Crafts

source

A couple months ago, I got an email from Brenda, a loyal reader, with instructions on how to make homemade Play-Doh. I was honestly surprised by how simple an inexpensive it was — so I knew I had to try it out!

Now, even though Nora is still way to young for Play-Doh, I thought this might be a fun Christmas break activity to do with your children, grand children, nieces, nephews, etc.

source

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

Once you kneed the Play-Doh, simply put it in an air-tight container and bring it out any time you need to occupy your children for a while!

The great thing about this recipe is that you don’t have to feel bad about letting your kids mix colors or throwing it out when it gets hard — because it will only cost a few cents to make another batch. Plus you can mix and match your food coloring to create tons of different colors!

And honestly, who doesn’t love playing with Play-Doh! 
Pin It

source

11 comments →

There’s only 8 days until Christmas… and if you are still frantically searching for the perfect gift, it might just be time to “resort” to a gift card.

However, even though a gift card might not seem like the most personal or thoughtful gift, I can almost guarantee the recipient will love it… and with just a few minutes and a little creativity, you can package your gift cards in a thoughtful way.

Here are a few creative ways to give a gift card:

.

Gas Card:

I don’t know anyone who would turn down a gas money — and you can make it a little more creative by filling a 5 gallon bucket with car air fresheners, car wash coupons, car cleaning supplies, a snow scraper, and/or car mats. They can use the bucket to wash their car and all the other supplies make the gift a little more “substantial”.

Movie Rental or Movie Theater Gift Card:

Fill a cute galvanized bucket or popcorn bowl with movie theater candy, pop corn, pop, wine, beer, a Netflix membership, a favorite DVD, and/or tickets to a local movie theater.

Restaurant Gift Card:

Dave and I almost never spend money going out to eat so we LOVE getting restaurant gift cards… and we’re happy with just the gift card. However, if you want to dress it up a bit, consider adding a home-made coupon for babysitting {if they have children} or a plate of homemade goodies for “dessert” after their night out.

Craft/Hobby/ Gift Cards:

I know a ton of people who have very specific hobbies and would probably love a gift card to their favorite craft supply store, art store, camera shop, car shop, antique shop, etc. Most of these smaller shops offer gift certificates that you could then pair with a small item from the shop for an ultra-personalized gift.

Beauty Product Gift Cards:

I get at least one Bath & Body Works gift card every year — which is great because I’m not likely to spend money on those type of items unless it’s with a gift card {and coupon!}. These gift cards are really easy to get creative with — simply package it with a bottle of lotion, perfume, a candle, bath salts, or even fuzzy socks and an eye mask!

E-Gift Cards:

I’ve done more online shopping this year than ever before — and I just love how quick and simple it is to find everything I want via my computer. No waiting in lines, no driving to the store, no loading up Nora and dealing with a fussy baby.

I’ve ordered pictures, photo books, gift cards, clothes, electronics and more via the Internet this year — and I noticed that many of the places I purchased gifts from offered the option to send e-gift cards/certificates to friends.

Now, even though I can’t think of a super creative way to give e-gift cards {they usually come via email} I still think would be excellent gifts for any tech-savvy person on your list.

Visa, Master Card, or American Express Gift Card:

If you really run stuck and can’t think of any creative ways to give a gift card or can’t think of what gift card to give; my best advice is to go with a Visa, Master Card, or American Express gift card. They are basically like cash — and I don’t know anyone who would turn down cash

Dave and I are giving lots of gift cards this year — and I don’t feel bad at all. I’m happy to know that the recipients will really like their gifts and I know they won’t have to worry about standing in long lines to do a return!

What are your favorite ways to give gift cards?

.

3 comments →

Welcome to my Huge Birthday Giveaway Celebration!!

Instead of receiving gifts this year, I’ve decided to give YOU an opportunity to win a bunch of awesome products I currently use and love.  I’ve partnered with 26 amazing companies to offer 26 different giveaways for my 26th birthday. There will be multiple giveaways every day from June 13-18 — so make sure you come back!

You will be able to find all 26 Birthday Week Giveaways here — just keep scrolling down to view them all.

Giveaway #26: The Poppy Bag Co. – Bella Handbag

:

This is officially the last giveaway in my Birthday Giveaway Week — what a fun week it has been!! I hope you’ve had a chance to  look through and enter all the amazing giveaways from this week… if not, do it now!

But then come back here to enter this SUPER fantastic giveaway from my friend Stephanie, a fabulously talented seamstress and owner of The Poppy Bag Co.

I’ve seen Stephanie many times over the past few years and she is always sure to have another cute handbag, camera case, diaper bag, or tote hanging off one arm while she wrangles up her four adorable children with the other arm!

She is a woman of many talents!

