DIY Plaster Aroma Stones for Essential Oils (That Double As Kids Sidewalk Chalk)

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April 2, 2020 By Rebecca D. Dillon 5 Comments

Learn how to make DIY plaster aroma stones for a quick and easy essential oil diffuser. This easy DIY craft project is perfect for the kids to make for Mother’s Day gifts. Plus they can create extras to use themselves. Turns out these essential oil aroma stones actually double as kids sidewalk chalk. So it’s the perfect 2-for-1 activity when you need things to do when bored, or are looking for creative kids crafts to keep your little angelic demons out of your hair. Keep reading to discover how to make my DIY plaster aroma stones for essential oils. Plus easy DIY ideas for kids crafts and activities that I loved as a child.

Last week I got into a groove and started getting crafty. I was going to rock being stuck at home. Unfortunately, it turns out that adult fears outweigh that childhood boredom that kept me entertained as a Gen X latchkey kid. Because my increasing anxiety kicked everything up a notch, including the fibro. And there’s no amount of knocking boots or edibles that can get me back into my magic zen zone.

Everyday is just one day at a time right now. Slowing down and a lot of self care. Hoping things don’t get worse. Worrying that no one I know gets sick. Crossing fingers, legs and toes that my friends who’ve lost their jobs are going to pull through this with some hope (and sanity) left intact. It’s crazy out there. And I’m worried. But I think it’s important to remember that we are not alone. If we stick together as a community and look out for each other, we’ll all be okay. In the meantime, get back to basics by crafting! It’s basically art therapy for stress. (Plus it’ll likely help you cope better than day drinking. Those cortisol spikes cause some pretty wicked insomnia.)

Unplugged Kids Crafts & Activities

I know some of you still have kids at home bored out of their minds. So it can be hard to drag them away from video games and the internet. Since I’m apparently old enough to now be confused with a boomer (Um, hello. My PARENTS are boomers. They are in their 70s.) I have all kinds of ideas for unplugged kids crafts and activities that I did as a child. Because Atari was about as good as it got back then. And I was never great about the whole hand eye coordination thing.

Mix dirt with grass and water to make pinch pot pottery.
Learn about edible weeds and herbs by foraging for salads.
Create an at home restaurant with food, menus and money hand drawn onto paper, then cut out with scissors.
Bake cookies and brownies and grilled cheese.
Make paper dolls.
Attach multiple sheets of paper together with tape, then draw roads on them for toy cars.
Dig up the yard to make roads for toy cars.
Use kids sidewalk chalk to draw roads on the cul-de-sac for biking.
Play dress up with other family members’ clothing, complete with a photo shoot.
Make furniture for dolls using upcycled cardboard and other found materials.
Write a zine or start a journal.
Craft a wearable mermaid’s tail from newspaper, tape and aluminum foil.
Slam your brother’s finger in a door. When he gets you back, compare blood blisters.
Make a terrarium with dirt and moss from the great outdoors.
Use scraps of paper to create mosaic art.
Sew easy felt finger puppets.

Build a teepee or fort.
Craft a diorama with fish or dinosaurs.
Use paper clay to make a giant volcano for some vinegar and baking soda action. (Complete with red food dye, of course.)
Learn how to crochet.
Make a woven wall hanging using a handmade weaving loom.
Cross Stitch.
Use leftover fabric to sew a quilt by hand.
Read a book.
Forage and identify the leaves of 40 different trees. Press them between wax paper and create a book.
Make flower necklaces and bracelets with dandelions and clover blossoms.
Craft friendship bracelets using embroidery thread.
Make melt and pour soap.
Learn real life skills through The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs.
Make solar prints.
Use fabric crayons or markers to make custom t-shirts.
Decoupage empty cigar boxes with Mod Podge and scrapbook papers.
Paint pictures using watercolors.
Make homemade candles.

They can also make this awesome kids sidewalk chalk. Or DIY plaster aroma stones. Whatever you prefer to call them. Simply whip them up in a fun mold (I used my soap making molds) and have at it.

What Are Aroma Stones?

You may be wondering, what is an aroma stone? An aroma stone is basically just unglazed pottery. It’s used as a fragrance diffuser for fragrance oils or essential oils by simply adding drops of your scent of choice to the stone. You can make aroma stones using air dry clay. You can also make DIY plaster aroma stones using plaster. By adding colored mica powder, you can easily add fun colors to your aroma stones. And utilize them as kids sidewalk chalk as well. Here’s how it’s done.

DIY Plaster Aroma Stones (Or Kids Sidewalk Chalk)

Ingredients:

1 cup plaster
3/4 cup water
2.5 grams mica powder

Materials:

Silicone mold
Mixing bowls
Mixing utensils
Measuring cup

Directions for Making DIY Plaster Aroma Stones:

I made my DIY plaster aroma stones the same way I did my essential oil ornaments. There’s not a huge difference in the process. I used four parts plaster to three parts water with a full size sample package of mica powder for color to create these.

