My Own Manufacturing Cell

Homemade Fragrance Stones

2010-06-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

Fragrance Stones

1-1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup salt
1/4 tsp. cornstarch
2/3 cup boiling water
1 tbls. fragrance oil
Colorant of your choice

Mix all dry ingredients. Heat water in a Pyrex cup in the microwave or on the stove. Add the f/o and the color to the water. Stir water mixture into flour mixture. Mix as best you can and then knead the dough with your hands. At this point you just want it to look like pie or dough. Roll it out about a quarter of an inch thick. Cut into shapes or use cookie cutters. Another option is to stamp the flat shapes. Let the dough stones dry. They get hard as rocks and will last for months.

I have not tried this, but it looked easy to make, and would be cheaper than buying one. Most of the ingred. you would have, except for the fragrance oil. In my case I would have to buy some.

Homemade Stock for People with Better Things to Do Than Make Stock

2010-06-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

You can’t hide from me, I can see you.

I know who you are.

You’re the one reading cooking blogs and magazines every day, always trying to figure out what to cook next, often getting a little perturbed at restaurants because you know you could’ve cooked your entrée just a little bit better than the chef did. You’ve purposefully sought out recipes marked “difficult”. You’ve mastered pie crust, can roast the most succulent chicken in a five-mile radius, and can roll a perfect French omelette every flippin’ time.

And you still buy canned stock.

Don’t try to hide it behind the cans of tuna or the cereal boxes; I know it’s there. Maybe you buy the wax-coated aseptic boxes, or maybe you buy the jars of stock concentrate, but we all know what’s going on.

I know, because I used to be just like you.

Yes, for years, even a culinary school graduate like me, who prides herself on her homemade everything, couldn’t be bothered to make stock. For me, the problem wasn’t the requisite 4 hours of simmering, it was the ingredient list. The very specific ingredient list. The very specific ingredient list that, if deviated from, would turn any effort into nothing but a massive waste of time.

As I was taught, and as many recipes indicate, a proper homemade stock requires the following: bones, lots of them, and all from the same kind of animal; a meticulously diced mirepoix of onions, carrots, and celery, in a perfect 2:1:1 ratio; and a bouquet garni of parsley stems, bay leaves, fresh thyme, and black peppercorns, preferably tied up in a cheesecloth bag.

And people, I don’t mind spending time in the kitchen, but that’s an awful lot of work for something you can just buy at the store when the need arises.

So I made sure the need would arise only rarely. I learned to quietly avoid recipes that used words like “use homemade stock if possible”. I learned which purchased stocks were the best. I lived a risotto-less, chicken-soup-less, pan-sauce-less life. I carried a twinge of shame within me that I crushed easily and repeatedly with a flippant, “That’s too much trouble.”

I’m here to tell you that it’s all a lie. Stock is easy! I am now a converted stock-maker and -freezer. And therein lies the secret: the freezer. Well, the freezer, and a plastic zip-top bag.

It struck me like a great striking thing, when I recently read on a blog (which one is now forgotten, unfortunately) that there are brilliant people out there who save vegetable scraps and trimmings in bags in the freezer, solely for the purpose of making stock. They even had a clever name for it: a stock bag. Everything goes in one bag, then into the pot when there’s enough. I’ve ambitiously saved bones before (and then very un-ambitiously thrown them away months later) , but never thought to save vegetable odds and ends.

True, it’s not a classically correct stock, and you might never get the same result twice (which I find exciting), but it’s the simplest way I’ve heard yet to keep your fridge stocked with (ahem) stock. Whenever you cut up vegetables for anything, keep the scraps. Pile them all in a freezer zip-top bag. Everything goes here, as long as it’s been washed, from onion skins, to carrot peelings, to parsley stems, to snapped-off asparagus ends.

Whenever you have them, save bones of all sorts, wrapped in foil. Even shrimp shells will make an excellent stock. The only caveat is to avoid mixing meat and fish. Pork bones and chicken bones will go together, but not so much beef bones and a grouper skeleton. Other than that, it’s as simple as simple gets.

Here’s the method: empty the bag of frozen vegetable bits into the biggest pot you have. In this batch, I’ve got scallion ends, celery root skin, leek tops, shiitake stems, and lots of other random scraps. I happened to have half an ancient onion in the freezer (God knows why), so that went in as well.

Add any bones you’ve got, though this is actually optional! This is a pheasant carcass…

…and I threw in some chicken leg bones too, for good measure. If you remember, a bay leaf or two, and a small palmful of black peppercorns are nice additions, as is a branch of thyme, but it’s fine to leave them out too.

Cover everything with cold – that’s important – water. (Luckily for you, since all your vegetables are frozen and will chill your water further, even room temperature water will work here. Don’t use hot water, is all.) Things will float up as you add water; just gently push them down.

Bring everything just to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Depending on how frozen your vegetables are, and how cold your water is, your pot may condense.

If your pot is very full, things might not stay submerged as they simmer, which will lead to darkening (which you don’t want). If this is the case, cover the top with a round of parchment paper.

Simmer uncovered, or with the lid slightly askew, for at least 2 hours (3 if you’re using bones), and up to 5 or 6 hours for the most extraction of flavor. The timing is up to you; there’s no correct amount of time to simmer everything. Classically, they say to simmer at least 4 hours for stock with bones, but if you’ve only got 3, then I say it’s close enough. Simmering longer won’t do any harm, though, and it will probably make a more flavorful stock. Oh, and no stirring! Stirring will make a cloudy stock.

As it cooks, keep an eye on the liquid level. If it drops below the top of the ingredients, just add a little extra water. Things will start to look drab, as the color and flavor leaches out of the vegetables and into the liquid.

When the time is up, lift the solids out of the stock into a fine mesh strainer set over a large bowl. Press on them to extract as much liquid gold as possible, and then discard them. When all the big solid pieces are out of the pot, gently pour the stock through the strainer into the bowl. Straining like this (as opposed to dumping everything into the strainer all at once) will make for a less cloudy stock, and will make much less of a mess. (Trust me on this one.)

Cool the stock to room temperature as quickly as possible (but definitely within 2 to 3 hours). You can do this by splitting the stock into multiple smaller containers, or by setting the large bowl of stock in an ice bath. Do not simply put the huge bowl of hot stock into the refrigerator! Unless, that is, you’d like to spoil all the food in your fridge in one go.

Once the stock has cooled to room temperature, either freeze it or refrigerate it. If you’ve got no room in the fridge, you can reduce the strained stock by boiling it; add extra water back in whenever you need it.

stock photography

And that, Gentle Readers, is how I learned to stop worrying and make stock. Despite the lengthy description, it’s really this easy:

1. Put frozen vegetables and/or bones in pot.

2. Cover with water.

3. Simmer. Go about your day.

4. Strain and cool.

5. Profit.

No more excuses, now. Get yourself a gallon zip-top freezer bag, and start saving those scraps! They’ll add up before you know it, and you’ll soon be savoring your very own, very simple, homemade stock, ready for you to cook rice in, make soups with, deglaze pans, even make risotto with. I won’t fault you for keeping an emergency can of stock in the pantry, but you might end up forgetting all about it with the wealth of stock you’ll have in your freezer.

Take it from one who knows.

Homemade Scales for Weighing Things

2010-06-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

Oftentimes one finds that something needs to be weighed (massed), and there is no balance or scales available. Not to worry! A scales that is usually good enough for most measurements is readily made from a pencil (F), ruler, two light cardboard pans (P), and coins (C). The mechanics all follows the law of levers. The following is for a scales useful for small weights or masses.

How to set up your scales. (By the way, the word is plural because there are two "pans" on it. Besides using the plural, diminishes the confusion when you speak of a scale or a dial.)

Find a FLAT, STIFF ruler that has inches and/or metric inscribed on it

Find some light cardboard such as is attached to the backs of writing tablets. Cut out TWO squares that are about 3 inches on a side.

Using drops of glue placed very near the ends of the ruler on the side with the numbers, affix the two squares you've cut out. Allow the glue to dry.

Place the ruler upon a pencil such that the pencil is at the very MIDDLE of the ruler (using the numbers).

As the cardboard squares might not be of equal weight, trim the heavier one such that the ruler will balance at it mid-point. You now have a scales.

Now for your known weights against you will weigh or mass things. Coins are quite regular when newly manufactured. So obtain a few that are not more than 5 years old and are not damaged or very worn. Here are the weights of the most common coins in the USA:

dime = 2.2 g; penny = 2.5 g; nickel = 5.0 g; quarter = 5.7 g
(For the weights of other nations' coins, you can ask a dealer in collector's coins.)

Using Your Scales

Suppose you need to weigh out 4 grams of a powder (notice: only 1 significant figure!) And suppose that your scales is constructed from a 12-inch ruler.

First you must do some math: you need to know where to place a coin or coins on the ruler.

Say that you select as your weight the nickel, which is 5.0 grams.
Using the formula under the picture you determine that you should place your nickel exactly ___ from the fulcrum,
X = (4 g x 6 inches)/5 g = 24/5 = 4.8 inches
Place the nickel 4.8 inches away from the fulcrum, which is at the 6-inch mark
At this point in time, the nickel will cause the ruler to tip its direction.
Onto the MIDDLE of the cardboard square, slowly spoon on (THOU SHALT NOT DUMP!) small amounts of your powder until the ruler just tips lifting the nickel's side of the ruler.
You will have 4 grams of powder on the square.

There are other TRICKS you could discover for yourself, but why waste time. Here are three. (A) It is often easier to measure volumes than weights, so adjust your volume so that, in the above example, you could use 4.4 grams. Then all you would have had to do is add two dimes to the center of one cardboard square and balance with 4.4 grams of powder. (Again: your directions said that you needed make 100 ml that contained 4 grams of your powder and then you were going to use 50 ml of that solution. It's just as good to make 110 ml containing 4.4 g and use 50 of it.)

(B) When making up reagents for quantitative analysis, remember to think! Every reagent is in excess except for ONE. Know your chemistry of the analysis. Carefully measure out THE critical reagent, and then make sure you have added enough of the others, which can often measured out rather crudely.

