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Homemade Christmas Tree Ornaments

by Frugal Simplicity

Homemade Christmas Tree Ornaments

A fun family project during the holidays is to make your own Christmas tree ornaments. Here are some easy crafts that will soon have you making your very own ornaments.

Pinecone Ornaments

Supplies:

Pine Cone
Paint
Beads, glitter or sequins, yarn and small buttons to decorate with
Ribbon
Glue

Simple Instructions:

Cut a 6″ length of ribbon. Tie into a circle and glue the tied part to the pointy tip of the pine cone. Paint the cone green. While the paint is still wet sprinkle with the glitter. Once the paint is dry you can decorate with beads and sequins to look like ornaments on the tree. You can paint the tips white to look like snow. You can hang on your Christmas tree as an ornament or you can place it on a shelf by putting it into a small clay decorated pot.

Ice Cream Cone Ornament

These are fun to make and anyone over 3 yrs of age can make these.

Supplies you will need:

Either the cake or the sugar ice cream cones
A solid colored ball ornament big enough to sit on the cones
White acrylic pain
Tiny glass beads
Glue or hot glue
Spray acrylic
Ribbon

What to do:

Hold the cone by the base. Place glue all along the inside rim of the cone. Place the ball ornament on the cone with the hanging side up. Make sure the ornament is dry before doing the next part. (hot glue works faster). Drizzle white paint on top of the ball. Sprinkle glass beads on top of the wet white paint. Let this dry overnight. Lightly spray the cone part with acrylic. DO NOT GET TOO CLOSE TO THE CONE WHILE SPRAYING as this may melt the cone. This will seal the cone. Tie a colorful ribbon through the loop of the ornament.

Your ornament is done!

NOTE: if you want to write the child’s name and date on the base of the cone before spraying with acrylic it is a nice touch.

Balloon Tree Ornaments

You will need:

Balloons that are small and round
Liquid Starch
Newspaper cut into little pieces
Corn seeds
Glue
Gold paint
Matches
Lace
Pin

What to do:

Blow up the balloons until they are the size to fit into the palm of your hand. Smear the starch all over the balloon (you can use paper mache if you want). Put the pieces of newspaper all over the starch and then let dry. Repeat this procedure until you have 3 layers. Once the newspaper is completely dry you can use a pin to pop the balloons. Decorate using the seeds and glue. Paint it with the gold paint. Tie lace onto the match. Put the match inside the ornament to be the hanger. Tie the ornament onto the Christmas tree.

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Make Your Own Christmas Cards

by Frugal Simplicity

Make Your Own Christmas Cards

If you are on a real tight budget this Christmas or just love to be crafty during the holidays here are some wonderful homemade Christmas card ideas for you to try this holiday season.

Potato Stamp Cards:
Supplies you may need for your homemade Christmas Cards:
Paper Bags or Craft Paper
Potatoes or Sponges
Paint or colored ink
Ribbons
Hole Punch
Ink Pen
Paring Knife (adult supervision)
Plastic Plate
Scissors

Step #1 – Check to see if you can find any left over envelopes. You can look in old Christmas card boxes or the drawer where mom or dad pays the bills (ask first). If you find any unused envelopes you can use them and you will need to be sure that the cards you make will fit inside these cards.

Step #2 – Measure the envelope (if you didn’t find any have mom or dad buy some for you).

Step #3 – Cut out the brown paper bag to be the same height as the card but twice as wide as the card.

Step #4 – Cut the potatoe in half with an adult helping. Cut out a Christmas tree shape on the exposed side of the potato (white not the skin). Cut away potato from the outer edge of the tree that surrounds the tree. You can use three potatoes to cut out different sizes of trees.

Step #5 – Put the paint or ink onto the plastic plate. Dip the Potato Tree into the paint or ink, now place it on what will be the front of your card (one tree or you can make a group of trees).

Step #6 – Make two holes with the hole punch about a centimeter apart below the Christmas tree.

Step #7 – Insert one end of the ribbon through the left hole, and then put it through the other hole. Loop each end around back and through the opposite hole. Now, pull the ribbon out the front of the card. Tie the ribbon into a pretty Christmas bow.

