Green Idea 3 - Making your own deodorant... 3

I have been using homemade deodorant: http://anic-lohas.blogspot.com/2012/01/green-idea-3-making-your-own-deodorant2.html

With the same recipe, today I made another batch...   The last batch I made has lasted me 18 months including sharing some with a friend and I just stored it in a small jam glass jar I recycled.   This time, I poured the mixture into 20 gram lip balm tubes, easier to use..  :)  

The link to the recipe in case you want to try:  :)

   http://www.lovinsoap.com/2010/07/handmade-natural-deodorant/

Regards,

Anic

Green Idea 3 - Making Your Own Deodorant...2

I have been using home made deodorant; 1 part of baking soda mixed with 1 part of corn starch and a few drops of Tea tree oil.   It is working well for me but I thought I should also try the beeswax version since I have some beeswax at home.

Found this recipe:
http://www.lovinsoap.com/2010/07/handmade-natural-deodorant/   --  (note:  should  add shea butter after the beeswax is melted.)

My new home made deodorant.

I don't have a deodorant stick case, so I just leave it in the small glass container I mixed the ingredients.     Happy with the result so far...

If you don't have shea butter, I suggest you use a recipe without it:
http://recycleyourday.com/revisiting-the-homemade-deodorant-recipe/  - don't make too much the first time, half the recipe..  :)

Many more recipes here:
http://recipemama.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/home-made-deodorant/

For those who wants to buy beeswax,  please contact Sylvia at sweetprettystuff at gmail dot com.   She has unrefined beeswax from US at RM15 per 100 gram.

Some other sellers:
http://storysoap-english.blogspot.com/2010/06/soap-making-raw-materials-for-sale.html
http://www.beauty360degrees.com



Bye,
anic

Sew Along - MyBotang Appliqué Project..5

I completed the bag I wanted to make using the flowers applique I made recently (with MyBotang Sew Along,  A big Thank You to Sue for organising this.)

It is a simple bag and similar technique could be seen here:
http://anic-lohas.blogspot.com/2010/07/bags-from-old-t-shirts.html

I added batting to the applique and quilted a bit using Nylon invisible thread (sample of how it looks.  I bought it locally in Ampang, about RM7 per spool of 200M).  It is almost stress free sewing with invisible thread..  Since it is designed to be invisible, it is not easy to see even if the sewing is bad..  :)

This is the back of the bag..   I finally have a chance to use this blue & flower laces which I think I got them as free gift from fabric suppliers.  

The bag was made from an old pair of jeans.  I probably have it for more than 15 years.   I have only used the leg parts of the jeans.

 I kept the top part, planning to turn it into another bag...

The lining is made from an old denim shirt.  I left the pocket intact..  I needed a pocket inside the bag anyway..  :)

The blue cotton strap came from http://loveandcraftsupply.blogspot.com/ (already out of stock), 1 meter RM3.6.

oh..  please meet my new friend, Jean-A-Ma-Jig.  Without it, sewing through the thick Jeans seam would be a night mare...

See here on how to use Jean-A-Ma-Jig:

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/product-testing/from-the-lab-blog/denim-sewing-tool-review

The above link has better pictures and explanation of how the tool is used.  But here are 2 lousy pictures I took.   To sew over thick area, the presser foot is at an angle, we could slide the Jean-A-Ma-Jig behind the presser foot (or in front) to make the presser foot even, then sewing is easier...

Bought it from Joann, tumpang kawan beli....

Have a good weekend,

Anic

Green Idea 4 - Plastic Bags & Shopping Bags

I started using shopping bags awhile a go but I still have some plastic bags from before..   And sometimes, when I forgot to bring my own shopping bags, I collected some new ones...  :(    (see at the end of this entry on how to organise plastic bags.)

To avoid forgetting,  I now keep a shopping bag in my handbag.    It is very small when folded and doesn't take up much space in my handbag.   I bought it at Guardian, about RM6 (I think).   But you could sew one...

When open up, quite big.. carry quite a lot of things.

Repurpose pillow case as shopping bag:

I have this unused pillow case and turned it into a shopping bag...   Quite happy with the result.

Another shopping bag added to my handbag.  :)

Useful way of organising plastic bags:

If you have lots of plastic bags at home, fold them neatly and keep a few in your bags and many in your car.  :).  There are many ways of folding them.

1) Triangle (my favourite) : 

How to do:

http://www.origami-resource-center.com/grocery-bag-folding.html

http://www.xiaoyenzi.com/2009/11/how-to-fold-a-plastic-bag/

2) Square : http://www.doflick.com/ViewVideo.aspx?vId=260

3) A knot: http://www.xiaoyenzi.com/2009/11/how-to-fold-a-plastic-bag/

Bye now,

Anic

Green Idea 3 - How To Make Your Own Deodorant?

There are many harmful ingredients in products we use daily but we generally don't pay enough attentions. I am slowly switching out things which I find harmful ingredients in them. I have been able to use home made soap for body & hair, home made laundry detergent & dish washing soap, and now I am going to switch to home made deodorant.. :)

I found this simple recipe to make our own deodorant and I am going to try it:

http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=596

(I mix 1 part of baking soda with 1 part of corn starch (rather than 6 parts).)

What are the potential harmful ingredients one may find in commercially available deodorant? Aluminium is one of them and it is absorbed through the skin and accumulates in the body.

Read more about this here:
http://www.dyingtolookgood.com/deodorant_top7.html

Bye and have a good weekend.
Anic

Green Idea 2 - Lining waste paper bin with Newspaper

I used to line my waste paper bin with plastic bags I collected from shopping.  But after I started bringing my own shopping bags, I thought I should also stop lining my waste paper bin with plastic bag at least for dry rubbish...

So, I started lining them with newspaper:

Tutorial here (though in mandarin but the photos are self explanatory)
http://www.elhomeo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=205

If the waste paper bin is too big and hardly filled, make a small bag.  I just fold anyway I like:



Hope you like this small idea...

Green Idea 1 - Gift bags

I needed nice bags for taking gifts for Chinese New Year (CNY) visiting.  Instead of buying them,  I made them from the paper bags & greeting cards I collected.   I cut the greeting cards to the right size and glued one piece each to the front and back of the bag...  very simple.. :)

Cost saving and green.

This is a bag from Secret Recipe... :)   Just a small idea to share..