DIY Mirrored Storage Box Made of Repurposed CDs

Here's what I have been busy with last weekend. Yes, I used old CDs! For a complete tutorial visit Yahoo! She. 

Quirky DIY Throw Pillow

I was recently reminded of an old, black and white movie by Elizabeth Ramsay that my sister and I used to watch when we were younger. I do not remember the title (I don't think I ever knew what it I was to begin with) but there was this particularly funny song that I can vividly remember. The lyrics used to generate a lot of snickers and giggles between my sister and I. 

 

The catchy line goes "sa isang libo mong halik ako ay puputi...". Not exactly politically correct but I can't deny that it still makes me giggle. This inspired to create another stencil project with throw pillows! Check out Yahoo! She for the tutorial.

Also, in one of my very first posts for this blog I mentioned about my niece's cat named Cat-y (formerly known as Lulu). The photo that I took of Cat-y as a kitten kind of reminds me of those 80's Hallmark greeting cards. 

 

  
A simple photo transfer iron-on sheet can help you "transform" a favorite photo into a throw pillow.     

And lastly, for your viewing pleasure here's an excerpt of the movie I told you about. Enjoy!

     

Repurposing Empty Wire Spools

I've been looking around for large, empty wire spool for  the longest time. I even approached a clerk from True Value and asked if I could purchase some of their empty spools...but only got a disturbed expression as if I were crazy woman! Anyway, hubby was lucky enough to have found large, plastic spools.

Check out what I made out of those empty spools at Yahoo! She. 

 

Toilet Paper Tube Projects

I will never seem to get tired of creating toilet paper tube projects (after all, it's something that we always have around!). Visit Yahoo! She for an article I made about some of my projects.

Cornstarch Picture Frames

I might have mentioned before that I started making dough frames in gradeschool and used them to hold photo booth group pictures with classmates (80's version of a selfie???). As promised, click here for a tutorial.  

DIY Wearable Pasta Jewelry

Holy macaroni!  I wore one of these to work for 3 days in a row last week and nobody noticed that it was made of pasta noodles. The instructions to make these a really super easy. Check them out at Yahoo! She.  

Repurposing Clothes Hangers

It doesn't take much elbow grease to create this adorable cloud mobile. 

I made this with just my fingers (no special pliers needed). Obviously, you can't do this with an exceptionally heavy gauge wire hanger! So get one that is more pliable. Cut and sew raindrop-shaped fabric stuffed with some nylon filling material. Attach to "clouds" with crochet thread and you're done!   

Find out more ways on how to repurpose your clothes hangers at Yahoo! She

Repurposing Leftover Wrapping Paper

Although I has been a while since I used gift wrappers, gift-giving time we still end up with heaps of left over wrapping paper. Check out Yahoo! She for ways on how to reuse them.  

Repurposed Everyday Stuff for Storing Holiday Decor

I have to admit that we have not yet taken our Christmas lights down since the year before Alonzo was born. The old Christmas cards that I so enthusiastically framed on to our photo divider have even been there for far longer than that (gasp!). Last year's appreciation wreath (a tradition that I started three years ago) have also been on display the entire year, albeit unintentionally at first (will talk about that some other time).

Anyway, here's something that could help you guys pack and store your Christmas decor. Check out Yahoo! She.

Repurposing Old Floppy Disks

I really had fun with this project. Last semester I needed to refer to my old files stored in shoebox full of floppy disks(you can imagine how old those files are). Unfortunately, the floppies were all damaged! In consolation, I turned those old and "useless" disks into something else... as in luggage tags! Check out Yahoo! She for more.  

DIY Jute Napkin RIngs

Here's another fun and frugal craft with toilet paper rolls. Click on the link for directions. 

 

DIY Wooden Block Village

 

Remember the palo tsina crates we had made a few months ago? Here's what I made out of the scrap pieces of wood. Check out Yahoo! She.

Use Photos for DIY Christmas Decor

 

In some way or another I use personal photos to decorate for the holidays. Check them out at Yahoo! She.

DIY Plastic Bottle Christmas Lights

Here's another green way to brighten up the Christmas season! Check out Yahoo! She for instructions.

 

DIY Star Twig Ornament

This project reminds me of the straw parols I made last year. The steps are essentially the same but you might want to check Yahoo!She for the directions. 

 

 

 Twenty four day to go till Christmas! Yipeee!!!

 



DIY Personalized Christmas Gifts

For the past few years I have tried to give out hand made gifts for Christmas. The key word here is "tried". In a way I have semi-succeeded in this self-imposed resolution...somehow I managed to give hand-made gifts (Alonzo's bear pillow case, dip dyed and stenciled shirts) to the kids and adults last Christmas. Cookies, carrot cake and atchara count as hand-made, right?!!

 

 

Anyway, check out my article for Yahoo!She to make some easy, inexpensive and personalized Christmas gift items. 

DIY Money and Bill Organizer

Let me share with you a simple project that could help you put a little order in your budgeting chores. This actually came out as my very first article for Yahoo! She. 

Now would you believe that the idea for this project is from my husband? No, he isn't even close be being "crafty" or "artsy" but he knows a thing or two about keeping the budget in check with his kuripot ways.    

For this project all you’ll need are the following:

Several pieces of used mail envelopes

 Glue or double-sided tape
Board paper or any sturdy paper material such as magazine covers, old calendars, posters, etc.

Step 1: Cut the flaps off the envelopes

 

Step 2: Arrange envelopes over the other and glue or tape together

 

Step 3: Fold a piece of board paper in such a way that it encloses the envelopes inside

 

Step 4: Glue or tape onto the envelopes.

 

 Step 5: Make little labeling tabs by folding in half small pieces of blank paper and attaching them with glue to the individual envelopes

 

Mother's Day T-shirt Project

Last year I stencilled a shirt with a sillouette of my mom-in-law for Mother's day and I forgot to share with you here.

For instructions on how to make this please click here. 

DIY Tiered Tin Can Organizer/ Tray

This is a project I made for Yahoo! She several months ago. I didn't know (until just recently) that The Frugal Female featured it in her blog. 

 

 Check out the article here just in case you missed it at Yahoo! She.

 

Have a great weekend!



How to Wash Dishes and Save Water at the Same Time

One of the things I remember most about Lola Neneng, my paternal grandmother, was how she would teach me how to wash the dishes the proper way. She was a principal and supervisor of the home-economics department of a university in our province and was really very strict when it came to anything related to housekeeping matters. I will not deny that as a child, I often felt tormented whenever she would literally hover over and supervise each move I made as I washed and cleaned each tableware item.

An article that I wrote for Yahoo! She is, kind of my little way, of giving tribute to my grandmother for her patience and persistence in teaching us everything that she knows.

Lola,I tweaked your technique a little! I really think more water is saved by NOT filling the tub or basin with water :)