Here is such a smart idea!
Keep your eyes open at yard sales, or even in the garbage, for a kid's plastic picnic table.
Basically, Caroline of Caroline's Craft Corner just spray-painted her table and used a staple gun to attach fabric, and then vinyl on top.
Check out Caroline's post for instructions, and tons of pictures of other tables who tried out this project!
Read more...
Check Amazon for more kids' picnic table ideas!
Photo credit: Caroline-Frei
All rights reserved
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| Photo credit: DoItYourselfDivas.com - All rights reserved |
Now I am going to save you even more money by telling you how to make your own!
If you use regular Elmer's Glue-All, it will be waterproof when your project is dry.
The other bonus to making your own Mod Podge there is no smell!
Homemade Mod Podge Mix
Simply mix 50% Elmer's glue (white glue) and 50% water in a jar. Shake well. And you are done!
From: DoItYourselfDivas.com
NOTE: Some use less water - 2/3 glue and 1/3 water. You will have to experiment with small batches to see what works best for you.
TIP: If you use markers to make your picture, label, etc. - spray first with hairspray, let it dry then use your homemade Mod Podge.
TIP: Add 2 TBSP of varnish for a glossy finish.
TIP: If you wanted Glitter Mod Podge, just add some glitter to your homemade mixture!
From our Facebook fan page:
Tonya Bradley Philbrick posted: Wow! Thanks for sharing! :)
Megan Norris posted: If you have any left over add a little borax, and it makes a fun flubber for the kids to play with
Regina Greene-Pinckert posted: Thanks, now I have a use for the jar I emptied out last night at dinner time! I love upcycling!
Amber Faires posted: Honestly I've never even used Modge Podge on my own, so I wasn't sure what it was used for exactly and I was like, how could something so simple be so expensive? So I decided to Google to see what projects it's used for and then I Googled the ingredients for the homemade mix and this link came up: Why You Shouldn't Make Your Own Mod Podge
Sounds like a good idea to use it for things like kids crafts that will end up being thrown away or whatever and not
sentimental heirloomsor something hehe. My 18 month old would just eat it though!
Regina Greene-Pinckert posted: Thanks for that informative post Amber. I will definitely keep that in mind. I think I want to make my own more for my kids to do projects I know will end up in the trash before too long. But for serious projects, I will definitely buy the real stuff!
Shopping Suggestions:
• Elmer's All Multipurpose White Glue
• Glitter Shake Jars
• Mod Podge
• Mod Podge Sparkle
NOTE - If any of the above links are not working or the freebies or coupons no longer available, please post a blog comment below and I'll edit it!
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| Play Tent Pirate's Treasure |
Make a quick fort for your little ones! Or a reading nook! Or a change room! Or a stage! Or a canopy over your little girl's bed! Or???
Make your fort/play tent/reading nook from a hula-hoop and shower curtain with shower curtain rings.
Just hook the rings onto the hula hoop - and hang up somewhere - inside the house, or outside in the yard!
To hang up, use three 2 ft. lengths of plastic chain link or rope fastened on the hula hoop, equal distance apart - joined in the center with an additional length long enough to fasten to roof or tree.
You can buy your supplies at the local dollar store or:
• Shower curtain
• Shower rings
• Hula Hoop
Elaine Murszewski suggested: That's also a good idea for campers who use a camping shower bag! Just close the shower curtain and have Velcro™ down the opening!
MORE IDEAS:
• HearthSong® Celestial Starry Night Hideaway
• Reading Play Tent
• Little Girl's Canopy Bed
• Kids Play Tent
• 11 Easy DIY Play Tents for Kids
• 35 Playful and Fun DIY Tents for Kids
• 12 Kid's Play Tents {Indoor and Outdoor}
NOTE - If any of the above links are not working or the freebies or coupons no longer available, please post a blog comment below and I'll edit it!