(C) When measuring out components for growing microbes in petri plates or flasks, you can be extremely free. Do you weigh out your meat and vegetables to the nearest 0.01 gram? No! Bacteria and fungi are much less fastidious than you are! This author's students once determined how much freedom there was in making growth media for E.coli. They found they could add three times more than the recipe called for and the bacteria would grow just as well. And if they added only a tenth of what was called for the bacteria grew faster! The most critical component of petri plate making is usually the amount of agar - you don't want either mush or concrete. The bacteria don't care, but you do!

For even smaller weighings

In principle this wire model is the same as that of the larger "ruler model," above. Here are a few of its salient points.

The end of the wire is bent downward and then horizontal again so that the overall center of gravity of the scales will be lower than the fulcrum (where the thread [red] is tied) to the wire. This will prevent the scales from tipping over and dumping what you have placed on the "pan."

You may wish the pan to be made of metal foil or plastic so that it will not absorb drops of liquids (

With the pan empty, you shall first want to determine the balance or equivalency point of the scales by sliding the thread's attachment point to and fro until the wire hangs horizontally. Once you have found this point, you will want to use a knife blade to scratch a circle around the wire to prevent the thread's slipping to and fro. (If your notching was imprecise, trim small bits from [or add very small drops of glue to] the "pan" until the scales will become horizontal.)

You shall want to have a "V" of wire to be your sliding weight that you will add to the long arm and be able to move it along the wire until it balances the mass you have added to the pan. You will want to know the mass of this slider. A jeweler should be able to give you its weight.
THOU SHALT NOT LOSE THIS SLIDER!

As with the ruler-scales, you will move the slider until it will balance the unknown's mass. In similar fashion the inverse proportions of distance will be made.

A more precise wire-scales can be made IF you have a hanging "pan" rather than a fixed one. In a hanging pan, the placement of the sample doesn't matter as the pan's hanging point on the wire will be fixed. With a fixed pan it is important that you place your samples exactly in the center of the pan.

How to Make Homemade Wind Turbine Blades

2010-06-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

While it's common to find PVC pipes used for creating wind turbine blades, PVC can be harmful to human health and eventually to the environment. Bamboo, on the other hand--if you can find it locally--is a durable, safe and sustainable alternative for making homemade wind turbine blades.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

2 pieces of large bamboo: four inches in diameter, 24-48 inches long
Measuring tape
Saw
Angle grinder with sanding disk or sanding block

Step 1

Cut the bamboo lengthwise into thirds.
Step 2

Mark six inches up the stalk from one end.
Step 3

At the end opposite your mark, cut two inches along the circumference and down the stalk to the marked point at the other end.
Step 4

Sand the blades into a wing or airfoil shape.

Tips & Warnings

To save time, use a circular saw.
Be extremely careful when handling the blades once they are attached to the turbine--if the wind starts to blow the blades can spin at very fast speeds.

Build a Wind Generator

2010-06-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

n order to build a wind generator of your own just follow our 4 step plan...

Step 1: Build A Wind Generator
All of the Steps are linked together in sequence so start here. This article is a great place to start. Just click on the link on the left. Here you will find a preliminary parts list, what you will need in the way of tools and general wind energy terms as well as links to find the wind data for your area.

Step 2:Build A Wind Generator Tower

In this step you will learn what kinds of tower options are available, what size tower you will need and also where to find free towers in your own neighborhood.You might even get paid to take down that free tower, sometimes the owners want them down so bad they will pay you to take away your new wind generator tower.

Step 3: Wind Generator Plans to Build A Wind Generator

Now that you’ve learned the basics, it’s time to let our 10 years of research go to work for you.Our dedicated research staff has put together this list of the very best, least expensive wind generator plans for you.

Step 4: Batteries to Build a Wind Generator

Learn all about batteries for your renewable energy system, including building a battery reconditioning system to turn old and discarded batteries into new (or almost new), this is probably the biggest money saving tip that we learned in all of our years of building renewable energy systems.

Putting it all together. In this wind generator article you will find all of the other technical stuff you will need from wiring your wind generator to charge controllers in order to build a wind generator.

The 3 Steps to Cheaper Homemade Electricity Solutions

2010-06-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

Rising energy costs are causing more of us to seek homemade electricity solutions. Below are 3 keys to ensure you create your own homemade electricity without blowing the budget.

Evaluate your own needs.

Many 'alternative energy' suppliers offer an 'energy audit' service before recommending a homemade electricity solution. Why pay for something you can easily do yourself? Simply go from room to room noting all light bulbs and electric appliances, their energy requirements should be labelled on them. Add all the electricity requirements together and you have completed your own energy audit. Many homemade electricity solutions take your electricity requirements total and add 30% to cater to any spikes in electricity usage.

Build Your Own Homemade Energy Solution.

We have been lead to believe that homemade energy generation is difficult, even impossible. However it’s easier than we realise. You can even start a family or friends "homemade electricity project". Information is available on the internet that can get you started on a homemade energy solution for under $200 and takes you through a step by step process for creating your own micro-wind and solar generators.

Obtain "Pre-Loved" Batteries

A big cost for any homemade electricity project is energy storage. New batteries are expensive, however many companies discard batteries that still work well. Some companies have policies that dictate forklift batteries must be disposed of once they take longer to charge than the manufacturer's specification. You can pick these batteries up for almost nothing and use them to store your homemade electricity. Charge time is not a problem with homemade electricity solutions as most of them run on a trickle charge system anyway.

Conclusion

Energy companies (and governments) have made homemade electricity generation sound hard, however this is just not the case. Being the first household in your neighbourhood to wave goodbye the energy bills is an exciting prospect.

Build Homemade Solar Panel - Home made Electricity Generator Solar Panel

2010-06-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

Ordinary people are searching for ways to reduce their electricity bills especially now that the price of oil and other energy sources are soaring. Spending more than $200 a month just for electricity may be too much for a small-earning household. This is just one of the many reasons why several people have developed their own homemade electricity generator- to power their homes with the hopes of totally eliminating the monthly burden. Some of these people are imparting their inventions to the public to help others achieve bill-free electricity for life.

A homemade electricity generator could be developed using a variety of natural resources. One of the most popular types is the solar-powered generator. But, basically, solar-powered generators require sunlight in order for it to generate consumable energy. Another alternative commonly used by huge corporations to produce consumable energy are magnet generators.

Several regular people have become inventors because of the growing concern of reducing electricity costs. The possibility of developing a homemade electricity generator can pose a challenge but many regular people have achieved are now enjoying the many benefits of reduced to zero monthly electricity bills.

Numerous inventions have been developed in the past decades due to the need for cost-efficient and self-sustaining energy source that is uncomplicated to build and maintain, and ecologically safe for all. Inventions were made possible thanks to the availability of materials, naturally-occurring energy sources and the ingenuity of the inventor. But all these require appropriate planning, materials inventory and adhering to the inventor's guidelines since these are quite crucial in the success of your homemade electricity generator.

* Some crucial points to take note of:

Building your homemade generator to provide your household its own supply of electricity may sound simple and encouraging enough since regular folks have succeeded. There will always be a few challenges along the way. And as mentioned earlier, take note of the 3 crucial things in order for you to achieve the right direction- planning, inventory and adhering to the inventor's guidelines.

Do not push your generator to its limit [or to its maximum capacity] because it might affect its overall performance. Stick to your generator's maximum capacity and if you think that it is capable of supporting additional appliance, gradually do it and one at a time as much as possible.

It is advisable to do some research first before you try any of the existing inventions and guidelines to making your own generator. Take note that ordinary people who turned into inventors took years to develop their concepts, plans and execution of their actual works. Be patient to learn all the do's and don'ts

A homemade electricity generator may sound complicated to a regular person. But with Magniwork, not only can you reduce your electricity bills, but you also have the possibility to enjoy free electricity for good. Magniwork has captured the basic concept of energy generation and turned it into an easy-to-follow do-it-yourself guide to help regular people achieve less to zero electric bills. The system uses magnetic energy to power, produce and convert the produced energy into standard electricity. So if you are looking for ideas regarding homemade electricity generators, search for Magniwork and see if this system can meet your needs.
before you finally delve into a particular project.

How to Generate Homemade Electricity the Easy Way

2010-06-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

Many people nowadays want to learn how to generate homemade electricity. There is indeed a strong, sudden interest in this type of technology. Why is that? There are several answers to this question, but the most obvious ones are economical and environmental reasons.

The recent global economic meltdown has made millions of people reach deeper into their pockets to pay their soaring bills. On top of that, the prices of commodities, such as oil and natural gases, have also increased. This is due to the fact that demand for these products has increased while supply is steadily declining. Another point to consider in the sudden interest in clean and renewable energy is the worsening effects of global warming. The bulk of our energy is produced by power plants that feed on fossil fuel. These power plants are one of the main producers of carbon gases in our atmosphere. Unless we act now, our world will be subjected to abrupt climate changes and unpredictable weather.

How to generate homemade electricity is very easy and cheap to do. All you need is a good plan and some common sense. You can choose either solar or wind energy. It really depends on which type of source is bountiful in your area. You can choose to have both of them as well. The plans are not that difficult to find and the Internet is the best place to look for such guides. It is recommended to start with DIY solar kits or DIY wind turbine kits. These kits have instructions that are very easy to follow. They also have videos on how to proceed with the construction. They will also tell you what materials to use and where to find them. You will be surprised at how easy they are to locate. The tools and materials needed for the whole project can even be found at any local hardware store.

The great thing about learning how to generate homemade electricity is the benefits such project entails. Because you are producing your own electricity, you will no longer be burdened with bills. You are also helping the environment by not using electricity from dirty power plants. If you want to save money and the environment, then learn how to generate homemade electricity the easy way by purchasing DIY kits.

Homemade Facial Hair Bleaching

2010-06-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

Tomatoes are considered natural hair bleachers. It is one of the most organic ways to lighten the unwanted facial hair. Prepare your skin by removing makeup and all the residues and dirt form your complexion. Then take a medium tomato, cut it in two and apply it with the juice side to your skin.