This recipe always works for making kids sidewalk chalk, however, the colors are pretty pastel. For bolder colors, if you’d like your DIY plaster aroma stones to double as kids sidewalk chalk, simply double or triple the amount of mica powder used.

You can also easily increase or decrease the size of my recipe for DIY plaster aroma stones simply by resizing it as needed. Just adhere to the four parts plaster to three parts water ratio. The addition of mica won’t make any difference in the outcome of your DIY plaster aroma stones as far as them holding together.

Once you’ve gathered all the supplies and materials you need to make your DIY plaster aroma stones, use a measuring cup to measure out the plaster and water into separate containers.

Add the mica powder to the dry plaster and mix well.

You want the color to be evenly incorporated throughout the plaster.

Once you’ve mixed the plaster and mica powder for your DIY plaster aroma stones, stir in the water. Continue mixing until there are no clumps and the plaster is completely fluid.

Now pour the colored plaster into your silicone mold. I used these silicone flower molds. The smaller of these two molds will make three DIY plaster aroma stones or kids sidewalk chalk in a single color.

Now use your finger, a spatula or another utensil to pop any air bubbles that may be present. You can also try tapping the mold lightly on your surface area to remove air bubbles. However, I found this challenging as the mold isn’t sturdy.

Allow the DIY plaster aroma stones to set up completely. It will take them about 20 minutes or so to fully harden. Once hardened, you can unmold them.

To make additional DIY plaster aroma stones or kids sidewalk chalk in more colors, simply repeat the process using a different color than the first.

How to Use Your DIY Plaster Aroma Stones:

To use your DIY plaster aroma stones, add about 20 drops of your favorite essential oil blend to the tops of the stone. One of my favorite blends right now is Simply Earth’s Tranquility essential oil blend. I find this blend especially helpful during times of stress. (Especially when I can’t find TP anywhere! Am I right?)

You can also create an aromatherapy essential oil blend to reduce stress and promote relaxation for your DIY plaster aroma stones. Simply combine 10 drops manuka essential oil, 10 drops bergamot essential oil and 2 drops lavender essential oil in an amber glass bottle. Then swirl to combine. Then add the blend to your plaster aroma stone to help ease away stressors and promote calm.

(If you’d like to discover more about essential oils, try out new recipes and learn about aromatherapy, then sign up for the Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box. Not only will you receive a coupon for $40 off your next purchase on ANYTHING you like, you’ll also get a free bonus box of ingredients and supplies at no additional cost with your first box. Simply use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE at checkout. You can find reviews and essential oil recipes from past boxes here.)

How to Use Your Aroma Stones as Kids Sidewalk Chalk:

Using your DIY Plaster Aroma Stones as kids sidewalk chalk is a snap. Simply add additional mica, if desired, when making your stones for that extra color pop. Then give your kids some chalk to play with and enjoy! It works great on streets, sidewalks and paving stones. And, of course, parents and adults can join in the fun too! (You’re never too old to be creative.)

You can find some great ideas for sidewalk chalk art here. Or check out these sidewalk chalk games.

Like my project for making DIY plaster aroma stones? Then make sure you pin this project to Pinterest for later!

If you love home fragrances, then also be sure to try out my DIY reed diffuser with essential oils as well as my DIY wax melts with beeswax.

For more great essential oil recipes and easy DIY ideas, be sure to follow me on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram for more beauty recipes and ideas for a spa day at home. As well as sign up to receive an email whenever I share a new post!

Filed Under: DIY Craft Project, Handmade Home, Health & Wellness, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: crafts, diffuser blends, diy, easy, essential oil blend, essential oils, gift idea, gifts for women, handmade home, healthy homemaking, home fragrance, homemaking, kids, kids project, Mother's Day, Mother's Day gifts

DIY Hand Sanitizer with Alcohol: An Alternative When Hand Washing Isn’t An Option

March 9, 2020 By Rebecca D. Dillon 20 Comments

This flu season is especially scary. As the Coronapocalypse continues to claim lives and spread throughout the world, it’s more important than ever to take protective measures against this new strain of the flu. The top two ways to do this include handwashing and the use of hand sanitizers when soap and water aren’t available. With hand sanitizer unavailable in many locations due to the outbreak, you can make an effective DIY hand sanitizer at home. Keep reading to learn how to make a simple, 2-ingredient homemade hand sanitizer recipe for use when tested, commercial hand sanitizers are unavailable.

With the new virus now a pandemic, people are literally freaking out. Everywhere. And there are three sides to this entire event. At least for those of us living in the United States. They are:

The people who believe the reports of the coronavirus are nothing more than fear mongering.
Those who have a healthy outlook that most people will be okay, but precautions need to be taken especially if you are in a risk group.
And finally, the individuals who believe this is the start of the apocalypse.

