Crayons and Coasters

Check this out! How fun.. I gotta tell you with Pintrest, I feel so successful w/ my crafting! This one was really simple and was a great project for the kids. They sat for an hour taking off wrappers before they got bored! I sat down and finished two boxes of crayons in about 15 mins. Place your broken crayons in the molds and place in oven at 230 for 15 mins. I used an old mold I had gotten from a Valentines clearance shelf. I can't wait to pick up some molds after Halloween for some 'boy shapes'. Because I used a traditional tin.. I froze them to 'pop' them out. Pintrest uses the flexible silicone molds..so that might work faster. This is going to be Drew's money maker at the craft show.

So for my coasters, I could only get to my purple scrapbook paper! But it was a great first attempt. I used Mod podge to put the scrapbook paper and wording on tiles. Then (the first picture) is when I took the tiles outside to put a clear coat of gloss on the tiles to seal the paper and wording on the tiles. I actually put 2 coats on. Then I put ribbon around the edges to give the coaster a more polished finish and then after a night of drying..they were ready! I can't wait to play with more colors and themes! Another project that is a 'go' for the craft show!

Pintrest baking project #1 ~ Cookie cups for ice cream

Of course, this looks like a fun project for everyone to enjoy! So I used the Big Cookie dough w/large chips.. I think that was one of the problems on why it wasn't successful. The smaller tins turned out better except that bc of the large chocolate chips it was difficult to shape the dough. Both times only took 7 - 9 mins to bake. So the good news is.. Kids don't care what cookies and ice cream like it..the simple fact they are allowed to have it brings excitement! So the kids love them! The crumbs from the big tins..well they went to my husbands favoriate snack. Usually, he stacks his cookies in a glass then pour milk over them..so this way the crumbs were already ready for his glass! LOL...

Homemade Laundry Soap & Fabric Softner

So here is my version of homemade laundry soap. It's not 'mine', I don't know who to give the credit to actually. I went to a women's ministry event in Washington. Later, I found out the receipe is really close to Michelle Duggers except it has more borax in it.

So here is what I do.
1) Boil water and add  1 cup of borax and 1 cup of arm & hammer washing soda, stir in 5 gallon bucket until it is dissolved.
* Be sure to buy the washing soda and not a big box of baking soda!
2) While the next pot of water is boiling, cut up the bar of Fels-naptha soap. (Originally I had instructions to use an old cheese shredder..but cutting it and crumbling it with my hands works so much better for me! & Boil until it is melted in the water and then add it to the 5 gallon bucket.
3) Just keep boiling hot water and adding it to the bucket and stirring w/each pot of water added.
4) Close the lid and let it sit over night to set up. (Remember to put the lid on and place out of the way of children)
5) The next day it will be gel'd, you can use a paint stick to stir it up but really.. the kids and I love to just roll up our sleeves and start 'scientifically smushing' until it is all broken up! I wouldn't recommend it for kids under 5 to help with.
6) Your done! Use 1/4 cup a load. I put some in a spray bottle to use as a stain remover and then place some in an old laundry bottle. Put some marbles in the bottem of the laundry bottle to shake before use. I have also used a cereal container from the dollar store w/a whisk from the dollar store.
Optional Step) Michelle Dugger suggests that you can add essential oils of your choice for a scented soap and you can check out her website for that info. I like the smell of the fels-naptha, so I have never tried that.

I honestly don't know how long a whole 5 gallon tub will last because it depends on the size of your family.. I would bet close to 5-6 months for most families. I usually make a batch every 2 months because I like to give samples out to friends who are curious about making it or trying it. I have also donated to the local shelters! The first time I buy supplies it usually costs about $15 depending on where you live. All you need is a box of borax and arm and hammer washing soda and a bar of fels-naptha and a 5 gallon bucket. Alot of grocery stores are starting to put these items all together! So usually, if I haven't used all the borax on another cleaning project..I only have to buy the Fels-Naptha bar which in Washington, I only paid $.97 for and in Hawaii, I pay $1.27 for..so it just depends on your area but still not bad!)

I never thought I would be someone who makes my own laundry soap.However, when I started couponing. I figured my family was going through a costco size tub of laundry soap a month. That figured out to be $.34 a load. Doesn't sound bad right? Well w/couponing I got it down to $.17 a load..Now it figures to be $.03 a load! From August 2010 to July 2011, my family saved just over $500 in laundry soap costs alone!

