Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

I have been wanting to try this recipe for a long time and have just been waiting to run out of the gazillion packs of tablets I got for free several months ago.  Well I finally ran out and decided to give this a whirl! I have to give credit where credit is due, this is not my original concoction, I stole.... errrr, borrowed it from my good friend Julie over at ParyMoppins :)

Ok so here's the recipe, it's REALLY complicated so you may want to turn off the television and send the kids to bed early for this one (insert sarcastic wink here).

2 Cups Borax
2 Cups Washing Soda
(both of the first two ingredients can be found on the laundry aisle)
2 packages lemon Kool-Aid (make sure to get the regular kind that you are supposed to add sugar to)
1/2 cup Salt
Place ingredients into a quart jar and shake well to incorporate.
If in time it begins to clump, simply use a spoon to break it up.
Use 1 tablespoon per load
Do NOT use with gold trimmed or Sterling Silver dishes/flatware

And Voila there ya go, for about 6 bucks (less than what you would have to pay for a full priced bag of Cascade tablets) you can have roughly a 6 months supply of detergent!
Happy washing!

Make Curtains out of Sheets

I have had the same sheer green curtains in my bedroom for over 2 years which was fine except that my mother gave us a new comforter set this past Christmas which was maroon and beige... no green in sight!  I have left the same non matching curtains up anyways because I have not wanted to spend the money to buy new curtains.  I recently saw an article on making curtains out of sheet and I just so happened to have a set of neutral beige sheets in my cabinet that I didn't use!

Now I'm no seamstress.  I do own a sewing machine but only because it came as a package deal when I bought some furniture from a friend several years ago.  Typically when I need something sewn I call my mother and ask her to do it for me.  But this time I decided to put my big girl britches on and do this project by myself!

Soooo... here goes!

Step 1:

Most instructions say to use two twin sheets, however, I only had one queen size sheet, so I laid the sheet out on the floor and cut it in half.

Step 2:

Fold a 2 inch seam across the top of the sheet (the part that will go through the curtain rod).  Using a heavy starch iron the seam to hold it in place.  You could use pins to accomplish this but I like the iron method better)

Repeat this process for the side using a 1/4 inch seam.

Step 3:

Sew the side seam first then sew the top seam.  

That's it!  It's that easy!!  Who knew??

Yes this is my real bed and yes I made it up just for this picture... don't judge me!

Initial Wall Hanging

I recently put together a baby shower and wanted to come up with a gift that was both unique and personal.  I had seen artwork before with initials but I wanted something that was custom and would match my friend's nursery theme (which was black and red lady bugs).
I had this empty frame that I had purchased at a garage sale for a whopping $2.00 and I decided to put it to good use!

I painted the frame white, leaving just a little of the wood showing through to achieve a "worn" look.

I then used a piece of cardboard (more to the point I cut and taped up an old shipping box to fit) as the frame backing.  I covered the cardboard in fabric.

I bought chipboard letters at my local craft store and painted them with an accent color

Finally, using a hot glue gun I attached the letters to the backing and inserted it into the frame

And here is the finished project!

If I were to have purchased something like this it would have easily cost me $50.00 and I made it (custom) for :

Frame: $2

Fabric: 1/2 yard $3.00

Chipboard letters: $5.97 ($1.99 each) 

I already had the paint

Total Cost: $10.97

**You can find pricing and all my other crafty things for sale on my other fb page at www.facebook.com/GloryDesignsOfTexas**

Making my own "Diaper Buggy"

I am putting together a baby shower for a dear friend and wanted to do something a bit different than the traditional "diaper cake" so I decided to do a little research... okay, okay I searched Pinterest for ideas.... anyways, I found this sort of idea selling for anywhere from $12.50 to $30.00.  Well anyone who knows me knows that I am NOT going to purchase anything that I can possibly make on my own for a fraction of the cost!
If you still don't want to make your own contact me and I'll make one for you for only $10 :)
I was shocked at how easy this really was!

What you will need:
14 diapers (I used size 2)
1 piece of fabric, about 4X6
Rubber Bands or scotch tape (I used tape)
Ribbon of your choice
1 piece of tissue paper
Cereal box
Hot Glue Gun

Step 1: Cut 2 pieces out of the cereal box, one that is about 4X6 inches and the other 4X12.

Step 2: Take the 1st piece of cardboard (4X6) and place it inside the folded diaper.  Place a dot of hot glue to hold the diaper in place.  (This will be referred to later as piece 1)

You can see the black tissue paper in the middle

Step 3: Take the 2nd piece of cardboard and place inside another open diaper, again place a few dots of hot glue on the ends to hold the diaper in place.  Crumple the tissue paper and place in the "butt" part of the diaper to create the puffy top look.  (This will be referred to later as piece 2)

Step 4: Take 10 diapers and turn sideways, using either a rubber band or scotch tape (I like the tape because it doesn't show as much) and secure the diapers together.  (this will be referred to as piece 3)

Step 5: Attach piece 1 to piece 3 (as pictured) using hot glue.  Give the glue a minute to dry before moving on to the next step, I tell you from experience this will save you a headache!

