a new take on flowers

I think I've posted about flowers and saving money before.  I LOVE fresh cut flowers, so I couldn't help but post some more tips and ideas.  I've seen this trick on design shows and news show segments.  So why not try it?

I bought carnations at the grocery store, cost about $6.  Carnations can look really cheap, like $6.  But it is easy to dress them up to look very pretty and sophisticated.

Take a large bunch of carnations, all of the same color.  Tie the stems together just below the blooms to form the illusion of one larger flower.  

I used a round, fish bowl like vase for this bunch.  It normally works best in shallower or shorter vases.  

Carnations are also very long lasting flowers, that come in a variety of bright, vibrant colors.  This bunch has been sitting on my kitchen table for about 8 days now and they still look great!  To allow your flowers to last longer, change the water ever few days.  

Enjoy!  Happy Spring! 

Backyard garden on a budget

I recently moved into a new house with a great backyard.  I had a great idea to plant a veggie garden this year, even though I have never done anything remotely close to successfully growing veggies.  I decided to go for it anyway.  I spent a few hours working in the garden this morning; weeding, edging, planting seeds.  I did not want to spend a lot of money on my garden; my goal for the garden is to get produce without spending a lot of money and learn how to garden in the process. 

My tips for gardening on a budget:

1.  Use what you have!  There are two flower beds in my yard that are lined with rocks; I picked through the rocks and found extra ones to create a boarder/edge for my garden.  I also found some old wood planks to use to create walkways between rows of veggies.  

2.  Don't have any materials around?  Ask neighbors, family members, friends; you never know what other have that you could use!  

3.  Plant seeds.  Seeds are much cheaper than starter plants.  If you want to use starter plants, buy the smaller ones because they are normally cheaper.  Also look for sales.  Only plant the veggies you know you are going to eat.  Don't let the veggies go to waste!  

My garden, as of today

There is no need to spend a lot of money to create a garden bed in your backyard!  So far I have planted green beans, cucumbers, carrots and sunflowers.  

Good luck and happy gardening!

DIY T-Shirt Fabric Flowers

I'm really into the whole fabric flower trend.  They are really cute and can dress up anything.  BUT I don't want to spend the money on them when I know I can make it myself for cheaper.  So I browsed online and found a tutorial for Ribbon Flowers.  I cannot take credit for the original tutorial, I found it here. 

And mine turned out like this...

I used silver ribbon and then played around with my camera settings

After playing around with some other materials, I found that you can make the same flower, using the same technique, with T-shirt fabric.  

Cut a long strip of T-shirt fabric, about 1 inch wide.  

Then use the same technique to make the flower:

Tie a knot at one of the ends of the strip of fabric.  Using the hot glue, twist the fabric around the knot and glue as you go along.  

Here is what I came up with: 

I think I like the way it turned out.  It is a little more "rustic" than the ribbon flower because the edges aren't finished.  But it gives you more of a casual look than the ribbon flowers.  

Why I like these:  

*  They are VERY easy to make, takes about 5 minutes per flower.  

*  They are VERY cheap to make!  I bought fabric from the remnants section of the fabric store and ribbon from the dollar store.  Each flower uses very little fabric; you get a ton of flowers for your money. 

*  They are easy to turn into pins and hair clips.  

Homemade skin care

I was browsing online recently and I found a "recipe" for a homemade skin care item that claimed to be a "black head eraser."  I have always spent a lot of money on skin care items; I've always felt that skin care is worth spending money on.  But paying $50+ for one skin care item isn't good for the bank account.  So I gave this recipe a try.

What you need:
granulated white sugar
baking soda
water
a small bowl
measuring spoons

Everything you need!

What you do:

1.  Measure out a teaspoon of both sugar and baking soda.  You want equal parts sugar and baking soda.  Put these in the small bowl.  

2.  Add a VERY small amount of water.  Start with a 1/4 teaspoon.  Stir to make a paste.  Add small amounts of water if needed to make the paste.  

3.  Apply to CLEAN skin, avoiding eye area.  Leave it on your face for about 10 minutes.  You will feel it "working."  It's like a mild tingling/burning feeling.  That's the baking soda working to get all the gunk out of your skin.

4.  After 10 minutes, use warm water to wash the paste off your face.  Use your fingers to massage that paste into your skin.  The sugar acts as an abrasive and will help remove dead skin sells.  

5.  If you have sensitive skin, your skin might be red/tender after this treatment.  Follow with a light weight, oil free moisturizer.  Also, if you have sensitive skin, only use this treatment a few times a week.  

Did it erase my blackheads?  Nope.  But it did help.  My skin felt very clean and smooth.  I did have less black heads and my skin was very clean after the treatment.  

