Living La Vida Holoka


Homemade Natural Bug Repellent

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Sick of swatting away mosquitoes while you’re hanging outside during the summer? Naturally keep pests away with this Homemade Natural Bug Repellent made with essential oils!


My husband is off this week, so that means we’ll probably be spending most of our time outdoors.  Honestly, we’ve already been spending all of our free time outdoors!  Last weekend, he had a four day weekend and we were outside doing some yard and garden work.  We pulled two dead azalea bushes from the backyard and replaced them with rock mulch and a couple dwarf butterfly bushes.

With all of our extra rocks, I cleaned up the front landscaping a bit.  I was carrying buckets of rocks back-and-forth from the backyard to the front yard.  During my travels, I ended up with my first mosquito bite of the season.  Right on my lower ankle!  

Despite having pots of lemongrass and lavender – known mosquito repelling plants – around the yard, bugs still happen.  It’s summer.  They’re outside and so are we! But the last I want to do when I head outdoors is douse myself with bug spray!  I recently found an article on Facebook stating that lemon eucalyptus oil is just as effective as using DEET.  After sharing the article, one of my friends asked me to create a blog post on the topic, so here we are!  


I was a little confused about lemon eucalyptus oil at first because I thought it was just a blended oil.  But it’s not!  This essential oil is actually derived from a type of eucalyptus tree.  However, there are a number of essential oils that can be used as bug – and especially mosquito – repellents. 

Mosquito Repelling Essential Oils
  • Lemongrass
  • Citronella
  • Lemon Eucalyptus
  • Eucalyptus
  • Lavender
  • Geranium
  • Peppermint
  • Patchouli
  • Clove
  • Tea Tree Oil

I decided to make a natural mosquito repellent roll-on bottle to swipe on when we head outside.  I used a combination of lemon eucalyptus oil and a couple drops of peppermint.  Lemon eucalyptus oil has a scent that reminds me of citronella.

I’ve only ever used citronella oil in homemade candles because it has such a potent smell to it.  Not only does it repel mosquitoes, but my husband really hates it, too!  So I wanted to balance out that lemon eucalyptus scent with a little peppermint oil. 

I also used jojoba as my carrier oil (dilutes essential oils to make them safe for topical application) since it’s odorless and moisturizes the skin.

SUPPLIES

STEPS

  1. If necessary, remove the cap and roller top from the roll-on bottle.
  2. Add 10 drops of lemon eucalyptus essential oil.  If using another oil to blend, like peppermint, add about 5 more drops of that oil to the bottle.
  3. Fill the rest of the bottle with jojoba oil.
  4. Then, replace the roller top and cap.
  5. Give the bottle a good shake!  Add a label, if desired, and apply to wrists and ankles before heading outside.


After I popped the top back on my new bug repellent roll-on, I made a label for it using my Cricut machine.  I’m keeping this little bottle in the kitchen, by the back door, so I can roll it on and go!  

How do you naturally repel bugs during the summer?

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Punny Herb Planters DIY Cricut Project

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Add a little humor to your herb garden this summer with these Punny Herb Planters!  It’s an easy project to make on your Cricut or with premade vinyl stickers.


A couple weeks ago, I spent a Saturday morning at a large greenhouse with my mother and mother-in-law.  I take them every year as part of their Mother’s Day present.  Even though our garden has been planted and our pots have been filled with flowers, I still had a short list of plants and garden supplies that I wanted to pick up while I was there.

I could have gone so overboard at that place!  But there isn’t much space left to fill in our yard.  So I resisted buying every single plant and planter that caught my eye!  After all, our vegetable garden is really starting to take off, we have pots filled with black flowers, and I have quite the variety of herbs growing this year.  


Before we started planting our garden, I came across a cute planter DIY on Hobby Lobby.  The planters had “punny” sayings like “mint condition,” “bay leaf in yourself,” and “I’m kind of a big dill” stamped onto them.  I decided to make some punny herb planters of my own using my Cricut.

I’m still relatively new to making Cricut projects.  I bought my Explore Air 2 over the holiday season when it was on sale at Michael’s.  Since then, I’ve made personalized coffee cups and wine glasses for family, as well as some home decor.  Simple projects!  

This project was really simple!  I used Cricut Design Space’s free Cricut Classic font, kept each phrase about 3-4 inches in height and width, and cut it on black vinyl.  If you don’t have a Cricut machine, you can use black vinyl letter stickers or a black marker to make your own planters.

SUPPLIES

STEPS

  1. Create your text in Design Space and cut the vinyl.
  2. Remove the extra vinyl from the design.  Then, cut a piece of transfer tape to size.
  3. Remove the backing from the transfer tape and lay it over your design.  Use a spatula to rub the tape down onto the design.
  4. Carefully lift the transfer tape off of the design.  It should easily come off.  If it doesn’t, you can help it along by lifting a corner of the letter.
  5. Once the design has been lifted onto the tape, position it over the planter and once again use the spatula to rub the vinyl onto the planter.
  6. Peel the transfer tape off of the planter. 
  7. Fill the planter with potting soil and plant an herb of your choice!

Punny herb phrases for planters!

 
In case you need some help thinking up some herb puns, here you go!

  • Don’t stop bay-leafing
  • I’m kind of a big dill
  • Mint to be
  • Say aloe to my little friend
  • Here today, tarragon tomorrow
  • Ain’t nobody got thyme for that
  • Sage it ain’t so
  • The pesto’s yet to come
  • Good chives only
  • Eat, drink, and rosemary
  • Just say oregano
  • And because I couldn’t find a good pun for cilantro – I do not taste like soap


We’ve had a lot of rain so I was curious about how the vinyl would hold up outside.  So far, so good!  It hasn’t budged or faded!  These planters would make great gifts for gardeners and it’s never too late to add another herb to your garden.  Then again, I tend to think you can always find room for a new plant! 