This is a shot of the back of the "buggy"

Step 6:  Bend piece 2 over piece 3 to form the cover, using hot glue attach at the sides.  (I forgot to take a picture of this step while I was making it, so of course yours won't have the ribbon yet!)

Step 7:  Roll two diapers starting with the waist part of the diaper and secure with hot glue or a rubber band (I used glue because I didn't want it to show)

Step 8: Attach the two rolled up diapers to the bottom of the buggy to make the wheels.

Step 9:  Use the fabric to make cover the "bed" part of the buggy.

Step 10:  This is the part where you really make it your own. Use any combination of ribbon to decorate the buggy for either a boy or girl and/or the color or theme of the nursery.

**You can find pricing and all my other crafty things for sale on my other fb page at www.facebook.com/GloryDesignsOfTexas**

My Life Binder

I honestly racked my brain trying to come up with a "Frugal Friday" post for today and to be honest with you I came up desperately empty handed (minded)!
So I decided to let you in on my project this week.

Introducing my Life Binder!

I originally saw this idea on Pinterest, but the one I found was way to fancy for my taste so I adapted this simple version!

You will need

1 binder 

1 package tabs

Notebook paper

Pen/Marker

As you can see, I didn't get to fancy with it!  I had some tabs that I picked up at a garage sale and I used a marker to write my categories in.

These were the tabs I used, of course you can use as many or as few as works for you!

:

Menu:

I use this tab to plan and keep up with my family's meal menu

Chores:

I have a chore schedule and I use this tab to keep it handy 

Shopping:

I use this tab to keep a running shopping list.  When I go through my weekly store ads and coupons I will start a list here and add anything I may find myself low on throughout the week.  I don't know about you but I can't count the number of times I've started a list then misplaced it, never again!

To Do:

This tab is pretty self explanatory, I keep a daily list of things to accomplish.

Calendar:  

I keep a blank calendar page that I fill in each month so that I always have a calendar handy with all of that months events in one place.

I keep my sales ads handy in the back pocket of the binder

There are tons of printables online that can be used as well, but I'm way too cheap... errr frugal to use the ink to print them out :)

Hope this helps you keep your home more organized and orderly!  

Have a great weekend everyone!

Make your own Swiffer Supplies!

I'm all for anything that simplifies my life and Swiffer is one of those things, however, the refills are expensive and who has room to keep several bottles and boxes on hand at all times?

The first thing you will have to do is to hack into the bottle.  The Swiffer solution bottle is designed to be used once and then thrown away, ergo you must purchase another bottle to refill the solution.  It is actually very easy to do, you simply boil a pot of water and turn off the heat, hold the cap part of the bottle in the water for 10-20 seconds to soften the plastic.  Then you will be able to twist off the cap and use fingernail clippers or small scissors to clip off the locking tabs under the cap.  Voila, now you can refill the bottle and reuse it as usual! 

You can actually refill the solution with a couple of different things.  You can use a mixture of 1 part PineSol (or any other concentrated cleaning liquid) to 3 parts water; or 1 part amonia, 1 part vinegar, 4 parts water.  

Happy Swiffer-ing!!!

Simple Recipe for Homemade Bathroom Cleanser

Bathroom Cleansers such as Scrubbing Bubbles and Soft Scrub can be expensive, even with coupons!  So I have found this SIMPLE   solution!

12 Ounces White Vinegar
12 Ounces Liquid Blue Dawn Dishwashing Soap
1 Bottle (I use an old Windex bottle)

Step 1
Pour vinegar into microwave safe bowl and heat for 2-3 minutes until hot, using funnel pour vinegar into spray bottle

Step 2
Add soap to vinegar, place lid on bottle and gently shake to mix

That's it!
You now have a POWERFUL cleanser.  It works great for soap scum on showers and bathtubs, toilets, sinks... you name it!  Simply spray and wipe.  For stubborn jobs allow to sit (even overnight) and wipe clean, easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Make your own cooking soups

I have recently discovered a money saving and simple home solution to buying soups that I use for cooking. 
It started because I was making a recipe that called for cream of chicken soup, which I thought I had.  I called down the street to my trusty friend and sure enough she didn't have any either.  So rather than make the ten mile trip to the nearest grocery store I decided to scour the Internet and my pantry for supplies and recipes to make my own.  What I discovered was that I could make and freeze several kitchen staples for a fraction of the cost of buying canned (we all know that soup coupons are few and far between!)
So I now have a freezer stocked with cream of chicken soup, french onion soup and chicken stock.  The next time I make a roast I will be making beef stock as well!
So here are my finds, I hope you will love them as much as I do!

