Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition [Survival Today

Did you hear about the guy that lives on nothing? No seriously, he lives on zero dollars a day. Meet Daniel Suelo, who lives in a cave outside Moab, Utah. Suelo has no mortgage, no car payment, no debt of any kind. He also has no home, no car, no television, and absolutely no “creature comforts.” But he does have a lot of creatures, as in the mice and bugs that scurry about the cave floor he’s called home for the last three years.

To us, Suelo probably sounds a little extreme. Actually, he probably sounds very extreme. After all, I suspect most of you reading this are doing so under the protection of some sort of man-made shelter, and with some amount of money on your person, and probably a few needs for money, too. And who doesn’t need money unless they have completely unplugged from the grid? Still, it’s an amusing story about a guy who rejects all forms of consumerism as we know it.

How to Brew Your Own Beer and Maybe Save Some Money. A fantastic introduction to home brewing, something I’ve never done myself, but always been interested in trying. (@Generation X Finance)

Contentment: A Great Financial Principle. If I had to name one required emotion for living a frugal lifestyle it would be contentment. Once you are content with your belongings and your lot in life you can ignore forces attempting to separate you from your money. (@Personal Finance by the Book)

Use Energy Star Appliances to Save On Utility Costs. I enjoyed this post because it included actual numbers, and actual total savings, from someone who upgraded to new, energy star appliances. (@The Digerati Life)

Over-Saving for Retirement? Is it possible to “over-save” for retirement? Yes, I think so. At some point I like the idea of putting some money aside in taxable investments outside of retirement funds, to be accessed prior to traditional retirement age. (@The Simple Dollar)

40 Things to Teach My Kids Before They Leave Home. A great list of both practical and philosophical lessons to teach your kids before they reach the age where they know everything. I think that now happens around 13 years-old. (@My Supercharged Life)

Index Fund Investing Overview. If you are looking for a place to invest with high diversification and relatively low fees (for broader index funds with low turnover), index funds are a great place to start. (@Money Smart Life)

5 Reasons To Line Dry Your Laundry. My wife and I may soon be installing a clothesline in our backyard. In many neighborhoods they are frowned upon - one of the reasons I don’t like living in a neighborhood. I digress. One of our neighbors recently put up a clothesline, and we might just follow his lead. (@Simple Mom)

* 4 Quick Tips for Getting Out of a Rut * Young and Cash Rich * Embracing Simple Style * First Trading Experience With OptionsHouse * The Exponential Power of Delayed Consumption * How Much Emergency Fund is Enough? * 50 Questions that Will Free Your Mind * Save Money On Car Insurance

Greetings!!

As always, I pray that God blesses me to provide accurate and timely information and that He blesses each and every one of us spiritually in such a way where a physical blessing is the result, yet physically/materially in such a way where a spiritual blessing is the end result.

More importantly, I pray that God blesses us all in such a way, where the source of the blessings is as plain as the nose on our faces.

As I explained in the last posting, over the next few weeks, I will focus on those herbs, nutritional supplements or holistic remedies that are widely considered to be panaceas.

Panacea
Main Entry: pan·a·cea
Etymology: Latin, from Greek panakeia, from panaks all-healing, from pan- + akos remedy
: a remedy for all ills or difficulties : cure-all

Before I end this series on panceas and wonder foods/herbs, there is one AMAZING WONDER DRUG that I absolutely cannot go much further without mentioning.

WATER - Yes!

The importance of getting enough water cannot be overstated. Actually it is amazing that there aren’t public service announcements on the tv and radio screaming the importance of drinking enough water. Just meditate on this for a minute; the search for life on other planets begins with a search for WATER! Drinking more water has “CURED” many illness simply because many “illnesses” are just symptomatic of not drinking enough water. Water is not called the elixir of life for nothing. We have all heard the old adage “get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids etc.” Since water is a catalyst it jumpstarts the healing, cleansing and detoxifying process.

A rough measure of how much water one should drink is your total body weight divided by 2. For instance if you weigh 180 pounds, then the mathematical formula would be 180 divided by 2 which is 90 ounces of water daily. That is a little bit more than three quarts.

