Does your staircase need some love? If it’s anything like mine, it has old, stained carpet and outdated looking rails. When you’re trying to sell your home, buyers are definitely going to be looking at details like the staircase. If your staircase could use a fast, easy makeover, read this tutorial by Diane at In My Own Style. All she did was remove carpet and add a little paint and polish! The results are absolutely beautiful! Check out the post for the full photo tutorial.
Friday Fun Video: Cute Bird Feeder Idea
These are adorable if you want a whimsical look in your garden- and they use all upcycled materials!
What Is Seed Tape?
I just stumbled across this idea on Pinterest, and I thought it was absolutely brilliant. It’s called “seed tape,” and you can make it yourself out of recyclable materials. It’s a way to ensure that your seeds are properly spaced (and that they stay that way) when you plant them. For a quick tutorial, check out this post by GardenerScott:
–Begin by cutting sheets of newspaper into strips about one-inch wide. The strips will be about two-feet long.
–Take a tablespoon or two of white flour and mix it with an equal amount of water to make a smooth paste.
-Place small drops of the paste at regular intervals along the newspaper strip. The spacing you choose is dependent on the seed you’ve chosen.
-Carefully drop a seed into each drop of paste. Let dry, then plant.
Don’t forget to label each sheet of seed tape so you don’t forget what is on it!
Orchid Growing Tips
Orchids are some of the most beautiful, graceful, and most accessible flowers that you can plant. They’re very impressive looking, but are fairly easy to take care of. Orchids also make fabulous house plants, since they have air purifying properties, and they look great in any room, coming in shades of purple, red, pink, and white. If you are thinking of adding some orchids to your home, check out this post by Kathy Woodard at The Garden Glove for tips:
Moth Orchids – Phalaenopsis- these are less picky, and great for beginners. They prefer medium to bright light, watering every 10-14 days, and light fertilizer made for orchids.
Dendrobium Orchids– They have the same basic requirements as moth orchids, but prefer a bright light for the best blooms.
Cymbidium Orchids- are an easy care houseplant that enjoys bright light and a little more water than the other two… once a week, or even every 5 days when the air is dry.
Attracting Ladybugs
Ladybugs are extremely beneficial to gardens, mostly because they eat aphids- the little bugs that love sinking their teeth into your veggies. Ladybugs also eat mites and other pests! They are great natural pesticides. They are attracted to strong smelling plants, like cilantro, scented geraniums, dill, and cosmos, but can also be brought in by making a ladybug feeder! Check out this post by Kimber Watson at Apartment Therapy for instructions. All you need is bamboo, a string, and some raisins 🙂 See the tutorial here!
Friday Fun Video: How To Clean A Shower Head
If you have crusty gunk on your shower head, all you need to clean it is a plastic baggie and some vinegar. Voila!
Dust Be Gone
Dust drives my allergies crazy, plus it’s also kind of gross. Did you know that dust is mostly made of your dead skin cells? Ew! No one wants that in their home. Instead of constantly battling it with swiffers and furniture polish, there are ways to simply prevent having a dusty home (or at least, that will help you dust less often). Check out these tips by Carl and Jennifer at How to Build it for tips:
-Wash pillows, blankets, and other linens regularly
-Replace your air filters
-Get rid of excessive décor items that only gather dust
-Vacuum couch cushions and beat rugs
-Turn the “fan” on your thermostat when cleaning to help filter all the dust you’re kicking up.
Solar Light Projects To Try This Summer
Solar energy is free- why not make the sun work for you? It’s infinite and creates no waste! That’s why I love having solar powered lights in my yard. They charge all day with the (FREE) sunlight, then keep my garden lit up at night. You can get some pretty decent solar lights from dollar stores, and if you are crafty, you can jazz them up and create some solar powered art. For ideas, check out this post by Gail at My Repurposed Life:
Tin Can Solar Lantern Tutorial
DIY Solar Light Chandelier
Floor Lamp Solar Light Feature for Your Patio
Easy Mason Jar Luminaries
How To Get Nail Polish Out Of Anything
I live in a house of women. Me, my sister, my mom, and my grandma all live under one roof with my dad. Even all our pets are females. I also love painting my nails, and have a pretty impressive collection of nail polish, if I may say so. Needless to say, accidents happen. I’ve spilled nail polish on carpets, sheets- basically no surface is safe. That’s why I depend on articles like this one by Taylor at Stain Removal 101. Here’s how to get rid of nail polish stains from any sort of fabric:
Washable fabric and clothing: Blot the fabric with acetone. Rinse with cool water. Repeat as needed until no more nail polish comes up. Then pretreat the area with a stain remover and throw it in the washer.
Upholstery: Blot off as much as you can without further spreading it. Apply acetone using an eyedropper. Immediately blot with a paper towel or white cloth. Repeat as needed. If more remains, use a dry cleaning solvent.
Adding Moss To Your Garden
I’ve recently gotten into creating fairy gardens, with varying degrees of success. To make a fairy garden at all, you need to be able to grow moss. Lots of moss. And most of my moss is slowly turning yellow, which is not very magical at all. So, if you are struggling with your own fairy garden, or are thinking about adding moss to your garden, read this post by Moss and Stone Gardens for tips:
-Arpocarps: scoop up after a rainfall. Slide a flat blade or spatula under to collect it, along with a thin layer of soil. Water frequently to help with re-establishing it in a new area.
-Pleurocarps: can be collected by scraping, scooping, or raking, which will allow you to collect moss without the added weight of the soil.