DIY Crayon Hearts and Valentine’s Day Cards Craft for Kids

January 25, 2024 By Anne

Originally posted 2/6/2014

I was talking to my physical therapist two weeks ago and we were talking about crafts and kids. She told me o a craft she has done twice with her daughter for Valentine’s Day. I decided to try it out and am so happy I did!

Basically you will need:

Crayons – Sharpie – Cardstock – Heart shaped silicone mold ( I found mine at Joanne’s) – Glue Dots ( I got Elmer’s medium thickness.)

Everyone has broken crayons laying around. Okay maybe not everyone. But if you have kids you most likely do. This is a great way to recycle and reuse those crayons. Just peel the paper and break into small pieces. After I did mine I read that if you soak the crayons in water the paper comes off easier. My nails wish I would have know that before…At least my daughter helped me!

I did end up cutting some of the crayons with a knife. We tried to get a red and pink crayon in each heart. Then make sure to read the directions on your silicon mold. I put my mold on a cookie sheet and baked 15-20 minutes at 250. Let cool on rack or place in the freezer to cool. Then the hearts just pop out of the mold.

Then take the cardstock and cut into squares. Write whatever saying you like. We choose “You make my world colorful” But you can also use, “You color my world” or “Happy Valentine’s Day”. Then place a glue dot in the center and place the heart on top!

It’s that easy! I will use this again and again. It was fun and my daughter is so excited to give these to her classmates. I’m thinking I might make some for a craft fair…

What Valentine’s Day Craft are you working on?

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

Revamp Your Decor the Green Way

July 5, 2023 By Anne

Pexels – CCO Licence

Decor and sustainability don’t always go hand in hand, but it is possible to revamp your home in a way that is green and sustainable. As we become more conscious of our impact on the environment, it’s not just about recycling, reducing, and reusing; it’s about rethinking our approach to home decor.

By making sustainable and eco-friendly decor choices, we can create spaces that not only look beautiful but are also kinder to our planet. In this post, then, we will take a look at a few things you can do to revamp your decor in a way that contributes positively to the environment, without compromising on style and aesthetics.

Incorporate natural materials

One of the simplest ways to revamp your decor in a greener way is to incorporate more natural materials into your space whenever you can. Unlike synthetic materials, which often involve harmful manufacturing processes and aren’t biodegradable, natural materials are renewable and have a much lower environmental impact, and can often be recycled by you or someone else when you decide to makekeover your dcor once again.

Take, for instance, the rustic charm of an interior barn door. Crafted from solid wood, these doors bring a warm, organic feel to your space, all while being eco-friendly. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, they are durable and can be sourced from sustainable wood, making them a green choice for interior design.

But the options don’t end there. Other eco-friendly materials include bamboo, which is a fast-growing renewable resource, and natural stone, which requires little processing. Cork and rattan are also excellent choices, being renewable and biodegradable. Natural textiles such as organic cotton, hemp, or linen are great for upholstery, rugs, and throws. Even reclaimed materials like recycled glass, metal, or reclaimed wood can be creatively used in your decor. By choosing materials that are responsibly sourced and have minimal impact on the environment, you can create a home that’s not only stylish but also sustainable.

Choose eco-friendly furniture

Furniture plays a critical role in any home decor – it is the thing that not only make sthe home look attractive, but that also makes it a comfortable space to spend time in too. However, not all furniture is created equal, especially when it comes to environmental impact. Many mainstream furniture items are made using non-renewable resources and may contain harmful substances like formaldehyde or flame retardants. That’s why choosing eco-friendly furniture is an important step in creating a greener home.

When shopping for furniture, it is a good idea to look for pieces made from sustainable materials like FSC-certified wood, recycled metal, or reclaimed wood if being green and sustainable is important to you. Also, consider the durability of the furniture. A well-crafted piece may initially cost more, but its longevity can make it more cost-effective and eco-friendly in the long run.

Additionally, buying second-hand is a great way to reduce waste and find unique, quality pieces because you will not be contributing to the use of finite resources. Visit local thrift stores, antique markets, or online platforms that sell pre-loved furniture, and you are sure to find an intereting piece of two that will probably have ore character than the new furniture you can buy right now, too. Finally, consider companies that adopt sustainable practices, such as using recycled materials, reducing emissions in their production process, or participating in tree-planting initiatives.

Opt for low-VOC paints

When revamping your decor, painting can dramatically transform a space. owever, traditional paints often contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), chemicals that can have harmful effects on both human health and the environment. These compounds can cause headaches, dizziness, and can even lead to kidney and liver damage. They also contribute to air pollution and the formation of smog.

To minimize these risks, opt for low-VOC or VOC-free paints and finishes. These eco-friendly alternatives have reduced amounts of harmful chemicals, making them a safer choice for your health and the environment. They perform just as well as traditional paints and are available in a wide range of colors and finishes. Make sure to check the labels when purchasing paint, looking for certifications that verify the product’s low-VOC or VOC-free status. This simple switch can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of your home makeover.

