Self-Care Tips for Loveuary

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CIY Canvas Word Art

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Painting

• Canvas
• Contact Paper
• Crayola Kids’ Neon Paint and or Crayola Kids’ Glitter Paint
• 5 ct Crayola Arts & Crafts Brushes
• 50 ct Crayola SuperTips Markers
• Water
• Plastic Cups

1. Cut your contact paper at an angle on each corner. Adhere to canvas in desired location. This space/shape will create a paint resist are for you to draw on.
2. Pour desired Crayola Kids’ Neon or Glitter Paint colors into different plastic cups.
3. Add small splash of water to each cup.
4. Mix with popsicle stick.
5. Pour a small amount of each of the colors into one cup.
6. Pour paint onto the canvas to cover entirely.
7. Flick white Crayola Kids’ Neon Paint specks onto your canvas.
8. Let dry.
9. Remove contact paper.
10. Write your affirmation, phrase or word of choice using the Crayola Super Tips markers.

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DIY Tabletop Relaxation Fountain

Level:

Intermediate

How-To:

Home Decor

• 1” Wooden blocks
• Black plastic plant holders (these come with small flowers and plants)
• Hot glue/glue gun
• Lock tight aquarium glue
• Live plants
• Potting soil
• Large wood serving tray
• Heavy duty plastic roll
• Succulents or similar plants
• Glass tea pot
• Glass tea cups
• Aquarium
• Small water fountain pump
• Fountain tubes
• Scissors
• Wooden shims
• Large bowl
• River rock
• Moss
• OPTIONAL: Artificial florals
• OPTIONAL: Pots for the larger plants

1. Take your wood tray and line it with the plastic sheeting. You can secure it with hot glue set at a low temperature.
2. Set your large bowl in the middle of the tray and secure it with hot glue and aquarium glue. Note: if the plastic sheet slips, cut a small hole where the bowl touches the tray and hot glue the bowl directly onto the tray.
3. Optional: add artificial flowers to the tea pot using hot glue and aquarium glue – let this set up overnight.
4. Using the wood blocks, hot glue them together to create height to hold your tea pot. This will be the top of the fountain.
5. Hot glue shims together to create a tipped base for the tea pot to sit on.
6. Hot glue the tea pot onto the shims. Assure that it is at a good angle to pour water out.
7. Using your hot glue and wood blocks, create another few levels for our tea cups. Again, assure they are tipped at an angle. Or…use the plastic plant trays to build height and use a low setting on the glue gun to put them together.
8. In the bottom bowl, set the base of the fountain motor.
9. Add tubing to the fountain and run it up to the tea pot.
10. Test that the fountain works correctly by adding some water to the bowl and plug in the fountain. It should run up the back in the tubing into the tea pot and all of the tea cups.
11. Once you’ve tested that this works, add river rocks to cover the fountain motor.
12. Add succulents and other plants around your structure using the potting soil. use this opportunity to camouflage the wood blocks and tubing, etc. For the larger plants, you may want to get decorative pots. I got rustic ones to blend in with the plant life.
13. Add water in your base bowl, plug in your fountain and enjoy your tabletop relaxation fountain!

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DIY Valentine's Soap

Level:

Intermediate

How-To:

Beauty

Seasonal Event:

Valentine's Day

• Heart-shaped silicone soap molds
• Large glass mixing jug
• Wooden popsicle sticks (for mixing)
• A block of soap base
• Coloring
• Fragrance

1. We cut the soap base into 10 squares.
2. It is melted for about 2 minutes in the microwave (we will pre-melt just before segment).
3. We add dye to desired color and fragrance to desired scent (I am using a phthalate-free fragrance blend from Nature's garden in some soaps, and pure essential oils in others). What does phthalate-free mean? Many synthetic fragrances contain hormone-disrupting chemicals called phthalates, so if I am using an artificial fragrance I make sure it is pthalate-free).
4. We pour into molds.

How Long Does It Take?
It takes about 45 minutes for the soap to set at room temperature, so we will have doubles of each mold with set soaps under the counter to bring out to show finished result!

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DIY Bath Tea Bags

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Beauty

For The Chill Mix

• Dried Lemon Verbena
• Dried Lavender
• Dried Peppermint
• Dried Chamomile

For The Winter Princess

• Dried Rose Petals
• Dried Lavender
• Dried White Sage
• Pink Himalayan Salts

For The Glam Glow

• Powdered Milk
• Epsom Salts
• Uncooked Oats
• Dried Lavender
• Manuka Honey

1. Use tie top muslin bags for bath tea bags.
2. Just hang your bath tea bags from the bath tap & let the hot water run through!