Too many times firefighters come upon a car wreck where the parent is unconscious, and there are children in the car too young to speak or communicate anything useful to the rescue team.
Place a car seat sticker (or use a luggage tag or self-laminating kit to make it last longer) on each child's car seat providing information to help rescuers.
Include: Your child's name and date of birth, parent's names, date of birth, work and home phone numbers, emergency contact information, child's doctor, an up-to-date picture of your child.Include any allergies your child has – especially to medications – and if there is any medical history emergency workers need to be aware of or will make their job easier, such as if your child is diabetic, autistic, has a history of seizures, etc.
Place the sticker on an out-of-the-way place on baby's car seat, where it can't been easily seen by passersby, placing it on the stationary part of the car seat you leave inside the car.
You should also attach one sticker on booster seats or seat belts, as well as diaper bags, strollers, backpacks, luggage - anywhere you need important information stored for your child.
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| Picture and idea credit to: Christy, of Mrs. Humpal's Art Room blog: Introducing.... THE GLUE SPONGE! -- This has revolutionized collage in my classes - LOVE IT!! |
Cut a new sponge to fit a plastic container (use two sponges if you only have thin sponges), and pour a bottle of school/white glue all over it.
It can take quite a bit of glue to load it up, but once the sponge is saturated with glue, it will last a long time!
Now kids can just tap their shapes and cut-outs on the top of the sponge for a thin, even coat of glue - no more puddles!
I was concerned about the sponge getting icky, but she says she still has the one she made well over a year ago, and the sponge is still intact AND the glue isn't stinky.
To maintain: Add a few spritzes of water before closing it up for the day, and flip the sponge over every so often.
NOTE - If any of the above links are not working or the freebies or coupons no longer available, please post a blog comment below and I'll edit it!
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| Self Adhesive Chalkboard Contact Paper |
No need to paint things - just slap some of this wherever you like and it becomes a chalkboard!
Would be great for labels on mugs or bottles, on a child's tabletop, on the side of your cabinet or fridge, on the side of a dresser, an old full-length mirror, sliding closet doors, a picture frame for a portable chalkboard, even on the wall of your child's room!
What great ideas could you come up with???
Product Features
• Tough, durable and repels stains. Wipes clean easily.
• Lets you turn anything into a writing surface
• It's easy to apply, easy to remove and easy to keep clean.
• Features an easy-to-peel liner and an adhesive that allows it to be repositioned during installation without leaving a sticky residue.
• Simply cut to length or shape for a custom application.
Click for more info
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| Multi-Purpose Chalkboard Contact Paper |
for real. Do this!
Rub with the side of the chalk (evenly and lightly will do it) all over the board - and then erase it using a regular felt chalkboard eraser, DRY paper towel, or similar.
This makes chalkboards
takethe chalk much more smoothly. You may have to repeat this step one more time, but after this, you will find that the chalkboard paper does in fact work JUST LIKE a REAL CHALKBOARD!!
(They call this step
curingthe chalkboard, and it is necessary for ALL chalkboards if you really want to prep the surface well.)
From our Facebook fan page:
Kim Foster posted: Love this !!! Thanks for posting. I liked the idea of chalkboard paint and was going to add it to my long list of projects. Truthfully I just don't have the time. This is a great solution to the
sticky tacsituation I've been having with my two little monkeys.
Jillian Bigelow Carr posted: As long as your wall is smooth, this does work great. I put it on a door for my kids, and they still use it occasionally.
Tina Killion Bailey posted: Have to get some!!!
Juli Oswalt Johnson posted: This is awesome! Thank you!
Crystal Pennington posted: Wonder if It would stick to my fridge? I have a stainless steel one
Shannon Bevan Sanders posted: Love love LOVE this!
Shopping Suggestions:• Con-Tact Chalkboard Contact Paper
• Con-Tact Chalkboard Contact Paper
• Melissa and Doug Eraser and Chalk Bundle
• NeoChalk Liquid Chalk Marker
• FolkArt Chalkboard Paint
NOTE - If any of the above links are not working or the freebies or coupons no longer available, please post a blog comment below and I'll edit it!
