Thursday, May 31, 2018
Vintage Lamp Bird Bath - DIY Tutorial and Review
Friday, December 1, 2017
Bead & Sequin Christmas Ornament Kits Review
Make Your Own Treasured Keepsake with Beaded Christmas Ornament Kits
Handmade beaded Christmas ornaments are a fabulous gift to give to just about anyone. My own Christmas tree is loaded with Christmas tree ornaments that have been given to me over the years. I have a whole collection of ornaments from my grandmother. Since she is no longer with me, I cherish them more now than I did the day I received them.I have keepsake ornaments that my parents gave to me and beautiful handmade beaded ornaments that my mother made for me when I was still a child. I also have handmade ornaments from my children. Now that they are grown, it is a walk in the past to touch the ornaments those precious little hands made.
Giving Christmas ornaments as Christmas gifts has become a family tradition in our home. Why not make your own beaded Christmas ornaments and start a new family tradition today?
Beaded Ornament Handmade by My Mother
This is one of the ornaments that my mother made for me when I was a little girl. It is approximately 45 years old. It is one of my greatest treasures.
In my minds eye, I can still see my mom sitting at the kitchen table, placing each bead, each sequin in just the right place to make this lovely keepsake. Year after year, this ornament finds it's special place on our tree.
An Ornament I Made for Our Son
I made this spider ornament for my son 22 years ago. Each year, regardless of when I decorate our Christmas tree, I hold the little spider aside for my son to add to the tree. To this day, our tree is not completely finished until he comes home and hangs the spider on the tree.I made the spider long before the internet and computers became a household "utility". I have never gone back to write my own instructions online.
This Was A Gift I Made for Our Daughter
I chose to make this ornament for my daughter because her favorite color is purple. However, there is another meaning behind the color choice. Purple is a combination of red and blue, the warmest and coolest colors, therefore purple is considered to be the ideal color. Thus, an ideal beaded ornament for an ideal daughter!I Made This Ornament for Each of Our Children
In addition to the ornaments I made with the individual child in mind, I have also made matching ornaments over the years for both of our children. The green carousel ornament is one that I made for both children.Ornament Kits or Instruction Books
I personally prefer the ornament kits because they come prepackaged with everything needed to complete a beaded ornament, except the craft glue. However, sometimes a kit is not available in a specific color or design. Then I pull out my trusty books and buy the supplies required separately.Either way, the gift of a handmade ornament is special to the recipient and will be a cherished treasure, just as the ones I have shared above, for decades to come.
Christmas Crafts for Kids,36 Sets Christmas Beaded Ornament KitCheck Price Vintage Walco Holiday Silver Bells Beaded Ornament Kit Makes 3Check Price Sunrise Craft & Hobby Ruby #56 Collector Ornament Ornament KitCheck Price Beaded Ornament Covers: A Beginner's GuideCheck Price
Beaded Ornament Kits
Because of my on love for making beaded ornaments, I have several beaded ornament kits available in my own Ebay store. My inventory changes often simply because they sell out and additional kits are not always available from the suppliers.Here are a few that I currently have in stock:
RSS feeds don't always load properly. If the feed is not showing above, you can see the ornament kits available in my Ebay store by clicking here!
ReviewThisCrafts.com
Where you will find some awesome Craft Reviews & Tutorials like these, and more!
Bead & Sequin Christmas Ornament Kits Reviewed by:
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Halloween Countdown Calendar Reviews
October is a long month and with Halloween coming at the very end, it can seem like forever to a child who can't wait to wear his new costume and go trick or treating around the neighborhood.
A Halloween countdown calendar will help put the "How many days 'til Halloween?" question to rest. Here are three easy Halloween countdown calendars that you can make yourself.
AbilityPoweredDesign on Etsy |
Downloadable Halloween Countdown Calendar
Since I'm sure I'm not the only one who puts off projects until the last minute, I'm going to start with this one. It's super-quick and easy to make for as little as three dollars if you have a spare picture frame on hand.
Simply purchase this Halloween Countdown Calendar download, print it out immediately, put it in an 8 x 10-inch frame and you're ready to start counting down the days 'til Halloween. Each day, use a dry erase marker (available at the link or at your local discount store) to write the number on the glass. Next day, wipe off the number and update. Hooray, you're one day closer to trick-or-treat!