Since getting enough water is unquestionably the single most important thing one can do for their health, then the question becomes what kind of water.

As a last choice and as a last resort, drink tap water. Make sure you are drinking enough if this is the only thing you can get.

SPRING WATER
You have no doubt seen the news reports and docu-dramas where the reporters compared bottled spring water with tap water and found no difference. I’ve seen many reports where a bottled water company was actually selling city tap water. That’s not surprising since tap water can be lake water, river water, SPRING WATER and underground spring water, containing God only knows what industrial chemicals!! So what’s the surprise?

REVERSE OSMOSIS vs. FILTERED vs. DISTILLED
But what these reports fail to tell us is that there is a HUGE difference between bottled spring water and the filtered waters and those waters that have been purified by REVERSE OSMOSIS and DISTILLATION. Distilled water is the same kind of water used in IV’s in hospitals. Distilled water is the same water that we use for steam irons and car batteries because it must be PURE.

Reverse osmosis, when combined with ozonation and micro-filtration will do a fantastic job of removing impurities. The distillation process will kill and remove virtually 100% of bacteria, viruses, cysts, and will remove heavy metals and inorganic compounds including minerals, radionuclides, particulates, and organics; including VOC’S. Again it helps when it is then filtered and ozone treated. Water filtered through reverse osmosis tends to be neutral and is acceptable for regular use provided minerals are supplemented. Water filtered through a solid charcoal filter is slightly alkaline. Ozonation of this charcoal filtered water is ideal for daily drinking. Longevity is associated with the regular consumption of hard water (high in minerals).

One crazy concern I have heard is that distilled water contains none of the necessary minerals. Over 95% of our minerals come from our food and less than 5% from drinking water. You would practically have to drown yourself drinking water to get just the RDA (required daily allowance) of any of the beneficial minerals. However the ideal water for the human body should be slightly alkaline and this requires the presence of minerals like calcium and magnesium. Distilled water is acidic and is a very good way to draw toxic poisons out of the body and cooking in it will pull minerals out of the food.

Drinking distilled water is good when one is cleansing or detoxifying the system for short periods of time (a few days at a time). Distilled water is a cleanser of EVERYTHING good and bad!! Continuing to drink it after fasting may not be good for you because using distilled water may deplete your body of electrolytes and trace minerals. This can cause heart palpitations amongst other things. Avoid it except in special circumstances such as cleansing and fasting.

There are some scientists who believe that distilled water will NOT leach minerals from your body. They claim that there has never been any documented evidence to prove this claim true. I tend to believe it could be true simply because of the ability of water to absorb odors from the refrigerator. The sensation of odor is merely sensing the tiny molecules emanating from a substance. And distilled water might be better at absorbing because of it’s purity. But I am not a scientist. Besides if there is a SLIGHT danger of heart palpitations or improper brain functioning, then it may not be worth the risk.

Bottom line is this; since there is lots of evidence that distilled water might be too pure for human consumption, and since minerals are important, reverse osmosis and/or filtered water might be smarter. Distilled water should definitely be used during a system cleanse. Always do your own research when concerning your health. If you have decided to continue drinking distilled water for it’s purity, then it might be wise to take QUALITY mineral supplements.

I could go on… but then you would not have anything to Google. Besides it’s always best to research for yourself. As Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) once remarked, “It would be a shame to die because of a typo”

And on that note, I’ll end this newsletter with well wishes of good health to you all. Good night.

But why take my word for it? IT’S YOUR HEALTH.

You can research anything mentioned in this newsletter yourself. Some good
search engines are www.mamma.com and www.dogpile.com as well as Google.
Enter one or more keywords to do your own research.

Until next time remember .... most illness can be attributed to FOUR important
factors that can weaken your immune system and your ability to fight off
disease:

1. Anxiety, depression, anger, guilt and other STRESS factors
2. Improper and/or inadequate NUTRITION habits
3. A sedentary lifestyle that does not include enough EXERCISE
4. Not enough rest and quality SLEEP time

The United States Surgeon General warned Americans in a landmark 1988
report on Nutrition and Health that “diet related diseases account for
68% or more of U.S. deaths”

Remember, we ALWAYS recommend that you ALWAYS consult a professional
herbalist, naturopathologist or physician. We are just passing along
what we hope to be useful information.

