Homemade Laundry Soap

I love doing laundry.
I realize this makes me slightly odd, but it's true. I don't understand why people hate it. It's not an especially hard task, all you do is dump the clothes in the machine add a little soap and walk away. I suppose it's the folding that gets most people, but I also don't mind that. I love how the smell of the nice clean clothes gets all over you and how you can just rub all over the softness of a clean shirt... yep, I know... total freak... but I'm not ashamed of my strange love.
I've recently started making my own laundry soap and I must say, I love the stuff. It's cheaper, better for the environment and in my opinion washes cleaner (our clothes are so much softer using this then they were with store bought liquid detergents) and it's super simple to put together.

You'll need:
Washing Soda
Borax
Natural Soap (such as Ivory or Dr Bronners)
A container/jar to mix everything up in.


The ratio for the detergent is 1 part washing soda - 1 part borax - 2 parts grated soap.
Because the mixture is based on a ratio scale I like using the jars with measurements right on them...

less thinking you see... mine was a spaghetti sauce jar that was thoroughly washed after we ate the sauce...

As my jar had the measurements on it, I added 4oz of washing soda and 4oz borax...


Grate your bars of soap all up and then dump into the jar.

Give it all a good shake and then check out your measurements as the levels will have decreased and you'll need to add more soap until you have your final 1-1-2 ratio completed.

(pre shake-age)

 
(post shake-age... I totally rocked your world right there didn't I?)

And voila!


I used Simply Aloe scented Ivory soap (it took 2, 90g bars) and it makes me swoon. It's not a strong scent but it's very clean smelling without being perfumy. There are many recipes out there for "homemade laundry soap" and I have tried a few but this one is most definitely my favourite, I would assume that goes without saying though considering I'm doing an entire post solely dedicated to it... Some include baking soda and while I understand the thought behind this I really found it didn't improve the quality of the detergent and just added an extra expense to the mixture. That said, if I ever feel my whites or colors are not as lovely looking as they could be, I would add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the load. I've also read that adding 1/2 cup right before your final rinse can work as a natural fabric softener.

That's all fine and well I hear you saying, but how much do you use per load and how long will this last you?? ah, excellent questions my friend! I have a top loading washer and I use 2 tablespoons for a large (super) load, 1 tablespoon (and maybe "a bit") for a medium load and just under 1 tablespoon for a small load. The amount that I made here yielded me 16oz which worked out to be roughly 22 tablespoons, so approximately 11 large loads, which in my house is about 2 weeks worth of laundry. That said, make a bunch and it will last longer... get a bigger jar and you can make more at one time... I like the size of this jar due to easy shake-ability but I often add it into a bigger container I keep near my washing machine.

And there you have it... you could even make this a family event having the kids help measure out the powders, dump in the soap (perhaps it would be best if you did the grating... depending on the age of your kids of course) and then have them shake... you do virtually nothing!!

Like I said I honestly love the stuff and am a true convert. Do you make any household cleaning items? I've decided to try and start going "natural" with my cleaners and would love some ideas!

Matching Game

As mentioned before, my mister and I are trying to give our boys a handmade Christmas this year.

My boys love matching games.

We have a couple of different versions that they simply can not get enough of and I thought I'd add another in, just to switch it up a bit and get them thinking patterns instead of just pictures.

These were super simple and quick to make. 

I opted to use glue, but you can for sure use a sewing machine.

You'll need:

Felt

Fabric scraps

Scissors

Glue

Decide how large you would like your cards to be and cut out an even number of rectangles, mine are about 2" wide by 3" high and I cut out 40 to give me a final number of 20 cards.

Cut a "window" into the center of half of your rectangles (mine is roughly 1"x1") and using the piece removed as your template cut a square of fabric slightly larger.

Glue your fabric over the window opening of your rectangle. 

Remember to make 2 cards using the same fabric so you can match them later.

Using your remaining rectangles glue them to the back of the cards with the fabric windows.

Trim up the edges to make them look all pretty and then play away!

I'm really excited about these because the material will not rip or crunch up after a few uses.

I have no doubt, they are going to love this!

Superhero Capes

 You simply can't celebrate a superhero's birthday party without the assistance of a superhero cape.
It's like celebrating flowers in winter... you can do it, it just makes very little sense.
In my mind a superhero party without superhero capes, makes very little sense.