I've personally purchased many downloadable files from Etsy and just love the ease and convenience. This is a great project, simple and fun. I think this would make a cute gift for a teacher, neighbor, relative, or friend, too. Choose a pretty black, orange, or gold frame, include a new marker with the gift, and voila! I know I'd be impressed if someone made one of these for me. Oh, and if you like the idea but would prefer another design, you'll find many more choices in AbilityPoweredDesign's Etsy store.
No Tricks! Halloween Countdown Calendar With Treats
OhHappyDay.com |
Chiara, who wrote the post, includes complete directions and awesome photos to help make this project really easy. I hope you'll leave a comment on her blog if you like this project.
DIY Halloween Countdown Calendar With Printable Numbers
DIYNetwork Blog |
I love the popular chevron-patterned gift bags and the printable letters and numbers, all in seasonal black, orange, and white. (Note: I can see this project being carried over to other holidays, using other colors, can't you? Love it!)
The project calls for either a bulletin board, as shown, or a foam board. The supplies are inexpensive, the instructions are complete, and the final product is adorable.
So there you have it, three easy DIY Halloween Countdown Calendar projects. I hope one or all appeal to you. Which one do you like best? If you make and use one of these, I'd love it you come back to let me know. Have a happy Halloween!
~Susan
Click Here to Read More Halloween Reviews From Our Review This! Team
~Susan Deppner
Read more of my reviews.
Posted by Susan Deppner
About the Author
Susan Deppner is a baby boomer, a cancer survivor, and a Southerner who believes in the Golden Rule. She enjoys writing about food, faith, and fitness; health, home, and holidays; people, places, pets, and patriotism, and more. Follow Susan on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Friday, September 23, 2016
How to Create a Beautiful Fall Harvest Display for Your Yard or Porch
Reviewing Outdoor Fall Displays
As the weather starts to cool down and the leaves start to change colors, everything appears to be gradually preparing for a long winter's sleep. While the fall colors are beautiful, our yards don't seem quite as vibrant and colorful as they have been. We desire a way to hold on to the beautiful summer flowers and green lawns, but to still embrace the gorgeous fall changes. Some of us have found the perfect solution.It isn't time to really start decorating for Halloween, but we can start decorating our yards for fall in a way that will compliment the Halloween decor when it is time. Plus, thanks to the milder weather, we can leave these fall displays intact until Thanksgiving. By creating a beautiful fall harvest display in our yards or on our porch, we capture the brilliance of flowers and combine it with the great harvest fest. Some of the vegetables or flowers may have to be replaced over the course of the next few months, but the backdrops and foundations can easily remain.
Start by choosing a beautiful setting in front of a tree with the dramatic fall color leaves, like a maple tree. Or, build your display on your front porch where it will be better protected from weather.
Here are Some Ideas for Creating a
Beautiful Fall Harvest Display for your Yard or Porch
Foundations for a Fall Harvest Display
As with any creation, a strong, firm foundation will ensure the longevity of your fall yard display. There are a variety of of items that are easy to obtain, or perhaps that you already have on hand, that make the perfect display base or foundation.
20 in. and 32 in. PVC Hay Bale Set - Reusable hay bales |
- Hay Bales
- Wooden Benches
- Wagons
- Wooden Crates
- Wheel Barrow
- Wicker Baskets
- Wooden Baskets
Note: The featured hay bales are PVC Hay Bales made for decorative purposes. If you build your fall display with real hay, you can later use the hay to mulch your flower or vegetable garden, to prevent soil erosion, or to protect and cover seeds.
Decorative Items for a Fall Yard Display
5' Scarecrow Fall Harvest Halloween DecorationCheck Price
Once we have our foundation in place, we can start adding the fun, decorative items that we have chosen. I usually add my main feature next which is most often an owl or a happy scarecrow. You can always make your own scarecrow by stuffing old clothes with straw, creating a face or mask, and topping him off with an old hat. Or, you can purchase a ready made scarecrow.
Additional Fall Decoration Suggestions for Your Display
- Pumpkins
- Gourds
- Leaves
- Flowers: Mums, Sunflowers, etc.