There have been a lot of crazy photos and reports on social media. I’ve seen tons of pictures where big box stores and wholesale clubs who are entirely sold out of hand sanitizer, cleaning products and toilet paper. Not that the flu and toilet paper have anything in common necessarily. But there are folks who are literally preparing for the end of days. And while I can see TP being a priority in day to day life, I just never imagined folks would value it like gold when the zombie virus finally takes hold. (Although I’m definitely filing this information for later.)

On the flip side of this, I’ve also seen memes indicating that women ages 30-50 are most likely to carry the virus without symptoms. And therefore, they should quarantine themselves away from men and children, for a period of fourteen days, at their local wineries. With all cell phones confiscated upon arrival. (I mean, why not? We women totally deserve a break from home life.)

In the end, while the Coronapocalypse is indeed a pandemic, it’s not the world’s — or even our nation’s — top killer. That would be cardiovascular disease. And yet, no one is out there panicking about cutting their meat consumption and increasing their intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. No, the coronavirus is apparently a hell of a lot scarier. Perhaps because of its immediacy, and its ability to infect even the healthiest of hosts.

Of course, the two week quarantine protocol they’re enacting basically everywhere does cause concern. (But as such, two weeks still does not require 96 rolls of toilet paper!) As does the large percentage of deaths that first began in China. And if you’re at risk, either due to age or health issues, then you definitely want to take precautions to avoid becoming one of the 2% of the infected population dying from this new virus. (The flu, on average, kills .2% of those infected during an average flu season in comparison.)

While hand sanitizer is flying off the shelves, and is no longer available in many locations, it’s not the end all be all to flu prevention. It still remains, and the CDC holds to this, that hand washing is the #1 preventive measure you can take against this new virus. (Learn more here.) Still, if hand washing isn’t an option — and when it is you need to do so for at least 20 seconds — then hand sanitizer can offer some level of germ destroying power until you can get your hands on some soap and water. Therefore you may want to keep it in your bag as backup when you’re traveling or attending a public event. Or, simply avoid traveling and events until this whole thing boils over. (Really, why the hell is anyone flying into Colorado for a ski trip while harboring a deadly virus anyway? Am I right?)

It is also important to note, however, that if your hands are visibly dirty, hand washing is necessary. (That hand sanitizer isn’t going to do squat.) In which case, tossing a bar of soap and few bottles of water into your bag, in lieu of hand sanitizer, is probably an even better idea. But, I get it. Staying home isn’t a realistic option for most of us. Jamming your mom bag full of even more crap? Well, we expect that anyway.

(Read the recommendations for utilizing handwashing and hand sanitizers as protective measures against the virus from the World Health Organization.)

How to Make Homemade Hand Sanitizer

If you can’t find hand sanitizer right now, or there’s some serious price gouging happening that you refuse to tolerate, then you can make your own DIY hand sanitizer. It is important to note, however, that unless your DIY hand sanitizer is at least 60% alcohol, then it’s not going to be effective. You can make your own DIY hand sanitizer using two types of alcohol. One is isopropyl alcohol, which is also known as rubbing alcohol. The other is ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol. Ethyl alcohol is the type of alcohol used to make the alcohol we drink, such as grain alcohol, vodka or everclear. Both isopropyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol come with varying levels of alcohol content. As well, they both have drawbacks.

Isopropyl Alcohol vs. Ethyl Alcohol for Making DIY Hand Sanitizer

Isopropyl alcohol is great for disinfecting surfaces. 70% isopropyl alcohol is recommended when sanitizing surfaces. (Source.) So while you may have the 91%+ in your arsenal for melt and pour soap making — hello, fellow soapers! — opt for the lower percentage when disinfecting and sanitizing surfaces. If you already have it on hand, you can use 70% isopropyl alcohol to make a DIY hand sanitizer as well, but with some caution.

It is extremely important to note that isopropyl alcohol is poisonous when consumed. This is especially the case where children are concerned, as isopropyl alcohol can poison children in even small amounts. As such, it’s not recommended that you use a DIY hand sanitizer with isopropyl alcohol on small children who may lick their hands after the application. (You can learn the symptoms of isopropyl alcohol poisoning here.)

Likewise, ethyl alcohol can also poison children through ingestion. (And, unless, it’s been denatured, is illegal in a number of states.) Small children could potentially become drunk or even develop alcohol poisoning through the ingestion of a DIY hand sanitizer made with ethyl alcohol. (I once came across an ex-physician who would drink a gallon of the old school, ethyl alcohol hand sanitizers when working at the hospital to feed his alcoholism.) Therefore, as the coronavirus seems to spare children from death, unlike adults, you may want be diligent about having young children wash their hands, rather than using a hand sanitizer.

It is also important to note, that any DIY hand sanitizer with a high level of alcohol, can be especially drying to skin. As dry skin is prone to cracking, which allows germs to more readily enter the body, you may want to stock up on moisturizers, and not just hand sanitizer, to prevent dryness.

As safety is a concern where children may have access to hand sanitizers, I chose to use vodka with 75% alcohol content, rather than 70% isopropyl alcohol to make my DIY hand sanitizer. However, you may use either one or the other according to your preference, in my homemade hand sanitizer recipe, found below.

