| How to Make a Driftwood Wreath Posted: 22 Nov 2020 12:00 AM PST Driftwood is any type of wood that's washed ashore from a body of water, and you can use it to make crafts that have a natural feel. If you want to create a simple but stunning decoration for your home, you can easily build wreaths by gluing pieces of driftwood together. For a classic circular wreath, start with a wreath ring as a base to use as a guide. If you want a more freeform shape, you can build the wreath without a base using the driftwood and glue. When you're finished, decorate it however you want to match your room's style! [Edit]Using a Wreath Ring Base - Hot-glue the end of a burlap roll to a wreath ring. Choose a wreath ring that's the same size as what you want for your final product. Buy a roll of burlap that's wide and set the end against one of the wires on the front of the wreath wring. Apply a line of hot glue to the end of the burlap and press it against the wire for 30 seconds so it sets.[1]
- You can buy wreath rings and burlap online or from your local crafts store.
- Wire wreath rings come in many sizes, so you can make a small or large driftwood wreath.
- Wrap the burlap around the wire wreath ring to make it look more natural. Pull the burlap tight so it doesn't wrinkle and put the roll through the middle of the ring. Bring the burlap around the outside of the ring so it overlaps the first strip by . Continue wrapping the burlap around the ring to ensure there aren't any visible wires or gaps.[2]
- Put a line of glue every 3–4 times you go through the center of the ring to ensure the burlap doesn't come loose.
- Leave a gap between the ends of the burlap. Stop wrapping the burlap around the ring as soon as there's only of empty space left. Cut the burlap off of the roll with a pair of scissors and use hot glue to secure the loose edge down.[3]
- The gap allows you to hang your wreath without attaching a wire or hook to it later on.
- You will be able to cover the gap from the front with driftwood to conceal it. It will only be visible from the back.
- Sort your pieces of driftwood by their sizes. Collect your own driftwood from beaches, rivers, or shorelines, or buy bags of driftwood wholesale from a craft store for your wreath. Organize the pieces on your work surface so pieces that are and longer are on one side and anything shorter is on the other side. That way you can easily work from the largest to smallest pieces when you make your wreath.[4]
- You can buy about 30–50 pieces of driftwood for around $10 USD.
- Arrange the largest pieces on the wreath ring so they don't hang off the edge. Take your pieces that are larger than and arrange them on top of the ring. Position the pieces so their lengths follow the curves of the ring to help them look cleaner. Try to fit the pieces so they don't overhang over the sides of the ring, or else you could make it lose its circular shape.[5]
- It's okay if you need to overlap some of the driftwood pieces on your first layer.
- Try to cover as much of the burlap as you can with the large pieces so you don't need to fill in as many gaps.
- Secure the driftwood to the burlap with hot glue. Use a high-heat glue in your glue gun so it's less likely to melt later on. Put dots of glue every along the length of a driftwood piece and press it down onto the burlap. Hold the glue for 15–30 seconds so it has time to dry before gluing down the next piece. Continue gluing the rest of the driftwood pieces down against the burlap.[6]
- If the driftwood comes loose while you're working, reapply more glue and press it back into place.
- Wipe the end of the glue gun on the driftwood after you let go of the trigger to help avoid stringy pieces of glue.
- Fill in the gaps with small pieces of driftwood. Begin arranging the smaller pieces of driftwood on top of the larger pieces to give the wreath more depth. Try to position the pieces so they cover the most burlap before you glue them down with hot glue. Continue working around the entire wreath filling in the largest gaps first before working on the smallest ones.[7]
- You can live some of the burlap visible if you want your wreath to have a more rustic and DIY look.
[Edit]Creating a Wreath without a Base - Arrange the longest pieces of driftwood in the shape you want for the wreath. Collect driftwood on your own from bodies of water, shorelines, or beaches if you want to save money. Otherwise, you can buy driftwood from your local craft store or online. Place the longest pieces you have on your work surface to form a rough, boxy outline of the size and shape for your wreath. Overlap the ends of the driftwood pieces so you know where to attach them.[8]
- For example, if you want to make a heart-shaped driftwood wreath, then you may make the outline of the heart with 6–8 large pieces.
- When you're finished, your wreath will be slightly wider than the outline you've made.
- Hot glue the driftwood pieces together where they overlap. Warm up a high-heat hot glue in the gun until it applies smoothly. Place a large dot on the end of the driftwood piece and press it against another piece to secure them together. Hold the pieces together for about 30 seconds so the glue has time to set before gluing the next piece.[9]
- Only work on 1 piece of driftwood at a time since hot glue sets within 30 seconds.