Leave it on for a couple of minutes no more than 4 and finally rinse it off, preferably with cold water. The effect should be visible even after the first session. However if you're not satisfied with the result repeat it several times.

Another useful and easy-to-handle recipe is mixing milk with papaya pulps. Make a nice paste and apply it on your cleansed face. Start massaging it into the facial hair, with circular movements.

Do this for at least 10 minutes, then leave the treatment on for no more than 5-10 minutes to have the fabulous result. The last step is to wash it off repeatedly with cold water.

Lemon juice is a well-known bleacher, used both for facial and body hair. To test its efficiency when it comes of lightening hair it should be mixed with a couple of tablespoons of honey.

According to the area we would like to bleach we should increase the amount of ingredients.

The point is to make a nice paste, then place it on our face or neck. It should be left to have the desired effect for 20 minutes. Then rinsed off with tepid water. This method needs a frequent repeating to to its skin-friendly and more mild effect.

For the next recipe the ingredients can be found right in our kitchen. Into a medium bowl mix water and 1 tsp of wheat flour. Ideally the mixture is applied to the whole face, however if you aim to concentrate on a single area, you might place it only there.

After it's on, take some sugar and massage it into your face, together with the paste. Keep on for 4-5 minutes. Finally leave it on for no more than 10 minutes and rinse it off with warm water.

Exfoliation is an essential step in skin care, why not kill two birds with one stone and combine it with the hair bleaching process. For this simple recipe you'll need ground sun-dried orange peels, curd and a tsp of lemon juice.

This 3 factor will manage to bleach hair and detox your skin at the same time. Apply the thick paste you got as a regular exfoliator. However since these are more natural and soft methods it will necessitate more sessions to have the ideal results.

How to Make Homemade Hair Bleach

2010-06-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

While no homemade recipe will bleach jet-black hair to platinum blond, there are a number of ingredients you can use to give your hair highlights or a softer, lighter color. These ingredients are simple to use and are probably already in your home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Lemon juice (either real or bottled)
Peroxide
Chamomile flowers

Step 1

After shampooing, rinse your hair with 1 cup of lemon juice. Make sure to work the lemon juice completely through your hair. Sit in the sunshine for at least 15 to 30 minutes or until your hair is dry.
Step 2

Highlight your hair by using a comb to saturate only the desired areas with lemon juice. As in the step above, expose your hair to sunlight until dry.
Step 3

Mix 1/4 cup of peroxide with water. Rinse your hair with the mixture and let it dry before determining if the mix has stripped the natural hair color light enough. If not, increase the amount of peroxide with water to 1/2 cup and repeat the procedure.
Step 4

You can achieve gradual effects on lighter hair by using a brew of chamomile flowers and water. Boil several cups of water and pour over 1/2 cup of flowers. Allow to cool and then use as a rinse.

Tips & Warnings

Do a test sample first to make sure the method you have chosen will work with your hair. Cut a small sample of hair and immerse in the mixture for 10 minutes. Remove and let dry to see the results.
Never use household bleach in an attempt to lighten your hair color. Household bleach can cause serious damage to both your hair and your scalp.

How to Make Your Own Homemade Wax

2010-06-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

2 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup lemon juice
and a clean pan

Step 1

Mix sugar, warm water and fresh lemon juice (better if sieved) all together in a saucepan, and heat it over a low flame. Keep stirring the mixture to avoid it sticking on the pan or burning. I prefer using wooden spatula. Stir it until all the sugar has melted and caramelized, and you have a thick brown liquid ready.
Step 2

Let it cool slightly before using it. It can be stored for a long time in a heat proof container for later use.
Step 3

Make sure you store the prepared wax in refrigerator to be used later. Before you use it warm up the wax container in a microwave or you can also warm it up by placing the container in a deep pan filled with boiling water on stove on low heat.

Tips & Warnings

If you are not going to be using the whole container of wax then it's always a good idea to heat only the amount you need in a separate container.
Always warm up the wax on low heat. By doing so you'll prevent wax from burning.
If you don't have brown sugar handy then you can also use white sugar.
Lemon can be substituted with vinegar.
It can get messy and the wax can get stuck to anything. Use newspaper or an old bed sheet on the surface where you are waxing.
You can wipe clean the wax drippings with a damp cloth.
Waxed area can be washed with cold water to soothe the redness.
Use aloe-vera after waxing.

Homemade Skin Bleach Tips

2010-06-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

The right way to bleach your skin is similar to whether using natural skin bleaching recipes or skin whitening products. There are important keys to remember –

Using the correct sunscreen.
Avoiding the eye area.
Do not overuse or misuse.

You’ll see a bunch of natural skin bleach and DIY tips here, and I cannot tell you exactly what will work for you. You have to try one or more until you find which is suitable for your own skin type. Doing homemade skin bleach may also show a fast or slow improvement depending on how your skin reacts to the recipe. It may also cause you some allergic reactions, little or no results. This is true for any skin care product, even with our own skin bleaching products.

Use at your own discretion and judgment. Apply the natural skin bleaching solution 1-2x a day if your skin allows it, on any dark skin spot or area you want to For ALL mixtures

k, stop ‘Googling’. Sit back. Here’s what you’re looking for:

Recipe #1: Juice of half a lemon and half a cucumber, and a pinch of turmeric.
Recipe #2: Equal parts of honey and almond paste (soak almonds overnight in water, peel in the morning, make a paste).
Recipe #3: 2 tbsp gram flour, 1/2 tsp lemon, 1/2 tsp milk cream, plus a pinch of turmeric.
Recipe #4: Equal parts of sandalwood powder, lemon juice, tomato juice, and cucumber juice.
Recipe #5: 1 tbsp bleaching powder, ½ tbsp hydrogen peroxide, plus a few drops ammonia.
Recipe #6: 2 tsp fuller's earth, 1 tsp 20 volumes peroxide, 6 drops of ammonia.
Recipe #7: Ground dried orange peels, plus enough milk for a paste.
Recipe #8: 2 tbsp cucumber juice, ½ tsp glycerin, ½ tsp rose water, 1 tbsp lemon juice.
Recipe #9: Equal parts of fresh coconut milk and fresh pineapple juice.

Homemade Skin Whitening - Top 3 Skin Brightening Tips For Facial Skin Bleaching Revealed!

2010-06-15T07:39:00.000-07:00

Top 3 homemade Skin Whitening Products

Orange Pack

· Collect the orange peels and dry them in the sunlight.
· Let them be there till they get fully dried.
· Now grind them and make a fine powder.
· When you have to apply it, add some raw milk to this powder and make a fine paste.
· Wait for it to get completely dried on the face.
· Then rinse it off after a few minutes using lukewarm water.
· It can be applied daily also.

Sandal facial Skin Bleach

The ingredients are as follows:
· Sandalwood powder
· Lemon juice
· Cucumber juice
· Tomato juice

Mix these properly and make a fine paste. Apply it on the skin. Then wait for it to get fully dried. It helps you have bright and light colored skin with a an even texture & complexion.

Gram Flour Facial Skin Bleach

The ingredients are as follows:
· 2 spoon full gram flour
· 1 pinch of turmeric powder
· A few drops of milk cream
· A few drops of lemon juice

Mix these to make a fine paste and evenly spread it on the skin. Wait until it dries out fully. Then scrub it off. You can apply it on all parts of the body. You may also choose to use Meladerm skin whitening cream. This is made of all natural ingredients and has no side effects. It shows up results with in 2 weeks only.

Sensitive area bleaching needs to be done with caution & care. To know more about the best skin Lightning creams that work & have no side effects.

Homemade Facial Scrubs & Masks

2010-06-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

Make a paste from a little oatmeal and water. Apply to face and allow to dry. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Mash 1/2 banana and add 1 tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Apply to face and let set for about 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Two tablespoons of cornmeal mixed with enough water to make a thick paste makes a great inexpensive facial mask. Gently apply to face and wash off.:

In a food processor or blender, combine 1/2 cucumber, 1 tablespoon yogurt, a few strawberries, and 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to face and allow to dry. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Grind 1 tablespoon almonds into a fine meal in a blender or food processor. Mix almond meal together with 1 tablespoon honey and 1 egg white. Apply to face and let set for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

To loosen blackheads, combine equal parts baking soda and water in your hand and rub gently on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Mash half of an avocado and apply to entire face. Let set for about 20 minutes and then gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Soak 1 cup dried apricots in water until softened. Puree in blender or food processor with 2 tablespoons skim milk powder. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Puree 1/2 peeled, sliced cucumber in a blender or food processor and add 1 tablespoon yogurt. Apply to face and let set about 20 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Crush a handful of strawberries and mix well with 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to face and let set for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons honey, the juice from 1/2 of a lemon, and 1 small carton plain yogurt. Stir in 1 whipped egg white. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Homemade facial masks for All Skin Type

2010-06-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

Mask 1. Milk Mask

This is one if the simplest and cheapest mask. Damp some cotton wool with milk and rub it on the face.

Mask 2. Egg Mask

Separate the egg white from the yolk. Put the egg white on your face and relax for about 15 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water. This facial mask leaves your skin smooth, refreshed and tightens your skin.

Mask 3. Cleansing Face Mask

Mix the following ingredients into a paste, apply and leave it for 15 minutes.

1 tablespoon powdered brewer's yeast
1/2 tablespoon yogurt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon orange juice
1 teaspoon carrot juice
1 teaspoon olive oil

This mask is suitable for all types of skin, particularly if they feel tired and look sluggish or spotty. If the skin is very dry add more oil, and if very oily leave it out. The yogurt cleanses the skin thoroughly and fruits juices provide vitamins and minerals.

Face Packs for Dry Skin

Mask 1. For Mint face pack you will need one teaspoon of mint powder, One tablespoon of yogurt and One tablespoon of multani mitti.

Soak both multani mitti and mint powder in the yogurt for 20 minutes. Then mix them well by beating and apply on your face for 15 minutes. Leave it to dry for some time and then wash off with lukewarm water.

Mask 2. For Egg face pack you will need Egg yolk of one egg, One teaspoon of milk powder and Half teaspoon of honey. After beating egg yolk properly, mix milk powder and honey to it. Continuously beat again to obtain a medium thickness mixture. Apply it on the face and wash off with lukewarm water.

