30 Days of D.I.Y. Gifts and Decor: Pencil Christmas Cards

Welcome to Day 7 of

Hi All! Now that Halloween is over, I am switching my focus onto the up-coming holidays that will be filled with family and friends, love and laughter, giving and receiving! For me, some of the best memories and gifts have been what is handmade and from the heart. And, I love giving and receiving handmade and locally crafted gifts. So, I am going to share a new project every day for the month of November to get y'all (and myself) into the spirit of the holidays! I hope you enjoy the next thirty days with me! I would love to hear if you try any of the projects and how they turned out. <3 Erika

Pencil Christmas Cards

Last year, I found a bag full of new Christmas pencils at Goodwill. I wasn't sure at the time what we would do with them but it was a great price. $1.00! Then one day my son was doing a project with his stencils and I got an idea, Pencil Christmas Cards for his classmates! Christmas break was just around the corner and he wanted to do something for all his classmates. So, I went through all of my scrapbook papers and gathered the green paper. We set up a little work area and started crafting!

We set out the bag o' pencils......

We traced and cut out twenty-some Christmas trees.....

{This is great for your child to do! Hands-on learning.}

I cut two thin lines in the trees, one near the top and one near the bottom......

'Thread' the Christmas pencils through the slits and Voila! Pencil Christmas cards for my son's classmates for $1.00 and some scrapbook paper I had on hand! 

And when your helper is a handsome little man like mine is, the time invested is priceless! He was very excited to take his classmates their Christmas cards that he worked so hard on! And, to make it easy on him to carry them all to class to handout, we put them all in a gift bag with handles. :  ) 

What kid wouldn't love to make these!  

Tomorrow: Pinecone Garland

30 Days of D.I.Y. Gifts and Decor: Homemade Play Dough

Welcome to Day 6 of

Hi All! Now that Halloween is over, I am switching my focus onto the up-coming holidays that will be filled with family and friends, love and laughter, giving and receiving! For me, some of the best memories and gifts have been what is handmade and from the heart. And, I love giving and receiving handmade and locally crafted gifts. So, I am going to share a new project every day for the month of November to get y'all (and myself) into the spirit of the holidays! I hope you enjoy the next thirty days with me! I would love to hear if you try any of the projects and how they turned out. <3 Erika

Homemade Play Dough

This has become one of my favorite things to make for the kids.

 One - because it is SO easy! And Two - because I (almost) always have the ingredients on hand. If I don't, they are very inexpensive at my grocery store's bulk bin section. This also makes a great gift for all those birthday parties the kids get invited to. You can personalize the play dough by coloring it the giftee's favorite color. And with the money you save by making it yourself, you can add fun play dough tools with it! I have a friend that used this recipe to make up multiple colors and divided it out in small containers as a take-home gift for attendee's of her son's birthday party. Love that idea! I hope you enjoy making this quick and easy gift, whether you make it for your own kids or as a gift for some one else!

Step 1: Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat.

 

Step 2: Stir constantly for 3 to 5 minutes.

 

Step 3: Mixture will form a ball. I added in the coloring while I was stirring instead of at the beginning so the color wasn't quite dispersed all the way at this point. Ooops!

 

Step 4: Remove from pan and let cool in a vented container. I use a recycled lunch meat container that has been thoroughly washed. I have found them to be the perfect size for one ball of dough. I place the lid side ways on top of the container so moisture doesn't build up while the play dough is cooling. 

Step 5: When cool enough, knead until smooth. Keeps well and for a good while in an airtight container. My daughter being impatient and playing with the dough while I attempt to take pictures! 

Homemade Play Dough Recipe

Yield: About 2 cups   

1 cup flour

1 cup salt

1 tbsp cream of tartar

1 tbsp oil

1 cup water

Food coloring

1/4 tsp peppermint or vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly for 3-5 minutes. Mixture will form a ball. When cool, knead until smooth. Keeps well in an airtight container. 

Tomorrow: Pencil Christmas Cards 

30 Days of D.I.Y. Gifts and Decor: {Everything} in a Jar

Welcome to Day 5 of

Hi All! Now that Halloween is over, I am switching my focus onto the up-coming holidays that will be filled with family and friends, love and laughter, giving and receiving! For me, some of the best memories and gifts have been what is handmade and from the heart. And, I love giving and receiving handmade and locally crafted gifts. So, I am going to share a new project every day for the month of November to get y'all (and myself) into the spirit of the holidays! I hope you enjoy the next thirty days with me! I would love to hear if you try any of the projects and how they turned out. <3 Erika

{Everything} in a Jar by Tonia at The Gunny Sack

Do you know why I love this gift idea SO much!!!!??? I love that they are basically mini gift baskets (which I love!) and that there are endless possibilities to make these personable and specific to the receiver and the occasion! Tonia has a whole big list of different gift jars from the above pictured to specialty ones like Ice Skating Date in a Jar. Go to her blog, The Gunny Sack, to get read her post with the step by step instructions! You can also find it on my Pinterest board, Gift Ideas- Hand Made or Hand Picked. 

