Cool-Down Ties, Dog beds and
Smelly Jelly!
These are not hard and fast rules but guidelines for
making dog beds, cool- down ties and smelly Jelly. Instructions
can be changed and adapted to suit your own tastes as
well as needs.
Dog Mats or Beds
Measure the size mat you would like that is appropriate
for the size of your dog. Cut two pieces of fabric,
one for the top and one for the bottom. The best fabric
to use would be a natural cotton as you want water to
easily go through to the Crystal Ice. If you have a
serger you can use it for the outside edges of both
the mats and the ties. If not, sew up the three sides
of material double stitching for strength, and turn
the piece inside out. The fourth side can be finished
by folding under then placing together to sew, but that's
later.
After you've sewn the three sides and turned the piece
inside out using your sewing machine, sew parallel tubes
about 1-1/2 inches wide running from the finished edge
to the unfinished edge. Put about 1 teaspoon of Crystal
Ice (see below) per 12 inches of length of each tube.
Close the fourth edge using your serger or by folding
the pieces together making sure the ends of the tubes
are closed off. If your mat is going to be large and
your tubes long, you might find it necessary to stitch
across the tubes in the center of the mat, making two
tubes out of each one. Don't forget to put the Crystals
in the first half of the tubes before sewing down the
middle though.
Making dog beds using a standard pillowcase for the
casing is easy and is a great size for a smaller dog.
When soaked, it's just a little smaller than a 400 sized
crate. Divide the pillowcase into 8 vertical channels
and then divide each channel into 4 sections. Use about
1 tsp. of Crystals in each section.
Commercial dog mats have a laminated fabric covering
which is closed with velcro. These can be easily made
using laminated fabric purchased from a fabric store.
Use the same technique as above without the tubes being
sewn in and add a flap at one end with velcro to close.
This covering is not necessary though. If the material
you use is light colored you may want to slip a second
one over the bed so that you can wash the cover. The
outer pillowcase will still get and stay damp from the
inner one containing the crystals so make sure that
it is protected underneath from surfaces you don't want
to get wet.
When the inside mat is soaked in water, about 30 minutes
will give you 20% absorption, 60-90 minutes should give
100% saturation. If you find it's too full or not full
enough, you may need to let it dry out completely for
several days and add or take out Crystals Ice as needed.
Cool Ties or Bandanas
To Make Cool Ties or Cool Bandanas:
These can be made in several ways. You can take an ordinary
bandana and make a cool collar for yourself by simply
folding over the wide edge about an inch or an inch
and a half and stitching the "hem" down to
create a tube. Complete the bandanas as with the following
instructions for the ties.
Cut long rectangles of fabric, approximately 4-6 inches
wide and about 18-20 inches in length. If using a rectangle,
fold it in half lengthwise (wrong sides together) and
stitch the long edge as well as across one end to create
a tube. Then, using the sewing machine, stitch across
the tube 6 inches from the center close to the finished
end (if using an 18 inch rectangle of fabric this would
be 3 inches in from the end of the tube).
Place a teaspoon of Crystal Ice into the tube and work
them down. This is important because your sewing machine
will NOT stitch through a Crystal. Now stitch across
the tube about 3 inches from the unfinished end, enclosing
the Crystals in the center section of the tube. Sew
the fourth edge of the tube closed. Again, as with the
mats you'll need to soak one to be certain that you
have neither too many nor too few Crystals. With a central
tube 12 inches long a measured teaspoon seems to be
a good amount. This will be a personal choice that you
can experiment with on your own. You can use a velcro
fastener at the end or even make the ends without Crystals
longer so they can be tied. Just be certain that you
adjust where you stitch to create the central tube so
that the center tube remains about 12 inches long.
Saturation
Using about 2 tsp. per 18"-long tube 1-1/2"
wide, a mat hung out on a clothes line for 5 days in
100 plus degrees (daytime temperature) still had a bit
of moisture retention. If it had been lying on a flat
surface it probably would have been quite functional
after 5 days.
Storage
Warning --when not in use hang in a well ventilated
area. This will help prevent mildew. If desired, place
your mat or tie in a zip-lock bag and place it in the
refrigerator. This will keep the cool-tie hydrated for
months. If longer storage is desired, make sure that
the mat/tie is completely dry.
Washing
Hand wash in mild soap, rinse thoroughly
and hang in a well-ventilated area to dry. A vinegar
and water solution may also be used. Do not machine
wash or dry in dryer.
Smelly Jelly
To make Smelly Jelly:
1) Fill a container with 16 oz. of
distilled water.
2) Add 1 teaspoon of Smelly
Jelly Water Crystals.
3) Stir in 1 - 2 teaspoons fragrance oil. Water based
scents work just as well. Some fragrance oils suppliers will cause issues so
test on a small sample first.
4) Add a few drops of food coloring for desired color.
5) Mix all ingredients and allow to sit for several hours.
The Smelly Jelly crystals will soak up
the water and expand into little gel-like pieces. Makes
enough to fill 2 x 8 oz. Jelly Jar with Smelly Jelly.
6) The addition of a "pinch" of salt has been said to help
preservation and stop a milkiness that sometimes occur over
time.
7) Smelly Jelly Jars look cute with
net, lace, or thin material in the lids (using only
the rim and leaving out the middle piece)! This helps
keep dust off your smelly jellies. Pick a material
that goes with your product theme, such as country.
Or you could pick a material to match the scents, like
fruits, flowers, etc!
8) You can also use smelly jelly in potpourri warmers
for an even stronger scent! Remember, you can use
WaterSmart or Crystal Ice products to make your Smelly
Jelly.
Water Crystals Ice * How to Mix with Water * Display
Ideas * What Others Say * Cool-Down
Ties & Dog Beds
WaterSmart * Benefits & Uses * Application * Water
House Plants * Watering Gardens * Water
Trees & Shrubs * Water Lawn & Sod * Field
Studies * What Others Say about Water Gel
& Water * Educational Uses
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