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DIY Arm-Knitted Throws

Level:

Intermediate

How-To:

Home Decor

• 6-8 Skeins Chunky Yarn

1. Using the end of the yarn, tie a circle and slide your right hand through
2. With the knot (of your circle) directly under your wrist, wrap the yarn over the front of your palm
3. Take your left hand, and go through yarn loop under your wrist
4. Clutch the yarn and pull back through the loop I just went through with left hand, let the loop slip off your right hand
5. Continue the above steps for 10-20 stitches
6. Now, onto creating our “first row.” You loop your yarn around your right thumb, clutch the remaining yarn in that hand
7. Taking next stitch, pass over fist that’s clutching the yarn
8. Transfer loop that‘s being clutched to left hand, this creates the initial stitch of these next row
9. Repeat steps until row complete
10. Continue steps, transferring yarn from hand to hand until you come to end of the yarn
11. Start casting off by clutching chunky yarn length with same hand that has the other stitches
12. Transfer first stich over top of second stitch and remove from your other hand so there is only one stitch left on that hand.
13. Repeat until all stitches are removed from the arm so you’re left with one circle. Finally, pull the remaining length of the yarn through this circle and tie it off!

• Vintage tea cups or mugs
• Candle wax flakes
• Candle wicks
• Popsicle sticks, or something similar like chopsticks, pencils, etc.
• Saucepan
• Wax melting tin a glass container that can pour liquid, like a Pyrex
• Tape
• Fragrance oil scents
• Coloring; optional, you can add dye that is specific for candle making or colored wax

1. Clean teacups before use, and make sure they are completely dry.
2. Measure out the amount of candle wax flakes you’ll need; for each teacup you’ll need twice the amount of wax flakes to fill it; and place it in the melting tin.
3. Set up the candle wicks in your teacups, you’ll want them to lay flat against the bottom; use your popsicle sticks (or something similar, like pencils) to hold them up and tape the ends of the popsicle sticks so they stay together; another option is to hot glue the bottom of the wick to the bottom of the cup.
4. Fill a small sauce pan halfway full of water; large enough to add in the pitcher, but not too large that the pitcher would fall over.
5. Place the wax melting tin into the water.
6. Turn the heat to medium and allow the heat of the water to heat the tin; this will heat the wax slowly.
7. Once the wax has completely melted, remove it from the sauce pan and allow the wax to cool slightly before adding in the scents.
8. Add in any scent or coloring that you like.
9. Mix well.
10. Carefully pour the wax into your teacups and fill until they are about a half inch from the top.
11. Let the wax set for a few hours at room temperature.
12. Once set, trim the wicks.

TIPS:

• Chopped up pieces of crayons can also be used to color the wax.
• Use a bit of hot glue on the bottom of the wick to secure it into the bottom of the cup.
• Work with caution since candle making is a science. If you are worried about how much oil to add, then err on the side of caution and add less. A general rule of thumb is 1 oz. of scent per 1 pound of wax. Generally speaking the maximum amount of fragrance oil recommended is listed in the Details section of each type of wax.

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Fragrance Diffuser Sticks with

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Health & Beauty, Home Decor

• A measuring cup
• A funnel
• 1/4 cup safflower. (You can also use grape seed or sweet almond oil)
• 1 tsp of vodka
• 30 drops of peppermint essential oil or 1 tsp phthalate-free fragrance
• 4 or 5 bamboo sticks
• A bottle w/ a small neck

1. In a measuring beaker, mix ½ cup of safflower/grape seed/sweet almond oil, 1tsp of vodka, and 30 drops of peppermint essential oil.
2. Pour it into the bottle and put in the bamboo sticks!

Instructions

1_ Use the pencil to draw your desired design; you can also trace a design printed out on your computer; do this very lightly

2) Hammer in a nail about every 1-inch in your design

3) Use the eraser to get rid of the rest of the pencil marks

4) Tie the yarn onto one nail by making a couple knots to make it secure, then use the yarn to wrap around each nail to create the design with the yarn doing the outline first

5) Once outlined, go back and forth between the sides to fill the design of desired -Once finished, tie a couple knots onto one of the nails and cut away the excess yarn

Get more information about this episode >>

Check out more fun DIY projects at the Home & Family Pinterest Page

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DIY Ice Cube Facials

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Health & Beauty

HOW DO YOU MAKE ICE CUBES THAT HELPS WITH SUN DAMAGE? You need 3 ingredients:

• pumpkin puree (1 can)
• Papaya juice (1 cup), Cinnamon (1 tbsp).

