Your Garden - A Fairy Arch

Every girl dreams of a arch overgrown with climbing roses in their garden (well at least I think). Don't let the expensive prices deter you...find some old branches and some rope and make your own! But be careful to make the base thicker than the top for sturdiness...branches sticking out in different directions at the base also help to create a firm foundation. Preferably secure it to another secure tree.

Making your house a home - Nail art (not your fingers :-))

Buy your own: https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/TheArtofSALiving/onboarding/listings/244670785

What to do when you have a spare plank of wood, chalkboard paint, nails, thread and an awesome continent you live on!

Steps:

1. Paint the plank with chalkboard paint

2. Print out the picture you want to create out of nails

3. Hammer in a few nails along the outline to help hold the picture in place on the board

4. Fill in the outline with more nails

5. Tear away the paper

6. Start your thread on one nail (tie a knot) and start looping it around other nails in a random fashion - you can loop it one or two times around each nail to make it extra secure

7. From your last nail start going around the border with your string, looping it around each nail as you go

Good luck!

Try mixing different coloured threads!

Your Garden - Old wire hangers

Use your old metal hangers to make hearts or words. Use your hands or pliers to make the letters sharper. You can always hang then from some old blinds draped over the wall :)

Making your house a home - Coffee and bees wax candles

To make wick: 

1. Melt wax in pot on stove on low heat

2. Cut length of string (length of jar plus but more) and attach something heavy like paper clip (metal, not with plastic covering) on both ends

3. Dip string in wax and allow to cool

4. Put one paper clip (plus string) in bottom of jar, and then hook the other over a pencil u balance along the opening of the jar (to keep wick straight up)

Candle: 

1. Poured wax as first layer to hold paper clip in place

2. Allowed it too cool and then poured coffee grounds

then more wax etc.

3. At some point I had to reheat the wax cause it solidified while the wax in the jar was cooling

Suggestions: 

1. Stick to thin layers rather than thick (unlike my picture)…else the coffee starts to cook when the flame gets to it and not in a good way! 

2. Next time I think I will actually just mix the coffee in with the wax at the start and mush it all together instead of doing layers…won't look as nice but will burn better and smell good all the time

I tried this last suggestion and it also didn't work! The coffee got burnt in the pan cause I wasn't ready with my mold. And when I poured the mix into the mold the coffee just sunk to the bottom! Next time I will try put in the wax, let it cool a bit and harden, then pour some coffee over...hopefully the coffee will slowly sink down through out...and, it won't go on the stove at all so it won't get burnt!

I will keep you posted!

Smaller candles from silicon cookie tray:

1. Cut string deep enough for the cookie tray

2. Attach split pins to the end

3. Melt some wax on a low heat

4. Dip the wicks/string in the wax and allow to dry on wax paper

5. Melt more wax and pour it into the silicon tray

6. Allow it to cool a bit

7. Before solid add some coffee grounds and allow it to sink or mix in with a spoon

8. Allow to solidify a bit more and then put in the wick so it is supported by the hardening wax

9. Pour some melted wax on top to make the top of the candle level

Don't put the wicks in the cookie tray before pouring in the wax! Even if they are secured to the bottom the very hot molten wax just makes it flop over

Your garden - Hanging cups

Whether inside or outside, plants add a little extra. When you are short of space consider hanging plants vertically

Lighting up your day (or night)

Make your own fairy light bubbles with a balloon, string, glue and food coloring

Strings of hanging fairy lights with chiffon around it

Made from recycled milk bottles!

Clothes that you love without the cost you hate - Jazzing up your jeans

I am short...there is no denying that! And I am always too lazy to shorten my pants and they always get messed up at the back from being walked on! First the first time I sewed lace along the bottom to make hemming easier (the lace hid any bad edges or skew sewing)! And I love them!