CHICKEN STOCK

1 chicken carcass with some meat remaining 6 cups water 1 onion, quartered 1 large carrot, cut into about 12 pieces 1 teaspoon garlic, crushed 1 teaspoon ginger 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon celery seeds

Place chicken carcass in medium sized pot and just cover with water (about 6 cups), bring to boil and then simmer over a low heat for one hour. You may need to keep adjusting the temperature from time to time as some liquid evaporates. Skim fat from the top of the broth. Add onion, carrot, garlic, ginger, bay leaf and celery seeds and continue to simmer for 3 hours, stirring once or twice. Allow stock to cool uncovered. Strain into a storage container and either use immediately or freeze for later use. This one is great for putting the tidbits of meat left on a baked chicken to good use! CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP 4 cups milk 2 tablespoons all purpose flour 2 tablespoons canola oil 2 tablespoons white sugar 2 cups finely chopped, cooked chicken 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder Make a white sauce of milk, flour and oil. Add chicken and mix together. Add sugar, salt, pepper and garlic powder (more or less to taste). Mix well and simmer for 20 minutes over low heat. If soup is not as thick as desired, mix a small amount of cornstarch with a small amount of water and add to soup, simmer for an additional 10 minutes. FRENCH ONION SOUP 1 tablespoon butter 1 large onion, sliced 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1 (10oz) can beef bouillon 1 1/4 cup water 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce Melt butter in medium saucepan. Add onion and sugar. Cook and stir 5-10 minutes, until lightly browned. Add bouillon, water and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer 10-15 minutes. This one is super good for making homemade Salisbury steak! Happy souping!

Recipes for Laundry Soap, Fabric Softener AND Stain Remover!

I have been asked a lot lately if I have any recipes for "Make Your Own" laundry soap, I actually have two!  There is only a slight difference in the two, but be sure to read the directions fully before starting.

Still want more?  Well how about recipes for stain remover AND fabric softener too!

Happy sudsing!!

Laundry Soap

Recipe #1

You will need:

1 cup Borax 

1 cup washing soda 

natural bar soap (you can used fels-naptha but it is somewhat hard to  find at grocery stores but you can also get it on Amazon for around $3.00) 

essence oil if desired 

five 1 gallon containers 

Directions:

Grate the soap bar in a pot, add 4 cups of water and heat on low until the soap completely dissolves. Then add borax and washing soda, stir until completely dissolved and then divide equally into your gallon containers. Fill the containers to full with tap water and allow to thicken overnight.  Use 1/4 cup per laundry load.

Recipe #2

1 bar of soap, grated (you can use any unscented bar soap such as Ivory or Zote)

2 cups baking soda (NOT washing soda)

Directions:

Add grated soap and just enough hot water to cover it in a saucepan and heat on medium low heat until soap is melted.  In a large pail (perhaps a 5 gallon bucket) pour 2 gallons hot water.  Add melted soap and stir until combined.  Add baking soda and stir again to incorperate.  Use 1/2 cup per load

Fabric Softener

1 part hair conditioner (I know right... who knew!!)

1 part white vinegar

2 parts water

Stain Remover/PreTreater

Recipe #1

1 cup hot water

1/2 cup baking soda

1/2 hydrogen peroxide

Recipe #2

2 quarts hot water

1/2 cup ammonia

2 tablespoons liquid laundry detergent

Directions for both Recipes:

Mix ingredients together and store in spray bottle.  Spray directly onto stained clothing and allow to sit.

Make your own Bisquick!

I don't know about you, but Bisquick is pretty  much a staple in our pantry.  I use it at minimum weekly, and love it.  But the problem comes in because it is expensive and there are rarely coupons for it.  So, I went online to search for recipes to make my own.  There are several out there and I tried many of them, THIS is the ONE!!!  This mix can be used exactly like any other baking mix.  You can use the same Bisquick recipes as you always have, but using this will save a fortune!

10 cups Flour
1/2 cup baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp salt
2 cups Shortening

Mix dry ingredients together then cut in shortening until fully incorporated.
Store in ziplock bag in a cool dry place

Think I'll use this tonight when I make breakfast for dinner!  Yummo!!

If you like the idea of making your own (fill in the blank).  Be sure to check out this post to learn how to make your own cream of chicken soup and more!

Make your own Febreze!!!

If you are anything like me I LOVE my Febreze!  But the problem is that that even with coupons it can still cost upwards of $5 per bottle, and let's face it, a bottle doesn't really last that long!  So I scoured the Internet looking for the best recipes I could find to make my own and here is what I came up with!

1/8 cup of fabric softener
2 Tbsp baking soda
32 oz spray bottle (consider using an old Febreze spray bottle)
hot water

OR

1 cup fabric softener
1 cup white vinegar
2 cups water

OR

3 cups water
3 TBS fabric softener
3 TBS rubbing alcohol

Who knew it was that simple??  With the variety of recipes available, everyone is sure to have all the ingredients on hand for at least one of these!