I made a cape for each of the kids invited to Zac's party and am SO happy I decided to take on the commitment! It really was a simple and quick task that I think all of the kids enjoyed even more then I had anticipated!

I started by measuring Zac from his shoulders to mid calf (roughly 26").
I then went to my 1 meter of fabric and used my measuring tape similar to a protractor. I anchored it at the top corner and drew a line with a fabric marker swinging the measuring tape from one side of the fabric to the other.
I did this same thing using a 2 1/2" length at the top to form the neck hole.

When you unfold the fabric you will already see the cape shape!

If you would like a single sided cape, move on to the collar now, or if you would like a double sided cape (like I did), cut another piece to match and pin right sides together. Sew around the entire cape leaving only the neck hole open. Flip right sides out and press the edges flat.

To make the collar, cut 2 strips of fabric in a rectangular shape measuring 3" wide by 17" long. Pin, right sides together, and sew leaving one long side open.
Clip the corners on an angle, to avoid bulk.

Keeping right sides facing turn the fabric up roughly 1 inch and iron,

then turn the collar right sides out and press flat.

Stuff the neck of the cape into the opening of the collar and pin. This part can be a bit tricky but just go pin crazy and it will hold just fine. Top stitch the bottom of the collar.

You could sew velcro into the collar but I took a short cut and hot glued it.

You could also do an alternate collar by using a store bought quilt binding and tie it whenever your child goes to play. I have choking fears given that my kids pull the backs of capes all the time so I opted for the velcro.

My kids love them!!

 Even straight out of bed!

Photo Transfers

Are you familiar with The DIY Dish?
If you're not, and you like crafty things, then you totally should be.

Way back in April of 2010 a mixed media collage was featured and I have been itching to do the photo transfer ever since.
The trouble is that I have a mad fear of commitment when it comes to hanging pictures in my home and I simply could not decide what photos I wanted to try the technique using!

Recently I decided I wanted to put some sort of Superhero pictures in Zac's room and was leaning towards vintage tin signs, however I was indecisive enough about committing to specific Superhero's I decided it was the perfect time to try the technique so I could have limitless options!
It's super simple to do and looks super cool once it's completed.

(impressed by my fancy photo up there?? yep... I'm getting pretty handy with a computer if I don't say so myself!)
1. You'll need a painters canvas, gel medium, paint brush and your photo. Your photo must be laser printed and if it has words, printed in mirror image.
2. Cover your canvas with a thick coat of the gel medium and then press your photo, image side down, onto the medium, pushing out as many air bubbles as possible.
3. Allow to dry completely, overnight is a great time frame.
4. Dip you fingers into water and rub off the paper. This step takes some time but it's when the magic happens. Your image will stay on your canvas while you wash/scrub away all the white paper backing.

Once the canvas was dry from the water I covered it with a thin coat of mod-podge and allowed that to dry.
After the first picture was completed I got a little excited and embraced my fear of photo commitment and made a few more...

I took the glass out of a few dollar store frames and popped these babies inside for the party...

 and then to hang on the walls in both boys bedrooms.

I am so excited with how nicely they turned out!

A few weeks back Elsie used this same technique on material and I couldn't help myself so I made me and the mister matching shirts, for the party, as well.

(I don't recommend washing in the washing machine though... even on the gentle cycle...)

I'm kind of kicking myself for waiting so long to try this technique, it looks so cool when it's done and it's practically effortless!
Now to decide on the next photo to do this with!!

Superman Bunting

 I love buntings.
I have been looking for an excuse to make one for some time now but always found the task to be quite daunting. It seemed like it would take so much time cutting out all those triangles and sewing them all together to then connect them all...
But I could not have been more wrong!

I had some superhero-ish material sitting around so I decided to bite the bullet and try my hand at a bunting for Zac's party.
It took about 2 hours to make this baby and I love it.
I love, love, love it!

If you've ever thought about making a bunting you totally should, it's pratically effortless and so freaking adorable it's a must make in life

I took a standard size piece of paper, and found the middle of one end. I drew straight lines from the top corner of the sheet to the middle of the bottom.
Cut that out and voila! your template!

Decide how long you would like your finished bunting to be (how many triangles) and cut out double, one for the front and one for the back.