1. Mix together in a blender and pour into the ice cube tray.

WHAT ABOUT A FACIAL TO HELP WITH OILY SKIN AND BLEMISHES?  Just combine:

• apple cider vinegar (1.5 cups)
• water (1/2 cup)
• cinnamon (1 tbsp)
• grated turmeric root (5 inches)

Tips: You can also use ground turmeric but fresh root is better. Blend ingredients together in a glass, measuring cup and pour into ice cube trays.

CAN YOU REALLY MAKE ICE CUBE FACIALS TO HELP AGING SKIN? Yes! Just combine:

• steeped green tea (2 cups)
• aloe vera juice (1 cup)
• fresh oregano

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DIY Bath Bombs

Level:

Intermediate

How-To:

Beauty

• Small plastic toys or trinkets
• Baking soda – 8oz
• Citric acid – 4oz
• Corn starch – 4oz
• Fine sea salt – 4oz
• Coconut oil – melted – 1 ¼ tsp
• 1 ½ tsp water
• 2 mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Measuring spoons and cups
• Bath bomb molds
• Rubber bands
• Tray

• Soap colorant
• Essential oils 5 – 10 drops

1. Measure out then whisk together the dry ingredients in a bowl until all clumps are gone.
2. Measure out then whisk together the wet ingredients in a small bowl.
3. Slowly pour the liquid mixture in with the dry mixture, whisking as you go. If desired, add in soap colorant and/or essential oils now as you whisk together.
4. Spoon the mixture into the mold. Overfill one side of the mold. Slightly under fill the other then press a toy into it then fill it up the rest of the way.
5. Firmly press both sides of the mold together. PRO TIP: Wrap the mold with rubber bands to keep tight while the bath bomb sets up for a few minutes.
6. Tap the mold to remove each bath bomb. If it crumbles, put it back in and give it more time to set up.
7. Set the bath bombs in a tray to dry overnight.
8. Store in a sealed plastic bag then enjoy!

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Self-Care Kits

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Health & Beauty

• Scrapbook paper
• White printer paper; could also use any other color paper you like
• Hole punch
• Ribbon, twine, or anything similar to hold the paper together

• Yoga mat
• Monogram stencil
• Paint or permanent marker
• Stencil sponge

1. Cut the journal to the desired size and cut the paper for the inside so that it is smaller in size by at least a 1/4-1/2 inch.
2. The paper in the center of the journal needs to be long enough to be folded in half to create the "book" appearance.
3. Punch a hole towards the top of the "book" and towards the bottom of the "book" note: if you are using a lot of paper in the center, you may need to do this separately.
4. Place the papers together and tie the ribbon/twine through the two circles to secure the book together.
5. Add any kind of inspirational quote in the front and/or throughout the book for an added touch

1. Place the monogram on the yoga mat; if it doesn't have a sticky backing it can be held on with painters’ tape.
2. Using a permanent marker, simply trace the stencil with the marker and fill in.
3. Allow to dry completely

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Floral Beauty DIYs

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Health & Beauty

• 2 tbsp of wax pellets
• 2 tbsp of carrier oil (your choice)
• 20 drops lavender essential Oil
• Dried lavender
• Tin Container

• Hibiscus Powder
• Arrowroot Powder

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 10 drops of rosehip oil
• 15 drops rose essential oil
• 1 cup rose petals

1. Melt wax pellets and carrier oil in double boiler until liquids
2. Take off heat and add essential oil and dried lavender
3. Pour into tin, and let harden.

1. Mix together hibiscus and arrowroot powder until you get desired shade.
2. Apply to checks with brush.

• Mix together using a food processor.

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DIY Heart Shaped Massage Bar

Level:

Intermediate

How-To:

Health & Beauty

• 4 Tsp Beeswax
• 2 Tb Cocoa Butter
• 2 Tb Shea Butter
• 2 Tb Rosehip seed oil
• 1 Tb Tahitian Monoi Oil
• 1 Tb crushed rose powder
• 40 drops rose perfume oil

1. Gently heat oils, butters and waxes in double boiler until everything has melted.
2. Whisk in the rose powder and the rose perfume essential oil.
3. Pour into silicone rose molds.
4. Allow them to set for a couple of hours.
5. Remove your mini bars from the molds and package beautifully for your loved ones.

