| How to Decorate a Christmas Wreath Posted: 19 Dec 2020 04:00 PM PST Christmas wreaths make wonderful decorative pieces during the holidays. You can purchase a plain wreath from your local department or home goods store and decorate it to fit your personal style. Start by choosing a theme, then select decorations like ribbons, pinecones, candy, and twinkle lights. Arrange your decorations then simply attach them with hot glue or floral wire, and voilà! [Edit]Design Ideas - Use green and red ribbon to keep things simple. What better way to decorate a Christmas wreath than with Christmas colors? Select at least 3 different kinds of ribbon so you have a variety of colors, prints, and sizes. Use the ribbon to make bows in different sizes and hot-glue them to your wreath. Or, wrap the ribbon around the wreath and make a single, large bow the focal point.[1]
- Attach ornaments to add color and shine to your wreath. Get ball-shaped ornaments in a variety of colors and sizes to really make your wreath stand out. Space them out evenly and attach them to the wreath with hot glue.[2]
- Space out groups of 3-5 ornaments for an aesthetically-pleasing design.
- String twinkle lights around the wreath for a magical touch. Twinkle lights are a cost-effective way to make your wreath sparkle. Pick up a short strand and wind them around the wreath so the lights are evenly spaced out. Hang the wreath in your window for a beautiful, festive decoration.[3]
- You can purchase a strand of twinkle for around $10 from your local crafts store.
- Spray on fake snow for a festive addition. Pick up a can of spray-on snow and use it to dust the edges of the wreath. Concentrate more on areas where snow would naturally gather, like the top of the inner edge. Then add faux miniature trees and pinecones to complete your Christmas scene.[4]
- Decorate your wreath with flowers for a feminine feel. Silk flowers are perfect for this project since they won't wilt and you can store the wreath and use it each year. Pick out a variety of blooms from your local craft store. Make sure they are proportionate to the size of the wreath. Cut off the stems and use floral wire to attach the flowers to the wreath.[5]
- Put groups of 3 blooms together at the top left and bottom right portions of the wreath and fill in the negative space with small ornaments or ribbon bows.
- Add a monogram for a trendy option. Monograms are super popular right now, and you can easily incorporate one into your holiday décor. Select a large letter from a craft store in a style you like. Paint the letter if you want to change the color, then attach it to the wreath with hot glue.
- Position the letter in the center of the bottom of the wreath, then add coordinating decorations, like ribbons or ornaments, around it.
- Attach pinecones for a more traditional look. Pinecones have an inviting smell and can make for a great contrast to the bright colors of candy canes and ornament balls. Go out and purchase a pack of scented pinecones from your local crafts store. Then, spray the back of the pinecones with glue and press them against the wreath for 15-20 seconds to let the glue harden.[6]
- If you're having trouble gluing the pinecones to the wreath, wrap ribbons around the wreath first and glue the pinecones to the ribbons.
- Decorate your wreath with candy for a whimsical option. You can use candy-shaped ornaments or real candy, like candy canes. This makes a great option if you have children and can also tie into your decorating scheme if you use candy on your Christmas tree or have other candy-shaped decorations.[7]
[Edit]Crafting Your Wreath - Pick a theme to make your wreath cohesive. Deciding on a theme before you start decorating can help you achieve a balanced, beautiful look. Think about the rest of your home décor so you can create a wreath that will fit right in with the rest of your holiday decorations.[8]
- Theme ideas include candy, winter sports, country Christmas, holiday baking, and fishing. You could even design your wreath around a single color like red or gold. The possibilities are endless!
- Select a wreath. You can pick up a real wreath or a faux wreath or even make your own. Or, you can even make a wreath out of non-traditional items, like ball ornaments or cookie cutters! Don't be afraid to think outside the box and choose something that really reflects your personality.[9]
- If you go with a real or faux wreath, fluff up the greenery and trim any overly long pieces before you start decorating.
- Choose a variety of different decorations. You don't have to stick with a single item, even if your wreath is themed. Pick a few different items that you like and think go well together. For instance, you could use a monogram letter, a ribbon bow, and a few flowers to make a gorgeous, balanced wreath.
- Lay out your design before attaching anything. Gather all of your materials and play around with the design. Aim for a balance between decorations and negative space—you don't want the wreath to look too cluttered!
- Asymmetry and grouping odd numbers of items together can help you create a wreath that's visually striking.
