How To instructions for the Super Bowl or any time fun projects
Do just one or try all four. Here are the "How To" instructions.
Project #1 The Seed Check method
Are they still good?
Those leftover seeds from last year, should I use them or throw them out?
Here's an easy way to find out.
Materials needed forSeed Check:
1. A few paper towels
2. A marking pen
3. Old seeds
4. Plastic bag (a baggie or ziplock or vegetable bag from the store)
4. A few days to wait for the results.
Step One
Wet the towel under the faucet and then wring it out.
Step two
Smooth out the paper towel and place 10 seeds on it (leave some space between the seeds).
Step three
Use your permanent marking pen to write the name of the seeds on the paper towel.
Step four
Fold the paper towel to make cover the seeds (if you know how, make an envelope packet).
Step five
Look at the seed packet and see how many days to germination your seeds should take.
Step six
Place the towel in a plastic bag and put it in a warm spot. Maybe on top of the refrigerator.
Step seven
Check the seeds every three to four days. Look for tiny roots and new growth beginning.
Step eight
If and when the seeds begin to germinate then you count the ones that have started to grow. If 7 seeds out of the 10 germinate you have a 70% germination rate. It's worth sowing those seeds. If you get 5 or fewer seeds it is probably not worth it. toss them and buy new. If you choose to use them you will know how many seeds should sprout. Good idea to mark the seed packet with the date and the anticipated germination rate.
Hint: When you are planting seeds make very sure that they do not dry out even for a little while. If you have children try lima beans for a big picture of how a seed starts to grow.
We found these fun easy projects in an old issue of Garden Ideas by Better Homes and Gardens. They are fun and very easy to do. Perfect for Super Bowl Sunday.
Project #2Twiggy Pot CoverOur "super clever good at crafts" Merry Young did a trial to make sure everything worked. The extra comments in italics are Merry’s and our true life experiences doing this. She is very good at crafts but this is so easy that even not crafty Evelyn could do it.
Materials needed for Twiggy Pot Cover:
1. A 6 inch Clay pot
We used the 6” pot but any size will do. You will just need to adjust the length and height of the material and the twigs. Duh!
2. A 4” wide strip of burlap or other similar material.
The length of material should be equal to the circumference of the pot
lf course Evelyn couldn't’t find the burlap, which she was sure we had. Merry used denim but it was a bit stiff and harder to work with. If you don’t have Burlap or other material you can glue the twigs directly to the pot You might have fun painting the pot a bright color first. Makes for great contrast.
3. A collection of twigs about ½ inch in diameter.
Merry is busy collecting twigs so there will be a box at the nursery if you need some. Just come in and ask. If you are really bored and have to get out of the house come by Weidner’s and do the whole project there. Bring your own material, I still haven’t found the burlap.
4. A hot glue gun and some glue sticks.
Step one
Prepare the twigs. Cut them so they are a half inch shorter than the height of the rim of the pot. They also need to be shorter than the bottom ...unless you want a tipsy pot.
Step two
Lay the strip down flat and glue the twigs to the burlap strip
Allow Glue to dry at least one hour.
This gives you time to have some snacks, a drink and pretend you are a true football fan.
Step three
Glue the burlap to the container. Put the glue on the material and then glue to the pot.
If you want to make it eas
y tie some raffia, twine or a pretty ribbon around the pot. Keeps everything in place while the glue sets.
If you Glue the twigs directly to the pot you can make a a thin strip of burlap to go around it This actually makes it more secure You can also tie a pretty ribbon around like we did.
You can get some of Merry’s twigs free if you come in and ask. Remember that hot glue sort of melts outside in damp weather so if you put it outside be sure to use a tie to keep it all together.
Project #3 The Easy Trellis in 30 minutes.
This is what the magazine called a 10 minute trellis! If you can do this in ten minutes you are very very good.
30 minutes for Merry, probably an hour for Evelyn. It is pretty easy and very practical. I used some branches from one of my fruit trees that is still waiting to be cut back. Any kind of branches will do.
Materials needed for Easy Trellis
1. Four 1-2 inch diameter branches. The size depends on how big and strong you want your trellis.
The lengths should be equal to the desired heights of the finished trellis. Plus one foot to go into the ground or pot.
2. Four 1 inch diameter or less cross pieces.
The four cross piece should be long enough to span the width of the trellis.
3. Ten 1 1/2 inch finish nails or some strong twine or raffia.
This is to fasten everything together.
4. One thin pliable branch to make a hoop around the base of the trellis.
5. Large pot or container full of soil. Or even a planted container
Step 1
Push the vertical sticks into the pot or soil. if you are doing this without a pot lay them down to assemble. Stick the vertical pieces into the pot or into the ground.
Step 2
Take the horizontal cross pieces and weave them through the upright pieces at the desired height.
Hint. If you weave them in and out they will stay in place while you either nail or tie the twigs in place.
Step 3 Take your pliable short length of branch and Strip leaves off, gently put it around the base of the trellis and fasten it into a circle or hoop If you are putting it directly it to a pot this part isn't’t really necessary. It is there just to keep the bottom part together.
That’s all there is to it. Plant your pot with plants from Weidner's...not just another nursery.
Project #3 Make Dried Flowers With Pansies
Pansies 
...Pansy Fun
Materials needed for Easy Pansy Pressing:
1.
Get some fresh air with a trip outside to pick some pretty pansy flowers. Pick some with stems, some without. A few leaves too will be nice. Any other small flat faced flowers, ferns, anything that looks like it might press.
2. An old phone book
3. Paper towels
Open the phone book, put down a sheet of paper towel and then arrange the pansy flowers. Put another towel on to and close the phone book. Open to another spot and do it again. As long as the kids are having fun and you have pansies. Put the whole thing in a safe place and put something heavy on top. A brick, a rock or a couple of large cans of food.
It takes several weeks for the pansy flowers to dry. After that you are ready for all sorts of fun dried flower crafts . We'll put some of those craft "How to's up in a few weeks.
