| How to Make Popcorn in a Pan Posted: 06 May 2022 09:00 AM PDT Making popcorn at home with a large saucepan is easy and cheap, will save you a bundle on a popcorn maker or microwave popcorn, and is also a lot of fun! [Edit]Ingredients - A pack of maize/corn kernels
- Oil or butter
- Buy a bag of dry maize kernels. You can get this from most supermarkets nowadays, and it's easy to find at ethnic stores too. The bigger bag you buy, the more money you'll save in the long term.
- Select your biggest saucepan with a lid (a see - through one makes all the difference!), put it on the stove and drizzle a small amount of oil on the bottom. If you have an oil spray pump, spray the sides too.[1]
- Work out how many kernels you'll need. Remember how big your average piece of popcorn is and use that to work out how many will comfortably fit in your pan.
- Add your kernels to the pan (about 2 small handfuls is usually about right) and turn the stove to medium heat.
- Put the lid on quickly.[2]
- You will soon begin to hear the kernels popping and hitting the sides and lid of the pan. DO NOT TAKE OFF THE LID WHILST THE HEAT IS ON AND POPCORN IS POPPING. When the noise dies down to only 1 or 2 pops every few seconds, turn the heat off and remove the pan from the stove.[3]
- Carefully take a peek under the lid. Your popcorn should be good and done, so take off the lid. You will smell the buttery aroma.
- If you want sweet popcorn, take sugar or Splenda and sprinkle it over the popcorn (still in the pan). Put the lid back on and give it a gentle shake. The oil should allow the sugar to stick well to the kernels.[4]
- If you prefer cheddar flavoring, do the same thing as you did with the sugar!
- Serve.
- Finished.
- If a lot of the corn didn't pop, chances are you didn't put enough oil in, used too low a heat, or put too much corn in.
- If you want butter, melt the butter in the pan first instead of using oil.
- Popping in stainless steel cookware can be tricky to get the heating right without burning, so its best to test a small sample in the pan first, or use a heat diffuser.
- If you want salty popcorn, do the same as you would for sweet or cheddar popcorn, but use salt instead.
[Edit]Warnings - If you take the lid off whilst the pan is on the hob, hot, oil - covered popcorn will fly all over the place.
- Hot oil and hot pans and cooker hobs are hot. Be especially careful if you're making the popcorn for children.
- Don't try to make toffee popcorn at home. Chances are you will not succeed in anything but setting the kitchen on fire.
- Don't make a second batch in the pan if you put sugar or salt in there.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Grow African Violets Posted: 06 May 2022 01:00 AM PDT African violets are a group of flowering perennial plants that are native to Tanzania, Kenya, and other areas of East Africa. Growing these violets at home is quite easy, but they need the right medium, nutrients, and environment to thrive. But as long as they get everything they require, African violets will bloom their beautiful purple flowers all year long, bringing a bit of summer to your home even in colder months. [Edit]Propagating African Violets - Grow a new plant in water from a leaf. The most common way to grow new African violets is to propagate them from the leaves of existing plants. Once you do this, you can sprout the cutting in water. To propagate a new African violet in water, you'll need a sterilized cutting tool, a thin-necked bottle (such as a sterilized beer bottle), and a plastic bag or wrap.
- Select a large and healthy leaf from a healthy African violet.
- Include 2 inches (5 cm) of stem and cut the leaf from the plant on a 45-degree angle. The cut side of the angle should be on the top of the leaf.
- Fill the bottle with lukewarm water.
- Place the stem of the leaf into the neck of the bottle, so that the stem is in water and the leaf is resting above the rim.
- Cover the leaf and top of the bottle loosely with plastic to help keep in the humidity.
- Place the leaf somewhere warm that gets lots of filtered light.
- Add more water as necessary to keep the stem submerged.
- Over the next several weeks, the cutting will begin to sprout baby African violets.
- Plant a leaf right in the soil. Alternatively, you can also plant that same cutting directly into soil rather than sprouting it in water. To do this you'll need your healthy leaf and 2 inches (5 cm) of stem cut from a healthy violet, a small pot of clear plastic, potting soil, and a plastic cover or wrap.[1]
- Fill the pot with loose potting soil.
- Press the cut stem a half-inch (1.3 cm) into the soil.
- Cover the top of the pot with a clear plastic cover or wrap.
- Place the cutting somewhere warm where it will get lots of filtered sun.
- You probably won't need to water as long as the plastic keeps in the moisture.
