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How to Make Mother's Day Gifts
How to Edit Google Photos on Android
How to Apply Mulch

Posted: 10 May 2018 01:00 AM PDT

Would you like to treat your mom even though you're strapped for cash? There are plenty of gifts that you can make for Mother's Day. If she needs some relaxing time alone, consider making her a gift that pampers her. You can also make her jewelry or her favorite food. If you're really creative, a craft is a great Mother's Day gift. As long as it's from the heart, she'll love it!

EditSteps

EditMaking Gifts that Pamper Her

Create homemade lip balm. Mix 3 parts of liquid oil and 1 part beeswax in a Pyrex measuring cup or heatproof canning jar. Set the jar in a pan with a few inches of water and slowly heat the water until it all melts together. Add a few drops of essential oil and mix it. Then pour the balm into tubes or tins and let set until completely cool.^[1]
- Good choices for your liquid oil include castor oil, avocado oil, olive oil, and coconut oil. Castor oil will make her lips feel really smooth, so it's great if she's got chapped lips.
- You can safely add peppermint, spearmint, sweet orange, lemon, lime, and vanilla absolute essential oils for both scent and taste. Just pick your mom's favorite!
Make custom bath salts. If she likes to take luxurious baths, make her custom bath salts. Pour 2 cups (16 ounces) of Epsom salt into an airtight container. Then add a few drops of essential oil and close the lid. Shake the container until the oil has completely coated the salt.^[2]
- Choose your oils based on what you want the salts to do for your mom. Peppermint and lavender are good for stress relief and citrus is energizing. You can also choose your scents based on what your mom's favorites are.
- You can also add a few drops of food coloring to color the salts. This is an especially good idea if you plan on storing the salts in a clear container.
Make hand and foot lotion with her favorite scents. Nothing feels more pampering than good hand or foot lotion. Heat 1/4 cup (2 ounces) coconut oil, 1/8 cup (1 ounce) shea butter, and 1/8 cup cocoa butter over low heat until it melts together. Remove the pot from the heat, and then add (0.5 ounces) of your choice of liquid oil – avocado oil, olive oil, or coconut oil – and 5 to 10 drops of your mom's favorite essential oil. Mix everything together, then pour the mixture into your choice of container and let it cool. Keep a lid on the container.^[3]
- Small canning jars are a great container to use for homemade lotions. These lotions are generally too thick to use in jars with pumps.
- You can write the name or scent of the lotion on a little tag, then punch a hole in the corner of the tag and run a piece of ribbon through it. Tie the ribbon around the neck of the container.
Make her a coupon book. Write each coupon on one piece of paper. Then punch a hole in the corner of the paper. Run a piece of ribbon through the hole and tie it tight. You can also staple the pages together. You can also download templates for coupon ideas off the internet.^[4]
- Coupons for free massages, cleaning the dishes or your room, performing extra chores, or letting your mom pick the movie for a movie night are all great coupon ideas.

EditMaking Jewelry

Make her a homemade wire ring. You should use 16 or 18 gauge wire, which can be found at any home improvement store. Cut the wire down to about 3 inches (7.6 cm). Use round-nose pliers to make loops facing opposite directions on the ends of the wire. One loop should curl up, the other should curl down. Wrap the wire around something sturdy and round, like a dowel rod or even a mascara bottle.^[5]
- You can add beads to the wire before you loop it to add a little more flair to the ring.
- Don't worry about making this too small – wire rings are adjustable.
Design her some earrings. You can make your own stud earrings, or use wire to create a dangling design. Purchase stud backs from any craft store and hot glue anything to the front of them, making instant earrings.^[6]
- You can glue pearls to stud earrings for an elegant look. You can also use something like colorful gems or buttons for a more playful set of earrings.
- You can also make wire earrings. Cut a piece of jewelry wire to the length you want the earring to be plus 1 inch (2.5 cm). Bend the wire about 1 inch from the end so it forms the hook that will go in your mom's ear. Loop the bottom of the wire so the beads don't fall off. Then place beads on the wire in the design you like.
Make her a necklace. Necklaces are also really easy to make. You can pick up chains from the craft store, then spend time adding beads or charms your mom will love. You can also customize it by drilling on a hole in small objects, inserting a jump ring, and closing it around the chain.^[7]
- For example, you can use a seashell you found on a family vacation, drill a hole in it, and add it to a chain for a great piece of jewelry and a fun memory!

