Monday 26 March 2012

Spare Toilet Roll Storage using a Cookie Jar

toilet roll storage cookie jar

I actually got the idea to do this after seeing an advert online (sorry can't remember the store!) where they were selling small containers to place on top of your toilet to store your spare toilet roll. This is a great idea for those small guest toilets where you don't have much space.  After seeing the photograph I thought this would be a great idea for me to come up with my own version!

After looking around for containers which would be the right size, I came across an old cookie jar that wasn't being used. Another idea which I noticed when walking around the supermarket was the containers that store the powdered baby milk - they look just about the right size to store one toilet roll.  Now all you need to do is decorate if needed - I was lucky that I didn't have to do any decoration. If decoration was required you could use sticky backed plastic, stickers or even some fabric and ribbons.
toilet roll storage cookie jar

I actually use this in the main bathroom which is quite spacious - it works really well and is nice and handy if you need the spare toilet roll in an emergency!

You may find me at the following parties:
  Pink Hippo PartyMonday Monkey Hop at Mommy of Two Little MonkeysKeeping It SimpleA Marvelous MessThe Girl CreativeMixitupmop it up mondaysThings that make you say: apinchofjoy.comOur Delightful Home






Monday 19 March 2012

DIY Lip Balm Tutorial

DIY lip balm gloss tutorial

This is a tutorial on how to make your own lip balm / lip gloss with general household items. I wish I had thought of this earlier, now I always have some of these lying around the house and in my hand bags. My children even take these to school with them for the days when they have dry lips. I have even bought the small circular pocket size Vaseline tins and added the powder and flavouring straight to the tin. I have also used food colouring instead of eyeshadow - but sometimes this can leave staining so I much prefer the eyeshadow technique.

Some people don't understand the difference between the lip balm and gloss.  My interpretation is that lip gloss normally leaves a colour or shine and I guess lip balm is the one which helps protect your lips from chapping. Because I am using petroleum jelly, you could say this is a lip gloss and a lip balm! Below is a tutorial for the standard way I make this lip balm:

Requirements:
  • Petroleum jelly / Vaseline
  • Eyeshadow powder
  • Vanilla flavouring
  • Small container
  • Toothpick (used for scraping and mixing)


lip balm gloss tutorial

Step 1: Make sure you have all the items listed above. (Toothpicks are the easiest but any similar instrument will do)
Step 2: Place some petroleum jelly into your container (I used an empty lip balm container)
Step 3: Scrape some eyeshadow into the petroleum jelly and mix in spreading the colour evenly.
Step 4: Add in the vanilla flavouring (I have also used strawberry flavouring - whatever you prefer really)
Step 5: You now have your finished lip gloss!
Step 6: (Optional )- You can place plastic containers into the microwave until it liquidises and then leave it to set - this makes it have a smooth top finish - I only do this if it is a gift so it looks nicer!

My 9 year old daughter loves making these for her friends as little gifts - they are really very easy to make.

You may find me at the following parties:
  Pink Hippo PartyMonday Monkey Hop at Mommy of Two Little MonkeysKeeping It SimpleA Marvelous MessThe Girl CreativeMixitupmop it up mondaysThings that make you say: apinchofjoy.comOur Delightful Home




Monday 12 March 2012

Gloves made from jumper sleeves

gloves jumper sleeves upcycling

Here are some gloves that my 9 year old daughter recently made. These are so easy to make that she made them all by herself with no help from me!  With these particular gloves what we did first was shrink the woollen jumper in the wash so that it was more like felt so when cutting the sleeves it was easier (no loose wool threads!). This is optional and you don't have to shrink them if you don't want to. I have written the easy tutorial for these below.

gloves jumper sleeves upcycling

Step 1: Cut off some sleeves from a jumper ( My daughter added extra length so to turn the cuff down. optional)
Step 2: Turn inside out, cut a slit through both sides (make sure wide enough for your thumb!)
Step 3: Sew up the sides of the slits, so making a space for the thumb and a space for the fingers.
Step 4: Turn back out the right way and then add decoration. (My daughter sewed on some fancy ribbons.)

My daughter loves wearing these for school every day and is so proud of the fact that she made them herself!


You may find me at the following parties:
  Pink Hippo PartyMonday Monkey Hop at Mommy of Two Little MonkeysKeeping It SimpleA Marvelous MessThe Girl CreativeMixitupmop it up mondaysThings that make you say: apinchofjoy.comOur Delightful Home