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Opal Crown


Summer's here, which means more time outdoors. These homemade bug repellent candles are ideal for those occasions since they work as a natural insect repellent to keep those pesky bugs away. My family enjoys spending evenings on the back patio until the mosquitos arrive and ruin the night. I've never been a fan of using store-bought bug repellent sprays, as they're usually filled with chemicals. That's why I love these homemade candles, as they are healthy for us to breathe and are better for the environment. On top of that, they smell wonderful and look great as decorations.



RECOMMENDED ESSENTIAL OILS:

  • Cinnamon
  • Lavender  
  • Lemongrass
  • Peppermint
  • Rosemary
  • Tea tree
  • Cedarwood
  • Eucalyptus

INGREDIENTS:

  • Soy wax
  • Candlewick
  • Mini terracotta pots
  • 20 drops of citronella essential oil
  • 15 drops of lemongrass essential oil (or other essential oil of choice)
  • 10 drops of peppermint essential oil (or other essential oil of choice)
  • 10 drops of cinnamon essential oil  (or other essential oil of choice)
  • Hot glue gun


DIRECTIONS FOR CANDLE MAKING:

1.) Secure the candle wick to the center base of the pot with a bit of glue.


2.) Set a double boiler by placing a heatproof bowl on top of a pot filled with water. 


3.) Pour the wax into the container.



4.) Stir occasionally until the wax is completely melted. 



6.) Remove the wax from the heat, add the essential oils and mix to combine.



7.) Carefully pour the melted wax into the pot.


 
8.) Allow the wax to harden.



9.) Trim the excess candle wick.





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Easter baskets are typically stocked with tons of single-use plastic or non-sustainable materials. This year, I wanted to avoid waste by focusing on an eco-friendly Easter basket for my son while still enjoying the festivities. With Easter right around the corner, I wanted to share some great ideas to help you create quality and meaningful Easter baskets that your kids will adore.



HERE ARE SOME PLASTIC-FREE GIFT IDEAS FOR EASTER:

1.) SIDEWALK CHALK:
Sidewalk chalk is a classic item that is also an excellent choice for a zero waste Easter basket. Egg-shaped chalks, which also come in cardboard cartons, are another unique option that fits in wonderfully with this occasion. I purchased these marble egg chalks at a supermarket, but you can find them online.





2.) PUZZLES/BOARD GAMES: 
Puzzles are excellent for keeping children occupied while learning at the same time. I've found puzzles and board games in good condition, some even brand new, at Goodwill. You can get a lot of amazing stuff at the thrift store for a fraction of the cost.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels


 3.) EASTER EGGS: 

Don't go out and buy new plastic Easter eggs. If you have leftover plastic eggs from previous years, you can utilize them this year. You can also upcycle the eggs by painting them to give them a new look. If you want to buy new Easter eggs, look for hollow eggs made of plant-based biodegradable plastic or hollow wooden eggs to reuse year after year.




4.) PLAYDOUGH:
What kid doesn't enjoy playing with play dough? I know my son can spend hours playing with play dough, and making your own is simple. You can find many recipes online that teach you how to make them. You can invite the kids to join you and spend time together having fun.

(Here are a few recipes I found online)
  • The Purposeful Nest
  • Tribobot
  • The Craft At Home Family


5.) EASTER GRASS: 
Although Easter grass isn't required, it does look beautiful lining the basket. This year, instead of plastic, use shredded paper as the grass in your basket.



6.) ART SUPPLIES: 
My son enjoys being creative! So I'll be stuffing his Easter baskets with recycled paper, non-toxic crayons/colored pencils, and paint this year!

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels


7.) BASKETS:  
Every Easter, stores are brimming with Easter baskets. Avoid purchasing plastic baskets as they can easily break. Beautiful baskets can be found at a thrift store for a reasonable price. I still have the first Easter basket I purchased for my son as a baby, and we use it every year. 

 Photo by Eduardo Rodriguez on Unsplash



8.) TOYS: 
If you want to put toys in your children's Easter baskets, you can buy wooden toys, make your own rag dolls, or buy secondhand. 

Photo by cotton bro from Pexels



9.) BOOKS: 
Books are my go-to for any occasion; you can't go wrong with them, and it's an easy way to bond with your children.

10.) CANDY/SNACKS: 
There are many ways you can go about this. You can buy candy from local stores that sell unwrapped candy, candy wrapped in tin foil, or you can make your own.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels


11.) CLOTHES:
If your kids need clothes, hats, socks, or even pajamas, this is an easy way to fill their baskets.