Have any other products I've used erased my blackheads?  Nope.  So I found that this treatment was worth it.  

Each treatment will cost you just pennies!  Great way to stretch your skin care dollar!  

Thrifty DIY Fabric Flowers

This must be my new DIY crafting obsession.  I just love it, and it is super quick and easy to make.  I cannot take credit for this idea/method: I found the original tutorial here.  I followed the directions on the original tutorial, and played around with the designs and folded the fabric in different ways to get different shapes.  Play around with it; you never know what you will come up with.

I set out to make these No Sew Fabric Flowers on a budget.  I wanted to spend $10, and I spent $13.18(including tax).  So a little over what I planed to spend, BUT I have enough materials to make 50+ flowers.

All my materials 

You will need: 

Fabric

Buttons

Hair clips(if making those) 

Scissors

Glue gun

Marker 

Here's what I made:

simple, black and white

attached hair clip to back

stacked 3 flowers onto of each other, with 2 buttons

My money saving tips for this project:

1.  Shop the remnants section of the fabric store.  You do not need a lot of fabric to make these flowers, so it's ok to buy small amounts.  Most remnants sections are priced at 50% off. 

2.  Look for sales!  I bought all my buttons on sale buy one get one free.  I got 8 packs of buttons for the price of 4.  

3.  Use coupons: most fabric stores will put coupons in the Sunday papers

4.  Ask friends and family members if they have any old fabric scraps that you can have.  Also ask for buttons.  

5.  Look for buttons and fabric and flea markets, thrift store, and 2nd hand shops.  

Consignment Shops 101

I love having cute clothes, but again, I hate the high price tag.  I have been shopping at consignment shops for a few years now and I would like to share my tips and tricks with you.  At consignment shops you will find like new brand name clothes.

Each season(fall and spring), I go through my clothes and pick out stuff that doesn't fit anymore or that I never wear.  If it is in good condition, I take it to the consignment shop.
Selling tips:
1.  Check the store's guidelines!!!  Every store will have different guidelines for the clothes that they will take.  You can find this info on the store's website, or in person at the store.
2.  Make sure your clothes are clean and wrinkle free, they will sell better this way.
3.  Most stores will only buy in season clothes, check policies first!
4.  Most store give you two options: cash up front or consign.  I normally get cash up front.  With consigning, you will not get cash right away and your item might not sell(you won't get any money).

Buying tips:
1.  Use your cash up front money to by new clothes!  Most stores will let you apply the cash up front money like store credit.
2.  Try stuff on!  Most consignment stores won't take returns! Check store policy first.
3.  Look for sales: most stores will put items on sale that have been sitting for a while.
4.  Shop without expectations!  You never know what you will find, the items are always changing.

My Example:
I went to a local consignment shop today and they gave me cash up front for 2 pairs of jeans and a few tops.  I got $16 dollars for these items.
Here is what I found to buy:

Khakis from J. Crew in my size

Khakis from American Eagle in my size

Super cute cardigan from Talbots in my size

So here's how it all panned out:  The 3 items I bought added up to $29.60.  I applied my $16 cash up front payment to the total amount.  So I paid $13.60 for the 2 pairs of khakis and the light weight cardigan.  

Good Luck! and have fun shopping!

Save Money On Holiday Decorations

I have always loved cute, fun holiday decorations, but I don't like the high price tag they come with.  After browsing some stores and online, I decided that most of the decorations wouldn't be that hard to make.  So I raided the dollar store and ended up with a super cute Easter Egg wreath(that won't be going up until AFTER St. Patty's day.  What's this new trend of skipping holidays?).  I spent $9 plus tax to make this wreath, and bought everything at the dollar store.  I already had the glue gun.

What you will need:
hot glue gun
wicker wreath form
decorative Easter eggs(I used small foam glitter eggs from the dollar store, 8 packs of 12, you will need more than you think you will!)
scissors

Get Started:

Cut the ribbons off of the eggs.  Then start glueing them around the wreath form.  Work around the entire wreath, do not just work in one section, you will get better coverage this way.  

Continue glueing the eggs around the wreath form until it is as full as you like.  You do not want to be able to see the wreath form when finished.  Glue a ribbon loop on to hang the wreath from. 

My finished wreath!  

Other ways to save on holiday decorations:

Wait until after the holiday and buy stuff when it is on sale.  Stores discount seasonal merchandise after the holiday to very low prices.  Buy this stuff for next year.  *Only buy ahead for next year if you have room to store it, don't let it clutter up your house!  

Check out thrift stores for holiday decorations. 

Ask your family members- hand me down decorations are as good as new ones!