Tag Archives: craft
Triple Moon Spellbook
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Triple Moon book of shadows
For this project you will need a hardcover Journal. The paper inside can be lined or blank, the book can be big or small.
A sheet of chipboard. Some thin cardboard would work also.
A pack of gift bag tissue or cheap paper towels.
Modge Podge.
Some craft glue.
Craft paints. Black and up to three other colors of your choice.
First thing you want to do is get the chipboard and draw three shapes on it the circle and the two half half moons draw two sets of each so you can stack them on top of each other to get you a little thickness. cut them out.
I drew and cut out one set and then traced them to get the second set once you cut those out take two of your half moons and glue them on top of each other so you have a thicker piece do to the same to the other half moon and then your full moon.
Set them to the side to dry.
Now the fun part, on the front of your book take a paintbrush dip it in your mod podge and go all over the front of the book.
If you’re using the tissue paper like you put in gift bags just lay one big piece down press down over the glue and do a little crinkling so you get a good amount of wrinkles.
A little side note if you do want a lot of wrinkles on your cover, before you begin anything on this project take your tissue and ball up into balls. That will help you to get a lot more crinkling.
Now your first layer you should have some overhang on all four sides leave that alone for now now,take your mod podge again and go over the tissue.
Let that dry for a few minutes Open up your book take your modge podge and go around the outer three edges on the inside book cover. If that makes sense.
Take that tissue that’s overhang in the front and press it into the inside go over that with a layer of modge podge.
At this point I found something to stick in the book to prop up the front cover so it can dry.
Now using some glue, glue your triple moon symbol on your front cover where you would like it to be.
Go over that with another layer of the modge podge and tissue just be sure to press around the triple Moon symbols so they stick out.
If you do want more texture then take your Modge Podge put another layer of glue down and then another layer of tissue, go over again with Modge Podge let dry. Just don’t forget to press the paper down around your triple moon symbols.
Flip book and repeat the mod podge tissue on the backside, you can also do the spine of the book when you do the back or when you do the front it doesn’t matter.
Let it dry completely now take your black paint and with the paint brush paint over the whole front of the book.
Base coat
Let it dry and then paint the back of the book you can also open up the covers and paint that little section of Modge podging you did on the inside just make sure to let everything dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Now that everything’s dry you want to take a dry paintbrush and using the dry brush technique take a color of your choice go over the front of the book let dry, do the spine and the back. I used a different color for the dry brushing on the back of my book.
Back
If you find you went to heavy with the dry brush color just dip your finger in your black paint and just go over some areas where you think the other color is too heavy.
Now you can leave that as is or you can take another color and lightly go over the triple moon symbol, once all that is completely dry and I would give it a few hours, paint on a layer of Modge Podge if you want a glossy look. If not just skip the Mod Podge.
The inside of you front cover is going to be looking a little bit messy so you can take a sheet of paper. It can have a design on it or it could be blank and cut it to the size of the inner book cover and glue it on. I used a road map of North Carolina.
Inside front cover.
Now your book is done.
Witches book of shadows
Hidden Compartment Book
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I have been on a book making kick here recently, I guess you could say not only making books but taking old books and giving them a new life. One of the books I’ve recently finished is a hidden compartment book. I got this book when I was a preteen and lost it several years later. When my dad passed away last year I found it in one of his many boxes of books, it just seemed like the perfect book to convert to a hidden compartment book.
So about 20 pages into the book I decided that’s where I’m going to start cutting the book for the hidden compartment. The hole size was determined by my deck of Tarot cards.
I drew the size out on the page where the hole would begin. Using a exacto knife with a fresh blade cut as deep as the blade will allowed. Cut out that section, then another section and so on. This is a slow process but keep cutting out pages till you get to the depth you want.
I put a piece of chipboard on first whole page underneath the hole. Glued it down to the whole page then glued the last cut page to the top part of chipboard.
Hold the section that has the cut out, with glue and a paintbrush apply glue to the edges as you hold all the holed pages together.
Apply the glue to all three edges. Let it dry. Now all that’s left to do is hide your treasure in the book.
I did do some designs on the book cover but that is optional.