Using Alcohol or Vodka to Make Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Despite Virginia being well known for its moonshine, 190 proof Everclear, which is 95% alcohol, is illegal where I live. Therefore, my homemade hand sanitizer recipe uses 150 proof vodka which contains 75% alcohol. Fortunately, you can readily purchase 150 proof alcohol, providing you’re at least 21 years of age, even if you’re in one of those states where 190 proof alcohol is illegal. This means, however, that you do need to use a larger percentage of vodka in your DIY hand sanitizer in order for it to be effective.

Vodka with a high alcohol content is also important if you’d like to add essential oils to your DIY hand sanitizer. As essential oils don’t mix well with water, low proof alcohol, witch hazel or vinegar, you risk causing irritation, sensitivity and even an allergic reaction if including them in your DIY hand sanitizer. Therefore it’s important to both properly dilute and ensure a solid emulsion when formulating a homemade hand sanitizer, or other skin care formulation, using essential oils. However, there is no evidence that adding essential oils improves the effectiveness of hand sanitizer.

DIY Hand Sanitizer with Vodka or Grain Alcohol

You honestly only need two ingredients to make a DIY hand sanitizer. Aloe vera gel and 150 proof vodka or grain alcohol. A formulation calling for two parts 70% alcohol to one part aloe gel was recommended by my local news station, in order to meet the guidelines set for an effective hand sanitizer in that it contains at least 60% alcohol. However, as they didn’t use weights it all gets very confusing. Therefore, I now recommend using a 3 to 1 ratio unless you’re really good at math, and are able to verify the weight of your ingredients, in order to err on the side of caution. (See the addendum below.) If desired, you can also add an essential oil blend as you see fit. You can also substitute the grain alcohol or vodka, if desired with 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Ingredients:

2 oz. aloe vera gel
6 oz. 150 proof vodka or grain alcohol

Directions:

Measure out both the aloe vera gel and vodka in fluid ounce. (If you don’t have high proof vodka in your area, you can use Everclear 151.) Combine in a glass bowl.

Then mix the ingredients well, until thoroughly combined. There should be no lumps once the hand sanitizer is evenly mixed throughout.

Once you have a smooth hand gel, spoon your sanitizer into a 6 oz. container (or several smaller containers) of your choice. (I used these containers from SKS Bottle & Packaging.)

Be sure to wash your hands frequently. When soap and water are not available, rub your alcohol based hand sanitizer on hands until dry to help protect against viruses, when a tested, commercial product is unavailable.

Adding Essential Oils to Hand Sanitizer

Essential oils aren’t necessary for an effective DIY hand sanitizer. The key is, as previously stated, ensuring the alcohol content of your homemade hand sanitizer is 60% or more. There is no indication that essentials oil can or will protect you from the coronavirus, or other cold and flu viruses. If you do decide, however, that you’d like to include essential oils in your formulation, you can add one of the following essential oils blends to my homemade hand sanitizer recipe when blending the alcohol with the aloe gel. You should also increase the alcohol in your DIY hand sanitizer by triple the amount of essential oils added.

Immunity Boost Essential Oil Blend:

Thieves Essential Oil Blend:

It’s important to note that both clove and cinnamon essential oils are known skin irritants. Therefore, this blend is used in a lower concentration, and should be used with caution.

Addendum: The correct way to figure the amount of alcohol needed for a DIY hand sanitizer is to use weight measurements. I used volume to simplify this recipe for those without access to a digital scale. Aloe gel by weight is not 2 oz. It’s 1.75 oz. While vodka seems to weigh less than water, around 1.5 oz. per 2 fluid oz.

I have a screenshot of a chart here that explains the math for figuring out the amounts you need to end up with the desired amount of alcohol in your final product. If you are using a product with 99% alcohol say, you can decrease the recipe to 2 parts alcohol to 1 part aloe gel.

For further reading on how alcohol based hand sanitizers are formulated, you can learn more here.

Or check out my natural remedy for cold and flu relief for making fire cider vinegar. You can also learn how to make soap. Or buy some! It’s not sold out yet.

If you like my post on how to make a DIY hand sanitizer with vodka, then follow Soap Deli News more health and wellness projects! You can find and follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram and Blog Lovin‘. Or sign up to receive an email whenever I share a new post!

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: cleaning, cleaning hacks, cleaning products, cleaning recipe, cleaning solutions, cleaning tips, diy, essential oil recipes, essential oils, handmade home, health, health and wellness, healthy homemaking, healthy living, wellness

DIY Reed Diffuser with Essential Oils for Natural, Non-Toxic Home Fragrances

March 3, 2020 By Rebecca D. Dillon 4 Comments

Wondering, how do I make DIY reed diffusers? It’s actually easier than you might think! Learn how to make a DIY reed diffuser with essential oils to naturally scent your home with your favorite, non-toxic fragrance. You can use any essential oil or essential oil blend of your choice with your homemade reed diffuser. It’s so easy!

