Mini Copper Planters

Materials:

- Copper cap fittings (in the sizes of your choice)

- Bottle of Ketchup

- Mini plants/blooms

The copper caps really don't require much attention other than a good cleaning, which admittedly, is a bit of a strange process. First, gently hand wash them with mild soap.

Now this is where it gets weird: To get most of the tarnish off of the copper in the simplest way possible, lather the outsides of them with ketchup. Yes, you read correctly. The vinegar in ketchup has just enough acidic properties to give the copper a good cleaning. Let it sit for about a half an hour, then rinse. It's surprising what a difference it makes. All that's left now is planting, and voila!

What do you think? Do you have any creative uses for copper around the house?

In the Mood for a Mood Board

First, you need an old picture frame and a junk lamp. Make sure the frame is solid wood and sturdy (you don't need the glass) and that the base of the lamp unscrews. Pick off all the paper and staples and nails from the frame and untwist the lamp base from the lamp. Just snip the cord with scissors to get it all apart. Now cut a little piece of dowel and drill small holes in both ends.

You need a long skinny screw and a washer to keep the screw from slipping through the hole in the lamp base. Stick the screw and washer up through the bottom of the lamp base and screw that bit of dowel onto the top.

Now the dowel is attached to the base.

Drill a very tiny hole through the frame like this.

And screw the frame onto the dowel.

And add some eyes and wires. And spray paint it.

Now clip all your hopes, dreams, and desires to it. You're done! So make some more! One for every room of the house. One to hang your jewelry on, too. And now you can actually begin the planning process of how you will get inspired to organize your life for the new year, a project you couldn't possibly have accomplished without first building a mood board.

Easter Animals made from Pipe Cleaners and Silk Clay

The pipe cleaners have been shaped into bodies and silk clay eyes, beaks and noses etc. have been attached. The animals have been fixed onto a stand made from foam rubber.

1. Crumple up and squeeze together a pipe cleaner. You may let legs and ears stick out.

2. Roll small white and black silk clay balls for eyes. The white ones should be larger than the black ones. Also roll or shape a beak or a nose and attach these parts onto the pipe cleaner animal without using glue. Silk clay has the consistency which makes this possible, before drying.

3. If you wish to use these Easter animals as a decoration for hanging, then attach a piece of elastic beading cord or a piece of string onto the heads. If they are to be used for standing, form a small ball from silk clay and attach this between the pipe cleaner and a cut-out foam rubber circle or stand.