- You can also use super glue if you want.
- Attach more pieces of driftwood so they touch 2 pieces on the first layer. Take the next largest piece of driftwood and lay it on top of the layer you just glued together. Position the new piece so the ends cross through the centers of 2 pieces that are glued together. Glue the new driftwood piece with dots of hot glue. Continue working your way around the wreath to build up the shape.[10]
- Avoid using driftwood pieces that are shorter than for now since they won't cover as much area.
- Glue the smallest pieces of driftwood so the wreath has a full, rounded shape. Work from the biggest pieces of driftwood to the smallest to help give the wreath more definition. Fit the driftwood into the gaps between other pieces and glue them down so they're secure. Keep adding driftwood until the wreath rounds out on top and when you're happy with how full it looks.[11]
- It's okay to leave some gaps where you can see through the wreath.
- Wrap a wire around the top of the wreath so you can hang it. Cut off a piece of 18-gauge wire that's large enough to wrap around the top of the wreath with of excess. Put the wire carefully around the top of the wreath so you don't break off any driftwood. Twist the ends of the wires together and form them into a small hook or loop so you're able to hang it.[12]
- You don't need to add a wire if you don't want to hang the wreath.
[Edit]Decorating the Wreath - Hot-glue seashells around the wreath if you want to make it beach-themed. Look for various sizes of shells or marine-themed decorations, such as starfish or sand dollars, in home decor shops or craft stores. Set the shells and decor on the wreath and position them on the driftwood. Try multiple layouts to see which one you like the best before using a hot glue gun to secure them to the wood.[13]
- You can hang or tie netting around the wreath to make it seem like it got tangled in the driftwood.
- Add live flowers or artificial succulents to the wreath to give it a natural look. Wrap the stems of live flowers in twine to bundle them into a bouquet. Look for gaps between the driftwood where you can tuck the ends of the stems so you don't need to glue them down. As the flowers dry out or wither, you can either leave them or replace them with fresh blooms. You can also buy fake succulent plants and glue them around the driftwood to add some greenery to your wreath.[14]
- You can use artificial flowers as well if you want them to stay bright and colorful.
- Avoid keeping real succulents on the wreath since they require water and will rot otherwise.
- Wrap rope or fabric around the wreath to create a rustic feel. Look for thick pieces of rope or twine that contrast the color of your driftwood to add more visual interest. Coil the rope around the wreath so it goes through the hole in the middle, and wrap it as many times as you want. You can also use colored strips of fabric to add more decoration to the wreath.
- This is a great option if you want to change the decorations frequently since you don't have to glue anything down.
- Tie the fabric or rope into bows for added decorative features.
- Tie garlands and ribbons around the ring for a driftwood Christmas wreath. Look for real or artificial garlands to help contrast the colors of your driftwood and wrap them around the wreath. Run green and red ribbons alongside the garlands to add more festive colors to your wreath. Tie the ribbons into large bows on the front of your wreath so it looks like a present.[15]
- You may be able to hang ornaments from the driftwood pieces, but they could fall off.
- Run string lights around the wreath if you want it lit up.
- Attach a mirror behind the wreath to create a decorative driftwood frame. Choose a circular mirror that's the same diameter as the inner circle of the wreath. Turn the wreath upside-down and position the mirror over the hole so the reflective surface is face-down. Use super glue or hot glue around the outer rim of the mirror and press it gently onto the driftwood. Allow the glue to set for 1–2 minutes before flipping the wreath over and hanging it.[16]
- Opt for mirrors without a frame so it's easier to glue to the driftwood.
- You can also put the wreath around candles or use it as table decoration if you don't want to hang it.
[Edit]Warnings - Clean driftwood with a scrub brush and a solution of water and bleach if you found it in the wild so you don't spread any bacteria. This also helps to preserve the driftwood for a long time.