No-Cost Craft: Use a left over curtain rod mounted on two shelf brackets, and lots of modified wire hangers.For the rod, you could also use a wooden dowel, a piece of PVC pipe, or any other strong bit of metal.
To mount it, bend up the tips of two metal shelf brackets and secured the rod with small screws, or use conventional closet rod hangers, found in any hardware store.
Instructions to make it yourself and photo credit: Epbot.com
From our Facebook fan page:
Suzanne Brown Hurley posted: ...or use shower curtain rods (spring tension rods)... then no brackets are needed. Neat idea!
Nickey McKay posted: Open curtain rod hooks could work to hang them on also.
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| Flip-Flops |
-- This holiday (third Friday in June) started back in 2007 to encourage customers to start their summer by kicking off their shoes and wearing a pair of flip-flops. The Tropical Smoothie Caf© is offering a FREE Jetty Punch Smoothie to the first 500 people that walk in the doors wearing a pair of flip-flops at each location.
🩴 Design Your Own Flip-Flops Craft
🩴 Flip-Flop Party Games
🩴 Ornament – Money Origami Flip-Flop
🩴 Flip-Flop Activities and Coloring Pages | TPT
Shopping Suggestions:
• 5pc Flip Flop and Sandal Hanger
• Flip Flop and Sandal Hanger By Boottique
• Wall Mounted Slipper Rack
• Flip Flop Rack
• Children's Shoe Storage
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| Photo Credit: Melanie Berkowitz - All rights reserved. |
Melanie Berkowitz wrote:
We are taking the kids on vacation and one of my pet peeves is dropped food in the car.
Since I know we will be eating while on the road, I converted some cereal boxes into homemade kid trays. (Not sure where the inspiration came from!!! LOL)
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| Photo Credit: Melanie Berkowitz - All rights reserved. |
Then, I snipped off a long narrow piece of the leftover cardboard that I was tossing.
With this piece of cardboard, using packing tape, I taped it across one corner, to make a drink holder (it is surprisingly strong!)
Thanks to Melanie Berkowitz for this Frugal Tip!
From our Facebook fan page:
Maria Lafreniere posted: Fantastic idea, and if you do it with boxes with those activities on the back - they can flip it over when they are done, and amuse with the activities
Trisha Ferrugia posted: Great idea, and great idea Maria too - and if there are no activities, print several from a site and tape them to the back to keep them busy!
Danielle McCurley posted: I love this! I'm going to do it for the house. My daughter likes to eat lunch in the living room, but she's so small the fold-out tables are too high, so she ends up setting her plate or bowl on the couch! This would create less mess!!
Amy Muir posted: Great job! You can even pretty it up with some of the awesome colored duct tapes they have out now, and make it even stronger.
Nadine Botham posted: Or .... the cardboard at the bottom of some cases of bottled water (I'm thinking of Life Brand because I just emptied a 12 pk), would require no cutting, and children could decorate the plain brown cardboard as they wish.
Shopping Suggestions:
• General Mills Cheerios Honey Nut Cereal
• Evriholder Crayola Sandwich Container
• Sunshine Cheez-It Cheese Crackers Snack Pack Bags
• Capri Sun Variety Pack
NOTE - If any of the above links are not working or the freebies or coupons no longer available, please post a blog comment below and I'll edit it!
I have to admit it - I was too lazy to make the liquid version of home-made laundry soap.
But this one looks much easier to make!
DIY Laundry Detergent
-- Uses only 4 ingredients (six ingredients if you add the optional OxyClean and fabric softener),
-- Ingredients will cost you about $28 a year.
-- This recipe will make a batch that will last you a whole year!
