Making the Most of Mylar

My parents got me this epically large balloon for my milestone birthday last year. You know it's epically large because this is a normal sized coffee table it's laying on, with normal sized balloon weights seen in the bottom, and that it stayed floating for over 9 months.

What I see now is... that's a whole lotta festive mylar. And with several family birthdays throughout the year, it was inevitable it was going to become wrapping paper.

First step: separate the front and back of the balloon. I simply cut off the neck of the balloon, inserted the point of my scissors into the opening, and cut along the seam. 

Now I'm left with 2 large round sheets. Set your package in the middle and wrap as normal. If you prefer, you can trim to make square sheets, trim to size, or to center your package on the best part of the design.

This balloon was large enough to wrap 2 hard cover books individually, and a medium box. 

Finish your package with a bow. If you are a planner like me, you've collected all the ribbons and bows from previous gift exchanges, and have a small stash in assorted colors for re-use. 

Last, but not least, go to your celebration and have fun!

With gift bags costing $3+, and being the "throwaway" part of the gift, reusing materials is a great way to save and put your funds into the gift itself.

Saving Soap Scraps to Support Ukrainian Refugees

Since 2016, I've been following a company Clean the World, who takes the leftover and partially-used hotel toiletries. remanufactures them into new products, and distributes them to communities in need. 

So I was super excited when my worlds came together and my tech job brought Clean the World onto campus for us to do some days of volunteering. The goal was for us to assemble 50,000 hygiene kits over the course of 3 days, containing the remanufactured soaps. Clean the World then partners with local non-profits on the ground in Ukraine to hand out the kits to refugees fleeing the current war.

This is an example of the volunteer set-up. Under each of these tents is 8 tables. Each table can fit up to 10 volunteers, and 5 of those big plactic totes containing: the soaps, hand sanitizer, wipes, hotel shampoos, and a toothbrush. 

Each volunteer shift is 45 minutes long, making it easy for employees to join during the work day, and at the end of a shift, each table has assembled around 300 kits.

What an awesome experience to see this organization in action! 

You can get your own business to do a similar event by contacting Clean the World HERE.

Or, you can do a smaller scale event (think: 100 kits), and donate to a local group in need, by ordering a box from HERE. 

DIY Gift Planters

Today I'm crafting out of my recycling. I'm propagating succulents *crosses my fingers*, and I want to put them in some cute little planters. All we need:

• Jars: I'm using Tostitos salsa and cheese dip jars. You can't keep me away from my cheese dip!)
• Cute paper: check out Seattle Recreative for leftover scrapbook or wrapping paper, use a cute shopping bag, or magazine cutouts. I'm using the wrapping from "Who Gives a Crap" TP, which has infamously cute seasonal wrapping. 
• Mod Podge or other craft glue

Dear friends, I only write about products or tips that I've tried and loved. Therefore, I will not tell you about "Who Gives A Crap" toilet paper. It is my punishment for ordering a case of 48 rolls that I'm making myself finish it myself (T and guests refuse to use it). However, a side result is that each roll is wrapped in really cute paper, so yay, free crafting material. ;)

1) Gather your supplies. You'll need scissors and a brush or sponge applicator in addition to the supplies above.

2) Measure and trim your paper to a size that will cover your jar. Mine needed about 1/3 sheet per jar.

3) Apply an even layer of adhesive to the back of your paper.

4) Wrap around your jar so the ends neatly overlap, and apply a coat of adhesive to the outside of the paper too. This will give a nice seal, so it won't get ruined when you water your plant.

5) Don't worry if it's a little wrinkly. As you can see, the drier jar on the left looks smoother than the wetter one on the right. Any remaining "flaws" are just evidence that it's DIY.

6) Plant your succulent and enjoy!

SIY (Start It Yourself) Succulents

I saw a short video the other day on "clever plant hacks", and today am testing one of them for myself.

The idea is that you can propagate many new succulent plants from:

• the leaves of an existing plant 
• a plastic bottle

Step 1: pull several of the leaves off a succulent.

Step 2: take a plastic bottle (I'm using an orange juice jug) and cut several small holes up and down the sides of it, stopping at least 2" from the bottom. 

Step 3: pour 2" water in the bottom and screw the lid back on.

Step 4: insert the cut side of a succulent leaf into each of the holes.

Put into your window, and hopefully in a few weeks, you'll have roots on each leaf, resulting in about a dozen new little succulents!

I'll post again in a few weeks - if succussful, I will have:

• saved $4 per plant
• saved a small plastic pot per plant
• reused a plastic jug

Happy propagating!