Bubbly Magic Potion
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Bubbly Magic Potion
Want to impress your friends or create an apocalyptic zombie virus? Well I can help you with the impress your friends part.
Sometimes I see a pin on pinterest and I am not happy until I try that pin. The reason I did the bubbly magic potion is because IT’S A BUBBLY MAGIC POTION. My inner mad scientist wanted to play.
Items needed:
Clear glass bottles
Water
Oil
Food coloring
Alka seltzer
Excessive use of the words, “Bibbity bobbity boo” and “Abra kadraba” Along with some occasional mad cackling.
Instructions
Fill bottle 1/3 up with oil. Rest of way with food colored water. I gave it a little stir. Once everything settles. Break 1 Alka seltzer in 4 pieces. Drop 1 of the pieces into bottle. Shout Bibbity Bobbity Boo.
Watch the magic happen. Cackle maddeningly
The bubbly magic potion is a great thing to add to your halloween party. I think if you add it to food table decorations you can set the bubble part going when you are ready to serve food. Just let your guest know it’s not edible.
Want to see original pin?
http://adventures-in-making.com/diy-magic-potion-bottles/
DIY Sugar Lip Scrub
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Sugar Lip Scrub
Here is an easy as pie beauty recipe. It’s a sugar lip scrub. Great for those winter weary dry lips. Scrubs are easy to use, just rub on your lips, gently rub several seconds. Don’t rub to hard you don’t want raw lips. Rinse. Now apply your favorite lip balm.
Sugar Lip Scrub
You will need:
Brown sugar
Granulated sugar
Honey
Almond or olive oil
Flavoring (optional) I used raspberry
You can make a small batch that has enough scrub for two or three treatments or a larger batch that you store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Mix equal parts brown sugar to granulated sugar. Mix in enough oil to moisten the sugars. You don’t want the scrub runny. Add the honey, it will thicken up the scrub if you use a good quality honey. If you are adding flavoring add now, a few drops will do. If the mixture is too runny add more sugar to thicken a dash more oil if too thick.
Now is the hard part: don’t eat it. Seriously. Once you rub this scrub on your lips and get a little taste you will want to devour the rest.
A Hairy Situation
1I am in a hairy predicament. All because of my hair.
My hair, my sad, sad hair.
This stuff that sprouts from my head is thin with just enough curl to make it look like an unbrushed rat’s nest, when it is freshly brushed in the morning oh the frizz! Also because I have a thyroid condition my hair tends to fall out more than your average everyday hair shed. Then you add the medicine I take for the thyroid which has a side effect of causing hair to fall out. You see my dilemma? What hair that doesn’t fall out is a hot frizzy untamed mess.
I discussed this hair falling out situation with my doctor. He was a total ass to me plus offered no solutions. Now to give him credit he is also an ass about everything else ( I am in the process of finding a new doctor).
I was in a hairy situation. So as usual Gotha protocol off to the internet and Pinterest I went to look for a solution.
After researching I decided what was needed was something that can treat the scalp plus help what hair I have left.
After a few weeks of research I came up with a recipe. You have things in it to help improve hair and scalp plus some things that are suppose to increase circulation to scalp which may/may not help the hair to grow.
The magic formula?
I also added some vitamin/supplements to my diet that claim to improve hair growth.
I have done this for a few months now. I am pretty sure my hair has grown a good bit but I can’t tell because as the condition of my hair improves the more it curls. So it looks like my hair has gotten shorter when it really has grown. Ha-ha, great cosmic joke there. Now as to my hair getting thicker, I can’t tell if it has or not. If it has it’s not been enough for me to get excited about.
Sadly I will never have thick hair. I will always have excessive hair loss due to my thyroid. BUT what hair I do have is growing a tad faster then before, also it’s pretty darn healthy looking and curly.
If you have similar hair issues and have some tips, hints or a miracle please feel free to share in the comment section.
Gotha’s scalp and hair treatment
½ cup coconut oil. Melted.
