DIY Framed Magnetic Board

Recently, my husband and I updated our kitchen and during that process got all new stainless steel appliances.  With all the planning involved, one thing we did not account for was that we would no longer be able to display our six year old's art work on our refrigerator anymore. This made all of us sad, so naturally we started looking for a solution. It had to be really simple because we were done with DIY projects after our kitchen remodel.

One day while at a hardware store looking for air filters, I noticed that sheet metal came in 24x36 inch sheets which just so happens to be a standard frame size. It is also big enough to display more than a few pieces of our daughter's art. Perfect!

I found a frame to match our décor and since the sheet metal was the exact size of the frame there was no cutting involved. I just replaced the glass with the sheet metal and kept the cardboard and pressboard backing as support for the new magnet board.

There are so many uses for this project. It's a simple and affordable way to create a display board for home, work, and for your kids. My next project is to make one for our toddler so we can still use her alphabet magnets and other magnetic toys.

Cheers!

Homemade Coconut Mint Toothpaste

Homemade
Coconut Mint
Toothpaste

In an attempt to reduce the toxic body burden on my family I have been experimenting with homemade all natural body care products.  Toothpaste, as we know it wasn't invented until the late 19th century and even then the products we use today do not resemble some of the earlier, less toxic, recipes. When a homemade version works just as well as a store bought product, is non-toxic, and so easy to make, why not make it yourself?

 

Here are the ingredients you will need:

• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 5 tablespoons baking soda (or bentonite clay for a less salty taste)
• 10-20 drops of peppermint essential oil
• xylitol powder (optional)

 

Mix all the ingredients together till it forms a paste. Brush and enjoy!

 

Tips:

• Depending on the temperature you may need to warm up the coconut oil so it mixes evenly and easily with your other ingredients.
• The more essential oil you use you may also need to add up to an additional 1/2 tablespoon of the baking soda or bentonite clay powder to get a nice consistency.

Lavender Coconut Sugar Scrub Recipe

Scrubs are fun to use and easy to make. Whether you are trying to "green" your beauty routine or just looking for a simple scrub recipe, this scrub is definitely one you'll want to make again. It is not too hard or too oily making it easy to handle in the shower. In addition, it smells divine while exfoliating and moisturizing your skin. Here's what you'll need:

     

• 1/2 cup organic sugar
• 1 cup organic coconut oil
• 1/2 cup dried lavender
• 20 drops lavender oil
• mixing bowl and spoon
• measuring cups
• small containers

Mix all of the ingredients together. You may need to warm the coconut oil under warm water in the jar before measuring. Softening the oil just a bit makes it easier to both measure and stir.

When you are done mixing, spoon the scrub into your containers. It's beautiful, it smells delicious, and it makes your skin feel so soft.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

UPCYCLE: Glass Jars

We recycle everything we can recycle in my family, but where I live they have stopped taking glass. At first, we saved the glass assuming they would begin taking it again as soon as they found another facility, but unfortunately it has been years now and there is no glass recycling in sight. It kills me to throw away glass and if you look in our laundry room cupboards you will see that I don't.

Because our cabinets are limited on space, I can't keep hoarding glass unless I can find a way to reuse or upcycle it. This is an easy and attractive way that I've found to reuse some of the jars in our house.

You can use them as storage canisters for paperclips, buttons, leftovers, and so much more. They are BPA free and the chalkboard paint makes for easy labeling. They have even been mistaken for new store bought storage canisters.

 For this project you will need:

• chalk board spray paint
• newspaper
• glass jars, with labels removed
• chalk

Place the lids on the newspaper and spray evenly with the chalk board paint. Let them dry and voila!