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Do It Yourself
Wash Rags: DIY
Wash rags, or dish rags, aren’t expensive, but sometimes it’s hard to find a good one. If you can knit, you can make these handy wash rags for just a dollar or two each. Made of 100 percent cotton (use the organic stuff if you can), they are smooth and soft, and won’t scratch even the finest of dishes. They can also be used for bathing or many other uses around the house.
To make:
Cast on 30 stitches with organic all-cotton yarn (follow the label instructions for needle size). Knit each row (garter stitch) until the length and width are equal. Cast off, weave in ends, and then go wash some dishes!
For knitting tutorials, including videos, visit Knitting Help.
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Stumble ThisStone Mat: The Look for Less
Looking to bring a little bit of nature indoors with a stone mat? These Zen-like floor mats, which could work equally well as a spa-like bath mat or a rustic door mat, sell for upwards of $40 at home design stores, but you can easily make your own custom mat at home with just a few easy to find materials.
The stones, rubbed smooth by river water, are flat and feel surprisingly smooth and gentle on bare feet. We found bags of river rocks at the dollar store – just $3 will buy enough to make a mat (about 7 lbs of river rocks). You’ll also need a rubber mat and some glue.
To make:
Decide how you want the stones arranged on your mat, then put down some adhesive and lay the stones on the mat. Be sure to keep the stones as level as possible so that you are stepping down on a level surface with no stones jutting up. Allow to dry, then enjoy!
Sweater Pillows: DIY
Most of us have a few old sweaters laying around that either don’t fit or just aren’t attractive to us anymore. Instead of throwing them out, why not give them new life as something else? It’s easy to take an old sweater and turn it into an attractive and useful pillow for the bed, for the sofa or even just for the dog. Here’s how.
You’ll need:
Sweater
Pillow form (measure the sweater and select a pillow form the appropriate or desired size,...
Graffiti Lace: DIY
Learn how to pattern your fabric with a lace print. Watch this fun video, and you can put lace and florals on any fabric you choose. Our friends at Threadbanger made a tablecloth, shirts, and more.
All you need is:
Lace
Fabric
Spray paint of your choice
Creative Bathmats: DIY
Instead of buying a towel for the sole purpose of stepping onto it when you get out of the shower, watch this video from our friends at Threadbanger and learn how to make one yourself. It costs next to nothing since you're using materials you already own. Plus, instead of monochromatic beige or blue, get creative with different colors and simple patterns.
Note: You do need to know how to use a sewing machine for this project.
Necessities:
Votive Candles: DIY
Learn how to make votive candles from this video at about.com. This project requires several pieces of supplies, but once you purchase them, you'll never have to spend your money on candles again. Use your new skills as a candle-maker to create thoughtful gifts for others, too. Supplies like votive candle wax, molds, candle fragrance and color and wicks should be available at your nearest arts and crafts store. The other necessities like...
Make Your Own Laundry Detergent
At The Budget Ecoist we’re passionate about coming up with clever, natural, inexpensive solutions around the home – mainly because we like impressing our friends. They always ask how we do it. We smile coyly, our Martha Stewart smile, and then we make some smooth remark about how it’s really no big deal.
But now our secret is yours…well, at least our secret for making all-natural laundry detergent. All by our little selves! Bye-bye Tide,...
Tiered Serving Tray: The Look for Less
Tiered serving trays offer and elegant touch to any table. Instead of shelling out big bucks for a serving tray that might spend more time in the closet than on your table, why not make your own by repurposing dishes you already own?
Gather three plates (matching for a classic look, or mismatched for a funky, less formal effect) and two cups (coffee cups, juice glasses or even candle sticks will do). Place the largest plate on the bottom,...
Customized Napkins: DIY
There are so many good reasons to use cloth napkins – they’re a more environmentally friendly choice than paper, and make even a takeout meal seem just a touch more elegant. We like the clean look of plain, solid-colored napkins, but they can be a little boring. We took a set of inexpensive, plain white napkins and made them summertime-ready with the help of some fabric paint and a bug stencil picked up at the craft store.
To achieve this...
Colored Daisies: DIY
Daisies are pretty by themselves, but why not add some zing to them by coloring the petals? It’s simple and easy to make colored daisies, and a fun project for adults and kids alike.
