DIY Fabric Softener Recipe & Printable

Hola, my earth friendly DIY'ers! After inventing an all natural wood stain, I started thinking about other products I could improve upon, things that would be kinder to Mother Earth. Here in Utah, we suffer with hard water issues because our H20 is way mineral rich. When I lived in Boston, laundry detergent was a constant source of grey water. 

➷ DIY OxyClean Recipe + Printable Recipe & Label ➹

Yo! My husband was watching Rocky last night and saying, "Yo Adrianne!" over and over again, repeatedly. I'm not sure why, but anytime he gets into one of "those 'key word' moods," as he calls them, I buy everything he sells. 

When he gets and my throat is dry, I shout, "Yo! Rocky, I'm thirsty," and he gets me water. If I'm up and he shouts, "Yo Adrianne, I'm hungry!" I get him food. I imagine if anyone were to walk in on this spectacle, they would laugh themselves silly! Or they may be just incredibly confused. A little while back, Zack got me watching that commercial where the guy is interviewing for a job and has a stain on his shirt. If you haven't seen it, well you should!

This one is also super funny too- seriously,

->> don't worry, this all comes together in a minute.

Anyways, whenever we go out to eat Zackers has a this confounded way of getting something on his shirt every. single. time. I don't know how he manages to do it?? But it's so frequent, now he bends the shirt and makes the stain scream-talk while he talks to me. It's super funny! But when we get home, that stain has got to come out. 

I know many of you probably use OxyClean, but at the rate I use the stuff I needed to make my own. Did you know you could do that? 

All you need is a 4 things, which you most likely have at your home.  

▲  Materials ▲  ↴

 ➲ Hydrogen Peroxide ⫿ ➲ Baking Soda or Washing Soda ⫿ ➲ Water ⫿ ➲ Spray Bottle

▲  Tools ▲  ↴

⫿ ➲ Measuring Cup, Whisk

And no this is not a paid post for either Tide or Arm and Hammer- that's just what we're using today, promise. 

I've written up the formula for you a few ways, on a pic so you can pin it or whatever you need. I also gave you a digital copy of the label I made and use. Just drag it onto your desktop, or go ▻ here to download it. I added the recipe right to it, that way I can remember what I need, without pulling open the computer.

Once you have everything, just mix it up. I used a whisk this last time and I liked how it turned out to I added that to your list. All you do is combine all three wet ingredients very well. I read that washing soda does a better job on laundry due to a higher pH or something. I just baking soda because I have like 9 million and 3 of them in the house. 

The ingredients will look something like this, with a little more bubbling in real life. But you get my drift. You can use this mixture as a laundry pre-treater or just add it to a load. Just use a couple tablespoons for pretreating stains, like Zack's shirts, and add a cup of DIY OxyClean to each load. I usually make a couple batches of this stuff at once, cause around here, we need it!

I added links to some of my similar posts, in case you're looking to make more of your own Cleaning Products or maybe just want more Free Printables!

▲ For more Printables  ↴  ▲

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▲ & For more Cleaning Supply Recipes ↴  ▲

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Here's the recap- an easy peasy way to DIY a cleaner ->

Tell me, do you have the same troubles with stains?  Does your husband repeat movie catch phrases until he gets you to say them?

Vintage Index Card Recipe Box w/Printable Recipe Cards

Hey there, cute lady friends! I am reposting a little project I whipped up the other day for Cassie, when I guest posted at her place. If this is a repeat, then this is where you sign off, and I'll catch you on the flipside.
To the rest of ya, here's my latest dish, I found this vintage, metal index card box the other day while garage sal-ing. It cost me three beans and I had actually been on the lookout for this very item! So I snatched up my sweet score without even an attempt at bartering for this sweet treasure. I thanked my lucky stars it was so cheap. I've seen them on Etsy and Ebay, but for nothing less than $15.

I've wanted one to put my recipes in for ages and, now that I have one, I can walk towards the light with a sense of accomplishment. Like I came, I saw, I conquered- my work here is done, you know? 

Not too fast. What. About. The. Recipes? 

Instead of using old magazine tear-outs or scratch paper, {yeah, so maybe I had some of that going on before} I made my own recipe cards. For these, I used some vintage-y styled freeware graphics so the new cards would have a retro feel to go along with the retro filing drawer.