And because it’s my birthday week, Stephanie is giving away her gorgeous “Bella” handbag {pictured above} to one lucky reader. It’s a hobo style bag and can be worn across the body or over the shoulder. And believe me, there is plenty of room inside for whatever you need to carry!

Some of the unique features are:

• large metal ring attaching the handle to the bag

• zippered closure

• 2 interior slip pockets

• 3 complimentary fabrics

Isn’t it stunning!

Enter to Win!

Simply answer the question below by leaving a comment on this post. You can even gain bonus entries for doing each additional item listed below (just make sure that you leave a comment for each one).

REQUIRED ENTRY:

• The Poppy Bag Co. shop and tell me — What is your favorite bag?

BONUS ENTRIES:

• Subscribe to Simple Organized Living via email or RSS

• Follow Simple Organized Living on Facebook or Twitter

Just a reminder that any comments left on Facebook or Twitter will not count for my birthday giveaways, and you must provide a valid email address to be considered.

All giveaways during my birthday giveaway week will close on Monday, June 20, 2011 at 10:00 EST. The winners will be selected at random and announced via a full blog post on Tuesday, June 21. I will also notify all winners via email.

328 comments →

Welcome to my Huge Birthday Giveaway Celebration!!

Instead of receiving gifts this year, I’ve decided to give YOU an opportunity to win a bunch of awesome products I currently use and love.  I’ve partnered with 26 amazing companies to offer 26 different giveaways for my 26th birthday. There will be multiple giveaways every day from June 13-18 — so make sure you come back!

You will be able to find all 26 Birthday Week Giveaways here — just keep scrolling down to view them all.

Giveaway #25: A Spot of Fancy – Calendar Blocks & Coasters

:

Since I work from home {and sit at my computer desk many hours each day} — I like to surround myself with pretty, yet functional things.

I’m also a little obsessed with always knowing what time it is and what the date is… so I keep a clock and a calendar close by. I have a really cute clock, but I had yet to find a really cute calendar…

…until I got an email from Morgan — the creative mind behind A Spot of Fancy Etsy shop. After browsing through her shop, I immediately fell in love her calendar block sets, and knew I had to have one for my desk!

I remember how much I loved my Grandma’s calendar blocks — but these were just SO much more fun and attractive!

So today I’m excited to announce that TWO lucky readers will win the following gift sets from A Spot of Fancy:

a Wooden Calendar Block set AND a Tile Coaster set

And honestly, even if you don’t win, Morgan’s prices are SO reasonable… you should just buy a few sets and give them as gifts!

Enter to Win!

Simply answer the question below by leaving a comment on this post. You can even gain bonus entries for doing each additional item listed below (just make sure that you leave a comment for each one).

REQUIRED ENTRY:

• Visit A Spot of Fancy Etsy shop and tell me — What would be your first purchase?

BONUS ENTRIES:

• Subscribe to Simple Organized Living via email or RSS

• Follow Simple Organized Living on Facebook or Twitter

Just a reminder that any comments left on Facebook or Twitter will not count for my birthday giveaways, and you must provide a valid email address to be considered.

All giveaways during my birthday giveaway week will close on Monday, June 20, 2011 at 10:00 EST. The winners will be selected at random and announced via a full blog post on Tuesday, June 21. I will also notify all winners via email.

184 comments →

Welcome to my Huge Birthday Giveaway Celebration!!

Instead of receiving gifts this year, I’ve decided to give YOU an opportunity to win a bunch of awesome products I currently use and love.  I’ve partnered with 26 amazing companies to offer 26 different giveaways for my 26th birthday. There will be multiple giveaways every day from June 13-18 — so make sure you come back!

You will be able to find all 26 Birthday Week Giveaways here — just keep scrolling down to view them all.

Giveaway #20: Lettergirl Custom Address Stamp

:

I don’t send out a ton of hand-written cards, but when I do, I want them to look clean, crisp, attractive, and personal. However, since my handwritting isn’t that great, I often resort to generic return address labels…until now.

I recently came across these stunning, custom-order stamps at the Lettergirl Esty shop and I will NEVER go back to junkie address labels again!

Gina {the Lettergirl} is so talented and creative — I’m sure you’ll find it difficult to choose between all her fun stamp designs.

Luckily, the winner of this giveaway can choose any of the gorgeous stamps from the Lettergirl Etsy shop… and as long as you don’t move, you’ll be able to use your stamp over and over again!

We chose the Ursula Address Stamp {pictured below}.

I can’t wait to send out our Christmas cards this year!!

Enter to Win!

Simply answer the question below by leaving a comment on this post. You can even gain bonus entries for doing each additional item listed below (just make sure that you leave a comment for each one).