EditPreparing Food for Her

Serve her breakfast in bed. Start your mom's day off right by serving her breakfast in bed. There are so many different ways you can do this. It can be as simple as pouring her a bowl of cereal and a glass of juice and bringing it to her on a tray. Or you can make a full breakfast – scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon – and serve it on pretty dishes.
Make a special dinner. If your mom really isn't a morning person, consider making her a special dinner instead. You can try a new recipe, or you can get some help making her favorite meal. Just make sure all she does is relax! If you don't have a lot of experience cooking, ask an older family member for help.
- If your mom loves a good steak, you can make her a steak dinner!
- Chicken is pretty versatile, so you can cook it a lot of different ways. Don't be afraid to use her favorite flavors when you're preparing her meal.
- You can also use shrimp as the meal's main ingredient if your mom is a fan of seafood.
Prepare some sweets for her. You can add it at the end of dinner or you can serve them alone for a mom who loves sweets. Consider making her favorite cookie or cupcake, or even homemade chocolate.
- If you can't bake on your own, ask your dad or older siblings for some help.
- Chocolate chip cookies are always a crowd-pleaser!
- Fudge is a great option if your mom is a chocolate fan.
- You can also make tiramisu for something a little more elegant.

EditGetting Crafty

Make ribbon bookmarks. Cut an 18-inch (45 cm) piece of ribbon in a color or pattern your mom will love. Fold over one end to about an inch (2.5 cm), then fold it again. Sew or hot glue the fold closed. Fold the other end once to an inch, then place a hair elastic at the seam of the fold and fold the ribbon over again. Sew or glue the fold close. Glue or sew a button on the end without the elastic, on the front of the ribbon. This will be the opposite side of the ribbon from where you folded the ribbon down.^[8]
- When you're finished, place the elastic around the button to hold the bookmark closed.
- Customize the bookmark with your mom's favorite colors, designs, or even characters!
Make a homemade tin can flower vase. Clean an empty tin can well, using warm water mixed with the dish soap. Let the can completely air dry and then paint it in your mom's favorite color. You can use ribbon or washi tape to decorate the can once it's dry, adding a pretty design on top of the color you chose.^[9]
- To add a little something special, buy a small potted plant to put in the tin vase, or pick some flowers from your own garden. Just make sure you have permission to pick your own flowers!
Make a memory jar. You can use any jar you like – a mason jar, an old vegetable jar – just make sure it's cleaned out really well and smells fresh. Then write one memory of your mom on each slip of paper. When you're finished, fold them in half and put them in the jar.^[10]
- You should use at least twenty slips of paper so the jar looks pretty full.
- You can decorate the jar with stickers, craft paint, or ribbon. Make sure you write "Memory Jar" on the outside.
Put together a "Things I love About You" Book. Hole punch blank index cards in the upper left corner. On each card, write down one thing you love about your mom. When you're finished, slip a binder ring through the hole in the all of the cards.^[11]
- You can ask your whole family to participate, so she knows why you all love her.
- Try using different colored index cards or decorating them before you put the book together. It will make the book look more personal and let your mom know you spent a lot of time on it.
Make a handprint bouquet. This is a really great gift to make if you have siblings who want to help or be involved. And it's something your mom can keep for a long time, unlike real flowers!^[12]
- Using a different color paint for each kid, dip your hands and feet in paint and then make a row of handprints or a row of footprints on a 36-inch (90 cm) wide piece of paper. When everyone is finished making their hand and footprints, let the papers completely dry.
- Cut out each foot or handprint. Arrange the cut-out hand and footprints in rows in a shallow half circle shape on a large piece of construction paper. When you're happy with your design, glue them down.
- Roll the construction paper into a cone and glue or staple it closed.

EditTips

Work from your heart.
Be creative. Moms will prefer homemade gifts rather than bought items because they show your personality.
Make sure that you find out what kinds of things your mother likes so you don't give her something she won't use/doesn't enjoy.
Make sure that you keep it a surprise, so don't be too obvious or else she'll get suspicious.

EditWarnings

If you're using glue guns or sharp knives or tools or boiling hot water, make sure you ask for help.