- Grow them from seeds. One way to grow African violets is to start them from seed, though this is less common than propagating the plants from cuttings. To grow African violets from seeds, you'll need seed starters, a plastic cover or wrap, a spray bottle, growing lights, and a medium suitable for African violets, such as milled coconut and perlite or pasteurized peat moss.
- Water the medium and allow it to dry out so it's moist.
- Fill the seed starters with medium.
- Spray the top of the medium with water.
- Sprinkle a few seeds into the top of each starter cell.
- Cover the top of the cells with plastic.
- Place the seed starters 10 inches (25 cm) below the grow lights.
- Provide the seeds with 12 to 14 hours of light per day.
- If the environment stays humid thanks to the plastic wrap, you won't need to water.
[Edit]Transplanting Young African Violets - Determine the right time to transplant. Seedlings should reach a certain size before they're transplanted, but plants sprouted from cuttings will be ready to transplant after a certain amount of time.
- For seedlings, wait until the seedlings have leaves that reach 2 inches (5 cm) in width.
- For cuttings, the babies should be ready in about eight to 10 weeks, once new leaves are roughly the size of a dime.
- Choose the right soil. African violets grow best in a slightly acidic medium that has a pH between 6.4 and 6.9. Because the medium must be loose, well-draining, and allow for free root development, African violets are not often grown in soil.
- Most garden and home stores will sell a medium specifically designed for African violets.
- You can also make your own African violet mix by combining equal parts perlite, vermiculite, and peat moss.[2]
- Select the right pot. Because African violets are grown indoors, choosing the right pot is like choosing the right home for your plants. These plants grow best in pots that are sized for their root systems. Don't put your plant in a pot that's too large, otherwise it may not bloom.[3]
- A good rule of thumb is to put your violet in a pot that's one-third the size of the plant itself, because this will match the size of the root system.
- For the current size of your seedlings or babies, a 2-inch (5-cm) pot will probably be sufficient.
- You can use either plastic or terracotta pots for your violets. Plastic pots require less watering, but terracotta pots provide more air flow.
- Separate plants grown from cuttings. When you propagate violets by cuttings, you could have as many as 15 babies grow from a single parent. These must be separated before they're planted. Gently turn the cutting, along with all the soil, out onto a newspaper or table. Carefully remove the soil with your fingers to reveal the cut stem and all the babies.
- To distinguish one baby from another, look for small clusters of leaves that are attached to the parent.
- When you've located all the babies, carefully trim each one from the parent using a sterilized cutting tool.
- Transplant the violets. Fill your small pots with your African violet medium. Leave the medium loose, and don't pack it down. With the tip of your pinky finger or a pencil, make a half-inch (1.3 cm) indentation in the soil at the center of each pot.
- Gently place each seedling or baby plant into the hole in the soil. Make sure all the leaves and stems are above the soil.
- Loosely cover the roots with extra medium.
- Water the plants and store them somewhere warm and humid. Add some water to each pot so that the medium is moist. Place the pots with the new plants in a location that's warm, gets lots of indirect sun, and that's humid.
- If you don't have a humid location available, set up a humidifier where the plants are growing.
[Edit]Caring for African Violets - Water the plants when the soil feels dry. African violets thrive best when their soil is somewhere between dry and moist, so give them water when the soil starts feeling dry to the touch. Over or underwatering the violets could prevent the plant from blooming.
- Use room temperature water rather than cold water, otherwise you could chill the roots. If this happens, the leaves or flowers may start to curl.
- Don't get water on the leaves or flowers, as this can lead to rings or spots forming on the plant.[4] If you get water on the leaves or flowers, gently dry the area with an absorbent towel.
- Provide plenty of bright but indirect light. African violets need lots of light, and they won't flower if they don't get enough sun. However, they will scorch easily in direct sunlight, so their placement in the house is very important.
- In winter, the plants will do best near a window that faces south or west in the Northern Hemisphere, or north or east in the Southern Hemisphere.[5]
- In summer, the plants will be better near a window that faces north or east in the Northern Hemisphere, or south or west in the Southern Hemisphere.
- To provide bright and indirect sunlight, provide shade by placing the plants behind lightweight curtains.
- Feed them fertilizer. These plants need lots of nutrients to continue producing flowers year-round, and the best way to ensure they get what they need is to provide them with fertilizer.
- There are specific fertilizers available for African violets, but the important thing is to provide them with balanced nutrients.
- A good fertilizer would be a 20-20-20, which means it has equal quantities of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.[6]
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions for feeding the violets.