Maximize natural light

One of the most eco-friendly ways to brighten your space is to maximize natural light. Natural light not only reduces the need for artificial lighting but also creates a warm and welcoming environment. It can make your space look bigger and can even improve your mood and productivity.

To maximize natural light, consider the layout of your furniture. Arrange your space in a way that doesn’t block light from windows. Opt for light and sheer window treatments that allow light in while still providing privacy. Installing mirrors can also help to reflect light and illuminate dark corners.

For rooms that don’t have windows or lack sufficient natural light, consider installing a solar tube or skylight. These options can bring in natural light while also serving as a unique design feature.

Use energy-efficient lighting too

While maximizing natural light is a key part of green decor, it’s also important to choose energy-efficient artificial lighting for when the sun goes down. LED lights, for example, use significantly less energy and last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

Consider also using dimmer switches or smart lighting systems, which can adjust light levels to suit your needs, thereby reducing energy consumption. Even small changes like turning off lights when you leave a room or utilizing task lighting can contribute to energy efficiency.

Embracing eco-friendly decor not only contributes to preserving our planet, but it can also create a space that’s uniquely beautiful and healthy. It’s fair to say that each and every choice you make has a dramatic impact on the world around you, as well as youe home, so be suerw to chosoe wisely, but remember, creating a green home isn’t about perfection; it’s about making more conscious, sustainable choices one step at a time.

Anne

6 Innovative Home Upgrades to Promote Improved Sustainability

January 12, 2023 By Anne

Photo by Los Muertos Crew:

Sustainable living is becoming increasingly important as the effects of climate change become more apparent. Thankfully, there are several ways to make your home more sustainable that won’t break the bank. From energy-efficient appliances to smart thermostats, you can make many simple yet effective upgrades to help reduce your carbon footprint and live an eco-friendly lifestyle. Here are six innovative home upgrades that promote improved sustainability:

Solar Panels:

Installing solar panels is an excellent way to improve sustainability and save money on electricity bills in the long run. Not only do they provide a renewable source of energy, but they also require minimal maintenance once installed. Additionally, solar panel systems have come down significantly in cost and can power a whole house if enough are installed. You can also get creative and use solar panels to power small appliances such as water heaters or lights, making for a more efficient home.

LED Lighting:

LED lighting is one of the most effective ways to reduce energy consumption and improve sustainability in your home. LEDs last longer than most other lightbulbs, so you won’t have to replace them as often. Additionally, they use much less energy and produce less heat than traditional incandescent bulbs, so you can save money on your electricity bill each month.

Smart Thermostats:

Smart thermostats are a great way to ensure that your heating and cooling systems are running efficiently while also saving you money. Smart thermostats can detect when the house is occupied and adjust the temperature accordingly, which helps reduce energy consumption. Additionally, most smart thermostats come with scheduled settings that allow users to control their home’s climate from their smartphones or other connected devices.

Energy-Efficient Appliances:

Energy-efficient appliances can make a huge difference in the amount of electricity your home consumes. From washing machines and dishwashers to refrigerators and air conditioners, there are a number of energy-efficient options on the market that can help reduce your carbon footprint. Additionally, many local utility companies offer incentives for purchasing high-efficiency appliances, so be sure to take advantage of these programs if you want to go green.

Water Conservation:

Water conservation is another important part of sustainable living. Installing low-flow fixtures such as showerheads and faucets can reduce water consumption in the home without sacrificing comfort or convenience. Additionally, collecting rainwater to water plants or cleaning can help conserve even more water. Finally, investing in efficient irrigation systems like drip lines or sprinklers can help keep your lawn looking its best while using minimal water.

Composting:

Composting is an easy and effective way to reduce food waste while also creating a nutrient-rich soil amendment for your garden. Invest in an outdoor compost bin and start throwing your kitchen scraps into it instead of the garbage can. With a little bit of work, you’ll have nutrient-rich soil that’s perfect for growing fruits and vegetables in no time.

By taking advantage of these simple home upgrades, you can make lasting changes that will help improve your sustainability and reduce your carbon footprint. As we move towards a greener future, small steps taken today can have big impacts in the long run. So don’t delay – take action now and start living sustainably!

Anne

7 Practical Tips For Constructing An Eco-Friendly Home

November 3, 2022 By Anne

I mage credit

Building an eco-friendly home is a great way to protect the environment. There are numerous advantages for the body and mind living in an eco-friendly home. For starters, it aids in lowering utility costs and saving more. Moreover, you can lower your carbon footprint while promoting a healthy indoor environment. Do you want to create an eco-friendly home but are unsure where to begin? Here are some practical tips worth considering.

Install proper insulation

Insulation is a crucial factor to consider when constructing an eco-friendly home. Indeed, most energy in your home is used for heating and cooling. However, heat loss is caused by air leaks around windows, doors, and ducting. Seeing this, you don’t want poor insulation to render your indoor cooling and heating ineffective. With proper insulation, your energy use and energy costs will drop significantly. You’ll find it helpful to use green insulation instead of non-renewable options. Green insulation leverages discarded and worn-out materials like denim and newspaper, so keep this in mind.

