Money Sash For All OccasionAfter being able to do all the money surprises (money cake, money umbrella and money boquet), I thought that will be the last money project I can make. Then here comes my sister in-law asking me to make a money sash for her younger brother's wedding.
Doggie ShoesIt gets pretty hot here in Arizona so I made these crochet doggie shoes for my daughter's dog to wear when we take her on walks at night when it "cools" down to 100 degrees!
Baby QuiltThis is a fairly easy baby quilt I made using scraps. I like how the design turned out.
Pho Bò (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)This delicious soup is a favorite at my local Vietnamese restaurant. I thought it would be fun to try to make it at home. I made it from scratch, including the beef broth. I also made crispy fried shallots (hành phi). Store bought broth and crispy shallots or onions would be just as delicious.
Saving Money When Visiting Las VegasLas Vegas is a popular destination for many travelers, even if you don't enjoy gambling. There are all sorts of music events, museums, tournaments, fine dining and sightseeing options year round. Many businesses will hold conferences there, taking advantage of the lower airfare and bulk discounts for lodging. However, the costs can really add up if you are not careful. Here are some ways to avoid spending too much when you visit.
Bulgarian MesenitzaI have a friend who taught me how to cook the very popular Bulgarian national dish Mesenitza, it's also called Tutmanik. It is bread stuffed with cheese. This is a very tasty and cheap meal. The recipe varies, but the basic ingredients are flour, yeast, oil, milk, butter, eggs, yogurt and cheese. Bulgarian cheese is called sirenje or sirene, it can be replaced with Greek feta.
Handmade Men's TieThis was my first attempt at making a man's tie. I made it out of fabric that matched my daughter's homemade Easter skirt. Her boyfriend wore this tie for Easter to go with her skirt. Turned out great!
Ukrainian Hand Pies (Prizhky) With ApplesI want to share with you a recipe of my family's favorite meal. These Ukrainian hand pies are called pyrizhky or pirozhki or piroshky. They are made from yeast dough, stuffed with apples and fried to golden color. The pyrizhky also can have other fillings, such as mashed potatoes, cabbage, mushrooms, ground meat, jam, and others.
Hibiscus GumpasteEverybody wants to have the best looking cake. Since it's summer season in my country, I get a few demands of tropical or summer themed cakes. Today I'm gonna show you how to make realistic hibiscus flower gumpaste, beginner level.
Clipboard Gallery WallIf your kid is anything like mine, there is a slew of artwork being made each day. I wanted a way to display my child's art in a way that could be easily changed. This is the solution I came up with. I wanted to be able to have both verticle and horizontal pieces of art, so I got two sizes of clipboards so that art would be contained within the parameters of the clipboard. I added some patterned contact paper to some of the clipboards to add interest and also painted the clips black to match. In retrospect, I don't think the contact paper was needed, as I am sure these will always be full.
Drawstring BackpacksI made these for a charity who gives backpacks filled with various items to cancer patients who are children.
Rope TrivetI needed a trivet to go with a lot of my placemats and dishes and found this idea.
Foam Dice BunniesCover and decorate foam dice with balloons to make a cute and easy bunny. In winter, use white balloons and make them into snowmen.
Easter Bunny and EggsI saw the idea for these bunnies and eggs in a magazine and decided to use them as an inspiration for making these.
Product Review: Dinnerly Meal DeliveryRecently, I tried a meal delivery service, Dinnerly. My teen daughter has been more interested in cooking lately and I thought it would be a good way to teach her some techniques and recipes that are different than my usual meals. Here's how it went:
Bunny Candy PouchesI made these for my daughter-in-law's school class so she could give them a fun little treat.
ThriftyFun Updates (March 2022)We are announcing some big changes to both our newsletters and contests as of March 1st, 2022.
