Homemade Dehumidifier

This is actually extremely easy!! Take a bundle of chalk and hang it in your closet. It will absorb extra moisture and keep clothing fresh and dry, and takes up much less room than an electric dehumidifier.

 Brought to you by Martha Stuart

Homemade Dish Washer Soap

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
What you need:
1 Cup of Borax
1 Cup Baking Soda (or Washing Soda)
1/2 Cup Kosher Salt
1/2 Cup Citric Acid (You can purchase "Fresh Fruit" in the canning isle. It is a produce protector or you can puchase 15 packets of lemon Kool-aid, the unsweetened kind, and that works as well.)

Mix all ingredients in a container and voila! Dishwasher detergent! Use 1 Tbsp per load PLUS add some vinegar to the rinse aid portion of your dishwasher (this keeps the plastic from getting a cloudy look) and wash away!

Brought to you by crazycraftbugs.blogspot.com

Homemade Burts Bee - Lip Balm

This is an awesome receipt for lip balm that looks, smells, and acts just like Burts Bees!

What you need:

• 3 tsp. grated or roughly chopped beeswax
• 6 tsp. coconut oil
• 1 1/2 tsp. lanolin
• 3/4 tsp. vitamin E
• 2 tsp. hard honey (or 1 tsp if liquid honey)
• 3/4 tsp. peppermint essential oil
• A few small tins or containers with lids

Directions

1. In a small pot over medium low heat melt beeswax, coconut oil, lanolin and vitamin E. Use chopstick or other small, longish stick to stir (chopstick is perfect).
2. Remove from heat and add honey and peppermint oil. Whisk well with chopstick and try to distribute oil throughout the mixture - this is tricky.
3. Pour quickly into tins or jars. Let cool on counter till hard.

This recipe makes enough for 3 - 3/4 oz tins (see photo for size) and one 1 1/2 oz jar. You can reuse cosmetic jars like old hand lotion jars or foundation jars.

Note: Do not keep it in a hot place like in your car on a hot summer day because it could melt leaving a sticky mess. Just keep it with you in your purse if you're in air conditioning or leave it at your house. :)

Some people are allergic to lanolin. If you're making these for gifts you may want to label them.

Brought to you by and pictures by: http://fimby.tougas.net/homemade-lip-balm-recipe

Etching into Glass- EASY!

Who knew that etching glass was so simple? I sure didn't until I came across this today!

What you need:
Armour Etching Cream
Paint Brush
Glass (ex. cup)
Exacto Knife or Sharp Scissors
Masking Tape
Marker

Directions:
Take the masking tape and tape it onto the glass surface and then write with the marker the word that you want to say (make sure you write it in block form). And then cut the word out with your knife/scissors.

Next, take your etching cream (please wear gloves unless it could hurt!) and your paint brush and brush the cream over your word. Then let it sit for about 5-7 minutes. Next, rise it off (but be careful not to let the cream touch anything unless it could get etched too!) and peel the tape off as you're rinsing it.

And then you're DONE! :) ta-da!!

Pictures and idea by youseriouslymadethat.blogspot.com

52 Things I Love About You - Book

Here's a fantastic anniversary idea!

Take a deck of cards and make a "52 Things I Love About You" book. Like this:

You can decorate yours however you'd like. :)
Then get creative and write 52 reasons why you love your significant other.

And glue it on! :)

Stamping Cookies!

What a fabulous idea I came across today! Take stamps and stamp designs into your cookies for whatever the occasion might be!

Brought to you by countryliving.com

Crispy Parmesan Greenbeans

So Brian and I had these at TGIF a couple months ago and absolutely LOVED them. So I realized I needed to figure out how to make them and this is what I came up with:

Greenbeans (not canned)
2 egg whites
1/4 cup flour
1 cup seasoned panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lay a wire rack on a baking sheet and coat with non-stick spray.
Snap off the tough ends of each greenbean if it didn't come that way. On two separate plates, add the eggs whites (lightly beaten) and the panko + flour + cheese. Season the panko mixture with salt and pepper if desired. Coat each greenbean in egg whites, then lay in the panko mixture and thoroughly cover. If the panko won’t stick, dip back in the egg whites and roll in panko once again. Lay each greenbean on the wire rack.
Serve with Caesar salad dressing as dipping sauce (which is our favorite dipping sauce for these but Ranch is tasty too!!

You can also do this with asparagus but we like the greenbeans best! :)

Inspired by howsweeteats.com

Homemade Laundry Soap!

Are you sick of paying SOOO much on laundry detergent? I am! Here's a great way to save a ton of money and still get your clothes squeeky clean! It should last you at the very minimum 9 months and at the max 1.5 years!! Now THAT my friends is awesomeness!! :) You only need 1 tablespoon per load! And it's not too sudsy so it should be safe for High Efficiency Washers.

