Zipper Bracelet

I loved this bracelet made from a zipper the minute I saw it on www.cutoutandkeep.net. It was very easy to make. I added a bit of bling to mine.

Outdoor Trash Can

In lieu of an outdoor trash can, I lined a large garden planter.

Recovering A Chair Cushion

Last summer I purchased some inexpensive cushions for our kitchen chairs. After a year of use, and many washings, they were beginning to look very worn (photo on the left) and honestly, they weren't perfect from the beginning; I wished they were a little bigger with ties on the bottom to keep them in place (and cuter wouldn't hurt...As long as I was wishing). With measurements in hand, I went out to find replacements, but instead I was inspired by fabulous fabric that was on sale.

I used the fabric to make removable custom fit covers for the old cushions. I also added a tie at the bottom and openings at the top to feed the existing ties through. Now I have four perfect cushions for $2!

Shower Curtain Shoe Bag

Shoe bags are great for keeping soiled shoes from getting clean clothes dirty while traveling. I made this bag out of a shower curtain making it water resistant, too. A bigger bag could be used for wet beach clothes and towels.

DIY 2 Liter Bottle Planters

I have been interested in DIY planters for a long time, so when I found these two tutorials (tut) I couldn't wait to get started. I planted basil in two different planters

(I had a few

young plants left over from a previous experiment*)

.

Self-watering Planter

I found this video tut on www.teachermadevideos.com. I was pleasantly surprised when this DIY self-watering planter actually worked. Instead of scrap cotton I used one of my son's worn socks to absorb water.

This worked so well, that I also made smaller ones using 16.9 oz. water bottles to grow mint plants (I'd read that ants do not like the smell of mint, but that's a future blog).

Upside Down Planter

This tut on www.cheapvegetablegardener.com shows how to make a hanging upside down planter. I was even more skeptical about this one, even though the Topsy Turvy has been proven to work.

*

Both of these planters would help decrease the damage from slugs and snails.

Ballerina Cupcake Topper

I was inspired by an adorable paper dress cupcake topper I saw on Composing Hallelujah. I used the basic design to make a tutu by using tulle instead of tissue paper.

Slugs and Snails

This spring I had trouble with snails and slugs eating my newly planted beans. I performed an experiment in three separate slug infested areas to find a solution. Here are my results:

1. Copper pennies. This is a cheap version of copper tape. I'd read that pennies minted before 1983 have a high copper content and would give the slug/snail an "electric shock" when they slime over it. I gathered as many as I could find and circled my young sprout. It didn't work; the next morning the plant was gone. I could see a silvery trail over the pennies and after the first watering, I couldn't even see the pennies. FAILED.

2. Sluggo. Sluggo doesn't kill the slug/snail instantly, it takes a few days for it to work. After few weeks I found empty snail shells, but the plants were long gone. FAILED

3. Yogurt cups with Vaseline. I cut the bottom off a used yogurt cup slathering the top inch with Vaseline and buried the rim in the dirt (so they couldn't get under the cup). Watering didn't effect the Vaseline. I noted silver trail near the plant, but not on the cup. The photo on the left is after several pest free days. SUCCESS!

Fish Pillow

I found this unique preprinted fish fabric at JoAnn the other day. The instructions were easy to follow and the end product turned out very life-like. This guy was a gift for a fisherman (it was my husband's idea to wrap him in newspaper).

Packaging Tape Marker

Use a toothpick to identify the end of a roll of packaging tape.

Kitchen Glove

I recently discovered that if you take a slightly wet kitchen glove and run it back and forth over a bathroom rug it will gather all stray hair in a neat pile. Yes, a little gross, but very effective.

Treat Cup

For the end of school, my son chose to give his favorite treat, Muddy Buddies, to his classmates. I came across this super cute folded paper cup tutorial. It was a little more labor intensive than I expected, but well worth it. I searched everywhere to find the cute red/white cups in the tutorial - no success. It took a couple of freehand attempts at cutting the cup before I thought of making a template, but after that it was a breeze. It was so rewarding to see how happy the kids were to get a treat (and to rip them up). I think next year I'll try these little pinatas.

Washing Lettuce

I'd read online that you can save, or rather recycle, water by washing vegetables in the garden. I used a tub of water to rinse the leaves then placed them on a cookie cooling rack to drain them a bit before bagging them for fridge (adding a dry paper towel helps absorbs moisture and prolongs the freshness). When washing is complete use the soiled water to hydrate surrounding plants.

Cooking Instructions Brag Book

I have limited space in my freezer. In most cases, I have to remove frozen food from the packaging for everything to fit. Before I compost the box, I cut out the cooking instructions (along with nutrition information and ingredients) and toss it in a freezer bag along with the item. When the bag is empty, I put the instructions in a photo brag book (6.5" x 5") for future reference.

Lining a Hat

I recently purchased a big floppy hat. It was supposed to be "one size fits all" but it was a little too big and kept threatening to blow off in the wind. I cut off the edge of an old golf towel and hand stitched it to the inner brim of the hat. I'm glad to report that it fits better AND it also serves as a headband for really hot days.

Comforter Safety Pins

I'd been looking for a way to keep our comforter from munching up at the bottom of the duvet cover. I found these great covered safety pins at a $ store. A couple of pins through the comforter and cover does the trick!

Wipes Cozy

Even though my son has been out of diapers for a while, we still use wipes to clean dirty hands and faces (mostly after yummy BBQ). I made these baby wipe cozies out of a pair of old jeans and scrap fabric.

Thomas Wind Chime

When my son was younger he liked everything Thomas. I made a wind chime with an extra die cast Thomas engine, fishing line and the metal posts from an old chime.

Coring Strawberries

I'd never thought of coring a strawberry until my cousin served a big bowl of beautifully "cleaned" berries. I tried using a paring knife, but I ended up slashing it up and nearly slicing my fingertips off.

Instead, I inserted a 1/2 teaspoon and moved it in a circular motion around the stem. Tah dah... the core pops right out!

Wasabi Dish

My sister-in-law (SIL) gave me this really cute dish. I like to float small cut flowers, use it as a pin holder when sewing and a spoon rest for my morning coffee.

Of course, I use it for wasabi, too.