Homemade Mosquito Repellent

Every summer, my husband and I would spend Canada Day weekend with our friends at Wasaga Beach. However this summer, there's a baby girl! To keep mosquito's away, I didn't like the idea of spraying DEET anywhere near a baby. So I decided to try a homemade mosquito repellent recipe I found in the Urban Farm magazine.
Ingredients

• 1/2 cup vodka
• 1 tbsp dried basil
• 1 large cinnamon stick
• 1/2 tsp (about 40 drops) lavender essential oil

Step 1
Mix the first three ingredients in a jar, cover, and let it steep for 2 weeks.

Step 2
Strain mixture, and add lavender essential oil.When you need to use it, just pour a bit onto a paper towel and rub onto exposed body parts. Keep away from eyes.

My friends all used it, and they were all surprise at how well it worked!

Origami Butterfly

I learn how to fold this butterfly from watching Wayson Chow, author of The Jade Peony, when he visited my high school to talk about his writing. After his presentation, he encouraged us to ask him questions by giving away origami butterflies. I was too shy to ask him a question in exchange for a butterfly, so I watched him very closely as he folds butterflies in front of the class.

Of all the different versions of origami butterfly, this one is my favorite. Not only it's simple to fold, but it's wings "curves" once finish.


Materials

• Origami paper
• Fishing wire
• Acrylic paint
• White glue
• Binder clip
• Magnent (optional)
• Hot glue gun (optional)
• Nail (optional)
• Florist wire (optional)

Step 1Start with a piece of origami paper, and fold corner to corner, and side to side.












Step 2
Fold the paper in half.















Step 3
Fold as shown.















Step 4
Repeat on the other side. This is call a Waterbomb base.














Step 5Fold the first layer up as shown.















Step 6Repeat on the other side.















Step 7Rotate and turn the butterfly over.















Step 8Bring the top layer up as shown. Allow the tip to extend pass the top. Don't crease, just hold it in place with your fingers.













Step 9Fold the tip over as shown.















Step 10Fold the butterfly in half.
































Step 11To make antennas, dip fishing line into acrylic paint, and allow to dry.














Step 12Use a bit of white glue and insert antennas into place. I use a clip to hold it in place as the glue dries.














Step 13Your butterfly, complete.















Ideas
For magnets:
Use hot glue to glue a magnet on to your butterfly.
For walls: Simply tap a nail into your wall for the butterfly magnet.









For a plant ornament:

















Take a piece of florist wire and bend the tip.


















Mark where the wire should be. Unfold the the butterfly, pierce a hole, insert wire, and add a bit of white glue.














Refold your butterfly. Add antennas. Use a clip to hold wire and antennas in place as the glue dries.











For presents: Use the butterfly, instead of the traditional "bow".