- Avoid using low-heat hot glue since it could melt if it gets too warm and cause your wreath to fall apart.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Using a Wreath Ring Base - Wire wreath ring
- Burlap strips
- Hot glue gun
- Hot glue
- Driftwood pieces
[Edit]Creating a Wreath without a Base - Driftwood pieces
- Hot glue gun
- Hot glue
- 18-gauge wire
[Edit]Decorating the Wreath - Seashells
- Netting
- Flowers
- Artificial succulents
- Twine
- Rope
- Fabric pieces
- Ornaments
- Ribbons
- Circular mirror
[Edit]References |
| How to Grow Rosemary Indoors Posted: 21 Nov 2020 04:00 PM PST Rosemary is a popular herb to grow indoors because it's useful in cooking, decorative, and smells divine! Luckily, this herb is also easy to grow and pretty low-maintenance. Professionals recommend growing rosemary from a cutting rather than planting seeds because it grows much easier and faster that way.[1] However, you can always plant seeds if you don't have another rosemary plant handy. Then, all you need is a pot with soil and a sunny spot to grow your rosemary! [Edit]Propagating from Plant Cuttings - Clip a branch from a healthy rosemary plant. Rosemary grows best if you take a clipping from a healthy plant. Find a healthy plant and clip a branch at least long from the stem.[2]
- While any clipping will work, it's best to take the clipping in the spring. This is when rosemary grows, so the plant will be at its healthiest.[3]
- Trim the leaves off the bottom of the stem. The leaves on the bottom of the stem will get in the way when the plant is trying to grow. Use scissors and clip away the leaves on the bottom of the stem, starting from where you cut the branch off the main plant.[4]
- Don't tear off the leaves. This can damage the plant. Only clip them with a sharp pair of gardening scissors.
- Dip the end of the branch in hormone powder to help it grow. Hormone powder or rooting hormone is like a plant food to help the rosemary get started. Pour a bit of rooting powder onto a plate, then rub the cut tip of the branch in it. Just cover the cut section in powder.[5]
- This is an optional step, and isn't always necessary, but it can help the plant grow faster while it's propagating.
- Insert the rosemary into a jar of water. This is a trick to help the plant propagate faster. Pour of water into a clear jar and dip the clipped end of the rosemary into it.[6]
- The clipping will still probably propagate even if you plant it right in soil without soaking it first. However, it will definitely grow better if the root system is already established before you plant it.
- Leave the branch in a sunny spot until roots sprout. Move the jar of water into a sunny spot, like your windowsill. Leave the jar there for a few days until roots start coming out of the bottom. This helps the rosemary grow better in the soil.[7]
- If it takes more than a few days for the roots to sprout, then change the water.
- The roots don't have to be long. Just is fine to get the plant started.
- Fill a pot with loose soil with good drainage. Rosemary needs good drainage, so use a pot that's at least deep with drain holes and loose soil that won't trap water. Fill it with potting soil mixed with sand, vermiculite or perlite for better drainage.[8]
- Make sure the pot you use has drainage holes at the bottom. Rosemary can die if it gets too much water.
- You could use a larger pot, but this is the minimum amount of space the rosemary needs to grow.[9]
- Rosemary is pretty resilient, but prefers soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.[10]
- Plant the rosemary cutting deep in the soil. Once the branch sprouts some roots, then it's ready for the soil. Poke a small hole about deep into the soil and push in the rooted end of the rosemary.[11] Pack the soil a bit so the branch stands up straight.
- A pot this size can handle up to 2 rosemary cuttings if you want to grow more.
- Water the plant a bit right after planting it. Just get the soil moist.
[Edit]Setting up the Right Environment - Place the pot near a window so it gets 6 hours of indirect sunlight daily. Rosemary likes a lot of sunlight, so put the plant near a window where it'll get at least 6 hours of sun per day. Just don't leave it in direct sunlight. Keep it in this spot through the whole growing process.[12]
- You might have to move the plant around if none of your windows get that much sun or the seasons change.
- Install HPS or fluorescent growth lamps if you don't have a sunny spot. You can still grow rosemary inside if your home doesn't get any sunlight. High-pressure sodium (HPS) or fluorescent lamps can mimic the sun and give your plant all the light it needs. Set one of these up and let it run for 11 hours a day so your plant grows properly.[13]
- You can also use a fluorescent light if your plant is near sunlight, but doesn't seem to be growing well. The light can make up for any light deficiencies.
