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Candy wrapper bracelet

Starburst wrapper bracelet
When I was young, my older sister had a gum wrapper chain wrapped around her bedpost. Every stick of gum she'd chewed was memorialized somewhere in that chain. I was endlessly fascinated with it and loved to watch her fold the wrappers just so.

Now there's a new twist on the gum wrapper chains. You can make a colorful bracelet out of Starburst wrappers. You'll need 30-35 Starburst wrappers -- so start saving up! This is a quick and easy process that even kids can enjoy. My son is going to make some to give to his friends (along with a resealable baggie full of Starburst candies... because we can't eat that many).

The gallery has the step-by-step instructions for making this charming jewelry, so have fun!

Gallery: Make a bracelet out of Starburst wrappers

MaterialsStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4
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Dyeing flowers with food coloring

flowers dyed with food coloring
I have a large flower garden in my backyard. Last year, my son had just moved in with me (I adopted him from the US foster care system). I was never able to get him very interested in the garden. This year, however, he's been a bit more involved. He's enjoyed seeing the plants spring up from their winter slumber, and he's even potted his "own" annuals.

Working in the garden has been a great learning experience for him. We discuss everything from flowers to bugs to environmental responsibility. When I stumbled across this article about dyeing flowers using food coloring, I knew it was a fun experiment my son would enjoy.

All you need is white flowers (carnations work well, but almost any long-stemmed white flower will do), food coloring, glasses or vases for each color, and water. Simply color the water and insert the freshly cut flower, then wait for the magic to happen. While it's fun to see the color change, don't forget to take advantage of the educational aspect. PBSKids has some information on how the process actually works.

Gallery: Dyeing flowers with food coloring

MaterialsFill glasses with waterAdd the food coloringInsert the flowersAfter one hour
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Surprise in a bath bomb

I think most people would agree that bath products make a nice gift. Unfortunately, they're a little over-gifted, if you know what I mean. But, if you take some effort to make your own products and to personalize them, what was old-hat suddenly becomes new again. Whipup's bath bomb surprises are a perfect gift idea that you can personalize for anyone.

You'll need baking soda, citric acid, your choice of essential oil, a spray bottle with witch hazel, and your choice of trinkets to insert in the bath bombs. You'll also need a large bowl, a whisk, an ice cream scoop with a release mechanism, and a tray covered with wax paper.

To make the bath bombs, combine the baking soda and citric acid. Then slowly spray in the essential oils. Adding the witch hazel can be a bit tricky as you need just the right amount of moisture. Once the consistency is right, you'll be able to use the ice cream scoop to create the halves of the bath bomb. Then insert the trinket and put the two halves together. Whipup has the details.

Keep reading for different gift ideas with these "surprise inside" bath bombs.

Continue reading Surprise in a bath bomb

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Painting with Kool-Aid

Kool-Aid paintingDo you remember those scented markers that were on the market during the 70s and 80s? Everything smelled great except the black licorice marker... that was utterly vile. While I'm sure there are still scented markers available for purchase, why not try painting with Kool-Aid?

Jacki wrote about this fun project over on That's Fit. Have your kids outline a picture with markers, but don't color it in. Mix different colors of Kool-Aid in different cups -- use only two tablespoons of water for each packet. Using paintbrushes, let your kids color in their masterpiece with the Kool-Aid "paint."

After about 20 minutes the paintings should be dry. Your kids can lightly scratch the surface of their painting and enjoy the scented colors. Fruit makes a great subject for the paintings because, as one young Kool-Aid artist exclaimed, "the oranges really smell like oranges!"
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Cupcakes on a stick

cupcakes on a stickIf you've got kids, you know what a hit anything bite-sized is. My son is such a fool for anything tiny, I sometimes think he would eat liver and onions if I could make it bite-sized. (Lucky for him, I'm not that mean!) These bite-sized cupcakes on a stick are sure to be a new favorite for the kids (and adults) in your life.

The cupcakes aren't baked in a mini-cupcake pan like you might expect. Instead, the cake is baked in a 13X9 pan and then crumbled and formed into balls with either frosting or cream cheese. In addition to increasing the yum factor, this step probably makes the cakes more stable on the stick.