- Monitor the temperature. The best temperature range for African violets is between 65 and 75 F (18 and 24 C). Keep them in an area where you can maintain this temperature, and keep them away from drafts and other things that could cause sudden temperature fluctuations.[7]
- Anything below 50 F (10 C) will almost certainly kill the plant.
- Maintain the humidity. The ideal humidity level for African violets is between 40 and 60 percent. You can monitor this with a hygrometer. To add more humidity to the air, consider installing a portable humidifier in the room where the violets are kept.
- Violets that don't get enough humidity will grow slowly, and while they will produce flower buds, they likely won't bloom.[8]
- Repot the plants every year. Because African violets thrive in small pots, it's important to repot them regularly to keep up with their growth. When you repot, make sure you use new soil, and a pot that's one size larger than the pot they're currently in.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Clothing Stain Remover with Peroxide Posted: 05 May 2022 05:00 PM PDT You had a red wine disaster all over your new white pants, but have realized your fabric stain remover is M.I.A. Frantically you could soak your garment in cold water and a little club soda to lift the stain, but you still see pinkish/red wine splattered all over your favorite pants. Don't panic yet, if you have a little hydrogen peroxide on hand and washing soda you can lift that stain like a pro. [Edit]Ingredients - hydrogen peroxide - enough to cover the stain
- Washing soda or baking soda
- Distilled water
[Edit]For Fresh Stains - Combine 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 1 part washing soda (or baking soda) and 2 parts water in a spray bottle. This will create a potent but more gentle stain remover.
- Shake gently to combine before use.
- Spray and set. Rub with either a clean cloth or scrub brush depending upon the fabric and stain.
- Rinse and repeat if necessary. You may want to give this solution an extra rinse to ensure the baking soda is completely removed from the fabric.
[Edit]For Stubborn Stains This is when you need to get extremely aggressive with the stain or are dealing with a stain that has set for some time. - Combine 1 part washing soda with 3 parts hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle.
- Gently shake bottle until well combined. Don't overdo it as it could foam and explode.
- Spray directly on stain and allow solution to set for several minutes. Use a small scrub brush to fully integrate the solution into the stain.
- Rinse and repeat if necessary.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Spray bottle
- Bucket
- Small scrub brush
- A few white, cotton cloths
- Consider allowing the solution to stay on the stain for at least 20 minutes, especially if the stain is stubborn or has set.
- Store hydrogen peroxide mixtures in an opaque container to avoid having the compound break down due to light exposure.
[Edit]References |
| How to Make Refrigerator Magnets Posted: 05 May 2022 09:00 AM PDT Refrigerator magnets can be fun and easy to make. Almost anything can be turned into a refrigerator magnet with a little bit of glue and a magnet. This article will show you how to make a few simple magnets. [Edit]Using Found Objects - Find a small, lightweight object that is flat on one side. You can turn almost anything you want into a magnet. Look for something that is between 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters) wide/tall and not too heavy. Make sure that the bottom or back of the object is flat. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Legos
- Small stones
- Seashells and starfish
- Large rhinestones
- Small, plastic animals
- Colorful buttons[1]
- Brooches[2]
- Scrapbooking embellishments (plastic flowers, cabochons, etc)
- Find a magnet that fits your object. You should not be able to see the magnet from behind your object. You can use a round button magnet. You can also cut a rectangle out of a thin, magnetic sheet. Keep in mind that the flat, sheet magnets tend to be weaker than the thicker, button magnets. It is best to save those weaker magnets for light objects.
- If your object is large, consider gluing two small button magnets to the back: one at the top, and one at the bottom.
- Consider cleaning the back of your object with rubbing alcohol. If your object is very dirty, the glue may not stick to it. Simply soak a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol, and wipe the back of the object with it.
- Place a swirl of glue on top of the magnet. The entire top surface of the magnet should be coated with glue. You can use hot glue or an industrial strength glue. Hot glue will be suitable for items made out of wood, foam, paper, and lightweight plastic. An industrial strength glue will be best for heavier objects, and anything made from plastic, metal, or glass.
- Even if the magnet has a sticky back, it might be a good idea to use some glue. The adhesives on these types of magnets usually are not very strong or long-lasting.
- Press the back of the object down into the glue. Press it down firmly enough so that the item sticks to the glue, but not so firmly that the glue gushes out all over the place.
- Let the glue dry before using your magnet. This can take anywhere from a couple of minutes to several hours. For example, hot glue will set within minutes, but an industrial strength glue may require up to a day in order to cure properly. If you are using an industrial strength glue, double-check the label to see how much time you need for it to dry and cure.