You can grab your own, if you want to. Just DRAG the recipe card onto your desktop and you can print your own. {Google Docs and I are currently not on speaking terms, as it keeps distorting my images- even the pdfs. So whatever!} Oh yeah, and printing them on cardstock is a good idea for stability and durability.

I know that was a super easy project, but you know what's not super easy? 
Copying all my old recipes onto my new cards! Dope! 


I don't do a ton of kitchen projects, {because my rental kitchen is where inspiration goes to die} but coincidentally, last week I made my own vanilla extract. Of course I made my own printable for that, too. If you missed that post, you are welcome to grab that one here! 

And that, folks, is all she wrote. 

.Looking for places to link up your projects? Check out my Party page.

I'm also linked up here.

✥ Guest Host: Vintage Recipe Filing System @ Primitive & Proper✥

It's Friday YO!!!! Today I'm super stoked to say you can find me over at Cassie's place, Primitive & Proper. I am SURE you all know her- she kinda famous like that. But in case you don't, then here's a few of my favorite furniture transformations- a la Cassie.

 This recent turquoise gem- this lovely vintage dresser is now dressed in a vibrant new color! Though this is like one of a hundred awesome furniture makeovers. It's kinda just what she does!

 Cassie's "Color My World" coral challenge- look at these chairs. I just die for that color!!! {And PS, can I get an antique sign like that toooo.....?}

Now this may not look like much- but you are WRONG! Cassie has replicated the crazy awesome finish the stores like Restoration Hardware {my personal fav- duh] charge an arm and a leg for. Stop by to see how she does it!

Holy cow! I almost forgot- I am sharing a NEW project! 

I hope to see you there! Come on over and show me some comment love! ;-)

➷ Homemade Vanilla Extract + Printable ➹

I had an interesting morning yesterday. It all started at 11am, when I got a call from my hubby, Z.
"I feel so dirty," he shouted into the phone before I could even say "Hello?" Surprised, my eyebrows raised and I could feel my eyes widen with fear, before he clarified with, "I just bought a big bottle of Brandy from the liquor store!" I waited a moment more, a smile pressing on my lips. "I've never bought liquor," he shouted. Now I'm laughing, I waited for his rantings to end. But then I learn that my husband, who served 6 years in the Marines, has never walked into a liquor store and purchased anything alcoholic, especially not hard booze.
It was no surprise to me {or anyone else with a heartbeat} when he explained how strangely everyone looked at him as he picked up the large, brandy bottle, all hunched over it, checking over his shoulder nervously, as he shouted at the clerk, "HERE'S MY ID!!!" Simultaneously he presses his thick, black-rimmed, "crazy man" glasses back up his nose.

Apparently the clerk checked it, as the "Hunchback of Berger Dame," snatched the brown, paper bagged bottle up, HISSED, and scurried out of the store. Pressing my number on auto dial, he was shouting, "I FEEL SO DIRTY," running to the Jeep. Ah... my hubby! Step back ladies, he's all mine;-) Such. A. Ham. Anyway, it's not my usual post day- but I thought I'd share the little gift I'd just whipped up. The idea's not unique- I saw pics all over Pinterest at Christmas time- but I thought I'd share my version along with some labels I made- for YOU. 

What You Need: Brandy or VodkaFunky BottlesVanilla Beans- I found mine through AmazonFunnel Labels

Making the extract is beyond easy. Some tutorials say to cut open the bean, while others say to just throw them in whole. The flavor is in the seeds, inside the bean- So I guess, do what you think is best.

 I kept mine whole. For my bottles, I put a few beans in each one. Fill the rest of the bottle with brandy or vodka. I heard brandy will taste better- so I went with that.
The mixture needs to cure or set for about 6 weeks {or more} before the rich bean's flavor will extract. Use it before that and you'll just be getting drunk! ;-)
 Store the bottles in a cool and dark place, like a closet, while it brews. Which is also a funny story, because as we closed the closet door, my panicked husband threw his hands up in the air and said, "Great, now were closet drinkers." I bit my lip trying not to laugh, but then he chased that with (no pun intended), "It's such a slippery slope." I couldn't help it, I lost it and laughed so hard my ribs hurt.

