Brush cleaning

I have used A LOT of things to get all of the paint,glue,mod podge or whatever im using that day, out of my paint brushes. I have found the best thing to use is regular green soap, dish soap, or hand soap. I have even soaked my brushes in cold cream to lift someof the glue off of the bristles. Don't be afraid to experiment and don't worry but make sure to clean your brushes before they harden.

Get dirty in the shower

 One of my nephew's favorite things to do is paint in the shower with nontoxic homemade paint. My sister came across this idea online and I thought it was brilliant. It is cheap and fun. <3
We went for the super cheap version and bought a can of off brand shaving cream.
Then we dispensed little mounds of shaving cream into a muffin pan. Then you add food coloring but beware it can dye white showers. Mix it all up with popsicle sticks and recycle the sticks as paint brushes and use it to paint on the shower walls. ^^

Tarnish Warning

If you are making jewelry it is in your best interest to always choose a quality wire. Your jewelry will be almost worthless if it turns your customers skins green and starts to smell like old pennies. Be smart and choose quality over quantity.

Which glue to use?

There are a million different types and brands of glue. Each one is good for something except for the occasional dollar store dud. Once you have narrowed down the type of glue you need such as wood,glass,metal, or jewelers glue you need to find a brand you like. If you are a one time user for a school project i would say go for what ever looks most widely used, but if you are a crafter and need a glue for the ages it is time to experiment. I usually start with the cheapest brand and work my way up. By starting out on the bottom I can try out all of the cheapies and hopefully find one that is usable without having to empty out my wallet.

Yarn Bangles

   My newest obsession as of late is yarn. There is so much you can do with it. I got tired of metal bangles turning my skin green and pinching my arm. Most yarn is inexpensive and carried in almost all craft stores. I like to take a thin bangle that is almost too big for me. I tie a firm knot of yarn to the bangle and wrap in even lines. Remember even if its only a thin layer of yarn it builds up and makes a difference.

Quick Tip

If there is no time to hem the bottom of your dress or patch a tear, invest in liquid stitch. You may have your doubts but it really holds :D

Creative Countdowns

  Countdowns are a wonderful way of visually representing how far you have come and how far you have to go. Not only are they effective in boosting morale when it comes to goals but they are also amazingly cheap and a super fast craft.

Materials:

• 2 Mason jars (size depending on the length of your goal)
• cheap buttons,beans,beads or anything you can use as a counting system.
• Masking tape or labels
• Sharpie

 First off you need to set your goal. I used mine to track how many days I had to go until graduation. It would be a very effective idea to use it as a visual aid in tracking your weight loss. The concept is simple: One jar is days to go and the other days gone, each day you transfer one bead from the days to go  jar into the days gone jar.

Kitty Voodoo Free Shipping

We are now offering free shipping on all of our products from Kitty Voodoo Creations!

 Kitty Voodoo Creations is a small home operated handmade crafts store created by my sister Crystal Beck. Each creation is made by hand sitting in our living room by the stay at home mom herself and I. Our creations vary from plushies and jewelry to baby toys and wool dreads. We either have or can make any craft that tickles your fancy. If you can tell us about it or draw it we can most likely make it. Any crafts we already have are fully customizable and we welcome your ideas. Contact us on facebook under the name Kitty Voodoo Creations or find us on Etsy and keep a stay at home mom on her feet as well has her bum sister. :D

Ease your coughs and sniffles with DIY

   The changing seasons are plaguing those with seasonal allergies. My nose is running and my coughing is stedily catching up in the race. If you are like me you would rather not be subjected to any unnecessary chemicals in over the counter medicines, why not go back to the basics?  Honey is amazing when you're sick. As well as it's many medicinal purposes it also feels splendiforous on a scratchy, sore throat.  I mix a cup of honey, a table spoon of cinnamon, and a cup of hot water. If you don't particularly enjoy the taste of hot honey water then mix honey into hot tea, the other herbs in tea could only help boost your chance of surviving the season. It may be tempting to reach for the over the counter pills in the brightly colored boxes fill with who knows what, but isn't there some sense of relief in enjoying a tasty home remedy.

Daisy in a Day for a Lifetime

                                                                                                                                                             Pressing Flowers                                                                    

 

 Pressing flowers may seem like a daunting task but there probably isn't an easier craft.

 

• The first step of course is flower selection: You can press pretty much any flower of your choosing, depending on how you want the finished product to look. It is best to choose a flower without one of the large bulbs because it will not lay flat without falling apart. Believe me, I have tried and failed miserably many times. Flowers such as daisies or lavendar however press quite nicely.
• Next you should gather lots of heavy hardback books. Don't worry they won't get messed up. I used about four or five encyclopedias. Flip to about halfway into the book you deem to be the bottom book and place your flower inbetween the two sheets of parchment paper. Place the flower in the paper into the book, and stack the other books ontop.
• Then comes the hardest part...the waiting. I know you are probably anxious to see your beautifully pressed flowers but you must resist the urge! Let them stay pressed in between the books over night just incase.
• The next morning unstack your books, peel your flowers from the paper, and enjoy! Now you have delicate flower decorations which can be used in a wide array of other crafts such as: candles,jewelry,wall hangings, and many more.
 

Kitty Voodoo Creations

  Kitty Voodoo Creations is a small home operated handmade crafts store created by my sister Crystal Beck. Each creation is made by hand sitting in our living room by the stay at home mom herself and I. Our creations vary from plushies and jewelry to baby toys and wool dreads. We either have or can make any craft that tickles your fancy. If you can tell us about it or draw it we can most likely make it. Any crafts we already have are fully customizable and we welcome your ideas. Contact us on facebook under the name Kitty Voodoo Creations or find us on Etsy and keep a stay at home mom on her feet as well has her bum sister. :D
http://www.etsy.com/shop/KittyVoodooCreations

Smell ya later for less

    It seems like the cost of cosmetics are skyrocketing and cash flow is dive bombing. Perfume is especially pricey, which is unfortunate since every lady (or sensationally scentful gentlemen) needs a signiture fragrance. When buying a bottle means breaking the bank why not create a truly genuine scent for less than 10 dollars?
     

        Supplies needed:

•  One small air tight mason jar
• Scented oils of your choice
• Cheap Vodka
• Water
• Pretty atomizer (perfume bottle that sprays)

       Time taken:

• Mixing: 5 minutes
• Aging:   2 months give or take        

    I found an old mason jar to use in my Ma's store room. It is best if you can find the smallest one possible since you most likely aren't going to be making mass quantities. Remember it must be able to be sealed since our perfume must be in an airtight container for the aging process.
    There are a million different formulas for how much of each ingredient to add, but generally there is no wrong amount. It all depends on your preference. I used about 50% Vodka, 30% water, and the rest I emptied out a small bottle of scented oils. I swished my concoction around and sealed the jar.
    After mixing it WILL be cloudy, there is no need to panic. ( As I did when I almost poured out an entire bottle of perfume) You should place the mason jar in a dark space where it must remain for up to two months. I took mine out at around one month because I wanted a more subtle scent. The longer you leave it the more potent it will be. Good luck with your DIY adventures my fellow bloggers. :D

A DIY blog is born!

Live to DIY another day is among other things a "Do It Yourself" blog, an inspiration for crafters abroad, and caterer for home made knick knack lovers. Crafting isn't for everyone and can be confusing when not given accurate instructions. Live to DIY another day saves you the frustration with quick simplified tutorials and a quick read in between projects.