Hydrangea Tray April 11, 2008

Tools and Materials
Bunch of hydrangeas
Scissors
Parchment paper
Phone book
Decorative paper or fabric
Small tray
Glass, cut slightly smaller than tray size

Hydrangea Tray How-To
1. Clip floret and leaves off a hydrangea bloom.

2. Place floret and leaves between two pieces of parchment paper; place floret and parchment in the pages of a phone book. Repeat with remaining florets and leaves. Let florets and leaves sit until they are dry, or until any moisture is gone, about a week.

3. Line the bottom of the tray with decorative paper or fabric and place dried hydrangeas and leaves on tray.

4. Cover dried hydrangeas and leaves with the glass.

Tea Cup candles March 7, 2008

Make a candle from left over candles

Make a dainty tea cup candle using your old candles. You can use it for almost any kind of container that you wish.
In a small pan set over a large pan of simmering water, heat partially burned candles until melted. Clip a candy or candle thermometer to the  small pan. Keep temperature around 185 degrees. Remove old wicks with tongs. Cut a piece of wicking to two inches more than a teacup’s height. Clamp one end to a wick sustainer, tie other end around a wooden skewer. Dip wicking and sustainer into melted wax to coat. Remove, and press sustainer to cup’s bottom. Pour wax into teacup, stopping 1/2-inch below cup’s rim. Let stand until set, about one hour. To even well in center, use another skewer to prick a circle of holes about 1/16-inch deep around wick.
Pour melted wax until surface is 1/4-inch below the rim. Let cool and now it is ready to use!