Sunday 23 March 2014

100 Way to Re purpose Mason Jars



100 Clever Ways to Re Repurpose Mason Jars                              LIGHT IT UP!



BLUE GLASS LAMP

For 98 more re purpose mason jar ideas, visit: 

http://www.brit.co/mason-jars/


Pinned FYI by Hummingbird Cove.  
Courtesy of  http://www.brit.co/mason-jars/


Tuesday 29 October 2013

Finished tile trivet project (square format).Many Uses For Christmas Cards:

Greeting Card Trivet Instructions:

Create a Christmas trivet from an inexpensive tile and a recycled Christmas card or wrapping paper. It can be displayed on an easel when not in use. Makes a great Christmas gift along with an inexpensive easel!



Supplies:

  • white 6-inch glass tile
  • Christmas card or wrapping paper
  • Mod Podge
  • foam brush
  • scissors
  • clear acrylic sealer
  • felt or cork
  • craft glue

White tile and Christmas card front.1.  CUT OUT YOUR DESIGN SO THAT IT IS SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THE GLASS TILE. 







Apply Mod Podge to tile.  2.  COVER THE TILE WITH A LAYER OF MODGE PODGE. 
Beginning to apply Mod Podge to card front. 3.  PLACE THE IMAGE OVER THE MODGE PODGE. 

  
  1. Apply Mod Podge over top of image.
  2. Allow Mod Podge to dry completely.
  3. Spray the tile with acrylic sealer and allow to dry.
  4. Apply a second coat if necessary and allow to dry.
  5. Cut cork or felt into squares to fit back of tile.
  6. Use hot glue or craft glue to adhere the backing to the tile.
Courtesy of:  By Rachel's Mom from Wilkesboro, NC
*****************************************************************
MORE USES:  

Don't throw away all the pretty Christmas cards you get away. There are so many things you can do with them. Everyone knows you can make postcards and name tags for gifts with them, but you can also cut out the design you might want to use when you scrapbook. Scrapbooking is a fun thing to do with them. You can also decoupage with them. You can use cards from birthdays, Valentine's Day, Easter, etc. to do your crafts with and not have to buy the pretty designs. I also decoupage my soap with the designs I have cut from the cards. There are so many things you can do with the pretty cards you have received. Have fun!
Repinned FYI by: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/HummingbirdCove?ref=si_shop
Courtesy of: dwedenoja from New Creek, WV
*********************************************************************
GREETING CARD CD CASES COASTERS:
I use old greeting cards and scratched cds to make beautiful coasters. You make a template from a piece of acetate and place this so the part of the card you want to use is central. Cut out using scissors or craft knife then glue the picture to the cd. Cover in contact film and then glue felt circles on back.
You can also use family pictures or a themed topic such as animals/cars, etc., depending on who the gift is for. Make into sets for 4, 6 or 8 and give as a present.
Courtesy of: 
***********************************************************************
DECORATE GIFTS WITH RECYCLED GREETING CARDS
I am often without wrapping paper for a special occasion. I also keep a box full of cards that I have received, rather than pitch them. When a holiday comes around, it is fun to take a paper bag or white construction paper and use pictures from old cards, pasting them on, in any design needed. An animal here, a child there, tree, etc. You can tie it with string and add any item, like a piece of jewelry, a domino, or a paper clip to brighten it up.
For cards, you can do the same thing, and if creative, write your own personal verse or sketch. You can also use parts of photographs to make them more personal, especially if you have duplicates.
Courtesy of:  Christine from Dayton, OH
*****************************************************************


Wednesday 9 October 2013


25 ways to use peppermint essential oil25 WAYS TO USE PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL – 