[Edit]Making a Decoupage Magnet - Gather your supplies. These magnets are made of flat-backed glass marbles, like the type you might put in a vase. The magnets are small, but colorful. Here's a list of what you will need to make such a magnet:
- Clear, glass gem/vase filler
- Backing (photo, colored paper, fabric, etc)
- Glossy Mod Podge
- Paintbrush or foam brush
- Round magnet
- Hot glue or industrial strength glue
- Find a clear, glass gem. They are usually flat on one side, and slightly domed on the other. You can find them in the vase filler or floral section of an arts and crafts store. Look for something that is at least 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) in diameter. This will allow you to see more of your design.
- You might also see them labeled as vase fillers, cabochons, marbles, and glass stones.
- Wipe the back of your glass gem clean with rubbing alcohol. Soak a cotton ball with some rubbing alcohol and wipe the flat side of the gem. This will get rid of any dirt or oils that might prevent the glue from sticking.
- Choose your backing. You can use almost anything you want as your backing, such as colored paper or a photo. You can even use nail polish. If you want to use a letter or an image, place your glass gem over it. You will be able to see how much of your letter or image will show through the gem. Here are some ideas of what you can use:
- Photos
- Pages from old books
- Old maps
- Scrapbook paper or wrapping paper
- Newspaper or magazine pages
- Patterned fabric
- Nail polish
- Use the gem to trace a circle onto your backing. You can use a large hole punch to cut out a perfect circle, if you can find one that is the same size as your gem. Most glass gems, however, won't be perfectly round, so it might be better to trace them.
- Cut the backing out. Most glass gems are beveled on the bottom, so you might want to cut just inside the line that you drew.[3]
- Spread a thin layer of glossy Mod Podge on the back of the glass gem. Apply it using a paintbrush or a foam brush. Make sure that it is even, and that the entire back of the gem is covered. You can also use another clear-drying liquid glue.
- If you are using nail polish, you don't need to apply any Mod Podge. Simply brush on a few coats of nail polish onto the back of your stone.
- Press the backing face down into the glue. Smooth it out using your fingers, starting from the center and working outward This will get rid of any air bubbles and wrinkles.
- Apply another coat of Mod Podge to the back of your gem. Make sure that you go a little bit over the edges of your backing. This will seal it to your gem.[4]
- If you used nail polish, consider brushing on a top coat onto the back to seal it.
- Allow the Mod Podge to dry completely. A good indicator is when it turns clear, but it is better to let it dry overnight. This will also allow the Mod Podge to cure and make it less tacky or sticky.
- Glue a round magnet to the back of your gem. You can use hot glue or an industrial strength glue. Place a thin layer of glue onto the magnet, then press the magnet down into the back of the gem.
- Allow the glue to dry before you use your magnet. Hot glue will set within a few seconds, but industrial strength glues will need a much longer drying and curing time. If you are using an industrial strength glue, refer to the label for a specific drying and curing time. Just because something looks and feels dry does not mean that it is fully cured and ready to be used.
[Edit]Making a Clothespin Magnet - Gather your supplies: Clothespins can make great magnets because you can use them to clip and hold things such as memos and recipes. Here's a list of what you will need to make one:
- Wooden clothespins
- Magnet (sheet is recommended)
- Glue
- Decorations, such as paint, washi tape, etc
- Buy some wooden clothespins. They must be the type that have a spring in them. The solid wood ones that don't open and close won't be suitable for this.
- Decorate your clothespin. This is where you can get really creative. However you decide to decorate it, make sure that you leave the back blank, or you won't be able to glue the magnet on. Also, make sure that you can still open and close the clothespin. Here are some decorating ideas:
- Cover the top and sides of your clothespin with washi tape. Washi tape is a type of patterned scrapbooking tape. You can find it in the scrapbooking section of an arts and crafts store.
- Paint your clothespin using a small paintbrush and acrylic paint. You can paint it all one color, or many colors. Simple designs, such as stripes, will work best on the clothespin.
- Glue a thin, flat wooden shape, such as a cat or dog, to the top of the clothespin. The wooden shape should be about the same length as the clothespin. You can find the wooden shapes in the wood section of an arts and crafts store.
- Glue down some buttons down the center of your clothespin. Play around with different shapes, colors, and patterns, just make sure that the buttons are the same width as the clothespin.
- Allow the clothespin to dry, if necessary. Depending on how you decorated it, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Some decorations, such as washi tape, don't require any drying time.
- Cut your magnet down to fit your clothespin. Cut a strip of magnetic sheeting down to fit the back of your clothes pin. If you are using round, button magnets, plan on using two magnets per clothespin.