EditRelated wikiHows

EditSources and Citations

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How to Edit Google Photos on Android

Posted: 09 May 2018 05:00 PM PDT

This wikiHow teaches you how to add a filter to a photo, and make customized light, color, crop, and rotation edits on Google Photos, using Android.

Edit10 Second Summary

1. Open Google Photos.
2. Tap a photo.
3. Tap the three horizontal sliders icon at the bottom.
4. Select a filter.
5. Tap the three sliders icon to adjust Light, Color, and Pop.
6. Tap the square icon at the bottom to crop or rotate.
7. Tap SAVE when you're finished editing.

EditSteps

Open the Google Photos app on your Android. The Photos icon looks like a colored pinwheel with orange, red, blue, and green curls. You can find it on your Apps menu.
Tap the tab at the bottom. This button looks like a icon on a navigation bar at the bottom of your screen. It will open a list of all your photos.
Find and tap the photo you want to edit. This will open the selected photo in full-screen.
Tap the icon at the bottom. This button is located next to the icon in the lower-left corner of your screen. It will open your photo in editing mode.
Select a filter for your photo. Swipe left on the image filters at the bottom to browse all of them, and tap the filter you want to apply to your photo.
Tap the icon to adjust Light, Color, and Pop values. This button is in the lower-left corner of your screen. It will open your image adjustment sliders, and allow you to customize your photo's visual qualities.
Adjust the Light, Color, and Pop sliders to customize the look of your photo.
- The Light slider will let you make your photo brighter or dimmer. You can tap the icon next to it if you want to customize individual light components, such as contrast, highlights, shadows, and vignette.
- The Color slider will help you pop out or dim down the colors in your photo. You can also tap the icon and customize individual color qualities, such as saturation, warmth, tint, and skin tone.
- The Pop slider will allow you to adjust the texture and structure of your image.
Tap the icon to crop or rotate your photo. This will open your image in the crop tool.
Tap and move one of the corners around the edge of your photo. This will allow you to select the frame you want to crop.
- You can also tap the square icon on the bottom-left, and select a preset for your crop ratio.
- Tap the icon on the bottom-right to rotate your photo 90-degrees counter-clockwise.
Tap and move the angle slider at the bottom. This will allow you to adjust and change the camera angle in your photo.
Pinch in and out with two fingers to zoom in and out. You can zoom in and out on your photo in the crop tool, and adjust which parts of the image are included inside the frame.
Tap . This button is at the bottom of your screen. It will save all your crop and rotate adjustments.
- If you want to undo all your crop and rotate adjustments, tap the RESET button.
Tap the button. This will save all your edits to your photo.

How to Apply Mulch

Posted: 09 May 2018 09:00 AM PDT

Using organic mulch in your yard or garden beds can conserve water, shield plant roots, improve the health of the soil, preserve soil temperature, and prevent weed growth. Inorganic or decorative mulch is less effective at preventing weed growth and shielding plant roots, but can add color and texture to your garden bed or property. First, decide which mulch you want to use on your property, then follow the proper procedures to apply the mulch so that works as intended.

EditSteps

EditChoosing the Right Mulch

Select an organic mulch to add nutrients to your lawn. Organic mulches include wood chips, straw, grass clippings, chopped leaves, and compost. When the mulch breaks down, it naturally adds nutrients to the underlying soil. Organic mulch will also help with water retention, weed prevention, and will protect plant roots. Organic mulches won't, however, protect from pests.^[1]
- You can purchase organic mulch online or at a gardening store.
- Organic mulches will have to be replaced or augmented every year.
Choose inorganic mulch for a decorative look. Inorganic mulches include gravel, stones, tumbled glass, and river rock. Inorganic mulch can prevent weed germination, help retain moisture, and regulate root temperature, but are often less effective than organic mulches. Unlike organic mulches, however, inorganic mulches come in a wide variety of colors and styles that you can use to decorate your outdoor space. Choose a stone or gravel that matches the aesthetic of your landscaping.^[2]
- For example, you can get an inorganic mulch that matches the color of your house.
- If you are going to a sleek, modern style, you may want to get stones that are all the same size and shape.
- Using stone or gravel in high temperatures could overheat and hurt your plants.^[3]
Purchase enough mulch to cover the area. You'll want to cover your flower bed or lawn with - of mulch during the summer. To determine how much mulch you need to purchase for your space, you can use an online calculator like the one found at https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/mulch/mulch/.^[4]
- Mulch is typically sold by the so-called "yard" which covers of garden deep.
- If you are using mulch for weed control, apply the mulch so it's - thick.
- If you are mulching vegetable beds during the winter you should lay down a - layer.
- Applying too much mulch will suffocate plant roots and kill a plant.