Simply Earth offers so many great essential oil recipes for health, home and beauty. This month, Simply Earth has made it incredibly easy to use essential oils to create natural home fragrances. Their March essential oil recipe box contains the know how you need to make your own DIY reed diffuser along with the information needed for making reed diffuser essential oil refills.

There are even lava stone beads for making an essential oil lava rock diffuser bracelet or to use in decorative bowl or dish! I’m so excited to share what’s inside this month’s box with you. Plus, I’ll also give you the full instructions for making your own DIY reed diffuser and the recipe for making reed diffuser oil refills using essential oils, vodka and water.

What’s Inside the March Simply Earth Box

This month’s Simply Earth essential oil recipe box is all about mood and emotions! It’s filled with a number of essential oil diffuser blend recipes. Plus there are materials for making a lava rock diffuser, reeds for making a DIY reed diffuser, a persevere roll on (rollerball bottles are included in the bonus box) and an aromatherapy inhaler for grief relief. There are also four essential oils included in the box. They are:

The really exciting thing about this box is that, if it’s your first time ordering, you’ll score a big bonus box of ingredients and supplies you can use with future boxes. It’s a $40 value so it’s pretty sweet. You also get a $40 coupon off absolutely anything you want from Simply Earth to use on your next purchase. Just use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE when you order, so you score all the freebies.

If you love this month’s, just be sure to order it ASAP. Their monthly essential oil recipe boxes usually sell out by mid-month. Otherwise, if you miss out on the current month’s box, they’ll send you their super cool essential oil starter box in its place. That way you don’t have to wait for the next month to roll around before receiving your first box. Buy it now.

Ready to get crafty? Let’s get started making reed diffusers with essential oils!

Making Reed Diffusers with Essential Oils

Making DIY reed diffusers for essential oils to use at home is really simple. I used an upcycled, amber fragrance oil bottle from my DIY wax melts for this project. I then added a sticker I printed from clipart I had previously purchased.

However, you can use any glass container of your choice — and decorate your reed diffuser bottle or not. You just need to be sure it fits the size reeds you are using. I’m a huge fan of these amber glass, apothecary reed diffuser bottles. A nostalgic throwback to Victorian era chemist’s shops, they’re perfect if you’re looking for something to compliment your home decor.

Now let’s get started and make your home smell amazing! Here’s how to make your own easy, DIY reed diffuser with essential oils to add a natural fragrance to your home. Plus discover essential oil reed diffuser recipes from recipe formulator and certified aromatherapist, Katie, of Simply Earth. You can use these essential oil diffuser blend recipes in your DIY reed diffuser. Or simply add a few drops to your essential oil diffuser for a natural scent in your home.

All of these essential oil reed diffuser recipes include the essential oils from the March Simply Earth essential oil recipe box. However, you don’t have to subscribe if it’s not yet in the cards for you. All of the essential oils from Simply Earth can be purchased individually.

DIY Reed Diffuser with Essential Oils

Materials for Your DIY Reed Diffuser:

Ingredients for the Reed Diffuser Refill:

2 Tablespoons vodka
2 Tablespoons distilled water
25 drops essential oil or essential oil blend (see recipes below)

Essential Oil Reed Diffuser Recipes:

Whimsey Diffuser Essential Oil Blend:

15 drops Orange essential oil
10 drops Patchouli essential oil

Joy Diffuser Essential Oil Blend:

5 drops Energy blend essential oil
5 drops Cypress essential oil
5 drops Patchouli essential oil
10 drops Orange essential oil

Creative Zone Essential Oil Blend:

5 drops Cypress essential oil
15 drops Orange essential oil
10 drops Energy essential oil blend

Anxiety Relief Essential Oil Blend:

18 drops Orange essential oil
8 drops Energy essential oil blend

Persevere Essential Oil Blend:

12 drops Energy essential oil blend
12 drops Cypress essential oil

It’s Okay to Grieve Essential Oil Blend:

10 drops Cypress essential oil
10 drops Orange essential oil
5 drops Patchouli essential oil

Directions for Making Reed Diffusers with Essential Oils:

To make your DIY reed diffuser, add the vodka along with 25 drops of the essential oil reed diffuser blend of your choice to a glass bottle or jar.

Swirl the ingredients for your reed diffuser refill for at least 30 seconds to mix.

Once combined, add the water to the jar.

How to Use Your DIY Reed Diffuser:

Allow the reeds to soak in the container for two hours, then flip the reeds to the opposite end of the bottle.

Now place the DIY reed diffuser in a small space, such as your office or bathroom. Anywhere you want a fresh scent!

Flip the reeds every few days or so to reinvigorate the scent.

After two weeks, replace the mixture with a fresh reed diffuser refill.

Discover More from Simply Earth

Interested to learn more about Simply Earth essential oils and their amazing essential oil recipe box? You can check out reviews and essential oil recipes for home, health and beauty from past boxes via my archives here.