- Secure each item to the wreath. Once you have everything exactly where you want it, start attaching the individual pieces. In most cases, you can hot-glue the items directly to the wreath. If that doesn't work, try using floral wire to attach the items.[10]
[Edit]References |
| How to Make a Pom Pom Without Cardboard Posted: 19 Dec 2020 08:00 AM PST Making your own pom poms for your craft and DIY projects is a breeze! Classic pom pom DIYs are done with a piece of cardboard, but that method doesn't work for everyone. If you'd like to make your pom poms a different way, you can create large ones with just your fingers or small ones with the prongs of a fork. In just a few minutes, you can make the personalized pom poms of your dreams! - Hold up 4 fingers. You won't need your thumb to make your pom pom, so just hold your hand out like you're counting to 4. This will be the width of your pom pom, so you can expect one as big as your fingers are wide.[1]
- Your final pom pom will be about as big as the palm of your hand.
- Wrap one end of yarn around your fingers and secure it with your thumb. Grab your yarn end, but keep it attached to the ball of yarn for now. Wrap the yarn around all 4 of your fingers one time, then hold the end down with your thumb. You won't need to do this the entire time—just until the pom pom can stay together on its own.[2]
- You can use heavy yarn, light yarn, or even wool yarn. It's up to you!
- For a super cute pom pom, try using yarn that switches colors (also called variegated yarn).
- Keep wrapping yarn around your fingers until you're happy with the thickness. It's time to get winding! Keep wrapping your yarn end around your hand until your pom pom looks big enough. For smaller pom poms, go around at least 50 times; for larger ones, about 100 times should do it.[3]
- The thickness of your pom pom is totally up to you, so keep winding until it feels right.
- Cut the end of the pom pom off the ball of yarn. When you're satisfied with the size of your pom pom, go ahead and snip it off the ball of yarn. Make sure you're using sharp scissors so you don't have to struggle with this part, especially since you only have one free hand![4]
- If the angle is too difficult, ask a friend for help.
- Snip off a second piece of yarn that's about long. Keeping the pom pom on your hand for now, cut off another piece of yarn separate from your pom pom. Again, since you only have one hand free, you might need to ask for some assistance.[5]
- If you think your pom pom will hold, you can delicately slide it off your hand and set it down as you cut out your second piece of yarn.
- Tie the second piece of yarn through the center of your pom pom. Thread one end of your shorter piece of yarn through the center of your pom pom (in between your fingers and the yarn). Bring the end out the other side, then tie the loose ends together in a tight double knot.[6]
- This is what will hold your pom pom together and give it its classic round shape.
- Cut the sides of your pom pom to make it fluffy. Slide your pom pom off your hand and grab your scissors again. Insert the blade into the center of your pom pom, then cut both loops to make your yarn puff up. If all goes well, you should have a round-looking pom pom that holds together in the center.[7]
- Trim your pom pom until it looks perfect. If any of the center yarn is hanging off, trim that up a little bit. Then, you can go in with your scissors and snip your pom pom here and there until it's perfectly round. Now you can use your pom pom in crafts and decorations![8]
- The finished look is totally up to you, so don't stop snipping until you're happy.
- Wrap one end of yarn around the prongs of a fork. Hold your fork in one hand so that the prongs face upwards, then start looping the end of your yarn around the bottom prongs. Keep your yarn attached to the ball for now so it's easier to keep wrapping.[9]
- Fork pom poms are a little bit smaller; they usually end up being wide.
- Try to use a skinny, lightweight yarn for these pom poms so they're light and delicate.
- Keep wrapping the yarn until your pom pom is big enough. You can wind your yarn around the prongs until you think your pom pom looks perfect. For a smaller pom pom, you might need to wind about 30 times; for a bigger one, 50 times should do the trick.[10]
- Snip the end of the yarn. When you feel like your pom pom is done, grab your scissors and cut the end of the yarn to free it from the ball (you don't need to leave a tail). Keep your thumb on the tail end of the yarn so your pom pom doesn't unravel before you tie it off.[11]
- If it's too awkward to cut your yarn and hold your fork at the same time, carefully set your fork down and use your scissors with both hands (or just get a friend to help).
- Cut another piece of yarn that's about long. Using the same ball of yarn, cut a smaller piece that's just a big wider than the center of your pom pom. It doesn't have to be perfect, since you can trim it up later.[12]
- Thread the second piece through the middle of your pom pom. Grab one end of your short piece of yarn and insert in between the middle prongs of the fork. Bring it up through the center of your pom pom, then tie the 2 ends together in a tight double knot to tie your pom pom up.[13]
- The center of your pom pom should be pinched together just slightly.
