Quickie Lighted Snowman

I got this idea from my mom, who has been making these guys for years. Hers have light switches and more elaborate embellishments - super cute! I came up with a "quickie" version of these cute little guys, and thought I would share!

What you'll need:

Glass Jar - I think it's best to use a jar with plain class,  no words, etc... Like Ball or Mason jars

White acrylic craft paint

Sponge

Clear matte finish verathane spray

Orange and black "puffy" paint ( or just regular paint, or paint pens)

Paint brush

Fabric scrap for scarf

Old boot sock band for the hat

LED tea light

Velcro

1. Sponge paint the jar white, leaving openings for the light to glow through

2. Let it dry and paint on the face - I used pink blush for the "blushing cheeks"

3. Spray with verethane sealant. This helps to keep the paint from scratching off

4. Cut the top band off a boot sock. Hand stitch in and out of the cut-end, and make a draw string. Cinch top together and tie off. Add a puff ball, or embellishments

5. Tie on a scarf. I cut out a piece of red fleece for this one.

6. Glue on a small piece of velcro to the bottom of the LED tealight, and to the bottom of the jar. This will keep the light from jiggling around inside the jar.

7. Flip the tealight on, and watch it glow!

We have made cowboy snowmen with little cowboy hats and bandanas. Little hunter snowmen, with "Elmer Fudd" style hats with ear-flaps. The Classic snowman with a black felt top hat - Super cute! Lots of room for creativity!

Vinegar Tip - Flea Repellant

It's be a terrible year for fleas around here! I really don't know why it is, but all I know is I want them gone! So, I mentioned earlier how I recently banned Bleach from our house...ALL bleach products, in fact. I have turned to researching all the uses of vinegar. My most recent discovery was it's use to repel fleas! I came across this tip from my little Farmgirl Wisdom book by Mary Jane Butters (maryjanesfarm.com).  Page 65 tells me that vinegar has natural repelling properties. Apparently the little boogers hate the stuff! There are a few different ways to go about apply on your furry friends. (#1) You can dab some on a wet wash cloth and rub them down with it every couple of days. (#2)It can be used as the final rinse during a weekly bath. (#3) You can also add some to their drinking water. I have been doing this for about 2 weeks now. I started adding gradually, and am now at a ratio of 1 tablespoon per quart of water. 

Christmas Gift/Stocking Stuffer Idea...

The idea is a heated pad, and I am sure you have all seen them in several styles. Tonight, I made a "headache relief" one for a friend's birthday. I just took a scrap of a cute Autimn print and blended rice with rosemary and marjoram. It turned out so cute, and oh boy does it smell good. It is a surprisingly soothing combination! Anyways, a cute snowflake, Christmas, wintery fabric would be easy to do! And, the possibilities are endless with this idea! I thought a peppermint scented one would be nice. For scenting, look to your spice cupboard, or  Essential Oils work great! I have broken open a sachet that I had in my dresser and added it with the rice. This one I made is just the right size for your forehead, but all different shapes and sizes work great for lots of different uses!

My War Against Bleach!

I am raging a war against Bleach. It has recently taken victim my brand new (and expensive) Carhartt sweatshirt. I believe the tragedy occurred while I was quickly cleaning up the bathroom before some friends came over. I didn't notice the sweatshirt's wounds until the next day when I pulled it out of the wash and saw the tell-tale faded sign of a Bleached victim! Grrrr.

So, that's it! Bleach is forever banished from the Curtis household. Luckily, there were only a couple cleaning products under my sink that contained bleach. With Bleach banished, I started my quest for it's alternative. I had been using vinegar and water for quite some time, but I didn't use it for the really grimy, nasty cleaning jobs. Thus, my vinegar research begins.

WOW. I never knew just how many things vinegar can be used for. After a quick Google search, I found lots of info about using vinegar, and not only for cleaning! I won't bore you with all the details, but I would love to know of any great non-bleach cleaning solutions you may know of?? 

Besides, it's more fun to be resourceful isn't it? 

vinegartips.com

cleaningwithvinegar.com

...I am still mad about my sweatshirt.