DIY Gardener's Hand Scrub

Love this recipe for a gentle heavy duty hand scrub.  This is perfect for The Captain, who gets greasy and grimy hands from working on the van.  It is also a great hand scrub for routine exfoliation.

Simple and easy . . . click here to get the recipe.

DIY Banana Mask for Damaged Hair

Gotta love these DIY beauty recipes that use items we may already have.  And now we have another use for those bananas that have ripened too fast.

The oil I strongly recommend is argan oil.  

A couple of years ago, The Captain treated me to one of those magical hair straightening irons from a mall kiosk where they take time to show you what the product will do for you and how to use it.  

The girl used argan oil before and after straightening my hair with the iron . . . I've never had that healthy looking straight hair in my whole life.  In no time, the argan oil made it possible to get that soft, super shiny hair.  And I can now achieve that look at home.

Since then, I have started making my own artisan soaps.  After doing quite a bit of research, I will not make a bar of soap that does not include argan oil.  We even use our soaps to wash our hair.  It is that good!

If you happen to have some bentonite clay from making other DIY beauty recipes, I would recommend using 1/2 tsp in this mask.  It is also an awesome ingredient for hair.

"Bananas are rich in tryptophan, an essential amino acid that can help strengthen hair, and potassium, a mineral which helps hair maintain a healthy pH balance." (about.com see source link)

Can't wait to try this recipe!  

For more DIY hair treatments, click here.

Ingredients

• 1 banana
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil or argan oil
• a shower cap
   

Preparation

Put ingredients in a blender and blend until combined into a paste.

Add a dash of flour if paste is too runny.

Separate hair into 3-5 sections.

Apply mask to each section from roots to ends.

Wind hair into a loose bun if long and place a shower cap over hair. 

Keep it on for 30 minutes and then rinse out, shampooing and conditioning as usual.

DIY Boutique Style Hair Bow

Look at the cute hair bow you can make with some ribbon!

Devon at Midwestern Mom has posted an excellent tutorial on how to make this cute hair bow.  Click here to go to the tutorial. 

For more boutique style hair bow tutorials click here . . . WOW, lots of tutorials here.  

While you are at Devon's blog, don't forget to check out more craft projects and recipes.

Essential Oil DIY Beauty Recipes

As I await my first shipment of supplies to make my own artisan soap, I've been checking out all types of DIY beauty projects.  There is no comparison for natural artisan soap vs. commercial soap and I'm sure it is the same with other items.

Buying these products has become an expensive endeavor, so finding recipes and making the attempt to make my own has become a very exciting venture.

Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer caught the bug of using essential oils in these projects and has written a very informative article containing many DIY beauty recipes.  Click here for the article.

DIY Monster Planters

Isn't it amazing what you can do with something you were going to throw away?

While you can use recycled items, you can also decorate plant containers.

Click here to go to the tutorial from Iddlepeeps.

DIY Jeweled Hair Pins

I love these hair pins . . . and they are so easy to make!

If you'd like to make some of your own, click here for the tutorial.

DIY Clay Soap

Clay soap, known for its benefits for acne prone skin, is so easy to make! Save some money and make your own :) Click here to go to a tutorial from One Good Thing from Jillee.

DIY Makeup Recipes

Although I am not ready to leap into making my own makeup, it is an interesting concept for those who are concerned about what they put on their skin.

If you are interested in making your own makeup, click here.

DIY Mason Jar Flower Vase Pillow

Love this cheery pillow!  You can't tell from the photo that the flowers are dimensional and so pretty.

If you would like to take on this project, click here for the tutorial from Flamingo Toes.

Almond Oil Benefits for Skin and Hair

I've developed an interest in learning about the different oils that go into making soaps, shampoos and lotions since I will be attempting to make my own.

Almond oil has a wide range of benefits that really surprised me.  I found an excellent article that goes into everything you want to know about almond oil.

Click here for the article.

DIY Lavender Lotion Bars

I must admit that I had not heard of lotion bars until today, but they sound like a great idea! How convenient to have a bar of lotion . . . love it and will be trying it as soon as I get an order together for supplies to make these lotion bars and bars of soap/shampoo. I've got a new addiction of artisan soap that is quickly becoming very expensive. Jillee at One Good Thing From Jillee has come up with a great DIY recipe that is quick and easy for these lotion bars. Click here for the tutorial.

DIY Drawer Sachet

These little fragrance sachets are great for drawers, closets, cars . . . should I go on?

This is an easy project with a powerful punch from the Pioneer Woman . . . click here for the article and tutorial.

Sundresses 2016 for Sewers and Crafters

Melly Sews recently featured 30 days of Sundresses 2016 for sewers and crafters!  What a treat for those of us who love to sew.

Sewers will love this series . . . check it out and get inspired :)

DIY Patriotic T-Shirt

You would not believe how easy this DIY painting project is.  Make up your own design after learning the technique . . . recycle and refashion some old t-shirts!

Click here for the tutorial from Michaels.

Polished Concrete Fire Pit

If you have ever experienced the awesome feeling of sitting around a fire pit at night, you will want to check out this project.

Click here for the tutorial from Instructables.

Natural DIY Air Fresheners

Love this!! We are so lucky to live on what used to be a citrus grove and have various fruiting citrus trees, so the air fresheners in the photo are a relatively free DIY project for us.

Click here for an article from Birds and Blooms with various natural air fresheners.

DIY Makeup Remover Wipes

These makeup remover wipes sound wonderful.  

I love the idea of tweaking my own blend and having control of what ingredients go in there.  

Click here for the tutorial at Heather's Treasure.

I found the oil Heather used at the Walmart website.

DIY Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub

Can you imagine the wonderful smell after a shower using this sugar scrub?

Easy and economical!  We have lemon, lime and sour orange trees that I will love experimenting with.

If you would like to make this sugar scrub for yourself, gifts or both, click here.

DIY The Conversation Bag

Love this bag . . . the design itself, not the fabric design.  Making this bag solid would be much easier anyway.

If you would like to make this bag . . . click here for the tutorial!

DIY Lip Gloss Recipes

Love the possibilities of making my own lip gloss.  Some of these recipes utilize an existing tube of lipstick in the recipe.  Love the idea of recycling lipstick and giving it new life!

In the past when my favorite lipstick shade was no longer available and I would scrape out all of the lipstick left in the tube, smash it up and add clear lip gloss.   I'll try anything for a little more of a favorite!

Click here for the article from The Socialite's Closet :)