- Plants: Ornamental Cabbage or Kale
- Ornamental Grass
- Tall Corn Stalks
- Indian Corn
- Pine Cones
- Sting of Lights
- A Bunch of Acorns (You would need a bunch of acorns in a basket for them to show on the display. Or, you could stuff the bottom of the basket and put the acorns on the top)
If you build your display on your porch, you could even make a fall wreath for your front door that coordinates with your display.
Check Out More Fall Reviews Here
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"How to Create a Beautiful Fall Harvest Display for Your Yard or Porch Written by:
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Home Remedy for Wart Removal
Reviewing How to Remove Warts With Duct Tape
One of the most frustrating of all skin conditions is the common wart. Though many of us were raised to believe warts are caused by handling frogs or toads, the truth is that warts are caused by viruses that get into the skin. They're especially common in children, though they can occur at any age.
Warts commonly occur on the fingers or on elbows and knees. Warts on the bottom of the foot are called plantar warts and can be painful when walking.
Common warts are harmless, but they can be very annoying and unsightly. Wart removal can be an uncomfortable process consisting of burning, freezing, use of acid, or cutting and paring.
Instead of paying for these painful and sometimes expensive treatments, try this home remedy for wart removal using something you probably already have in your home, duct tape. While not guaranteed, this method is easy, painless, and often suggested by medical doctors.
Worth a try? Having suffered from warts as a child, I'd say definitely so.
Here's what you'll need:
- A roll of duct (or duck) tape
- Scissors
- An emery board or pumice stone
- Cut a piece of duct tape just larger than the wart. Apply the tape to the wart. Wait six days. If the tape comes off during the six days, replace it with another piece.
- After six days, remove the duct tape. Use an emery board to gently and painlessly smooth down the spot.
- Repeat the process with another piece of duct tape for another six days. Often, when it comes time to remove the tape the second time, the wart will come off with the tape. If not, repeat again. Note that plantar warts can be deep and often take longer to remove, but be patient and watch for progress.
- You can buy duct tape at the local discount or hardware store.
- For reluctant kids, use colorful duct tape cut in fun shapes to cover the wart.
- I am not a doctor and this home remedy recommendation is not to be taken as medical advice. There is, however, plenty of anecdotal evidence that the duct tape method does work to remove common warts and I learned this from a medical doctor.
- The duct tape method is for use with warts, not moles or skin tags. See a physician for an expert opinion on the status of moles and for simple removal of most skin tags.
- If after a reasonable period of time the wart remains or is painful or bleeds, seek a medical opinion.
Posted by Susan Deppner
About the Author
Susan Deppner is a baby boomer, a cancer survivor, and a Southerner who believes in the Golden Rule. She enjoys writing about food, faith, and fitness; health, home, and holidays; people, places, pets, and patriotism, and more. Follow Susan on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Monday, July 25, 2016
DeWalt Cordless 20V Drill Review for Beginners
My compost bin frame in process |
Why I Needed to Purchase Tools
I have purchased a small piece of land with a very rustic hunting "cabin" in West Virginia - affectionately referred to as The Shack. I plan to live up there at some point. In the meantime, I want to learn to be as self-sufficient as possible. Which includes learning to do more than unclog a toilet, replace light bulbs, and change locks on doors. I can paint and I have laid carpet successfully in very small rooms. But that is the extent of my DIY ability. But I want to do so much more.
My very first project was building a wooden trellis (with much help) and tearing it back down for transport. The plan was to install the trellis on my own. So far, digging the holes in my yard has me stymied and that project is on hold.
My second project, which I have successfully finished, is a small wooden and wire compost bin. I purchased the DeWalt Cordless 20v Drill for this project. I had dire misgivings about purchasing a cordless. And I made a beginner mistake that made me think my review of this item would be negative. However, it ended up that this drill works GREAT. I found that once I fixed my mistake, this drill is reliable. I am so glad I purchased it.
My Dad - The Roofer and Builder
My dad owned his own roofing and pole barn business. He also built our barn. I was young, but I helped with both building our barn and occasionally with his business during the summer. I held boards, carried shingles, and pounded nails occasionally. But I did not handle the power tools.
This feels like a million years ago. But I clearly remember the portable generator and the corded saws and tools. Surely, I can build things now. It's in my blood...it should come naturally, right? No. Not so much.