Pin 2 triangles together, right sides facing, and sew, leaving the top open.
Flip right side out and iron flat.

Once you have done this with all of your squares lay them out and measure how long they are once lined up.

Add additional length (I added 14" on either side) and cut a strip of binding your final length (I used store bought binding).

Then just sew your binding on as you would for a quilt!

Couldn't be easier!

I used it to decorate the wall above the food table at Zac's party...

and once the party was done I hung it up over his bed.

I think it's too cute!

Movember

November marks that time on your calendars that every man loves and every woman hates.

It's Movember folks.

The time of year when men grow themselves some extra facial hair in an effort to raise awareness for men's health... and for some, just the sake of growing some nasty facial hair.

I am currently surrounded by all kinds of facial hair wierdness...

It's only natural that I felt a little pressured to join in the fun and grow myself a mustache. Trouble (perhaps not so troublesome in reality) is that I can not grow facial hair.

This means I (happily) settle for the mustache on a stick variety.

Last year I made one of these using felt, this year I decided to step it up a notch and use some fun fur for a more... voluptuous look.

I followed all the same initial steps you can find here, except instead of covering my cardboard template with felt I cut the fun fur to fit. 

When cutting fun fur it's worth mentioning that you want to try and avoid cutting the actual hairs, just the backing.

Once you've got the shape of your mustache in your fun fur, glue it to your cardboard template and allow to dry.

Once it's dry hot glue a stick to the cardboard and flip it over to style your lovely bushy mustache. You can use mustache wax or hair spray to help the fun fur stay in place once you are happy with how it looks.

And there you have it! Now you can hang with the guys.

Peace Out!

(funny how having a mustache makes you feel so much cooler...)

3 Ways to Beautify a Clipboard

It seems like everywhere I look these days clip boards are becoming ever present.

People are using them as displays, inspiration boards and even home decor.

I've always loved clip boards (when I was little my parents gave me a red book type clipboard that I was obsessed with! It made me feel so grown up and important!) and decided that it was about time for me to get in on this clip board craze.

I wanted mine to be slightly beautified though and a little more pleasing to the eye so I decorated them in three ways that I thought you might be interested in.

I realize not everyone enjoys a pretty clip board the way I do... but you can't deny it, they just look so cute now!!

Option 1 - Cover with scrapbook paper!! 

This could not be simpler! Most scrapbook paper however is shorter then the actual clipboard so you will need to plan on using something as the trim.

Not sure how to work around the hardware at the top of the clip board?? Have no fear! Lisa is here!

(I typed up a quick little instructional that you can find here.)

Option 2 - Chalkboard Paint!!!!

I can't get enough of this stuff lately.

And lastly Option 3 - Fabric and mod-podge baby!

Put mod-podge all over the clip board, cover with your fabric and mod-podge over top! It leaves the back of the clipboard a little unfinished looking, so depending on your plans for this beauty you may want to cut an additional rectangle of fabric and mod-podge onto the back of the clip board... once the front has dried of course.

And there you have it! 

Do you feel that? the extra weight being lifted off your shoulders, that was so rudely caused by your concern over what to do with that ugly clipboard you have sitting in your office?

Yep... glad I could help.

Fleece Blanket

I am an Auntie to 7 fantastic kids.

After my first niece and nephew were born I made them blankets, not realizing the commitment I would feel to make each one of the kids blankets going forward. That said, the blankets I made were not at all hard so I haven't found it too daunting a task to make more. Thank heaven I didn't make quilts! sheesh!

Any-hoo since the blankets are super easy I thought I'd share a little how to...

You'll need:

2 types of fleece (I get 1 meter each... just cuz I like them big... think nursing mommy up at midnight, I wanted them to be able to be big enough for mommy to snuggle up with too)

Scissors

Pins

Cardboard Tab (optional)

Lay your fleece flat, right sides facing, pin and stitch along one short end (the top). Trim, so it lays nicely when flipped so right sides are facing out.

With right sides facing out snip into the fabric along the two long sides and remaining short side. I'm crazy about making the tabs all the same size so I always make a little cardboard guide, roughly 1"x 3". I also pin the materials together so there is no shifting during the next step.

Tie knots into the fleece using the front and back pieces of the tabs you just cut.

Easy-easy, super cozy and always appreciated!