You’ll need:
Daisies
Liquid food coloring (try red and blue for an Independence Day theme, or any color scheme you like)
Vases (use a separate vase for each color)
To make:
Divide flowers into bunches and place in vases. Fill about a third of the way with fresh,...
Cleaning Up—Peacefully
Summer is the time for graduation celebrations, Independence Day barbecues, and pool parties. Cleaning your entire house for guests sounds daunting, but don't fret -- it's possible to clean your house without stress and irritation plaguing you. Here, some tips, from us and our friends at Dollar Tree on fixing up your place in preparation.
1. Start with clutter. Organize your mess into boxes -- Trash, Storage, Put Away, or Give Away. You need...
How to Do a Lotus Napkin Fold
Impress guests at your next dinner party with your ability to transform napkins into a work of art. All you need is a cup, some cloth napkins (we love these colorful cloth napkins available at Target for $24.99 for a set of 4), and this how to video by epicurious.
Transitional Space: The Look for Less
The transitional space—the entryway or the mudroom—is a current hot spot for home design. It’s the area that you and your guests see first and should therefore be cheerful and clean, not full of clutter and chaos. While you’re replacing those boots and scarves with umbrellas, sunhats and flip-flops, take some time to sharpen up this space, whatever the size. Even if you don’t have a dedicated mudroom, here are some ideas to carve out your own...
Sprial Bouquets: DIY
Professional floral arrangements are pricey no matter what the occasion. With wedding season in full bloom, it’s good to have a trick up your sleeve that’s pretty enough for the big day, yet easy enough for weekend flowers from the farmers market. The European spiral bouquet is a hand-tied technique that takes only minutes and gets new looks with different flower varieties and stem heights. If you’re hosting an engagement party or bridal...
Outdoor Pillows: DIY
If you want comfort outdoors you could buy these lovely Pottery Barn, striped pillows for $29 each. Or, you could make your own using a repurposed vinyl tablecloth such as this one from Target’s Whim line by Cynthia Rowley for only $3.95 in stores.
We used a Martha (Stewart, that is) idea: Use shower curtains and old vinyl tablecloths to make outdoor pillows. We tried it and it worked great.
Here is how you do it:
1. Cut two squares to the...
Cheap Room Make-Over: DIY
Using some paint, Amy Butler paper from Michaels and a round up of things we already owned, we were able to revamp this unused space into a comfy little reading nook for under $20. All we had to buy was the Amy Butler paper and spray adhesive and the picture easel.
Get started:
Find items around your house and pull them together. We found this chair stashed away in a guest room, these old garage sale bookshelves in the basement, and the...
Outdoor Privacy Screen: DIY
You may have a fabulous home, but your neighbors probably don’t. Or they park their RV in the alley, or there is that fabulous neighbor you call the freeway…In any case, no matter where you live an outdoor privacy screen may not be such a bad idea.
We found these two easy DIY outdoor privacy screens that you can make in a weekend.
Privacy Screen One
This first privacy screen is made by framing a piece of lattice with some metal braces and...
We found these two easy DIY outdoor privacy screens that you can make in a weekend.
Privacy Screen One
This first privacy screen is made by framing a piece of lattice with some metal braces and...
Ribbon Topiary: DIY
.jpg "Ribbon Topiary")
Back in March, we showed you how to make a candy topiary, but what are you going to do when the candy is all eaten? We reclaimed our edible topiary to make a ribbon topiary that is perfect for wedding or wedding shower decorations. We are using ours for a wedding shower. Our inspiration came from the ParTea Planner’s blog.
Materials:
Save yourself some money and reuse an old topiary or find one at a garage sale and reclaim and redecorate it....
Re-Upholstery : DIY
Before you get rid of that dining room chair or ottoman, try re-upholstering it first. It’s not as hard as it sounds. Our friends over at ThreadBanger.com, put together a great DIY video for all your re-upholstering neophytes out there. It is simple and they make it look so easy. They even show you how to make piping and give you a rad way to reuse old family slides.
To re-upholster your chairs and ottoman you are going to need some...
Install a Showerhead: DIY
We discovered that our basement shower was wasting a lot of water. Our old shower head ran about 12.5 gallons a minute and could empty out our hot water heater in the time it takes to suds up and rinse down!
So, in order to make our home more eco-friendly, budget friendly and more friendly to the second person who takes a shower in the morning, we installed the Waterpik EcoFlow. It retails for about $49.99 (and we found a coupon for $5 off!)....