- Make sure there is good air circulation to prevent mold growth. Rosemary is pretty resistant to diseases and pests, but mold can grow if the plants get too damp. Leave the plant in a spot with good air circulation to prevent moisture buildup and stop mold and mildew from growing.[14]
- If there is poor air circulation in your home or you're seeing some mildew build up, try pointing a fan at the plant to help keep it dry.[15]
- Keep the temperature around . Rosemary prefers warmer climates, so don't let it get too cold in your home. Keep the temperature near if possible, but don't let it fall below . [16]
- When the plant is first starting to sprout, warmer temperature might help it grow better. Try keeping the temperature around instead to see if this helps.[17]
[Edit]Caring for the Plant - Wet the plant's soil every 1-2 weeks. Rosemary doesn't need a lot of water, and too much water can cause root rot. Give the plant some water every 1-2 weeks to avoid drowning it. Let the plant and topsoil dry out before adding more water.[18]
- However, don't let the soil dry out completely. Only the topsoil should be dry.[19]
- One recommended method for watering is placing the pot in a larger container and filling the container with water. Let the plant absorb water through the pot's drainage holes for 1 hour, then take it out to avoid overwatering.[20]
- Fertilize the plant at the beginning of the spring. Rosemary usually doesn't need any fertilizer, but it could help if the plant isn't growing well. Apply fertilizer once in the spring to give the plant a boost during the growing season. If you took the plant cutting in the spring, then you can fertilize it right away.[21] Use a water-soluble liquid fertilizer and water the plant right after.[22]
- Only put the fertilizer on the topsoil around the base of the plant. Don't get any on the leaves or they could burn.
- Don't overdo it with the fertilizer. Rosemary actually does better in poor soil than well-fertilized soil.
- Treat the plant with soap-based insecticide if bugs are a problem. Rosemary is pretty resistant to bugs, especially if you keep it inside. However, there's always a chance that bugs will get to it. If you see any mites or scaly bugs crawling on the plant, then you can apply a soap-based insecticide to get rid of them.[23] Specific instructions vary for different products, but generally you can apply insecticide once a week.
- Always check the instructions on any insecticide you use so you use it correctly.
- Fertilizers high in nitrogen tend to make rosemary more vulnerable to bugs, so you might want to use a low-nitrogen fertilizer.
- Prune any browning leaves or branches. It's always possible for some leaves to dry out or get an infection. As soon as you see any brown spots, snip them off with a sharp pair of gardening scissors to prevent any problems from spreading.[24]
- Look especially for brown spots near the plant stem. These can overwhelm the plant quickly.
- Never pull or tear any leaves off. This could hurt the plant.
- Transplant the rosemary if it outgrows its original pot. You could keep the plant in its original pot if you want to, but if it overgrows that pot, then it's time to transplant. Get a larger pot and fill it with the same type of loose soil that you used in the first pot. Then carefully dig the rosemary out, including its roots, and re-plant it in the new pot.[25]
- Remember to water the plant right after you transplant it.
- If you want to move your rosemary outside, it's best to leave it in a pot. Rosemary that grew inside doesn't transplant very well outside.
- Harvest the plant in about a year if you want to use it for cooking. Rosemary can add a nice, spicy flavor to your meals, so you might want to use some when you cook. However, give the plant enough time to grow first. After about a year, you can take off branches without damaging the plant. Simply snip a few branches off near the stem of the plant and use them however you want.[26]
- This will take longer if you grew the plant from a seed. It'll probably be at least 15 months before you can use the plant.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Rosemary plant or seeds
- Shears or scissors
- Rooting powder
- Potting Soil
- Spray bottle
- Clay pot
- Fluorescent grow light (optional)
- Rosemary that was grown indoors doesn't transplant well outdoors. If you want to move the plant outside, keep it in a pot instead of planting it in the ground. That way, you can move it back inside if it isn't thriving.[27]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Display Handbags at Home Posted: 21 Nov 2020 08:00 AM PST If you love collecting handbags, you've probably amassed quite a collection, so why not show them off? Handbags always look great when they're displayed in the store, but it can be difficult to showcase your own handbags once you get home. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can organize and arrange your clutches, purses, and satchels to show off their beauty inside and outside of the closet. [Edit]In Your Closet - Group your purses on door hooks. Throw a few door hooks over the top of your door, then hang up your handbags by the handles. When you open up your closet, your purses will be there to greet you every time! Plus, you can easily color match them with any outfit.[1]
- You can find plain, white door hooks at most home goods stores, or you can look for decorative ones online.
- Put up a few wire baskets on your closet door for a modern look. Wire baskets are great for holding small purses and clutches. Grab a few of these baskets and attach them to the inside of your closet door with 2 screws, then arrange your purses inside of them. Tuck the handles in so they don't fall everywhere when you open the door.[2]
- If you don't have enough room on the back of your closet door, try affixing the shelves to a wall instead.