- Slide the pom pom off the fork and snip the loops. Since your pom pom will hold together now, you can take it off the prongs of the fork. Use your scissors to cut the 2 loops on either side of the center to puff the yarn up and make that classic pom pom shape.[14]
- You can also trim off the tail end of the yarn that's holding your pom pom together in the center.
- Trim your pom pom down to the size you'd like. If your pom pom doesn't look perfect yet, grab your scissors and start snipping. Trim the sides down until they're all uniform and cut off any trailing ends that you don't like. Now you can make more pom poms or use this one in your craft project![15]
- Fork pom poms are tiny, so they're easy to make a lot of.
- Make a few different pom poms in various shapes and sizes for your craft and DIY projects.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Clean Turmeric Stains from Plastic Posted: 19 Dec 2020 12:00 AM PST Turmeric may be a delicious addition to your recipes, but it's not afraid to leave its mark on your plastic containers. Before you start scrubbing away at your dishes, take a look at the cleaning supplies that you have on hand. Experiment with different pastes, soaks, and cleaning products until you find a solution that works for you! [Edit]Quick Options - Cover the stain completely with a baking soda paste for 15 minutes. Take equal amounts of tap water and baking soda and mix them into a paste. Spread the paste over all of the turmeric stain, so the baking soda can do its thing. Wait at least 15 minutes, or until the baking soda paste dries, then scrub off the paste with warm water.[1]
- Create enough baking soda paste to cover the entire stain. For instance, if you're dealing with a big turmeric stain, you might need ½ cup (115 g) of baking soda and of water to get the job done.
- Coat the stain with oxygen bleach for 30 minutes. Create a paste with equal amounts of oxygen bleach powder and water. Rub this paste all over the stained plastic container, letting it sit for up to 30 minutes. Once the time is up, rinse off the paste and finish washing the plastic with dish soap and water.[2]
- To be safe, read through any usage instructions on the oxygen bleach before using it to clean your plastic.
- For example, products like OxiClean work well for this.
- Rub over the stain with melamine foam until it disappears. Grab one of these special cleaning sponges and wipe off the pesky turmeric from your plastic. Melamine foam sponges are rough along the surface, and should be able to remove the bulk of the stain. Once you've cleaned out your dish with this sponge, it'll be ready to use again.[3]
- "Magic Eraser" is a common name for melamine sponges.
- Treat the stain with a glycerine solution for 10-15 minutes. Create a cleaning mixture with of water, of liquid dish soap, and of glycerine. Mix all of these ingredients together, then blot the mixture on top of the turmeric stains. Wait about 10-15 minutes for the mixture to do its magic, then rinse it off with warm water.[4]
[Edit]Overnight Solutions - Soak the plastic container in a diluted chlorine bleach solution overnight. Fill a large basin or container with of water and of bleach. Set your stained plastic in the solution and let it soak overnight. The next day, clean off the bleach with warm water and soap, and see if your plastic looks any better.[5]
- Try a different cleaning option if you don't see any results overnight.
- Always clean your plastic in diluted bleach instead of concentrated bleach, so you don't damage your container.
- Let the plastic soak in a diluted lemon juice or light-colored vinegar mixture. Whip up a mixture with of hot water and of something acidic, like white vinegar or lemon juice. Pour the mixture into a big container or basin and let the plastic soak overnight. In the morning, take a quick look and see if the turmeric stains are gone.[6]
- Dissolve denture tablets in water and soak the container in the mixture. Fill the stained container all the way with warm water. Pop in 2 denture tablets, letting them dissolve into the water. Leave the denture solution to sit and soak the stains overnight. The next day, wash out your plastic with dish soap and water to finish cleaning it.[7]
- Two denture tablets should be enough to clean most containers.
- Set the plastic in direct sunlight for a day if you're not in a rush. Over time, direct sunlight can fade the stains on your plastic. While this isn't a very speedy solution, you might notice your turmeric stains lightening up after an afternoon in the sun.[8]
- For extra fading power, dry your plastic in direct sunlight after washing or soaking the stains.
[Edit]Warnings - Always wear gloves if you're working with harsher chemicals, like bleach or oxygen bleach.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Quick Options - Baking soda
- Oxygen-based stain remover
- Water
- Melamine foam
- Liquid soap
- Glycerine
[Edit]Overnight Solutions - Basin or large container
- Bleach
- Lemon juice or white vinegar
- Denture tablets
- Water
[Edit]References |
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