——————————————————————————————————— To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/herb-of-the-week/

Creative Container Gardening: Tips & Ideas

Posted By TipNut On April 19, 2010 @ 8:40 am In Green Thumb Projects, Outdoor Gardening, Popular Tips | 4 Comments

Lots of goodies today! If you’d like to get creative with your yard display this year, I’ve put together a list to help tweak some creative container ideas for you (this is also a great way to repurpose household items [1] that would otherwise be junked).

Next you’ll find four videos: two provide tips for container gardening that will help your potted plants do their best, and two videos show how to make your own garden containers using hypertufa (I love that stuff!).

Then you’ll find a few more ideas for creative gardening listed here on Tipnut.
Creative Garden Pot Containers (Ideas)

Here is a list of different items you can use to make some very creative plant and flower displays, I’ve either seen these implemented or come across mention of them.

Make sure to add your favorite ideas too!

1. Work Boots (leave the toe intact or cut out for flowers to bloom out both ends)
2. Metal Buckets & Pails (these can be painted in either a solid color or with a decorative design–but plain metal works too)
3. Wicker Baskets (these can be painted)
4. Wooden Kegs/Whisky Barrels/Rain Barrels
5. Wheelbarrow
6. Old Toybox & Wooden Crates
7. Deep Roasting Pans, Stock Pots
8. Old Bicycle (I saw a yard display once that had a bicycle basket attached to the front handlebars with flowers planted inside, as well as hanging flower bags fixed across the seat)
9. Old Fashioned Baby Carriage
10. Mailbox
11. Old Chair (cut out the seat and attach a fitted container inside)
12. Dresser Drawer
13. Deep Enamelware Pots
14. Child’s Wagon (choose one that’s deep so there’s lots of soil for the plants to grow)
15. End Table (turned on its side)
16. Watering Cans
17. Hypertufa Containers (see more info below)
18. Bird Houses (large with the roof removed and a plant inside)
19. Wooden Tool Box
20. Old Fashioned Bird Cage (pot inside)
21. Hollowed Out Stumps & Logs
22. Old Wash Tubs

Container Tips

* The sky’s the limit when choosing containers but use items that have a deep space, enough to hold the necessary amount of potting soil for your plants and flowers to thrive. Once you start getting creative with your containers, you’ll be looking at “junk” in a whole new way .
* Make sure that you either drill or cut drainage holes otherwise the plants won’t do well and the roots will rot.
* For metal containers, you can line them with several thicknesses of newspaper before filling with potting soil. This will give the roots some protection from the heat.
* If you choose items that won’t survive strong winds without toppling over (like a standing bicycle), choose places to display in the yard that will provide some shelter from the wind.
* For large containers, first fill with false bottoms or recycled materials so you can save money on potting soil (also mentioned in one of the videos below).

Tips For Container Gardening

Here are two different videos offering tips for preparing plant pots and containers. I have included summary notes under each video for those who can’t view them.

Notes:

* Make sure the container has a drainage hole so excess water will come out the bottom to prevent root rot.
* Bigger pots are better since they hold the water longer. To save on potting soil as well as not make the pots too heavy, try filling the bottom of the pots with recycled materials like styrofoam peanuts, crushed cans or a false bottom (you can buy these). Top with a square of weed barrier fabric before adding potting mix so the soil stays above the bottom filler materials.
* Pick a good potting soil mix that contains perlite or vermiculite for drainage as well as peatmoss to hold the moisture.
* If the potting soil you use doesn’t contain any fertilizer, add & mix in some slow release fertilizer to the potting mix before you fill the pot with plants.
* Water plants thoroughly and check the plants daily.

Three Things You Need To Know To Grow Great Containers:

Notes:

* Make sure you water enough so that the water comes out the bottom of the container. This ensures that the entire container of soil is wet, not just the top.
* Feed plants at least once a week.
* Liquid Fish Emulsion is the best growth food for most container plants since it contains all the growth fertilizers plants need for superior growth.

