Soft Washcloths for Cold and Hot Compresses

As I mentioned in my Why Buy Handmade post, I put a lot of love into everything I make.

Recently, I was reminded why making things with love matters.♥

It was like any other sale. At first. A few sets of my soft Fairface Washcloths for sensitive skin. Since they are all I can use for my super sensitive skin, I make them with lots of love in hopes they can help someone else like they've helped me.

It turns out, my sweet customer needed these soft washcloths made with an extra dose of love. These soft washcloths will be used as a cold compress to soothe her face, as she goes through a chemotherapy treatment.

It's moments like this that make it all worth it. Knowing that I am helping someone else with what I make, is as good as it gets.

As it turns out, there are a lot of conditions where a soft washcloth cold compress or hot compress can bring relief. 

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Using a Soft Washcloth 
as a Cold or Hot Compress

Sources: Livestrong.com, Mayoclinic.com, Webmd.com

COLD COMPRESS REMEDIES:

Cold compress: Reduces inflammation (swelling), itching, irritation, bruising, and constricts blood vessels. A cold compress can be made by soaking a soft washcloth in cold (ice) water or placing a cold, damp washcloth in the freezer for 10 minutes and then applying. When the washcloth warms up, cool off again, ring out and reapply.

Headache
Place a cold washcloth compress on your forehead allowing blood vessels to constrict and reduce the inflammation that causes the pressure and pain in your head.

Eczema or other Itchy Skin
Apply a cold, soft washcloth compress for 10 minutes to ease itchy skin. Repeat as needed until itch subsides.

Puffy eyes
Put a soft, clean washcloth in cold water, ring it out, and place it on your puffy eyes (best time right after waking). Repeat until the puffiness subsides.

Vaccination sites *See heat also
Place a cold compress on the site to reduce swelling, redness and tenderness within the first 12 to 24 hours. *See heat for next step

Wisdom tooth or other tooth pain
Hold a cold compress against your jaw to relieve pain for about 10 minutes, keeping cloth cool.

Fever
Cool your body down by placing a cold, soft washcloth compress on the forehead or nape of the neck where the hypothalamus is located for optimal cooling effect.

Sunburn Relief
Cold washcloth compresses can help relieve the heat of your sunburn, even if it's only temporary. Also try putting your clothes in the freezer before wearing to keep sunburned body cool (never thought of that before!).

Acne *also see hot compress

Temporarily relieve cysts, or other painful acne that haven't come to the surface. A cold compress (dampened, then frozen for 10 minutes) can reduce inflammation and pressure (gives you a numbing affect). 

Breast feeding *see also hot compress
Cold compress after nursing can bring comfort. Heard this from a friend, so do what works best for you.  

Sinuses, Allergies *see also hot compress
Alternate between hot and cold compresses to relieve a stuffy nose. Hot loosens the mucus, cold reduces nasal swelling and pressure. Use two separate washcloths. Soak one washcloth compress in hot water and lay over sinuses, below eyes, over nose. After 1 minute, rotate out with new cold compress at same location. Continue rotation about 10 minutes until you find relief.


HOT COMPRESS REMEDIES:

Hot compress: Increases blood flow, loosens and relaxes sore, stiff, achy muscles, tired dry eyes and relieves arthritis. Heat can also promote healing acne. Hot compresses are made by soaking a soft washcloth in hot or warm water (not too hot to burn yourself), ringing it out and using it on the affected area. When the washcloth cools, re-submerge in hot water, ring out and repeat.

Eyes
Ease tired dry eyes, reduce muscle pain, relieve a stye, and increase circulation around your eyes. 

Vaccination *See cold compress
During the 24-48 hours after the shot, elevate and apply a warm compress to the vaccination site to help relieve the muscle pain. *See cold for first 12-24 hours.

Sinuses, Allergies *listed in cold compress
Alternate between hot and cold compresses to relieve a stuffy nose. Hot loosens the mucus, cold reduces nasal swelling and pressure. Use two separate washcloths. Soak one washcloth compress in hot water and lay over sinuses, below eyes, over nose. After 1 minute, rotate out with new cold compress at same location. Continue rotation about 10 minutes until you find relief.

Acne *also see cold compress
Moist heat helps bring white blood cells to the affected area, speeding healing, and bring impurities to the surface. To close your pores again, rinse with cold water.

Breast feeding *see also cold compress
Warm washcloth compress before nursing can bring comfort. Heard this from a friend, so do what works best for you.

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Who knew there were so many uses for a soft washcloth? Instead of reaching for an ice pack or heating pad, which can sometimes damage skin tissue if used incorrectly, reach for a soft washcloth compress. Hope it helps! xo

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{Grow} your Blog through Guest Posting

Want to grow your blog and gain new readers?