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DIY Valentine Button Art

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Wall Art, Home Decor

• Buttons
• Thread
• Hot Glue
• Heavy Paper
• Pencil
• Frame or Mount

1. Lightly sketch the shape of your heart on the paper.
2. Run paper through sewing machine randomly to get stitch marks around the heart.
3. Glue buttons around edge of heart and then fill in the center.
4. Create button heart well inside stiches so thread shows.
5. If desired, add letters to create a phrase (i heart u).
6. Place in frame and hang.

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DIY Bath Tray

Level:

Advanced

How-To:

Health & Beauty

• ¾” Plywood
• 1” x 2” wood
• Craft basswood in two widths
• Handle x2
• Wood glue
• Stain in various colors and rags
• Drill
• Screws
• Nail gun

• Handsaw
• Miter-saw
• Silicone caulking

1. You can have everything cut for you or cut it yourself but determine the measurements of the tray based on your tub and cut the wood to size. You don’t want it to be wider than the outside edges of the tub. You will also need two “runners”, small pieces of 1” x 2” cut to about 5” long that brace the tray in the tub from underneath so it won’t slide in. PRO TIP: If you want to have this cut for you at the hardware store, the corners of the tray will have to be butt joints, not 45-degree miter joints.
2. Frame the plywood with the 1” x 2” pieces. Add some wood glue to the sides of the plywood then use a nail gun on the corners to secure in place.
3. Now it’s time to add the runners to keep the tray secure. Measure the width of the interior of your tub, from the center of your tray, this is how far apart your runners should be from the outside edge of each piece. Screw them in place from the top of the tray through the bottom and into each runner in two spots. NOTE: If you put the runners on the outside of the interior measurement, they will just sit on top of the sides of the tub.
4. Cut the craft basswood down to size for the tray. This can be done with a handsaw or very tediously with an X-Acto knife if necessary.
5. If you want to create the staggered pattern, cut each piece of basswood in one place then stain the pieces in a variety of colors. Stain the rest of the tray if desired. Allow the stain to dry completely. NOTE: Each piece you cut into two will have to be laid next to each other, so use alternating colors of stain on each set.
6. Add the decorative basswood to the tray, apply a generous amount of wood glue all over the top of the tray and place the pieces. Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours before use.
7. Attach a handle to each end and enjoy! PRO TIP: Add silicone caulking in the edges if you’re worried about water damage seeping into the corners.

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Tabletop Meditation Gardens

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Meditation, Health & Wellness, Garden

• Shallow tray
• Fine, white or colored, sand
• Decor: a mini statue, large rock, water feature, smaller rocks
• Optional DIY mossy stone: rock, fake moss, glue
• Interactive tools: rake, stamps, etc.

• Plan the design of your garden. This is a very important step so that you don’t have to clean up sand and gravel anytime you want to change something.
• Fill the shallow tray with the sand.
• Start putting different decorative elements. Start with the large focal point. This could be stones, pieces of slate that you can stack, a statue, even a small water element. (if you want your focal point to be the big stone and you want a water feature around it, then create a channel for the water by shaping the areas of sand around it.
• Optional DIY: spray the top of your mini rocks with spray glue and place moss over it. This will give it a beautiful ‘aged’ feel.
• Use your interactive tools to create beautiful designs in the sand. If you don’t like your pattern, you can always start again with the sand. Hopefully, it will free your mind from what you are presently worried about as you focus on the design!

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DIY Body Scrub Cups

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Health & Beauty

1. Mix the sugar and tea together until well combined.
2. Pour the oils into the bowl and mix really well.
3. Pour the mixture into muffin tins, and freeze for 2 hours.
4. Keep in the fridge until you are ready to use them.

1. Mix the sugar and coffee together until well combined.
2. Pour the oils into the bowl and mix really well.
3. Pour the mixture into muffin tins, and freeze for 2 hours.
4. Keep in the fridge until you are ready to use them.

To Use: Before showering, stand in tub and massage in circular motions all over your body. Rinse off in hot shower. When you get out, there is no need to moisturize.

Warning: Using oil in a shower can make the shower very slippery. Make sure you have a shower/tub mat before you use any scrub in your shower. When you are done, take a bunch of paper towels and wipe out bath or shower stall floor with a vinegar sprayer (or your usual bathroom/tub spray).

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Grapefruit Ginger Bath Bombs

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Health & Beauty

Makes 1 to 3 dozen, depending on size.