Make Your Own Garden Pots With Hypertufa

I’ve written about hypertufa before [2], now here are some videos showing you how easy it is to make:

Notes:

* Find forms using things like dish pans, oil pans, boxes
* Materials: Equal parts Perlite, Peat Moss, Pure Portland Cement
* Water: Slowly add water (usually slightly less than the amount of the container used for the above ingredients). Mix enough water so the mix will hold shape when making a ball.
* Pack the hypertufa into the form (first lined with plastic), about 2’’ thick (smaller containers are fine with 1’’; to 1 1/2’’ thick).
* Make sure the container will drain well.
* Use potting mix that drains well.
* The hypertufa pots are fine to leave outside over winter since they are porous.

Hypertufa How To & Tips

Notes:

* Make Hypertufa with Peat, Perlite, Portland Cement. Mix all together before adding water. You can add concrete coloring at this point (check at the hardware store).
* Build a well in the middle of the mix then add a small amount of water. Mix, slowly add more water, mix, keep adding water until you have the consistency of cottage cheese and the hypertufa mix will hold together its shape when you form into a ball.
* If you add too much water, it’s easy to fix by adding a little more peat or perlite until you get the consistency you want.
* First line the form with plastic so the pot is easy to pop out when it’s dry. Add bubble wrap if you’d like a bubble design on the outside of the pot. You can also add pieces of moss along the sides.
* Press the hypertufa into the form, start at the bottom then the sides. Pack it in tight.
* Sit for 5 to 7 days to harden, then pop the pot out of the form. Leave for another 7 to 10 days to make sure the hypertufa is dry.
* Rinse the pot with vinegar to make sure all the lime from the cement will be removed.
* Bonsais do well in hypertufa pots.

More Creative Gardening Ideas Found On Tipnut

* Garden Display Project: Tipsy Pots [3]
* How To Make Stone Planters: {DIY} [4]
* How To Build A Herb Spiral [5]
* Small-Space Raised Salad Box: {DIY} [6]
* Patina In Minutes: How To [7]
* How To Make Concrete Leaves [8]

Find more gardening projects here [9]. One of the best things to have when container gardening is a potting bench. These make an ideal work space (which your back will surely thank you for!), here are some free plans [10] that will help you make your own.

Updated: Originally Published May 2, 2008

Don’t Miss These Tips:

* How To Pot A Plant: Gardening Tips [11]
* Baking Gifts: Creative Container & Filler Ideas [12]
* How To Sterilize Soil At Home [13]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/creative-container-gardening-tips-ideas/

URLs in this post:

[1] repurpose household items: http://tipnut.com/category/crafts/repurposing/

[2] hypertufa before: http://tipnut.com/make-your-own-garden-pots-with-hypertufa/

[3] Garden Display Project: Tipsy Pots: http://tipnut.com/project-tipsy-pots/

[4] How To Make Stone Planters: {DIY}: http://tipnut.com/stone-planters/

[5] How To Build A Herb Spiral: http://tipnut.com/herb-spiral/

[6] Small-Space Raised Salad Box: {DIY}: http://tipnut.com/salad-box-diy/

[7] Patina In Minutes: How To: http://tipnut.com/patina/

[8] How To Make Concrete Leaves: http://tipnut.com/concrete-leaves/

[9] more gardening projects here: http://tipnut.com/category/garden-tips/gardenprojects/

[10] here are some free plans: http://tipnut.com/potting-bench-plans/

[11] How To Pot A Plant: Gardening Tips: http://tipnut.com/how-to-plant/

[12] Baking Gifts: Creative Container & Filler Ideas: http://tipnut.com/baking-gifts-container/

[13] How To Sterilize Soil At Home: http://tipnut.com/sterilize-soil/

How To Sterilize Soil At Home

Posted By TipNut On September 28, 2009 @ 6:01 am In Garden & Plants, Indoor Plants, Outdoor Gardening | No Comments

Garden Soil & Supplies

Potting soil is sterilized to give your plants the best growing environment possible by killing weed seeds or disease organisms that might be lingering in the soil. Most commercial potting soil is already sterilized but if you want to use that rich dark soil right from your garden or reuse your potting soil, here are a few different ways you can sterilize it.
How To Sterilize Soil

Oven Method: (small batches)

* Fill an ovenproof container about 3 inches deep with soil, mix in a generous amount of water (not enough to make it runny or soupy but thoroughly wet) then cover with aluminum foil. Bake the soil in a preheated oven (200°F) until the temperature of the center of the soil reaches 180°F (use a meat thermometer to measure). Once the soil temperature reaches 180°F, bake for 30 minutes. Do not overheat or overbake the soil since it can release toxins harmful to plants as well as kill beneficial organisms. Baking soil can smell quite foul, this is normal.

