Do It Yourself Projects

watershedplus:

An innovative initiative is taking place in the Philippines to bring sustainable lighting to homes in impoverished communities. Empty plastic bottles are installed in the roof, filled with water and bleach they refract sunlight. These “solar light bulbs” provide light equivalent to a 55watt light bulb.

See how they’re made here. From Visual News

(via pottercommajawsh)

smilingfork: Red Velvet Cheesecake Cookies Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ (very easy) Ingredients: Cookies: 1 box red velvet cake mix 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 large eggs 1/2 cup canola oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Cheesecake Filling: 4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature 2 cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Drizzle: 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips, melted Directions: To make cookies, in a large bowl combine cake mix and flour. Whisk until clumps disappear. In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix together cake mix, flour, eggs, oil and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap. The dough will be oily. Refrigerate for at least two hours. To make the cheesecake filling, using a mixer, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Using a teaspoon, scoop out cheesecake filling and place on a plate. Continue scooping out cheesecake filling into teaspoon balls until you have 10. Place plate in the freezer and freeze for at least two hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. To assemble the cookies, take about 1/4 cup of red velvet cookie dough and flatten in your hands. Place a teaspoon of cheesecake filling in the center and wrap the cookie dough around the filling. Gently roll into a ball and place on prepared baking sheet. Scoop onto lightly greased or parchment lined baking sheets. Only bake 3 cookies at a time. The cookies are large and will spread. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until the cookies begin to crackle. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Remove from baking sheet to a wire cooling rack and cool completely. Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl or over a double-boiler. Drizzle the white chocolate over the cooled cookies. Let the cookies set until the chocolate hardens. Serve and enjoy!

smilingfork:

Red Velvet Cheesecake Cookies

Difficulty:
★☆☆☆☆ (very easy)

Ingredients:

Cookies:

  • 1 box red velvet cake mix
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cheesecake Filling:

  • 4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Drizzle:

  • 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips, melted

Directions:

  1. To make cookies, in a large bowl combine cake mix and flour. Whisk until clumps disappear. In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix together cake mix, flour, eggs, oil and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap. The dough will be oily. Refrigerate for at least two hours.
  2. To make the cheesecake filling, using a mixer, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Using a teaspoon, scoop out cheesecake filling and place on a plate. Continue scooping out cheesecake filling into teaspoon balls until you have 10. Place plate in the freezer and freeze for at least two hours.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. To assemble the cookies, take about 1/4 cup of red velvet cookie dough and flatten in your hands. Place a teaspoon of cheesecake filling in the center and wrap the cookie dough around the filling. Gently roll into a ball and place on prepared baking sheet. Scoop onto lightly greased or parchment lined baking sheets. Only bake 3 cookies at a time. The cookies are large and will spread. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until the cookies begin to crackle. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Remove from baking sheet to a wire cooling rack and cool completely.
  4. Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl or over a double-boiler. Drizzle the white chocolate over the cooled cookies. Let the cookies set until the chocolate hardens. Serve and enjoy!
DIY Scrabble Coasters

DIY Scrabble Coasters

afargreencountryandaswiftsunrise: Not that I recommend mutilating books….but this is completely adorable and nerdy and I love it. I’d suggest buying a second copy of a book you already love, preferably used (so that you know it’s already lived its life) and so that you can actually talk about it, if someone asks you why you’re carrying that particular book around. (Here’s the link to the tutorial: http://seekatesew.blogspot.com/2011/01/cwts-reveal-book-clutch-how-to.html)

afargreencountryandaswiftsunrise:

Not that I recommend mutilating books….but this is completely adorable and nerdy and I love it.

I’d suggest buying a second copy of a book you already love, preferably used (so that you know it’s already lived its life) and so that you can actually talk about it, if someone asks you why you’re carrying that particular book around.

(Here’s the link to the tutorial: http://seekatesew.blogspot.com/2011/01/cwts-reveal-book-clutch-how-to.html)

(via mikkelbang)