Coconut Oil Hand Cream

 

Coconut Oil Hand Cream

Great for extra dry skin. Nice to rub on after washing dishes or digging in the yard.

Supplies needed:
5 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
1 1/2 tablespoon almond oil
15 drops lemon essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
1 – 2 tablespoons grated beeswax (less for softer cream, more for firmer cream)

Method:

Fill the bottom of a double boiler with water and bring to the boil. In the top, combine to beeswax, coconut oil and almond oil. Allow to melt and stir to combine. Add the essential oils and stir again.

Pour into container and allow to cool completely before closing.

Makes approximately 3 1/2 ounces.



Notes: I have successfully made this recipe without a double boiler and just used a heavy saucepan. It needs to be on very low heat.

When grating beeswax, be sure to use a grater you no longer need for cheese! The beeswax is next to impossible to wash off (I keep one that is especially for beeswax).

If you are unhappy with the consistency of the cream, re-melt and add more beeswax. If making in warmer weather, use extra beeswax, since the coconut oil liquefies when the temperature is above 76 degrees.
From: http://frugalgranola.com/2011/04/homemade-herbal-gifts-for-mom/

Recycled Notebook

Tools and Materials25 sheets of scrap paper
Paper cutter
2 pieces of 8 1/2-by-11-inch card stock
2 binder clips
Ruler
Pencil
Stapler
12-by-12-inch decorative craft paper
Bone folder
Double-sided tape

Recycled Notebook How-To1. Count out 25 sheets of scrap paper. Organize all written text facing up and in same direction. Cut sheets of scrap paper in half, 5 sheets at a time, using a paper cutter.

2. Cut 2 pieces of card stock in half with the paper cutter. Sandwich cut sheets between 2 pieces of card stock. Make sure all the paper is aligned, and then secure sheets to card stock with 2 binder clips on the left side of the notebook.

3. Using a pencil and a ruler, draw a line from top to bottom, 1/8 inch in from the left edge as a guideline for the staples. Staple down on the guideline.
Tip: If you're creating recycled notebooks in bulk, it's faster to staple both sides -- creating 2 books for each 25 sheets of 8 1/2-by-11-inch paper -- and then get the paper cut in half at a copy store that has a heavy-duty paper cutter.

4. Cut decorative craft paper to 8 5/8 inches wide. Fold paper in half with bone folder. Press a stapled-together stack of 25 sheets of scrap paper and card stock against the middle of the decorative craft paper to create a book spine. Use double-sided tape to secure decorative paper to card stock.

5. Trim edge of cover for neatness and fit: With ruler and bone folder, score about 1/2 inch in from spine; fold to create finished notebook shape. Excess decorative paper can be used as a matching bookmark.

Homemade Dog Treats

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup margarine or butter
• 1 cup boiling beef broth
• 3/4 cup cornmeal
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg, beaten (or 2 eggs to make treats softer for older dogs)
• 3 cups whole wheat flour

Directions
Combine rolled oats, margarine/butter, and boiling beef broth in a large bowl. Let stand and soften for 10 minutes. Thoroughly stir in cornmeal, sugar, bouillon, milk, peanut butter, and egg. Mix in flour, 1 cup at a time, until dough comes together. Knead dough together so that it looks like this:

Roll out dough to 1/2″ thickness:

Cut out shapes with cookie cutter. I had a hard time finding a bone shape cutter and almost made my own cookie cutter but then I randomly saw this 4″bone cutter at AC Moore:

I cut some smaller shapes using mini cutters for smaller dogs:

Place on cookie sheet. They don’t spread apart so you can fit a lot on a sheet:

Bake 35 to 45 minutes at 325 degrees, until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool:

All packaged up and ready to mail to my doggy friends all over!

Glass Jar Photo Frames

You will need

A selection of different shaped glass jars
A bunch of your favorite photos
Doom
Paper Towels
Scissors / cutting knife
Ruler
Pencil

Step 1: Remove the label

After speaking to several people in search for the best method to remove the gluey sticky mess left behind when attempting to soak off labels on glass jars, I have discovered the secret is… Doom. No, I’m not referring Dr Doom the super villain from the Marvel comics, but rather the insect killing spray of death.
Simply spray a thick coat of Doom onto the stickiness, wait 5 – 10 minutes, and then effortlessly wipe away the glue with a kitchen towel. Rinse with hot water and soap. Easy as pie.
Step 2: Measure the Jar
Using your ruler, measure the height of the flat part of the jar (the part excluding where the bottle curves) – this is where the photo will fit.
Step 3: Cut the Photo
Using your ruler, knife and pencil, trim the height of the photo neatly, to fit the height of the flat part of the jar.
Step 4: Place photo into the jar
Slightly roll the photo, with the image facing outwards, and insert it into the jar upside down. You may need to adjust it with your fingertips so that it fits snugly into its new home.