Microwave Method: (small batch)

* To use the microwave to sterilize soil, put about 2 pounds of moist soil in a thick, plastic bag. Leave the top open and place it in the center of the microwave. Treat it for two to five minutes on full power, checking the temperature in the middle of the soil with a thermometer. When the target is reached (180°F to 200°F), close the bag carefully and put in a cooler to hold the heat in the soil. Allow to cool. Source: Use Microwave To Sterilize Potting Soil [1].

Sun Method: (large batches)

* Choose a spot in the yard that receives at least 6 hours of sun during the day (8 hours a day is best). Lay out clear plastic sheeting and cover with a layer of dirt about 4 inches deep. Spray the soil generously with water (not so much water that it becomes runny muck). Cover with another sheet of clear plastic and secure the plastic in place by laying a border of rocks all along the edges of the plastic. Bake the soil in the sun for at least 4 weeks in hot, sunny weather and up to 6 or 8 weeks in cooler weather (this technique is only good for summer). Tip: Rake up the soil each week to make sure the heat reaches all the soil.

Tips

* Reusing potting soil without sterilizing it first is ok to use when planting mature plants, new seedlings or bedding plants require soil that is sterilized to have the best chance to thrive.
* Don’t use soil straight from the garden for potting soil (alone), mix it with other ingredients to make it lighter and more beneficial for your plants (see Make Your Own Organic Potting Soil [2]) for a few recipes.
* After the soil is sterilized it will likely be hard and clumpy, break it down first before mixing with other ingredients when making potting soil.
* Before placing potting soil in pots, make sure that the pots themselves are sterilized since they can also harbor disease organisms. You can wash the pots in a bleach and water solution or see How To Pot A Plant: Gardening Tips [3] for more suggestions.
* You can use these same methods to sterilize used potting soil and sand.

Don’t Miss These Tips:

* How To Pot A Plant: Gardening Tips [3]
* Make Your Own Organic Potting Soil [2]
* African Violets: Growing Info & Tips [4]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/sterilize-soil/

URLs in this post:

[1] Use Microwave To Sterilize Potting Soil: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/jul/10/carol-cloud-bailey-use-microwave-sterilize-potting/

[2] Make Your Own Organic Potting Soil: http://tipnut.com/make-your-own-organic-potting-soil/

[3] How To Pot A Plant: Gardening Tips: http://tipnut.com/how-to-plant/

[4] African Violets: Growing Info & Tips: http://tipnut.com/african-violets/

Baking Gifts: Creative Container & Filler Ideas

Posted By TipNut On December 24, 2009 @ 8:22 am In Crafty Ideas | 2 Comments

Container Ideas

* Decorative Holiday Cookie Jar
* Baskets: Wicker, Wire or Plastic
* Biscuit Tins [1]
* Cannisters: Glass or Tin
* Wide Mouth Jars
* Small Bucket
* Decorative Holiday Plate or Platter
* Decorative Holiday Bowl: Ceramic, Glass or Plastic
* Large Mug or Tea Cup
* Styrofoam Trays
* Chip Tubes (like Pringles–good for cookies)
* Milk Carton: Wash clean and cover with wrapping paper
* Repurposed Boxes (chocolates, tea, crackers, etc.): Wrap boxes in holiday paper
* Cellophane Bags

DIY Gift Boxes

* How To Make A Gift Box From A Cereal Box [2]: Using just scissors, hot glue and an old cereal box, you can whip up a most-excellent gift box.
* How To Make Decorative Boxes With Take Out Containers [3]: All you’ll need is some spray adhesive, decorative paper (great way to use up scraps!) and a take-out container.
* Tutorial: Origami Box [4]