1. In a large bowl, combine the baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch and salts.
2. With a whisk or dough cutter, work the coconut oil into the dry ingredients, until the mixture resembles sandy with some larger chunks of oil.
3. Working with 1 teaspoon add the liquid to the dry ingredients, stirring it in immediately with a large spoon.
4. The mixture will foam slightly with each addition, this is normal.
5. Add the liquid until your mixture resembles slightly damp sand. *Be sure to add just a little bit of the wet ingredients at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. If you add too much, these will begin fizzing and continue to do so. It should still be primarily dry, but when you squeeze a handful together, it should stick in a lump.
6. Add your essential oil and yellow food coloring
7. Once the mixture is ready, press it firmly and tightly into each mold. You do not need to prepare the molds in any way.
8. Allow to dry for a minimum of 4 hours, or overnight.
9. Remove from the molds and store in an airtight container until ready to use.

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Indoor Elephant Ear Plant Care

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Plant Care

• Environment: A large space and large container for your Elephant Ear plant are ideal.
• Sunlight: Put near bright sun (south or west window), but not in direct sunlight. This can burn the leaves.
• Ideal temperatures: 60-80 degrees
• Humidity is important: Place plant on a saucer with pebbles and water to create a humid ambiance. (Or you can use a mister)
• Watering: Soil should be maintained evenly moist but not saturated. Water when the soil starts to feel a little dry.
• If your Elephant Ear plant gets too much water, it will let you know by “weeping” or dripping water from the tip of the leaf.

Fill large container 3/4 of the way with rich, well-draining potting soil.
Place the bulb root side down and cover with soil and water.
The top of the bulb should be at least 1” below the soil.
Place in a sunny spot indoors and follow the care instructions above.

Fertilize your elephant ears plant with a general indoor plant fertilizer at half strength 1 x per month.
Full strength is too strong a dose for a houseplant and may cause rampant growth before it's ready for it.
Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth 1 x per week to keep the "plant pores" or "stomata" open.
Dusty, clogged leaves can lead to a weak plant that will be more susceptible to illness and pests!

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DIY Gratitude Dream Catcher

Level:

Intermediate

How-To:

Decor

Seasonal Event:

Thanksgiving

• Wreath Frame
• Chunky Yarn
• Thin Yarn or cord
• Felt
• Metallic Letters
• Blank Hang Tags
• Embellishments
• Glue Gun

1. Wrap a wreath frame using pre-cut segments of chunky yarn until the frame is no longer visible. Be sure to tie the yarn securely to the frame at before you begin wrapping and again when each segment ends.
2. Take the thinner of your two yarns/cording and cut segments that are slightly longer than the wreath is wide. Tie one side of the yarn to the wireframe, pull it until it is taught, and tie the other to a point on the opposite side. Allow these yarn segments crisscross, and weave in-and-out so that the webbing has a more organic feel. Don’t forget to trim off any excess yarn.
3. For the banner, pick out a word that embodies your theme, and using felt cut out enough banner segments so that each letter has its own piece.
4. Hot-glue the metallic letters on to the felt and use them to spell out your word on the webbing – again using hot glue to secure them.
5. Take hang- tags with a hole punched out of the top and ask your family members to write what they are most thankful for on them. You can also write your own words of thanks. A metallic paint marker works well.
6. With a think piece of yarn or cord, tie the notes of thanks onto the dreamcatcher webbing.
7. Finish by using hot glue to add any seasonal embellishments you might like.

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Fig Beauty Scrub and Mask

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Health & Beauuty

• 4-5 Figs (Antioxidants, Fatty acids, magnesium & an abundance of vitamins)
• 1c Sugar (All natural exfoliant)
• ½c Shredded Coconut (Moisturizing and all natural exfoliant)
• 2 tbsp Coconut Oil (Ultra-moisturizing… plus it has a great all natural smell!)

• 4-6 Fig Skins (packed w/ vitamins A, B1, B2, & C. Moisturizing)
• ½c Oatmeal (Locks in moisture. Soothes irritated skin from exfoliation)
• 1c Plain Yogurt (contains lactic acid that hydrates dull skin)
• 3 tbsp Almond Oil (or avocado, hemp, coconut oil) (moisturizes and softens skin)

1. Pour sugar and shredded coconut in bowl.
2. Cut figs in half. Use spoon to scoop out the inside of fig and add to bowl with dry ingredients. Put fig skins to the side. We will be using them for our next DIY.
3. Mix ingredients together in bowl until dry ingredients are wet.
4. Add coconut oil and mix together.

To use: Grab a small handful, and lather on hands and feet. Scrub in alternating motions to remove dead skin cells. Rinse and dry hands.

1. Cut figs skins into smaller pieces.
2. Mix fig skins, oatmeal, yogurt, and almond oil together in bowl.

To use: Grab a small handful and lather on hands and feet. Let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse off.