1. Stay alert while driving:  Place peppermint on temples and under nose or just put the bottle under nose, and inhale several times to wake up.
2. Cool a fever:  Place a few drops of oil on a wet washcloth and wipe down fevered body to cool down.  You can also apply the peppermint to bottoms of feet to bring down the fever.
3.  Herbal tea: Add a drop of peppermint oil to a cup of herbal tea to clear sinuses, and enjoy a brisk cup or warmth to soothe you.
4. Relieve nausea: Rub a drop of peppermint oil on the tummy, and place a drop in a cup of hot water and sip it.
5. Repel spiders: Place peppermint oil on a cotton ball or cotton pad and place in areas where you find spiders.  You can also make a spider spray repellent.  Add 4-5 drops of the oil to water in a spray bottle. Make sure it has a strong peppermint scent, and spray in areas you want to repel spiders. Check out Momasuarus for more about repelling spiders naturally–be sure to watch her great video too!
6. Relieve joint pain: Rub on joints to relieve tendinitis and arthritis pain.
7. Make your own peppermint coffee mocha:  add one drop of peppermint oil, cocoa powder, or chocolate syrup, stir and enjoy
8. Freshen breath: Place one drop of peppermint essential oil on tongue for a freshness.
9. Ease seasonal allergies : combine lavender, peppermint and lemon essential oils together to relieve allergies. Add the three to a carrier oil, and rub on bottoms of feet, to the back of the neck and across the forehead. Then take hands and cup over nose and inhale with deep cleansing breaths to bring fast relief.
10. Remove ticks: Rub the tick with a peppermint essential oil soaked q-tip.  Look for the tick to withdraw its head and then remove it.
11. Bring focus and alertness: Rub peppermint on the back of neck to wake up and bring focus when you are tired.
12. Improve digestion: Add peppermint to a glass of water hot or cold and drink for a daily digestive aid.
13. Relieve headaches: Place drops of peppermint on temples and back of neck, even across the forehead to ease a headache.
14. Use in cooking: Add peppermint essential oil to cookies, brownies and sweet treats, oh yum!
15. Curb your appetite: Inhale peppermint oil right from the bottle to help suppress hunger.
16. Relaxing foot soak: Add peppermint oil to a warm foot soak, or add peppermint to an unscented lotion and do a foot massage with it to relieve the tension.
17. Make refreshing drinks: Peppermint is a wonderful addition to iced tea for those hot summer days
18. Kills Aphids: Add drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle of water and spray plants to kill aphids.
19. Clear congestion: Add peppermint oil to a hot cup of steaming water, and inhale.  Even make a tent over your head and bend over the peppermint steam and inhale to relief pressure in sinuses.
20. Relieves itching: Apply peppermint oil to bug bites to stop itching.  (don’t apply to open sores, it will burn!)
21. Relieve motion sickness: Rub peppermint essential oil to tummy, place some on your tongue, and even to your wrists to help with travel  and motion sickness.
22. Relieve chest congestion: Rub peppermint oil combined with a carrier oil to the chest to relieve congestion, and you can combine with #19 in this list.
23. Add drops of peppermint to a humidifier to freshen air and relieve breathing while sleeping.
24. Massage it in: Combine lavender  and peppermint essential oil to a massage oil to bring relief to feet, shoulders and back.
25. Air cleansing spray: Combine peppermint, lemon, and bergamot to distilled water to make an air freshener and cleaners for your rooms.  ( You will use less peppermint then the other oils, as it is stronger)
Pinned FYI by: https://www.hummingbirdjewelry1.etsy.com
Courtesy of: www.deniseinbloom.com

Saturday 5 October 2013

vinegar uses

Did you know vinegar could possibly be 

the last household cleaner you’ll ever 

need?



