Hostess Gift – Solar Lid Mason Jar

I

Solar lighted Mason Jar. Testing the view in a dark place.

I needed a Hostess Gift for Thanksgiving.  I was lucky to find these solar mason jar lids at a little store.  I passed them up the first time, but after shopping at craft stores and combing the malls and all the places I thought I could find a great gift idea, I settled on a mason jar.  I bought the solar lid for $12, the jar at a thrift store for $.79 and used craft stuff I knew I already at home.  I did buy heavier gauge wire.

I used epsom salt in the bottom for snow and took an embossed snowman that I had leftover from years ago when I made my own Christmas cards and just stuck him in the salt using a pair of pliers to push him down in.  I already had some Christmas ribbon left over from wine bottle bags I made a while back.  I found some sticky mesh and cut scraps to cover the Kerr lettering in the back on the jar.  Then I used some quotations that I had lying around, tore the edges and Mod Podged it to the mesh.

I used some left over beads to dangle from one of the sides and used jute to cover the wire that holds the hanger.  The lid is water proof so it can be used outside.  I did not glue anything to the lid in case a person may want to change the jar out seasonly, but any mason jar lid ring will work.  I liked the silver simplicity of it so I left it alone.  I believe you can find solar lids on line.  I didn’t have time to shop around since I was in a crunch.  Here are pictures of the front and back unlit.S orry my pictures are not the best:)

 

 

 

This is how the mason jar looks unlit. I used craft things I already had.

This is where I used the mesh on the back of the jar to cover up the Kerr lettering.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rag Quilts

I love Pinterest! So many ways to get inspired. After seeing rag quilts, I had to try making one. I haven’t used my sewing machine in a long time and when an email arrived from JoAnn Crafts with their flannel on sale, I decided to try making a rag quilt for a baby gift. It probably took me a total of 5 hours. I found the tutorial on a blog called do it yourself divas. I loved the look of the strip quilt so I had to give it a shot!

I chose to add some micro fleece and nubby fleece for a little added softness. I did use a flannel lining. So you need 7 coordinating fleece fabrics, 1/2 yard each, and 2 yards white flannel for the batting. I did not want binding so I ragged the edges as well. Use 100% cotton for better fraying.

Cut two 6″ strips and two 3″ strips from each of the main fabrics. Cut seven 6″ strips and seven 3″ strips from the white flannel. Place a strip of white flannel in between each panel strip, making sure the right sides are facing outward. Sew a seam length wise down the center to hold in place. After all your strips are finished, lay them out in a pattern you like. Sew them together making sure one side has all the seams. The other side will be flat. Trim the sides to make the quilt even and stitch around the outer edge.

Next, taking small 1/2 sections on each seam, snip edges towards seam being careful not to snip into the seam. Wash and dry quit to fray. Pull looses strings off and you are finished!

Gearing up for the Holidays – Creative Labeling

Holiday Labels

I love the creative side that comes alive inside me.  My favorite homemade product has to be the lotion bars I created. I have to say, they are the best when it comes to cracked heals, hence my lotion bar label for the Holidays – “Hoof Helper”.  Packaging can really make a difference when selling product.  I must have redesigned my basic label at least 10 times.  Since I only do it as a craft for friends and family, I’m not locked into a mass produced label purchased from a company.  I print small label designs from the comfort of my own home on my inkjet printer. Laser-Injet Labels  has a variety of different labels that work really well for me.  Unfortunately, the custom size I want is not available so I cut my own from a full 8.5×11 sheet.  That way I can put more labels on a sheet and I use my corner rounder to finish the corners and the fact that all printers require their own quirks to make the label fit correctly with the printer, makes the full sheet a better option for me.  Have fun, get inspiration on the web.  If you don’t have a program to create your own drawings, then draw a picture out on a piece of paper by tracing and coloring it.  Take a picture of it, crop it and do it that way.