- Glue the magnet to the back of your clothespin. You can use an industrial strength glue or hot glue. Draw a line of glue down the back of the clothespin and press the magnet down into the glue.
- If you are using round button magnets, place a drop of glue on the top and bottom of the clothespin back. Press the round button magnets into the glue.
- Allow the glue to dry before you use your magnet. Once the glue dries, you can use the clothespin to hold recipes and memos to the door of your fridge.
[Edit]Making a Stamped Clay Magnet - Gather your supplies. You can make beautiful magnets out of clay and rubber stamps. Paper clay dries white, making it the perfect surface to paint on. It also dries lightweight, so it won't slide down the door of the fridge. Here's a list of what you will need: [5]
- Air dry paper clay
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutters or craft knife
- Rubber stamps
- Ink pad (optional)
- Clear acrylic sealer
- Round button magnet
- Hot glue or industrial strength glue
- Roll out some air dry paper clay until it is about 5 mm thick. You don't want to make it too thin or too thick, or it may crack while it dries. Paper clay is great, because it dries very lightweight.
- Use a rubber stamp to imprint some designs into the clay. You will be punching out shapes later. This is to give the shapes some texture and design. You can use ornate designs, such as damask and scrolls. You can also use pictures or symbols, such as a cat, dog, heart, or star.
- If you want your design to be colored, then press your rubber stamp into a colored ink pad first. The color will transfer to the clay, along with your design.[6]
- You can also use ornate buttons or brooches to stamp designs.
- Use a cookie cutter or a craft knife to cut shapes into your clay. You can make any shape you want, but simpler shapes (such as circles and squares) might show off your design better.
- Let the clay dry. Depending on how dry or humid it is, this can take several hours or overnight.
- Use a fine-grit sandpaper to buff away any ragged edges. If the cookie cutters didn't cut clean, you can smooth the edges down with some sandpaper.
- Consider painting your piece. You can paint it using some watercolor paints or acrylic paints. Watercolor paints will give you a sheer finish, and acrylic paints will give you a more opaque finish. Allow the paint to dry before moving on.
- Seal the front and back of your clay piece. The clay will dry matte, but if you use a glossy sealer, you will get a glazed look. Seal the front first and let it dry before sealing the back. This will help your piece last longer. It will also prevent the magnet from peeling off.
- You can spray it with a clear acrylic spray sealer. You can also apply some Mod Podge over it instead using a paintbrush or a foam brush.
- Glue a round magnet to the back of your clay piece. You can use hot glue or an industrial strength glue.
- Allow the glue to dry before you use your magnet. Hot glue sets quickly, but industrial strength glues require several hours to dry and cure. Refer to the label on your glue as each brand is a little different.
- The strongest magnets are neodymium magnets. They are silver colored. You can buy them online or in an arts and crafts store.
- For large, bulky, or heavy objects, you may need to use more than one magnet. Don't put the magnets right next to each other. Instead, put them close to the edges of the object. Make sure that the magnets are opposite of each other.
- Mix salt, flour and a little oil with required amounts of water. After making the dough make the designs of your fridge magnets and bake until hard. Colour them and varnish to give a glossy finish. Stick your magnets behind. Your fridge magnet is ready!
- Round, button magnets tend to be stronger than flat, sheet magnets.
[Edit]Warnings - Don't make your magnet too heavy, or it will slide down the door of the fridge.
- Industrial strength glues, such as E6000, produce a lot of fumes. Make sure that you have adequate ventilation when working with them.
- High-temp glue guns will give you the strongest bond, but they can give you burns and blisters if you are not careful. If you are worried about this, consider getting a low-temp glue gun. They won't give you the strongest bond, but they are less likely to give you burns and blisters.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Using Found Objects - Small, flat-backed object
- Round button magnet
- Hot glue or industrial strength glue
[Edit]Making a Decoupage Magnet - Clear, glass gem/vase filler
- Backing (photo, colored paper, fabric, etc)
- Glossy Mod Podge
- Paintbrush or foam brush
- Round magnet
- Hot glue or industrial strength glue
[Edit]Making a Clothespin Magnet - Wooden clothespins
- Magnet (sheet is recommended)
- Hot glue or industrial strength glue
- Decorations, such as paint, washi tape, etc
[Edit]Making a Stamped Clay Magnet[7] - Air dry paper clay
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutters or craft knife
- Rubber stamps
- Ink pad (optional)
- Clear acrylic sealer
- Round button magnet
- Hot glue or industrial strength glue
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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