More gift box ideas listed on DIY Wrap Up: 101 Gift Tags, Toppers & Wraps [5].
Liners & Wraps

* Cellophane
* Wax Paper
* Paper or Fabric Napkins (Holiday Themed)
* Paper Cupcake Holders
* Paper Doilies
* Tissue Paper

Gift Box Fillers

A container brimming with homemade baking is usually more than enough, but if you want to tuck in a few more goodies, here are a few ideas that will compliment baked goods:

* Candy Canes
* Packets of Hot Chocolate
* Hard Candies
* Wrapped Chocolates
* Cinnamon Sticks
* Specialty Teas
* Nuts
* Small Christmas Oranges

Also see Homemade Gift Baskets – The Ultimate How To Guide [6] for holiday basket ideas.

For holiday baking, see Holiday Baking Tips: Cookie Assembly Line [7] and 30 Holiday Cookie Recipes [8].

Originally Published: December 11, 2008

Don’t Miss These Tips:

* Creative Container Gardening: Tips & Ideas [9]
* How To Make A Gift Box From A Cereal Box [2]
* Magic Boxes: How To [10]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/baking-gifts-container/

URLs in this post:

[1] Biscuit Tins: http://tipnut.com/repurposing-biscuit-tins/

[2] How To Make A Gift Box From A Cereal Box: http://tipnut.com/gift-box-cereal/

[3] How To Make Decorative Boxes With Take Out Containers: http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-decorative-boxes/

[4] Tutorial: Origami Box: http://tipnut.com/tutorial-origami-box/

[5] DIY Wrap Up: 101 Gift Tags, Toppers & Wraps: http://tipnut.com/wrap-up/

[6] Homemade Gift Baskets – The Ultimate How To Guide: http://tipnut.com/homemade-gift-baskets/

[7] Holiday Baking Tips: Cookie Assembly Line: http://tipnut.com/holiday-baking/

[8] 30 Holiday Cookie Recipes: http://tipnut.com/holiday-baking-cookies/

[9] Creative Container Gardening: Tips & Ideas: http://tipnut.com/creative-container-gardening-tips-ideas/

[10] Magic Boxes: How To: http://tipnut.com/magic-boxes/

How To Pot A Plant: Gardening Tips

Posted By TipNut On April 27, 2009 @ 6:06 am In Garden & Plants, Indoor Plants, Outdoor Gardening | No Comments

Start with clean, scrubbed pots–preferably sterilized–for better success with your plants. Coarse steel wool or metal scouring pads clean pots in a jiffy.

Preparing An Impatiens Plant For Potting
Pot Cleaning Tips:

* Most harmful organisms can be killed by placing a stack of pots on a cloth under the hot-water faucet and running hot water slowly into the top pot for five minutes.
* Another option is this quick recipe for cleaning pots: 50/50 water and vinegar solution. Works well on both plastic and clay containers.

Getting Ready To Plant:

In planting, place a piece of broken crockery over the hole in the bottom of the pot and cover with a handful of soil (you can use a few small stones instead of crockery pieces). The idea is to allow water to drain (instead of being trapped in the pot) without losing soil. Placing a piece of broken crockery or a few rocks will provide filtered drainage.

How To Pot A Plant:

* Hold the plant in the pot with its crown just below the rim and spread the roots out evenly.
* Fill the pot gradually with soil, and firm it, without packing, as each handful is put in.
* Final soil level should be at least 1/4 inch below the pot rim to allow for easier watering.
* You can mix your own organic potting soil, see recipes here: Make Your Own Organic Potting Soil [1].

Steps For Potting A Plant

Repotting Plants:

In repotting plants, remove as much old soil as possible from roots, particularly from the top of soil ball, disturbing roots as little as possible. Use a pot proportionate in size to the plant. Plants should be shifted to bigger pots as they grow larger.

Consider The Container:

See Creative Container Gardening: Tips & Ideas [2] for pots & container ideas.

* Unglazed clay pots provide ideal growing conditions for plants. They are porous, providing necessary air circulation to roots, and have drainage holes in the bottom, making overwatering less likely.
* Plastic pots are lightweight and easy to handle but, as in metal or ceramic containers, water evaporates slowly, so you have to be careful not to overwater.
* If drainage is not provided, water can accumulate in the bottom of the container. Then roots rot and give off gases toxic to the plant.
* If you find a pot unattractive, set it in a jardiniere that better suits your taste.

