An inspired moment

As of about two months ago, I stepped in to become Flicka's Brownie leader. The former leader needed to step back so I agreed to finish the year with ten 2nd and 3rd graders.

Tomorrow we leave for a two-night overnight at our nearby Girl Scout camp. Tonight we have our last regular meeting for the year. So, in the interest of finishing one last badge and preparing for our trip, we wanted to make mini-first aid kits.

Initially we thought we'd use the mini M&M containers like I use to keep my earbuds untangles but portable in my purse. But, too small. So, I was struck yet again with some Dollar Tree inspiration during a recent trip.

Using their materials almost exclusively, I give you our mini first aid necklace using a bubbles container, a zip tie, braided gymp, and any materials we could find! :)

What was in my hand THIS week?

Just like I've mentioned before, I really like the idea of using what you have to recycle or "up-cycle" into something else.

A recent problem? We needed curtains for the our bedroom. Not only did we need curtains but DaHubby really needs black-out curtains for the days after he works an overnight shift. But, ones from the store were still more expensive than what we wanted to part with.

Plus, we would still be using my frugal solution to curtain rods and didn't really want to invest in something expensive and then hang them from dowel rods. LOL

Meanwhile, my mom passed on a fleece blanket she had bought to keep dog hair off her couch but it wasn't working for them. We have several of these type of blankets so we put it aside. DaHubby came across it after the move...and wouldn't ya know it? It matched our bedspread perfectly!

Initially, we simply slit the blanket in two and tacked up each piece over our bedroom windows with small finish nails. Functional but not an ideal long term solution.

So, today, I had the sewing machine out for "mending day" and to make Pojke's Halloween costume. I took down the two panels DaHubby created, hemmed them and made a slot for the curtain/dowel rod, installed my 3M Command Hooks, and VOILA!

Wordless Wednesday

Another generation of "gymp"/ laynards dedication! LOL

For more WW, go here.

The things you can do with paint chips...

More Pinterest-inspired crafty goodness...

One for Momma

One for Flicka

One for Pojke

When You're Stressed - CRAFT!

So, I'm SO tired of packing and unpacking boxes, de-cluttering, sorting, organizing, and cleaning that I needed a crafty "coffee break".

I took this idea I found on Pinterest and made the little dry erase board for our bathroom ($1.20):


Then, I took this idea from Pinterest and made this fall banner for our front porch ($3):


And, finally I took an idea from our house in Michigan and asked DaHubby to install a new version for our new dining room here in Illinois ($9 in hardware, $2 in clips):


It's not much but it's starting to feel even more like home. :)

And, some things I've been making...

One of my best friends turned me on to this very simple craft to spiff up plain shirts. It is also good for hiding stains on favorite shirts that the Vikings are not ready to let go of yet. LOL

Old shirts + contrasting "scrap" or bargain material + iron-on transfer web = these little beauties!

Tuesday Tip Jar

I almost feel silly sharing this one because it's such a "duh" in a way but it has made a BIG difference in the former battling over getting Flicka dressed.

Flicka, in complete opposite of her mother, is showing signs of being a major clothes horse fashion maven. And, the already-present chorus each day of "but I have nothing pretty to wear" from a five-year-old is wearing thin about 8 years prior to when I expected to first hear it.

Flicka is also, thanks to her father, 50% Yooper. LOL So, this girl thinks she NEVER needs a jacket, shoes, long sleeves, or pants until snow flies.

As a result, all those nice snuggly and/or gorgeous long sleeve shirts that her grandmas and aunties buy? Wasting away in her dresser.

Sooooo...this past week, Flicka and I came to a mutual solution. Cut the sleeves off the long-sleeve shirts and DOUBLE her wardrobe possibilites!

Now, I am a ROOKIE seamstress. I've never read the instructions to my 40+ year old hand-me-down machine and, at this point, I only use white thread (too hard to load and change bobbins) and sew straight lines! LOL However, I've cut and hemmed (is it still a hem if it is on a sleeve? LOL) a half dozen shirts in the last week and we're both THRILLED!

So, stop by Blogmommas.com and check out the other Tuesday Tips!

Family Gardening Day - part one

Today was DaHubby's last final for winter semester! And, on Tuesday it's our eighth wedding anniversary. So, initially, I had planned a small, short, surprise getaway to local hotel with water park. But, when I called and they wanted $190 for the room, I could hear Dave Ramsey gettin' hysterical in my ear all the way from Tennessee! LOL

So, we decided to spend some of the money to spruce up and prep the backyard for some "stay-cation" time instead. One project per Viking - and today's was a surprise for Pojke: a sand table! I found the plans in the July/Aug 2005 copy of Family Fun magazine (I can't find an online link however). We made a few modifications and, following a trip to Lowes, construction began!