EditDeciding When to Mulch

Apply organic mulch in the early summer for the best results. You can still mulch throughout other parts of the year, but the end of spring and beginning of summer are often the best time to lay down mulch. During this time, the soil has warmed up and plants are typically out of dormancy.^[5]
- If you are laying down mulch to prevent weeds or improve the health of your lawn or flower bed, it's best to do it sooner rather than wait for the optimal time.
Apply winter mulch in the late fall. A common misconception is that winter mulch can prevent the soil from freezing in cold temperatures. This is untrue, but applying mulch can make the freezing process more gradual and reduce excessive freeze-thaw cycles, which is better for your plants. When laying down mulch for winter protection, lay down - of mulch to the area.^[6]
- You can use both organic and inorganic mulch for winter mulching.
Add organic mulch to newly planted trees or shrubs. Organic mulch like compost or manure are the best types of mulch to use for newly planted shrubs, trees, and flowers because they add essential nutrients to the soil and protect the new plants from weeds. Inorganic mulches won't have an effect on newly planted trees or shrubs.^[7]
- Wood-based organic mulch may compete for nitrogen with your new plants, so if you plan on using them, till nitrogen amendments into the soil beforehand.

EditLaying Down Mulch

Pull weeds out of the lawn. Use a garden spade to dig out any existing weeds in the area. Make sure to get deep enough to dig out the weeds roots or it may grow back. This step is important so that weeds don't grow under the mulch.^[8]
- If you have time, you can use a chemical weed killer to remove weeds as an alternative.
- A selective chemical weed killer will only harm broad leaf weeds or grasses. A nonselective chemical weed killer will harm any plant it comes into contact with.
- Don any safety gear recommended by your weed killer and read the manufacturer's directions regarding application.
Create an edge for the mulch. Use a shovel or manual edger and carefully dig around the area that you want to mulch. This should create a smooth continuous line around the flower bed or tree that will help keep the mulch off the grass.^[9]
- Don't toss the soil into your flowerbed or you may promote grass growth in your mulch.
- You can also create an edge by lining up stone around the area that you want to mulch.
Remove existing mulch or dress the top with a similar mulch. Use a shovel to dig away any existing mulch on the top surface of your lawn or flower bed. Transfer the old mulch into a wheelbarrow and discard it. You'll know you've removed enough mulch when you see dark brown soil with roots in it.^[10]
- You can place the old mulch into a compost pile and let it break down.
- If you are adding a similar mulch, you can simply top dress the existing mulch after smoothing it out with a rake.
Shovel small piles of mulch onto your flower bed or lawn. First, pour the mulch into a wheelbarrow to make it easier to transport. Then, shovel small piles of mulch in the areas that you want to add it to. Once you have 3-4 small piles, move onto the next step.^[11]
- Just dumping all of the mulch in one area may leave you with too much mulch, which will suffocate your plants' roots.
Rake the mulch over the area in an even layer. Rake down the small piles that you shoveled into the area. If you're mulching during the spring or summer, create a - layer over the entirety of the area. If you are using a larger, inorganic mulch, you can spread it out with your hands rather than a rake. As you need more, pour more mulch in the area with your shovel.^[12]
- If you are mulching during the winter or for weed prevention, you can create a layer that is thick.
- Leave an of clearance between the trunk of any trees or plants and the mulch.
Water organic mulch. Watering organic mulch with a garden hose or buckets of water will prevent it from blowing away and give it moisture. Be careful not to over water the mulch or it the water may pool on the top of it, which could be detrimental to your plants.^[13]
Replace organic mulch every year. Organic mulch will break down over time and lose most of its benefits over time. For this reason, you should remove the old mulch and add new mulch around the same time each year.^[14]
- Wood chips often last longer than other organic mulches but will turn gray over time.
Replace inorganic mulch when it no longer looks fresh. Inorganic mulch lasts much longer than organic mulch and doesn't need to be replaced often. If your gravel or stones look dirty, you could hose them down with water to clean them instead of replacing it.^[15]