Written by Wenona Napolitano
Published on March 9th, 2010
Easter is right around the corner ready to hop into your homes.
Are you ready? Have you considered having an Eco- Easter?
Forget the throwaway baskets, the terrible un-eco plastic grass, and cheap little plastic toys that are broken and trashed before the day is over. This year consider being green and offering your children fun, quality toys and products that are eco-friendly and that can be enjoyed for much longer that a day or two.
Stubby Pencil Studio (www.stubbypencilstudio.com) is a one stop shop for eco-friendly arts and crafts supplies for kids. They also have games and small toys; all made with ethical and eco materials.
They have offered to give away a wonderful Eco-Easter Basket to one lucky winner. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Becky Striepe
Published on February 10th, 2010
Last week, Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter. Brr! Another month and a half of frigid temperatures means more of us running our heat. Here are some fun ways to warm yourself from the inside out and maybe keep your hands off of that thermostat!
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Written by Wenona Napolitano
Published on November 28th, 2009
I love the look of wine and wine bottles and when I saw one of these wine bottle lamps at a craft show I knew I wanted to make my own.
It took a little practice and a lot of help from my husband but we figured out how to make them just right. Then we ran out of lights and couldn’t find anymore. Hopefully this season we can. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Wenona Napolitano
Published on September 26th, 2009
After all the Halloween craftiness I created from tossed trash last year I am trying to figure out new things to create this year.
I grabbed an ice pail and painted it orange and black for Halloween. I want to find some crafty Halloween paper designs to cut out to decoupage to the pail to dress it up a little more.
I was thinking about wrapping it in scrap book paper but I had no Halloween colors or styles. But I think it turned out pretty good considering it started out as a plain white pail headed for the recycling bin. I would love to make a Halloween bucket with paper like I did when I turned an ice cream pail into a flower girl basket for a wedding. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Becky Striepe
Published on August 12th, 2009
[Creative Commons photo via galant]
Have your tomato plants been producing like crazy? Are your cucumbers and green beans blowing up? If you’re producing more than you can eat, it’s a great time to preserve some of your summer bounty for winter! Here are some home canning tips, along with a great five-part series of videos on the topic!
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Written by Becky Striepe
Published on August 5th, 2009
Container gardening is a great way to grow your own veggies, even in a limited space. We’ve looked at making an upside down tomato planter. Now let’s make use of that patio or back porch’s floor space with a home made Earth Box! Not only does this contraption let you grow a bunch of veggies and herbs in a small space, it’s self-watering! Once you start to get sprouts, you just have to add a bit of water from time to time to replenish the reservoir if you don’t get any rain!
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Written by Becky Striepe
Published on July 29th, 2009
We’re officially in the thick of summer, and that means cookouts and BBQs galore! Here are some crafty ideas to fancy up your next cookout and divert some trash from the bin all at the same time!
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Written by Becky Striepe
Published on July 1st, 2009
Summer is here! That means cookouts, porch parties, and backyard picnics! You can fancy up your next outdoor shindig with this easy peasy fabric scrap banner. Here’s what you need to make one:
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Written by Becky Striepe
Published on June 24th, 2009
We’re normally into all-ages sorts of crafts, but once in a while a crafty gal has got to cut loose! How about fancying up your next cocktail party with a home-made vodka infusion?
Many store bought “infused” vodkas are full of mystery sweeteners and artificial flavors. Keep all those unwanted chemicals out of your cocktail and get creative at the same time! You can even go for an organic vodka.
This infusion recipe only take a few days, so if you get started today, you’ll be all set for any shindigs this weekend! Here are a basic recipe and a couple of flavor suggestions to get you going:
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Written by Becky Striepe
Published on June 23rd, 2009
[Photo by Becky Striepe]
So your garden’s all planted, and your rows are marked. Maybe you’ve got some upside-down tomatoes going, and your compost bin is chugging right along. You’ve probably got quite a few thirsty plants to take care of!
Rainwater collection is controversial in certain parts of the U.S.. If rainwater harvesting is allowed in your area, though, it’s a great way to water your garden without drawing from the municipal water supply!
Store bought rain barrels can run you upwards of $100. Instead of dropping a ton of cash at the garden center, though, you can make your very own! Some restaurants will even give you their used 55 gallon food grade containers for free, which are perfect for making a rain barrel. Ask around…you might just be surprised!
Here’s a great video from HGTV on how to build your own rain barrel, complete with a spigot:
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