DIY

Bark Wreath – Natural Advent Wreath 2019

- Tobia 2 Comments
Bark Wreath seeking creative life

Inspiration can hit you anywhere and at anytime. This years natural advent wreath is inspired by one of my autumn walks across the cemetery. It was a beautiful day, I needed to clear my head, the air was already crisp and the smell of rotten leaves drifted by. While I was listen to one of the many podcasts on my phone I was hit with this view.

I tried to remember if that tree was really a cottonwood. I remembered someone once told me that the cottonwoods are not native to Germany and Germany. And that during/after WWII US pilots dropped many seeds over Berlin to re-grow vegetation that was cut down by the population during the years of war for firewood. I was also wondering why it shed its bark. And if it is a re-grown material… how much supplies will you get. Only an idea…

Well and here we go. The squirrel in me started picking up scraps of bark and putting them in my shopping bag. I had just decided no groceries today. On top I added some hazelnuts and walked home. There I let the bag sit near a heater until advent season was just around the corner..

seeking creative life craftaliciousme Bark Wreath

My initial idea was to wrap a wreath form in bark by bending it. This didn’t really work as the bark was too porous. It kept on breaking and splitting. I briefly considered wetting it as wood usually is more agreeable to be worked with but decided against it. I actually quite liked the scale-kinda-look.

Ok, let’s get started by gathering materials:

  • dried bark of a cottonwood tree
  • wreath form
  • glue gun and enough glue
  • candles
  • decoration

The tutorial is rather easy.

  • Break bake in smaller pieces.
  • Make sure there are not dirty or wet areas.
  • Glue on wreath form, The outer bark will be put on form so you will see the inside of the bark.
  • Once done place the candles. I decided to go with all candles close together.
  • Add decoration to your liking. I went with a brown golden color theme and really liked it.
seeking creative life Bark Wreath

That’s all you actually have to do. The most intriguing part of this natural advent wrath is the material. Most people I asked would not figure out what it was.

What is your favorite material to make an advent wreath? As you probably know I always try to figure out some new ways and rarely use fir-branches. Leave a comment and tell me about yours. It’s never to early to plan for next year.

Happy wreath crafting

Tobia

Homemade Coffee Cinnamon Scrub { RECYCLE QUICK TIP #13 }

- Tobia 4 Comments
craftaliciousme seeking creative life homemade cinnamon coffee scrub

Do you like coffee in the morning? I certainly do. If you are a coffee lover you will love this homemade coffee cinnamon scrub. It’s like having coffee under the shower. And lets be honest that’s one invention we could use…

Besides tasting amazing coffee is also said to have a few benefits when it comes to beauty and skin care. Studies by a new Danish biorefinary have shown, that only 1% of coffees bioactive compounds of coffee have been taking advantage of when brewing it. Meaning the caffein is diluted but the rest is just going to waste. Seriously what a waste? They re-purpose the left over coffee grounds so they can be used in cosmetic products and the food industry. So interesting.

It’s not new that coffee is used in anti-cellulites products. The coffeid acid may boost collagen which is helping the skin to look fresh and healthy and stores water. So it comes as no surprise that coffee asl exfoliate scrub is pretty awesome.

But let’s get to making some homemade coffee cinnamon scrub so you can experience all this yourself. Here is what you need:

  • 1/2 ground coffee – you can recycle your used coffee
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 5 tbs olive oil
  • 3 tbs jojoba oil
  • 4 tbs almond oil
  1. Let coffee dry a bit when using recycled coffee.
  2. Mix oils.
  3. In separate bowl mix sugar and coffee grinds.
  4. Mix together and put into jar.
  5. Enjoy scrub.

So simple isn’t it? I really don’t know why I ever bothered to by scrubs and peelings. And since I am mixing it myself I actually use it more often too. Have you ever done any skin care products at home? I am always pondering going more in depth here but you need so many ingredients. Well not for all as you can see at the vegan bath bombs I did. But facial cream…

Not much of a coffee lover you might find the Avocado Sugar Scrub more to your liking.

