Thursday, April 26, 2012

Homemade Butterfly Feeder

According to a study published in the June 2003 issue of "Conservation Biology," there are 561 known butterfly species in the U.S. and Canada. Not only are these insects beautiful, they're important pollinators and vital to the health of their natural habitats. You can encourage these gentle creatures to visit your yard by using easy-to-make butterfly food and feeders.

Butterfly Food and Nectar Think "rotten" when choosing butterfly food. Butterflies like a variety of food sources, especially over-ripe fruit and rotting vegetation. If you own an apple, plum, cherry or pear tree, allow fallen fruit to ferment on the ground to create a favorite feeding spot. Look in the quick-sale area of your grocer's produce section, and you might even get the produce manager to donate one or two unsaleable pieces of fruit. Consider saving extra bananas in the freezer, which you can defrost and place in a feeder at any time. Make your own butterfly food by mixing a solution of 4 parts water to 1 part granulated sugar, boiling the mixture until the sugar is dissolved, then letting it cool. Extra solution can be stored in your refrigerator for up to a week. An alternative recipe is to cut up a dozen over-ripe bananas into chunks, add two cans of cheap beer, one or two bottles of molasses, and a pound of brown sugar and let it ferment for about a week. The easiest recipe of all is to save any overripe fruit, add a squirt of honey, blend it coarsely in a blender, then divide the mixture into freezer containers.

Butterfly Feeders Take a ceramic or glass pie plate, plastic or terra cotta plant saucer---or any dish with a sloping rim---and suspend the plate with flower pot hangers or a macrame-style holder made from household twine. Decorate around the twine with the stems of silk or plastic flowers to make it visually appealing to butterflies, and hang the feeder from the bough of a shady tree, before adding butterfly food. Replace food if it dries out or becomes moldy. Place brightly colored yellow and orange kitchen scouring pads in the dish with the liquid butterfly food solution. You'll attract butterflies and give them a resting place while they drink. Making a jar feeder. Use any small glass jar that has a tight-fitting lid. Punch a small hole in the lid of the jar using a small nail and a hammer, then cut a portion of a sponge and pull it through the small hole, making sure it fits tightly. Soak the sponge with a sugar-water solution, and fill the jar with the solution as well. Use string to tie around the jar to make a hanger, then hang the jar with the sugar water upside-down so that the butterflies can feed on the juice from the sponge.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Aprons


Zebra Cowgirl!
Lined, piped and ruffled! This little zebra print apron has a couple of blings and hot pimk top-stitiching. Too cute and ready to serve!

Gingham & Blings!
Blue gingham with red trim, a few pretty blings, a red bow & detachable bib. Too adorable! Free Shipping!

Black Scalloped Lace
How to be an elegant redneck girl? This apron shows you! Beautiful black, scalloped lace ruffle, totally lined and piped, barb wire top-stitching, blinged and beautiful. The perfect hostess apron. You'll need this for the holidays!

Pink Scalloped Lace
This little apron is toooooo sweet for words. Delicate pink scalloped lace makes it! Fully lined, piped, blinged and barb wire top-stitched. Absolutely perfect.
Denim Aprons

Monday, April 23, 2012

Knitted Flower Pot

One size
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Approximately 7” across x 6½” wide (after felting)

MATERIALS
1 Hank each BERROCO ULTRA ALPACA (100 grs), #6259 Beetroot (A) and #6226 Pumpkin Puree (B)
24” Length circular knitting needle, size 8 (5.00 mm) OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE
1 Set (4) double pointed knitting needles, size 8 (5.00 mm)
1 St marker
Tapestry needle

GAUGE
20 sts = 4”; 26 rnds = 4” in St st (unfelted)
TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE

NOTE When there are too few sts to fit comfortably on circular needle, change to dp needles and divide sts onto 3 needles.

POT
With circular needle, using A, cast on 120 sts. Join, being careful not to twist sts.
Mark for beg of rnd and carry marker up.
(Knit 1 rnd, purl 1 rnd) twice.
Knit 1 rnd.
Change to B and work in St st (k EVERY rnd) for 1”.
Change to A and work in St st for 1½”.
Change to B and work in St st for 4”.
Change to A and work in St st for 5”.

