Pallet garden

Pallets can be repurposed for just about anything. I love reusing pallets and gardening so this pallet garden was a must. 

It is so simply to make a pallet garden. Lay down pallet, fill with compost, plant your crops, water and weed regularly til harvest. 

Today we planted tomatoes, celery, eggplant, basil, thai basil, lemongrass, and dill.

Tomorrow I am planting lettuce along the outside of the tomatoe pallets. 

 I will post updates as my garden grows.

DIY Moon sand

This recipe is to make your own moon sand at home out of flour and oil.

Materials:
Flour
Oil
Container

I used baby oil but you could use any kind of oil.

I put a couple cups of flour in a container and slowly mixed in the oil until the mixture crumbled but could still hold shapes when pressed.

If it is too dry add more oil. If it is too wet add more flour.

I made the boys their moon sand in the summer and it is still just as fun as the day I made it five months ago.

The boys play with their containers of homemade moon sand all the time.  They focus on it which is rare for these wild boys.  I love that not only do the boys enjoy playing with this super cheap DIY moon sand but they love sharing the fun when their friends come to visit.  Friends and cousins of all ages get loads of entertainment from this simple craft.

Great craft for any age as long as they don't eat it :-)

I was going to make some up for gifts this holiday season. I just cant decide what size container to put them in.?.hmmmm....Or what color to make them?? Or maybe no color and just glitter, oh yeah, glitter! Sorry, squirrel.....................................

DIY compost

Composting can cut down on waste by as much as half in a household. I just made up that statistic. But seriously, half is a lot when you stop and think of all the food waste one person can make in one day, week, month, or year.

I started composting a couple of years ago. I was amazed by all the things that I could put in my compost. I compost so much now that I'm a vegetarian. So much in fact that I needed a bigger compost to accommodate my super composting habits.

After searching the web for bigger compost containers I was disgusted at the price of most of the styles I liked. Even most of the do it yourself composts were still more money than I wanted to spend.

After seeing my friends compost container that she had made out of pallets, I knew this was the size and price I was looking for.

A compost made out of pallets is super easy and cheap. All you need is 3-4 pallets, chicken wire (the smallest mesh available), and a spot to build it.

I attached chicken wire on the inside of the pallets with a staple gun. Then I propped up the pallets how I liked them. Finally I drilled screws in the corner to secure the compost. And I was ready to compost !!!!!!!

Once my compost got a bit full I put a piece of plywood in the front as door to hold it all in.

Now all you need to do is fill it with food waste (no dairy or meat), dirt, yard debris, and farm animal waste (no dog or cat waste).

Once a month I water it really good and toss it around with a pitchfork.

Within one year you should have the best soil you have ever gardened with.

Compostable items:
Shells of ANY kind
Feathers
Farm animal waste
Vegetables
Fruit
Hay
Ash
Grass
Weeds
Dirt
Paper
Cardboard (small amount)
Yard debris
Soil
Sand
Moss
Other compost
Not too much:
lawn clipping or pine needles
No meat
No dairy
No cat or dog waste

A good blend is critical. You don't want too much of one substance.

iPhone holder speaker amplifier

Take an tape cassette case flipped over on itself. It makes a great iPhone holder stand contraption. What is even better is it acts as an amplifier for the speakers if you are listening to music on your iPhone.

This is a great use of an old tape cassette case.

I love up-cycling stuff it's rad.

Repurposed fall decoration

I reused a copper candle holder by filling it with spice scented pine cones. Topped with a little white pumpkin.

I love fall decorations and I love repurposing things. Two birds, pow!

DIY iPhone charging dock

My husband Kyle wanted a new charger by his computer. He already had the standard iPhone USB to 30-pin charger/sync cable connected to his computer. So after being inspired by some other crafty geek online, he designed his own.

His charger/dock/amplifier is steam punk. Which means that it is overcomplicated and unique.

He began by chiseling out a slot for the iPhone to sit in from a chunk of 2X6. He drilled out two holes side-by-side through that slot to run the USB end of the 30-pin cable.

Next he drilled out a hole for his pipe/amplifier. Once the two main holes on top were done he drilled a hole through the side to connect the two cut out sections on top. This tunnel is how the sound travels through the iPhone slot to the pipe.

Kyle had to drill straight through the side to get the sound channel where he wanted it. This left an unwanted hole on the side, which was easily sealed with some hot glue.