1 tbsp. sweet almond oil
1 tbsp. olive oil
5 drops rosemary essential oil
5 drops tea tree oil
10 drops lavender oil
15 drops peppermint oil
1 tsp. beeswax pellets
Place a glass jar or glass measuring container in a small pot that has four to five inches of water in it , a water bath. On medium heat melt the beeswax and coconut oil. I find that the beeswax pellets like to be difficult melting on medium heat, so you may have to increase your heat for a few moments. Stir often during the melting process.
Once melted completely, remove glass container from heat. Pour in the sweet almond and olive oil. Mix well. Add your essential oils. Stir.
Since I tend to be impatient I pour the mixture into my storage containers and allow them to cool for 10 minutes in freezer. I then take out give each container of scalp treatment one final stir then allow to set up completely on my counter top. Once set, place lids on the containers and store in a cool dark place.
Container lined with wax paper. Makes storage and clean up easier.
I added the beeswax to the recipe during the second batch I made. You want the oils to melt quickly as you massage into scalp and throughout hair, but you don’t want the oils to melt in the container just from the heat of you holding it. So I added to beeswax to stabilize it slightly.
How to use Gotha’s Scalp and Hair Treatment
Scoop a small amount into hand. Massage into scalp. Once the scalp is covered well massage the oils throughout hair till the ends. Thickness and length of hair determines how much of your oil mixture you will use. My hair is thin so I use very little.
Cover or not cover with shower cap, it is your choice. I have used both methods and find the shower cap is only necessary if you’re applying heat with a blow dryer as part of the treatment. Some people like to heat their hair treatments but with this I think since it’s mainly for the scalp heat is not needed.
Leave on 30 minutes to 2 hours. Shampoo, probably twice is a good idea.
IF after drying your hair looks oily next time leave the treatment on for a shorter period of time or during the first shampoo leave shampoo on hair a few minutes, rinse then shampoo again. No need to leave shampoo on long during the second go.
You can omit some or all of the essential oils from this recipe. Just so you know each one brings great things to the scalp party, but are optional. As always: before making or using any home treatment RESEARCH all your ingredients. It’s your scalp and your hair so be fully informed about what is going on it.
Teaser: I have made and been using an anti-aging ointment for my face. IT IS FRICKING AMAZING! I will share this with you soon.
You Dropped a Balm On Me
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Most over the counter lip treatments. Like lip balms in tubes, name brands and generic. The moisturizing effects don’t seem to last long, some even tend to dry the lips even more. I have made a cinnamon lip balm in the past, my first time I made the mistake of replacing some of the ingredients I needed with what I had on hand. Lip balm did not set up. My second time I used the right ingredients but used too much cinnamon oil. My lips were on fire after using even a tiny amount.
Those failed attempts did not stop me in fact they made me more determined to master the whole do it yourself lip balm. Have I mastered it? No, I feel DIY natural product making will always be a learning process, the more you learn the more your recipes evolve. I have had several dozen lip balm making sessions that have turned out perfectly. Some batches not so perfect yet I have learned a lot from the failed batches.
Today I will share a few recipes that have worked pretty well for me. I like these balms a lot as the moisturizing benefits can last up to several hours with just one application.
Before we begin lets apply some common sense. If you are allergic to any of the ingredients, DON’T USE THESE BALMS. If you use these balms and experience an allergic reaction, wash balm from lips and discontinue use. If your lips puff up like a actress that has had a bad botox injection you may want to seek out medical attention. ALWAYS research your ingredients before making anything that will go on or into your body. I am sharing the recipes NOT forcing you to make and/or use the products.
I have had only positive experiences with these balms, lotions, and hair treatments. Every person is different so I would advise trying a tad of the product on the skin at the fold of your elbow to test your reaction before committing fully.
The little container with the brown balm is COCOA BALM
Cocoa Lip Balm
Makes three 0.20 oz. jars (tiny)
1 tsp. beeswax pellets
2 tsp. Shea butter
1 tsp. sweet almond oil
1 tsp. cocoa powder
Using a glass container, sit it in a pot with a few inches of water also known as a water bath. Turn heat on medium low. To the glass container add the beeswax. Next add your Shea butter and sweet almond oil. Allow to melt, stirring often. I use a wooden skewer to stir, once I’m done with the balm I just toss the skewer in trash. Once melted remove glass from pot. Stir in your cocoa. Pour your flavored lip balm into whatever container you have chosen. I use these little plastic pipettes to transfer the balm from glass to lip container. Makes things easier but is not a necessary piece of equipment.
