Going Outside the Lines

If you are giving yourself a home pedicure...it's okay to apply polish outside the lines of your nails. You can "clean up" after soaking your feet in warm water (I suggest letting the polish dry overnight).

Soak your feet in warm water for 5 minutes then run your fingernail along the softened skin to remove the excess polish.

Apply a clear coat, add a pair of flip flops and you are off.

Recycling Water

I fill these fancy glass soda bottles at the kitchen sink while waiting for the water to get hot. I used the water to refill fish tanks, water indoor plants and sometimes I use them as a vase for long stemmed flowers. Even if I don't use them right away, these pretty bottles aren't too unsightly and I always have water handy.

Foamy Everything!

I LOVE foam hand soap, bath soap, dishwashing soap, and foam shampoo. I'm not sure if it's how light the soap feels or that I can save so much $$ by making it myself.

Use: 1 part gel soap to 4 parts water

Tips: use gel soap (creamy liquid soap won't foam up); leave room at the top to put the pump back in.

Lint Keepers

This gem happened by chance. I'd left an empty wipey container on the dryer...tah dah...instant lint keeper. When it's full, just empty it out.

If you remove the plastic from an empty tissue box you can throw the whole thing in a compost bin when it's full (minus dryer sheets).

iPants?

When my husband asked me to make a case for his iPad a million things went through my head: it has to protect, it has to be portable, it has to look cool and most of all it has to cost next to nothing...

I got inspiration from a pair of jeans that I rescued from the Goodwill pile. I added a felt lining to protect the screen and now these Levi's have a new purpose.

Propagating Plant Stand

I made this plant propagating stand out of an old toothbrush holder and floral tubes. The plant in the photo is Coleus (a low-maintenance annual plant). I used a sharp, clean knife to cut small clippings from the main plant. I also removed the lowest leaves so that they fit through the holes in the holder and to prevent mold. Add water in the tubes, insert the plants and voila!

Garden Fasteners

I use little hair claw clips together with a stick to hold saggy stems upright. It's a little prettier than using cut up panty hose.

The plastic coated wire that come with packaged kid toys work well because they will not rust. They only work if you can get them out of the box!

Thread Keeper

Here's a handy thing to do with an old dental floss container. Just open it up, remove the plastic tube (which I'm sure I'll find a use for later) and pop in a spool of thread.

Use the floss cutter instead of scissors.

TERRARIUMS

FRUIT/VEGGIE CONTAINERS

Truth be told I can't throw things away...so, I repurpose. I've used empty plastic fruit and vegetable containers to start seedlings.

It's important that the plastic containers have holes on the bottom so water can drain.

Fill the container 1/2 full of soil. Add seeds then cover with additional soil. Add water and close the lid.

Place the container in full sun, but remember to keep the soil moist.

Open the lid once the seedlings reach the top of the container. Plant, or repot, seedlings in the ground when they reach 1 - 2 inches tall.

2 LITER BOTTLES

During the colder months I used a 2 liter soda bottle as a terrarium for growing parsley. I cut off 1/4 the bottom of the bottle and fit it over the pot and used a tab from a bread bag to keep it from wobbling off.

I kept it in my kitchen window, removing the cap during the afternoon to let it cool.