By Noreen Doll. You will need a warm sunny day to use this easy way to remove candle wax from a jar. So save up all your jars of used, melted candles to clean out on a hot summer day. Supplies. Jars of Used Candles Aluminum Foil Old Flatware Knife Turned into Craft Knife How to Remove Candle Wax from a Jar. 1. On a nice hot, sunny day lay out a piece … [Read more...] about How to Remove Candle Wax from a Jar
Tips
How to Make a Star Pattern
By Noreen Doll. A star pattern is easy to do if you just learn a few folds. After you've made a paper star, you can trace it onto cereal cardboard or a milk jug to make it more permanent. Use some scrap paper to make a few practice stars in various sizes. Supplies. Paper Scissors Ruler (optional) How to Make a Star Pattern. 1. Start with a … [Read more...] about How to Make a Star Pattern
Hot Pad Scissor Holder
By Noreen Doll. A scissor holder is a handy place to store your scissors, to protect the blades and to keep them away from young ones. It is also a good way to carry scissors when you want to take them along with you. This Hot Pad Scissor Holder has a loop that allows you to hang it to keep the scissors handy, or you can just tuck them away in the holder, with your … [Read more...] about Hot Pad Scissor Holder
Clean Your Oven Without Scrubbing
By Noreen Doll. A friend moved into a place that was in really bad shape, and she asked for ideas on how to clean it. The oven was awful, but she didn't want to have to spend hours trying to scrub it. So we tried a trick that I had done before. And this was the result. Look at the window. We had a job ahead of us! Supplies. Whisk Broom with … [Read more...] about Clean Your Oven Without Scrubbing
How to Turn a Soda Can into a Flat Sheet of Aluminum
There are lots of great crafts you can make from aluminum cans. And the colorful logos on the cans add to the finished project. For most projects you need to first turn a soda can into a flat sheet of aluminum. When I'm cutting aluminum cans, I like to wear a kevlar glove on the hand holding the can to prevent cuts. The can edges are really sharp when … [Read more...] about How to Turn a Soda Can into a Flat Sheet of Aluminum
Placemats Are a Great Teaching Tool
By Noreen Doll. We've discovered that placemats are a great teaching tool. Kids love to use the colorful mats at mealtime, and they can't help seeing and learning what's on the mats. Our kids are voracious learners, and they've learned so much from place mats. We've had some really interesting ones, including a U.S.A. map with states and capitals, the solar … [Read more...] about Placemats Are a Great Teaching Tool
Keep Rings Safe When You’re Working in the Kitchen
By Noreen Doll. How do you keep rings safe when you're working in the kitchen? Lots of people keep a small dish on the window sill or counter to hold their rings. However, it can be very easy to bump this dish and knock the rings into the sink - and sometimes down the disposal or drain. Here's a clever idea for keeping your rings safe when you need to remove … [Read more...] about Keep Rings Safe When You’re Working in the Kitchen
PVC Pipe Rack
By Noreen Doll. This PVC pipe rack is very easy to put together and can have many uses. It can be used as an extra rod in the tub or shower to hang wet things on. It could also be used in a bedroom as a clothes rack. Put it in the laundry room to hang wet clothes to dry, or hang wet rain gear on it. You can make a rack almost any size you want, and if it's … [Read more...] about PVC Pipe Rack
Easy Way to Clean Blinds
By Noreen Doll. A friend who had just moved into a new (to her) house asked me if there was any easy way to clean blinds that had accumulated grime over the years. I suggested we try hanging them outside on the clothesline to clean them. After they were hung, we hosed them down from side to side, starting at the top, with a hard stream of water from the … [Read more...] about Easy Way to Clean Blinds
How to Blow an Egg
By Noreen Doll. There are lots of Easter crafts that need a blown egg shell. Try this easy way to blow an egg. Supplies. Eggs Fork or Pin Toothpick Bowl Egg Carton to Hold Blown Eggs How to Blow an Egg. 1. To prepare the eggs for blowing, first wash the egg in soapy water and rinse it. Pat it dry with a paper towel. 2. Then make a … [Read more...] about How to Blow an Egg
Easy Way to Make a Shamrock
By Noreen Doll. Shamrocks can be a bit tricky to make look nice and even, but here's an easy way to make a shamrock. All you need is one heart, and you can make any size shamrock depending on the size of heart you use. Here's how you do it. Supplies. 1 Heart (How to make a heart pattern.) 1 Sheet of Paper Pencil with Eraser An Easy Way to Make a … [Read more...] about Easy Way to Make a Shamrock
How to Cut Holes in the Middle of Something
By Noreen Doll. I make lots of projects that require holes in the middle where they are hard to cut. Here is an easy way to cut holes in the middle of something. If the item is soft and flexible and bends easily, cut the hole like this. Fold the item in half so you can see half of the hole on either side. Using sharp scissors, cut a small slit in the … [Read more...] about How to Cut Holes in the Middle of Something