REQUIRED ENTRY:

• Visit the Lettergirl Etsy shop and tell me — What stamp would you choose?

BONUS ENTRIES:

• Subscribe to Simple Organized Living via email or RSS

• Follow Simple Organized Living on Facebook or Twitter

Just a reminder that any comments left on Facebook or Twitter will not count for my birthday giveaways, and you must provide a valid email address to be considered.

All giveaways during my birthday giveaway week will close on Monday, June 20, 2011 at 10:00 EST. The winners will be selected at random and announced via a full blog post on Tuesday, June 21. I will also notify all winners via email.

334 comments →

source:

I was one of those weird kids who absolutely LOVED school — and I honestly did love everything about school!

So even though I was always excited for summer vacation, I was already “bored” and ready to go back after a week or two {I think my mom was ready for that too}.

I did play sports during the summer and we usually went on at least one family vacation, but for the rest of the time, my mom was “forced” to entertain my sister’s and me all summer long. Fortunately, we were pretty content to swim and play in the woods most of the time, but for those of you with super busy-body kids, keep reading…

22 Fun and FREE Summer Activities for Kids:

:

1. Go swimming — a lake or pool will do

2. Run through the sprinklers, slide down a slip-n’-slide, and/or throw water balloons.

3. Go on a picnic {here are a few tips to help you plan your picnic}

4. Camp in your back yard — all the fun, plus clean bathrooms!

5. Make your own ice cream {here are a bunch of simple recipes}

6. Plant a garden {here’s a quick way to build a raised garden in one weekend}

7. Watch the sunset — or sunrise

8. Track the moon and stars {the next full moon is June 15, 2011}

9. Go hiking, biking, rollerblading, walking, etc.

10. Go to the zoo — there are always free family days

11. Visit a local museum — again, they often have free family days

12. Have a fun “muffin tin” lunch

13. Do crafts together — no you don’t have to be crafty! {here are a bunch of simple craft ideas}

14. Have your kids prepare a skit and then video tape them — this is always SO fun.

15. Scarf up free candy at a local parade

16. Go to the local library, they often have free kid’s programs all summer long

17. Watch home movies and flip through old photos

18. Sleep in late and stay in your PJ’s all day long

19. Play outdoor games like bocce ball, croquette, jump rope, hide and seek, badminton, etc.

20. “Decorate” your driveway with sidewalk chalk

21. Build a fort in the woods — or in the living room

22. Create a scavenger hunt or obstacle course in your back yard and let them invite their friends over.

These are just a few of the things I remember doing as a kid — and I know your kids will love them too. Plus they’re all free {or nearly free} so why not give them a try? Of course, you could always tackle a few organizing projects and even try to get your kids involved – but that might not be as much fun!

Oh, and I’m not sure if you noticed, but none of these activities involve computers, Nintendo, Wii, iPods, or most other forms of technology!

What did I miss? What are YOUR favorite frugal Summer activities?

?

Linked to Things I Love Thursdays

8 comments →

I’m always looking for ways to reuse old T-shirts — because we have SOOOOO many of them!

I swear, we get a new T-shirt every other week, but they’re all free from sports camps, church groups, random organizations, school, etc. And I hate to just throw a perfectly good T-shirt away!

So, I started making lots of multi-colored rags. But honestly, how many rags do I need?

Then, I set some T-shirts aside for a T-shirt quilt {that I still haven’t made}.

And now, I’m making reusable bags from our extra T-shirts!

Each bag takes about 15 minutes, they are nearly impossible to mess up, and they only require one straight seam {that you can do by hand if you don’t have a sewing machine}!

You can definitely do this!

Supplies:

:

1. an old T-shirt

2. sharp scissors

3. a needle and thread {or a sewing machine}

Directions:

:

1 . Cut off the sleeves and neckline of the T-shirt

I ended up cutting the neckline a little lower than this picture.

2. Sew along the bottom hem of the shirt

I sewed two seams to make it extra thick — and it obviously doesn’t need to be straight

Also, my T-shirt had a logo on the front that I didn’t want to show. So I sewed the bottom while the logo was facing out, and then turned it in-side-out so the logo was not visible.

3. Cut 1″ slits in rows up the front and back of the T-shirt

The slits will give it a more “decorative” look and help the bag to stretch when you put heavy objects inside.

That’s it — in a bout 15 minutes, you can make your own T-shirt bag!

.

Please know that the bag looks much better “in real life”! It was a dark day and I had horrible lighting

It’s the perfect bag for a day at the beach, going to the farmer’s market, or an extra bag for vacation!

You know you can do this… and I guarantee you have an extra T-shirt or 12 sitting around your house!

What do you do with all your extra T-shirts?

.

Linked to Works for me Wednesday

6 comments →