$$ Saving Laundry Color Catchers and Up-Cycled Container

Hey just a fun thing that I did the other day to help save $$.....

We have lots of reds, oranges and bright colors and always hearing about the color catchers from friends but  I just can't see spending the extra $$ to keep my colors from bleeding and luckily they don't that much, at least I don't think so but I'm going to find out after I give these a try!

I bought some Arm and Hammer Washing Soda and cut up some white felt squares I had into 4 pieces
and so out of 3 felt white felt sheets I have 12 squares!  Awesome to see if they work well will be a test and
I'm already to do that!

I will let you know how that goes and link up to the blog I got the recipe from if it in fact does a good job later.   For now, I wanted to show you the container that I made out of a cute little wooden bucket I received several years ago from my sweet sister in law on my husbands side.  I've had it as a decoration in our utility/laundry room for at least 5 years but with no purpose; until now.  So here it was:

So it was a nice afternoon, I saw my paint from Kendall's $$ earning Chore Chart and light bulb moment; this would be perfect color for my laundry room.  I love the Ocean Blue/Turquoise color!  I'm finding I use it more and more.  So before the sun went down I untied the rope that you can hang it by and removed the twine band that was glued from the pot and painted it.

I didn't sand it or prep it other than removing the cord and ring decor.
It took about 3 to 4 coats and:

When it was dry, I put the decor back on up to the original glue mark and next got out my hot glue gun and glued it back.

All glued on, gotta love hot glue it dries so fast you can do tons of crafts in a short time frame!  I love the quickness!

I added my white felt color catchers and loved it but still needed something and another; ah ha moment!
Yes, the same vinyl letters I had used for the Chore Chart and Laundry Loot would be perfect; if I had enough and well;

I did!!!  I did have to use the lower case in order to spell correctly but my laundry room is coming along nicely!  I look forward to sharing it's transformation after I'm through but sharing the crafts I do as I move along with inspiration to up-cycle things I already have to transform them to things that I didn't use; to things that make everything about doing laundry better!

May you have a day filled with SunShine, Joy and Smiles........share your crafts with me..... and I will link the color catchers in the next few days!  God Bless you!

Crafty Fun Bird Feeders....recycled TP rolls

My Grandmother used to always feed her birds and we would just watch them for hours at the kitchen table through the window.  She taught me so many birds by the way they looked and or the sweet sounds they make.  I have grown up and have my own little girl and have passed this love of birds and God's majestic nature to her.  

We love feeding our birds and watching them enjoy their meals.  The fun thing is different ways of feeding them besides the regular feeders and just throwing it on the ground.  Winter here in Texas is off and on with temperature fluctuations but even with that the natural bug selection Thank God is scarce!

With that said I like to give the birds a little something extra to help fatten them up and supply much needed warmth.  In a magazine I have seen about peanut butter etc., but also the less expensive route in which we are using this winter is:  LARD!  I have to laugh, I don't cook with it but actually buy it for the protein for the birds!   Here is what we have on our tree branches/sticks now:

This is so easy here is what you need to complete this cheap, quick, easy, fun craft 

Bird Seed     a small tub of LARD     something to smear it on with, my $ store silicone brushes and TP empty rolls.   I absolutely love these little recycled things they make many cheap, fun crafts!

Next, get a roll, get some Lard on your brush of choice and paint/smear away!

Now for the FUN part!  When completely covered put it into the birdseed.

Just move it around and push it in a little with each turn

OK, now it should look like this! 

Now just decide where you want to put them and enjoy watching the birds have fun!  Our 6 rolls were ready to be replaced in less than a week once discovered!

Sure hope to inspire you to have a little craft fun and at the same time enjoy some of God's wonderful creatures!

$$$ Saving Laundry Soap Mix last for months~

Almost a year ago I was on Pintrest and discovered Laundry Soap you make that last a very long time so I had to try it!

This is one thing I am truly glad I pinned and did!  We have saved so much $$ over the past year in laundry detergent and this recipe is so incredibly easy, inexpensive, works perfectly and lasts for months!

Here is what I used to make a batch the other day:

The needed things to make this wonderful laundry fix are:

A painter's bucket - got at Home Depot for a couple dollars

Cheese Grater - the $ Store

2 Containers of Oxy Clean or the generic brand is fine ( I use both or mix if the store only has 1 of each )

1 Box Borax

1 Box Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda

1 Box Large Arm and Hammer Baking Soda

1 or 2 Bars of the Fels-Naptha Bar Laundry Soap

I empty all the ingredients into the painters bucket, but make sure to do slowly and I turn my head for the dust, then I use the large side of the grater and grate the Nels-Naptha Bar soap right into it.  I just mix all together using my hands, until the what looks like "cheese" is mixed through and then pour into the 5$ container I purchased at Walmart.  I use the scoop from the Oxy cleaner and if a really large load I use 2 scoops.  That's it!  Mine lasts approximately 8-9 months!

I have a regular machine but on all the packages it says safe for He machines.  

Do use at your own discretion as this is just what I use and share with family.  I am not taking credit for this idea as I received it from the blog linked below, she answers more ?'s if you have doubts.  

Here is the breakdown in price for months of laundry soap:    :)

Walmart:  

Container: 5.00

Oxy-Clean 3.86

Fels-Naptha .97

Super Wash Soda 3.24

Large Baking Soda  2.18

Borax 3.38

Total:  18.63   

- 5.00 for the refills

13.63  !!   

Hoping you enjoy this as much as we have!  It is truly nice NOT to have buy Tide or Cheer $$ every 2-3 weeks!

Here is the link for the pin I got it from.

http://beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com/2010/11/homemade-laundry-soap.html#comments

Thanks to her we are spreading the $$$ saving secrets and love her site for sharing!