Let set. Now you have in your possession a balm for tasty smooth lips.
*with this recipe you can replace the cocoa with flavorings. Some people use Kool-Aid drink mix powder I like to use Crystal Light drink powders.
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Peppermint Lip Plumping Balm
Makes three 0.20 oz. jars
1 tsp beeswax pellets
2 tsp. Shea butter
1 tsp coconut oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil
Using a glass container, sit it in a pot with a few inches of water. Turn heat on medium low. To the glass container add the beeswax. Next add your Shea butter and coconut oil. Allow to melt, stirring often. I use a wooden skewer to stir with. Once melted remove glass from pot. Stir in your 5 drops of peppermint essential oil. The peppermint oil will increase blood flow to the lips adding a dash of plump. Pour your peppermint lip balm into whatever container you have chosen. Let set. Now you have a lip balm that will plump those lips. Now that your lips are plump, give your man (or woman) that pouty look to get your way. BUT remember there is a fine line between pouty and duck face. Let’s not cross it.
For my personal peppermint balm, I add a small chunk from a Burt’s Bees lip crayon for a hint of color. If you make a batch of tinted balm for friends please use a fresh stick of whatever lip color you choose. To use one you have been using on your lips is just…yuck, wrong.
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Healing Balm
Healing Lip balm
Makes three 0.20 oz. jars
1 tsp beeswax pellets
2 tsp. Shea butter
1 tsp coconut oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
¼ tsp. of honey (local is best)
Using a glass container, sit it in a pot with a few inches of water. Turn heat on medium low. To the glass container add the beeswax. Next add your Shea butter and coconut oil. Allow to melt, stirring often. I use a wooden skewer to stir with. Once melted remove glass from pot. Stir in lavender essential oil and honey. Pour into lip balm container and allow to set. Here’s my experience with this recipe. I have made it several times. I don’t know why, but sometimes the honey mixes in well and sometimes it doesn’t. When it doesn’t you have honey in bottom of your container and atop that you have your set lip balm. Weird.
This if for when your sweet lips are in need of some TLC. Like severely dry and cracked or worse; your lip has exploded from a fever blister/cold sore. This is why I like to make small batches, it’s cheap so tossing it after your lips are healed is no big deal. Some people argue that the virus that causes cold sores dies quickly so your lip balms aren’t contaminated. Well, I just made a healing lip balm for mere pennies; excuse me why I toss the left over in the trash just to be on the safe side. Better safe than lip explosion!
If you don’t have all this handy and the lips are in emergency need just rub some honey on your lips several times a day.
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A little of this a little of that:
The beeswax is what allows the balms to set. If your balms are too hard next batch use less beeswax. Too soft next time more beeswax. Easy fix. You can add a few drops of vitamin E to every recipe. I do not because I tend to experience some itching of the skin when I use Vitamin E.
I buy most of my supplies from Amazon. Mainly because I have Amazon Prime and can get most items with free shipping. If you plan on making balms, lotions and other concoctions in large batches I would suggest shopping around to find the best deals.
I have used many items as lip balm containers. Little jars I purchased just for balms, also Altoid tins, old chap stick tubes, if it has a lid it is fair game in my house.
HAVE BROOM WILL TRAVEL
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Halloween will soon be upon us. Ghouls, zombies and witches will be bringing the fear to my neighborhood. That is if I get everything done in time.
A few of my projects this year are complete. Many others are in the works. Two of the ones complete are simple yet are great props to include in a porch display.
A simple rustic witch broom and a tall spooky witch hat. Witch shoes are in the works but they are not cooperating with me at this time.
Today I will share with you how to make the broom.
The broom was quick and easy. I have an oak tree, I call him The Might Oak. Yes I do talk to my tree, he’s a nice guy. Sadly during every storm he loses a few limbs. Some small and others big enough to use as a weapon in a zombie apocalypse.