Avacado Face Mask: Avocados make excellent face masks for dry skin. They boast 14 minerals as antioxidant vitamins E and A. To prepare a face mask, mash up avocado, add a touch of sweet almond oil and smooth the mixture over your face, keep it on for as long as possible to nourish and soften the skin.

Face Packs for Oily Skin

Mask 1. Tomato Mask : For oily skin, mash up a ripe tomato and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.

Mask 2. For Potato face pack you will need One teaspoon of potato juice and One teaspoon of multani mitti. Blend both the ingredients together and apply on the face. Leave it until it dries and wash off with lukewarm water.

Marie Antoinette's homemade facial mask: This mask is effective for all skin types, but the witch hazel and lemon can be harsh on dry skin. For preparing this face pack you will need the following ingredients - 1 egg, Juice of one lemon, 4 tbsp cup non-fat dry milk powder and 1 tbsp witch hazel. Put all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix well. Alternatively, you can blend them together by using a fork or a wire whisk. Apply the mixture to your face, neck and chest and allow it to dry for around 15 minutes. Use the remaining cream as a cleanser to remove the mask. Then, rinse your face thoroughly with warm water and pat dry.

Honey Cleansing Scrub: Mix 1 tablespoon honey with 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds and ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.

Gentle Oatmeal Face Mask: A good face mask for oily skin, this recipe is sufficient for one treatment and must be applied as soon as it is mixed. Mix 15 ml/1 tbsp runny honey and 1 egg yolk together in a small bowl, then slowly stir in enough (60 ml) oatmeal to make a soft paste. Smooth the mask in to the skin of the face and neck and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry.

Face Masks Application Tips

Your skin can change with the seasons. Skin that becomes oily in the hot summer months can become drier in winter and in central heating. So take your skin's quirks into account when choosing your mask.

Cleanse your face before applying the chosen face mask. Afterwards, rinse with warm water and than apply moisturizer.
Most face masks should be left on the skin for between 3 and 10 minutes. For the best results, read the instructions carefully.
If you have combination skin, use two masks - one suitable for oily skin and one for dry skin. Just apply each one to the area that needs it.

Homemade Facial Masks Suggestions Submitted by Alex

The kind of the mask you want to use depends on your skin type.

For dry skin, try these -

an egg yolk mixed with olive oil and warmed honey
sour cream
plain olive oil
avocado

For oily skin, try these -

dissolve a teaspoon of baking yeast in a small amount of warm milk, wait until foamy, then apply (best done in the bath tub)
puree flesh of a tomato and mix with some potato flour to make a paste
cucumber (it will whiten your skin)
beaten egg whites with a few drops of lemon juice
carrots.

Beauty Face Pack Submitted by Kerri

The best face mask I have ever made involved fresh pineapple, organic oats and acacia honey. Take 3 tablespoons of oats and blend in blender until a fine powder. Add in a tablespoon of honey and three big slices of pineapple chopped into small pieces. Blend until a fine paste. Apply with a mask brush and leave for fifteen minutes - it may cause blemishes to tingle slightly but this is okay. Rinse with warm water.

Beauty Facial Mask submitted by cash

Take one ripe banana. Mash 1/4 of it until creamy. Spread all over your face and leave for 15-20 min. Rinse off with lukewarm water then a dash of cold water. This will maintain your natural glow.

Face Masks and Scrubs Recipe submitted by Visitors

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this face mask/scrub it is: 2 cups brown sugar with 2-5 table spoons of milk or more. its not only tastes yummy when it drips in your mouth but when you take it off your face is babies butt soft! Posted by avery

what you do is mix the brown sugar and milk put it on 4 15 minutes and scrub it off with a wet wash cloth. this exfoliates your skin REALLY well.

Take besan (gram flour) about 2 table spoon, add yogurt to it and apply it on your face every time before washing your face.

Take lemon juice and put it on your face, it gets rid of your blackheads then use cucumber to whiten your problem area

Homemade Facial Mask Recipes

2010-06-15T07:34:00.001-07:00

Cucumber Face Mask
Make a paste by mixing one small cucumber and one cup of oatmeal. Mix one teaspoon of this paste with one teaspoonof yogurt (for oily skin) or milk malai (for dry skin) and leave for 30 minutes and then rinse.
Turmeric Facial Mask
This is the traditional mask, also used for a bride, seven days in advance of marriage.
Take in a cup half a cup of besan (gram flour), 2 tsp of turmeric powder, 2 tsp of sandal wood powder, 2 tsp of ghee or almond oil, add some water to make a paste. Apply to face and whole body and leave for 5-10 minutes. Rub with pressure with both palms and fingers to remove all the paste.
Honey Facial Mask
Rinse your face with warm water to open up the pores. Apply honey and leave for half an hour. Rinse with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores. Rinse with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores.
Oily Skin Mask
Mix 1 tsp. brewer?s yeast with plain yogurt to make a thin mixture. Apply it thoroughly into all the oily areas and leave for 15 - 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores.
Dry Skin Mask
Mix 1 tsp. of butter in 1 teaspoon of water. Apply it thoroughly into all the dry areas and leave for 15 - 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water,
Banana Mask for wrinkles
Mash 1/4 banana until very creamy and apply on face and leave for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores.
Avocado Facial Mask
Mash the meat of the avocado into a creamy texture. Apply it thoroughly on face and leave for 15 - 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores.
Oatmeal Facial Mask
Take 2 tsp oatmeal and 1 tsp baking soda and add water to make paste. Apply to face and all over the skin and rub gently.
Facial Mask
Squeeze half a lemon and mix the juice with one beaten egg white. Apply on your face and leave for overnight. Wash your face with warm water.
Clay Facial
Choose the right clay for your skin type. Add plain water or floral waters or try wetting agents such as fruit purees . Make a thick paste of the clay. Apply the mask to your skin and let it dry for 20 minutes. Rinse well with warm water and pat dry. Repeat weekly.
Multani (Gypsum) Mitti Body Mask
Make a paste of multani mitti adding water to the mitti powder. Apply to whole body and hair. Take bath after half an hour.
Grape Cleanser
Split 2-3 grapes and rub the flesh over face and neck. Rinse with cool water.
Banana Face Pack for Dry Skin
Mash half cup of natural yogurt, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 1/4 ripe banana. Apply this pack on face and neck and leave for 10 minutes and then rinse off.
Cucumber Face Pack to get Smooth Skin
Mash 1 whole cucumber, strain water, add 1 tablespoon of sugar and mix well. Put in a container, keep refrigerated and take out whenever you want to use it. Apply on your face and leave for 10 minutes, then wash with cold water and enjoy the smoothness of your skin.
You can try it on other parts of body as a scrub.
Submitted by Erica,
rapmonkey1@yahoo.com.

Facial Masks for Skin Types

Homemade Facial mask for normal skin
1. Make a paste of some powdered with milk or lemon juice if you want to fade spots on your skin.
2. Blend 1 egg white, 2 tsp vegetable oil and 1 tsp apple juice until smooth.
3. Mix 1 egg white, 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal and 1 tsp olive oil until smooth.
4. Apply a raw egg yolk and rinse with cold water. The high vitamin A content of egg is very effective in healing blemishes.
5. Mix well 2 parts milk, 1 part fuller's earth clay, 1 tsp honey and essential oil.
Homemade Face mask for oily skin
1. Blend 1/2 tsp lemon juice, 1 egg white, 1 tsp honey (heat in microwave for a few seconds to melt it), 2 strawberries and 2-3 drops eucalyptus oil or jojoba oil (optional).
2. Blend a ripe tomato and pat on your face. Wash after 20 minutes with normal water.
3. Mix well a tsp of baking yeast in a some warm milk.
4. Make a paste by mixing some potato flour in tomato puree.
5. Blend an apple in a blender and apply on your face. Wash after 20 minutes with normal water.
6. Rub some Milk of Magnesia, and let dry, then rinse with lukewarm water.
Homemade Facial mask for sensitive skin
Warm some hone to melt it, then apply. Leave the mask on for 20-25 minutes.
Homemade Face mask for dry skin
1. Mix ½ avocado (or 2 tsp avocado oil) with ¼ cup honey.
2. Mix 1 egg yolk, 1 tsp olive oil and 1 tsp warm honey, some vitamin E oil (optional).
3. Blend 50g ripe avocado flesh, 25g orange juice, 1tsp honey, 1 tsp molasses and 4-5 drops of some essential oil.
Homemade Facial mask for combination skin
1. Mix 1 egg white, 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal and 1 teaspoon olive oil until smooth.
2. Rose Mask: This mask is good for both the oily and dry areas of your skin.
  Take Soak 5 rose petals and soak in water and then crush them. Add 2 Tbsp rosewater, 1 Tbsp yogurt and 1 Tbsp honey (heat in a microwave for a few second to melt it) and mix well.
Homemade Facial mask for ageing or maturing skin
Take 3 Tbsp sugar and dissolve it in 4 Tbsp warm water.
This mask is good for maturing skin and will help soften the wrinkle lines.
Face mask for chapped or sunburned skin
Mix 1 cup plain yogurt and ½ cup oatmeal and apply to the skin for 15 minutes.
Facial masks for all skin types
Grind a cup of yellow mustard seeds and a few rose petals in water. Apply on face and wash with water after 20 minutes.

Blend two egg yolks, two tablespoons of honey and 3 drops of almond oil. Apply on face and wash with water after 20 minutes.

Top 10 Homemade Facial Masks

2010-06-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

When you search for the best homemade skin care, you will be overwhelmed with so many facial masks that contain all the materials present on planet earth. Almost all of them are good for your skin in general, but the questions you searched for like the specific recipe for a certain age or condition, the appropriate ingredients, the frequency of use are not answered leaving you confused even more than before you read. You have got the golden nuggets and you are asked to make your own jewels.

In this hub, you will read about the needs of the skin at different ages, and the optimal ingredients needed by the skin at different situations, consequently we will rank masks according to their utility, ease of use, and content.

