http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2080780&id=1340581859&l=e7f06b1501

My FB sewing photo album

Natural Homemade Air Fresheners

1

For non-spray (stand-alone) air fresheners that you can use in different places in your home, you need five to ten small bowls or jars. Place either two tablespoons of baking powder, two tablespoons of vinegar or one cotton ball soaked in pure vanilla extract in each container. Put one container in the back of the refrigerator and distribute the others in areas of the house where they cannot be reached by children or pets.

2

For spray air fresheners, you'll need a spritzer (fine mist) spray bottle that you can purchase at most grocery or convenient stores. Mix 1/4 cup baking soda with warm water in a spray bottle, attach the nozzle and shake it up well. After the baking powder has dissolved, remove the nozzle and add in a few drops of lavender or one tsp. of an extract such as lemon, orange or vanilla. Replace the nozzle, label the bottle with whatever ingredient you added to the baking soda and spray anywhere in the house.

3

Create an air freshener specifically to combat kitchen smells. In a medium sized pot, simmer one tbsp. of vinegar with either two cinnamon sticks or two cloves in one cup water on the stove while you cook. You can also place a bowl of vinegar or fresh coffee grounds on the counter although the effect won't be as dramatic as with the boiled mixture. A ground up slice of lemon or orange placed in the garbage disposal acts as another type of air freshener.

4

The following mixtures can be used to freshen large areas and even the whole house. Combine two quarts of water with two tbsp. of vinegar in a medium-sized saucepan, bring the mix to a boil and then turn it down to the lowest simmer possible. Now you can choose how to scent your home by adding one of the following combinations to the water and vinegar:

1) two sliced oranges, one tbsp. of natural vanilla extract and one tbsp. of cinnamon or two cinnamon sticks

2) one can of coconut milk, one tbsp. almond extract and one tbsp. of vanilla extract

3) a hand-full of cedar wood chips

4) one or two bunches of lilac

5) two sliced lemons, one tbsp. natural vanilla extract and one tbsp. allspice

6) two diced apples, two tbsp. of cinnamon, two tsp of natural almond extract and ¼ cup of brown sugar

7) two cinnamon sticks, two pine tree sprigs and three pine cones

8) one package of twelve peppermint candy canes or the equivalent, one tbsp. of natural vanilla extract and one tbsp. of ground cinnamon, lemon or grapefruit

How long you simmer the mix is up to you. The scents will fill your home for up to four hours after you've turned off the burner.

Read more: How to Make Your Own No Chemical Air Fresheners | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5600817_make-own-chemical-air-fresheners.html#ixzz1HuD2qjaS

~~Homemade Dish soap~~

• 2 cups boiling water
• 1/4 cup grated Ivory soap flakes
• Heat-resistant bowl
• Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
• 1/4 cup glycerin
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon oil
• Funnel
• Empty squeeze bottle

Instructions

1

Pour the boiling water into the bowl. Add the soap flakes and stir them gently with the wooden spoon or silicone spatula until they dissolve.

2

Add the glycerin and lemon oil, stirring gently until just combined.

3

Let the mixture sit at room temperature until cool to the touch.

4

Use the funnel to pour the soap mixture into the squeeze bottle

Tips & Warnings

• Try replacing the lemon oil with other oils, such as orange, for different scents.
• Use caution when pouring boiling water, as it can cause serious burns.
• Do not use this dish soap in automatic dishwashers. It is only suitable for washing dishes by hand.
• Do not stir vigorously when dissolving the soap flakes and additives. Stir gently to avoid making suds.

References

• Easy Homemade Recipes

Homemade dish soap

Chica and Jo

http://www.chicaandjo.com/

So true...

"There is no better designer than nature."

~Alexander McQueen

PIF Pay It Forward Laundry soap recipe

This is a Pay-It-Forward listing meaning that if you use this recipe do something nice for someone else! Send a card, help a neighbor, make your own PIF listing to share, or even smile and say "Hi" to a stranger! It makes the world a better place!

Here are two recipes I use for laundry soap, one is a powder and the other liquid:

~*~Dry Laundry Soap~*~
-1 bar of Ivory Soap (or another soap that doesn't leave residue)
-1 cup of Borax
-1 cup of Washing Soda (I found mine at a small grocery store but not at Walmart... But that might be different where you live)
**Grate the soap on a small hole grater. Mix soap, borax and washing soda together with a spoon until thoroughly mixed. Put in a ice cream bucket or any other container with a lid.
Use a 1 Tablespoon to 2 Tablespoon per load depending on the size and dirtiness of the load.

~*~Liquid Laundry Soap~*~
-1 bar Ivory Soap
-1/2 cup Borax
-1/2 cup Washing Soda
-6 cups of water

**In a large pot start to boil water. Meanwhile, grate Ivory soap and add to the water and stir until dissolved. In a 2 gallon bucket, mix borax and washing soda together. Slowly add water/soap mixture to the bucket while mixing. Now add one gallon plus four cups more of water and mix. Add scent that you like to the mixture such as lavender essential oils if you want. Let sit for 24 hours until slightly gelled. Use 1/2 cup per load. I like to keep mine in plastic gallon jugs so it's easy to pour and keep.

Decided I need doublers...

I have been struggling with little miss Abriella peeing through after her, although beautiful, LONG 10 hr nightly sleep stint. I have decided, after many many different attempts to position the prefold correctly, to make some soakers and see if they help. So after my mommy chores are finished I will be sewing a few different types. Will let you all know what i think of them as soon as they're done!! And will take more photos this time!!!!