Once all the holes and cut outs were exactly how he wanted them we went to the craft store. While there, Kyle found sticky back cork paper that had fake writing on it. It was perfect. He also bought some brass tags and corner pieces from the scrapbook section.

Once home, I cut out the cork paper with an Exacto knife and wrapped it around the block, covering the holes.  I know how to work with corners, but I would suggest making a paper template to work with.


Have fun and get creative. This handmade dock is way cooler than any I have ever seen for sale. The best part is it is one of a kind.

Repurposed shoe box lid

Materials:
Acrylic paint
Shoe box lid
Paint brush
Scraper or end of paint brush

Cover shoe box lid with paint. The thicker you put on the paint the more texture it will have.




Scratch any design you can think of.





I scratched in the boys first letter of their name and the age they are.

Really, skies the limits!

Reused Glass Coke Bottle

Reuse a cleaned out glass coke bottle and a spout thingy as a dish soap bottle.

 You can use any dish soap you prefer the only thing is it must be diluted until it is thin enough to pour out easily.

I think it is super cute.

Banana peel acne solution

I heard about using banana peels awhile ago and never gave it a try. After trying every over the counter solution my acne has not gotten better. The older I get the worse my acne has become. I'm almost thirty, enough is enough!
So I tried scrubbing banana peels on my face yesterday. I cut a piece of peel and started scrubbing in little circles all over my face. I scrubbed until the piece of banana peel became brown, so a couple of minutes. I rinsed with lukewarm water and dried my face (no wiping). It leaves a waxy residue all over my face.
I have only been doing this morning and night for two day but I'm sold! I love it. My acne IS clearing up. My face is super soft and I feel like it tightened my face. I rubbed it on my lips this morning and now my lips are super soft.
I love it so much that I may never use face wash again!!!!!!!!

Chicken treats

I'm always making treats for my chickens and or doggies. Today the boys did not finish their super fruit smoothies that I mixed them up. So I poured it into a pie tin added raisins and oats. Popped it into the freezer for the next hot day :-) my chickens are always stocked with the yummies for their tummies.

Stuffed toy storage

Old DVD or tape rack repurposed into a stuffed toy storage :-)
My boys have so many stuffed treasures that sometimes it gets out of hand. This rack helps contain and display all my boys stuffed toys.

Candle

I love making cute candles for the dinner table.
Tonight it was windy so I got out mason jars so my tea lights would stand a chance.
I wanted something to add to the jar and tea light so I scrounged my pantry. I decided these pinto beans would work perfectly.
Anything would look cute; rice, beans, peas, pepper, the skies the limits.

Sucker tree

Easy and adorable!
My sister in-law made this for my nieces fourth birthday party.
It was SO cute and could be any theme.

-flower pot
-2 foam balls
-wooden dowel
-bag of suckers
-decorations

Place half of a foam ball in flower pot.
Poke stick end of suckers in the whole foam ball till covered.
Stick dowel into bottom foam and sucker top. Decorate accordingly!!

Rope bridge

Simple fun!!!!
At least two ropes tied between trees and the kids can use their core strength and energy up for hours.

Free fun for kids

I save any container I use. Every jam jar, ketchup bottle, soda bottles, and anything else that I can wash clean. I even keep all my t.p and paper towel rolls. I am NOT a hoarder! I'm crafty :-)

I open a paper bag (which can also be used as a toy) and fill with like containers. I set my paper collector bags in the garage except the t.p roll bag that's under the bathroom sink. Whenever I need an extra container I can have one on hand, it's handy.

So when my children say I'm bored I will let them choose some containers or just give them the whole bag depending on how full it is.

You wouldn't think trash could equal hours of fun but it can if you add imagination.

TP wall art

I started collecting tp rolls to make this really neat looking wall art. It is so simple and practically free.
First cut tp rolls in half inch rounds and flatten to make the leaf shape. Glue together and pin until dry. Continue until you are satisfied. I will post my final pics once I collect more tp rolls.

TP pumpkins

This is a diy super cute decoration and it is super simple to do. These three took me about two minutes to make. Simply place a full tp roll on a square of cute material. Wrap fabric up and tuck into the top. Stick in a stick in the top and tie with something cute.
These three are pumpkins I made to spruce up my father in laws house for fall.