Step #8 – Use the scissors to trim the ribbon. You can stamp more trees on the inside or write a holiday greeting. You can also place Christmas stickers on the card or place crayon ornaments on the trees. You can also decorate the envelopes too. Use the sponge instead of the potato or buy stamps in the store.

Easy Construction Paper Cards:

Every child knows how to make Christmas cards out of construction paper. You just fold a piece of construction paper in half. Decorate the one outside half like the front of a Christmas greeting card and write a greeting on the inside of the card. Use Christmas colors (green, red, purple). Use Christmas stickers to decorate the cards if you wish.

Left Over Christmas Cards:

If your family saves old Christmas cards ask if you can use them to make new cards. You will need the old Christmas cards, construction paper, glue, pen, crayons or markers, and scissors to make these homemade cards.

Sort through the pile of old Christmas cards to find the front of your homemade card. Once you find one you like, cut the front off the old card. You can use parts and not the entire front if you like. You can also use more than one old card to make a different picture.

Fold the construction paper in half. Glue the old card picture onto the front of your construction paper card. Using the pen, crayons or marker add to the picture, or draw new pictures to go with the old card picture. Write a holiday greeting on the inside of the card with your pen. You can copy greetings from the old cards.

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Save Money With Homemade Cleaning Products

by Frugal Simplicity

Save Money With Homemade Cleaning Products

With the prices of commercial cleaners, having a clean home and car can be costly. Also, many of the ready-made cleaners you buy in the store can damage the environment. Here are some cleaning products you can make yourself at home, which are better for the environment and your budget.

Drain Unclogger and Freshener - The next time your drain is plugged, choose a safer and more cost-effective way to unclog it. Pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain. Add 1 cup of hot vinegar. Wait 5 minutes. Flush the drain with 2 quarts of hot water. Repeat if needed.

Homemade Glass Cleaner - To clean glass, combine 2 cups water, ½ cup white vinegar, and ¼ cup rubbing alcohol. Store the mixture in a clean spray bottle. To use, spray the solution on a rag or paper towel then wipe glass.

Homemade Furniture Polish - Make your furniture shine by mixing 1 cup of olive oil with ½ cup of lemon juice in a clean spray bottle. Shake the solution well before each use. To use, apply a small amount to your cleaning cloth or rag. Spread the polish over the furniture evenly. Dry the surface with a clean cloth.

Homemade Multi-Purpose Cleaner - You can easily keep bathroom and kitchen surfaces clean with this solution. Mix 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water in a clean spray bottle to create your own multi-purpose cleaner.

Homemade Floor Cleaners - Commercial cleaners are handy, but these are very simple to make and much more affordable. To make a cleaner for your wood floor, mix ½ cup of white vinegar with ½ cup of vegetable oil. This will make your floors shine as beautifully as any commercial cleaner. To clean your linoleum or tile floors, mix 1 tablespoon of liquid soap, ¼ cup of baking soda, 2 gallons of water and ¼ cup white vinegar.

Homemade Car Cleaning Products - You can save money by cleaning your car yourself using these environmentally friendly recipes. To wash the exterior of the car, all you need is a bucket of water and some liquid castile soap. Add a few drops of soap to the water and wash.

For an environmentally safe chrome cleaner, mix equal parts of white vinegar and water. Spray the solution on your wheels and rub with a sponge or cleaning rag. You can make a carpet and upholstery stain remover with white vinegar and baking soda. Make a paste with the vinegar and soda. Work the paste into any stains with a small scrub brush. Let the paste dry then vacuum. Any stains should be gone.

Now you can keep the environment clean while cleaning your home and car. Using the above recipes will also keep your cleaning costs down.

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Save Money on Candle Making Supplies

by Frugal Simplicity

Save Money on Candle Making Supplies

Candle making can be a great past time, hobby, or business venture. While the supplies for candling making are remarkably inexpensive, the cost does start to add up over time. There are many ways you can cut back the cost of the candle making supplies, but I caution you not to sacrifice the quality of the products you purchase just to save a few dollars. This is especially important for those who sell their candles. If the quality of the product goes down because you are buying wax and other supplies that are of less quality, you will end up costing your business money over the long haul.