So now I also, make my own fabric softner too! Here is the website I used for that http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/homemade-fabric-softener-finally.html . I prefer instead of spraying a washcloth down w/each load. I have soaked 3 washclothes, let them dry and then alternate them in the dryer w/loads. Each one is suppose to last up to 40 + loads.. I'll let you know! Oh, and I just used Suave Conditioner.

So here is the real question...But does it work? Let me tell you, I have an almost 8 yr old son and a 5 yr old girl and I'm married to a sailor who is a jet mechanic! Trust me, we have smells and stains! I have found that very rarely do I have to do a load twice. I use my spray bottle for stains (OH and don't forget, using chalk on grease stains pre wash will usually get the grease out and save the item)..and if I'm worried about a load I double the amount of soap. Nevery had any problems w/my thinking! LOL. I have friends who have used this in high efficency machines and do well with it. Usually the only time I have to rewash is because I forgot to change the clothes into the dryer!

So it all comes down to one thing? What are you going to do with the money you save? (We have been working for 12 months to be debt free and we're getting closer!)

9 weeks til my first craft show...time to learn to sew!

Ok well..here I go..time to figure out this sewing machine! So alittle family history here, I actually recieved a beautiful refurbished Singer Featherweight when I graduated high school. My grandfather, had owned a sewing machine repair buisness and when all the grandkids graduated, the girls got machines and the boys got money. I never learned to sew on that thing. I was always to afraid. I left it at my moms several moves ago bc I was worried about it getitng stolen in a move. My mom always said, grandpa would be mad at me for not using it. I always said I was afraid to use it because if it broke it would cost a fortune and who would I even find to fix it or service it if I did use it? I was actually able to call Singer once w/the model # and I found out my machine left the New Jersey factory in Feb 1955. Pretty cool, uh?

So naturally, for my 'first' usable sewing machine, I went for the Singer. We got this one at the Hickham AFB Bx. It was on sale for $50 less then the Navy NEX. Interesting, uh? Shows it pays off to checkc out everywhere!

So now I have a table full of fabrics that I picked up this week at walmart from the scrap bins to start practicing on! I have a pile full of flat sheets that my family doesn't use and tshirts and dresses I have picked up to use as recycled materials..should be an interesting adventure I'm starting out on here!

I have always enjoyed crafts and creating different things. Whenever I work on a project, my husband is always amazed at how artistic I am. Which is funny because I have always seen myself as the misplaced Indian..I mean come on..how many Indians do you know that are allergic to nature and can't draw? LOL! I do tend to put a creative spin on most things I touch but really my crafting motto has been more of 'If at first you try and you fail... Hide ALL evidence there was ever an attempt!'

So here I go...let's see how this works! Today, I am going to work on Travel Pillows for kids that attatch to seatbelts! I love this idea, my daughter, Lyssi, 5, is way to big for her 5 pt harness but when she falls asleep in her booster..well it just looks painful! So I am hoping that this one helps!

Later tonight or tomorrow I will post pics of this adventure and do my post on homemade laundry soap and fabric softner! Blessings!

& the fun begins!

So the fun of buying supplies has been going on for awhile now! But here comes the fun of creating my crafts. I am super excited as I continue to narrow it down to which items I will take with me to my first craft show in November. This week I'll be focusing on a few  new sewing projects...be watching for pics as I make some reusable sandwhich bags and some comfy seatbelt pillows for some adorable munchkins!

Last night, I was able to talk to my best friend from childhood, Jenni. Jenni and I are in so many ways complete opposites. She's the structure, the thinker, the reasonable one! Me, I'm the one that goes and pays for a craft booth before I even know what type of crafts I'll take or make..I'm the one that gets distracted by all things sparkly and shiny! It's been amazing to watch and think about how GOD has put this friendship together and allowed us to maintain it and nurture it even more so as we both became wives and mommas. More then anything, I'm excited to start my crafting adventure and share these experiences with her. She will be sending alot of her items for my craft show as well and I'm excited to help show her items and support her business.

So, I have bought more then enough supplies! I have practice materials and then last night..I got to walmart as they were putting out new 'scraps'..and picked up some awesome kids material! Can't wait to get started...I'll post pics soon.

Have a blessed day,everyone.

Welcome, Benviendos, E Komo Mai

Thanks for checking out my new website! I am just working on getting up and running and looking forward to my first craft show in November at JBPHH!! Please keep checking back regularly as I add new stories about my experiences in crafting and returning to my life as a stay at home momma! ~ Blessings!