  1. Make all purpose cleaners by pouring with equal parts into a spray bottle
  2. Clean dirt off your computer and mouse with a little vinegar and a q tip
  3. Clean your drains with vinegar and baking soda
  4. Wipe away mildew
  5. Clean and polish chrome and stainless steel
  6. Use as a fruit wash-rinses away germs
  7. Erase ballpoint-pen marks
  8. Erase crayon marks from clothes
  9. Remove stickers and price tags
  10. Disinfect cutting boards
  11. Restore wood paneling
  12. Remove carpet stains
  13. Keep car windows frost free
  14. Remove candle wax
  15. Conceal scratches in wood furniture
  16. Get rid of water lines on furniture
  17. Freshen your kitchen
  18. Trap fruit flies by placing some in a small bowl
  19. Wash out your washing machine and dishwasher with 1/2 cup
  20. Wash away mildew from your shower curtain
  21. Put the sparkle back in your china
  22. Remove mineral deposits from shower heads
  23. Whiten your grout
  24. Clean a coffee maker
  25. Remove stains from pots and pans
  26. Help bruises heal faster by applying a little vinegar
  27. Sooth a soar throat by gargling 1 Tb of apple cider vinegar with 1 tsp of salt
  28. Soften your cuticles
  29. Clean your toothbrushes
  30. Erase scorch marks
  31. Unset old stains
  32. Soak out blood stains
  33. Keep cut fresh flowers fresh
  34. Revive your paintbrushes
  35. Kill weeds in the yard
  36. Peel off wallpaper
  37. Clean cloths and sponges
  38. Keep unwelcome guest out of the garden
  39. Clean counter tops
  40. Clean and freshen the smell of the refrigerator
  41. Clean and disinfect baby toys
  42. Get rid of stubborn bathtub residue
  43. Spray vinegar along doorways to keep ants away
  44. Treat stained Tupperware stains with vinegar
  45. Shine porcelain sinks
  46. Pamper your skin by blotting it on with a cotton ball
  47. Treat a bee sting by pouring some undistilled vinegar on it
  48. Relieve sunburn by lightly rubbing it with vinegar
  49. Boil better eggs by adding 2 TB vinegar to the water – keeps them from cracking
  50. Make fluffier pancakes by adding 2 TB of vinegar
Repinned FYI by: http://www.hummingbirdjewelry1.etsy.com

Tuesday 1 October 2013


Keep Pests away using Borax - Top 10 Most Creative Household Uses for BoraxUSE BORAX TO KILL INSECTS

Known most commonly as Mule Team Borax, you can find this powder at most grocery stores, Wal-Mart and many online shops. It is relatively inexpensive which makes it a great choice for many household jobs. The great part is that it takes very little Borax to get the job done.

 It has awesome cleaning properties and you can use it in so many different DIY recipes. We have a great collection of some of these cleaning purposes for you that are easy to make and will really make your life a little easier.

Borax is very effective at keeping cockroaches, ants, water bugs and a few other household pests at bay. You just have to mix equal parts of borax with regular sugar. The sugar helps to draw the bugs in and the borax takes them away – permanently. Take care that you do not leave this out where pets or small children can reach it. Mule Team Borax actually recommends that you keep it away from your pets so keep the bug treatment somewhere that pets cannot reach.



Good places are under stoves, refrigerators or sinks. These are areas that are normally infested the most anyway so they are good places to begin treating your home for pests. Borax also works well onmice. You just have to sprinkle it in areas where you think mice may be hiding and it will work wonders to get rid of those bothersome pests. You can also sprinkle it on carpet and vacuum to remove fleas or sprinkle on your mattress to rid your bed of bed bugs.
Repinned FYI by:  http://hummingbirdjewelry1.etsy.com
Courtesy of:  www.diycrafts.com

Saturday 24 August 2013



honey and cinnamon


5 Healing Honey Infusions- put a spoonful in your tea to soothe a sore throat, toothache, cough, lower cholesterol and so much more.

5 HEALING HONEY INFUSIONS FOR A HEALTHY LIFE

Formula for infusing your honey: Use 1 cup of honey (raw and organic is best), flavoring to your taste, a saucepan, strainer, and an 8 oz. glass jar with a tightly fitting lid.