Or simply sign up for the Simply Earth essential oil recipe box now! You’ll save big while growing your collection of quality essential oils. And, you’ll feel great about knowing that Simply Earth donates 13% to organizations that right to end human trafficking. Don’t forget to use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE to score your free bonus box and $40 off coupon.

More Ideas for Naturally Scenting Your Home with Essential Oils

If you loved making reed diffusers with essential oils to naturally scent your home or office, then be sure to try these ideas for naturally scenting your home with essential oils.

If you like my post on how to make a DIY reed diffuser with essential oils, then follow Soap Deli News more healthy homemaking projects! You can find and follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram and Blog Lovin‘. Or sign up to receive an email whenever I share a new post!

Filed Under: DIY Craft Project, Handmade Home, Health & Wellness Tagged With: 5-minute crafts, crafts, diffuser blends, diy, easy, essential oil recipes, essential oils, handmade home, healthy homemaking, healthy living, home decor, home fragrance, homemaking, simply earth

Dollar Tree Spring Decor: DIY Bird Craft Fragrance Warmer for Your Home Decor

February 18, 2020 By Rebecca D. Dillon 9 Comments

Need inexpensive home decor ideas for spring? This easy Dollar Tree spring decor project for crafting a DIY bird craft fragrance warmer not only looks great, it’s also fun to make! Keep reading to learn how to craft this cute bird craft using materials almost exclusively from the Dollar Tree, for Dollar Tree spring decor that’s ready to decorate your home in just 20-minutes.

Everyone I know has been sick recently. This includes my niece who’s been in complete misery for two straight weeks. It’s typical this time of year even if it’s felt like spring nearly every other week here in Southwestern Virginia. So, of course, I’ve been dosing the fire cider and snatching up elderberry syrup whenever I can. Except it happened anyway. I finally succumbed, albeit while kicking and screaming, to the sickness while simultaneously realizing that humans really are the harbingers of death.

I spent my morning double fisting coffee and a glass of water with apple cider vinegar and turmeric honey. I also wasted a lot of energy (that’s in really short supply right now) trying to decide if I should put on makeup before I left the house to stock up on Umcka Cold + Flu. At the very least putting on mascara seemed pertinent. Without fail the one time anyone ever decides to go to the grocery store looking like hell, it guarantees you’ll run into twenty people you know. Even in a city of 100,000, it happens more than you would imagine.

Kroger is my usual haunt. That and The Fresh Market, because Earth Fare is going under. Even shopping at another Kroger outside my usual of a dozen Kroger’s in town it doesn’t seem to make a difference. You always see someone who knows you. So admittedly, I wasted a ton of energy debating whether or not to “put my face on” just to leave the house when I could have left already and been back, elderberry lozenges and Bragg’s in hand, in the time I spent arguing with myself. (Yes, I did minimal makeup. No, I didn’t see anyone I knew.)

Speaking of elderberry syrup, someone should have clued China in on its pure awesomeness before the coronavirus had a chance to spread outside their borders. You can almost understand why they locked people in their houses. (Not saying that isn’t seriously F-d up but apparently the death toll is being woefully underreported.)

But seriously, no one really wants to leave the house when they’re sick. And it’s not like we want other people to get sick. It’s just here’s rent to pay and groceries to buy. And of course, that one day when you’re at your very worst, you run out of toilet paper. And I mean, coffee filters work okay for a while, but…

There should, quite honestly, be a service for sick people. They would deliver fire cider and elderberry syrup and honey and chicken noodle soup and toilet paper, maybe some newfound sanity — all at no charge. Plus, if you have kids, a caretaker for your for your children is also a must. I know, that for a lot of people, it’s supposed to be their husband or significant other. But, I mean, seriously. Who are we kidding here?

Being single, though, and not having anyone to run to the store for you when you’re ill is super sucky. It’s a lot like that agony of dealing with Valentine’s day once a year. It’s not fun. Valentine’s day should totally be a second Halloween anyway. Or give us singles sick day instead. One where beefy boys bring us hot toddies in bed and we get to dig a slew of homeopathic remedies out of their g-string.

But there it is. And here I am. Sick. It’s funny that when I need to work I have no idea what to write about. And now, when I’m sick, I want to write so I can bitch and moan about woe is me, I’m so sick. But that’s the crux of it really. I don’t have the coronavirus. I have man flu.

Anyhow, I thought since I most recently shared a recipe for DIY wax melts with beeswax, that a craft project using a fragrance warmer for spring home decor would be a fitting follow up. While this Dollar Tree spring decor DIY bird craft can’t actually be used to melt your wax tarts, it is inexpensive and fun to make. Use it decorate your home for spring, or to give as a cheerful housewarming gift to someone special. Or make it on a sick day. We all know there’s only so much Netflix one can suffer through before you’d rather be back at work anyway.

