Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff answers:

It will likely eat a hole completely through the nylon.

How to Clean Ripstop Nylon
Contributor
By Shelley Kishpaugh, eHow Contributing Writer

Ripstop nylon is a fabric that, like the name suggests, is not prone to tearing. This means that if there is a small hole, it will not run into a large rip very easily. Because of this durability feature, ripstop nylon is found in a number of applications. You might find ripstop nylon in clothing, umbrellas, suitcases, parachutes, kites, draperies, bed coverings and more. Ripstop nylon is also one of the easiest fabrics to clean.
Difficulty: EasyInstructionsThings You’ll Need:
Stain pretreater for laundry
Laundry detergent
Soft brush
Step 1Apply the stain pretreatment to any visible stains and allow the product to sit for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer of your stain removing product.

Step 2Launder your ripstop nylon item in the washing machine, using cold water and the cycle recommended on the tag. If you have an item that will not fit into the washer, such as a kite or a suitcase, put the item into a bathtub with cold water or use the garden hose. Use the soft brush and some laundry detergent to lather and gently scrub your nylon item.

Step 3Rinse your item thoroughly with cold water.

Step 4Dry your item. You may use an electric dryer for this step, but keep the dryer on its lowest setting. Alternatively, you can hang the item to drip dry or lay it out flat to dry.

GardenersCardiff answers:

I wouldn’t. They’re far too invasive & would take over the whole garden just by tossing them in there, at least in our area. You might take walks & ask around in your neighborhood or town to find out what plants do well in your climate. Also consider whether it’s a sunny or shady garden. I would pick the plants that have big chunky seeds. They seem to be less delicate & easier to grow. Morning Glories are wonderful & are related to moonflowers. I don’t find them to be as invasive, though. Whenever I’ve planted those, I’ve either grown them along a wire fence, or else I’ve nailed in tiny nails to create cords made from clear fishing cord, so the vines had something to climb. I could also keep track of where I’d planted them. Those are always very beautiful, too.

Other people to ask in your area are those in the Master Gardener’s Program. They’re volunteers who take classes just because they want the knowledge. Then they do such things as take phone calls, have an information booth at the county fair, & give talks at the library. Another possibility would be that there would be city or county agencies that would help you put in a low-water usage garden. If you’re not in California, that might not be an issue where you are, but there might be other ones that are important to you.

You might also enjoy having a petunia plant in a hanging basket on the patio. You can start it from seed, but it might be easier to buy the plant all ready to hang since you’ve had trouble in the past. Often hummingbirds will fly to them, & you can enjoy them all summer.

GardenersCardiff answers:

You have to use a special embossing ink and embossing powder. And yes you do need a heat gun. They come in a range of prices and sizes and shapes. You would need to just go to a hobby store and price one. You ink your paper and before the ink dries, shake the powder on and tap the excess off then heat set it.

Added: What I have found easier and cheaper, is to get a little bottle of clear crystal fabric paint and after I stamp my image, I go over the lines with the fine tip of the paint. It draws the color of the regular ink you use up in to the paint and it is raised, plus you get the pretty crystal glitter shine. I bought the Polly Mark Dimensional fabric paint, but you can use any brand you like. It only cost about 99 cents. Just be sure to buy the little bottle, because the tip is real fine so that you can get a fine line or add pressure and get a thicker line…Might be worth a try before you spend the extra money on a heat gun and special ink and powder…This is how I made my Christmas cards this past year. They turned out beautiful.

Added..More: After the request to be added to your contacts, I took a look at your profile…I LOVE TO GARDEN ALSO!! It has turned into something my children love to do with me. It is just such a peaceful learning experience for us all. Thank you.