Homemade Granola: Budget Food Tip
A great dry snack out of hand, or breakfast cereal with milk, granola is easy and inexpensive to make at home. Whip up a batch in minutes, and store in an air-tight container to last for about a week.
You will need:
4 cups old-fashioned (not quick cooking) oats
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Optional:
2 cups dried fruit, such...
Pendant Lampshade:DIY
Nothing ruins a room more than an ugly light fixture. But often, finding the right light to add illumination and style to your room can be hard and expensive. Pendant lighting can easily bring a splash of color and an influx of character into any room. To get this great look on a budget, try making your own pendant lamp. Here’s how you do it:
Materials
Here is what you need:
A ceiling fixture for a pendant light
A pendant or drum lampshade
Chalkboard Napkin Rings: DIY
We love the MOMA store; unfortunately, it is often outside of our price range. So, when we saw these fabulous chalkboard napkin rings for $65 for a set of four, we thought, “We can totally make those ourselves!” And so we did.
Here is how you can too.
Materials
Buy some plain wooden napkin rings with no grooves or indents. Check out some garage sales for super cheap napkin rings. If you don’t have time to scrounge around, Wrapables.com has...
Natural Weed Killer: Budget Gardening Tip
Obviously, the first step to naturally kill weeds is to just pull them out by hand or with an inexpensive hand weed puller, such as for dandelions.
However, if you want a weed killer that’s made from natural products you already have around your home and that’s safe for pets and people, consider mixing up a batch of this natural weed killer.
You will need:
1 cup salt (we used rock salt; table salt can also be used)
1/4 cup liquid organic...
All Things Apron: DIY
Aprons are a fun and fabulous way of staying clean and adding style to your daily routine. From the garden to the garage and the kitchen, aprons can protect you and help you out with those handy dandy little pockets.
We found some great DIY apron ideas and patterns from all over the web, just for you. Also, when you are done making that apron, make sure you hang it in style. Design*Sponge has a lovely DIY patterned key rack, perfect for...
Eyeglass Cleaners: DIY
The worst part about glasses is that they get smudged and streaked and they are so hard to clean with soap and water. But, before you break down and buy the eyeglass and lens cleaner from Target or Wal-Mart’s optical center, try making your own.
Thanks to our reader Jennifer, who sent this in, we now have a cheap way to clean our glasses like a pro.
Just find a travel size spray bottle, which you can buy from your local Dollar Tree for $1,...
Clean Your Closet: DIY
Spring is in full swing its time for you to clear your clutter and clean your closet. Our friends over at Threadbangers.com have a video that show you how to clean and organize your closet in a crafty and budget-friendly way.
Here are some of our favorite closet-organizing tips.
1. Over the door shoe holder. We got ours from Lowes for $6.88. It was the best price in town. It gets our shoes off the ground and declutters the space. We love it.
Covered Bulletin Boards: DIY
Welcome to The Budget Casa, where we help you create a fabulous home a budget.
Check out our home decorating tips, easy do-it-yourself projects, advice for entertaining on a budget and share your tips in our decorating forum.
If you work from home it’s important to surround yourself with colorful, inspiring objects. For one it gets you fired up to get going and secondly it reminds you that you’re not in the traditional office surroundings of...
Rent or Buy?: Personal Finance
If you're a renter, you're probably eyeing the real estate market with great interest right now. It seems as though people are practically giving their homes away in an attempt to avoid foreclosure, and there is a good chance that this has grabbed your attention.
On the other hand, if you're a homeowner, you may be longing for the days of renting when it didn't really matter if the place you lived depreciated in value and if something broke...
No-Sew Pillows: DIY
Pillows are a fabulous way to add color and texture to your rooms, but they can be so very expensive to buy. Conversely they are cheap and easy to make. Even if you don’t own a sewing machine and you’ve never lifted a needle in your life (and you don’t intend to) you can make your own pillow covers for less. All you need is some scissors, fabric, and ribbon.
Fabric and Ribbon
We recommend getting your ribbon from the Michael’s dollar...
Crazy Cardboard: DIY
We’ve been noticing a growing trend in cardboard accessories and furniture for the home. In fact, the look is becoming quite haute and pricey—Genius Jones is selling a cardboard Chihuahua for a $140. Twenty Twenty One has a line of paper mache and cardboard items for your home. And ReturDesign Studio, based in Sweden, has a line of sleek home furnishings and accents made from cardboard (Chaos shelves pictured above). But of course, you can...