Keep a list of the candle making supplies you use. Include the brand, the price, and the amount of the item you get for that price. This will help you compare the prices with sales you run across and know if you are getting a better deal or not. Many craft stores run sales on candle making items before and right after the holidays. This can be a great time to stock up.

Checking online auction sites including Ebay and Yahoo Auctions can often be an excellent way to find the same candle making products you use at a discounted price. It could be that the seller of the items doesn’t have the time to make candles anymore or they simply have moved on to other things.

If you use a large volume of candle making supplies on a regular basis, consider buying them wholesale. You will pay more up front for your supplies, yet overall you will save a considerable amount of money. You can search such wholesalers on the internet and compare prices. Many online wholesalers offer free shipping as well so that is another area where you can save money if you normally purchase your candle making supplies online. If you know other people who make candles as well consider buying in bulk and sharing the cost as well as the supplies. This is an easy way for everyone to get a discount as well as reduce the cost at the time of purchase.

Some of the discount candle making products on the market are very comparable to the quality products you already use. A good way to tell is to compare the ingredients. You can research the necessary ingredients of each item on the internet. If the discount products contain all the major ingredients as the candle making supplies you already use, then give it a try. It is recommended that you only purchase one or two items at first to test the quality. Keep track of where you purchased the discounted items so you can return to that retailer or online store if you are happy with the quality of the products.

Containers and holders for your candles are one area you should never spend a great deal of money on. I won’t recommend buying them for regular price unless they are for a wedding or other very special occasion. You can buy mason jars, extra glassware, votive holders, and many other containers to use candle making at thrift stores and garage sales for a very reasonable price. You might also check the online auctions to purchase large quantities of candle making container and holders at a very good price.

The supplies used in candle making can cost you a great deal of money over time. To save money on the quality supplies you use, take the time to compare prices both online and at local retailers. Take advantage of discounts and sales throughout the year at craft stores. Be cautious when looking at discount candle making supplies. You want to make sure they offer the same quality that you are already using. Finding supplies at online auctions and buying them in bulk are also great ways to save you money on candle making supplies.

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Make Your Own Cards – Fun and Easy!

by Frugal Simplicity

Make Your Own Cards – Fun and Easy!

Instead of giving out a store-bought card for the next special occasion, try your hand at making your own cards. Making your own cards does not require a lot of hard work, but rather a bit of creativity and the right materials.

To start creating your cards visit your local arts and crafts store to search for materials. Most arts and crafts stores have big scrapbooking sections. This is where you will be able to find the materials to make your own cards. Let your inspiration guide you as the possibilities are unlimited. You can create various themed cards such as Christmas, birthday, Valentine’s Day cards and much more.

Rubber stamps are widely available and you can buy virtually any color ink to go with the stamps. There are several stamping methods that you can use when making cards including embossing. Embossing is the process of creating a raised image on the card and it can give the card an elegant appearance.

There are several die cuts and die cut machines available as well. Die cuts allow you to punch a shape out with ease. They come in all different shapes and sizes and can be very useful in achieving a layered look. Die cuts can be punched out of different color papers to display a colorful card.

Scrapbook papers come in all different colors, textures and themes. Patterned paper can be purchased as well as glitter paper and pre-scored card kits. Card kits come with the note cards already made and ready to decorate. The kits come in different sizes and often different colors to meet a variety of needs. During seasonal periods, such as Christmas, card kits come out with note cards, envelopes and many different die cut shapes.

Stickers are available, both regular and 3D and also come in many different themes. Disney stickers are available as well as licensed characters and many 3D designs. Adding stickers to your cards can help to foster even more creativity when matching colors and themes. You can further enhance your handmade cards by adding ribbon or brads. Ribbon comes in a plethora of colors, shapes and textures. Brads can be used to hold items such as die cuts on the card without the use of an adhesive.

Simply put, making cards is a creative process that only you can foster. Cards can be created with a variety of items found in your local arts and crafts store. You can play around using different methods to decorate the cards and have fun at the same time!

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