I found a few downloadable labels online, then adapted one into what I wanted.   You can PRINT YOUR OWN, if you want to!





  I added a "to" & "from" section on the label for those of you giving them as gifts- like me. If you don't need that part- just cut on the line instead, leaving that section out. I think these make super gifts- that's probably why they were all over Pinterest! {hee, hee}   One of the reasons this is also a great DIY and present is that the beans are reusable. They will actually keep for years! When your bottle is 1/3 full, you can add some more alcohol and keep an ongoing supply. It's basically a 1 time cost. Because of this and that we are giving them away, I invested in some gourmet vanilla beans. Pretty sweet, huh?  *I made sure to add the directions for refilling onto the label- that way recipients know exactly what they're getting and what to do with it.

My little grandma is back in town- so I'm having a great week showing her the sights and playing lots of Scrabble. 





If you live here in Utah- make sure you check out the dinner that Lindsay {Southern Lovely} and I have put together. Tons of great sponsors have don't FREE SWAG for the attendees!! {YAY!} I hope YOU can come!! 

Looking for places to link up your projects? Check out my Party page.

I'm also linked up here.

✥ A Gardenberger Christmas ✥

I wanted to share a few images from our version of Christmas.  Here's a few pics of what we've done around the house this year.

The rhino and deer remain adorned with paint swirled ornaments.

We made paper chains from printer paper, sprayed with glitter and with left over paint chips.

We added a new accent color to the tree for very little money. You guys saw some of the ornaments I made this year. Well I made a bunch of glitter covered ornaments and colored glass ornaments as well. 

Glitter ornaments were made very easily with clear glass ornaments covered in Elmer's Glue, then sprinkled with more Martha's glitter. You can see my snow globe ornament and, at the very bottom of the photo, you can see the top of the mercury glass ornaments I made using the Looking Glass Spray paint.

This blue/green colored glass ornament was made with Elmer's glue and food dye using this great tutorial from Sand and Sisal. I also made some with Mod Podge and food coloring but I didn't know to dry them in the oven and it took forever! They came out like a clear colored glass instead of opaque, very pretty.

 I made a few more chevron ornaments since I liked this first one I made as an Anthro ornament knock off. I love the ornaments snow covered ornaments from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, so I made a few of those. She used a glue stick and Epson Salt's to create this look. I tried that, but liked a more snow covered look- so I switched it up and used Elmer's Glue, I also added some glitter to my Epson Salts and I think it looks so pretty.

This nativity ornament is a real beaut. I had it pinned on Pinterest, but I didn't actually make this one. Remember the committee I'm on for my church, where I put together the Christmas activity for all the women who attend our congregation? {When I made the magnetic play sets.} Well, this was our hand out for all the women. A talented friend on the committee made 80 of these awesome ornaments. She made the cut outs using her Cricket. Love it!

I made white clay key ornaments- three of them. I think I may work them into my gallery wall when the holidays are over- I just love them so much. I wanted skeleton keys for ages now- and finally just made my own. Would you guys like a tutorial to make your own? Just let me know and I can work one up! 

Each year we have friends and family over for a a ginger bread house building party/competition. 

We only use graham crackers, nothing fancy.

 

{From top to bottom} My sister made a sweet winnebego, complete with Santa poking his head out the window. I made a snow covered church, with stained glass windows. Z made a graham cracker Chichen Itza pyramid. I know, not very Christmassy- but he is very, very happy with it! And my mother-in-law used some mad cake decorating skills to whip up this winter wonderland home. I love her little snowmen with sprinkles in place of carrot noses!

We still have our magnetic advent calendar on the fridge. You can print your own numbers  if you want.

Do you guys remember the Christmas card pics we took?  {Our version of a popular Pinterest picture.)

 

 Here's where the banner ended up- all the in the back of the room on the sliding glass doors.

 And of course the faux zinc letters I made about a month ago sit on the console table.

And that hideous wreath I made over sits on the door. I think it's an amazing example of what a can of spray paint can do- cause that thing was so, so ugly!

And that, my friends, is all she wrote. I hope you enjoyed my own home tour this week. {Sorry if the repeats bored you.} I hope you all have the merriest of holidays and filled with the radiant love of your families. I appreciate each of you! Thank you for reading, for your friendship, and for sharing yourselves.