Source: Adapted From Better Homes & Gardens Garden Book (vintage insert)

Also check out 15 Free Potting Bench Plans [3].

Don’t Miss These Tips:

* Jade Plant Care & Growing Tips [4]
* Creative Container Gardening: Tips & Ideas [2]
* Houseplant Care & Growing Tips [5]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/how-to-plant/

URLs in this post:

[1] Make Your Own Organic Potting Soil: http://tipnut.com/make-your-own-organic-potting-soil/

[2] Creative Container Gardening: Tips & Ideas: http://tipnut.com/creative-container-gardening-tips-ideas/

[3] 15 Free Potting Bench Plans: http://tipnut.com/potting-bench-plans/

[4] Jade Plant Care & Growing Tips: http://tipnut.com/jade-plant/

[5] Houseplant Care & Growing Tips: http://tipnut.com/houseplant-care/

Sweet Fairy Lights Project: How To

Posted By TipNut On October 15, 2008 @ 1:04 pm In Crafty Ideas, Repurposing | 1 Comment

Today’s feature is from Esprit Cabane with Flower Fairy Lights [1]:

Fairy lights can be enhanced with feathers, paper, cardboard cones or…egg carton cups!

These recycled cardboard cups offer an unusual texture and soft colors that, with minimal skills, can be turned into a vine of light-emitting morning glory. For this project, Use LED lights only.

Recycle cardboard egg carton flats into adorable fairy lights that you can hang vine-like wherever you want some extra sparkle. All that’s required is a bit of cutting and fitting in a strand of LED lights. If you want to get fancy, use a one-hole paper punch to make decorative designs. How cute!

Please visit the site above for the project details.

Don’t Miss These Tips:

* Sewing Pattern Twinkle Lights: How To [2]
* Paper Mache Party Lights: Crafty Project [3]
* Spring Bloom Inspired Flower Lights: {Crafty} [4]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/fairy-lights/

URLs in this post:

[1] Flower Fairy Lights: http://en.espritcabane.com/handmade-gifts/fairy-lights.php

[2] Sewing Pattern Twinkle Lights: How To: http://tipnut.com/twinkle-lights/

[3] Paper Mache Party Lights: Crafty Project: http://tipnut.com/paper-mache-lights/

[4] Spring Bloom Inspired Flower Lights: {Crafty}: http://tipnut.com/flower-lights/

Granny note:

Using paper cups, reminds me of a photo that I saw yesterday, of a counter, where canning in jars was being done.

It looked like they had taken a large styrofoam cup, cut the bottom out and then used it for a funnel to fill the jars.

I have used the tops of soda bottles for years as a funnel, but the larger sides and opening would be even better.

I suspect that if I were going this route, I might even buy a plastic glass and cut the bottom off.

It was larger at the top, so problem of it going in the jar.

I have several versions of funnels for canning, but think I would use the bottomless sloped sided cups too.

granny

Sewing Pattern Twinkle Lights: How To

Posted By TipNut On February 24, 2009 @ 1:03 pm In Crafty Ideas, Repurposing | 3 Comments

Today’s feature is from Everyday Beauty with Sewing Pattern Twinkle Lights [1]:

Twinkle Lights Project By velvetstrawberries.typepad.com

I have them strung around a mirror at the moment, but they’ll probably move into my craft room eventually.

I really really really love these lights. Beige is one of my favorite colors {does that mean I’m boring?} and sewing pattern paper is such the perfect shade.

Use scallop edged scissors to cut long strands from old sewing pattern tissue then wrap/bunch the paper around each bulb on a strand of candy lights and secure with floral tape. Easy!

This is a nice decorative touch to give soft light and a pretty pick-me-up to any room (and a creative way to repurpose old sewing patterns).

Please visit the site above for complete project details, so charming! Also check out this project for sweet fairy lights [2], it’s a similar concept but using egg carton cups.

