W hen the holiday season rolls around, Katherine DeGroot digs out the glue gun, buys craft items in bulk and forages for additional supplies in her refrigerator, pantry and backyard. She then makes her own holiday decor, some of which her family gives as gifts. “We use whatever I have around the house or even outside,” said DeGroot. The Instagrammer also shares her latest projects as part of a growing social media community of DIY decor enthusiasts swapping ideas while keeping sustainability in mind. While the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, they can also be the most wasteful. According to one Stanford University study, Americans throw out an estimated 25% more trash during the holidays than at any other time of the year. To help reduce a household’s carbon footprint during this time and keep items out of landfills, the University of Minnesota’s Office of Sustainability has created a holiday guide covering tips on sustainable decorating as well as gift-giving and food practices. Carley Rice, university sustainability coordinator, said breaking old holiday habits can be difficult. The key is baby steps. “We don’t want to overwhelm anyone. Start small, and make changes that make sense to you and your family right now,” she said. For starters, try making your own holiday decorations using sustainable materials and supplies that can be purchased in bulk. Going DIY can be more economical. Want to start making a dent toward a more cost-conscious, sustainable holiday? Here are how-tos on making paper snowflakes, dried fruit garlands, candles and potpourri from Instagrammers DeGroot (@katherinelouisedegroot) and Emma O’Connor (@emmaelizabethoconnor). Paper bag snowflakes Katherine DeGroot buys inexpensive brown paper lunch bags to create DIY snowflakes. “They’re festive into the new year,” DeGroot added. “They’re great for gifting, as well.” Makes 1 Supplies: 8 brown paper lunch bags, scissors, hot glue gun. Optional: stapler, string and hole puncher. To assemble: Glue eight bags together by placing the first bag on a flat surface. Make sure the bag’s opening is on top and the smooth surface side of the bag without the crease faces upward. Draw an upside-down T with the glue onto the bag. Stack one of the unglued bags on top, facing the same way as the first bag. Repeat gluing and stacking each of the remaining bags. When you get to the last bag, stack but do not glue the top. To design: Take scissors and create a snowflake design by cutting edges of stacked bags. Creative liberties can be taken here. When finished, open the snowflake by joining the two end pieces together, which will form a circle. Glue end pieces together. Staple for an extra-secure snowflake. Use for holiday decor on mantels, tabletops, walls or windows. If hanging the snowflakes, pull a string through an existing hole or use a hole puncher. Stovetop winter potpourri One of the reasons DeGroot likes to make this as a gift is that the ingredients are versatile. In this batch, she uses cranberries, oranges, cinnamon sticks and star anise. However, cloves, fresh rosemary, lemons, apples or vanilla beans also are suitable. Any way you slice it, this spin on potpourri imbues the spirit of the holidays. Makes 4 gift bags Supplies: Generous bundle of evergreen clippings, 12 ounces of fresh cranberries, 4 oranges, 8 cinnamon sticks, 12 star anise, 4 paper sandwich bags. To assemble: In each bag, add some evergreen clippings, about 1 1⁄2 cups cranberries, 1 orange, 2 cinnamon sticks and 3 star anise. To use: Write directions for use by your recipient: Put items in a small pot, add just enough water to cover the ingredients, bring to a simmer, and enjoy the aroma! Dried fruit garland Emma O’Connor’s go-to DIY decor item adds vibrancy and color to her home during the holidays. “I have always admired using natural resources to decorate seasonally. This is also an easy craft to do with little helping hands,” she said. Makes 12 feet of garland Supplies: 4 oranges or grapefruit; 8 ounces fresh cranberries; dishcloth; parchment paper; baking sheets and baking rack; kitchen twine or string; sewing needle. To prepare: Preheat oven to 200 F. Slice oranges and grapefruit into 1⁄8- to 1⁄4-inch round slices. Pat dry with a dishcloth and arrange slices on parchment-lined baking sheets. To dry fruit: Bake for 3 to 4 hours or until dry, flipping halfway through. Let slices cool on a baking rack. To finish: Use kitchen twine or string and a sewing needle to thread through dried fruits and fresh cranberries. Beeswax jelly jar candles DeGroot especially loves this candle-making project because it’s a family activity. And while they like to make a batch during this time of year for that golden holiday glow, the effort pays off far beyond. “I