Using Digital Coupons and Rewards When ShoppingIn addition to coupons sent by mail or in newspapers, many stores have their own system for digital savings too. This is a great way to save money at the checkout. It encourages customers to be "loyal" to that store and allows the store to send you specific promotions based on your shopping history.
Gedempte ChickenGedempte means "well-cooked." It is a flavorful, braised chicken that is economical and great for the winter. The chicken, potatoes and onions were all on sale. Use one potato and one piece of chicken for each serving
Love MailboxThe best Valentine activity we had in high school was putting up a Love Mailbox. Receive your love notes and valentine goodies thru this cute looking mailbox.
Cupid's ArrowsLet me share to you another unique way of sending messages to your lovies with Cupid's arrows. I learned this cute craft way back in high school. Here's how to do it.
Reverse Glass LetteringDon't want to buy vinyl lettering? Don't have good handwriting? I came up with this idea after researching "reverse glass painting" projects.
Review Your Subscription Services
Many of us have cancelled cable but quickly found we're spending the same money on streaming services. Even worse, it's sometimes hard to remember what streaming services we're actually paying for. With subscriptions not just for TV but also music, ebooks, newspapers, video games, and fitness it can be hard to keep track.
Recycled Chair Leg Candlestick HoldersI had four chair legs left from a previous craft project (posted on Thriftyfun a few months ago). Rather than discard them, I made them into candlestick holders.
Valentine Pullout Greeting CardSimple but creative. It's much appreciated when our gifts are made with much effort. Something that is made with love fill the hearts of our loved ones. Let me share to you how to make this card in few easy steps.
Ladybug RocksI saw cute painted ladybugs on Pinterest and decided to make some. I live by a landscape/ mulch yard and bought stones the sizes I needed. I think you can buy rocks at hobby stores too.
Valentine CenterpieceI love decorating bottles. This is a Snapple bottle and a CD which I used to make this Valentine centerpiece. It could also be filled with Valentine candy.
Balloon Dip BookmarksThis is such a simple technique with amazing results. Both adults and children can have a fun, slightly messy, crazy craft session together - although children may need a bit of guidance and probably some help blowing up the balloon
Recycled Spice Shakers for CampingRecycled spice shakers.
Celebrating Lunar New YearLunar or Chinese New Year is celebrated worldwide, but especially in China and surrounding Asian countries. This important festival has been celebrated in China for over 2000 years, spreading to the other countries as did Chinese culture and language during that time.
Vintage Valentine Violet JarsI love decorating bottles. I wanted to make a unique candy jar this year to give to some lady friends. I found violet candy to put in my violet decorated jars. These are recycled spice jars.
Porcelain FlowersI had some plaster of Paris and wanted to use it for a craft item. I found out that I could make my own porcelain looking flowers.
Double Glass Framed PictureSomehow I had collected several pieces of glass from picture frames over the past few years and came up with this idea how to make an all-glass picture frame.
Crochet Wire Bangle Bracelet with HemispheresUsing wire from old transformers, you can crochet a very beautiful jewelry, for example like this bracelet. The hemispheres look like unusual flowers.
Origami ButterflyWith just a few simple folds you can make this easy and impressive paper butterfly.
Origami BagThe design of this bag was inspired by origami. The bag has the shape of a regular hexagon. I decided not to overload the design of this bag with unnecessary décor, since the flower formed from the folds of fabric is a sufficient decoration for it. You can change the look of this bag and use it as a purse or a shoulder bag or wristlet or pouch or minaudière.
Button Star OrnamentThis craft can be made using collected buttons left over from old clothes to make a star to decorate your Christmas tree. I used wire from an old transformer, so this project cost almost nothing. You can use any other color of buttons.
Ruffle Christmas TreeThis small Christmas made of organza and hot glue will perfectly decorate your interior. It's lightweight and durable, so you don't have to worry about dropping it. You can insert a Christmas garland inside.
Birch Bark SnowflakeI like to use bark for crafts. This time I decided to make snowflakes from birch bark. You can hang these snowflakes on Christmas tree or use them to decorate Christmas gifts.
