a sponge.  I like the wispy look of it and didn't think I would be able to acomplish this with a brush.  I used Crafter's Acrylic paint, I choose to use primary colors

(Red, Blue, Yellow) and blend them to make my own color scheme. 

I then brushed a small amount onto a corner of my sponge and lightly patted it on my board.

I used mulitple colors on each tree to add a little more character. 

You can use any color you would like for you leaves.  I choose to go with a variation of color and tried to stick with pretty natrual colors that you will see during the fall.

Once done all that is left is to find a disired spot and hang.  I am just going to hang with some nails through the wood, instead of adding hanging brackets. 

I hope you find this project helpful in your future DIY Home Decorating projects.