Happy beautifying

Tobia

Advent Wreath Inspiration

- Tobia 2 Comments

Who else is busy thinking about this years advent wreath? I usually ponder I ideas already when most people enjoy their summer vacay at the pool. I have to be honest, this year my picture is not that clear. When I don’t know what direction to go I usually just look at my Pinterest board. Usually the first thing that I know is the color scheme of the new wreath. This might happen when I see certain candles or just some decoration that speaks to me. My moms wreath this year will be gold/brown/nude.

Following I want to share some advent wreath inspiration.

pine needle advent wreath | adventskrank aus nadeln

This pine needle advent wreath (tutorial) probably took the longest from all the ones I did. I love the look of it.

A minimalistic version is the French Knitted Wreath (tutorial).

walnut wreath tutorial by craftaliciousme

A nature inspired one with the Walnut Advent Wreath (tutorial).

textile advent wreath made of sweaterThis wreath was created of an old favorite sweater.

advent wreath muffin liner

A wreath made of Muffin Liners. Took a lot of glue but its hanging in my apartment for many years.

moss advent wreath

Here is an idea on how to create a moss wreath.

One of my Favourites is this Snowball Wreath (tutorial). Just never leave it burning unattended.

simple pine needle wreath | krank aus Tannennadeln

Door wreath made of Pine Needles.

What’s your favorite? Let me know in the comments.

Happy inspiration,

Tobia

Scented Wall Hanging { RECYCLE QUICK TIP #11 }

- Tobia 2 Comments
scented christmas decoration hanging

My favorite season is slowly but steadily coming closer and today I want to share a quick and easy tutorial with you. It’s a Scented Wall Hanging made of orange peel. Because now is the time to eat lots of vitamins and so we’ve got peels to recycle. And it is a good way to slowly start decoration for Advent without overdoing it.

All you need for this craft idea is some oranges or mandarines, a cookie cutter of your preference and some yarn.

Instructions are just that easy:

  1. Eat your oranges and saves the peel.
  2. Get out your cookie cutter and cut away.
  3. Thread them together. I did pairs of three. Then I strung them on a wooden piece.

scented christmas decoration

Well and that is about it. Easy and fun little crafting for in-between on a rainy afternoon.

If you like crafts with recycled materials my little eerie “Recycling Quick Tip” might be fun to check out. And if you have any fun and easy craft ideas let me know in the comments please.

Happy recycling,

Tobia

Homemade Avocado Sugar Scrub

- Tobia 2 Comments
craftaliciousme seeking creative life homemade Avocado Scrub

Remember, I tried to grow an avocado tree. Didn’t work out too good. I gave it another try a couple of month ago but again I failed even though Miri had a good post up. So I decided the third time I try something different: homemade avocado sugar scrub.

I do eat quite a few avocados so I also end up with many pits. You often read about avocado in cosmetics and how many good effects that has. So I did a little research.

Avocados are rich in vitamins that are beneficiary to hair and skin and that prevents ageing. Mainly the avocado oil – obviously it is not easy gained at home. Still it can’t hurt using the grated pit and use as exfoliant.

craftaliciousme seeking creative life Avocado Scrub homemadeSpecially after I read that you need 70 litres of water to grow one avocado – in certain areas up to 300 litres. That actually shocked me. And then you still need to fly it half across the earth to deliver it to my doorstep. So I better use every little bit of the avocado. (Edit: I researched bit more and realized an apple needs just as much water while a tomato needs 5litres. Who would have thought…)

What you need for the scrub:

  • 1 avocado pit
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 tbs olive oil
  • 2 tbs jojobaoil
  • 3 tbs almond oil
  1. Wash pit and let dry until the brown skin peels off. Grate it in a coffee or apple grinder. The avocado will react with oxygen once grated and turn orange. Let dry complete after being done to avoid mold.
  2. Mix oils.
  3. In separate bowl mix sugar and avocado gratings.
  4. Mix together and put into jar.
  5. Enjoy scrub.

craftaliciousme seeking creative life homemade Avocado Scrub gift

I am not sure how long it would last. But I would assume as long as the oil is all fine and the avocado pit was all dry and didn’t get moldy nothing can happen. Did you ever do homemade cosmetics? Share your experience in the comments, will ya?

Happy mixing,

Tobia

Disclaimer: This post contains links to other Blogs. Due to current (German) law this needs to be labelled advertising. Furthermore I have linked a few of my older articles because I believe you might enjoy them.