Paper Towel Roll Flowers

Tools & Materials
 
• paper towel roll core
• Scissors
• Button
• Paper Glue
• Page of Paper (can be recycled from an old book or magazine)
• Brown Paper Shopping Bag
• 28 Guage Wire 
(or wire that you can bend and manipulate that is heavy enough to hold up a paper flower)
• Wire Cutters
• White Craft Paint (optional)
• Small paint brush (optional)

Step 1Cut Roll

Cut the paper towel roll lengthwise (fig. A)

Step 2Measure and Cut Again

From the cute, measure 1” and mark. Cut off the 1” marked area (fig. B).

Step 3

Cut four strips from the roll anywhere between a .5” and .75” wide (fig. C).

Take the remaining roll and measure, mark and cut 1.5” from one of the edges (similar instruction number two). Cut two strips from this roll approximately .5” wide.

Step 4Cutting the Petals

Take the six strips and free-form cut the petals similar to the shape shown in fig. D. These petals do not have to be exact, just make sure that the center tapers in.

Step 5Glue Petals

Glue two of the larger petals at 90* angles. Repeat with the remaining petals keeping the larger and smaller petals grouped together (fig. E).

If you would like to add a bit of texture or color to your flower, take some craft paint and dry brush some paint on the tips of the petals. On the smaller group of petals I added some paint to the center also.

Step 6Glue Flower Together

After the glue has dried, glue the groupings on top of each other, keeping the smaller petals for the top. Glue a button to the center of the flower (fig. F).

Step 7Starting the Stem

From a piece of recycled paper use the pattern from fig. G to cut the calyx for the flower. Curl the ends of the calyx by wrapping them around a paint brush, pencil, etc.

Step 8

Take the wire and cut it double the length that you would like your stem. Fold the wire in half and twist together. Take one tip of the wire and bend it about a .25 at a 90° angle (fig. H1).

Cut a strip or two from the brown paper bag. Starting at the straight end of the wire stem, glue the end of the paper to the wire and start to wrap the paper to cover the wire (fig. H2).

Make sure to add a dab of glue here and there to keep the paper secure to the wire stem (fig. H3). Stop wrapping short of the 90° bend.

Step 9Glue Calyx to Flower

* BEFORE CONTINUING TO THE NEXT STEP, please make sure the glue on the flower is completely dry.

Turn over flower and glue one of the calyx pieces to the bottom (fig. I). Let dry.

Step 10Attach Stem

Take the stem and glue the bend to the bottom of the flower by taking the second calyx piece and gluing it to the flower bottom sandwiching the metal bend between the calyx and the flower. It will be necessary to hold the wire in place until the glue dries (fig. J).

Step 11All Done!

Your flower is complete!

source: www.instructables.com Paper-Towel-Roll-Flowers

DIY - Mirrored Candle Holders

                    DIY - Mirrored Candle Holders

Glass candleholders
glasses
picture frames with glass

spray bottle with water
mirror paint

Work on a protected surface in a well-ventilated area. Cover vessels exteriors with paper, or remove glass from frame. Spray interiors of vessels or frame glass lightly with water and then with mirror paint. The water will make the paint mottled. Turn vessels upside down on a drying rack (so air circulates inside). Let dry completely at least overnight. Repeat if too sheer. For Flowers, arrange in a glass and place the glass inside the vase. You can do this with glass bottles. Use sticker stencils or if you can draw the words yourself for the words or decorations on bottles. Use some black glitter.

source: couponcousins diy-mirrored-candle-holders

Marigolds and Chrysanthemums for Repelling Bugs

Marigolds and Chrysanthemums for Repelling Bugs

Marigolds, like chrysanthemums, contain chemicals that repel bugs. If you plant them around vegetables that are prone to insect damage (tomatoes are a classic example), the flying critters often don’t bother trying to make their way through the flowers to find the vegetables. A bonus: Insects do not develop a resistance to this method of pest control.

Flower Petal Shaped Sugar Cookies Tip

Roll a ball of sugar cookie dough in colored sugar. 
Snip it in half with scissors and then snip each half into three petals. 
Gently spread the petals apart and lay flat.

Easy Flower Sugar Cookies

This is something the kids can even make for mom or grandma. You just take a ball of sugar cookie dough, roll it in colored sugar, and then cut it with kitchen shears to make a flower shape. You end up with a cookie that has a scalloped edge just like a flower.

 

 

Lavender

The Lavender plant has been held in high regard for centuries as a washing herb the name Lavender evolved from the Latin lavare, which means, “to wash.” It originated in the Mediterranean basin and it has been used in many ancient cultures. Today Lavender is found worldwide. The fragrance that arises from Lavender and the vibrant color of the flower brings joy to many individuals who encounter with the beauty that radiates from this particular plant.

