DIY Make Mulling Spices

how to make mulling spices

what you’ll need

• 4 ½ medium-sized oranges, hulled
• 2 cups light brown sugar
• 16 peppercorns, whole
• 8 all-spices, whole
• 16 cloves, whole
• 8–10 cinnamon sticks, trimmed into thin pieces ¼” – ½” lengths

let’s do it

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees
• Line baking sheet with parchment paper
• Place halved and hulled oranges facing up
• Bake until the peel is dry but still a little flexible
• Allow to cool completely, preferably overnight
• Fill 8 dried orange halves with brown sugar
• Take extra dried orange half and cut into 8 small beak pieces, rounded at the top and pointed at the bottom, approximately ¼” in size
• On a clean mat, arrange the spices to look like a turkey, cloves for eyes, neck and gizzard, dried orange piece for beak, all-spice berry for body and pieces of cinnamon for feathers
• Once arranged to your liking, methodically take each piece and press into the brown sugar to create turkey image
• Wrap each orange half tightly in cellophane and tie off with ribbon
• Makes 8 mulling packs

Instructions to write on tag:

• Add to two quarts of cider or apple juice
• Simmer for 30 minutes then strain and serve

Bowling Game From Water Bottles

DIY bowling game craft instructions

what you’ll need

• 10 upcycled water bottles (32 ounce)
• white spray paint
• red Duct tape
• scissors
• sand
• small rubber ball

let’s do it

• remove labels from empty water bottles
  TIP: Goo Gone and warm soapy water work wonders
• wash in warm, soapy water and let dry
• spray exterior of bottles and caps with paint and let dry
• measure and cut approximately 10” (depending on size of bottle) of red Duct tape per bottle to create bowling pin stripes
• cut Duct tape down the center lengthwise to create 2 narrow strips
• place both pieces of red Duct tape near the top of bottle about ½” apart
• fill bottles with small amount of sand to help weight them (weight them accordingly to the size ball you are bowling with)
• set up bowling pins and you’re ready to go

Framed Message Board or Bucket Board

THIS BLOGGER HASN'T HAD LUCK W/ non-draining containers....
BUT  I LOVE THIS IDEA
THE BUCKETS WOULD HAVE SOMETHING ELSE IN THEM TOUGH.

MAYBE A NOTE BOARD ? 

how to create a framed container herb garden

what you’ll need

• old picture frame
• chicken wire
• acrylic or spray paint
  TIP: use old house paint to lacquer a rustic old frame
• paint brush
• staple gun and staples
• hammer
• 2 eye screws
• jute rope for hanging
• small metal buckets
• wood clothespins

let’s do it

• find or repurpose an old picture frame
• paint with your choice of color and let dry
• trim and attach chicken wire to backside of frame using staple gun
• secure staples in place carefully with hammer
• pre-drill small holes about 2-3 inches from top of frame so you don’t split the wood;
• screw in eye screws
  TIP: tie rope around the top part of the frame to hang if you don’t want to use eye screws
• cut rope to desired length
• tie to each eye screw with knots
• plant herbs in metal buckets
• hang buckets from chicken wire with clothespins

Grandma's House Sleepover Pillowcase Bag

how to create a DIY sleepover pillowcase bag

GRANDMA'S HOUSE

FAMILY REUNION BAG

what you’ll need

• 2 pillowcases
• 2 sheets of felt (solid or pattern optional)
• additional felt for embellishing pocket flap
• 2 yards polypropylene webbing for straps
• sewing machine
• thread
• sewing needle
• sewing pins
• hot glue gun and glue

let’s do it

• determine size of felt pocket and flap
• trim as desired and pin to right side of one pillowcase
  TIP: it’s a little tricky to sew the pocket on since it’s a pillowcase. slowly walk it around as you sew, making sure you don’t sew the case together
• attach embellishments with a needle and thread or hot glue
• put both pillowcases together so finished sides face each other (i.e. openings are the same direction)
• pin in place
• sew 3 sides to create bag

1. sew opposite end of pillowcase openings on short side
2. continue along bottom, stop and reposition to sew flap
3. sew 2 inner flaps of pillowcase opening together so there are 2 pockets to insert pillow and blanket
   TIP: you are sewing this inside out and will reverse it once you’ve finished sewing so don’t worry about perfect seams

• turn inside out so finished felt pocket is facing outward
• position, pin and sew both polypropylene webbing straps in desired location and comfortable length
• let the packing begin!

DIY Memory In A Jar Instructions

DIY memory jars instructions

what you’ll need

• upcycled mason or pasta sauce jar
• hot glue gun
• collected memories and photos

let’s do it

• wash and dry jar
• gather items for jar
• select filler for bottom of jar (sand, moss, dirt, leaves, fabric)
• hot glue filler to secure
• start layering memories in jar, hot glue to secure

TIP: less is more so pick your favorite items or make 2 jars

• make banners with name, year and location
• screw on lid tightly, add exterior embellishments if desired
• decorate your shelves with memories

DIY Personalized Planting Pot Gifts

DIY personalized planter instructions

what you’ll need

• terra cotta pot
• blue painter’s tape
• exterior house paint or spray paint
• foam paint brush
• small point paint brush
• letter stencil
• stencil or stipple brush

let’s do it

• wipe off pot with cloth to remove dust
• apply tape around pot leaving approximately ¼ of pot exposed

TIP: instead of tape, measure and mark with a ruler and pencil. Use marks as a guide for tape placement to create a straight edge.

• paint planter
• let dry
• apply another 1-2 coats, allowing to dry between each coat
• repeat with tape and paint for other half of pot
• remove painter’s tape

TIP: remove  tape at an angle so you don’t pull up the paint you just applied

• let dry another 1-2 hours
• place stencil between colors slightly overlapping bottom color
• TIP: hold stencil firmly with hand since it’s a curved surface
• paint first letter with color used on bottom of pot

TIP: move brush up and down to stencil so the finished letter has crisp edges

• let dry before moving to next letter
• position stencil for next letter and paint
• repeat for all letters
• freehand “the” using small point brush

TIP: pencil in letters on the pot or paper first to create a guideline for painting

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All About Grandma Idea

grandma mother’s day questionnaire

What You’ll Need

• CherylStyle All About Grandma Template 
• http://www.cherylstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/All-About-Grandma.pdf
• Printer
• Card stock
• Fine point Sharpie Pen
• Scissors
• Picture frame

Let’s Do It

• Print template
• Have children fill in the blanks
• Trim to size and frame