Custom Bean Bags

Today I am going to share with you how to make your own custom bean bags.  These make a very inexpensive, personalized gift.

Did you know you don’t have to buy those fancy schmancy fabric printer sheets to have quality printed fabric?  Did you know you don’t have to buy that fancy schmancy solution to soak your own fabric in beforehand?  Here is a quick no-fail recipe to get the best results with the most vibrant colors when printing on fabric…

Mix 2 tablespoons of Alum (found in the spice section of your grocery store), 2 1/2 teaspoons of Washing Soda (found in the laundry section) and 1/2 teaspoon of liquid fabric softener.  Then add one cup of hot water.

Mix it in a bowl bigger than you think because it foams up when you add the water.  Stir. After a few minutes the foam will disappear.  Next soak your 100% white cotton fabric in your solution for 15 minutes.

After fifteen minutes is up wring out all the excess liquid.
Wait!!!  Can’t I just print it out on fabric since the bean bags won’t be washed?  The solution gives you more vibrant colors and if they should get wet they won’t bleed.  This recipe is perfect for quilters who want to add pictures to their work as well.

Store the remaining solution in a container and mark it well to use at a later date.

Next dry your fabric.  I hung mine to dry overnight.  But if you are an impatient crafter, you can put it in the dryer. 

Next grab some freezer paper (found near the tin foil and Ziploc bag section) and iron your fabric to the shiny side of the freezer paper with a hot, dry iron.
Once your fabric is stuck to the freezer paper cut it into 8 1/2” x 11” rectangles.  Iron one more time after cut just to ensure that the fabric is stuck well.
In whatever program you choose, size your pictures (I chose 4" x 4” images) and print them onto your fabric.  You can change your printer settings to the best print quality on fabric if you have that option.  Make sure you print on the fabric side and not on the back of the freezer paper.

Cut out your printed fabric to size.  I chose to do both sides of the bean bags with a picture.  Of course, you can use just regular fabric on the backside.
With right sides together sew the two pieces together leaving a small opening.Turn your fabric right side out (iron if you must) and fill it with any type of beans.

Tuck under the edges of the opening and sew shut.  I machine stitch it but you can certainly hand sew it if that suits your fancy.
Tie them in a bow and present your gift.  My son loves them he calls them his “Isaac Beans.”

What do you do with the bean bags?
1.  Learn to juggle
2. Pair it up with some sand buckets and spread them out and have your child practice their aim by tossing them into the buckets.
3.  Pelt each other with them.
4.  Make up two sets of different bags and play tic, tac, toe with them.
5.  Have each child put a bean bag on their head and have them try to knock the bean bag off their opponent’s head.  The person left with a bean bag on their head wins!
6.  Play Simon Says with them…”Simon says balance the bean bag on your elbow.  Simon says, throw the bean bag under your legs”

 

Good, clean, fun!

 LOVES!

 

originally posted this on The Idea Room

Easier Way to Clean a Blender

1.Put a squirt of dish soap in the blender.  2.Fill blender 1/3 full with hot tap water  3.Put lid on and take the blender for a whirl.  4. Rinse, dry and done!

Fly Control Plastic Bags

Fly Control

I’ve seen the use of water in a plastic bag as a fly repellent for over a year and it seems to be growing in use. What an “expert” from my area claimed was that the fly mistook the bag as a large spider web. Something about the way the water bulging in a clear plastic bag causes a prism effect and confuses the fly. Who knows what a fly thinks. Maybe they just don’t feel comfortable flying around a place that hangs up bags of water.   The rounder you can get the bag, the better fly control.   Do not let the bag get dusty or dirty. 

This technique must really work. I’ve received dozens of similar reports on hanging clear plastic bags of water and completely eliminating fly problems.