- Display your handbags on your shelves along with your shoes. If you have a big enough closet space where you can put your shoes on shelves, your handbags will probably look great there, too. Stuff your larger handbags with bubble wrap or newspaper to keep them standing upright, then arrange them in between your nicest heels.[3]
- This is a great technique to try if you have shelving units in your closet.
- Now your closet will look picturesque, just like a boutique!
- Separate your handbags with magazine organizers. Magazine organizers are great places to keep small clutches while still being able to see them. Set a few of these up on a shelf in your closet, then arrange your small handbags inside. You'll still be able to see the color and shape, so you can easily grab whichever purse you'd like.[4]
- You can find organizers like this at most craft supply or home goods stores.
- If you don't want to go for clear ones, pick colorful ones that match the rest of your bedroom décor.
- Use shower curtain rings to hang your handbags easily. If you have closet space and you want to keep your handbags up off the ground, attach a few shower curtain rings to the wooden rod in your closet, then hang your handbags by the handle. You can easily slide them back and forth to look through all your bags and pick the one you want to wear.[5]
- If any of your handbags have delicate straps, this might not be a great idea. Hanging your handbags can put a lot of tension on the strap connections, leading to wear and tear over time.
- Arrange smaller handbags in hanging organizers. Grab a small cloth organizer (kind of like a shoe organizer but for handbags) and throw it over the top of your closet door. Set your handbags inside of it for easy access and a nice arrangement.[6]
- You can find handbag organizers at most home goods stores.
- These organizers are usually only big enough for small to medium-sized handbags, so your larger ones might need somewhere else to go.
- Mount a pegboard if you have space. Attach a wooden pegboard to the back of your closet (if you don't like the brown, you can paint it white) with 4 screws, 1 in each corner. Use pegboard hooks to hang your handbags by the straps and keep them up and out of the way.[7]
- You can also use your pegboard to hang little notes to yourself, add signs, or organize necklaces.
[Edit]Outside the Closet - Keep your handbags out of direct sunlight. As you arrange your handbags, make sure you keep them away from windows or natural light. UV rays can fade the surface of handbags, so it's best to keep them in a room with shades.[8]
- If you can't avoid putting your handbags in natural light, just be sure to rotate which side faces out every few weeks. That way, the entire bag will get the same amount of exposure to light.
- This is especially important for expensive handbags that you don't want to ruin.
- Attach a few plastic hooks to the wall to hang your handbags. You can easily hang your handbags up on the wall by using plastic hooks that attach to your wall with Velcro strips. Hang up a few of these right outside your closet so you can easily pick out which handbag matches your outfit each morning.[9]
- If you can't find adhesive hooks, you can always hang a few up with nails.
- Use a mounted coat rack to hang multiple handbags at once. Coat racks don't have to be for coats! Use a coat rack that mounts to the wall to hang your long-handled handbags and keep them by the door for easy reach.[10]
- You can also use this coat rack to hang necklaces, bracelets, and scarves.
- Sort your handbags in cubbies to organize and flaunt them. When you walk into most luxury handbag stores, the first thing you notice is the wall of purses and clutches. You can replicate this by buying a wooden cubby shelf and putting it up in your room. Then, arrange your handbags so they each have their own cubby and they're standing upright.[11]
- Depending on how many handbags you have, you can buy a small cubby (one that reaches the middle of your wall) or a large one (one that spans the entire width of the wall).
- You can also use this cubby to display your heels, too.
- Dedicate an entire bookshelf just to handbags. Similar to the cubby, a bookshelf can draw attention to your handbags, too. Get one large enough to hold all of your handbags, then arrange them side by side, kind of like books. You'll be surprised at just how many bags you can fit on one shelf![12]
- If you don't want to buy a brand new bookshelf, look for one at a thrift store to save some money.
- You could sort your bags by size, color, or material for a fun, eye-catching display.
- Drape your smaller handbags on a full-length mirror. Lean your full-length mirror against the wall and wrap the handles of your handbags around the top 2 corners. Make sure the bodies of the bags aren't blocking the view, though![13]
- If your mirror is mounted to the wall, this trick won't work.
- Show off clutches using a wine rack. Wine rack, purse rack—it's all the same. Mount a small wine rack to your walls and replace the bottles with small purses and clutches. You can pick them out every day and pretend like you're sipping on a beautifully aged pinot noir.[14]
- If you have room in your kitchen, this can be a cute way to incorporate your handbags as part of the décor.
- Stuff your handbags with bubble wrap or newspapers so they keep their shape.
- Try to store your bags upright to avoid creasing and cracking.
[Edit]References |
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