The Best Ingredients For Your Skin

The skin is composed of many layers and tissues, and each of them needs certain requirements according to age.

The first requirement for all the cells and tissues is energy, and this is supplied by sugars in honey and fruits, and medium chain triglycerides present in milk and coconut oil.

Certain vitamins play an essential part in the health and integrity of the skin, like vitamin A which acts like a hormone on the skin cells , vitamin B complex which is necessary for all the metabolic processes when the cells are active, and vitamin E which acts - as far as we know- as anti-oxidant to guard against the harmful effects of oxidants.

An important component of cell membranes is Lecithin (phospholipid) present in Egg yolk and vegetable oils.

Fruit acids (alpha hydroxy acids) requirement appears with age, when the superficial layer of dead cells is required to be shed off more quickly, and this is done by fruit acids when they reduce the stickiness of the cement material that holds the dead keratinized cells on the surface of skin.

There are some phytochemicals (present in plants) that have specific effects on enzymes of the skin cells, and will be discussed separately.

You guessed it, the better masks for your skin are those that supply energy, vitamins, and membrane components, more than doing any thing else.

Another Natural Way for Face Beauty

1- Heavy Cream Easy-To-Use Facial Mask

Ingredients :

• Heavy Cream ( Milk Cream )...................... 1 Tablespoon

• Honey ....................................................... 1 Tablespoon

• Baking Soda ............................................. 1 gram

Method : - Mix the baking soda with the cream until it acquires the consistency of men's shaving foam - Add honey and mix, smooth the skin of face and neck for 20 minutes

This is the quickest mask to prepare it has also the quickest effect, since it contains medium chain fatty acids in the free form, sugars, vitamins (specially vitamin A), minerals and trace elements. It will leave your skin very smooth.

Homemade Beauty Recipes

2010-06-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

Honey Mask Recipe

The best facial mask is honey. Place a cloth in warm water and apply to your face to open the pores. Smear on honey, and leave on for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores. Use once a week.

Miracle Whip Exfoliator

Here is how you apply this "miracle cream":

Make sure all your hair is pulled back from your face. Apply a thin layer of the KMW all over your face, up to the eyelashes and make sure to also put some on your neck. The "fumes" from the vinegar may bother you so walk around the house to try to escape them. LOL!

Leave on for 10 minutes, then massage gently. The dead skin cells on your face will roll off in rubbery little balls. Rinse your skin with tepid water, then cleanse as usual following your regular beauty regime. If you apply the KMW every day, in 6-8 weeks your skin should be completely renewed.

I cannot help but wonder if this Miracle Whip eats away at the dead skin cells on your face, what does it do to the inside of the body when someone eats it?? Pretty scary!!! One person believes that the vinegar in the Miracle Whip is what causes the exfoliation and rejuvenation. If that is true, why not try a mixture of organic apple cider vinegar with some olive oil, apply that and see what happens? One could whip together the olive oil and apple cider vinegar, apply it to their face and then use the leftovers on their salad!

I think I will start experimenting with some ingredients and try to come up with a facial recipe to rival the KRAFT MIRACLE WHIP!"

Special Note from Lucie (site owner):

"After reading Victoria's email about the Miracle Whip beauty trick (the above is an excerpt from that email), I bought a small jar of Miracle Whip. I applied a slighter thicker layer than was recommended and the vinegar smell was unpleasantly strong.

After a minute or two, the Miracle Whip 'melted' and my face was very shiny and oily (yuck!). After 10 minutes, I washed the Whip away and I couldn't believe the results. All the flaky dry skin was gone and my skin felt tight and smooth. Very strange!"

Remove Hair Build-up Recipe

1/4 cup vinegar
1 cup water

After conditioning the hair use this as a final rinse. Leaves your hair soft and shiny.

Hair Egg Conditioner Recipe

1 teaspoon baby oil
1 egg yolk
1 cup water

Beat the egg yolk until its frothy, add the oil then beat again. Add to the water. Massage into the scalp and throughout your hair. Rinse well.

Hair Conditioner One Recipe

Combine mashed avocado with some coconut milk. Comb it through the hair and let sit for 10 -15 minutes, rinse out.

Shampoo Recipe

In a blender, combine 1 ounce olive oil, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Use as regular shampoo.

Remove Conditioner Buildup Recipe

(www.creativehomemaking.com)

Baking soda removes conditioner build-up from your hair. Rub in and rinse thoroughly, then shampoo with your regular shampoo.

Hair Conditioner Two Recipe

Mayonnaise is a great conditioner for dry hair.

Depending on the length of your hair, apply approximately 1/2 cup of mayonnaise to your dry hair. Work into hair really well and then cover your hair with a plastic bag, allowing to set for about 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and then shampoo as usual.

Avocado Facial Recipe

Avocado is a naturally rich moisturizer. Mash the meat of the avocado into a creamy texture. Massage into the face and neck . Leave on for 15 minutes and gently rinse off.

Facial Mask Recipe

Squeeze half a lemon and mix the juice with one beaten egg white. Leave on your face overnight or, for a quick pick-me-up, just 15 minutes. Splash warm water on your face to rinse.

It helps to removes blotches, because the lemon works as a bleaching agent.

Lighten Circles under Eyes Recipe

To lighten dark circles under your eyes, wrap a grated raw potato in cheesecloth and apply to eyelids for 15-20 minutes. Wipe off residue and apply an eye cream.

Egg & Honey Mask Recipe

Mix together 1 tablespoon honey, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 teaspoon almond oil and 1 tablespoon yogurt. Honey stimulates and smoothes, egg and almond oil penetrate and moisturize, and yogurt refines and tightens pores.

Egg, Avocado & Mud Facial Mask Recipe

Clay is available in powder form at any health food store. Mix 1 tablespoon dry clay with 1 egg yolk, 1/4 of a mashed avocado and enough witch hazel to create a smooth mixture. Mud dries excess sebum while the egg yolk and avocado replenish lost moisture. Witch hazel tones.

Egg & Olive Oil Hair Mask Recipe

Mix two whole eggs with four tablespoons of olive oil. Smooth through hair. Wrap head with plastic wrap, and leave in hair for 10 minutes. Rinse well.

Fruit Smoothie Hair Mask Recipe

Blend 1/2 a banana, 1/4 avocado, 1/4 cantaloupe, 1 tablespoon wheat germ oil and 1 tablespoon yogurt. For extra conditioning, squeeze in the contents of a vitamin E capsule. Leave in hair for 15 minutes.

Facial Exfoliater Recipe

2 heaped tsp fine oatmeal
1 tsp. baking soda

Combine ingredients, and add enough water to make a paste. Apply to skin and rub gently. Rinse and gently pat dry.

Banana Wrinkle Fighter Recipe

Banana is wonderful as an anti-wrinkle treatment. Mash 1/4 banana until very creamy. Spread all over face and leave for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water followed by a dash of cold. Gently pat dry.

Grape Cleanser Recipe

Grape juice makes an excellent cleanser for any skin type. Simply split one or two large grapes, remove pips and rub the flesh over face and neck. Rinse off with cool water.

Oily Skin Mask Recipe

Mix 1 tsp. brewer’s yeast with enough natural yogurt to make a thin mixture. Pat this thoroughly into all the oily areas and allow it to dry on the skin. After 15 - 20 minutes, rinse off with warm water, then cool water and blot dry.

Home Beauty Tips

2010-06-15T07:29:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants to look their best and as beautiful as they can. Many of us spend a lot of money on branded beauty products and on numerous visits to the beauty parlor. There are a number of simple beauty treatments that we can use with things that are easily available in our homes. Here are a few home beauty tips that you can try using things from the kitchen without any extra cost.

To remove puffiness from the eyelids, massage a drop of very fresh castor oil on to them.
To cool your eyes, make eye pads using thick slices of cucumber. Another option is to use cotton pads soaked in cold milk. Lie down and place them on your closed eyes and relax for a while.
Putting a drop of rose water into each eye just before you sleep can also refresh you eyes.
To prevent your lips from chapping, use hot water fermentation on your lips and then apply a mixture of vaseline and honey. Apply this mixture about three times a week.
To prevent your lips from drying you can use a ground mixture or rose petals and milk butter.
To delay age spots on your hand, use a piece of lemon and rub all over your hand, before washing. This will delay onset of age-spots.
If you have no time to shampoo your hair before going out, then brush 1 tablespoon of talcum powder or corn flour through your hair. Try this out first when you are not in hurry to make sure that it works the way you want.
To prevent hair loss you should have a biotin rich drink. Blend bananas with honey, yogurt and low fat milk. Drink this for a few weeks.
While blow drying and setting your hair, blow-dry at hot on the roots of the hair. Roll your hair inwards or outwards at the ends. To improve the setting make sure the ends are evenly rolled in or rolled out. Heat the hair for a second and then let it cool. This process of setting the hair will last longer and make your hair look beautiful.
To condition your hair, after shampooing your hair take some conditioner on your palm and rub it with both hands. Apply from the hair shaft moving downwards. Do not apply on your scalp. Rinse your hair after 5 minutes.
To add extra shine and glow to your hair add 2 tablespoons of malt vinegar. Use it as a last rinse and towel dry your hair.

Homemade Beauty Tips

2010-06-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

A Natural Way To Exfoliate

Sea salt removes dry, flaky, dead skin.

Wet face (or anywhere on the body), apply a couple of tablespoons of sea salt, then GENTLY massagewith a wet washcloth or fingers. Focus on the T-zone and cheeks, but avoid the eye area.

After one or two minutes, rinse with cold water to tighten the pores. It is important to do this regularly, or face-creams will not penetrate.

You can do this maximum once per week.

Fruity Lip Gloss

2 Tbls solid shortening
1 Tbls fruit-flavored powdered drink mix
35 mm film container

Mix shortening & drink mix together in a microwave safe bowl till smooth!
Place in microwave on high for 30 seconds until mix becomes a liquid!
Pour into clean film container, or any other small airtight container!

Place mix into fridge for 20-30 minutes or till firm!

Dark Circles Under Eyes...

To lighten dark circles under your eyes, wrap a grated raw potato in cheesecloth and apply to eyelids for 15-20 minutes.