Quality vs. Quantity

I’ve been hobbling with my lotion bars and creams for about 6 months and I purchased products from several suppliers. It makes a HUGE difference in the product I make to use a good quality wax, butters, and oils. Make sure you shop wisely and use reputable suppliers when making your own products. It takes some trial and error to handpick your products at the right places, but now I know that you can’t beat the quality at Mountain Rose Herbs

Helichrysum Essential Oil – Everlasting

My newest essential oil purchase includes Helichrysum Essential Oil.  I was intrigued by the many benefits it has to offer.  The thing that caught my eye the most was how helpful it could be for bruising and bleeding.  Well, I had a first hand experience using the oil and I have to say I am very impressed.  I was cleaning up the dinner dishes and I managed to give myself a nice cut while washing a knife.  I could tell that it was going to be a bleeder and while rushing upstairs I was thinking to myself that I hope I wouldn’t need stitches.  I happened to read a lot of information in the past couple of weeks about Helichrysum Essential Oil and one of the things I read was that you can put it “neat” (meaning without dilution of a carrier oil) on a wound to help stop the bleeding quicker.  Yep after a few continuous drops on my cut, it slowed the bleeding down really quick.  So of course, I had to blog my amazement of how well it worked.

I continue to find natural remedies that seem 2amaysing.  My passion for these oils are slowly getting my respect as I experience them personally and find out how beneficial they are if used correctly.  Even after 15 minutes, other than the bandaid I put on my thumb, I wouldn’t even be able to tell that I cut my finger.  It’s not painful at all and I feel confident that the Helicrysum provided the anti-septic that my finger needed and the wound will heal faster than expected.

I’m still experimenting and I’m sure I will find other great ways to use this wonderful oil!  I will be sure to post updates.

Olive Leaf Extract for Reactivated EBV (mono)

I haven’t been feeling well lately…again. It’s happened many times during my life, but only since last year did I have an answer for my lack of energy, and by that I mean total exhaustion for no apparent reason…or so I thought. I had blood tests last year that confirmed that I am one who gets the reactivated mono virus. Now that I know what the symptoms are, I can pretty much tell that is is apparent in my system again. I had blood tests last Friday, so let’s see if I can confirm that when the results are in.

My symptoms range from extreme fatigue, especially upon rising and in the early evening. I can now tell that my spleen is enlarged and somewhat painful. I have swollen knots in the back of my neck, feel the nodules in my throat and have a dull headache. What is weird to me, is that somedays I can feel totally normal for about 1/2 the day. My joints ache. The slightest activity can exhaust me for hours.

I love searching on the internet and going to my local health food store looking for answers. I am excited that I found Olive Leaf Extract. I am going to take it along with Astragalus to help fight off this nasty virus present in my system. I look forward to posting my results in the coming week or two. Some great info I found is at the following. http://curezone.com/foods/oliveleaf.asp

8 hours later: I just took my second tablespoon of olive leaf extract and 2 capsules of astragalus. My headache is completely gone as are my body and joint aches. I feel normal as far as my energy level is concerned. It’s 10:30 PM and I’m amazed that I’m up this late:). So far so good! The real test will be waking up tomorrow morning and going to work. So far so good.

It’s day 2. I had a couple of spots in my throat yesterday and was still there this morning but now gone (it’s about 9:30 pm). I took a dose of olive leaf extract twice today along with the astragalus. I am amazed. My joints don’t hurt, some small spots of acne on my face have cleared up, my energy level has improved like crazy and my spleen feels like its almost back to normal. I didn’t have a headache for the first time in many weeks. I visit the doctor tomorrow to go over the blood tests I had last Friday so I’m anxious to hear what they have to say and share my experience with them. Let’s hope I continue to improve. I think I will cut back to once a day dosage tomorrow.

Compliments:)

I have had several compliments on my homemade products. What is starting put as a hobby with passion is helping many friends. I share with you part of an email I received on my lotion bars. It made my day.

“Lorraine, this stuff is fantastic. I gave a bar to my mother when I saw the eczema all over her legs (on a Fri. ). 2 days later her legs were almost healed and now 4 days later she tells me the eczema is all cleared up.”

If I can help those in need get some relief, then it’s worth the time and effort I’ve put into my homemade products:). Compliments mean everything to me.