Dollar Tree Spring Decor DIY

I hadn’t been inside a Dollar Tree in a long time, as they moved from my favorite location. However, lately, I’ve been passing by a different Dollar Tree location often since moving, on my way to visit The Fresh Market. (And yes, also a guy.) So late last year, I decided to stop in and see what they had. To my delight, I was able to find awesome containers for recent Dollar Tree projects like my whipped sugar scrub recipe, and my adorable Dollar Tree valentines, which I discovered on a second trip.

Because I had so much luck with finding crazy affordable supplies for those projects, I gave the Dollar Tree another look when I was ready to start making craft projects for DIY spring decor. And that’s how I came up with this super cute craft idea for DIY Dollar Tree spring decor. Thus, these cute bird craft fragrance warmers were born into existence. And now you have another fun and easy craft project to get your home ready for spring entertaining. Enjoy.

DIY Bird Craft Fragrance Warmer

Materials & Supplies:

Ceramic Fragrance Warmer
Twine
Spanish Moss
Floral Garden Decorative Bird

Bird Nest with Eggs (Or 2 small styrofoam balls painted with speckles to look like eggs, set on top of Spanish Moss with a Small White Feathers)
Twigs, Berries, and Florals, of choice from Dollar Tree
Hot Glue Gun and Hot Melt Glue Sticks

Directions:

To create your Dollar Tree bird craft, start by tucking the Spanish moss inside the fragrance warmer. Then, add the tiny bird’s nest with the eggs.

Alternatively, you can also use painted styrofoam balls made to look like bird’s eggs along with some small white feathers. Simply place the eggs and the feathers on top of the Spanish moss, inside the fragrance warmer. (You can use the hot glue gun to keep everything together.)

Next using hot glue gun, glue the Spanish moss onto the top of the fragrance warmer.

Arrange, then glue, twigs, berries and assorted florals of your choice to the Spanish moss on top of the fragrance warmer.

Follow with the little bird, gluing him into place nestled inside the Spanish moss with the floral accents around him.

Finally add additional floral elements to the bird’s nest inside the fragrance warmer as desired. Glue into place using a hot glue gun.

That’s it! Your DIY Dollar Tree spring decor for a bird craft fragrance warmer is complete. Now all that’s left is to display your newly created home decor for spring in your home or office. Alternately, you can also give this super cute, little bird craft as a housewarming gift for a friend or family member.

Yield: 1 Bird Craft Fragrance Warmer

Bird Craft Dollar Tree Decor DIY

This easy DIY spring bird craft is a fun and pretty Dollar Tree spring decor project to decorate your home. Or gift this beauty as a housewarming gift for a new neighbor, friend or family member.

Active Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost $10

Materials

Ceramic Fragrance Warmer
Twine
Spanish Moss
Floral Garden Decorative Bird
Bird Nest with Eggs
Twigs, Berries, and Florals, to suit

Tools

Hot Glue Gun
Hot Melt Glue Sticks

Instructions

Tuck the Spanish moss inside the fragrance warmer. Add the tiny bird’s nest with the eggs and adhere to the fragrance warmer using the hot glue gun.
Now glue the Spanish moss onto the top of the fragrance warmer.
Arrange, then glue twigs, berries and assorted florals on top of the Spanish moss using the glue gun.
Follow with the bird by gluing him into place nestled among the floral accents and Spanish moss.
Add additional floral elements to the bird’s nest inside the fragrance warmer if desired, and glue into place.

Easy DIY bird crafts for DIY spring decor. How to make DIY Dollar Tree spring decor to decorate your home on a budget. Fun & easy ways to upcycle a fragrance wax melt warmer in just 20-minutes to create beautiful, bird inspired DIY spring home decor. Easy spring decorating ideas using Dollar Tree materials for beautiful home accents and accessories. Or make and gift this lovely Dollar Tree bird craft for a spring housewarming gift to a new neighbor . DIY home decor ideas for spring on a budget.

If you enjoyed this Dollar Tree spring decor DIY for making a bird craft fragrance warmer, then be sure to pin this easy DIY craft project to Pinterest for later. Or check out some of these other home decor crafts for spring. You may also like my women’s craft night ideas which include a bird craft project for making a decorative DIY spring bird mason jar. Alternately, explore more spring flower craft projects here.

Also, P.S. Don’t forget to wash your hands. (And, if you do get sick, try one of these great remedies for cold and flu relief.)

Discover more of my spring home decor projects by following me across all your favorite social media platforms. You can follow Soap Deli News blog on facebook, twitter and instagram. You can also find me on Blog Lovin‘. Or sign up to receive an email whenever I share a new post!

Filed Under: DIY Craft Project, Handmade Home, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: craft night ideas, craft project, craft tutorial, crafts, decor, decorating, diy, diy crafts, dollar tree, easy, handmade home, home decor, spring

DIY Wax Melts: Easy Wax Melts Recipe with Beeswax

February 13, 2020 By Rebecca D. Dillon 12 Comments

These easy DIY wax melts are a fun way to scent your home this spring! Inspired by DKNY’s Be Delicious Blossom® fragrance, these wax melts with beeswax are scented with a blend of ruby cassis, ripe pineapple, sweet rose blossoms and dewy fresh air. They’re then accented with cornflowers and colored with Granny Smith green mica powder.

