Flower arranging can be so easy, if you know one of the tricks! The Diva will show you all it takes is a piece of tape or two!
Month: March 2015
Simple DIY Projects For Our Feathered Friends
Spring is here and the birds are all aflutter! How about trying a few small DIY projects that are for the birds, literally! With a little creativity and a little elbow grease, you can make some adorable (AND Simple!) projects that will have all the birds tweeting! Best of all, these projects are perfect for the kids to make – with a little adult help!
DIY Bird Feeder
This simple feeder can be made with any teacup and saucer!
What You Need:
- Teacup & Saucer (I used a mug small enough to fit on saucer)
- Gorilla Glue (or other waterproof adhesive that works with ceramics)
- Copper Floral Wire (optional)
- Bird Seed
Directions:
Clean and remove all stickers from the teacup and saucer. Dry thoroughly.
With a spray bottle or damp cloth, moisten the saucer. Using the Gorilla Glue, draw a thin line of glue on the side of the teacup opposite of the handle. Place the teacup, glue side down, on the saucer. Hold in place for two hours. (I used a small hand weight to keep constant pressure and to keep teacup in place.) NOTE: These instructions are specific to using Gorilla Glue as your adhesive. If using something other than Gorilla Glue, follow the directions for that product.
You can use the handle of the cup as a hook, or you can create an extended hanger by using copper floral wire (optional). Use the Gorilla Glue to secure the wire in place on the cup handle.
Add birdseed and hang in location where you can enjoy watching the birds visit!
DIY Birdhouse
A little clay pot, a clay saucer, a hole cutter drill bit and you’ve got one cute Birdhouse! This project requires the use of power tools (a drill), so gather your materials before beginning the project!
What You Need:
- Clay Pot – I had several on hand in case I broke one while drilling (which I did!).
- Clay Saucer that is a bit larger than the top of clay pot.
- Electric Drill
- Hole Cutter Drill Bit, or progressively larger series of drill bits. I used an adjustable hole saw by Skil – Click link to find a Skil Adjustable Dial Saw
- Sandpaper
- Protective Eyewear
- Gorilla Glue
- Eye Bolt & Nut
- Two Fender Washers
- Clear, Protective Coating Spray Paint (I used Krylon Fusion, Clear UV Protection)
- Acrylic paints, small paintbrushes (optional)
Directions:
Remove all labels from pots and saucers. Soak the pots in water for approximately 5-10 minutes. This will soften the clay and will lessen the likelihood of the pot breaking into shards. (Keep a bucket of water handy while drilling – you may need to dunk the pot in the water occasionally to keep things damp.)
On a safe, flat work surface, using something to secure the pot in place on the work surface, use the drill and hole cutter drill bit to cut the hole in the pot. Be sure to use protective eyewear! Size of hole will depend on the size of the pot. I cut a hole about 1.5 inches in diameter. I also used sand paper to smooth out the edges of the hole.
Turn the pot upside down on a clean, flat work surface. Feed one washer onto the eyebolt, then feed eyebolt through bottom of the pot. Turn pot right side up, feed second washer onto eyebolt. Add the nut and secure the eyebolt to the pot.
Using the Gorilla Glue, and following the directions on the label, glue the saucer to the top of the pot. Allow 2 hours to affix completely.
If desired, paint the birdhouse with acrylic paints. Spray clear, protective coasting spray over entire birdhouse. Hang in a tree and enjoy the new visitors!
How To Plant An Indoor Garden
An indoor garden? Why YES! A terrarium IS an indoor garden! The Diva shows you a few simple tips to create a beautiful display that will remain lovely for years to come!
Here are a few basic tips from About.com on how to care for your terrarium:
- Caring for your terrarium is easy. Check every couple of weeks to see if your terrarium needs water. Feel the soil to see if it is dry and add water if it is.
- If your terrarium is closed, take off the top at least once a month to air it out. If you see lots of condensation or have added too much water, leave the top off until it has had a chance to dry out.
- Pull off any leaves that show signs of yellowing or damage and prune plants if they grow too large.
- Don’t fertilize your terrarium because you don’t want to encourage growth.
Simple Tips To Stop A Kitchen Fire
It is always important to know the steps to stop a small kitchen fire before it gets out of control! These tips are for informational purposes only, and are not to replace calling 911 in an emergency situation. Do not hesitate to call 911 when a fire is out of control!
A Sundae For Breakfast? Sure!
A breakfast sundae is simple and is fun for the kids, and you can feel good about serving it!
Breakfast Sundae
Ingredients:
- Whole wheat waffle, toasted (I used frozen Eggo Whole Wheat Waffles)
- Favorite yogurt (I used Oikos strawberry greek yogurt for extra protein)
- Selection of favorite fruit, sliced & diced
Directions:
Place the toasted waffle on a plate. Top with yogurt and fruit. Serve to very hungry and excited children!
Tips for Surviving Daylight Savings Time
Whether you are a parent trying to help your child, or you are just not a morning person, Daylight Savings time can really throw people for a loop – you lose 1 hour of sleep, it makes you groggy! It is well documented there are many more car accidents, more workplace accidents, and more heart attacks on the Monday after Daylight Savings! So here are a few tips to Survive Daylight Savings Time:
Start The Transition Tonight! It’s Wednesday – you have four days to get adjusted! Get the kids to bed (and yourself!) 15 minutes earlier each night through Saturday. Get yourself up 15 minutes earlier each morning. This will help reset your internal clock. Plus, avoid the TV, computer screen and phone screen at least one hour before bed – the screen glow interferes with your sleep rhythms. Use the time to relax – do a little yoga, meditation, or read a book.
Eat A Little Earlier Just like your sleep schedule, adjust your meal schedule throughout the week to get you used to the time change. And eat a little lighter.
Get Your Early Morning Vitamin D! Step outside early in the morning and get some sun exposure on your face! This will help adjust your circadian rhythm to the earlier time.
Work Out In The Early Part of The Day Exercise will help tire you out for the evening. But be sure to do it in the morning – later in the day will actually stimulate you, rather than relax you.
Nap! Sometimes, you are just so sleepy you have to take a nap. Well go ahead and take one. But make sure it is early afternoon, and is no more than 20 minutes. Set a timer on your phone or your kitchen timer to keep from oversleeping.