Guest posting 

is a great way to do it!

If you have something crafty to share and want to share your talents with a new community of readers, I'd love to have you as a guest writer on ShannonSews!

Simply contact me through ssorensendesigns [at] hot mail [dot] com (sorry I have to write it that way or the email spammers will get me) and I'll share the details with you.

Guest Posting doesn't cost a thing, so think of it as a little free publicity! And in this economy, free is always a plus. Am I right?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Happy Friday!
Enjoy your weekend my friends! xo

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Create your own Stencil with Freezer Paper

Give a crafter 5 minutes and she'll find a new use for something.

Did you know Freezer Paper can be crafty? Oh yes, it's not just for meat, my friends.

It can be used as a fabric stabilizer when painting on fabric, and it can also be used to make your own stencil designs. I'm sure there are many other things its good for that have nothing whatsoever to do with meat.

I've been wanting to try making my own stencil using Freezer Paper for a long time. When I made my niece's Domestic Diva Tool Pouch, I finally found a good excuse to try it.

Freezer paper is like magic! Try it once and you'll be hooked. You'll want to stencil everything in the house.

How to create your own stencil with freezer paper

First step: (shown in the photo above) Print out the words or image you want to stencil and tape it to the freezer paper's non-waxy side. (You may be able to print directly on your freezer paper, if your printer doesn't use heat.) 

With something underneath to protect your cutting area (self-healing mat, cardboard, magazine) carefully cut out each letter through the paper and freezer paper.

Carefully peel off your taped paper. If you have cut out letters that have a center to them, be sure to keep those little pieces. You'll need to iron them on.

Iron the shiny (waxy) side down to the fabric. Make sure to adhere especially around each letter.

Apply your fabric paint with a sponge directly over the stencil and allow time to dry.

I was a little pressed for time, so I whipped out the hair dryer to cut the drying time.

I added a pre-made stencil design before the front was complete. I used spray adhesive on the back of this plastic stencil and adhered it to the fabric. Both the freezer paper and bonded plastic stencil peeled off easily when dried.

And here is the finished stencil. I really love the way it turned out.

There was a little bit of paint bleeding on the letters, but I think it will just take time to perfect the art of stenciling.

Cutting small details with an exacto knife also takes patience and practice. Since making this pouch, I purchased a knife with a skinnier blade and will see if it makes cutting with precision a little easier.

For the back of the pouch, I used a pre-made plastic stencil and adhered it with Craft Bond spray adhesive.

Here's the back. The paint bled a little through the stencil, but still looks nice. I guess I'll just need to spend more time stenciling. Practice makes perfect, you know.

Here is one last look at the tool pouch, in case you haven't seen the finished product. Read about how I made this Domestic Diva Tool Pouch and what gems are tucked inside.

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Why buy Handmade? {Reasons you should}

We are the creators

the architects

the authors and fabricators

We are the inventors, the planners and producers

We are the originators, the engineers and the designers.

We are the makers of handmade

As a maker and seller of things handmade, I can tell you there's a little bit of magic that goes into everything I create. An intermingling of dreams and imagination, a dash of determination and a lot of heart. To me, it's personal.

Each item I make is made with another in mind, for one day it will find a place in someone's home. And being a perfectionist at heart? Only my best craftsmanship will do.

And for the buyer or the giver? It's personal too. Anyone can run to a retail outlet and find something that 3,856 other people have, but handmade? Handmade is one of a kind. It's like a snowflake. No two are exactly the same. And that's what makes it so special. That's what makes it so unique. That's what makes it so personal.

Our world is made up of so many amazingly creative people. It's a shame we don't know most of them, but they are out there. If you look. With their little shops, sharing the things they've created with the world.

They are people like you and like me. Instead of long commutes, it's a walk down the hall. Instead of large board rooms, they're small spaces. Instead of 8-5, they're open all hours. Instead of a marketing team, it's one creative mind. Instead of machinery, two hands carefully put it together. You're supporting a craft. You're supporting hard work. You're supporting a family. You're supporting a dream.

And I've got to tell you, there's no better compliment than someone thinking enough of what I've made to buy it and have it in their home. Sheer bliss.

So the next time you're looking for a gift for someone you love? Your mom, dad, niece, nephew, son, daughter, a new mom, a cute baby, a friend's birthday, a wedding, an anniversary, a holiday, share a little magic and shop handmade. It's like mailing a letter, instead of an email. And these days it means that much more.♥

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If you are a maker of things Handmade or know someone who is, share this post and spread a little Handmade love today! xo

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