Twenty feet of 1.5 inch PVC, some "elbows", some "tees", some PVC glue, a concrete mixing tub, and some sand are all we needed.

It's tab A into slot B, dear! *wink*

It's starting to take form - corners, a couple legs...


Nearly done! Just needing the underneath support pieces...

Flicka planning Vanna with the finished project


And, there are advantages to marrying an engineer! LOL The two small pieces in DaHubby's hands are *the ONLY scrap* left over! And, you should SEE the plans for Flicka's project tomorrow! LOL
Pojke giving it a try for the first time! And, a completely random side note...that arbor (now painted white) in the background? It was built by DaHubby...the month before our wedding! LOL We were married under it!
Stay tuned for part two - hopefully tomorrow!

Worth every penny

As anyone who reads here regularly already knows, money's a little tight right now. Lots of beans, rice, potatoes, vegetarian meals, and watering down milk to stretch it. I have been "homemade-ing" and "from scratch-ing" it until my eyes cross. LOL

I was at the craft store the other day with my coupon and teacher discount to pick up a few pieces of scrapbook paper to make the Vikings' valentines and was glancing through the cloth remnants bin. I saw a small piece of "Diego" material for $1.25 and inspiration struck! I dug through all the pieces and pulled out another remnant of red checkerboard for about $1.50.

An hour on the sewing machine and...
New play aprons!

They are SO loving them! And, it was worth the whole $2.75! *wink*

This morning's mess

We ran out of time last night due to Christmas light problems so I promised a first-thing-in-the-morning craft followed with a bath. So, at 7:15am this morning, this is what my kitchen table looked like (LOL):


And, guess where they are now! LOL

Viking deconstruction/re-construction part 4

Well, UPS (bless their little brown hearts) just delivered my first *real* winter boots. Ugly as sin (LOL) but warm up to -40 degrees! And, even approved by DaHubby- Mr. Yooper man!

Here's Flicka playing Vanna:

But, what is making the Vikings even MORE happy? The BOXES and the butcher-paper packing material! LOL

Not sure what these will be turned into since we already have a train, a Polly house, dog houses, and a bed for Flicka's lovie.

And, while the pie is baking...

...I got the Vikings involved in a little dessert craft! LOL Using this recipe as our starting point, Flicka and Pojke put together lil pilgrim hats using striped shortbread cookies, Reese's mini-cups, and Starburst "licorice" in red, orange, and yellow cut in squares (couldn't find inexpensive, fine-point frosting nor Chiklets or any other square small candy).

Viking deconstruction/re-construction part 3

The boxes from part two found themselves being "re-purposed" the next day as dog houses!



Two days of fun and they still have the toys Grandma and Papa brought them! LOL

See part one here.

Vikings deconstruction/re-construction part 2

Another example of "recycled" toys around here lately...the "train":


See part one (the "recycled" sweater dryer) here.

Viking deconstruction/re-construction part one

Apparently, my make-it-from-scratch, recycle/reuse, crafty mantra is starting to rub off on Flicka. A few months ago, we found a sweater drying rack in the garbage during a walk. It was loose, uneven, but nothing a piece of duct tape couldn't fix - plus the first thing Flicka said when she saw it was "baby bed"! LOL

So, for about 4-6 weeks, it's been a "baby bed"...until she and her brother stepped on it trying to climb up some random piece of furniture and it broke.

Then, what does Flicka do?

"C'mon (Pojke) - let's go make a art thing!"

My daughter then took apart the entire drying rack, separated the good pieces from the broken one, discussed (at length) with her brother what they could use the mesh for, and requested tape to start putting together....her own easel! LOL

Unfortunately, they moved on to something else before they finished their quest so I have now completed pictures. But, for no cost, it kept them busy for over an hour! LOL

Homemade With Love 2008

Well, GiBee is at it again...today is the start of her Homemade With Love 2008 carnival. She is asking folks to do the following...

1. Think up your best idea for a homemade gift...could be for the holidays, a welcome gift, a gift for a neighbor.

2. Make a sample and take a picture.

3. Post that pic with well thought out and complete instructions in a blog post.

4. Then, go to GiBee's bloggy home and sign in with a Mr. Linky.

5. Finally, begin browsing everyone else's ideas and start getting your Christmas list items crossed off! LOL

As for me, my idea doesn't *quite* fit her description but it IS what the Vikings and I did last year for a couple gifts for Christmas. Plus, this week is the PERFECT time to do it because...well, you'll see what I mean in a minute.

We have been using this book for the last few Christmases to try to bring a homemade feel back to our holiday season. I've made her ice cream topping recipe and used her idea of buying/making EVERYONE on your list the same type of thing - last year we did Christmas ornaments. But, here's one more of her ideas: "forcing" narcissus/paperwhite bulbs!

