NancyC

Food, Home & Faith

DIY/Crafts

DIY HOME

Note: Most of the DIY/CRAFT ideas listed below are not things I have had the time to try myself yet, so if you have any questions, please consult the source listed!

  • NON-STREAK WINDOW CLEANER: Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 2 Tablespoons isopropyl alcohol. Lasts 6 to 9 months. Source: Casey Kellar, Natural Cleaning for Your Home
  • OVEN CLEANER AND DRAIN CLEANER: Mix 1/4 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup white vinegar—mix into a paste and use a scrub pan to clean oven (mixture will get foamy, so use a large container). Does not store well, so make just enough for what you need. Use same mixture to clean a drain: pour it down rain, then flush with hot water. Source: Casey Kellar, Natural Cleaning for Your Home
  • EXTRA SOFT FABRIC SOFTENER: Dissolve 1 Tablespoon unflavored gelatin in 1 1/2 cups boiling water; add to final rinse after washing. Source: Casey Kellar, Natural Cleaning for Your Home
  • SIMPLE FABRIC SOFTENER or DEODORIZER: To remove heavy odors in soiled clothing, add 1/2 cup baking soda to the rinse cycle of your washer. Source: Casey Kellar, Natural Cleaning for Your Home
  • HOMEMADE BLEACH: Mix 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, 3 Tablespoons lemon juice, and 15 cups of water together; use as you would use commercial bleach. Shelf life is 3-6 months. Source: Casey Kellar, Natural Cleaning for Your Home
  • HOMEMADE SPRAY STARCH: Mix together 3 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 4 cups warm water, and 1-2 drops cologne (optional). Keep mixture in plastic spray bottle and shake before using. Shelf life is about 6 months. Source: Casey Kellar, Natural Cleaning for Your Home

CRAFTS

  • HERBS FOR DIY PROJECTS: These herbs work well in wreaths, garlands, dried arrangements, and bouquets—bay leaves, eucalyptus, lavender, sage, rosemary and tarragon sprigs.
  • PICKING AND DRYING LAVENDER: Gather the plant for drying when the first bud on the flower stalk is starting to open. Cut lavender stems just after the dew is off of them early in the morning (to preserve the essential oil). To dry, bind 25 to 75 stems with a rubber band and hang in a warm, dry, dark spot of 4-5 weeks. When completely dry, store in cloth bags. Source: Kaari Meng, The French-Inspired Home
  • DIY POTPOURRI: Combine your favorite dried herbs, spices, flowers and interesting natural objects like seed pods, shells, or pinecones. Combine the ingredients of your choice in a large bowl, add a fixative like orrisroot or gum benzoin, and sprinkle a few drops of your favorite essential oil or oils over the mixture. Pour mixture into a plastic bag, toss gently, and let the potpourri sit in the closed bag for at least 24 hours, but preferably several weeks, which will increase the intensity of the aroma. Shake mixture every few days. Pour into a decorative bowl or basket to display. Herb suggestions: anise, hyssop, basil, bay, cardamom, chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, lemongrass, lemon verbena, marjoram, mint, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Source: Herbs by Pat Ross
  • STOVETOP POTPOURRI: In a pot over low heat, in enough water to cover all ingredients, gently simmer orange and lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, rosemary sprigs.
  • HERBAL SACHETS: Fill cheesecloth or muslin bags with lavender, rose petals, chamomile, and calendula, or your own favorite herbs; tie a ribbon around the bag and use to freshen drawers and linen closets. You can also slip a sachet under your pillow or mattress, tie to a chair, or slip between sofa cushions. Add cedar chips to a lavender, mint, and rosemary sachet to moth-proof drawers or closets. Source: Herbs by Pat Ross
  • DIY POMANDERS: Clove and orange pomanders add a warm, spicy scent to your rooms in winter. And they can be used as an insect repellent in cupboards. Use a toothpick to make a small hole next to the stem of an orange and insert a clove until just the larger, star-shaped end is visible. Make the next hole just far enough from the first so that the star ends don’t overlap, and continue until the whole orange is covered with cloves—no peel should be showing. The cloves will preserve the orange as it dries, and the pomander will last for months. Source: Herbs by Pat Ross

CREATIVE GIFTS

SEASONAL

DIY BOOKS

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