simple series 04

deeIY Air Freshener  

Materials: 

1. Essential Oils - I used Lemon Eucalyptus. Smells like a spa. Amazing. ($3.99) Some other oils like Lavender, Vanilla, etc will work. They tend to be a little bit more expensive. 

2. Crystal Mud or Bubble soil - Found mine at the local Jewel-Osco (AKA Alberston's) ** In the floral section- ($1.00)  

Directions: 

1. Put about 10-15 drops of your essential oil into a large bowl. Fill it with about 3 cups of water. Then add your "crystal soil". I only added about 1/2 of the packet into the water. Remember your beads will expand to about the size of a marble. Add enough to fill your container. 

This is what they look like when FULLY expanded. 

Add them to your container and ta-da you have your own homemade air freshener. Makes for a great gift. Use for your car. 

I decided to use twine to cover a mineral water bottle -- and filled it with the aromatic bubbles. 

If the smell runs out -- add more essential oil and water into the container and voila! You have an never-ending air freshener! 

For the mom's out there!! 

** For tactile fun with your kids. Just grab a couple of these water bubbles and have them play. They are completely non-toxic. And really great for counting and games! 

El Fin! 

simple series 03

Design your own mugs 

Hello everyone! I've been obsessing over making my own mugs all week. So, I researched different mugs etc. And these are the mugs I've come up with. Enjoy! 

1. Materials

1. Mug/cup of your choosing ($1-4) 

2. Pebeo Porcelain 150 Markers ($3.5-5)

Make sure you are looking at the markers -- some are air dry and some are oven bake. I made the mistake of buying a mixture. Local craft stores should have something if not try Dick Blick. 

Instructions: 

1. Clean the mug/Dry the mug 

2. Draw your desired design. Look online for samples. I'll add some of my samples at the end. 

You can even draw your own MUG on your MUG. Get it, get it. Language is fun. 

Here I had to draw all the black at once because my black was oven-bake and the colors were all air dry. I added color later. 

3. Bake according to instructions -- the Pebeo pens require 350 degrees for 30 minutes. 

After I baked I added the colors. The color pens require a 3 day dry time for them to be dishwasher safe! 

Enjoy! 

Here are some sample cups/mugs I made. 

Sample 1: The underwater whale. I love this idea. It's going to be fun to see the whale underwater when I fill the cup. 

It would also be cute to add a fishing boat up top. So that the boat would be floating on water when you fill it up. 

Sample 2: My friend is in love with grumpy cat so I made her a mug. And the other two are a girl guy mug I saw online. I thought it would be cute to give a try. 

Happy mug making! 

simple series 02

Simple Series 02: Make your own journal/field book 

Materials: 

** These might be things you already have at home. Which is kinda nice. 

1. Cardstock/Craft paper - I bought the polka dotted one for about $0.50/sheet. I bought the craft paper (brown) $3/pack - each pack has about 50(?).  

2. Something pointy to poke holes in paper. I happen to have that pointy tool -- you can also use a thumb tack. 

3. Twine/Baker's twine/Embroidery Floss. You will need at least 20 inches - $0.50-$3. 

4. Computer Paper - I also like using graph paper! - I use about 10/notebook.

5. Big-Eyed Needle - It just needs to be big enough for the twine to go through. Like a tapestry needle. I don't know about price. Probably no more than $1-3. 

6. OPTIONAL: Corner rounder -- I have the Martha Stewart one. It's kinda pricey - about $10.

Step 0(Optional): Round out the corners of all papers

Step 1: Fold

Fold everything in half - cardstock and computer paper. Cardstock on the outside. Make sure yours looks like the one above. If it doesn't... I don't know how to help you. 

Step 2: Make Holes

Poke holes along the center fold -- I like to poke from the inside. It's just easier. I just guess the spacing but you can measure with a ruler if you don't trust yourself. 

Step 3: Sewing

Put twine through the needle. Put the needle through the first hole -- I start from the outside (cardstock side) -- Leave about 3in of twine on the outside(top left). Then weave through the holes (top right). Then weave back down to where you started (bottom left). Once you have the whole thing weaved through, go through the second hole one more time (bottom right). It should look like the picture below: 

Step 4: Tie it. 

I double knot the first knot. Then tie a cute bow. I double knot the bow too. Then cut the excess twine. 

Step 5: (Optional) Add stuff

On my notebooks, I always add an envelope on the back page to hold secret stuff -- or just stickers. 

Because I love to journal, I go through one of these a month(easily) -- So what I do is, make a month indicator - a "3" for March and a cute little lace thing. 

Then the 2nd and 3rd page is my March calendar. I just used some more craft paper to make the calender -- everything on the page is just handwritten. 

Personalize it anyway you want to. 

** GREAT gift idea for friends who love to stay organized. You can make them one for each month of the year. 

EL Fin:

Mr. Peter the Pig says, "Stay cool."