• 1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax
• 1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm + Hammer Super Washing Soda
• 2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap or Fels Naptha or Ivory Soap, grated
• 2 (2 lb) Boxes of Arm + Hammer Baking Soda
Optional:
• 1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean
• 1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener
She says you only need 1-2 Tablespoons per load depending on the size of your laundry load - and that it works in HE washers too!
Credit for the idea and photo to Bobbi on HowDoesShe.com:
Cheaper AND Better! DIY Laundry Detergent
-- Make sure to read Bobbi's post for complete instructions and important tips - plus all the great comments from her readers - there were 814 comments when I last checked!
From our Facebook fan page:
Donna C Phillips posted: It does not produce suds. So don't get excited when you don't see them!
Selina Dixon posted: I use to make the liquid for the standard washer I had/ but was afraid to use it in my HE we have now. When I used it before, I never noticed if it produced suds or not... LOL. I will try it again
Michelle Christiansen posted: I am sooooooo doing this!!
Esther Mendoza posted: works wonderful and if you use Zote. They have a box of flakes at Walmart makes laundry smell fresh *-* try it
Tabby Brock posted: I made some last night.
Jessica Stillman posted: Does it matter what kind of soap you use? I mean, can I buy some homemade soap from a local vendor and use that instead?
Bobbie Jo Youmans posted: I have been making this same recipe for over a year now....love it, and you can add a few drops of essential oils also for fragrance. I have used Fels Naptha and seems to work the best but love to use the homemade soaps too.
Melinda Kaye posted: Does anyone know how this is on sensitive skin??
Jenifer Jacobs Webster posted: I make this recipe and @Melinda, I have sensitive skin and also know another lady whose husband has more sensitive skin than me, and it works great. But on the other hand, a relative of mine has a reaction to the Purex crystals, so if you've never used them before I don't know. I absolutely love this recipe, and will never go back to regular laundry detergent!
Melanie Haile posted: I made a big batch of this soap and I love love love it. And it only takes a capful. That is awesome!
Mary Fahrney posted: How does it work in HE washers?
Anne Girucky posted: I make my own laundry soap and it lasts me 6 months. Cheap and it really cleans great.
Christine Mueller posted: Is there anything that cleans as good as Tide, but doesn't have the harsh perfumes? My entire household is a 'free' of perfumes and dyes household. Haven't found a homemade detergent that works, and doesn't cause allergic reactions. Anybody out there knows of a recipe?
AnneMarie Jackman Canu posted: I made both last week and love both!
Vicki Hopkins Gaulden posted: I've been making my own powdered laundry detergent for about 2 years now (and yes, I have an HE). It's basically the same recipe you posted. I recently ran across a recipe calling for Castille soap. Supposed to be liquid but mine is more like wet powder. Have to tinker with it, but I did add some lavender and tea tree essentials to make it smell wonderful
Catherine Agnes Roebuck posted: @Christine, try Country Save detergent. It's not homemade but it's unscented, dye-free and works wonderfully.
Jacque Miller posted: I still love this recipe. My clothes are so soft and fresh.
Kristie Fietzer Rhoden posted: Not to mention that the powdered soap eliminates the
wet dog/mustysmell that you get when guys sweat in their shirts. The smell comes from the animal fat added to the liquid to keep it
liquid-y.
Kristie Fietzer Rhoden posted: Christine M~I too cannot have anything scented, and some of my family has sensitive skin ~ I have been using Tide Free powder, but would like a homemade version!
Suzy Embry posted: I just made me a batch! My skeptical sister was impressed!
Melinda Kaye posted: Thanks Jenifer, I have only used them for one bottle worth except for the clothing for the sensitive one, so I have no idea if she can or can't use it. I am really thinking about making this though (maybe hold off on the crystals this time...) or I can make the batch and put the crystals in after I try a load. Lol, we will see!