love these beeswax candles because they can be used all year round,” said DeGroot, adding that she prefers beeswax over other candle bases because it burns cleaner. Makes 4 to 5 small/medium candles in jelly-sized jars Supplies: 2-pound bag of beeswax pellets or ends of beeswax candles; 4 to 5 wicks; double boiler or two pots; and 4 to 5 small- to medium-sized heat-resistant, fireproof containers, such as jelly or Mason jars. Optional: Chopsticks, clothespins or Popsicle sticks for centering the wick and essential oils for scents. To prepare: Using a double boiler, pour candle wax into the top pot and place on the stovetop. Heat on medium-high until all of the wax is melted, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. If using, add drops of essential oils according to preference and stir into wax. Meanwhile, place one wick vertically in the center of the jar. Your wick should be a few inches taller than your vessel. You can use chopsticks, clothespins or Popsicle sticks to keep the wick in place. To assemble: Carefully pour melted wax into jars, about 1⁄4 inch from the top. If using Popsicle sticks, remove them after the wax and jars have cooled. Set aside until candles are ready to use once the wax has hardened, 1 to 2 hours. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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W hen the holiday season rolls around, Katherine DeGroot digs out the glue gun, buys craft items in bulk and forages for additional supplies in her refrigerator, pantry and backyard. She then makes her own holiday decor, some of which her family gives as gifts. “We use whatever I have around the house or even outside,” said DeGroot. The Instagrammer also shares her latest projects as part of a growing social media community of DIY decor enthusiasts swapping ideas while keeping sustainability in mind. While the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, they can also be the most wasteful. According to one Stanford University study, Americans throw out an estimated 25% more trash during the holidays than at any other time of the year. To help reduce a household’s carbon footprint during this time and keep items out of landfills, the University of Minnesota’s Office of Sustainability has created a holiday guide covering tips on sustainable decorating as well as gift-giving and food practices. Carley Rice, university sustainability coordinator, said breaking old holiday habits can be difficult. The key is baby steps. “We don’t want to overwhelm anyone. Start small, and make changes that make sense to you and your family right now,” she said. For starters, try making your own holiday decorations using sustainable materials and supplies that can be purchased in bulk. Going DIY can be more economical. Want to start making a dent toward a more cost-conscious, sustainable holiday? Here are how-tos on making paper snowflakes, dried fruit garlands, candles and potpourri from Instagrammers DeGroot (@katherinelouisedegroot) and Emma O’Connor (@emmaelizabethoconnor). Paper bag snowflakes Katherine DeGroot buys inexpensive brown paper lunch bags to create DIY snowflakes. “They’re festive into the new year,” DeGroot added. “They’re great for gifting, as well.” Makes 1 Supplies: 8 brown paper lunch bags, scissors, hot glue gun. Optional: stapler, string and hole puncher. To assemble: Glue eight bags together by placing the first bag on a flat surface. Make sure the bag’s opening is on top and the smooth surface side of the bag without the crease faces upward. Draw an upside-down T with the glue onto the bag. Stack one of the unglued bags on top, facing the same way as the first bag. Repeat gluing and stacking each of the remaining bags. When you get to the last bag, stack but do not glue the top. To design: Take scissors and create a snowflake design by cutting edges of stacked bags. Creative liberties can be taken here. When finished, open the snowflake by joining the two end pieces together, which will form a circle. Glue end pieces together. Staple for an extra-secure snowflake. Use for holiday decor on mantels, tabletops, walls or windows. If hanging the snowflakes, pull a string through an existing hole or use a hole puncher. Stovetop winter potpourri One of the reasons DeGroot likes to make this as a gift is that the ingredients are versatile. In this batch, she uses cranberries, oranges, cinnamon sticks and star anise. However, cloves, fresh rosemary, lemons, apples or vanilla beans also are suitable. Any way you slice it, this spin on potpourri imbues the spirit of the holidays. Makes 4 gift bags Supplies: Generous bundle of evergreen clippings, 12 ounces of fresh cranberries, 4 oranges, 8 cinnamon sticks, 12 star anise, 4 paper sandwich bags. To assemble: In each