1. Lemon-Honey:
You will need…
-1 cup of honey
-1 tablespoon grated lemon peel

-2 fresh slices of lemon, juice and tossed in (optional)
Directions
Pour 1 cup of honey into your pan and add 1 tablespoon of freshly grated lemon peel. Toss in 2 slices for boosted flavor if you like. Heat these together for about 10 minutes, making sure to keep the heat relatively low. Burned honey does not taste as bad as some other things do burned, but you still want to avoid it. Around 115 degrees Fahrenheit releases the flavors nicely, but it will depend on your stove top. After you have heated the mixture, let it sit for 1-2 hours or up to 1-2 weeks. After its infused strain if you’d like, and place in a glass jar with a tightly fitting top. Know the longer it sits for the stronger it will taste
.Good to use: If you have a bad cough or cold, place a healthy dollop of your lemon infused honey at the bottom of a cup. Pour freshly boiled water over the top, drop in a teabag, and give it a good stir. The lemon can loosen phlegm, while the honey soothes irritation. You can also slowly heat the lemon infused honey while adding the juice of one freshly squeezed lemon. When it’s still hot and liquid, sip slowly.
2. Cinnamon-honey:
honey and cinnamonAt the state fair one of my favorite things has always been in the horticulture building. It’s the exhibit on bees and honey, where you can purchase just about any flavor honey stick you can imagine (seriously.) My favorite, having a soft spot for cinnamon, was always…cinnamon. This flavorful spice complements honey well not only in taste but in function, being filled with all kinds of healthy benefits
You will need…
1 cup of honey
4-6 sticks of cinnamon
A pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)
Directions
I am crazy about cinnamon, so I tend to add it generously, but try starting with 4 sticks if you’re unsure. Pour 1 cup of honey into the saucepan, and drop in the cinnamon sticks. Push them down with a spoon to submerge them. For 10 minutes on low heat let the mixture heat up, and then let it sit for around 2 hours or up to 1-2 weeks. Strain if you’d like and store in glass jar.
Good if used: In tea, just like the lemon-honey, or eaten straight off the spoon. It’s also delicious spread on a plain piece of toast. Cinnamon is chock full of anti-oxidants, possesses anti fungal properties, and helps break up congestion and clear the sinuses. Even just a half a teaspoon a day has been shown to lower cholesterol levels.

3. Ginger-honey:
Tasty, but more importantly, good for your health. From colds to sore stomachs, ginger-honey comes with a variety of ways to enjoy its unique composition.
ginger honeyYou will need…
-1 cup of honey
-1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger root
-A pinch of ground ginger (optional)
Directions
Pour 1 cup of honey into a saucepan and add 1 tablespoon of finely chopped gingerroot. You can add a small pinch of ground ginger if you’d like as well, but it does have a strong flavor. On low heat let the mixture sit for 10 minutes. When it’s done let it infuse for 2 hours or up to 2 weeks in a glass jar with a tightly fitting lid. Strain when it’s finished if you’d like.
Best used: In your tea when you’re feeling ill-especially with an upset tummy, since both ginger and honey are known to soothe your stomach and chase off “bugs.” The added ginger helps circulation, flushing toxins through your systems and helping get rid of aches and chills. If you’re in a pinch and have wound up with a minor abrasion, applying this cooled and then covering with gauze can help it heal , and the ginger fights inflammation.
4. Clove-honey:
Not to be confused with clover honey, clove honey is made by infusing whole cloves with honey, whereas clover honey is made from the nectar of clover flowers. Cloves are great at numbing pain (sore throats, toothaches, etc.) and the honey makes a happy, healthy, medium to ingest it with.
You will need…
clove infused honey-1 cup of honey
-5-10 whole cloves
Directions
Pour 1 cup of honey into a saucepan, and then add 5-10 whole cloves. On low, heat for 10 minutes before letting it infuse for 2 hours or up to 2 weeks,  putting it in a jar with a tightly fitting lid. Strain when it’s finished if you’d like.
Best used: In tea when you have a sore throat or a toothache, or dabbed directly on the gum by a sore tooth. The eugenol in the clove is a powerful numbing agent that was used by dentists before modern painkillers were created, and is so effective it is still used in modern dentistry in an extracted form. If you have a little cut or sore in your mouth, the honey may help it heal faster and keep bad bacteria out while the cloves take care of the discomfort.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar honey:
If you’re worried about taste, this may not be the honey to put on a sandwich and give to the kids (although personally, I think the ACV cuts through the sweet honey nicely.) Apple cider vinegar is a substance that seems to help just about every ailment out there- add this wondrous liquid to the super-hero that is honey, and you have a flavorful spread that’s brimming with healthy benefits.
You will need…
apple cider vinegar and honey-1 cup of honey
-2-3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Directions
Add 1 cup of honey to a saucepan, and then pour in 2-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Let it heat over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring well about halfway through. Place in a jar and let it sit for as long as you like-its taste and benefits are all there pretty quickly, and it does not need to sit as long as something like cinnamon sticks or cloves would.
Best:If you make the Braggs apple cider vinegar health drink you can try adding this for an extra kick. While this is subject to opinion, I think it tastes good stirred in to tea or a glass of lemon water in the morning. Apple cider vinegar can help neutralize and correct excess acidity in our bodies (counterintuitive, but often times true) and helps a number of issues from an upset stomach to easing sore throats to showing promise in treating diabetes.
Pinned from:  www.everydayroots.com  Courtesy of: hummingbirdjewelry1.etsy.com   FYI

