This & That Junk Drawer Wednesday Headache Pillow & Old Milk Carton Bird House Tutorial!!

No matter what is happening in your life, know that God is waiting for you with open arms!!!

The Headache Pillow

This is made from a really cute fleece scarf I found at a thrift store.

Materials Used:
fabric (I used this fleece scarf, which has 2 layers of fabric. You could use pretty much any kind of fabric that you want.)
scissors
stick pins
sewing machine or needle and thread
rice
dried lavender or lavender essential oil

Directions:

1. Cut a rectangle about 8"x6" (or whatever size you want). Since I had a double-layered scarf, I just cut the end off. It's about 4"x6", with three sides already sewn.

2. Pin the sides you will be sewing, right sides together (wrong sides out).

3. Sew by hand or by machine (I don't have a sewing machine, so mine is done by hand. Since it's so small, it doesn't take very long). Be sure to leave at least 1" open on the end to pour the rice in.
4. Flip inside out so the right sides are now facing out.

5. Mix about 1.5 cups of rice with a handful of dried lavender or a few drops of lavender essential oil. Pour rice into pouch. It helps to use a funnel.
6. Fold about 1/4" of the opening into the pouch to hide the edge (make sure it's flush with the outside edge of the pouch), pin, and sew up the opening.

And now you have the Headache Pillow. You can warm it up in the microwave, or put it in the fridge or freezer, depending on how you like it or need it. Place over your eyes when you have a headache. It's nice when you don't have a headache too.
You can make this bigger and use as a heating pad for cramps or body aches or just to warm up your bed on cold winter nights! I'd probably leave out the lavender though.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Squares

Mix together:
1-1pound box of confectioners sugar, sifted
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 sticks butter or margarine, melted
1-17 or 18 ounce jar of peanut butter
Press onto the bottom of a 9 X 13 inch baking dish.
Melt together:
1 stick of butter or margarine
1-12oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Pour and spread the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter mixture in the baking pan. Refrigerate for a few hours and cut into squares.

Birds and the Bees - Make It

Where do baby birds come from? Your backyard, if you put together this DIY birdhouse, blueprint courtesy of craft-maven and stationer Art School Girl, Amy Rowan. Cardinals, sparrows, and robins are currently looking for places to crash, so instead of tossing your OJ or soy milk cartons (cardboard + paper = 41% of the city's waste), use 'em to build a bird crib. Here's how you do it.

Old Carton Birdhouse
2-3 hours

What You Need:
2 half-gal milk or juice cartons
About 4 yards masking tape
Craft knife (like an X-Acto)
Pencil
Ruler
Rag (yep, that old 'N Sync tee'll do)
Brown, nontoxic Prism paint (other earth tones optional)
Small paintbrush (optional)
Awl (or other hole-making tool like a protractor or upholstery needle)
4 inches string or twine

1. Rinse out the carton and let dry. Cover the outside of one carton entirely with masking tape, wrapping it horizontally so it looks like siding on a house.
2. Create an awning to keep the rain out: Using the craft knife, remove (and recycle) the top, triangular part of second carton along edge. On the remaining lidless piece, use pencil and ruler to mark a cut line 2.5 inches from the top, and cut horizontally around to remove (and recycle) the bottom piece. On this center piece, mark a diagonal line along two opposite sides and cut along line, creating a hollow wedge.
3. Using tape, affix the wedge to the front of your birdhouse (see photo) then cover the awning with tape to match the rest of the house.
4. Using the rag, rub brown paint into the tape to give it a weathered-wood look. (Brown's best for keeping pesky predators - like your cat - away.)
5. About 4 inches up from the bottom of the house, front and center, trace the carton's round cap (or a quarter) and carefully cut out a hole with the blade.
6. Using the awl, punch several holes in the bottom of the carton to keep any water from collecting there. Then poke a hole into the very top of the carton (where you would open it if it didn't have a cap) - be sure not to pierce the roof itself. Attach a 4-inch piece of twine and hang the house at least 6 feet from the ground on a sturdy branch.