Wipe off the residue and apply an eye cream.

Home made Facial Mask

Face mask for dry skin

1. Take 1 tbsp olive oil and mix with 2 tbsp of fresh cream, leave it on the face for 10 minutes and then wash your face with warm water.

2. Mix 1 tbsp of honey with 15 drops of orange juice and 1 tbsp of fuller’s earth and add 1 tbsp of rose water. Mix well and apply on the face, wash off after 10 miuntes.

Face mask for oily skin

1. Mix a tbsp of honey with 1 egg white and apply thickly on the face and neck. Leave for 10 minutes and wash off.

2. Mix 2 tbsp of papaya pulp with 10 drops of lemon juice and leave it for 20 minutes and then rinse well.

3. Take fresh juice of any of the fruits (orange, sweet lime, watermelon or papaya) and apply on the face as a mask. This is very relaxing, it cleanses the skin, closes pores and stimulates blood circulation.

Carrot Facial Mask

Ingredients Needed:
2-3 large carrots
4 1/2 tablespoons honey

Directions:
Cook carrots, then mash. Mix with honey. Apply gently to the skin, wait 10 minutes. Rinse off with cool water.

Glowing Facial Mask

You will love your radiant skin after using this recipe...

All you need is:
1 tbsp fuller's earth
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp mashed papaya

Mix and put on face for 20 minutes then rinse off.

Honey Facial Mask

Perhaps the best facial mask is honey.

Place a cloth in warm water and apply to your face to open the pores. Smear on honey, and leave on for 15 to 30 minutes.
Rinse off with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores.
Use once a week.

Orange Yogurt Mask

Ingredients Needed:
* 1 tsp plain yogurt (I chose Balkan Style)
* the juice of 1/4 of an orange

Stir to mix and then dip fingers into mixture and smooth onto face. The sensation is both cool and relaxing. Leave on for a five minutes and then rinse. If you are feeling sluggish, this is the perfect mask for you.

* Yogurt will cleanse and nourish your skin
* The orange is full of Vitamin C and AHA's

Beautiful Feet

Everyone wants to have smooth skin and Beautiful Feet

Take 1 cup Lemon Juice, Cinnamon (for smell), 2 tablespoons (or less) olive oil, 1/4 cup of milk, and water you can make a wash that leaves skin refreshed and fragrant (the amount of water does not matter).

If you do not like the cinnamon smell you can replace it with another spice, perfume, or flower petals such as roses.

After you make it, you can put it in a tub were you can soak your feet or body.

Next dry your feet or rinse them with water and a MILD soap.

After a few weeks of doing this your skin will be silky smooth.

White Nails

To whiten your nails, try these:

* Use a common whitening toothpaste. Try scrubbing your nails with Pearl Drops, it's just as easy as achieving a pearly white smile and will take away any stains and shine up your nails.

* Soak your nails in water with lemon juice or lemon slices. The lemon acts as an astringent and will strip away stains. Once your hands are dry, you'll only need to put on a couple of coats of a clear topcoat

Skin Sauna

A good deep cleansing treat is to give your face a sauna.This is especially good for congested skin.

You need to fill a bowl with near boiling water and add four drops of each of the essential oils recomended for your skin type.
NORMAL : Mandarin and Lavender.
OILY : Lemon and Eucalyptus.
DRY : Rose and Camomile.

Place a towel over your head and hold it over the bowl from a distance of about 30cm for a period of around two minutes. This opens the pores and prepares it for a face mask. You should not use a face sauna if you have sensitive skin, are pregnant or suffer from asthma

Wrinkle Remover

Green Thompson seedless grapes! It has one of the ingredients in those big time expensive wrinkle creams.

All you do is cut a grape in half and gently crush it on your face and neck. Make sure that you get the "crows-feet" and the lines around your mouth. Leave it on for twenty minutes or so and rinse with tepid water and pat dry.

Repeat every day and before you know it... those nasty old lines will be hard to find!Don't forget to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. And... eat veggies rich in Vitamin A, such as carrots, celery and spinach.
If you can, get 8 hours of sleep every night.

Homemade Cleaners Window Cleaners, Carpet Shampoo, and Multipurpose Cleaners

2010-06-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

For many of us, the thought of housecleaning conjures up the image of a huge array of cleaning products -- products with brand names and mysterious chemical ingredients. The average person has been so bombarded with advertisements for these products that he or she actually believes cleaning is impossible without them. We know of one woman who bought $38.32 worth of cleaning items alone on one trip to the supermarket. And for many of us, these expensive products end up lying half-empty, moldering in kitchen cabinets. But cleaning can be done without brand-name products, which are not only expensive but also can be dangerous your health.

Of the two million chemicals now in existence, only a few hundred have been tested adequately for their potential for causing cancer, liver or kidney damage, birth defects, and so on. Even when there is a known danger, many chemicals remain in use. Spot removers, for instance, contain either chlorinated hydrocarbons or petroleum distillates, and can be lethal even in small quantities.

Some 35,000 serious accidents occur each year with bleaches, dyes, waxes, polishes, and assorted cleaning compounds. More than a thousand children in the United States die each year from accidental poisoning, often from chemical compounds. Some swallow electric dishwasher detergent (the container may look like a cereal box), some drink furniture polish that resembles cherry soda. But these are the acute cases.

A clue to long-run effects of these chemicals is found in the recent study showing that housewives have a cancer rate double that of women working outside the home. Our houses contain many of the chemicals known to be cancer hazards in industry -- and many of these we use for cleaning.

However, we can reduce the number of dangerous chemicals in the home to a very few -- perhaps bleach, washing soda, and ammonia. We can keep these under lock and key, and use them sparingly. As for all the rest, the o-phenylphenols and isopropanols, we don't need them.

Here are some "grandmother-tested" ways to clean without dangerous chemicals, and save money, too.

Scouring powder: Combine nine parts whiting (from a hardware store) with one part soap granules. This mixture won't scratch surfaces as commercial products do, and it omits the unnecessary chlorine, which could accidentally combine with other chemicals -- like ammonia -- to produce dangerous chlorine gas.

Brass and copper cleaner: Vinegar and salt paste.

Window cleaner: 4 tablespoons ammonia, 2 tablespoons vinegar, and 1 quart water, followed by lots of elbow grease with crumpled old newspapers for a special sparkle.

Drain cleaner: First, try a plunger. Then try 1/2 cup washing soda followed by 2 cups boiling water. For a stronger treatment, combine a handful of baking soda with 1/2 cup vinegar. Close the drain and let it sit, then flush with water. Do this regularly to prevent buildup. (Washing soda is an alkali much less caustic than lye, but it should be kept locked up. It is dangerous.)

Rug cleaner: Get the spill scooped or blotted up fast! Dip a small brush in cold water and work out the spot. For a grease spot, sprinkle a generous amount of dry baking soda or dry cornstarch on the spot. Let it stand for an hour or so, then vacuum. If the grease remains, try the Magic Spray Cleaner below, and a stiff brush.

Rug shampoo mix: Mix 1/4 cup mild detergent or soap, with 1 pint of warm water and 2 tablespoons vinegar. Whip into a stiff foam. First, vacuum the rug thoroughly. Apply the foam and scrub. Let dry, then vacuum again.

Magic spray cleaner (for surfaces other than varnish, aluminum or asphalt tile): 1/4 cup ammonia, 1/8 cup vinegar, 1 tablespoon baking soda, and 1 quart water. Pour into glass or plastic bottle, screw on a hand squirter top, and enjoy.

Furniture polish: Use paste wax or mineral oil, which are much less toxic than petroleum distillates like "lemon oil," which isn't from lemons.

Spot remover: For fabrics that don't take to bleach, apply ammonia diluted with an equal amount of water. Put paper towels underneath to blot. If the ammonia odor clings, apply a table-salt solution. (A last resort for old stains is a dab of vinegar.)

Oven cleaner: Sprinkle spills generously with salt while the oven is still hot. The burned deposit should scrape off with no trouble when the oven cools. For thorough cleaning, set an open shallow dish of full-strength ammonia inside the cold oven. Close the door and let it stand overnight. The ammonia gas from the solution is absorbed by the grease, which ends up like soap. Do not use this method on aluminum.

Deodorizers: Use baking soda here, there, and everywhere -- down the drain, on baby spit-up, in diaper pails, refrigerators, cat litter and the kitchen sponge. It's easy and simple.

But now that you've cleaned the house, you're hungry. You eat, and then you have all those dirty dishes, rags, and the laundry, too. What to do about them? It's time to look at the great detergent/soap controversy.

Dishes done by hand come clean quite easily with soap powder. Greasy or burned residues can be soaked with soapy water and a dash of ammonia. Dish detergents aren't at all necessary unless you use an electric dishwasher, and then they are extremely dangerous. They are so caustic that a mouthful could be fatal to a small child.

Some folks think that electric dishwashers are necessary to reduce the number of germs on their dishes, but there are other ways to get them germ-free. The best approach is to wash and rinse them well in hot water, then let them dry by standing, covered with a towel. Do not dry them by hand.

It's clothes-washing that really sparks the soap-detergent controversy. Soaps don't dissolve as easily as detergents. And in hard water, soap combines with the water's calcium grains to make a hard "curd" on clothes and tub. But soaps can do as well as detergents, even in cold water, according to a study published in Consumer Research Magazine.

What's needed is to make sure the soap dissolves before you put the clothes in -- stirring helps. If you have hard water, add some washing soda. It will precipitate the calcium out of the water to prevent curd formation. (Other water-softening powders rely on huge quantities of phosphate.)

Remember that washing soda is dangerous, so keep it away from children. Bleach helps clean, and borax will "sweeten" the wash, but these may not be needed most of the time, and they, too, are toxic chemicals.

But why bother with soap? Are detergents really that bad? Actually, we know little of the possible harmful effects of detergent chemicals, either on people or on the natural environment. We do know that enzymes added to some detergents to "fight stains" can induce allergies. Detergents can cause asthma and skin irritation, and they have been shown to kill sperm in mice. They irritate if inhaled, and can be fatal if swallowed.