Tomorrow: Homemade Play Dough

30 Days of D.I.Y. Gifts and Decor: Glitter Falling Leaves Garland

Welcome to Day 4 of

Hi All! Now that Halloween is over, I am switching my focus onto the up-coming holidays that will be filled with family and friends, love and laughter, giving and receiving! For me, some of the best memories and gifts have been what is handmade and from the heart. And, I love giving and receiving handmade and locally crafted gifts. So, I am going to share a new project every day for the month of November to get y'all (and myself) into the spirit of the holidays! I hope you enjoy the next thirty days with me! I would love to hear if you try any of the projects and how they turned out. <3 Erika

Glitter Falling Leaves Garland by Sarah and Emily of Boxwood Clippings

A couple of my favorite things make up this lovely fall decoration: Glitter and the colors of Autumn! This project is easy enough you could include the kids too. I bought my package of 50 fake leaves at the Dollar Store and have a coupon for the craft store to purchase some glitter. I am going to fully enjoy making this decoration and I hope you do too! 

Check out the full project, with instructions, at 6th Street Design School. This project originates with Sarah and Emily of the blog, Boxwood Clippings. You can also find it on my Pinterest board, Falling for Autumn. 

Tomorrow: {Everything} in a Jar 

Homemaker Adventures: The Making of Laundry Soap!

My mom and I gave making homemade liquid laundry soap a whirl yesterday. And guess what, IT WAS EASY! And so much fun to do. I tell you, for something so simple, quick and easy to make, it left me with such a feeling of accomplishment! Something about making laundry detergent by hand for so little money instead of paying the corporate prices at the big box stores...... just awesome. We doubled the recipe in the link and we filled the pictured three containers. It cost me less than $10.00 for the ingredients and I have a bunch left over! I will let you know what I think of its cleaning abilities after I give it a couple of tries but let me reassure you that this has been tested and tried by friends of mine that love it. And there budgets love it too! 

Here is the cost breakdown. All items bought at my local Winco.
Box of Borax: $3.38
Box of Arm&Hammer Washing Soda: $3.17
Bar of Fels Naptha: $0.97
Total: $7.52 *

*In the recipe, she also adds that you can add in essential oils for scent. We added 10 drops of Lavendar Essential Oil that I purchased a while back from my friend, Karyn. It's not much but a little can go a long way and the Fels Naptha is already scented. Check out Karyn's site, Fit2B on Your Skin, to purchase essential oils and learn about their different properties and how they can boost your laundry detergent's cleaning abilities. 

Here is the link to the 
Laundry Soap: http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm
She includes a ton of great information about the products she uses, her cost breakout and answers a bunch of reader questions. 


Happy Soap Making Friends! 

30 Days of D.I.Y. Gifts and Decor: Bath Tub Teas

Welcome to Day 3 of

Hi All! Now that Halloween is over, I am switching my focus onto the up-coming holidays that will be filled with family and friends, love and laughter, giving and receiving! For me, some of the best memories and gifts have been what is handmade and from the heart. And, I love giving and receiving handmade and locally crafted gifts. So, I am going to share a new project every day for the month of November to get y'all (and myself) into the spirit of the holidays! I hope you enjoy the next thirty days with me! I would love to hear if you try any of the projects and how they turned out. <3 Erika

Bath Tub Teas from Martha Stewart

Add to the peace and joy of a nice, warm bath with some handmade bath tub teas. Made with lavender and chamomile buds (among others), it is sure to be a gift that will invoke calm and relaxation. 

Check out the full post HERE at Martha Stewart. You can also find it on my Pinterest board, Gift Idea-Hand made or Hand picked.

Tomorrow: Glittered Falling Leaves Garland

30 Days of D.I.Y. Gifts and Decor: Rosemary Mint Shaving Cream

Welcome to Day 2 of

Hi All! Now that Halloween is over, I am switching my focus onto the up-coming holidays that will be filled with family and friends, love and laughter, giving and receiving! For me, some of the best memories and gifts have been what is handmade and from the heart. And, I love giving and receiving handmade and locally crafted gifts. So, I am going to share a new project every day for the month of November to get y'all (and myself) into the spirit of the holidays! I hope you enjoy the next thirty days with me! I would love to hear if you try any of the projects and how they turned out. <3 Erika

Rosemary Mint Shaving Cream by Shaina 

at Food for my Family

Pamper your self or some one you love with this homemade shaving cream! Made with Shea butter and oils, it is smooth and creamy and will leave the skin feeling oh so soft. Meanwhile, the Rosemary and Mint essential oils remind you of relaxing at the spa. Give it a try and let me know what you think! For the full post and printable recipe, check out Shaina's post

 HERE at Food for my Family. 

You can also find it on my Pinterest board, 
Au Natural Health, Beauty & Cleaning.

Tomorrow: Bathtub Teas