I began this project by gathering a sturdy limb big enough to serve has the broom handle. After finding the perfect one I began to gather up smaller limbs. Some sturdy others thin and flimsy.
Before going any further I took some twine. It was a light beige. Not liking the new clean twine look I decided to age some. Which is a simple process. Get some tea bags throw them and the twine in a pot of water, bring to a boil. Take off burner and let sit awhile. Easy as pumpkin pie.
a little potion
While the tea is working its magic grab some duct tape. It’s time to make a broom!
the magical items being guarded by my new puppy
Take one of the small limbs, place it toward the bottom of the broom handle. take the duct tape and use it to attach the smaller limb.
Keep wrapping the tape around the handle adding more limbs as you go. Stop when you are satisfied with the look of your broom.
Ready for the twine
Then I took the twine out of the pot of tea water. You can let the twine dry to use wet. I find it works better and you get a tighter wrap with it wet. Knot it at the top of the taped area. Now just start wrapping until you reach the end of the duct taped area. Tie off.
Done. Now wait for a full moon then take your broom for a spin!
How to crack your marbles not lose them
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One pin from Pinterest I have been wanting to try is the cracked marbles. Turns out it’s very simple and FUN! I wanted one to go in my miniature garden to use as a gazing globe.
How to lose crack your marbles.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place marbles in a pan, one with high sides. Those marbles tend to roll around.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and immediately place in a bowl of ice water.
Here is the fun part: you can hear the water sizzle and the marbles pop. I also did the same to a few glass ‘rocks’ used for decorating. They cracked but not as much as I wanted, maybe they need higher heat or a longer bake time.
I hope to find some solid light colored marbles to try. I think they would make pretty pendants.
Cracked
Not much cracking going on
Garden gazing globe
Fiery Hot Lips: DIY Cinnamon Lip Balm
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I love me some cinnamon. I am still enjoying the cinnamon toothpicks I made. I was gathering supplies to make a small batch of lip balm and was thinking about those cinnamon toothpicks. Suddenly an idea hit me, thankfully not hard, but it did hit me. The idea? Cinnamon lip balm. I read several pins on making lip balm and from them I came up with the recipe down below.
Let me tell you something about cinnamon lip balm…it is not for the faint of heart.
Lip Balm of Fire:
Ingredients:
4 tsp. of beeswax pellets
1 ½ tsp. of Shea butter
2 tsp. sweet almond oil
1 tsp. Argan oil
3-6 drops cinnamon oil
A tiny chunk of lipstick if you want tinted balm
A tiny container for your balm
In a pot add a few inches of water, turn burner on low. Give the water a few minutes to heat up. Using either a glass jar or some other container that can take the heat, place the jar in the warm water. Into your jar add the beeswax, Shea butter, Sweet Almond oil and Argan Oil.
Let everything melt, stirring with a wooden spoon. Once melted add your lipstick chunk if you are tinting. If not remove from heat, add your cinnamon, stir then pour into your storage container.
Beeswax
Wax and oils melted together.
This is my first time dealing with beeswax. What I learned from this first time is that the stuff wants to set up FAST. So have your storage container handy so you can pour quickly.
I should have added a bigger chunk of lipstick. I had a bronze color which using just a little made my balm look dirty. I meant to pour just three drops of cinnamon oil but a tad more came out of the bottle. I let my balm set, which didn’t take long. It smelled like cinnamon heaven. I put it on my lips and it burnt like hell. My lips were on FIRE. Grabbing a rag I wiped what I could of the balm off my lips. Still the fire was raging. I made a mad dash to my freezer, grabbed a cube of ice and tried to cool down my burning lips. It took a few minutes but my lips cooled down. On a positive note my lips were nice and soft. Was it from the oils in the balm or did the dry rough skin burn off? I don’t know and I’m not going to try it again. Hell who am I kidding? It’s cinnamon, of course I’m going to try it again.
This was a very Pinteresting and painful adventure. Do you have a favorite lip balm recipe? Please share.
Setting up
The Pinteresting Life of Gotha Stewart 