So, Valentine’s Day is nearly here and then the next big celebration for many people is St. Patrick’s Day.  There is something about the prospect of Corned Beef and green beer that seems to grab people’s attention.  Personally, I think that Green Beer and Corned Beef is a better deal than corned beer and green beef…but there ya go…

Anyway, making homemade green beer is not very difficult.  You are going to get the best results with a lighter colored beer but a dark one will work, you will just need to add more coloring.  All you need to do is to get a bottle of green food coloring and add it to the beer until you achieve the color you want.  If you are making a keg of green beer it will probably take a good three ounces of color.  If you are making it by the mug then just a few drops per mug should do it.

The food color will not change the flavor of the beer, especially after the first two or three glasses.

image:morguefile

Post from: Blisstree

How Do You Make Green Beer for St Patrick’s Day?

Back a long time ago people used to make alot of homemade decorations.  Some that I remeber the most were the way people used to frist their windows with epsom salts.  It looked just like frosty cold glass,

Even in Texas.You can do the same thing today.  All you need is epsom salts, white wine or stale beer, a bowl, and a sponge..

Add beer to the epsom salts until you get a good consistancy that will stick to the windows.  Not too thick but not thin either.  Using your sponge blot the epsom salts on the window.  Remember that frost will sort of drift to the bottom and mound up the sides.

When it dries you should have a frosted, chilly window.

When you are ready to remove it just add water and wipe away.

Betcha you guys with the traditional Currier and Ives Christmas can’t do THAT

Image:morguefile

Post from: Blisstree

Frost Your Windows the Old Fashioned Way

If you live in an old house and you have nail holes or other small holes in the wood there is an all natural way to fill the hole, especially if you plan on staining it.  The problem with alot of wood putty is that it is non-porous and when you go to stain it the stain runs right off.

To get around that take fine sawdust and add just enough Elmer’s glue to make  a thick paste.  If you use to o much glue it won’t take the stain. FIll the hole with the paste and let it dry.  Sand it smooth and then stain right over it…it will magically disappear.

How cool is that?

image:morguefile

Post from: Blisstree

Old Time Nail Hole Filler

Need a craft? Easy paper mache recipes are versatile whether you want to make a pinata or are interested in making some Holiday ornaments and gifts. I can remember way back (in prehistoric times) dipping string in paper mache goop and wrapping it around a balloon.  When it was all dry you popped the balloon and had a cool ornament.  There are all kinds of htings you can make…you just need and easy paper mache recipe… or two.

Basic Paper Mache
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 cups cold water
• 2 cups boiling water
• 3 tablespoons sugar

1.  Combine the flour and cold water in a large bowl.
2. Mix until smooth.
3. Carefully stir this mixture into a large pan with the boiling water.
4. Bring it back to a boil, stirring constantly.
5. When it reaches a boil stir in the sugar and remove the pan from the heat.
6. Let it cool completely before using.

Now…here is something cool… You can make a scented paper mache  by adding a few drops of essential oil to the first paste mixture and stirring in well.  The item will be scented when it is dry.  How cool is that?

image:morgue file

Post from: Blisstree

Easy, Scented Paper Mache Recipe

Quick, what is the best thing about autumn?

The beautiful leaves of course!

Did you know that you could preserve autumn leaves to use in decorations and displays all year?  It is easy and doesn’t cost very much, and you will end up with a great addition to wreaths, craft projects, and dried floral arrangements.

You will need glycerin.  You can pick this up at the drugstore quite cheaply.  Some varieties of leaves do not preserve well using this process so be willing to try again with another type.  Collecting as many colors and varieties as possible when you want to preserve autumn leaves will ensure good results overall.

You will need:

Leaves with stems

Glycerin

Water

Some people add a little surfactant, available at gardening centers, but this is not necessary. If you decide to use it you only need a few drops.

Pyrex 13 x 9 inch pan

weights (clean small rocks, fishing weights, or sewing weights)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix one part glycerin to two parts water (1:2).
2. Take a hammer and crush the ends of the leave stems to that they will absorb the mixture more readily.
3. Submerge the leaves in the glycerin mixture and use the weights to keep themfrom floating.
4. Allow to stay in the water for about a week.
5. Remove them and allow to dry.  They will be pliable and colorful and will retain the color and texture indefinitely.

You can also use this method for green leaves like magnolia and use them for Christmas wreaths and swags, as well as other projects.  Glycerin is non-toxic and safe to let the kids work with as well.

image:marye audet

Post from: Blisstree

How to Preserve Autumn, All Year

So how many of you remember kids that ate paste and Elmer’s glue at school?

I do.  There was a kid in my kindergarten class that ate so much glue that they had to get the fire department to remove his finger from  of his nose.

O.k…not really.  But he ate alot of glue. Seriosuly.

Glue can be expensive, especially if you have a kid that likes to do crafts…or six kids that like to do crafts…or six kids and two grandkids that like to do crafts…

This glue is easy to make out of things you probably all ready have around the house.  It is nontoxic and best of all …it works.

Craft Glue

1 qt. skim milk
3/4 Tbsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. white vinegar
10 oz. water

Place the milk and vinegar in a double boiler.  Cook over low heat, stirring, until curds begin to form and whey separated from curd.  Congrats.  You now have ricotta!

Drain off the whey, the greenish liquid by pouring the mixture through a colander lined with cheesecloth.

Wash the cheese that remains with water until all of the vinegar smell is gone.  Place in a clean bowl.

Dissolve the baking soda in the water and pour over the curds.  Stir.  They will begin to break up  and a white paste will form.  Keep in sealed containers in the fridge.

Glue!

Image:Marye Audet

Post from: Blisstree

Make Your Own Non-Toxic Craft Glue

Kool aide is a great dye. I have used it to die fiber from my sheep before I spun it, I have used it to dye the kids hair, and I have used it to dye fabric. It smells wonderful, you don’t have to worry about the kids getting some on their skin or in their mouths, and you don’t have to worry about VOCs out gassing for centuries. And it is serious fun.

The wool in the image is handspun Jacob’s sheep wool (using just the white) that has been hand dyed with cherry and orange Koolaid. I used a squirt bottle to apply the color in random sections. I knitted Kyrie a winter hat out of this and it was adorable.

So, how do you tie dye with koolaid?

Choose the packets of unsweetened drink mix. The sugar sweetened type will make a huge, sticky, mess. You will want a couple of flavor for best results. Wear the gloves or you will end up looking like a psychedelic alien from Dr. Who.

• T-shirt or fabric
• Unsweetened kool-aid
• Vinegar
• Small plastic bowls, one for each color you want to use
• Plastic gloves
• Rubber bands

1. For each color you that you use put a couple of packages of koolaid in one quart of boiling water and an ounce of vinegar in a plastic bowl. Add more packets for a deeper color.

2. Mix the liquid until the kool-aid is completely mixed in.

3. Pull ad twist sections of the t shirt through rubberbands. Make different sized, random bunches.

4. Dip the ends in the different bowls, without mixing colors. Allow to dry with the rubber bands in place

5. Remove the bands and spread the t shirt out.

5. Set the colors by ironing on a high heat. Use a press cloth.

6. Set aside for 24 hours for the dyes to set.

7. Wash separately the first time. Use cold water and a cold water rinse.

And that is all there is to it. You can do a great home-school study about mordants and dyes and how they are used…or you can just do it and have a great time with your kids.

Image:Marye Audet

Post from: Blisstree

Kool Aid Tie Dye