Monday 29 July 2013


Top 10 Home Remedies For Arthritis

TOP 10 HOME REMEDIES FOR ARTHRITIS:


What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the joints. Areas like the jaw, elbows, knees and hips are most vulnerable. In the early stages, you may complain of pain from time to time. But being physically active gradually becomes more challenging as arthritis progresses – and as the condition worsens some find themselves home bound. In America, Arthritis is the number 1 cause of disability. [1]
There are over 100 different forms of Arthritis. It could be the primary disorder or a consequence of another disease. There is no official known direct cause of Arthritis. Genetics are regarded to play a huge role in the development of this disease. Doctors prescribe over-the-counter pain killers and anti-inflammatory for people suffering from arthritis. However as we know, these prescribed drugs may create side effects. As a result, people have begun looking for natural alternative treatments for Arthritis.

10 Home Made Remedies That Offer Arthritis Sufferers Relief

1. Ginger – The Chinese and Indian have used ginger extensively for 25,000 years against nausea and pain. Today, ginger remains one of the most widespread natural pain relievers, and this has been supported by some scientific studies. A study conducted in University of Miami School of Medicine headed by renowned rheumatologist Professor Ray Altman has discovered that ginger does provide relief from pain. [2] The proponents of the research studied the reaction of 250 subjects with osteoarthritis. Some were given placebo while the rest received ginger pills. The group noted that 67% of those taking ginger tablets reported significant relief from pain. So you could make it a habit of drinking a cup or two of ginger tea, and if you prefer a slightly sweeter taste- add honey.
2. Celery – Obviously a perfect choice for garnishes dishes, Celery has another use for medical purposes. Clinical studies show that Celery – surprisingly – contains more than 20 anti-inflammatory agents! One compound is polycetylene that provides relief for inflammation involved in rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis and osteoarthritis. Another recent study conducted in America discovered the phytonutrient called luteolin, which is held responsible for the prevention of activation of a neuro pathway that allows inflammation. The same phytonutrient curbs down the excess production of TNF-alpha, which is known as the direct cause of inflammation. [3] If you are suffering from arthritis, drink as many celery juices as your lifestyle can afford.
3. Warm Water Bath or Hot Compress – Hot compress does a good job in providing relief from pain, and it has probably been mentioned in every health-related book. In the case of arthritis where joints are painful, you can get relief from pain by using a hot compress if the condition is still on its early stage or the joint pain is isolated. However, if the pain location is multiple, get on a tub filled with warm water and immerse for about 30 minutes to a maximum of 1 hour.
4. Peppermint – You may not know this, but peppermint contains significant anti-inflammatory agents and is extensively endorsed as an alternative medicine for mild headaches and toothaches. To get the same benefits for relieving arthritic pain, you can use the extracts of peppermint as a hot compress or as a juice. To make a hot compress out of peppermint, just pound some pieces of fresh leaves heated over the fire and apply it directly over the affected joints. To keep the leaves in place, wrap a bandage around it. To make a drinking juice, boil at least 4 sundried or air dried leaves in 2 cups of water for at least 15 minutes. Drink half or one full glass, depending on the severity of pain every four hours.