Don’t Miss These Tips:

* Sweet Fairy Lights Project: How To [2]
* Paper Mache Party Lights: Crafty Project [3]
* Spring Bloom Inspired Flower Lights: {Crafty} [4]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/twinkle-lights/

URLs in this post:

[1] Sewing Pattern Twinkle Lights: http://velvetstrawberries.typepad.com/andreasingarella/2009/01/heres-the-other-project-i-was-telling-you-about-its-the-same-idea-as-the-fiesta-flower-in-the-previous-post-except-this-tim.html

[2] this project for sweet fairy lights: http://tipnut.com/fairy-lights/

[3] Paper Mache Party Lights: Crafty Project: http://tipnut.com/paper-mache-lights/

[4] Spring Bloom Inspired Flower Lights: {Crafty}: http://tipnut.com/flower-lights/

Paper Mache Party Lights: Crafty Project

Posted By TipNut On June 16, 2009 @ 1:05 pm In Crafty Ideas | No Comments

Today’s feature is from Reese Dixon with this fun tutorial for Paper Mache Party Lights [1]:

Paper Mache Party Lights Project By reesedixon.com

I came up with a technique for the big decor balls that worked really great – Mixing the paint right into the glue. It gives a super saturated color and saves another messy step and more drying time. So I had to keep going with this other idea I had.

Those party lights you see at the store are so expensive for what you get. 30 little lights for $25 doesn’t go very far before adding up to a whole lot of money for a festive atmosphere. These party lights are removable, so you can use an existing string of Christmas lights and then just take them off when it’s time to use on the tree. If I did the math I’d guess that for a string of 30 lights, I spent about $3.

The project requires covering water balloons with paper mache (in this case white tissue paper and paint tinted glue) and they turn out adorable! You can string these up for garden parties or just for fun. If you’ve never hung lights out in the garden before, why not give it a try this summer, they really are lovely.

Please visit the site above for project details, very creative! Found via Craftzine [2].

Don’t Miss These Tips:

* Paper Mache: Recipes & Tips [3]
* Sweet Fairy Lights Project: How To [4]
* Spring Bloom Inspired Flower Lights: {Crafty} [5]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/paper-mache-lights/

URLs in this post:

[1] Paper Mache Party Lights: http://www.reesedixon.com/2009/06/paper-mache-party-lights.html

[2] Craftzine: http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/06/papier-mch_party_lights.html

[3] Paper Mache: Recipes & Tips: http://tipnut.com/paper-mache/

[4] Sweet Fairy Lights Project: How To: http://tipnut.com/fairy-lights/

[5] Spring Bloom Inspired Flower Lights: {Crafty}: http://tipnut.com/flower-lights/

Spring Bloom Inspired Flower Lights: {Crafty}

Posted By TipNut On April 19, 2010 @ 1:03 pm In Crafty Ideas, Repurposing | No Comments

Spring Bloom Inspired Flower Lights Tutorial By colorbuzz.valsparblog.com

Today’s feature is from Color Buzz with this project for Spring Bloom Inspired Flower Lights [1]:

Spring blooms are so beautiful but so short lived! Here is a project that makes their joyful time aura last all year long. In honor of Earth Day on April 22nd, I used recycled soda bottles.

How clever is that! The blossoms are made from the bottom of clear plastic soda bottles. There are a few steps involved in making these but nothing too complicated. Choose a paint color of your choice but I think the pink shade in the sample looks great! The plastic blooms are attached to a string of Christmas mini-lights, the sample is made with white lights but you can try any color (or mix) that you like.

Please visit the site listed above for all the details.

Don’t Miss These Tips:

* Paper Mache Party Lights: Crafty Project [2]
* Sewing Pattern Twinkle Lights: How To [3]
* Sweet Fairy Lights Project: How To [4]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/flower-lights/

URLs in this post:

[1] Spring Bloom Inspired Flower Lights: http://colorbuzz.valsparblog.com/2010/04/spring-bloom-inspired-flower-lights.html

[2] Paper Mache Party Lights: Crafty Project: http://tipnut.com/paper-mache-lights/

[3] Sewing Pattern Twinkle Lights: How To: http://tipnut.com/twinkle-lights/

[4] Sweet Fairy Lights Project: How To: http://tipnut.com/fairy-lights/

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