1 4 lb box Borax
1 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

1 4lb box Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

3 bars of Fels-naptha soap

2 small containers of oxyclean or store brand oxyclean

(this is optional, depending on how messy your family is lol)

(you can also use pink Zote soap instead of Fels-naptha which can easily be found at Home Depot)

You should be able to find all of these at your local grocery store.

 Start out by grating your Fels-naptha soap just like cheese. You can use a food processor or just use your hand held grater, what ever you have. Toss all ingredients in a 5 gallon bucket lined with a garbage bag. This part makes your whole house smell great. Once everything is mixed store soap however you like. I chose a jar that I keep above my washing machine, I also got a little scoop to keep inside. Wasn't that easy? Sure was! Enjoy your soap. And remember, all you need is 1 tablespoon per load because it's stronger than your average store-bought detergent. :)

Brought to you by: beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com

Cheesecake Brownies - YUM!

So I followed these instructions for this Red Velvet Swirl Cheesecake except I left out the red dye and it turned out to be cheesecake brownies ~ YUM!!

What you need:

• Butter – 8 tbsp (1 stick) – melted
• Sugar – 1 cup
• Vanilla Extract – 1 tsp
• Coco Powder - 1/4 cup
• Red Food Coloring – 1 tbsp (I didn't use this)
• Vinegar – 1/2 tsp (original recipe is 1 tsp)
• Eggs – 2
• All Purpose Flour – 3/4 cup

Cheesecake Layer:

• Cream Cheese – 8 ounces (softened)
• Sugar – 1/4 cup
• Egg – 1
• Vanilla Extract – 1/8 tsp

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a baking tray.
2. Melt Butter
3. Add sugar and vanilla extract and blend.
4. Add cocoa powder, red food coloring, and vinegar.  
5. Blend well
6. Add blended eggs
7. Gently fold flour into the mix
8. Pour 3/4 of the batter into the prepared pan and reserve a 1/4 batter for later.
9. In a separate bowl combine the cream cheese, 1 egg, sugar, and vanilla extract.  
10. Blend until smooth and creamy
11. Add the cream cheese layer over the brownie mixture. And spread.
12. Add the remaining red velvet (brownie) batter. 
13. Swirl to make it look pretty like marble
14. Into the oven for 30 minutes exactly – DO NOT OVERBAKE.

Serve warm and ENJOY!! :D

Lamp Shade - Creativity

This is super easy to do and you don't have to sew!! You can either go to your local thrift store and find a lamp that you want to decorate or decorate one that you already have. Than, go to the store and buy some ribbon and start your fun!

What you need:
Lamp Shade
Ribbon
Hot glue gun, fabric glue, or anything creative enough to keep the ribbon attached to the lamp :)

Then start by measuring your ribbon in accordance to the size of the shade. Next you'll attach the ribbon to the top of the shade, go at a slight angle with the ribbon and then attach it to the bottom of the shade. Then take the next ribbon and weave. It's that easy!

Enjoy!!

Brought to you by www.midwestliving.com

Art

Run crayons through a hot glue gun machine and create your own design! Instant awesomeness!

"Book" Shelf Idea

The word "book" is taken seriously in this idea! ;) 

Just buy a couple wall hooks that people usually put a shelf on top to make a shelf but instead use a book! Its way cuter and it'll save you money on the actual shelf! These hooks can be found at places like walmart, home depot, office depot, etc. and they're only about a buck or two. Enjoy!

Cool Anniversary Idea

Every anniversary take a picture of you holding a picture from the year before. Love this idea, its so fun!

Fabric Softener - Money Saver!

Now this fabulous idea came from apartmenttherapy.com.

Here's what you do:

Take your favorite liquid fabric softener and soak an old hand towel completely with the it. Wring it out and let it dry, then throw it in with your next load just like you would a dryer sheet. This mega-fabric softener sheet should be good for at least 40 loads of laundry, stretching out softener use and lessening waste.

Homemade Marshmellows

Who knew you could make homemade marshmellows? I sure didn't until I came across this today on momentsofmommyhood.com (which fyi isn't just for moms! lol).

Here's what you need:

2 1/2 tablespoons of unflavored gelatin 1/2 cup of cold water 

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 

1 cup light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt 

another 1/2 cup of water 

2 tablespoons of vanilla extract powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup of water in the bowl of a heavy duty stand mixer. (this is not a job for a hand mixer) Allow that to stand for about 30 minutes.

2. In a small saucepan, combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and the other 1/2 cup of water. Stir over low heat until the sugar is dissolved.

3. Turn the heat to high and cook the mixture until it reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. (about 12 minutes)

4.Remove the pan from the heat and slowly pour this mixture into the gelatin mixture. Mixer set on low, with the whisk attachment.

