Left your paintbrush sitting out too long without washing it out? No problem! Don’t waste your money buying tons of new paintbrushes when you have these simple techniques.
DIY Citronella Candles
Outdoor time is a staple at my home. We have a large porch, a fire pit, and a pretty mean grill cook (my dad). Needless to say, we have a lot of outdoor parties. But, we also live in the country, so pesky bugs like mosquitoes and flies can be a problem. That’s why we go through citronella candles like candy– we have to buy new ones every few weeks during the summer, and it can be a pain. That’s why I was super excited when I saw this post by Jody at Premeditated Leftovers! She has a tutorial for how to make your own! Check it out:
- 6 cups soy chips
- drops citronella essential oil
- wicks
- pan
-Melt soy wax chips, stirring constantly
-Dip metal disk on wick into melted wax, immediately place on bottom of desired container to fix it in place.
-Stir essential oil into melted wax well, pour wax into pre warmed containers. prop wick up in the center with pencils or sticks. Allow to sit for several hours until set.
Ten Awesome Tricks Your Phone Can Do
Smartphones are everywhere, and it seems that most people have them these days, leaving only old-timers and hold-outs like myself bucking against the current for awesome phones that do every trick in the book. However, just because you have a smartphone, that doesn’t mean you’re using it to the fullest of its abilities. After all, not everyone is a master with the smartphone, most people are just users. Time to step up your game. USA Today has a list of helpful tricks your phone can do that most people don’t know about.
None of these are game-breakers, but the option to block calls and texts just might change some lives, particularly if you get hassled by robo-calls or other nefarious folks who tend to interrupt your sleep with trivial matters. For the more visually-challenged set, the tip on how to make the text bigger on the phone just might spare a few headaches. And, let’s be honest, custom vibration settings would be perfect for call-screening without having to take your phone out of your pocket and risk accidentally answering a call from someone you don’t want to talk to.
Rain Chain Inspiration
I love rain chains! I only recently found out about them, but I think that they’re wonderful. They’re kind of like windchimes, but with rain. The water falls down them (usually made of metal) and makes “music”. Chains also direct water downward, and some people use them as replacement downspouts on gutters. Others use them to direct water in their gardens. Personally, I like them only as decoration. If you’re interested in a rain chain of your own, check out this post by Kathy Woodard at the Garden Glove:
Birds and Blooms had this rain chain from spoons project, complete with instructions. I love the look of this, and using old flatware just makes it more interesting!
Burbs and the Bees made this cute pine cone rain chain.
Dollar Store crafts made this very cool wire and stone rain chain
Friday Fun Video: How To Install Doorknobs
A quick and easy tutorial!
Indoor Gardening Idea: Terrariums
If you have a tiny lawn, or no lawn at all (hello, apartment living!), then this post is for you. I went from living in a home with a huge yard (I think we had 2 acres, if I’m remembering right) to a two bedroom, barely-700-sq ft apartment. One thing I missed almost immediately was the greenery. And of course, in an apartment, you can’t do anything to the land. There are ways to grow plants indoors, but I also had cats that liked to get into everything– so that wasn’t really an option. But- there is an alternative! Check out this slideshow at Refinery 29! It shows, in detail, how to build your own self-contained terrarium, complete with beautiful photos. Be sure to give it a look!
Friday Fun Videos: How To Install Pocket Doors
These are pretty funky; I’m not quite sure how I feel about them. We do have them as our closet doors at our house, and they do the job! Also, these would be useful if you were trying to build a secret passage / room 🙂
Yes You CAN! Beginner Canning Recipe
Canning is an amazing way to store food for extremely long periods of time. You can save your summer harvest for the winter, or even for longer. It’s a staple for most homesteaders, and can also save you tons of money. The only downside is that it’s a bit intimidating to newcomers, and can be difficult to learn with no prior experience. However, if you want to get into canning but have no idea where to start- fear not! Check out this post by Jill Winger at The Prairie Homestead. She has written an excellent intro on canning techniques, what is best for beginners, and even provides a beginner recipe for canned applesauce.
In my opinion, water bath canning is the best way to learn how to can. It’s slightly less intimidating than pressure canning, and water bath canners can often be found at yard sales or thrift stores.
If you are new to canning, I can’t think of anything easier to learn on than applesauce!It’s frugal (if you buy the apples in season), versatile (great as a side to any meal), and very forgiving.
DIY Stone Walkway
Having a well manicured lawn is a basic step to getting your home sold. However, if you want to go the extra mile and boost your curb appeal, maintaining a garden or landscaping your yard will help. To me, there is just something magical about a stone path winding its way through a bed of wildflowers. I’m more of a bohemian romantic type though. Maybe you prefer straight, classical shrubs to stroll through, or rows of homegrown fruits and veggies. Whatever your tastes, having some landscaping done will seriously up your curb appeal. An easy way to do this is to install a stone walkway through your yard or garden. Check out this step by step tutorial by Liss at Budget 101!
Spray Paint Surface Info
Spray paint is my favorite way to paint- it’s fast, it’s cheaper if you have less space to cover, and there’s less mess if you know what you’re doing. Plus…. you can spray paint just about anything- furniture, thrift store finds- anything you want to give new life to (as long as you can get it outside! Never spray paint indoors.) Check out this post by Virginia at Live Love DIY for more spray paint information:
Spray paint is super versatile and can be used on tons of different surfaces, for example: wood, plastic, metal, fiberglass, tin, ceramic, mirror, glass, masonry, plaster, concrete, terra cotta, canvas, MDF, laminate, and particle board.
You can use spray paint on most items used for decorative purposes, but it shouldn’t be used on surfaces that comes into contact with food or beverages.