Part of the ball is then cut away with a mini-cookie cutter to form the base of the cupcake. The the bottom is dipped in chocolate and the top is dipped in a melted white chocolate or colored candy melts. Bakerella has instructions with photos and a video clip.

Be sure to check out all the fun varieties, then put your thinking cap on and come up with your own decorating ideas -- the sky is the limit!

[via CraftyStylish]
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Carton catchers: A fun way to reuse milk jugs

milk jug carton catchersI don't know about your house, but in mine we go through several jugs of milk a week. Because my son loves cereal, and he also loves a big glass of milk with meals, my recycling bin gets pretty full with milk jugs alone.

RePlayGround has a fun way to reuse milk jugs -- make carton catchers. Your main materials include two half-gallon milk jugs, two toilet paper tubes, and a ball (or tin foil to wad into a ball). You'll also need a tack, tape, scissors, markers, and decorative paper.

To make the carton catchers, simply cut out the milk jugs (RePlayGround has diagrams to show you how to cut them), attach the toilet paper tubes to the spouts, and decorate. I haven't made these yet, but I do wonder if the toilet paper tube would be a bit flimsy. You could use a wooden dowel or some plastic pipe for a sturdier handle.

Want more ideas for reusing milk jugs? Anna has 15 creative suggestions.
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Make Magic Shell-style ice cream sauce

chocolate coated ice cream
Do you remember Magic Shell? It's that weird and wonderful chocolate creation that, when poured over ice cream, hardens so you get to crunch through.

As a kid, it was just pure fun. As an adult, I have to wonder what in the heck goes into that stuff. It turns out that certain oils keeps the chocolate liquid until poured over the ice cream. What's more, you can make it at home.

All you need is some finely chopped eating chocolate, coconut oil, and a pinch of salt. Brownie Points gives us the how-to. You can even add different flavor extracts to create your own varieties of Magic Shell that can't be bought in stores.
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Tipsy flower pot tower for your yard

flower pot towerI don't know what it's like where you live, but every time the stores come out with something new for the garden, I start seeing the item popping up all over town. Soon enough, that unique new ornament is commonplace and a bit trite.

I can honestly say that I've never seen a "tipsy" flower pot tower, though; it looks like something I want to try in my garden. To put it together, you'll need:
  • A tall, sturdy metal rod. (The instructions call for a 66" rod.)
  • One 12" round clay pot.
  • Four 10" clay pots.
  • Potting soil.
The tower looks simple enough to assemble. Drive the rod into the ground, and thread the 12" pot onto the rod. Fill with soil. Then thread the 10"pots on, balancing each pot sturdily on the pot below. All that's left to do is to fill it with your favorite flowers.
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Make a mouth organ out of old markers

marker mouth organIf your house is anything like mine, you have a handy supply of markers lying everywhere except the nice, neat basket you supplied your child with for marker storage. If you're similarly overrun with markers, haha.nu has a fun new use them. You can use the cases to make a mouth organ (or pan flute if you prefer).

You'll need at least eight markers, two straight sticks, sturdy string, and an exacto knife.

Open up the markers and empty out the ink cartridge. Replace the cap on the end of the marker. On one end, use the exacto knife to cut off a bit of the end. Cut each subsequent marker about 7mm shorter. Then, attach the markers to the sticks using the sturdy string. There's a step-by-step video on haha.nu. Have fun making music with markers!
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Double-duty dorm room decorations

girl in dorm room
Are you heading off to college in the fall? The dorms are a great place to live. It's been a few years since I was there, but I'm still in touch with many of my college friends. I'll never forget the late-night Euchre games, parties, reluctant study sessions, and (unfortunately) the complete lack of space.

Even though dorm rooms are usually off-white, bland spaces roughly the size of a shoe box, you can still make them your own. In addition to posters, photographs, and other wall art, decorate your room with items that do double-duty by looking great and serving a purpose.

Storage and other multi-use items are important for your dorm room. You're not limited to milk crates "borrowed" from a local restaurant (not that I know anyone who did that... ahem). I'll share some fun, decorative, and useful dorm room ideas after the break.