Amanda Mathis posted: This is how I make mine. but I add a baking soda to the mix just to beat out any hard water issues. I have never had issues with making mine since I do it in 3 month batches and it's no joke.. you only spend 15-20 bucks a YEAR for it. :) I been doing it for years now and I have an HE washer and never had an issue with it...
Janisis Goocher posted: Been making my own for 2 years with no problems. Total cost for 2 years= $24!!
NOTE - If any of the above links are not working or the freebies or coupons no longer available, please post a blog comment below and I'll edit it!
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| Mesh Lingerie Delicates Wash Bag |
Because this tip is THAT good! In fact, this tip may even change your life!
OK, here goes...
Give each member of your family a mesh lingerie laundry bag and laundry hook to hang it on their doorknob.
They use it to put their dirty socks and underwear in the bag each night.
On laundry day, simply zip up the bags, and toss the full bags into the washing machine... then give it back!
If you won't be sure whose laundry bag is whose, just mark the tag inside the mesh bag with an initial, or other identifying mark - using a permanent marker - so you can tell them apart.
No more sorting through and figuring out which socks are for which person. Genius!!
OK, sorry, I am still working on the tip that convinces your family to actually PUT their laundry in this mesh bag.
Maybe just the look of pure joy on your face will be enough?? No, huh? Hmmm...
Thanks for the idea!: Lazy Mom Tip #49 by Stacey Plaisance
Shopping list:
• Mesh Lingerie Delicates Wash Bag
• Mesh Wash Bags - 10 pack
• Mesh Laundry Bags - 5 pack
• Large Mesh Laundry Bags
• Laundry Hooks to hang bags
NOTE - If any of the above links are not working or the freebies or coupons no longer available, please post a blog comment below and I'll edit it!
Do you have a garbage disposal? Do you have problems with smell in your garbage disposal?
Do you spend money on deodorizing tablets to toss down the garbage disposal?
Well, let me help you with that...
Cheap Garbage Disposal Cleaner/Deodorizer
-- Slice lemons, put in one slice in each ice cube tray section and cover with vinegar.
Do not dilute it. Freeze, and then store the ice cubes in a Ziplock bag.
Pop one of these little cubes in the garbage disposal when needed, and grind away!
Jessica Lyn Larrew suggested: If you freeze them with coarse salt in the water, the salt will help clean your disposal blades too!
From our Facebook fan page:
Susan Tripp posted: Good one - thanks
Carmen Whittaker posted: Great idea!!! Thanks
Marva Nic Bran posted: Thanks... will try it soon
Michelle Stricklin Williams posted: GREAT IDEA! I pour about a cup of vinegar in my dishwasher to help with gunk and funk. Works great, keeps drains clean, and unclogged!
Shopping Suggestions:
• Mizkan White Distilled Vinegar
• Frieda's Meyer Lemons
• Aztec Coarse Unrefined Sea Salt
• Glisten Disposer Care Foaming Cleaner
NOTE - If any of the above links are not working or the freebies or coupons no longer available, please post a blog comment below and I'll edit it!
Do you use a Swiffer Wetjet? I've thought about them, but I am not willing to pay for the constant refills - I'm too So here's an idea if you want to save some money on all those refills!
1. Dunk the bottle cap in hot water for about 90 seconds to soften the plastic.
2. Twist off the cap with a good, hard twist.
3. Then clip off the little locking tabs with nail clippers (or exacto knife, or razor blade).
4. Now you have a plain old refillable bottle you can refill with your own cleaning solution - vinegar and water, Pine-sol, Nature Clean or anything else you like.
5. Replace the cap back on the bottle firmly and you're ready to clean.
Click here for step-by-step instructions with pictures
-- How to remove that pesky cap on your Swiffer Wet-Jet bottle making it impossible to refill, and causes you to buy their overpriced solution.
All you'll need is a pair of fingernail/toenail clippers and a pot of boiling water (and the bottle of course).
NOTE - If any of the above links are not working or the freebies or coupons no longer available, please post a blog comment below and I'll edit it!
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