Seed-Starting Helpers

After making lots of fresh-squeezed juice, I reuse my citrus halves as pots for seedlings.   Just scoop out all of the remaining pulp and let the halves dry for a few days in a dark dry spot.  A few days later, just fill them with potting mix and plant with fast growing seeds like sweet peas.  No need to poke holes in the bottom of the rinds since the dry skin of the peel absorbs the moisture.  I like to place my potted rinds in cupcake pans.

Celebrate Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras Wreath:

When you see the colors purple, green, and gold, you know Mardi Gras is fast approaching, so let's get into the spirit and create a Mardi Gras wreath!  Using a wire wreath form, sporadically tie 6 inch pieces of purple, green, and gold ribbon around the wire wreath form until the entire form is covered.   Be sure to use shiny, metallic mesh ribbon for that classic Mardi Gras look!  For an extra punch of color and dimension, add sparkly "pick accents" found at your local craft store.  Once the wreath is complete, place on your front door and enjoy!

Supplies:

- Wire wreath form

- Metallic mesh ribbon (purple, green, gold)

- Sparkly pick accents

Mardi Gras Centerpiece:

This is a great time of year to throw a Mardi Gras party, and the centerpieces can be simple yet colorful!  Take a clear glass vase and tie sparkly mesh ribbon using purple, green, and gold around the vase.  Fill the clear glass vase with fresh flowers with the traditional Mardis Gras colors in mind.  Add accents with lots of sparkle to the arrangement as well!  Be sure to accentuate the table with lots of plastic, colorful beads!  Happy Mardi Gras!

Supplies:

- Clear glass vase

- Metallic mesh ribbon (purple, green, gold)

- Fresh flowers

- Accents with sparkle

- Plastic beads

 

 

A Gardeners Valentine

If you have a gardener in your love life then give them this year a miniature planted garden.  Just find that perfect container and plant an assortment of different indoor plants for a winter garden.  Pick plants that your partner would love.  Choose different assorted foliage plants along with a few blooming ones as well.  I like to make miniature indoor gardens with plants such as the TETE Daffodil, Blue Hycinth, Hydrangea, African Violet, assorted ferns, the Angel Vine, and the English Primrose.  An orchid mixed in adds that tropical look.  The plant selection is up too you.....You just want it to be very personal.

Anthurium Terrarium

The Anthurium flower is the shape of a heart thus making it ideal for Valentine's day.  Why not funk it up somewhat and simply remove the plant from its pot (4 inch potted size is perfect) and then wrap around the exposed root-ball with Spanish moss.  Now all you have to do is place the plant in a glass cylinder to size.  The perfect gift for home or at the office. 

Valentine Beta Fish Gift

Valentine Beta Fish Gift:

Give your Valentine something different this year!  Create a Valentine Betta fish arrangement!  You will need:  a clear vase, rocks and/or colorful gravel, one Betta fish, a clear plastic dish, a straw, and a Peace Lily plant.  First, prepare your vase and stones/colorful gravel with tap water to remove any dust particles.  Next, remove the Peace Lily from the pot and rinse the soil off the roots.  Trim the bottom of the roots to where they are even.  Cut a hole about the size of a quarter in the bottom of a 4" plastic planting tray that will fit inside the mouth of the vase.  Pull the roots throughout the opening in the plastic tray and place plant inside.  Place the stones/colorful gravel at the bottom of the vase.  Fill the vase with room temperature water preferably bottled water.  If using tap water, be sure to use drops to neutralize the chlorine.  Gently place the Betta fish into the vase.  Put the plant with the plastic tray inside the mouth of the vase.  Cut the straw into a 3 inch piece and place the straw inside the opening with the plant to where half of the straw is inside the vase, and the other half is sticking out.  This provides a constant source of air.  Place more stones inside the plastic tray to secure plant.  Tie a decorative bow around the top of the vase.  For an added pop of color and to honor the special day, place colorful, heart shaped stones at the bottom of the vase as well.  These stones may be found in the jewelry department of your local craft store.  

Here are some helpful hints for caring for your Betta fish:

Feed once daily through the straw.  

Only place ONE Betta fish inside the vase as they do not get along with other fish.

Add water daily if necessary.

Clean vase one time per week.

Supplies:

- Clear vase

- Rocks and/or colorful gravel

- One Betta fish

- Bottled water or tap water with drops

- Clear plastic planting dish

- Peace Lily

- Colorful heart shaped stones

- Ribbon

Valentine Intial Glasses

It's that time of year to toast to our special someone!  Why not create simple and inexpensive Valentine glasses with your initials!  Simply take any clear glass and place letter stickers onto the glass representing yours and your special someone's initials.  For example:  P + E on one glass and E + P on another glass.  You may be as creative as you'd like by adding heart shaped stickers too!  You may spray the glasses with a clear coat to protect the stickers.  Cheers to your Valentine!

Supplies:

- Clear glasses (found at the dollar store)

- Letter stickers (local craft store)

- Protective spray optional

Moss Heart

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so why not display a moss covered heart for your front door or a mirror indoors!  Using white foam core board, draw a large heart and cut the heart out using a razor blade.  Next, hot glue ribbon of your choice on the backside creating a large loop for hanging purposes.  Using a hot glue gun, cover the front and backside of the heart with sheet moss.  You may add whimsical butterflies or any decoration of your choice.

Supplies:

- Foam core board
- Razor blade
- Sheet moss
- Ribbon
- Hot glue gun/ hot glue
- Decoration of choice

Roses are Red and Violets are Blue, Chris has the perfect Valentines Gift for you

Valentine Centerpiece:

Whether you are hosting a Valentine dinner for friends or enjoying your special someone's company, this Valentine centerpiece will be a true treat!  You will need oasis foam, silk flowers, hot glue gun, and an elongated, rectangular poster frame.  First, take apart the sides of the poster frame and flip the original piece of paper over to display the blank side and cover with the original plexiglass.  Put frame pieces back together.  You will now cover three blocks of oasis foam in silk flowers.  We used small, red flowers and took them apart incorporating the green leaves as well.  Hot glue the flowers until the oasis foam is completely covered.  Repeat these steps on all three blocks.  Once complete, place each oasis block covered with flowers down the center of the poster frame leaving a few inches in between each block.  This project may also be completed using fresh flowers.  The poster board frame acts as a "protective platter" if you choose to soak the oasis foam in water when using fresh flowers. 

Supplies:

- Rectangle Poster Frame
- 3 oasis foam blocks
- Silk or fresh flowers
- Hot glue gun/ hot glue