Rehashing Frugal Living After a DeathI mainly lurk these days but I had to become super frugal since the death of my husband in May. I am trying to get my widow benefits (we were both on SSDI), so I am living on less than half of what we were bringing in. I paid $500 up front for the cremation, but because SS is taking so long on my widows' benefits, the funeral home wrote off the rest of the bill. I do have his ashes with me now.
Snowmen Button BraceletCelebrate the season with a DIY Christmas bracelet. I really liked the idea of forming different figures from buttons. This is a great use for buttons left over from old clothes. I decided to make a bracelet with snowmen.
Reindeer Rice Krispie TreatsThis is a simple way to decorate Rice Krispie treats for Christmas. These cute reindeer treats are sure to bring anyone some holiday cheer.
Brussels Sprout Christmas TreeI thought this Brussels sprout stalk would make a fun table decoration. I was able to get the Brussels sprouts and cranberries on sale and the star and lights at the Dollar Tree.
Handmade/Homemade GiftsChoosing the perfect gift for each person on our list means paying attention throughout the year and taking note of preferences. This is particularly true when making gifts.
Covid Christmas Car KitBecause I was given a lot of fabric, and I generally make and distribute treats to friends and neighbors at Christmas time every year, I decided to change it up a little and made these "car kits" with hand sanitizer, kleenex, and masks to keep handy in the car.
DIY Oil Slick NailsOil slick nails are super cute, but the price you pay to get them done at the salon is insane. You can do them yourself at home for a mere fraction of the price. Plus, you get enough chrome powder to do them many, many times over.
Setting The Thanksgiving TableSome might think we non believers are a shallow, misguided, ungrateful lot. Nothing could be farther from the truth. While we may not practice a ritualized, much commercialized form of giving thanks to a deity, we too can deeply appreciate, even be humbled by, what we have.
Recipes for ThanksgivingAlthough everyone's Thanksgiving food varies for each family, there are some traditional dishes that grace tables across the U.S.; like turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. These recipes are all from New England, where the first Thanksgiving was celebrated. Families have incorporated their own favorite dishes into their own celebrations. My family is planning on rice, stir fried green beans and mac and cheese this year, in addition to the basics.
Caprese Salad with CucumbersCaprese salad is one of my favorite summertime dishes but it can be a refreshing side for fall or winter dinner. I marinated cucumbers to give it some more crunch and substance. It was well received when I brought it to a pasta dinner recently.
Candy Cane Rice Krispie TreatsThese festive treats are super simple to make and really delicious. They make perfect gifts or a great addition to a holiday party.
Organza Spiral Christmas TreeOrganza and beads look great together. I used them to create this Christmas tree. You can use an LED garland instead of beads or make the Christmas tree without adding beads.
Peacock Feather WreathWhile vacationing in Nevada, we stayed at a bed and breakfast that had a lot of peacocks wandering the grounds. I had a lot of fun picking up their feathers. When I got home, I decided to make a wreath with them.
Fish Scale RingFish scales, wire, and some instant glue are all you need to make this beautiful ring. Use wire from an old transformer and then this ring will cost you almost nothing.
Knitted 3D Wire HeartYou don't need expensive materials and special tools to make beautiful jewelry. To make this original heart, you only need wire from an old transformer and knitting needles. Knitted wire jewelries look really amazing. This heart will look great as a pendant. You can add a brooch pin and you will have a beautiful brooch.
Stars from Fishing Line and Hot GlueI figured out how to make beautiful stars from fishing line and hot glue. Thanks to the glitter and beads, the stars shine perfectly. You can hang them on a Christmas tree or use for decoration.
Colour Smudge BookmarksMake beautiful patterns with ink and water and turn them into useful bookmarks. You can, of course, do this with watercolour paint but the finished product will not be so durable and vibrant. Watercolour would be a better medium for children because ink stains on carpet and clothes are permanent.