Shopping for Power Tools
How overwhelming, shopping for power tools when you have no experience. I very much wanted to follow in my father's footsteps with the generator and the corded tools. However, generators are expensive. They also weigh a good bit. Depending on which one I purchased, I wouldn't be able to haul it up in the back of my Jeep Wrangler. I also noted that tools don't "feel" like they did all those years ago. Due to being much lighter and made with more plastic components they feel cheap and chintzy.
I felt like I "gave in" and purchased a cordless drill. After much window shopping, I chose the DeWalt Cordless 20v Max Drill with the lithium ion battery. Although, at the time of purchase, I felt little to no confidence about a "power tool" that was battery operated. I intentionally saved my receipt so I could return the drill after it failed.
My DeWalt Cordless 20v Max Drill and Driver
My drill came with a bag, two batteries, the charger, and the drill. I purchased a set of drill bits separately. Once I was no longer hesitant, the drill worked great for pre-drilling holes and screwing in screws. It was powerful and I could easily adjust the speed. Changing bits was exceedingly easy. The light feature was very helpful as I was working inside my shack with little natural light in the area I was working. The bag was perfect to make sure I had everything together in order to carry it back and forth between the apartment and The Shack.
DeWalt cordless 20v max drill and driver kit |
Initially, I thought the fully charged batteries were going dead following just a few holes and screws. I was ready to return it - my biggest concern being realized. Then I realized that the light on the charger lights as though the battery is fully charged when you just lay the battery onto the charger - as I was doing. However, and this is very important, the battery must click onto the charger in order to charge properly. I feel silly admitting that I hadn't known that but am sharing the information to make sure the next beginner understands that.
That one slight user error was the only thing that has given me pause about this wonderful cordless drill. The price was great. The drill has plenty of oompf. Figuring out the settings was easy for even a rank beginning like me.
And with the help of my drill (and a DeWalt cordless 20v Max saw) I was able to successfully build my first item - a wooden and wire compost bin.
For DIY beginners as well as those of you who understand the meaning of volts, RPMs, 3 speed transmission, ratcheting chuck, and carbide insert may be interested in this video provided by DeWalt.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Printable Greeting Cards
The procrastinator in me loves these cards. Why? Because I can choose, buy, print, and mail or hand deliver any of them quickly, within a matter of minutes. If you tend to put off shopping for special occasions until it's almost too late to be on time, bet you'll love the convenience, too!
Even if you're organized and always on time, there's much more to love about these cards. Since they're designed by artists from all over the world, it's easy to find something absolutely unique and the selection is huge. You're sure to find a style that you like for any occasion you can think of.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article.
Printable Inspirational Card ©JWGiftsandDecor on Etsy |
Printable Father's Day Cards
Father's Day Printable Card ©DecorartDesign on Etsy |
Father's Day is always the third Sunday in June, but it has a way of sneaking up on me at the last minute. You, too? If you wait until the last minute to choose a card for dear ol' dad, it won't be too late. Take a look at this Father's Day card collection, find one you like, order, then print. Use the search box to narrow down the subject matter to something that perfectly suits your dad.
Cards for All Occasions & Every Holiday
It's always good to have a greeting card or two on hand for emergencies, but if you're like me your card box never seems to contain exactly what you're looking for when you need it. That's another reason I like the idea of being able to choose the perfect card and print it from the comfort of my computer.
For instance, look at this selection of printable get well cards. You'll also find some really unique printable birthday cards. I found a beautiful selection of scripture cards for all occasions, too. Recently I've been exploring printable Halloween cards. You may be surprised at the selection. I was!
Choose a couple of designs that you especially like, order the downloads, and you'll have them on the computer when you need them. Pay once then print as many copies (for personal use) as you like!
©MerryMailman on Etsy |
Next time you're at Walmart, Target, or your favorite office supply store, pick up an inexpensive package of card stock paper along with some pretty envelopes (or make your own envelope from a grocery bag!). Choose a few favorite printable card designs to have handy on your computer, and you'll be ready whenever the next card-giving occasion arises. You'll save both time and money and the recipient is sure to be pleased.
So, who will your first printable card recipient be?
~ Susan
See more of my reviews.
Posted by Susan Deppner
About the Author
Susan Deppner is a baby boomer, a cancer survivor, and a Southerner who believes in the Golden Rule. She enjoys writing about food, faith, and fitness; health, home, and holidays; people, places, pets, and patriotism, and more. Follow Susan on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Friday, September 4, 2015
How to Make a Recipe Binder Organizer
Organize Your Favorite Recipes
I love having a recipe binder to organize my recipes! By simply adding photo sheets to a binder, I can create my own recipe card binder with all my favorite recipes.