And, since they take about 8 weeks to bloom, this week is the perfect time to start!

You can plant them in nearly anything: a fancy teacup, a regular clay pot, an oversized coffee mug, a ceramic container, a brass container, etc. (With those last two, double line the container with plastic or bubble wrap.)

And, they can be planted in a variety of things: pebbles, gravel, potting soil, sand, just about any supportive material.

Plant the bulbs so they are anchored but the top of the bulb is peeking out.

Keep it wet, not soaking, just wet.

Place in the dark until there's about 3 inches of growth.

Then, bring it out! They do best in bright, indirect light when blooming.

As it begins to grow to its full height, it may begin to lean over. Carlson suggests tying a couple lengths of raffia (or something similar) into a bow around the middle of the plant.

One word of warning: don't try to substitute another bulb for the paperwhite if you are unable to find them. I bought other bulbs and (being a "flower rookie") didn't think about them having a different "blooming" time. The bulbs I initially bought will not bloom until nearly Valentines Day! LOL)

Finally, due to the nature of this gift, I have no personal pictures to show you but I have found several links online to give you a visual. Check these pages out here and here.

So, jump up, dust off your crafty brain cells, come up with an idea, and stop in at GiBee's today...you never know what you'll find!

When playdoh goes wrong

"Mom, this playdoh is too sticky."
So, Mom adds a little flour (mistake #1 - this was the "clue phone" ringing that this would be a mess. LOL)

"Mom, (Pojke) is in your flour!"
(mistake #2 - left it on the table and walked away and now 2+C of it were on the table)


"Mom, we're done!"
And, Mom says "off to the bath witchu all!" LOL

Repost: And, in Viking frugal news...

(Reposting for Tackle It Tuesday)

I have the coolest, most talented hubby anywhere! LOL But, I'm a little biased I guess.

With him heading back to school full time, he was interested in having his own work space/desk to do his school work. With money being what it is around here (ala Dave Ramsey) and with the hospital bills from last month starting to arrive, it wasn't really an option to *buy* a desk.

However, in my initial post-college days when money was equally tight, my dad and I conspired to locate an inexpensive desk. So, I bought two 2-drawer file cabinets and proceeded to give my dad the dimensions of the top and the drawer clearance on the front.

My dad then made a desk top with sufficient blocking underneath that it fit exactly over top of the file cabinets making my first computer desk. It's so cool and still comfy height-wise that I still have it yet it is being held up by alternative means as I've taken the file cabinets for homeschooling in another area of the house.

So, DaHubby was in a quandry - how to make a new "bottom" for the desk top.

My smart-as-a-whip wood-workin' hubby wonder scrounged around in the garage and found a stack of wonderful wood he had gotten FREE at the end of a local garage sale in June and made THIS:


And, then we added the desktop back on:

*big smile* How cool is HE!?

(For more Tackle It Tuesday conquerings, go here.)

My new toy!

Well, we don't do much impulse shopping anymore - thanks to Dave Ramsey! LOL You don't pay off over $16K in debt like we have without retraining yourself for NO MORE IMPULSE BUYS!

However... *big grin* Sometimes a deal is JUST TOO GOOD to pass up! LOL Plus, we were still able to pay cash!

Look at what we found at Goodwill today for $12.50!!!


The last Saturday of each month most Goodwill stores have everything in their store priced 50% off. This little number was marked $25 and was an answer to prayer!

The sewing machine I'm currently using is getting a little finicky - as most things do when they hit "antique" status! *wink* It's working but has occasional, unexplained stoppages that are a bit frustrating when it takes a mom several days to set aside an hour or two for productive sewing time.

This new guy on the block runs like a charm (DaHubby's already oiled it up) and only needed a new light bulb. The Goodwill staff were shocked - not only do they normally NOT accept sewing machines but what machinery they get very rarely come with manuals. And, this new guy not only had a manual and all the requisite attachments but a second set of button hole gear as well!

All for $12.50, people!

An answer to prayer I tell ya! *big smile*

WFMW: fun cheap play clothes

I blogged about this in May for Tackle It Tuesday but I did it again yesterday while the Vikings were with my in-laws all day so I thought I'd share.

Long story short? I've been making some play clothes for the Vikings using "recycled" clothes. Using old adult t-shirts (along with a few of Flicka's old t-shirts), I've been making dresses for Flicka and shorts for Pojke.

Now, let me say this up front: I am a sewing machine NOVICE - or what's lower than a novice...a "wet behind the ears" seamstress? LOL And, I've been able to make these shorts in under 20 minutes and the dresses in under a half hour.

So, if you have a sewing machine and some "leftover" or outgrown clothes, you might want to check out this dress tutorial or this shorts/pants tutorial and whip up some new play clothes for your babies for FREE!

For more WFMW ideas, see Shannon's bloggy home today.