Besides, detergents generally cost 1/3 more per wash load than soap powder. The profit margin in detergents has been at least 25 percent greater than that on soaps, according to one government study.

Another point is that detergents usually rely on some phosphates to carry off dirt. Phosphates pollute our waterways, destroying lakes and rivers. Some detergents rely on other compounds, but often we do not know the long-term effects of these. NTA (nitrilotriacetic acid), for instance, was touted as the replacement for phosphates until it was found to cause birth defects and cancer.

One further argument against detergents is that they are made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource. In contrast, soap is made from lye and fats or oils that are part of an ever-renewing natural cycle of life.

That's what cleaning is about, really -- renewing our environment so that life goes on happily and healthily. What use is a clean house, if it pollutes our bodies and the world around us? Cleaning with simple, natural ingredients can be a testimony of our dedication to an integrated, organic way of life.

"Out, Out, Damned Spot!"

I remember Lady Macbeth washing her hands endlessly, trying to get the bloodstains off. She was guilty. Spots and stains tend to bring on guilt feelings.

A little historical light on the subject may help. A friend of mine did a study on the American home as it was portrayed in magazines since the year 1900. She found that every new invention, like flush toilets or vacuum cleaners, inaugurated a new -- higher -- standard of cleanliness.

For instance, an advertisement for vacuum cleaners urged women to "put an end to dusty Friday," the day when they swept the floor and the rugs for the weekend. The standard of cleanliness was once-a-week sweeping. After the arrival of the vacuum, a higher standard developed -- cleaning floors and rugs two or three times a week.

The flush toilet, when invented, became not simply a way to avoid cold, wet journeys to the outhouse, but a new object that must be scrubbed, deodorized, and disinfected.

Detergents, invented in the 1930s, led to standards of clothes cleanliness in which even a tiny spot leads us to throw the whole garment in the wash, rather than sponging the spot and wearing the article one more day.

Cleanliness became next to Godliness -- a sign that people had "made it" into the middle class and could afford the new appliances and chemicals.

There was, however, a strange side-effect for women. The housewife's work may have been easier, but the hours were longer. A time study of rural urban housewives in 1930 showed almost no differences in hours -- 61.0 on the farm, 63.2 in towns and cities. By 1947, farm women still worked a 60-hour week, but women in cities (usually the owners of more labor-saving devices) were logging close to 80 hours per week.

The clue to this mystery comes from the Ladies Home Journal: American homes were becoming "more satisfying," and housekeeping standards were much higher.

So when we consider that spot or stain, we should remember that cleanliness is only one of many values which change from time to time. Is it more important to have perfectly clean clothes, or to end the chemical contamination of our waterways brought on by phosphates, enzymes, brighteners, and cancer-causing carbon tetrachloride?

If art gum erasers, soap-and-water, and elbow grease don't get all the smudges off the walls, is it better to leave them for the next paint job or to run for an aerosol-foam wall cleaner with expensive packaging, high advertising costs, and several chemicals that have not been tested for their long-term effect on humans? (My experience is that the commercial cleaners will not get all the smudges off anyway.)

Most of the time we may find ourselves saying that a little dirt never hurt anyone. It's a sign of life and growth. We may find ourselves buying the clothes and furnishings that accept soap and water, nature's own remedies for dirt. After all, nobody ever expected a garden to be dirt-free, and in cleaning our homes we are truly tending the garden of our lives.

How To Make Homemade Lemonade

2010-06-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

Homemade Lemonade recipe. A classic, refreshing, zesty drink. Great to enjoy on those long, summer days. Experience our Homemade Lemonade recipe today.

Step 1: You will need…	Units:
8 lemons, cut in half 250 g sugar 500 ml water 1 bowl 1 juicer 1 small pan 1 wooden spoon	Serves: 2 Preparation Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Step 2: Juice the lemons
Juice all of the lemon halves and put the juice into the bowl.
Step 3: Mix the sugar and water
Put the pan on a gentle heat and add the sugar and water and stir. Allow it to come to a gentle boil. When the sugar has dissolved, remove from the heat.
Step 4: Add water to the juice
Pour the sugared water into the large bowl of juice and stir.
Step 5: Chill
Place the bowl into the fridge and chill for 1/2 an hour until cooled.
Step 6: Serve
Puts lots of ice into a large glass, pour in the lemonade and decorate with a lemon slice on the side.

Also known as:

(How Do I Make Homemade Lemonade)
(How To Make Homemade Lemon-Flavored Drink)
(How To Make Fresh Lemonade)
(How To Make A Great Lemonade.)
(How To Prepare Homemade Lemonade)

Guide To Making Your Own Lemonade
How To Make Your Own Lemonade Recipe
How To Make A Refreshing Lemon Drink
How To Create A Fizzy Lemon Cocktail Recipe
How To Prepare Lemonade From Scratch
How To Make Lemonade With Fresh Lemons
How Can You Prepare Your Own Lemonade At Home
How Can You Prepare Fresh Homemade Lemonade Using Fresh Lemons

Easy homemade soap

2010-06-15T07:18:00.002-07:00

Mix in large pyrex measuring cup, stir with a chopstick saved from order-in Chinese food. Again, DO NOT BREATHE THE FUMES. WEAR GOGGLES.

700 ml purified water
270 g or 91/4 oz lye (one small container)

Oils –Mix in a big pot

Olive oil 955g 4.5 cups
Coconut oil 390g 500ml 2 cups
Grapeseed oil 515g 500ml 2 cups

Use the cheap pomace olive oil, virgin doesn’t work as well.

Let lye mixture cool to 110F. Warm oils to 110F. When both are at the same temperature, slowly pour lye mixture into oils. Mix with a stick blender until trace, periodically scraping sides and bottom of pan with a spatula. I mix with short pulses of the blender, and it only takes about three minutes.

The first time I made soap I used a whisk and my spatula, which I washed carefully later. Next time I used my Braun stick blender. Once I felt sure that I was going to make soap regularly, I bought a used stick blender at Value Village for $5.00 and dedicated it to soap making. If you use a whisk, you can look forward to hours of stirring. I also have a couple of thrift-shop thermometers, one for the lye and one for the oils. I have also heard of people making soap by feel. When the containers of lye and oils feel similarly warm to the touch, you are good to go.

At trace, add 10ml cinnamon oil. Mix as little as possible, just enough to combine. Theoretically, the soap can harden very quickly at this stage, trapping your spatula inside a giant bar. I have never had a problem with this recipe, though.

Pour into mould. Wrap with heavy blankets for 24 hours to keep the heat in and help the chemical reaction.

The next day, when soap has set, cut it into bars and store, separated nicely, on brown paper in cool place. Turn over after two weeks. Use after one month.

How to make your own homemade "pop tarts"

2010-06-15T07:18:00.001-07:00

Ok, these are not pop-tarts exactly, how about just-like-pop-tarts-but-without-the-stuff-you-can't-spell (or say)? It's super easy, all you need is a good butter pie dough and delicious jam of your choice. And if you're one of those who think a great pie is all about a good crust--I am of course one--these pop-tarts are perfect for you. They are filled with just enough delectable jam to punctuate the flavor without obscuring the buttery, flaky goodness of the crust.

I've been having so much fun making them (and eating them) lately, I thought I'd share a few tricks I picked up along the way with you so your pop-tarts come out perfect every time. Like this one in the picture just below--a "pop-tart" filled with homemade Reine Claude plums and vanilla beans--which I polished off in three seconds flat right in front of Lulu's at the Octagon in Santa Cruz.

Start with the pie crust recipe you're most comfortable with. If you haven't got one, you can check out Pie Crust 101 over at Deb's Smitten Kitchen, or Shuna's very thorough post on pies, or even Ms.Martha herself.

Break off a piece about 75g by weight. Flour the pastry board or your counter top well.

Roll the dough into 8"x6" rectangle, working gently and slowly so you get a good rectangular shape.

Brush off excess flour. It's generally a good idea from this point on to place the dough sheet onto a piece of parchment paper so it can be moved pretty easily.

Pick your favorite jam from your cupboard and spread it generously on to one side of the dough, leaving about an inch margin on three sides. I like to use jams that are a little bit on the thicker side, as they tend to be more intense and can easily be pressed in between two sheets of dough.

Fold the dough in half, making sure they match the other edge perfectly. Press down along the edges to seal the dough pocket. If your dough had trouble sticking together, try dipping your fingertip into a bit of water and wipe it along the inside of the seam, then press the dough down again to seal.

Take a fork and use the tines to press the dough together, creating a nice pattern around all the edges but the folding seam.

Trim off the excess, uneven dough edges. I use a pastry scraper, but you can easily use a kitchen knife.

Brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle raw sugar over the top. Cut a few vents along the top of the pop-tarts.

Et voila! Bake in preheated 400F (about 200C) oven for 18-20 minutes, depending on the amount of sugar in the crust and many other factors. I'd recommend checking at the 15-min mark and continue to keep your eye on them, and take them out of the oven as soon as they are nicely golden brown and not too brown on the crimped edges.

HomeMade Paper

2010-06-15T07:11:00.000-07:00

The press is on!

Bring the paper chase home to roost. Making your own paper is fun, easy, and a delightful project for the weekends. Note that this 2torial won't teach you to make printer-quality office paper (although you can recycle used office paper to make your own new paper)--it'll teach you to create pages of personalized pulp upon which to pen your powerful sentiments. Why? Homemade paper lends a distinctive personal touch to any project from greeting cards to a personal note or letter. And it's much easier than it sounds once you draw off a page or two.

Historically, the best papers in Europe were first made from a processed sheep, goat, or calf skin. Other parts of the world used woven vegetable fibers pounded together: the Egyptians used papyrus, a long coarse grass; and the cultures of China and Japan are known even today for producing very fine rice papers, made from the rice leaves or shoots. When the development of the printing press created a demand for paper, Europeans used old rags and recycled clothing, and eventually wood pulp from trees.

Most paper products today, from newspapers to packing boxes, is made from wood pulp, a poor-quality fiber requiring glues and bleaches to be added. These additives, called sizing, account for the yellowing effect you see in old newspaper clippings.