5. Epsom Salts – According the US National Academy of Sciences, deficiency in magnesium accounts for higher rates of stroke, stress-related disorders, osteoporosis, heart disease, chronic fatigue, and arthritis. Therefore, a little help from Epsom salts to soothe arthritic and joint pain could go a long way. Epsom salts are also known as hydrated magnesium sulfate. The high content of magnesium and sulfates Epsom salts is the reason why we will forever need help from this kitchen staple. Since magnesium is easily absorbed by the skin, enjoying a bath with a dash of Epsom salts is enough to soothe our joints from pain. The sulfates are not without part as they are responsible for the formation for joint proteins. [4] Here’s what you must do if your joints feel vulnerable and sore: immerse yourself in a tub of lukewarm water diluted with a cup of Epsom salts.
6. Fish Oil – In any illness that involves inflammation, one should pay attention to the hormones that control it and they are called prostaglandins, which are made from the omega-3 fatty acid. Do you know an item found in your kitchen that has a high content of omega-3? Yes, fish oil it is. The prostaglandins from omega-3 fatty acids are very relevant in arthritis because they are capable reducing inflammation. [5] Also, fish oil encourages the production of sulphate, which is mentioned in the previous item that is responsible for joint protein formation. So from now on, you might want to eat some fish that has high concentrations of fish oil but low in mercury concentrations i.e. Salmon.
7. Cinnamon and Honey – The combination of cinnamon and honey is considered a haven from several ailments including arthritis. A study at Copenhagen University indicated that a cup of honey and cinnamon before breakfast is a powerful beverage for providing relief of arthritic pain. [6] Simply mix 1 teaspoon of honey and half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder in a cup of hot water. Starting with a smaller amount is always good until you know “how much is too much” – however if you prefer a stronger taste, some make it 2 teaspoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder.
8. Eucalyptus Oil – The oil from this medicinal plant has discovered to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. A study conducted in India suggests the potential action of eucalyptus oil as anti-inflammatory and ant-arthritic agent. Although it was tested via the in-vitro method, this breakthrough sets a platform for therapeutic use in the future, and encourages further studies. [7] For now, dab a drop or two of eucalyptus oil directly over the affected joint and massage it tenderly.
9. Cherries – This red fruit can lower the incidence of gouty arthritis attacks, and an interesting study performed in Boston can help point out the truth behind this claim. The proponents studied 633 subjects with gout, and results showed that those who had cherry intake for over a 2-day period has a significant 35% decrease of gouty arthritis attacks. [8] If you are suffering from gouty arthritis, try eating some fresh cherries or treat yourself to a refreshing glass of cherry juice. Simply put several pieces of cherries in a blender and add water for a delicious, natural juice treat.
10. Turmeric – This is a common kitchen spice found in almost all households in India and some parts of Asia. Some studies show the probability of turmeric as an alternative treatment for arthritis because of it anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Compounds present in turmeric suggest that it has a capability to ease symptoms of arthritis such as inflammation and pain, [9] although further studies are encouraged by experts.
Repinned FYI by:  https://www.hummingbirdjewelry1.etsy.com