In my recipe organizer, I can add, delete or move my recipes around for specific occasions or label the sections with tabs by courses.
The photo sheets will also protect my recipes from spills, smudges or tears. My recipe binder organizer is my own personal cookbook of favorite recipes and meals.
My Recipe Card Binder
I personally selected the Green Marble Recipe Binder (shown above) and I left the text "My Favorite Recipes" on the cover even though it can be personalized with any text. I also liked the font so this binder was perfect for me.
Zazzle Binders are designed for 8.5" x 11" sized paper or photo sheets. Each binder has 4 pockets inside.
You can select the size of binder you desire. I opted for the 2" spine binders simply because I have a lot of recipes that I wanted to add to my binder, but you could easily select several 1" binders and have a separate binder for appetizers, entrees, desserts, etc.
My Photo Sheets
I personally selected two different types of photo sheets. Each style of photo sheet fits neatly into the Zazzle 3-ring binders.
One set of photo sheets holds six 4"x 6" cards. (2 vertical and 1 horizontal) If you select this photo sheet, the recipe cards you place in the vertical pockets will need to be trimmed approx. 1/8" to fit.
The second set of photo sheets holds four 5" x 7" cards. Obviously, there would be no need to trim your recipe cards for these pockets, but it holds 2 cards instead of three.
Photo of Set I with Recipe Card |
Photo of Set II with Recipe Card |
Printed Recipe Cards
The recipe cards you see featured in my binder are all available on Zazzle.com. I love the printed recipe cards professionally printed by Zazzle. I purchased several of my favorite recipe cards to add to my Recipe Binder.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Woolite Dry Cleaners Review - Dry Cleaning Clothes at Home
I have such a strong reaction to dry cleaners chemicals, that I simply stopped buying clothes that had to be dry cleaned. It just was not worth it no matter how beautiful the apparel was, or how much I really wanted something. Even the smell of dry cleaned clothes that someone else may be wearing, can cause me to get an extreme headache.
I am thrilled that I have discovered a way to dry clean my clothes at home and not get sick! I have had so much success with this method, that I look for clothes to dry clean just so I can dance by my dryer.
Woolite Dry Cleaners Sheets
It may be seriously hard to believe, but dry cleaning your own clothes at home is as simple as throwing a piece of cloth in your dryer with your garment and turning on the dryer.
Materials:
- Woolite Dry Cleaners Secret Sheets
- Dryer
Instructions:
1. Throw your garment in the dryer with a Woolite Dry Cleaning Sheet
Satin Cape in Dryer with Woolite Dry Sheet - Photo by Sylvestermouse |
2. Turn you Dryer on Medium Heat for 20 minutes!
Dryer Control Photo by Sylvestermouse |
3. Remove your Garment from the Dryer.
It is now Ready to Wear!
Dry Cleaned Cape - Photo by Sylvestermouse |
Additional Notes about Dry Cleaning this Particular Cape
I personally made this Dr. Orpheus Cosplay Costume Cape for my son for Halloween in 2013. There is a large emblem on the back of the cape that I had to cut from satin fabric pieces.
The real beauty of the Woolite Sheets is that they did not fade or fray even the emblem. It came out of the dryer clean and just as vibrantly beautiful as it was the day it was made.
Since I enjoy making specialty costumes, it is so very awesome to have a trustworthy method to dry clean them. They are truly a lot more reliable than any dry cleaner and they don't leave strong chemical odor on the costumes or clothes. They actually smell good!
Emblem on the Back of the Cape - Costume & Photo by Sylvestermouse |
Woolite Dry Cleaning Sheet Tests and Review Conclusion
Since Woolite is a name I have trusted all of my life, I did not hesitate to try their dry cleaning sheets. After all, Woolite is the product I have used for decades to wash my cold water delicate fabrics. I am thrilled beyond belief to now be able to wear clothes that have to be dry cleaned. I love satins, silks, velvets, etc. and I missed having them as part of my wardrobe.
Due to my personal allergies, I do use the Fragrance Free, but there are scented sheets available.
Have you tried either of the Woolite Dry Cleaner's Secret Products?
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