Tag Archives: make/do

Make/Do: Herbs in the House

We have a crazy patch of Mint growing in the sideyard. So much so that I gave it a big haircut in order to tame it and used the trimmings to create a large Mint bouquet for the coffee table. I didn't think of it in the moment (I just felt bad wasting all that Mint!) but it really brought a lovely dash of spring into our space.

Whether potted or cut, herbs in the house is a simple Make/Do project that takes no time at all. Choose a pretty pot or vessel, your favorite herbs, dirt and/or water... gussy it up & you're set. And if potted, make sure your herb-y friends reside near natural light.

Keep scissors handy to snip-snip when your herbs are needed. A mojito, perhaps?

Images: herbs 1, herbs 2, herbs 3, herbs 4.

Please take a moment to 'like House&Hold on Facebook + follow on Twitter + Pinterest! 

Make/Do: Hanging Houseplants

If 70's style macrame kind of scares you, take a deep breath & look again.  It's a little less fussy these days & very diy-able. It gives your home that effortlessly chic 'no big deal'/well styled look.

And if hanging potted plants is nay-nay, then take a look at the string balls, lower left image. (yes, tutorial!) or shove some trailing plants into shadow boxes, bottom right. These Ferm Living Display Boxes would work perfectly.

Do you have any hanging houseplants? I do not currently, but am plotting...

image 1, image 2 + tutorial, image 3 + tutorial, image 4.

Make/Do: Easy Houseplants

Adding more houseplants to my home has been on my '2012 to-do list. I used to do quite well with plants and always appreciated how they add cheerfulness to any room. Growing up my Mom always had various houseplants growing including the Spider Plant (shown above, middle) - such fond memories watching the "baby" spider plants growing off the ends.

While some houseplants seem to be a bit more fussy (I evidently can't keep a fern alive!) most houseplants just need light and water and cozy spot in your home. I have collected a few of my favorite houseplants in the image above, all via BHG - click through for more info.

This weekend I plan on going to a local Portland Nursery, Pistils to see what I can find! Houseplants are a simple assembly project -- plants + dirt + a vessel and you're set to brighten your space!

Are houseplants your thing... not?

Make/Do: Seeds & Sprouts

Spring is right around the corner! In Portland, we get overly excited about the first bud on the cherry blossom trees & the first eager daffodil to nudge out of the ground. Spring also means it's time to start thinking about a garden. No matter how big or small, every garden starts with seeds.

One way to get instant-gardening gratification is to "sprout". Loads of things can be sprouted from legumes (such as lentils), grains (wheatberries/wheatgrass wins this one) and many seeds ( also called micro greens - which is what's in the teacup above). If you think perhaps growing micro greens will become your new domestic obsession, check this out?

If you have the space, will you soon start some seedlings to later plant in your garden? This year I have lettuce, green beans, tomatoes & herbs on my 'to garden list. I'm not much of a gardener, but this year plan to do a bit more than last.

All images via my OUTSIDE pinboard on pinterest.
Do you Pinterest? Let's be friends!

Make/Do: Salt Dough Bird Ornaments

It's project week here on the H&H blog! Today's project: simple salt-dough ornaments.

Making salt dough is about as simple as it gets, I followed the instructions, here. My only pointers are not to roll the dough too thin & be sure to use a drinking straw to cut a hole so you can hang the ornaments later (as shown above on the swan).

My kids & I cut out a flock of various birds using a set of small bird cookie cutters. After the dough is rolled, cut & ornaments are placed on a baking sheet to bake at a low temp until they are dry, it's glitter time!

First, apply a medium layer of white glue. Work fast! The baked salt dough absorbs the glue rather quickly. Then dump a big coating of glitter on the ornament -- I used a couple different white course glitters I had on hand. After you knock the excess glitter off, set the ornaments aside on a piece of parchment paper to dry.

Once dry, time to hang on the tree..or wherever else! I used cotton string but a metal hanger would also work.

Making a collection of Bird Salt Dough Ornaments was a quick & inexpensive project the kids & I both worked on and enjoyed -- fun!