DIY Cooking at Home

Hey, hey! So, do you still have your Christmas cards on display? Before you take them down and toss them, try this tightwad tip: make gift tags out of those holiday cards! As you can see, I used a 2 1/2 inch circle punch to make most of mine. But I also cut out words with scissors, too. Don't limit yourself to just the front of the card. Waste not, want not! The back might have a solid background or a pretty pattern that would make a nice tag as well. See? This little card provided 4 gift tags! And finally, I have to show you these funny tags I made from A Christmas Story cards that were on super-duper clearance at our local drug store. I bought two boxes of 14 cards for $6 total, which will provide 56 tags! So there you have it! I'll be happy to have all of these tags ready to go when it's time to wrap next Christmas. For more tightwad tips, check out these posts: Refreshing a Grocery Store Bouquet Toolbox Desk Caddy Target Haul and Tightwad Tips

I'm almost done with my shopping so now I've got to get about the huge task of wrapping it all up. I fondly remember the first Christmas I spent completely on my own as an adult in my own apartment. I turned on a holiday movie and spent hours making each package look pretty. Fast-forward 20 years...now most of the wrapping is done after the kids are asleep and my husband and I are already dead-dog tired. So while neatness still counts, I'm satisfied if it ends there. But we do enjoy some adult beverages and watching It's A Wonderful Life while we get the job done. I do love the idea of a pretty package, though, even if I probably won't be able to make ours look that way until after the kids have graduated. But I realize they don't have to be complicated, so I've gathered up a handful of simple ideas for you. Our Suburban Farm Real Simple Good Housekeeping The Haystack Needle How About Orange And if you liked this post, try this one: More Gift Wrappin...

The countdown to Christmas is really on now and I can feel the heat, can you? Each year I try to give the girls' teachers something they can use up. I can imagine that the last thing a teacher needs is another tchotchke for their desk, so edible gifts are my favorite thing to give. This year, I'm giving Jingle Jars. No doubt you've seen cookie mixes in jars before; but, I dressed up my jars with some burlap and jingle bells, making the jar itself something they can reuse, either for their own gift-giving purposes, or possibly as a votive candle holder. I started with spaghetti sauce jars that I cleaned out after removing the labels. I simply wrapped a cuff of frayed burlap around each jar and secured it with a strip of hot glue where the ends overlapped. Then, I threaded a cluster of jingle bells onto a long length of variegated yarn and wrapped it around and around the center of that burlap cuff. I tied a knot in the back to secure the ends of yarn, and tucked it u...

Oh, c'mon, we've all done it. (At least I hope I'm not the only one.) You find a bargain and pray the price tag comes off cleanly so you can pass it off as a gift that costs more than it actually did. I, personally, don't think you should have to go broke at Christmastime. Like most households, our family has to stick to a budget, and that means being a little creative sometimes, whether it's by giving handmade items, or shopping sales. If you put thought into choosing the gift, of course, and give a little extra effort in its presentation, it doesn't matter how much you spend. Here are some ways to disguise an inexpensive gift: Give Thought to the Gift Wrap --Don't just use some cheap wrapping paper and slap a pre-made bow on the thing. Try one of these gift wrap ideas instead for a more heartfelt way to present your gift. And for heaven's sakes, remove the price tag. No one needs to know you found that perfect item for $3.97 on clearance at Tar...

Hi there! It's a gray Saturday morning here and I'm just out of the shower, typing away with my littlest practicing card tricks and my oldest reading a book beside me. Other than this nagging cough that's overstayed its welcome, our house is the definition of contentment this morning. So, just to shake things up a bit, are you aware that there are only 59 shopping days until Christmas? Just in case that made your pulse beat a little faster, here's a DIY Christmas gift idea for you: coaster sets! Check 'em out: Mason Jar Lid Coasters Anthropologie-Inspired Geometric Coasters Terra Cotta Coasters Botanical Wood Slice Coasters Custom Patterned Coasters Christmas Tile Coasters DIY Marbled Coasters Stenciled Cork Coasters DIY Citrus Coasters DIY Polaroid Coasters

Father's Day is right around the corner, so I thought it'd be useful and timely to post some gift ideas you and/or the kiddos could make. But first, I have to show you a couple of thing I got from Zazzle . I love that you can customize practically anything under the sun on this site, but if you don't have the time or energy, you can just pick something unique from their marketplace.  (By the way, express shipping is 25% off through tomorrow, June 16, on Zazzle .)  My husband's birthday just happens to be March 14, so I had to get him this shirt.  Get it? Also, he runs a construction business, so the girls thought this mug would be perfect. So, is your hubby sick of getting ties, wallets, and/or new boxers every year?  Well, try one of these ideas to knock his socks off. And then , of course, give him the package of socks you couldn't resist buying because all of his have grass stains and holes. Screened T-Shirt by The Cards We Drew Scrabble Tile Daddy Daughter A...

Hey, hey! So, seeing as how June is such a popular month for weddings, I thought I'd round up some wedding gifts you can DIY for that special couple. You may just want to make an extra for yourself while you're at it. via via via via via via via via via via