bag, add some evergreen clippings, about 1 1⁄2 cups cranberries, 1 orange, 2 cinnamon sticks and 3 star anise. To use: Write directions for use by your recipient: Put items in a small pot, add just enough water to cover the ingredients, bring to a simmer, and enjoy the aroma! Dried fruit garland Emma O’Connor’s go-to DIY decor item adds vibrancy and color to her home during the holidays. “I have always admired using natural resources to decorate seasonally. This is also an easy craft to do with little helping hands,” she said. Makes 12 feet of garland Supplies: 4 oranges or grapefruit; 8 ounces fresh cranberries; dishcloth; parchment paper; baking sheets and baking rack; kitchen twine or string; sewing needle. To prepare: Preheat oven to 200 F. Slice oranges and grapefruit into 1⁄8- to 1⁄4-inch round slices. Pat dry with a dishcloth and arrange slices on parchment-lined baking sheets. To dry fruit: Bake for 3 to 4 hours or until dry, flipping halfway through. Let slices cool on a baking rack. To finish: Use kitchen twine or string and a sewing needle to thread through dried fruits and fresh cranberries. Beeswax jelly jar candles DeGroot especially loves this candle-making project because it’s a family activity. And while they like to make a batch during this time of year for that golden holiday glow, the effort pays off far beyond. “I love these beeswax candles because they can be used all year round,” said DeGroot, adding that she prefers beeswax over other candle bases because it burns cleaner. Makes 4 to 5 small/medium candles in jelly-sized jars Supplies: 2-pound bag of beeswax pellets or ends of beeswax candles; 4 to 5 wicks; double boiler or two pots; and 4 to 5 small- to medium-sized heat-resistant, fireproof containers, such as jelly or Mason jars. Optional: Chopsticks, clothespins or Popsicle sticks for centering the wick and essential oils for scents. To prepare: Using a double boiler, pour candle wax into the top pot and place on the stovetop. Heat on medium-high until all of the wax is melted, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. If using, add drops of essential oils according to preference and stir into wax. Meanwhile, place one wick vertically in the center of the jar. Your wick should be a few inches taller than your vessel. You can use chopsticks, clothespins or Popsicle sticks to keep the wick in place. To assemble: Carefully pour melted wax into jars, about 1⁄4 inch from the top. If using Popsicle sticks, remove them after the wax and jars have cooled. Set aside until candles are ready to use once the wax has hardened, 1 to 2 hours. Get local news delivered to your inbox!In a tragic incident that highlights the potential dangers of self-medication and excessive supplementation, a man recently lost his life after overdosing on various supplements in a misguided attempt to ward off the cold. This unfortunate event serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of exercising caution and seeking professional medical advice before embarking on any supplementation regimen.Share Tweet Share Share Email The field of non-destructive testing (NDT) has seen incredible advancements in recent years, particularly with the incorporation of shearography laser testing. This technology significantly enhances defect detection in materials such as composites and metals. As industries increasingly lean on advanced materials and techniques, leveraging technology will further streamline the testing process for optimal results. Understanding Advanced Materials and Processes Advanced materials, including composites, ceramics, and polymers, have revolutionized various sectors, notably aerospace and automotive. They provide enhanced performance characteristics like lightness and resistance to corrosion, while simultaneously being sturdy. 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By experiencing real-life scenarios through virtual simulations, trainees develop the necessary skills to correctly interpret shearography images and make informed decisions in real-world scenarios. This enhances the effectiveness of training programs and ensures that employees are prepared for the challenges they may face in the field. Leveraging recent technological innovations in shearography laser testing can significantly enhance inspection methodologies and outcomes. As industries evolve to adopt advanced materials and processes, automation, cloud computing, and AI will play central roles in achieving superior testing efficacy. By embracing these technologies, organizations position themselves to meet the rising demands of quality and safety in an increasingly competitive market . Related Items: Leveraging Tech Innovations , Shearography Laser Testing Share Tweet Share Share Email Comments