Continue reading Double-duty dorm room decorations

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Make a marshmallow catapult

Boy loading a marshmallow in a catapult
Last fall I took my son and his best friend to a pumpkin farm. In addition to getting lost in a corn maze, drinking cider, and picking out pumpkins, the boys had a great time in the gift shop. They found "marshmallow launchers" (simple blowguns made out of plastic piping -- breathe into one end and a mini marshmallow comes flying out the other).

You can imagine my son's delight when I found the plans for this pyramid catapult that shoots marshmallows. You'll need six garden stakes, a plastic cup, rubber bands, and a whole lot of marshmallows!

It's simple to construct. Just place three of the stakes in the shape of a triangle and secure with rubber bands. Then, use the remaining three stakes to make a pyramid. Make three holes in the rim of the plastic cup and loop rubber bands through the holes. Attach the loose ends of the rubber bands to the corners of the pyramid. Then get the marshmallows and prepare to launch! Check out the gallery for details.

Gallery: Make a marshmallow catapult

MaterialsCreate the baseSecure with rubber bandsCreate the pyramidMake holes in the cup
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How to give a dog medicine

English Bulldog lying in grass
A few weeks ago I took my 8-year-old English Bulldog to the vet. I thought he'd get his annual shots and we'd be on our way. Instead, he was diagnosed with arthritis (which I suspected) and I was also given the news that it was finally time to surgically correct his protruding third eyelid. Bummer.

Last week my dog went under the knife. Not only did they correct his eyelid, he also got a dental cleaning, and had his far-too-long nails trimmed back. The poor puppy was a mess. He came home, woozy from the anesthesia, and staggered around my living room like someone who had spent too many hours at the bar. But, in the days since, he's healing well.

Not only have my dog and I had to deal with the massive Elizabethan collar he's wearing, we've also had to deal with his multiple medications. It hasn't been fun. I've done some searching for tips on the web and gotten some advice from my vet on administering medications to dogs. I'll share the tips after the break.

Gallery: How to give your dog medicine

Dog medicationsE-collarAdministering pillsDisguising pillsEye drops

Continue reading How to give a dog medicine

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Make a better pancake mix

stack of pancakes with strawberry
Though he knows pancakes (and pretty much anything else that requires more effort than a bowl of oatmeal) are weekend treats, my son asks for them almost every morning. I've always been a boxed-mix kind of girl, but then I stumbled across a recipe for homemade whole-grain pancake mix.

Not only is it easy and inexpensive, making your own pancake mix means you're eliminating artificial ingredients and unwanted additives. For this recipe, you'll need is all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Store the mix in an air-tight container. You can also package the mix in a jar, decorate it nicely with a ribbon and label, and give it as a gift.
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How to catch a liar

Woman avoiding eye contact
For a few months this year, my son went through a maddening stage where he was lying to me all the time. Thankfully, he is a terrible liar: I could see through it every time. After months of behavior charts and doing everything I could think of to teach him the importance of truthfulness and trust, his lying just went away. I'd like to say it was because of stellar parenting on my part, but I think it was just a phase, and he worked through it.

But not everyone is as easy to spot in a lie as my son is. With a keen eye and some understanding of body language, you have a better chance of catching a liar in the act. Possible signs that someone might be lying to you include:
  • Starting a sentence with "The truth is..." or something of the sort.
  • Speaking with a higher pitch.
  • Lips pressed more tightly together than usual.
  • Hemming and hawing while telling a story.
Check out the AOL Body slide show for a full list of signs that someone might be lying to you. You may also enjoy a few previous DIY Life posts on this topic, Catch a liar in the act and Mind reading through simple visual cues, both by M.E. Williams.
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Outdoor pillows spice up your patio furniture

bench with pillowsLast year, my neighbor bought a new patio set, and I inherited their rusty, out-of-style set. Now that summer is near, it's time to spruce up that patio set and breathe some new life into it. I've purchased new seat covers and will start sanding and painting soon. But to really give it some flair, I want to add some colorful pillows.

Obviously, being made for the outdoors, the fabric needs to be water-safe. Martha Stewart Living recommends using inexpensive vinyl tablecloths. I think it's a great idea. A reader also suggested using shower curtains. So this weekend, I'm on the hunt for a cute vinyl tablecloth or shower curtain that will make my patio set pop with color.
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