The quality of paper is largely based on the fibers used. Look around your home for attractive scraps you've been saving. Many different colors can be mixed, but bear in mind what the paper will be used for. Keep the colors relatively uniform and light in hue if it'll be used for writing. A small amount of glossy, bright paper can be added to otherwise bland fibers to give a speckled effect.

Use scrap paper which contains a minimum of writing and printed ink on it. These could tint the paper unevenly, or worse, an unintended memo from the past could find its way back to the surface.

Find the fibers

The paper that you'll make is essentially a mesh of plant fibers pressed together to make a strong flat surface. The ingredients you choose will determine the look and quality of the paper.

Gather enough fiber to create a few sheets of paper. This need only be a cupful (1/4 liter) of paper scraps, loosely packed, per standard sheet. It's good to have extra raw material on hand in order to experiment with thickness and quality. Expect to lose the equivalent of a page or two of material in the process.

Use old paper that has interesting texture. Tear a piece of it-- does it rip cleanly or leave a jagged edge? The harder to tear, the longer the fibers are in the paper. Long fibers create strong paper. Short fibers create smooth texture. Interesting yet durable paper balances these two ingredients.
Optional: Lint from clothes-dryer lint trap is ideal paper fodder. Small flowers and leaves, bits of foil (from leftover holiday paper and champagne bottles) and colored threads also add a special touch. Grab anything you can shred and that floats. But use these specialty items sparingly, otherwise the page won't hold together.

Once you've gathered enough scraps to make paper, tear them up into pieces about 1 inch (2 cm) square. If you're using different kinds of paper it's a good idea to separate them into different piles.

Thread, metallic foils, and other small decorations should be cut to length using a pair of scissors. Be creative--vary the sizes from 1/8 inch to two inches (30mm to two cm). A few long threads are interesting;too many and it looks like spaghetti. Foils and bright colors are better in small pieces less than 1/4 inch (5mm) across. Set any of these decorative fibers aside for now. Don't shred these in the blender.

Sort your scraps by fiber length and color, and identify the base color: the pile of scraps that most resembles the color you want the paper to be.

Cut the screen

Ordinary window screen works great for making paper. It should be free of dents and curves, otherwise the paper will come out in exactly the same shape. Rust-free wire screen works the best. Synthetic screen should be used with caution; it's less rigid, which can cause problems later in the process. Synthetic screen may be serviceable if used with a frame, as described below.

Cut the screen the same size as the sheets you want to make, slightly large if you want to make a frame for the screen. If you intend on making lots of paper the same size you should consider building a frame around your screen. In this case allow two extra inches in each direction before cutting the screen. For example, if you want to make a frame for 8 by 10 inch paper, then cut a screen 10 by 12 inches large.

Optional: Build a frame using lengths of wood 1/2 inch wide by one inch thick, or one inch square. You don't have to get fancy, just be sure that the inside of the frame is the same size as the paper you want to make, the corners are square, and not too wobbly. Set your screen down on top of the frame evenly and nail or staple it in place. You want the screen attached snugly to the frame, without any big gaps between the wood and the screen.

Blend it to bits

And now a dash of paper theory--in order to make new paper from old paper, you've got to change it to a mushier state. Blenders accomplish this nicely, and the result is the pulp.

Fill a blender about 3/4 full with clean water. Take a handful of scraps from your base color pile and put them into the blender. Cover the top and blend on medium-high for a few seconds. The water will start to look like very watery oatmeal.
Add various scraps one by one, and give a short blast with the blender each time. You want to put shorter fibers in first, then gradually add scraps of longer fibers. Otherwise all the fibers will end up about the same length--short!
Add any special items (including threads) last. Don't turn the blender on at this point as it may ruin these items or wreck the blender, or do both.

Don't make a pulp more than one part scraps to four parts water--ie, don't fill the blender more than 3/4 full. If you're making large volumes, pour out the finished pulp mix and start again.

Hit the tub!

In this step you'll use a tub of water to put the pulp into a watery suspension. This will ensure a even distribution of pulp onto the screen. Note: you'll make one sheet at a time. This way you can adjust the sizing or pulp-to-water ratio, as you see how each sheet comes out. You may want to test the screen with a little pulp, to check that the water can run through the screen while retaining the pulp.

Fill a large tub with clean water. Pour the pulp (the fiber and water mixture) into the tub. Swirl it around. The pulp should be distributed evenly throughout the water before you start dipping. If the mixture sits for a while before you're ready, some settling will occur. Just give it another swirl with your hands when ready.
If you're using large amounts of lint or vegetable parts (including wood-pulp paper), add a few drops of white glue to the tub and mix it in thoroughly. Subtitute a tablespoon of cornstarch if you don't have any glue handy. This sticky, binding substance is called sizing.
Hold the screen with the frame on top. Dip it in the tub at an angle until it's fully immersed, then move the screen back and forth until the pulp is evenly dispersed in the water and across the surface of the screen. Finish by pulling the frame straight up out of the tub.
You should have collected enough pulp on the frame to make one sheet of paper--the pulp should fill the screen to the inner edges of the frame. The water from the tub will run through the screen, depositing the pulp on the top level of the screen. Hold the frame above the tub until only a few drops of water remain on the screen.
If the paper looks too thin, add more pulp to the water in the tub, swirl, and dip the screen again. Too thick? Remove some pulp from the tub, dip the screen and collect a screenful of pulp. You can then remove the pulp from the screen by rolling it off with your fingers.
No frame? If you're not using a frame, hold the screen about four inches below the surface of the tub. Agitate the water by moving the screen back and forth until the pulp is evenly dispersed in the water and across the surface of the screen. Draw the screen slowly and evenly up out of the tub. Hold the screen above the tub and allow the water to drain. Take care to keep the screen taut, or the pulp may "puddle" in the middle, which will produce lumpy paper.

Squeeze out the water

There are actually two actions happening here: the force applied by the roller squeezes out the water from the paper, and absorbent materials above and beneath the paper prevent the paper from reabsorbing the water.

Lay one sheet of wool felt down on a flat tabletop. Wool felt is ideal because water runs right through it and it's strong enough to sustain the pressure. The felt must be larger than the sheet you're making. Several felts, or a stack of old newspapers or even towels can be placed underneath the felt to help absorb water.
Turn the frame over on top of the felt. The freshly drawn pulp should drop out easily. If it sticks, then gently tap the frame onto the felt.
Lay another felt on top of the pulp. Cover with another sheet felt (or newspapers or towels).
Take a rolling pin and press down on the pile to squeeze out the extra water. This will also bind the pulp fibers together. Start at one end and roll firmly and evenly across the pile. Do this several times to get as much water out as possible and to press the fibers together.
The hand press option: a small hand press is great for squeezing out the paper. Turn the paper out on a large sheet of wool felt and cover with another sheet of felt as described before. Now squeeze the felt sandwich with the press. Or using the old-fashioned washing machine, feed the felt sandwich through the rollers.

Hang it out to dry

Now carefully remove the top layer of felt (and any other absorbent materials) from the pulp. It should now hold together as an honest-to-goodness sheet of paper.

Carefully take up two corners of the paper by rolling them back (just a half inch/one cm or so) with your fingers. Hold a corner with each hand and gently peel the sheet off the bottom felt.
Clip the fresh sheet on to a laundry line with ordinary clothespins to dry. Any place that's warm and dry will be fine--wherever you would hang laundry. Avoid damp areas (mold might grow on the paper), dusty areas (wet paper will collect any dust in the air), or windy places (your paper could be blown off the line!)

Drying time is about three hours, more if the air is humid or if there is little sun.

-end-

My Own Manufacturing Cell

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Homemade Stock for People with Better Things to Do Than Make Stock

Homemade Scales for Weighing Things

How to Make Homemade Wind Turbine Blades

Things You'll Need:

Build a Wind Generator

The 3 Steps to Cheaper Homemade Electricity Solutions

Evaluate your own needs.

Obtain "Pre-Loved" Batteries

Conclusion

Build Homemade Solar Panel - Home made Electricity Generator Solar Panel

How to Generate Homemade Electricity the Easy Way

Homemade Facial Hair Bleaching

How to Make Homemade Hair Bleach

Things You'll Need:

How to Make Your Own Homemade Wax

Things You'll Need:

Homemade Skin Bleach Tips

Homemade Skin Whitening - Top 3 Skin Brightening Tips For Facial Skin Bleaching Revealed!

Homemade Facial Scrubs & Masks

Homemade facial masks for All Skin Type

Face Packs for Dry Skin

Face Packs for Oily Skin

Face Masks Application Tips

Homemade Facial Masks Suggestions Submitted by Alex

Beauty Face Pack Submitted by Kerri

Beauty Facial Mask submitted by cash

Homemade Facial Mask Recipes

Facial Masks for Skin Types

Top 10 Homemade Facial Masks

1- Heavy Cream Easy-To-Use Facial Mask

Homemade Beauty Recipes

Honey Mask Recipe

Miracle Whip Exfoliator

Special Note from Lucie (site owner):

Remove Hair Build-up Recipe

Hair Egg Conditioner Recipe

Hair Conditioner One Recipe

Shampoo Recipe

Remove Conditioner Buildup Recipe

Hair Conditioner Two Recipe

Avocado Facial Recipe

Facial Mask Recipe

Lighten Circles under Eyes Recipe

Egg & Honey Mask Recipe

Egg, Avocado & Mud Facial Mask Recipe

Egg & Olive Oil Hair Mask Recipe

Fruit Smoothie Hair Mask Recipe

Facial Exfoliater Recipe

Banana Wrinkle Fighter Recipe

Grape Cleanser Recipe

Oily Skin Mask Recipe

Home Beauty Tips

Homemade Beauty Tips

Homemade Cleaners Window Cleaners, Carpet Shampoo, and Multipurpose Cleaners

How To Make Homemade Lemonade

Step 2: Juice the lemons

Step 3: Mix the sugar and water

Step 4: Add water to the juice

Step 5: Chill

Step 6: Serve

Easy homemade soap

How to make your own homemade "pop tarts"

HomeMade Paper