Welcome Thy Neighbor Sunday, Aug 7 2016
Community and Living and Tips etiquette, gifts, neighbors, new home, welcome gift 9:12 am
The Making of the Gratitude Jar Wednesday, Jan 20 2016
DIY and Fun Tips and Tips DIY, diy gifts, family projects, gifts, gratitude jar 5:53 pm
I had seen ‘The Gratitude Jar’ idea around for a few years and I finally decided to make one. They are really simple to put together, and they are a great way to remember the positives in life. For those of you unfamiliar with ‘The Gratitude Jar,’ it is simply a container (jar) that you put your positive, grateful, happy memories into. The tradition is to wait until the end of the year to open up the jar and read all of the notes, however the notes can be read whenever you like, especially if you need a little reminder that life’s not so bad. It’s never too late to start your own gratitude jar.
Here’s how:
Air Plant Terrariums and Vases Monday, Dec 1 2014
Decorating and DIY and For The Home and Fun Tips and Garden and Living and Products air plant terrarium, air plants, crafts, DIY, diy gifts, diy vases, gifts, holiday crafts, holiday decorating, homemade gifts, terrarium, terrarium vases, tillandsia, tillandsia terrarium, vases 11:20 am
I stumbled on light bulb terrariums on one of my internet searches and I decided to make some. As it turns out it takes a bit more work to remove the innards of a light bulb than I wanted to do, and after removing the innards the entrance hole is still quite small. I found a nice alternative — glass ornaments.
Supply List:
Tillandsia’s (air plants)
Glass ornaments (tops removed) and other suitable containers
Sand and/or perlite
Rubber bumpers (sold at hardware stores)
Small figures and ornaments such as: rocks, shells, twigs, moss
Tweezers
Chopsticks
Cardboard or a funnel
How to make the terrariums:
First, water your Tillandsia and let it dry. Now take your container, and if it is round add the bumpers to where you want the bottom to be. This will keep your container stabilized. Then fill the container about a third of the way up with sand or perlite using a funnel or a flexible piece of cardboard. Add your Tillandsia and figures. Use your tweezers and chopsticks to position the plant and the figures. It’s that easy. Now go be creative!
Here is where to find information on caring for air plants
DIY Ornaments Sunday, Nov 30 2014
Decorating and DIY and For The Home and Fun Tips and Living and Products and Tips christmas, crafts, decorating, DIY, diy gifts, diy ornaments, dogs, german shepherd, gifts, holiday, holiday decorating, homemade gifts, horses, kids and crafts, ornaments, snow globe 5:54 pm
Here is an easy, fun craft that you can do with your kids — Snow Ornaments with miniature figures. They will look great on your Christmas tree or lined up on your mantle, and they make great gifts.
Here is what you need to make these cute little ornaments:
Clear glass ornaments (available at craft stores)
Perlite (available at garden stores)
Small animals or figures (available at toy stores and/or craft stores)
Rubber bumpers (available at hardware stores)
Tweezers and/or chopsticks
Small soft brush on a wire (available at most drugstores in the cleaning isle)
Funnel or cardboard
Ribbon
Take the ornament and add 4 bumpers to the bottom of the glass so the ornament will stand upright.
Next, remove the top of the ornament and add the Perlite about 1/3 of the way up the ornament. Use a funnel or some cardboard to pour the Perlite in the ornament.
Now place your desired figure or small animal in the ornament. Once you get the figure in, use the tweezers or the chopsticks to position your figure. Once the figure is positioned, slightly tap the ornament to make sure the figure is stable. Once the figure is stable use your brush on the wire to clean off the dust from the inside of the ornament. If the figure falls over just reposition it.
Place the top back on the ornament. Once the top is back on, you can add a ribbon to the top if you desire.
Nuts! Thursday, Nov 29 2012
Cooking and Entertaining and Food food gifts, gifts, holiday, holiday entertaining, homemade gifts, hostess gifts, nuts, recipes, spiced nuts 12:00 pm
Give the gift of nuts.
Here is an easy recipe for spiced nuts:
2 Cups Raw Unsalted Nuts (Walnuts, Pecans, etc)
3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
1/2 Tablespoon Water
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/4 Teaspoon Ginger
Heat the nuts in a cast iron skillet until they are toasted. Remove the nuts and wipe out the skillet. Add the butter, sugar, water and spices to the skillet. Stir the ingredients until the sugar and butter are melted. Add the nuts back and stir until well coated. Spread the nuts on parchment paper and let cool. Once the nuts are cool package in pretty, airtight containers. This is an easy homemade gift that anyone can do. You can change the spice mixture to make different flavored nuts — this is just a starting point. Enjoy!
Wonderful World of Plants Sunday, Nov 28 2010
Garden and Products gardening, gifts, nursery, ornaments, plants, succulents, tillandsia, wreaths 12:00 pm
I came across this great local San Francisco nursery, Flora Grubb Gardens: http://floragrubb.com/idx/index.php, 1634 Jerrold Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124; 415.626.7256. You will find inspiration for your gardening needs and great gift ideas for the plant lovers in your life at Flora Grubb Gardens. I especially like the succulent wreaths and the forest floor ornaments with a Tillandsia plant inside.
The No Nonsense Assistant 