If you’re new to Cricut, head to my post, The Best Cricut Tools & Accessories for Beginners, to get the supplies you need to tackle your first project!  You can follow me on Instagram to see some of the other Cricut projects I’m working on.  Or check out the Cricut icon in my highlights to see previous projects!

 

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DIY Outdoor Planters – 20 Creative Projects to Add to Your Garden

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Get crafty in your backyard this spring and summer with 20 creative DIY outdoor planters that will add a little handmade charm your garden!


Gardening season has officially begun here in New Jersey!  Of course, we were cleaning up the yard the moment the ground thawed!  This year, we got a super early start on gardening season.  My husband built a fence around our garden while it was still winter.  Towards the end of March, I was putting out pots of pansies, planting bulbs, and setting out some outdoor decor.  When spring fever hits, it tends to hit hard, and this year was no different! 

One thing I’m really excited to do, now that I can plant all sorts of summer plants, is go through our many, many, many pots to see what I can use, what I can give away, or what needs to be thrown away.  I’ve made plenty of DIY planters over the years and they’re definitely my favorite to hold onto!  Some were made with new materials and others were made with things we had on hand.

Last year, I found a rather large, pink birdcage at a yard sale.  I’m thinking about turning it into some kind of planter this year.  It was such a great find and is big enough to hold lots of plants!  I love a good upcycling project!  If you do, too, check out these 20 DIY planter projects.  Some are upcycled (get ready to hit up those yard sales!) and others are creative, new projects to add to your backyard! 

20 Creative DIY Outdoor Planters to Add to Your Garden
  1. DIY Cedar Ladder Planter – Our Home Made Easy
  2. Wooden DIY Planter Box (with build plans) – Sustain My Craft Habit
  3. Give Your Plant A Throne – The Lovely Drawer
  4. Old Drawers into Porch Planters – My Repurposed Life
  5. DIY Hanging Flower Basket Planter with a Repurposed Vintage Colander – Sadie Seasongoods
  6. Turn An Old Tire Into A Gorgeous Planter – Addicted 2 DIY
  7. How To Make A Stunning Wall Planter From Broken Plates – Pillar Box Blue
  8. Succulent Birdcage Planter – The Gardening Cook
  9. Modern Concrete Planters DIY – Paper and Stitch
  10. DIY Colander Flower Planter – Through Her Looking Glass
  11. Dutch Wooden Shoes as Wall Planters – Sadie Seasongoods
  12. Copper Plant Stands – Sarah Sherman Samuel
  13. How to Convert Used Candle Containers to Cool Planters in Minutes – Paper and Stitch
  14. DIY 3D Planter – Almost Makes Perfect
  15. Modern Planter Box – Stacy Risenmay
  16. Painted Cinder Block Planters – Little Miss Momma
  17. DIY White Washed Terra Cotta Pots – Setting for Four
  18. How to Age Galvanized Metal to Make Herb Planters – A Home To Grow Old In
  19. DIY Mid Century Planters – Sugar & Cloth
  20. Geometric Faux Metal Planters DIY – Paper and Stitch

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Do you have any upcycled planters in your garden?

20 Bright and Colorful DIY Easter Wreaths to Decorate Your Door

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Decorate your door with a festive look for spring and Easter with one of these 20 Bright and Colorful DIY Easter Wreaths!


You know I love a good wreath project! I’ve made a DIY wreath for just about every season….except Easter.  It’s probably because I have a couple store bought Easter wreaths that I’m super attached to.  One is a bunny-shaped wreath that lights up.  The other is a neutral wreath decorated with white feathers and off-white and brown eggs.  Some of the eggs fall off year after year and some of the paint has started to chip off the eggs, but I just can’t part with it.

The only DIY aspect about these wreaths is the fact that I break out my glue gun every now and then to reattach eggs and open some paint to make little touch ups here and there.  But if you’re looking for some new DIY Easter inspiration for your door, try one of these Easter wreath ideas!  They’re bright, colorful and a perfect welcome for the Easter season and your front door!

20 Bright and Colorful DIY Easter Wreaths to Decorate Your Door
  1. Magnolia Wreath DIY – The How To Mom
  2. Quick & Easy DIY Easter Wreath Tutorial – Urban Bliss Life
  3. Spring Cupcake Liners Wreath – The 36th AVENUE
  4. A Simple Marimekko Easter Egg Wreath – Pillar Box Blue
  5. Grapevine and Burlap Easter Egg Wreath Tutorial – An Extraordinary Day
  6. DIY Easter Rag Wreath – Blessed Beyond Crazy
  7. Tulip Wreath DIY – The How To Mom
  8. Chalk Paint Eggs for Easter – The Mom of the Year
  9. DIY Easter Bunny Wreath – Sustain My Craft Habit
  10. Easter Ribbon Wreath – My Suburban Kitchen
  11. Simple Easter Egg Wreath Tutorial – Seaside Sundays
  12. DIY Cardboard Easter Wreath – Little Red Window
  13. Easy DIY Easter Wreath – An Exercise in Frugality
  14. Simple Easter Wreath – Live Laugh Rowe
  15. Wagon Wheel Farmhouse Style Wreath Tutorial – Lydi Out Loud
  16. Easter Egg Wreath – A Pumpkin And A Princess
  17. Spring Easter Wreath – Sum of Their Stories
  18. DIY Fluffy Easter Bunny Wreath – Busy Creating Memories
  19. Rainbow Easter Egg Wreath – The House That Lars Built
  20. Spring Wreath DIY – Simple Acres Blog

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Do you have an Easter wreath on your front door?



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