How to Make Polymer Clay Earrings
December 18, 2021
Handmade Air Fresheners
Hey guys! Holymoly, the holidays are almost here! I’ve been noticing that everyone in blogland is already decorated for Christmas. Like last week! Nope, I won’t do it. Not yet! I’m in denial!
Anyhow, I’ve been prepping the house for a grand Thanksgiving celebration {no really it’s usually just my mother and me}. That means I’ve been painting walls, replacing outlets, and finishing my baseboards, and the list goes on and on… Oye!
Today, I wanted to share this great little project I snuck in this weekend. Anyone else in love with the smells of fall? {I’m gonna need hands in the air folks…?!} Me personally, I can’t get enough!
Using drawer sachets as my inspiration, {You guys know what those are right? The scented bags you put in your undies drawer to make your undergarments smell wonderful… Bueller?} I came up with these cute little guys. Handmade air fresheners made out of Plaster of Paris and essential oils!
Thus, this cute little guys are great in the home, car and as gifts. Follow along and see how you can made some of your own.
Here's What You'll Need
Supplies:
- Silicone Mold (I used this one. Try here, here, and here)
- Plaster of Paris
- Water
Tools:
- Mixing bowl
- Fork & Spoon
Yes, that's it!
{affiliate links provided above}
To start off, I ordered these cute little owl molds from Amazon.com. They took a little while to come from china but they were so worth it! The bonus is, the molds can be used for soaps and candles too. I love versatility.
The Process
To begin, you learn to make plaster. The making the plaster is simple. Add little powder… and a little water. Make sure the consistency is a little like runny pancake batter, if that is at all helpful.
Once you have your mixture at the right consistency, start spooning it into the mold. Let the mixture rest for a minute or two to allow full saturation of all the plaster particles.
Once the mold is fully filled, rigorously tap the mold on the counter or with your hand. Instantly, you will see the excess bubbles rise to the surface. Keep in mind, air bubbles will cause your figurine to have little imperfections. Therefore, get to tapping!
The plaster sets firm in 20-30 minutes depending on the amount of liquid used in the mixture. Keep in mind, the more liquidy, the longer it will take to set. {Is liquidy even a word? I didn’t get a red squiggly line under the word, guess I didn’t just make it up!}
When removing from the mold, carefully peel the edges away and gentle coax out your creation!
Troubleshooting
As you can see above, the owl on the left has some air bubble imperfections. Keep in mind, that this can happen.
Bubbles occur due to the surface tension of water in the mixture when contacting the mold. A solution to this is to mix a 1:1 ratio of windex and water. This will act as a surfactant {there’s your word for the day} allowing the water in the mixture to spread on contact with the mold. Just spray a little into the molds before pouring in your mixture.
Once out of the mold, I let my little figurines dry for 12-24 hours before I added scents to them.
In the spirit of fall, I used sweet orange, clove and cinnamon essential oils to make a yummy warm and sweet scent. I used 2-3 drops per scent which gives off a lovely smell. I prefer strong smells, but it’s totally up to you and your nose!
I cannot say enough how simple and easy it is to make these little guys. I think they would be a perfect addition to any stocking, christmas tree, or gift box!
I’m thinking about ordering some more molds for the holidays. Maybe some cute little trees or snowflakes and adding them to the tops of my christmas presents?! Oh, let the creativity flow…
Enjoy ya’ll!
XO,
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I’m Maria, a lover of furry things, coffee and anything creative. This blog is where I love to share affordable home decor ideas, great DIYs, yummy recipes, unique crafts and so much more.
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2 thoughts on “Homemade Air Fresheners”
What a great idea. Did you mix the essential oil in the plaster mixture while wet or did you put drops on item when dried?
Susan,
I have made these little plaster guys both ways actually. After experimenting a little, I think adding after makes the smell a little stronger. But neither would be wrong. The plaster will set regardless! So glad you like the idea. Happy crafting dear.
XO,
Maria