Build your home in the right location

Location is essential, making it essential to prioritize it. Experts advise against building your home westward, as that will reduce sun exposure. Consequently, avoid constructing a home in areas vulnerable to earthquakes, hurricanes, or flooding. You also want to ensure easy access to public transit, grocery stores, schools, offices, parks, and so on. This way, you can avoid driving all the time, reducing your footprint.

Utilize eco-friendly building materials

Using eco-friendly materials should be on your list, as they can lessen the environmental impact of construction. Every component of your home, from the cabinets and insulation to the flooring and roofing materials, should be sourced from renewable sources. Use natural items like bamboo, recovered lumber, recycled plastic, and recycled glass. Even natural paints, which easily degrade without releasing chemicals, help prevent harmful environmental effects, so feel free to consider them. When buying these paints, read the labels to ensure they have low VOC levels and avoid inhaling toxic substances.

Put up solar panels

Consider using solar energy, as it’s free, clean, and sustainable. You need solar panels to harness the sun’s energy, so keep this in mind. Even though it can be expensive, it can provide long-term benefits. For instance, Utilizing solar energy will reduce energy usage and generate extra energy. The amount of power you can gather can depend on your home’s location and how your solar panels are installed. Therefore, you’ll find it helpful to work with professional solar panel installers to achieve the best results, so feel free to consider this.

Use energy-efficient windows

The issue with improperly sealed windows and doors is that they allow air to enter and leave the house. As a result, your heating and cooling systems must work harder to maintain a steady temperature inside the house, wasting energy and increasing expenses. For an environmentally friendly home, think about selecting energy-efficient windows. These windows offer enough energy savings, so keep this in mind. As a tip, work with credible energy efficient window installation experts to get the best window options for your home. Good blinds will also add to your energy-efficiency, as they will help you to maintain a consistent temperature within the home by blocking out heat. Pay Half Price Blinds a visit if you want to find out more.

Consider Choosing Efficient Faucet Fixtures

According to the World Health Organization, one in three people experience water scarcity, and access to clean water for residential use is becoming increasingly challenging. By ensuring you’re only using the water you need, you can contribute to fixing the water problem and building an environmentally friendly home. Fixtures for the bathroom and kitchen are being changed in various ways to reduce their environmental impact. For instance, using electronic faucets enables the water to only run when necessary, using less water overall.

Invest in tankless water heaters and rainwater harvesting systems

When designing your eco-friendly home, install a rainwater harvesting system to collect rainwater from rooftops and store it in a tank. Other uses for the gathered water include sprinkler systems and toilets. One of the most popular ways to collect rainwater today is with rain barrels. You do not have to wait for the water to heat up when using a tankless water heater. When using a tankless water heater, the amount of water heated is determined by how much water is used. Additionally, since it only heats the needed water, it reduces unnecessary energy expenditures. Secondly, you gain plenty of storage space by removing the hot water tank.

Building an eco-friendly home is beneficial for many reasons. Make sure to consider these solutions while creating the designs for your new home to contribute to environmental preservation.

Anne

How To Help The Environment As A Consumer

September 17, 2022 By Anne

As a consumer, you probably try to help the environment as much as possible. You’ll be looking for all kinds of ways to ensure that you are doing the right thing. Sometimes this isn’t easy, especially if you need something specific, and the only way to get it seems to be to add to your carbon footprint. This is why it’s important to know your options; the more you know about how you can help the environment, the more positive choices you can make. This will help you – and the planet – in all aspects of life. Read on to find out more.

Photo by Steve Johnson

Choose Environmentally Friendly Companies

Assuming you have a choice in where you buy your goods, it’s a good idea to spend some time researching the various companies you might be able to use. There are some that are much more eco-friendly than others, and using the ones that prove they recycle, cut down on their emissions as much as possible, put measures in place for water conservation, and do all they can to protect the planet is a good way to ensure you are just as conscientious as a consumer.

Don’t Use Plastic Bags

We mentioned single-use plastic above because it really is an issue when it comes to the environment. Plastic shopping bags are one of the worst examples of this; they are used once, then go to landfill, or, even worse, they litter the streets and green spaces. They can be fatal to wildlife, and they take many hundreds of years to decompose.

Avoiding plastic bags where you can is the best thing to do. This is much easier today than it has ever been because there are so many options available. Many stores offer tote bags or bags that, although made of plastic, are meant to be used multiple times. You can bring your own reusable bags to the store and use that too, which saves you money and ensure you don’t have to use one-time-use plastic bags.

Use Reusable Water Bottles

Everyone has to drink each day. If you’re at home, that’s not an issue – fill up a glass or a mug, drink from it, clean it, and use it again when you next need a drink. When you’re out shopping or at work, it’s a different story – you’ll still need to drink, but in many cases, unless you choose to sit in a restaurant, you’ll have to use disposal beverage containers. They might be plastic, which we know is bad, but even if they are cardboard and can be recycled, it would be better not to have to throw them away at all.

That’s why it’s a good idea to have a reusable water bottle with you at all times. You can top this up when you need to and never have to throw anything away. If you prefer hot drinks like coffee, you can get coffee cups that can be reused too, and the baristas will use those rather than their own.