Never Too Old to Learn to CrochetAs I sit under this old crocheted quilt, I am reminded of teaching my grandma how to crotchet. She was a single mom and worked all her life in the box factory making boxes to feed and raise my dad. Grandma had retired about a year earlier.
My Frugal Life: Toys from Trash"Tolan, how cool is that?" queried Papa who had just put together a wagon with his three year old grandson. And posing with his newly created robot, twelve year old Cole said, "I think I'll be able to use this for school too."
Crocheting Dog Leashes With Leftover YarnMy grandma was a big crocheter, and was always getting left with small, 1-3 inch balls of yarn she had no use for. I came up with a way to use the small balls of yarn.
Crafting a Fun Frugal LifeI don't like to rush out and buy a ton of expensive materials before I start a new hobby, so I have found it's worthwhile to take a sample class or visit a craft store for a demo of something I'm interested in trying before I jump in all the way.
Recycled Moroccan WindchimeI made this with mostly recycled items. Most of this you can find in your local thrift store. I used an old brass tea pot, old brass plate, and used planter. I then found some old plastic beads that my daughter had in a tin when she was little.
Saving Instead of Scrapping Old ClothesEach time I donate bags of clothes to Good Will, there is a lingering pile of items that didn't make the cut. It consists of frayed jeans and torn t-shirts that can't be donated and are destined for the trash can. After talking with someone about her scrap crafts,
Inexpensive Stepping StonesStepping stones are an easy way to add functional creativity to your garden. Here's a simple and inexpensive way to make your own in just 10 easy steps.
An Easy Way To Make Scented Herbal SoapsFrom the culinary to the medicinal, there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of ways to use herbs - including making scented herbal soaps. From the simple to the complex, there are dozens of methods for making soap.
Craft: Plarn Gift BottlesRoll plarn into balls (I used 3) and place them into a clean and dry recycled 2 liter pop bottle (or other bottle). Add crochet hook(s).
How to Make Home Made Paper You Can PlantHow do I make homemade paper plates? I am looking to make plates out of recycled materials and add seeds to the mix so that they are plantable plates.
Recycled Garden ReflectorsCreate something beautiful from recycled objects! Decide how tall you would like the pillar of your gazing ball/reflector, leaving a few extra inches for where you'll place in the ground for extra support.
Home Made FramesA walk down the framing aisle of a department store reinforces the known expense of designer frames. Some small but beautiful frames costs $16 or more. However, they are easily made by both adults and children for minimal prices.
Craft Supplies Falling Into Your YardAs the autumn months pass by, many of our yards are filling with free craft supplies. Be sure to take advantage of the plentiful offerings of nature. Your kids will thank you for it.
Saving Money with SheetsIt's nearly time for white sales to begin. While these sales offer us great deals on linens, they offer so much more for the more creative consumer. By far, bed sheets are the most valuable item on sale this month. There's so much more than can be done with them than putting them on a bed.
How to Create a Child's Dress Up BoxKids love imaginative play, and one of the best ways to encourage creativity and self expression is through dress-up. Allowing kids to be their favorite action hero, cartoon character, or even an imaginary friend with the help of a few costume props helps to keep kids away from TV and video games, too.
The Words Of LoveSt. Valentine Day is the day of Love. For lovers, it is the one day that we remember how much our better half means to us. For our children, it is a day to learn to love.
Use Sheets For More Than Covering Your MattressIt's time for winter white sales to begin. While these sales offer us great deals on linens, they offer so much more for the more creative consumer. By far, bed sheets are the most valuable item on sale this month. There's so much more than can be done with them than putting them on a bed.
Uses for Formula CansCreative uses for empty formula containers as suggested by the ThriftyFun community. I used them as centerpieces for my son's 1st birthday party.
Rag Rug InstructionsInstructions on how to make a rag rug out of strips of materials as suggested by the ThriftyFun community. My mother taught me how to make rag rugs when I was a child. You take scraps of material that you want to use and make three separate, very long strips.
Uses for Mint TinsCraft ideas for the empty metal mint or candy tins with hinged lids. These ideas were posted from the ThriftyFun community. Post your own here!
Uses for Recycled Glass JarsWays to use recycled glass jars from condiments and other foods. Post your own ideas here.
Crochet Tips for BeginnersI started crocheting when I was a teenager. I went to visit with my great Aunt Reba and I was bored to tears. I have learned quite a few tricks and tips that would help any beginner so I thought I would pass it on.
Saving Money on Clothing PatternsTips for saving money and preserving sewing patterns from the ThriftyFun community. Post your own ideas here.
Using Old Multi-Pane WindowsCreative used for reusing old multi-pane windows. Post your own ideas here.
Making Wind ChimesTips and ideas for making your own wind chimes. Post your ideas.
Making Your Own Graduation AnnouncementsThe cost of graduation announcements can be very steep, but I wanted to send out something nice to all our friends and extended family to let them know that my youngest child was graduating from college.
What To Do With Those Wonderful New Seed...As I eagerly scanned each page with anticipation planning out just what I wanted to plant and looking at the beautiful pictures, my mind started wondering to what I could do with the catalog after I placed my order and here are some of the things I came up with.
Envelopes From Recycled PaperWhether I'm at work or at home, I try to limit the amount of paper I use by utilizing electronic media as much as possible. The problem is, I'm a stationary junkie.
Dollhouse Furniture With Everyday ObjectsTips for making dollhouse furniture and decorations out of everyday items:
Save the little white plastic things in the center of the pizza to keep the top of the box from getting stuck to the toppings. They look a lot like little tables and when I was younger, my grandma would save them for me and we'd use them as tables for my dollhouse. They worked especially well for the smaller Kelly dolls.
Uses for Wood Cigar BoxesBesides cigar box purses or trinket boxes, What else can be done with wood cigar boxes? Ideas for reusing wood cigar boxes.
Leatherwork Casing TipsWhen casing (casing is wetting the leather in preparation for carving) your leather you would dampen the leather with a sponge first on the back (sueded - rough side) and then on the top (smooth-flesh) side. . .
Homemade Kool-aid Playdough RecipesI am looking for recipe to make playdough using koolaid.
Piggy Tails BankYou read it right - a piggy tail bank! Instead of saving your money in a traditional "piggy" bank, why not create a cute little girl with pig tails to hold your spare change?
Reusing Old Crocheted SweatersEnhance your Shabby Chic or vintage decorating with crafts from OLD CROCHETED SWEATERS from the thrift store. These sweaters are often torn or pulled in one area so are not useful as sweaters anymore.
Junk Drawer Picture FramesTurning boring picture frames into works of art doesn't take much more than some paint, glue, a junk drawer full of odds and ends, and an imagination! Revamping a picture frame is an easy project that you can complete in an afternoon (drying time included).
Make Your Own Natural JewelryAu Natural Jewelry is all about using natural material like wood, natural fibers and shells where possible. The look is relaxed. Rather informal. Very
spontaneous.
Scrapbooking For 20 Students at SchoolI am an educational assistant for a kindergarten class. The teacher makes a scrapbook of the school year for each student. Photographs of the children are taken weekly; plus we have "famous quotes" sheets we fill out when a child says something comical and worth putting in the scrapbook.
Optimize Your Sewing TimeBe prepared: Gather and purchase all of the supplies necessary to complete your sewing or craft project ahead of time. Having to stop in the middle of the project in order to run out and get a forgotten essential item is time consuming and irritating. Read more...
A Word of Advice for a Beginning CrafterEven though my site is fairly new, I have been getting letters from crafters looking for advice on how to get started selling their wares. I thought that this letter and my answer would be of interest to anyone beginning a new home business.