Step 5: Display it!
Turn the jar upside down, so that it rests on its opening, and display it somewhere special!

Tips:
Use a selection of different shaped jars with different heights to create interest.
You can also use glass bottles, although this is a little trickier as you will need to roll the photo tighter, and make sure the height of the photo is as tall as the widest part of the bottle. When using bottles, do not place the photo inside down.

Got Sun Promblems?

Ice Cube Aloe Soothers

Easy Sunburn Soothers

Choose one of the following sunburn soothers:
• Plain yogurt or sour cream
• Buttermilk
• Tomato juice
• Witch hazel
• Aloe vera gel
• Chamomile tea
• Apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon diluted in 1 cup water)

1. Use a clean cotton cloth or spray bottle to apply any one of the above ingredients directly to your skin; or add one of these soothers to a tepid bath.
2. If you use the yogurt, sour cream or buttermilk, be sure to rinse your skin after 20 minutes, as these milk-based soothers can spoil.

Cucumber Aloe Body Mask

2 cups chopped, peeled cucumber (those big lunky ones from the garden are perfect!)
¼ cup aloe vera gel
2 T whole milk yogurt

Combine everything in a food processor, and blend until smooth. Store in the refrigerator, up to a week. Smooth over burned skin, and let sit til warm. Rinse, pat dry.

Natural Sunscreen
3 tbsp. grated beeswax
3 tbsp shea butter
4 tbsp coconut oil
3 tbsp. aloe vera gel
3 tbsp. herbal tea (lavender or calendula is best)
1/2 tsp. borax powder

Take beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil and melt it in a double boiler. (Do not boil). Now warm the aloe vera gel, tea and borax powder in a separate pan until the powder is mixed well with the other 2 ingredients. Mix it with the melted oil and butter. Whisk properly until you get a creamy texture. Store it in an airtight jar and keep it refrigerated.
You can refrigerate it for up to a month if you have not used any preservative but if you use 5-6 drops of grapefruit seed extract (natural preservative), it will last more than a year. You can take it out of the fridge 10-15 minutes before applying.

From: http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2011/07/sunburn-soothers-herbal-remedies-for-summers-ailments.html

Cowgirl Cookies

Cowgirl Cookies

1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cooking oats
3/4 cup m&ms
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Stir all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.



Add

1 slightly beaten egg
1/2 cup butter (melted slightly in the microwave)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Use the back of a large spoon to work it all together. You may even need to use your hands to get everything incorporated.



Then roll the cookie dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, place on a parchment covered baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. I got about 26-28 cookies out of these.

Here’s how they came out.



Pretty and tasty. But I still want to try the other mixes later, and if one tastes better I’ll make sure and update the recipe. Besides, I want to know how long these will last in jars. Any ideas?

Want to make some cute cookie mix gifts, too? Here’s how.



Start with a 1 quart smooth Ball jar. I found these at Hobby Lobby craft store.

Layer the ingredients in like this:

First: flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt
Second: oats
Third: m&ms
Fourth: chocolate chips
Fifth: brown sugar
Sixth: white sugar
Seventh: chopped pecans

Pack each level down really tightly. I mean it. Pack it in. Or else it won’t all fit. Also, I added the chopped pecans last, because if the ingredients were too much or not enough, then I could add more or less pecans to adjust. I’d rather sacrifice nuts than chocolate, you know. The ingredients should be flush to the top of the lid when you seal it up.



See. There’s some of the pecans peeking out from under the fabric.

To decorate the top of the jars, get a spool of suede cord and some fabric. I really wanted to find some pink western bandana fabric, but this will do.
Anyway, cut the fabric into 6 inch squares and the suede into 25 inch pieces. Place the fabric on top and tie ribbons around the lid to hold it in place.



For the labels, you’ll need some card stock, a paper punch and double-sided tape.

You can use the pink labels I made if you want. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE.


From: http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/

Mama's Belly Butter

Mama’s Belly Butter

This recipe is adapted from the Stretch Mark Cream in Natural Beauty at Home by Janice Cox (page 86).
To make 4 ounces (I usually divide this between a couple of 2 oz jars) you will need:
1/2 cup cocoa butter
2 tablespoons wheat germ oil
2 teaspoons sesame seed oil
2 teaspoons apricot kernel oil
2 teaspoons vitamin E oil
4 teaspoons grated beeswax
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (optional)

Measure all ingredients, except vanilla, into a heavy saucepan. Warm mixture over low heat until cocoa butter and beeswax have melted (two to five minutes). Stir well.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, if using. Another option would be to add a few drops of essential oil such as those mentioned in this post.
Cool briefly then pour into jar(s). Leave lid off and allow to cool completely (this should take about an hour). It will look very runny at first:

The butter will begin to thicken and harden immediately. It will look something like this after 10 minutes:

From: http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/09/homemade-belly-butter-all-natural-pampering-for-pregnant-mamas-2.html