Upcycled PaintingI like to save things to re-use and I painted a canvas and glued on things I had around the house to make a very decorative painting. If you don't have a canvas, you can use stiff cardboard or any hard surface.
Pop Top BraceletThis is a thrifty and fun way to up-cycle your drink can pop top tabs and this bracelet doesn't require a lot of supplies. It's lightweight, yet nice and 'chunky' and would make a really great gift for a teenager, as well as an interesting 'conversation piece' for an adult. This bracelet will fit a 7 inch wrist and you will need 20 pop top tabs, 26 half inch diameter rings, as well as a clasp.
Potpourri CandleUsing leftover pieces of candle wax, I created this layered candle.
Recycled Magazine ArtI made this as a gift for a friend who has a band called Black Cat Road. I used the back of a broken guitar, magazine page (black for the cat), sheet music, black shoelaces for the trim, and I attached a mini washboard, as the lead singer plays a washboard. The pages are rolled and glued using a glue stick (not the gel ones, as they are too sticky). They are cut to size and glued using Mod Podge, then the entire piece is sealed with Mod Podge, then sealed with clear spray acrylic.
Activity ApronThis activity apron could be used for a variety of purposes--for a teacher, for a children's church class, at home use with your own children, a grandma with grandchildren, etc. Items or activity cards are placed in each of the pockets and worn by the teacher, leader, parent, etc.
Accordion Christmas Tree from Plastic BottleDon't spend a lot of money on Christmas décor, rather use what you have at hand to create it. I figured out how to make this wonderful Christmas tree from a plastic bottle. I used a green plastic bottle, but you can use it in a different color, as Christmas trees don't have to always be green. You can also use any other decoration for such a Christmas tree, for example crystals, beaded garlands or even buttons that you can sew with threads if you don't have a suitable wire.
Turn Transparent Hot Glue into Colored Hot GlueIf you need some colored hot glue to craft, then you can make it yourself very easily and quickly. You will need transparent hot glue and a colored wax crayon.
Duck à l'OrangeI want to share with you a recipe for one of my favorite dishes, which is a gastronomic culinary specialty of French cuisine - Duck à l'orange. This dish not only looks very appetizing, but also really delicious, it is with crisp skin, succulent meat, and a velvety citrus sauce. Duck à l'orange is perfect for weekend meals or during the holidays.
Pumpkin Pendant from Wire and Hot GlueMake this pumpkin pendant to complete your Halloween look. It is very simple, easy and inexpensive to make. This Halloween pumpkin pendant is suitable for making the necklace, bag pendant, keychain.
Upcycled StoolIn our neighbor's trash with a broken leg. Cost of project: free. I had fabric and paint and glue on hand and it looks like a new stool for my shabby chic bedroom I have been decorating. If I hadn't snatched it, it would have gone to the dump!
Brooch Tree from Plastic BottleAn effective way to do our part in reducing environmental pollution is to reuse or recycle the disposable plastic items we have. I figured out how to make this wonderful brooch from a plastic bottle. It is not at all difficult to make this brooch and it will cost you almost nothing.
Skeleton Peg DollI have been having fun making peg people and decided to do a Halloween-themed peg doll with this cute little skeleton.
Crochet Button from Fishing LineEven small but original things can perfectly highlight your look. I figured out how to crochet this button from a fishing line. Thanks to the fishing line, this button has a solid shape. It is very easy and not long to make.
Nautical Decor with Easy Wood StandI used an idea for a wooden pumpkin to make this lantern candle holder stand.
World Map BlanketI really like the combination of rough burlap with satin fabric. I just had a piece of blue satin fabric that reminded me of the surface of the ocean. And the rough burlap reminds me of soil. So I got the idea to combine these two contrasting fabrics and sew a blanket in the form of a world map. I didn't buy burlap, but used four burlap bags. So even from the bags, you can sew this original blanket.
