floating herb garden
Creating this beautiful floating herb garden is simple, all you need are a few empty jars and a quick trip to the hardware store. The steps to make your own are outlined in the gallery below… be sure to click on the pictures to see the detail.
(click on an image to enlarge)
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Gather:
empty jar
needle nose pliers
s-hooks
clear picture wire
galvanized wire
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- Using the cutting part of the pliers, snip a piece of wire large enough to wrap around the mouth of the jar twice.
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- Find the center, then twist a loop into the wire.
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- Placing the loop on one side, wrap the wire tightly around the mouth of the jar.
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- Twist the wire into place opposite the first loop. Twist a couple more times to make it tight!
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- Using the pliers, make another loop. Twist and tighten the wire & then snip off any extra.
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- Cut a 15-20 inch piece of picture wire. Using the knot tying instructions on the package, tie one end to each loop (creating a handle).
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- Attach s-hook to hanging wire. I squeezed mine onto the wire so it would not get lost.
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- Measure how low you want your jar to hang. Cut and attach a piece of picture wire going from the s-hook to a nail in the wall to hang it on.
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- A detail shot of the hardware.
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- Add water, herbs or even flowers. Have fun!!
recreate an old frame
A few years back I scooped up these old frames someone left on their stoop for give away. They’ve been gathering dust in the corner for a while now, so I decided to follow my own advice… use or or loose it!
Here is what I did:
(click on an image to enlarge)
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- Start with an old frame. Clean thoroughly.
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- Think design! I thought I would collage/layer a picture I drew with some fancy paper.
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- A couple of paper choices…
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- Using a craft knife, cut out any pictures you will use.
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- Ooops, extra step: After it was cut, I decided I wanted to color my picture.I would have colored BEFORE I cut, had I known.
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- Before getting messy, layout how you want your picture to look. Next, tape the edges of your frame with painters tape (or masking tape).
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- Apply a thin layer of glue to the background picture & press firmly into place. Cover entire area with a thin layer or Mod Podge.
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- Allow to dry completely, add your next image layer, then apply another coat. Make sure to press firmly into place.
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- Allow to dry overnight.
grow green
(click on an image to enlarge)
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- Gather Supplies: charcoal/stones, potting soil, seeds, hammer, nail, empty can
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- Use hammer and nail to add drain holes.
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- Tap 5 or 6 tiny holes into the bottom of the can.
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- Add a half-inch layer of stone or charcoal to the bottom of can to aid in drainage.
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- Fill can with soil, leaving about an inch of space at top. Add seeds & water generously.
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- Cover with plastic wrap, secure with rubber band. Place in direct sunlight atop plastic lid.
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- When the seeds begin to sprout, uncover, or they will begin to mold & rot.
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- Water, sun & watch green grow!!
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- … a few weeks later
markers in a can
Sometimes a picture says it all…
Sure, there are countless ways to adorn these, but the bare can is both simple and beautiful. Useful too.
before you toss… cut!
Recycling isn’t limited to what you sort into the appropriate bin and bring to the curb once a week, it’s also about finding simple ways to use ordinary household products, again.
For example, before tossing your moldy shower curtain liner, cut the magnets out of the bottom.
Most shower curtain magnets are super-strong (and great for crafting)!
the functional frame
Time to take that simple wooden frame and make it work overtime!
With just a few screw-in hardware hooks you can transform that plain picture frame into a convenient place to keep your keys.
What To Do: Use a ruler to evenly space out where you will place the hooks. Mark your measurements with a pencil. With a hammer and a small nail, gently tap a tiny hole into each of your pencil marks. Twist your hooks into the holes and that’s it!!
Pick your favorite pre-Picasso to frame, hang it by the door, and enjoy your re-newed functional and fabulous frame.
flower cans
This one’s plain, simple, and best when duplicated.
Empty metal cans are an eco-stylish decorating advantage. These cheap and useful vases are a great way to disperse flowers throughout your home and yard while entertaining this summer season.
Simply collect and clean out your empty food cans. Tomato cans work well, because the inside of the can is coated with a special enamel finish, but any empty can will do.
If working with children, please make sure there are no sharp edges where the lid came off. If so, going over the area with a can opener one more time will usually do the trick.
To prevent rust rings on your furniture or ledges, coat the bottom of each can with clear nail polish, and allow to dry completely.
Fill the cans halfway with water. Add a few small stones to the bottom of each can to weigh them down, and then add the flowers. Tiny hands will find it fun and easy arranging flowers in these mini-marvels.
plastic bag dispenser
While we’re finally starting to notice a shift away from plastic bags and bottles, they do still end up in our lives. The important thing, is what we do with them next… don’t toss them, reuse them!!
This is a simple project, inspired by an old Girl Scout camping trick, and it’s a great way to keep all those annoying plastic bags tucked neatly away.
Using an empty plastic bottle, cut off the top. We used a sharp kitchen knife to slice ours. Next, you need to trim the sharp, newly exposed plastic edge with some masking tape (so you don’t hurt yourself putting the bags in and out). And that’s it!
If you’re doing this with kids, have them stuff the dispenser with your plastic bags. We fit about 20 bags into each bottle. WOW! Under the sink looks so neat.
it’s a wrap (idea for holiday leftovers)