5. Once you have added all the syrup mixture, increase the speed to high and continue beating until the mixture becomes thick and white. It can take about 15 minutes, but my mixer started making a strange noise about 12 minutes in, so I stopped there.

6. Add the vanilla. Mix it in.

7. Oil a 13x9 inch baking pan and dust it generously with powdered sugar. This is very important! The powdered sugar is the key to getting the sticky marshmallows out of the pan when they are set.

8.Pour the marshmallow mixture into the pan, sprinkle with more powdered sugar, and allow them to set up over night.

9. Run your knife around the outside of the pan to loosen the marshmallows and pull them out. Cut into squares and dust with more powdered sugar so they don't stick together.

Homemade Pretzels

I found this on the website called momentsofmommyhood.com, they actually have a lot of great and fun crafty ideas!

What you need:

1 packet of yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 tablespoon sugar

4 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 beaten egg
Course salt to sprinkle on top (if desired) 

Instructions:
Mix the water and yeast together in a bowl until the yeast is completely dissolved. Add salt, sugar, and flour. Mix and knead until the dough is smooth. Roll and shape the dough into any shape you desire. Place pretzels on a greased cookie sheet and brush them with the beaten egg. Sprinkle lightly with  course salt. Bake in a 425 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

ENJOY!!! :D

Homemade Fingerpaint

Ladies and gentlemen, look what I came across today! This is super cool, fun, and easy! Kids will love helping out with this but if you don't trust them making it than they will love the fact that you made it for them too. :)

What you need:
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
cold water
1/2 cup cornstarch
4 tablespoons dishwashing liquid
food coloring
4 to 6 baby food jars

Directions:
1. Stir the gelatin into 1/3 cup cold water; set aside.
2. Measure the cornstarch into a saucepan and stir in 2 1/2 cups cold water until dissolved.
3.Bring the mixture to a simmer and stir until thickened.
4.Remove the pan from the heat and blend in the gelatin mixture and the dishwashing liquid.
5. Allow the mixture to cool and spoon it into jars.
6.Stir in a generous amount of food coloring.
7. Store at room temperature in airtight containers.

Rag Wreath - Cute!

This adorable rag wreath is super easy to make. I came across it today on another blog. She didn't give a step by step so I recreated my own. The picture is the one that she made but mine looked very similar.

Here's what I did:

I got a wire hanger from my closet and twisted it around into a circle. Than, I got a bunch of cute scraps that was laying around in the craft room and cut them into strips of about 6 inches long and 1 inch wide (give or take). Lastly, I started tying the strips around the circled wired-hanger and ta-da! The wreath was done after about 30 minutes of tying.

To hang the wreath up, I got a string/rope that was about 10 inches long and then folded it in half so that it was a loop and only about 5 inches long. I then tied it in a knot with the wired hanger being inside the loop and then hung it on a hook. Easy-peasy! :)

Secret Message Banana

This is a lot of fun for kids or even to surprise your honey when you hand him/her a banana to bring to work in the morning.

First, take a toothpick and poke out a message, it won't show up until later on in the day and then suddenly the secret message arises! Total coolness and fun! :)

Sweet Acorns!

Now THIS my friends, is a delicious and fun project!

To make these adorable and delicious little treats all you need is:

Kisses
Small Vanilla Waffers
Peaunutbutter chips
Icing

After you get your ingredients the rest of fairly self-explanatory but for you people who must read to understand I will give you a step-by-step process. :)

First, take the kisses and put just a smidge of icing on the bottom. Next, take the waffer and put the flat side of the kiss to the flat side of the waffer. Last but not least, put a smidge of icing on the peanutbutter chip and stick it on the center of the rounded side of the waffer. Then enjoy!! :)

Homemade Mod Podge

Homemade mod podge is as easy as 1, 2, 3! I came across this today and it actually worked out just as wonderful as real mod podge! Luckily for me because mod podge is soooo expensive! And I use it frequently!

You will need:

White school glue.
A jar with twice the volume of your glue

Squeeze the glue into the jar. Fill the glue bottle with water. Seal and shake. Now squeeze that watery stuff into the jar. Seal and shake. Is it completely blended?

Yes?

Then it's done!

Now, go decoupage something. :)

Apple Sandwich

All you need to do is cut the apple where it looks like discs, then cut out the core of each disc. Put peanut-butter, granola, and chocolate-chips on one of the apple discs, and then place another apple disc on top and there you have it, an apple sandwich! :)

Jewelry Organization

Ladies, if you're like me your jewelry sits in a box in your room getting all tangled. You often forget about putting on jewelry because out of sight our of mind, right? Oh, and by the time you remember and go to get a necklace they're all tangled and you don't have time to detangle. Well, worry no more! Because all you need is:

Towel Rack
Shower Hooks
And your jewelry

And there you go! Hang it up in your closet or on a wall in your room and you can easily pick out what necklace you want to wear AND it won't be tangled! It's amazing :)

Cords, Cords, and More Cords!