Another theory:
Houseflies, being highly edible and defenseless, are nervous types, and don't like to sit still when they see something moving nearby, because it could be a predator. The water bag acts a bit like a lens--try it some time--in which the movements of people in the area are reflected. Even if the fly is too far from the action to see it directly, it can see a shifting of light and dark in the water bag, which it interprets as nearby movement, and it will fly away from the bag. The reason it doesn't work on any other insects is that the other insects listed don't have eyesight worth a plugged nickel. Basically it distorts what they are seeing and confuses them

Source : http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Fly-Control-Plastic-Bags_vq1849.htm

14 Bleach-Free Surface Disinfectants

A mix of chlorine bleach and water is an effective household disinfectant (and it’s cheap too!), but the bleach is pretty harsh on fabrics, skin and the environment (and a bit stinky too). The good news is that you can still make homemade bacteria busters using fresh or dried herbs, essential oils, vinegar and other basic items you likely have in your home already. These will not only fight germs and bacteria, but most also smell a lot fresher too  .

First, here are a few notes:

• Test surfaces first just to make sure the recipe won’t cause any damage or stains (especially on marble/granite).
• When using fresh or dried herbs, select those that are pesticide free.
• Unless otherwise noted, use a large spray bottle (16 oz) and shake before each use.
• Distilled water is ideal but bottled or from the tap is fine too.
• Unless directed otherwise, use regular white household vinegar.
• The sprays can be used on countertops, doorknobs, light switches, cutting boards, etc. Avoid using on fabrics or upholstery unless you’re sure the colors won’t be affected (test a hidden spot).

Ready to get started? 

Hydrogen Peroxide & Vinegar: (for countertops) Spray surface with hydrogen peroxide then spray a layer of vinegar over top. Wipe clean.

Hydrogen Peroxide & Tea Tree Oil: 3 cups water, 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide, 2 TBS lemon juice (freshly squeezed), 10 drops tea tree oil.

Tea Tree Oil & Lavender: Fill a 16 oz spray bottle 1/4 full with equal parts tea tree oil and lavender essential oil. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Shake before each use.

Lavender Spray: For every cup of water add 20 drops lavender essential oil.

Herbal Infusion: Lavender buds, mint, rosemary, sage, apple cider vinegar. Directions: Fill a large mason jar halfway with equal parts of the above herbs (can be fresh or dried). Fill to near the top with apple cider vinegar, seal jar and allow to infuse in a sunny window for 6 weeks before using (strain first).

Borax & Water: Mix 1/2 cup of Borax per gallon of water. Shake before each use.

Borax & Vinegar: Pour 2 tsp Borax and 4 TBS vinegar into bottle then top with water. Shake to mix.

Rosemary: Mix 1 teaspoon rosemary essential oil with 2 cups of water.

Pine: Mix 12 drops of pine essential oil with 1/2 teaspoon denatured alcohol and 2 cups water.

Grapefruit Seed Extract & Lemon: 1 cup water, 1 cup vinegar, 5 drops grapefruit seed extract, liquid castile soap (just a drop will do), 10 drops lemon essential oil.

Citrus Vinegar Infusion: Fill a large, wide mouth jar with citrus peels (such as lemons, oranges, limes, grapefruits). Cover the peels with vinegar and allow to infuse for four weeks, shaking the jar occasionally. Strain then fill a spray bottle 1/4 full with the vinegar and top the rest with water. Source.

Thyme: 2 1/2 cups water, 1 handful thyme (fresh or dried), vinegar, liquid castile soap (squirt). Directions: Boil water, add thyme. Simmer for several hours over medium-low heat, covered. Cool, then strain. Pour the water into a spray bottle, top with white vinegar and squirt of soap. Use as needed. Source.

Vodka Mix: Liquid dish soap (just a quick squirt), 2 TBS vodka, 10 drops lavender essential oil, 5 drops oregano essential oil, water.

Vinegar: Mix equal parts water and vinegar (or straight vinegar), spray surface.

Tip: You can substitute the essential oils as you like, here are a few that have good disinfectant qualities: cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, lavender, peppermint, pine, rosemary, thyme.

source: http://tipnut.com/household-disinfectants/