How to Make Affordable, Easy DIY Wax Melts for Home Fragrance

Wax melts are often made from soy wax. However, unless you’ve been on a candle making binge lately, it’s unlikely that you have soy wax on hand. If you’re a soapmaker, on the other hand, it’s entirely possible you do have the ingredients needed for my DIY wax melts.

Rather than using soy wax for these wax melts, I chose to use palm kernel flakes and beeswax instead, as these are both ingredients that soapmakers are more likely to have on hand. This combination of ingredients works just as well as soy wax, and is an easy alternative if your wax melt warmer is feeling underappreciated.

Of course, as I know a lot of you are on budget, I’ve allowed for several variations of this recipe. Don’t have the funds for clamshell molds? No worries. You can make my easy DIY wax melts with beeswax using a small, existing silicone mold, such as a chocolate or mini ice cube mold. You can also hand roll your wax melts once the wax sets up, but before it fully hardens, and skip the mold all together!

In addition, you can also always swap out the fragrance oil for my DIY wax melts with another fragrance oil of your choice. Alternately, you can also use essential oils if you prefer to scent your home with natural fragrances. My natural essential oil blends for perfumes make a lovely substitution for synthetic fragrance oils.

Ready to get started?

Be Delicious Wax Melts Recipe with Beeswax

Ingredients:

2.5 oz. palm kernel flakes
2.5 oz. beeswax
.6 oz. Crafter’s Choice Be Delicious Blossom Fragrance Oil
pinch Granny Smith green mica, optional
blue cornflowers, optional

Tools & Materials:

digital scale
digital thermometer
2 clamshell molds
utensil for stirring

Directions:

Using a digital scale, weigh out the palm kernel flakes and beeswax. Combine in a double boiler, then heat over medium heat until melted. Once the beeswax and palm kernel flakes have melted, remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly.

While the mixture of beeswax and palm kernel flakes, cool, weigh out the fragrance oil and set aside.

Then, add a few cornflowers to the clamshell molds you’ll be using to make this recipe for wax melts.

Use a digital thermometer, such as this laser thermometer, to measure how hot the wax is. Once the wax reaches 140°F, stir in the fragrance oil. (If you are you using essential oils in your wax melts, use half the amount of essential oil as the fragrance oil, or a maximum of 7%. You can replace the remaining amount of fragrance oil with an odorless carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil to ensure they melt easily in your fragrance warmer.)

Then mix in a pinch of mica powder.

Immediately pour the melted wax melt mixture evenly into two clamshell molds. Allow to cool.

Your wax melts are ready to use once they’ve fully hardened.

How to Make Wax Melts without a Mold:

If you don’t have a mold for making these easy DIY wax melts, then allow the wax to cool past 140°F. Once the wax looks solid, but is still in a semi-solid state (about the consistency of shea butter) roll the wax into balls.

You can press cornflowers or other botanicals onto the outside of the wax melts to keep them from sticking to your hands.

Then simply allow the wax melts to harden completely prior to use.

Yield: 2 Clamshell Wax Melts

DIY Wax Melts Recipe with Beeswax

Make these easy DIY wax melts with beeswax to freshen your home with a fun fragrance blend of ruby cassis, ripe pineapple, sweet rose blossoms and dewy fresh air.

Active Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

2.5 oz. palm kernel flakes
2.5 oz. beeswax
.6 oz. Crafter’s Choice Be Delicious Blossom Fragrance Oil
pinch Granny apple green mica, optional
blue cornflowers, optional

Tools

digital scale
digital thermometer
2 clamshell molds
spatula

Instructions

Weigh out the palm kernel flakes and beeswax.
Combine in a double boiler, then heat over medium heat until melted.
Meanwhile, weigh out the fragrance oil and set aside.
Add a few cornflowers to the clamshell molds. Set aside.
Once the palm kernel flakes and beeswax melt completely, remove from heat.
When the wax reaches 140°F, stir in the fragrance oil and mica powder.
Then pour the melted wax melt mixture evenly into two clamshell molds.
Allow to cool and fully harden prior to use.

More Ways to Scent Your Home This Spring

Wax melts aren’t the only way to scent your home. Here are some other great DIY ideas for freshening up your space as you dive into spring cleaning.

If you enjoyed my recipe for making easy DIY wax melts with beeswax, then be sure to pin this project to Pinterest for later. And check out my recipe for making DIY Christmas wax melts for the holidays. Also be sure to follow my Pinterest boards for more great DIY ideas and projects.

Discover more of my homemaking projects by following me across all your favorite social media platforms. You can follow Soap Deli News blog on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive an email whenever I share a new post!

Filed Under: DIY Craft Project, Handmade Home Tagged With: air freshener recipe, crafts, diy, easy, fragrance, fragrance oils, handmade home, home fragrance, homemaking, spring, spring cleaning