If you're anything like my husband and I then you know that cords pile up like crazy around your house! Especially around computers and tv's! Well, here's an excellent way to keep them from getting tangled and to keep them from falling down behind the shelf where you can't reach!

All you have to do is get some butterfly clips and clip them to the table or stand near the cord that you're wanting organized. Next, lift the silver arm up, stick the cord through the large part and then close the arm back down. It's super easy!

Plus, it's not quite as much of a fire-hazard any more! ;)

Organizational Love

If you're like me then you're always getting rid of stuff, collecting gifts for family and friends, and checking out books or movies. Well, here's a great way to keep track of all of that.

It looks nice and organized and it takes about 2 seconds to put an item in the box! Plus when it's time to bring the books or movies back then you know right where to find them. Or when it comes time to see your friend or family member whom you've collected a gift for then you'll know exactly where to get it, etc.!

Hope you enjoy!

Newspaper Nails - Cute!

So I know this might sound bizarre but from what I hear it works perfectly! I haven't tried it yet but I would really like to just because it looks super cool! And I love doing fun things with my nails... so, you should try it too!

Here's what you do:

Paint your nails. Let them dry. Dip them in vodka. Press newspaper against your nails. And ta-da! :)

Homemade Carpet Shampoo

I needed to shampoo my sofa and I knew that carpet shampoo would work great but I didn't have time to go out and buy shampoo or rent a carpet shampoo machine, so I just invented my own and it worked great! Here's what I did:

Sara's Homemade Carpet Shampoo
Add about 1/4 a cup of liquid laundry detergent, 1 teaspoon of laundry stain remover, 1/2 cup vinegar and filled a large bucket up with hot water mixing it all together. Then I just used an old cloth and scrubbed and it worked perfectly! For smaller areas just add about half the amount of all of this just so that you're not wasting ingredients. :)

If you don't like my carpet shampoo, here's a couple others that I found online that inspired me to make my own.

Homemade Carpet Cleaning Solution Add about 3 teaspoons of clear dishwashing liquid (non moisturizing), 1/4 cup of ammonia, and 1/4 cup of vinegar to a few gallons of water. I've also used 1/2 cup of vinegar to a few gallons of water. Everything comes out great!
Crystal

And here's a home made odor eliminator that I found also worked wonderfully!

This Recipe Kills Odors I have used grocery store rental carpet machines before and have come up with my own "recipe." Use one scoop of OxiClean, one cup of generic Fabreeze or one cup of vinegar, and the recommended hot water. The outcome is not only clean, but it also kills all odors. I used this formula on a very used couch that smelled of dirty dogs so bad that I would not even bring it into my home and the outcome was wonderful. Do not worry about using vinegar. Once the vinegar dries, the smell is gone.
Debra in Texas

Melon Bird

So, although I didn't invent this, it's still amazing. It's easy to make and you can do all sorts of fun faces! For this particular one you only need:

Watermelon
Olives
Cucumbers
Melon
A fun imagination :)


Now, have some fun and enjoy!

Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag

So, I came across this today and LOVED it! I didn't come up with this myself but I thoroughly enjoyed it and think you guys will too! Makes 2 small servings or 1 large serving.

What you'll need:
2 Tablespoons of Sugar 
1 Cup of Half & Half (or cream)
Half a Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup of Salt (coarse is ideal but table salt is fine)
Ice
Gallon Ziploc Bag
Pint Ziploc Bag

Time:
5-10 Minutes


Mix the half & half, sugar, and vanilla extract together. Pour into a pint sized Ziploc bag. Seal it tightly.

Now take the gallon sized Ziploc bag and fill it up halfway with ice and pour the salt over the ice. Now place the pint sized bag filled with the cream, sugar, and vanilla inside the gallon sized bag filled with ice and salt and seal tightly. Note: Do not mix the cream filled bag ingredients in with the ice and salt, simply place the smaller bag inside the larger bag.

Next, you'll shake the bag for about 5 minutes. If the bag with the cream, sugar, and vanilla in it isn't cold and smooth after 5 minutes continue to shake with it inside the iced bag. Then served chilled and enjoy your homemade ice cream. :)

For different flavors use different flavor extracts. For example, we made it with banana extract and it tasted just like banana ice cream, it was a hit!
Picture by: 2 little hooligans

Egg Love

Maybe you're just feeling a little creative, or maybe it's an anniversary or valentines... whatever the occasion is have fun making hard boiled eggs into heart shapes! Your honey will love them! :)