Natural Outdoorsy Scents

Air fresheners, candles, perfume, soaps, and other artificial scents can be overbearing and filled with harmful ingredients. But there are times when your home or your car need a little freshen up. There is a simple, all natural, lovely solution to fix those fishy problems. Fill your home with subtle scents of spices and herbs. These inviting aroma’s go a long way to leave a good first impression of your home. I especially recommend using natural scents if your house is on the market. A family friend relator had once told me they advise their sellers to bake cookies or boil cinnamon in water right before a potential buy drops by to create a good first impression. 

There are many different natural scents one can achieve in their home. Today I will be going over how to use pine or cedar twigs/needles to create a natural room scent. These scents that are pleasing to one person may not be to someone else, so consider what perfume, soap, and candles scents you like and customize this technique to what your nose likes. 

Ingredients: 

• pine or cedar twigs 
• bay leaves 
• nutmeg 

Combine the ingredients into a small pot on the stove top (on a low heat setting) and cover with water. Keep uncovered to release the natural scent and create a pleasant scent throughout your house. Add more hot water as needed. As the water evaporates from the pan, top it off with additional hot water. It needs to be hot when it added so that it doesn’t cool down the temperature of the scented water.

higher heat = more fragrance 

These cooked scents can be reused 2-3 times. After they have been heated and simmered for awhile (the water will become cloudy and some of the ingredients will lose their colour). Store the natural scents (with the water) in jars and keep them refrigerated in between uses. 

Other scents you can make are citrus, herbs, extracts, and spices

DIY: Stacked Flower Pots

Stacked flower pots are a great way to create dimension to your home garden. Maximize limited spacing for growing plants and flowers while adding a whimsical feeling. In just a few steps, you can create a tipsy-turvy planter. 

Materials: 
- One 8" clay flower pot
- Three (or more of your choice**) 6" clay flower pots 
- One 62" rebar piece 
- A bag of dirt
- Potted flowers 

**I do not recommend alternating more than five pots as it will be hard to water and the tower could become unstable.** 

Step 1: Stake your piece of rebar at least 2' into the desired location. This is very important for stability as the pots being stacked on it will be heavy with soil, water, and plants. 

Step 2: Thread the 8" clay pot through the rebar until it reaches the ground. Fill the pot with soil, leaving and inch or two at the top.


Step 3: Slide a 6" clay pot over the rod until it reaches the soil of the 8" pot and tilt it on its side. Fill the pot with soil leaving at least two inches at the top. 

Step 4: Continue stacking the 6" pots on the rod alternating the way they lean until you run out of rod. 






Step 5: Plant flowers in each pot. You may need to add a little more soil around each plant as you plant them, but leave at least an inch at the top of each pot so that when you water, the water does not run out too fast.

To water, start at the top and water slowly. Continue until all pots have been watered. Wait several minutes and repeat the process. You may need to water the tower twice a day if you live in regions above 90 degrees. 

5 Ways To Reuse Fall Leaves

Since Fall has arrived and leaves are falling like rain, here are three ways to reuse those leaves in an eco-friendly manner.
   
 1. The Leaf Latern

This is a project I remember doing for arts & crafts in elementary school. It’s very fun and easy, and the final product creates a warm glow making the perfect fall decor. For this project, you will need:

• dried, pressed fall leaves
• regular Mod Podge
• a jar 
• a brush

Step 1: To create dried, pressed leaves, place them in between the pages of newsprint and let them sit for about a week (the longer the better). If your leaves are wet, dry them off before placing in newsprint. 

Step 2: Apply Mod Podge all over the sides of the jar. Do not apply to the bottom or the grooved lid area. I recommend using a foam brush to cover large areas like this. 

Step 3: Place your dry leaf onto the jar and press into place. Brush over the leaf with more Modge Podge until it is covered. 

Step 4: Continue to add leaves and Modge Podge until your jar is covered. Keep in mind that if you do overlap leaves, that will reduce the light that can pass though.

Step 5: Let the jar dry for several hours or overnight. Overspray with acrylic spray to set everything in place and give it that glossy coat. When done, place a tea light in the bottom and you are done! 

2. The Fall Leaf Wreath

Wreath’s are a great way to bring the lovely colours of autumn to your home. It can add warmth and vibrance to any space. For this project, you will need:

• preserved leaves (about 5-7 stems of leaves)
• a basic wreath frame (from grapevines, a coat hanger, styrofoam, etc..)
• floral wire or hot glue gun 
• ribbon (optional)

Step 1: If you wish to make your frame out of a coat hanger, simply stretch the coat hanger out into a circle. Pull the wire down from the middle of the straight part of the hanger, and then gently push the sides of the hanger inwards to make the wreath frame as circular as possible. Leave the hook part of the hanger intact so you can use it to hang the wreath up. You can purchase a grapevine or styrofoam frame from your local dollar store or craft store. 

Step 2: Attach the leaves, by branch or individually, to the wire base. This can be done by hot gluing the stems onto the frame or by using floral wire and tying the leaves to the frame. 

Step 3: Continue to attach the leaves all around until you can no longer see the frame. 

Step 4 (this step is optional): Make a bow out of ribbon and attach it over the the section where the the hook or any other hanger is located. This will give your wreath a more finished look and hid the remaining wire. 

  3. Leaf Art

This is a great arts & crafts project for kids. I always used to do this activity with the kids I babysit as it is super easy and allows them to be creative. For this project, all you will need is:

• soft, not too crisp leaves
• any size/colour paper 
• a black marker
• glue stick 

Step 1: Collect different coloured and sized leaves. 

Step 2: Glue leaves down on your piece of paper with and animal or person in mind. 

Step 3: Now add more leaves on top to create the features, or use a black marker.   

4. Stuff-a-pumpkin

Just in time for Halloween, this is a great way to get rid of those leaves that are stacked up in your yard right now. All you need for this project are Halloween leaf bags, which can be purchased at your local dollar and crafts stores, and a rake. With a few simple steps, your yard will become spooky in no time!

Step 1: Rake leaves into piles. The more leaves you rake, the more fuller the objects on the bags will become.

Step 2: Stuff the Halloween bags with the leaves to create simple Halloween decorations. 

If you like this idea, but cannot find the right Halloween leaf bags, simply take a garbage bag (and follow the same steps above) and you can spray paint a jack-o-lantern face on it to get the same effect. 

5. Leaf Silhouette 

This project can create great fall artwork for your home. I love silhouette’s because they can be so simply and featureless, but make beautiful compositions. For this piece, you will need:

• a canvas or piece of paper
• dry leaves
• paint (colour of your choice)
• toothbrush

Step 1: Cover your work surface with old newspaper and place the leaves as you wish on your canvas or paper. 

Step 2: Dip a tooth brush into paint. Hold over your project and use your finger to brush across the bristles, splattering the paint onto the canvas or paper. Splatter a good amount of paint across the leaves. 

Step 3: Carefully remove the leaves and leave to dry.