The beauty of this plant lays many medicinal benefits. Today it is one of the highest used herbs in aromatherapy, herbal medicine, and flower remedies; it has a broad range of healing properties. This plant is a sturdy flowering perennial and is a unique gift to any autoimmune disease healing protocol. The plant, flowers, and seeds all have that distinct lavender smell yet the oil derived from the flowers is the most important medical component. Lavender oil is extracted mostly from the flowers of the lavender plant, primarily through steam distillation. The oil contains several chemicals with healing properties that compliment one another.

source: homesteadsurvival lavender-and-its-loveliness

Medicinal Qualities

The health benefits of lavender oil for the skin can be attributed to its antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. It is used to treat various skin disorders such as acne, wrinkles, psoriasis, and other inflammations. It helps heals wounds, cuts, and burns. Lavender oil is used for various respiratory problems the oil is either used in the form of vapor or applied on the skin of neck, chest, and back. Lavender is one of the few essential oils that can be applied directly to the skin undiluted. It can be added to Chamomile oil to treat eczema It is very effective on insect bites and is known to repel mosquitoes. Lavender essential oil is also an excellent remedy for various types of pains including those caused by sore muscles. A regular massage with lavender oil provides relief from pain in the joints.

Lavender in Aromatherapy

In aromatherapy, lavender is one of the most used essential oils. It can be used in treating depression, insomnia, palpitations, anxiety, and nervousness. It has freshened many beds and linen drawers in its time. Lavender’s antiseptic properties are provided by linalool, which effectively kills bacteria and viruses. The ketones from the oil of the lavender plant have the ability to effectively reduce pain and inflammation and even help induce sleep. The aldehydes in the oils of the lavender plant are responsible for the aroma and the soothing properties. 

source: surrealgardening. lavender

Lavender Tea Bread-

Ingredients:

3/4 cup milk

2 Tbsp. dried lavender flowers, finely chopped, or 3 Tbsp. fresh chopped flowers
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
6 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs

Grease a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Heat milk with lavender almost to a boil, then steep until cool.
Mix flour, baking powder and salt together in bowl.
In another bowl cream butter and gradually add sugar, then eggs, one at a time, beating until light and fluffy.

 

 source: Old-Moss-Womans-Secret-Garden

Natural Mice Repellant

Natural Mice Repellant 

 
1. Peppermint
Place cotton balls soaked in oil of peppermint or citronella around your home’s foundation, at the spot where you suspect mice are getting in.

2. Dryer Sheets

Certain dryer sheets work well to deter mice like Bounce because of the oleander that the mice do not like, similar to mint and other items that mice dislike.

3. Mothballs
Mothballs also work as a mouse repellent. Place them on the floors in areas where mice commonly pass through such as along baseboards.

4. Clove and Mint
Sachets of clove and mint are effective at getting rid of mice. Be sure to use material that allows the aromas to seep out. Sachets with bay leaves also work wonderfully.

 

source:  HomesteadingSelfSufficiencySurvival

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

 

Fall has arrived and with it, the pumpkin season. 

There are always plenty of pumpkins to carve up around Halloween time and a great way to make use of the pumpkin seeds is eat them, salted and toasted. If they are toasted properly they are wonderfully crunchy and easy to eat. It helps if you are going to eat them with the shells on that you use seeds from sugar pumpkins, somewhat smaller than the mega-sized carving pumpkins (not really pumpkins but large squash). The trick? Boil the seeds in salted water first, and then toast them in the oven.

TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Ingredients

• One medium sized pumpkin
• Salt
• Olive oil

Method

1 Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut open the pumpkin and use a strong metal spoon to scoop out the insides. Separate the seeds from the stringy core. Rinse the seeds.

2 In a small saucepan, add the seeds to water, about 2 cups of water to every half cup of seeds. Add a half tablespoon of salt for every cup of water (more if you like your seeds saltier). Bring to a boil. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.

3 Spread about a tablespoon of olive oil over the bottom of a roasting pan. Spread the seeds out over the roasting pan, all in one layer. Bake on the top rack until the seeds begin to brown, 10-20 minutes. When browned to your satisfaction, remove from the oven and let the pan cool on a rack. Let the seeds cool all the way down before eating. Either crack to remove the inner seed or eat whole.

SOURCE: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/toasted_pumpkin_seeds/

Juicy Orange Body Scrub

JUICY ORANGE BODY SCRUB

1 Cup ( ONLY ONE ) Sea Salt or Sugar 
1/4 Cup Coconut Oil 
1/4 tsp. Lemon Juice 
8-12 Drops Orange Essential Oil

Pour your choice of either Sea Salt or Sugar into a bowl. 
Mix in Coconut Oil
Add Lemon Juice 
Add 8 drops of for a lighter scent

or 12 drops for a stronger blend. 

Mix and put in an airtight container.

Rub in the exfoliating mixture to across your skin gently. 

You can rub a little more vigorously over knees, elbows, heels, and any other dry spots. 

Rinse with warm water and pat skin dry. 

 

source:  

http://homesteadsurvival.blogspot.com/2012/09/juicy-orange-body-scrub-recipe.html 

How to Grow & Use Stevia Plant for Natural Sweetening

How To Freeze & Preserve Fresh Herbs in Olive Oil

DIY FABREEZE

DIY Laundry Detergent