12.) GIFT BAGS:
A fast snip, pom-poms, and gift tag transform a plain brown paper bag into a wonderfully cute party favor. If you don't want to make your own, you can buy adorable burlap or cotton drawstring treat bags.





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Today I'm going to show you how I made this beautiful bohemian art piece. All you need to get started is a pyrography pen and a wooden circle.


 I was shopping for paintbrushes at Walmart earlier this week when I noticed a circle plaque in the arts and crafts aisle. I took one, not thinking about what I was going to do with it yet. Until I remembered that I had a wood-burning tool that I could engrave a design with. The only time I used it was to personalize a cutting board. I was impressed with how well it turned out. I regret not sharing that project here, since I didn't think I would like it. As for the plaque, I wanted a simple art design of a moon and sun. If you've been following me for a while, you'll know that I'm a sucker for anything celestial. Pyrography can be a little intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be hooked.


MATERIALS NEEDED:

  • wood-burning tool
  • circle plaque or scrap wood
  • pencil

(WATCH THE VIDEO DOWN BELOW TO LEARN HOW TO WOOD BURN)


DIRECTIONS:

1.) Before you start, set up the wood-burning pen according to the instructions on the package.
 
2.) Get a scrap piece of wood to practice on so you can get a sense of how the tool works.
 
3.) Draw your design in pencil first, then trace it with the wood-burning pen. You are free to create any type of design or pattern you want.




 
*TIP* Turn off the burning tool and wait until it is completely cool before changing the pen tips.





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A sustainable alternative to gift wrapping is furoshiki. Which is a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth used to wrap gifts or carry belongings. The type of fabric that is most commonly used is cotton, silk, nylon, or rayon. I love using fabric instead of single-use gift wraps to reduce waste. Cloth wrapping doesn't only look gorgeous, but it can last a very long time. You can use various pattern designs or colors depending on who you are planning on gifting it to. I wanted to make the fabric wrap using materials I already had at home. I found these beautiful fabric scraps I've used in previous projects. They were perfect and came out better than I expected.


MATERIALS:

  • Fabric 
  • Scissors
  • Needle & thread or sewing machine
  • Optional: greenery or flowers



DIRECTIONS:

1.) Cut the fabric to your desired size or depending on the size of your gift. (Mine measures 60 by 60 cm.)



2.) With the right side facing down, fold and press half an inch from the edge. 



3.) Fold and press the edge again. (Do this to each side.)



4.) Pin the edges so they won't unfold.



5.) Sew using a straight stitch by hand or with a sewing machine. 



6.) Do this to each side, and you are done!


7.) Decorate the gift with greenery or dried flowers.





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 Hand-painted tote bags can be a little expensive sometimes, and if you're like me that enjoy DIYing and saving a few bucks along the way, then this project is perfect for you. I love this project because you get to customize your tote bag to your liking. Today, I picked a design that was a little time-consuming but worth it. I was inspired by our beautiful crescent moon, and to switch it up a bit, I decided to incorporate florals and leaves into the painting.





 MATERIALS:

  • Canvas Tote Bag
  • Fabric Paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Pencil


DIRECTIONS:

1.) Slip cardboard inside the tote bag. This will prevent the paint from soaking through the backside of the bag.




2.) Lightly sketch a crescent moon with a pencil.




3.) Draw a few circles in different sizes. 




4.) In each circle, lightly sketch a flower.




5.) Draw some leaves to fill in the empty spots.




6.) Feel free to draw as many flowers as you'd like.




7.) Once you are happy with the design, trace it using fabric paint.





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I've had an old vase/pot store in the closet for years now. I was thinking about giving the vase away to somebody else (since I'm not the biggest fan of the color.) Until I saw the artisan earthenware vases on the Pottery Barn website. I fell in love with the rustic and antique look of the vases. I knew I could easily dupe the vase using baking soda and paint. 




 MATERIALS:

  • Old vase
  • Acrylic paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Baking soda



DIRECTIONS:

1.) In a container, mix 1 part paint and 1 part baking soda.




2.) Paint the vase with the baking soda mixture.




3.) In a bowl, mix water and khaki color to water down the paint.

4.) Dip a brush in the mixture and gently brush it over the vase.




5.) Continue to apply the paint until you are happy with the results.




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About me


 

Hi there! My name is Stefany. I am the writer and creator of Opal Crown. a crafty blog that covers DIY projects, beauty, fashion, decor, lifestyle, sustainability, and much more.

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