Shape Bottom:
Dec Rnd 1: * K2 tog,
k16,
SSK,
rep from * around – 108 sts.
Knit 1 rnd.

Dec Rnd 2:
* K2 tog, k14,
SSK,
rep from * around – 96 sts.
Knit 1 rnd.
Continue to dec 12 sts every other rnd in this manner,
having 2 less sts between decs each time 7 times more – 12 sts.
Break off yarn laving a long end.
Thread end into tapestry needle and draw through all sts on needles.
Pull up tightly and secure.

FINISHING
Felt in washing machine using hot water and soap. It may be necessary to run through the cycles more than once. When piece reaches desired size, remove from washer, shape by hand and allow to air dry. Trim extra fuzz carefully using sharp scissors if necessary.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

WIne Glass Candle Holders

Upside Down Wine Glass Candle Holders


Simple, elegant and affordable are the three words that come into mind when I see this unique centerpiece. To achieve the look you simple need a blooming flower or other decorative piece, assorted wine glasses and colorful candles. This look can also be achieved with a wide variety of glasses. Glasses don’t need to match so buy assorted glasses all the time you are planning the wedding. Garage sales and thrift stores are a great first choice. To finish off the look simply order votive, 2×3,2×6, 3×3, or 3×6 pillar candles, place on base of glass and light.

OR TURN THEM OVER and add a Shade








Saturday, April 14, 2012

Lose It

I received 2 awards fro Lose It.com


You have earned the Committed badge! You have logged every day for at least 8 weeks.


You have earned the Exercise King badge! You have exercised 3 times a week for at least 8 weeks.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Owl Boxes

You will need the Sizzix pillow box die, a 3/4″ and 1 1/4″ circle punch, large oval punch, and trio of hearts SU! punches. You will need the Sizzix pillow box die, a 3/4″ and 1 1/4″ circle punch, large oval punch, and trio of hearts SU! punches.

You could put candy or money in these little boxes – a perfect favor for a party, birthday, get together, etc. I made all sorts of silly faces & positions with these little guys. I like that they are all different:
The base of the owls are all cardstock – I went through my stash of designer paper to find matching monotone paper to use for the little feathers. The colors don’t need to be exact, just similar enough. Once all the elements were punched, these went together really quickly!

All cardstock used was either Stampin Up or Papertrey Ink.

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Another Wrapping:

Monday, April 2, 2012

New Twins


My very good friend has waited a long time to have grand-babies. She so lucked out. She got one of each today.

Cole Miles 6.2 lbs 19 1/2 inches
Presley Anna 6.9 lbs 19 inches long

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Hide those ugly cords


Strawberry Tower


You’ll need
3 x imitation terracotta pots
potting mix
strawberry plants

Method
Decide where you want to put your strawberry tower before you start filling the pots with potting mix - choose a sunny position.

1) Half fill the largest pot with potting mix.


2) Take the next sized pot and place it on top.
Make sure that the pot is centred and level, check the height and then top up the bigger pot with potting mix.

(Tip: don’t use real terracotta pots for your tower – they have thick sides and don’t stack as well as plastic pots.)



3) Repeat step 2 until all the pots are stacked and filled with potting mix.

Plant the strawberries. Fruiting plants to create an instant effect for television, but you could save money by using smaller plants.
(Tip: be sure to buy plants that are certified free of virus diseases.)

4) Water in the strawberries.
Keep plants well watered, particularly during dry spells.
Protect from slugs, snails and birds.
Feed occasionally with a 50:50 mixture of Seasol and Nitrosol.

When growing strawberries in a tower it is not necessary to mulch with plastic or straw, because the fruit hangs over the sides and stays clean.

Further information
Plastic imitation terracotta pots cost from $5.50 to $18 at nurseries and garden centres 150mm (6") tubs of mature strawberry plants cost $8 each 500ml Seasol costs about $10 500ml Nitrosol costs around $8