The Feral Turtle

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Seashell Mirror

Unfortunately I had an accident.

While carrying my newly purchased mirror into the house,

I broke it.😢

I must mention this wasn't my first attempt at hiding

the large break. but every time I looked

in the mirror, all I could see were wrinkles. 😣

I was on Pinterest one evening and saw a gorgeous STUNNING shell mirror,

WOW it was only......ELEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS

so......

With eleven bucks,and seven years bad luck,

my attempt at recreating the lovely work of art began.

With some dollar store shells added to my own collection, I present to you,

The New Wrinkle Hiding Beach Loving Looking Glass!!!

Not stunning, but not eleven grand either.

It won't be the easiest thing to clean but I'm sure it will hide the wrinkles.....😣

Nope it doesn't do that either.

Cheers

Monday, November 23, 2020

Turtles Crossed With MacKenzie-Childs = Christmas Gifts!

A plethora of turtles..

Also known as a BALE...that's what Google says.

This project was inspired by my love of the ever whimsical

MacKenzie-Childs...https://www.mackenzie-childs.com/

and a Youtube video Turtle Soup!!

She is a very amazing artist!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Y0GxQ5Pxo

If you put them together you get this.

Most of this project was created from scraps and used materials including some antique beads.

The scrap boards were jointed, planed and cut into desired lengths. The frames were assembled with pocket screws. A router was used to create a recess for the mirror.

Wood filler applied, sanded, and base coated with white acrylic paint. Then the tedious task begins.

The first one was pretty much hand measured and painted. The next two were masked off and then painted. It took two rounds of masking but was much easier to paint. I did the first in black and white,

the second in navy blue and white and the third in green and white.

Approx. 50 of these little swimmers were manufactured. Some went into frames and others became
fridge magnets. No turtles were harmed or discarded in the process.

Antiquing was done using oil based burnt umber paint and a rag. After each frame was dry,

it was clear coated with an acrylic based polyurethane sealer.

A large old mirror was salvaged and cut to fit the openings.

Turtles, crystals, and numerous other beads were threaded onto a 22 gauge wire. Each strand was

attached to the frame using eye screws.

Hope you are all staying healthy!

Cheers.

Puppy Stocking Stuffers free printable label

Does someone on your Christmas list want a puppy? Here is an easier alternative. It doesn't poop, requires no feedings or walks. It's quick, easy, and you can decorate it anyway you like.

Best of all, I have included a free downloadable PDF.

Merry Christmas!!

Print pdf and cut into individual labels.
Cut scrapbook paper a bit bigger than the label

Get larger pieces of cardstock and fold in half. This will go over your bag of goodies. Glue label to scrapbook paper and adhere both to your cardstock.

Plastic bags are from Dollarama.

Staple the two bottom corners to the plastic bag.

Pin me for future use!

I used peanut M&Ms but any candy will work.
It will help with the disappointment
of no puppy on Christmas morning :(

Cheers.

Puppy Stocking Stuffers #1

A sad puppy label for you to download. These make great stocking stuffers and are

a great alternative to giving puppies away at Christmas!

No feeding, cleaning up poop, and no walks so you can stay on the couch

and watch your favourite Christmas movies.

Cheers!

Monday, May 13, 2019

New and Improved Dandruff Shampoo Bars

This is just a quick dandruff shampoo soap bar recipe.

It's bigger than my usual batch. A new soap mold forced me to up the anti!

And you know what they say....bigger is better!

New and Improved Dandruff Shampoo Bar

3 ounces Beeswax

6 ounces Castor Oil

2 ounces Cocoa Butter

14 ounces Coconut Oil

2 ounces Grapeseed Oil

4 ounces Hemp Oil

10 ounces Olive Oil

14 ounces Palm Oil

18 ounces Mint Tea

7.5 ounces Lye

0.75 ounce Cade Oil

1.5 ounce Lavender Oil

0.25 ounce Cedarwood Oil

1 ounce Peppermint Oil

You can find directions here on the cold soap process. It's very important how you mix your ingredients!

I am no scientist and I share this recipe with no claims of curing dandruff,

But when I wear my goggles and sport my big ass gloves teamed up with an industrial looking apron, I could probably fool the best of you on a good day!

Hopefully my guinea pigs don't run around smelling like a campfire. I have to say that Cade Oil is pretty potent. I would suggest a nicely scented conditioner to go with this bar!

Cheers!

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Poplar Salve (Balm of Gilead)

With the cold winter months coming,

I thought I would share a recipe for Poplar Salve

You may have to wait until spring, when your poplars are in full bud ...so make sure you **pin** this recipe for future use!

Start with a 500 ml jar and fill it with poplar buds.

Pour olive oil or canola oil over the buds, enough to completely cover them.

Put lid on and set in a sunny window.

After several months, strain the oil from the poplar buds and discard the buds into the compost. You can speed this process up by throwing everything into a crockpot and heating it on medium for a few hours.

Now for the rest of the ingredients....

Mix 200 grams of bud oil into a glass measuring cup, 30 grams of beeswax and 15 grams of cocoa butter.

Heat this until all ingredients are melted.

If you want a stiffer potion, add more beeswax.

If you are sensitive to cocoa butter, just omit and use an extra 5 grams of beeswax.

I do a test when making balms and salves by putting a small amount into a dish and cooling in the fridge for a few minutes. That way, you can adjust your wax while your balm is still heating over the stove.

A pyrex measuring cup works great set it in a pot of heating water on the stove.

You can also use your microwave. Heat in increments of 30 seconds and stir between cycles so as to not overheat your mixture.

Stir with a disposable popsicle stick until melted for easy cleanup.

Remove from heat and mix in 8 drops each of lavender, eucalyptus, and mint essential oils and vitamin E.

If you would like a stronger scent, add more. Adding the EO's is optional! The vitamin E oil is a preservative and can also be skipped if you use the salve up within a few months.

Put your freshly made salve in containers and use as needed.

I found these at the Dollar Tree and they work great. You will need at least 7, maybe 8 one ounce containers depending on how full you fill them.

If you are at all sensitive to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), you should not use this, or use with caution as poplar sap contains salicin, which is the precursor for aspirin. Always consult your physician.

click on pdf for printable option

Cheers!!

Sunday, November 19, 2017

We're just gonna blow out this wall and put in a beam! Part Nine

You can see part 8 here!

We are officially in our living room basking in the glorious sunlight from the ginormous window previously installed. We walk around looking like ghosts with all the sunscreen we have to wear. As the song goes...."My future's so bright I gotta wear shades".

Enough bragging about no longer being vampires....

We're just gonna blow out this wall and put in a beam Part 8

Yippee!

See Part 7 HERE

We are now back in our old digs but with a sturdy floor and a wood stove. It has been a looooong year of reno's; actually 1 year and 2 months. We could have sailed around the world ten times, joined the circus, had a new Baby Turtle all in the time this reno took....and we did...have a new baby turtle that is!