Wallpaper: DIY
Wallpaper is back as we all know and it’s hard not fall in love with the classic and contemporary designs like the one above from Graham and Brown's Drama line (pictured above). The only bummer is it’s a major commitment, splashing an entire wall with hexagons, birds or damask—that is once you’ve figured out a color scheme. And for apartment dwellers and renters, the entire wall-covering concept is completely out of the question. Plus,...
Mobiles :DIY
Mobiles aren’t for babies rooms any more. These light, colorful, and playful accessories hang from the ceiling and are the perfect way to make a spring breeze come to life. Here are some ideas and instructions on how to make your own mobile.
Leah of More Ways to Waste Time found this fabulous Frazier & Wing Paper mobiles (pictured above). The bad news is they are between $85-$200 a piece.
But here is the good news: We trolled the internet...
Think Outside the Pot: DIY
Unique planters are a great way to add color and interest to your deck, porch, patio or backyard. Planters can also provide a lush garden for people who don’t have a backyard or who rent. But have you been to your local garden store lately? Planters can cost you from $20 to $80 a piece. Yikes.
Don’t worry. We have some fabulous ways for you to make and decorate planters, so you can add color and interest to your garden for less.
Finding...
Cleaning Products: DIY
Before running to the store to buy the latest and greatest in green home cleaning products, consider that the greenest, safest cleaning products can be made by you. With simple everyday items and some reclaimed spray bottles, you can make your house squeaky clean without spending a lot of money.
We recommend mixing your cleaners in reclaimed and cleaned Windex bottles, but if you don’t have any, you can find plastic spray bottles at your...
Jewelry Tree: DIY
Urban Outfitters has a fabulous jewelry tree for $26, but looking at it, we decided to make our own. Here is an easy step-by-step how to for making your own jewelry tree.
Supplies:
- tree branch
- wooden base, JoAnn’s has the best prices
- drill
- wood glue
- spray paint—any color you want
1. Find the perfect dead branch. If necessary, cut it down to size. If you cut the branch off of a live tree, give it a few days to die and stiffen up.
Organize the Kitchen: DIY
Organizing your kitchen doesn’t have to involve buying things, often just rearranging your shelves can help you make space and streamline the kitchen process. Here are some tips for organizing your kitchen:
1. Sit down and map it out. If you go to reorganize your kitchen you are going to come out more frustrated than you started. So take a second. Sit down. Get a piece of paper and jot down ideas. Do you want all of your cups near the...
Chocolate Curls: DIY
Creamy curls of chocolate can make any dessert just that much better. Even if the dessert is nothing more than ice cream, chocolate curls can turn your dish from plain to fabulous and the best part is you don’t have to be a pro to make them
Odds are, you have all you need to make fabulous chocolate curls right at home. Here is what you need:
Cork Trivet: DIY
Design*Sponge featured some absolutely fabulous DIY projects in their 2008 DIY contest. One of the best and the most doable for even the most DIY-challenged was the cork trivet (#19, pictured above) done by Abigail, a fabulously crafty lady if there ever was one. Made from cut-up and reclaimed wine corks, this trivet is fun, functional and an easy DIY craft for any day.
Making one is simple and easy. We used a simple kitchen knife to cut up...
Re: Usable Home: The Look for Less
The best part about being eco-friendly is that it saves you money. Because cutting down on waste means cutting down on buying unnecessary items. And if you are looking for places to save some money, identify your biggest source of waste: paper towels, Ziploc bags, etc. These are the best places to use reusable items.
Because getting a look for less, doesn't always have to mean spending money, here are some ways you can make your own reusable...
Easter Tree: DIY
Even though the trees aren’t blooming outside, they can bloom inside with an Easter tree. Easter trees are a simple decoration that you can make in 15 minutes or less and they will wow your guests and keep your kids entertained for hours.
The best part: You don’t have to buy anything. Everything you need for an Easter tree is right in your home and your backyard.
What you need:
Easter Topiary: DIY
Here is how to create your own edible topiary for Easter (and it would make great wedding and shower decorations too!)
1 one-foot wooden dowel
1 6-inch foam ball
1 hot glue gun and sticks
1 8-inch wide terra cotta pot (should be heavy)
Plaster of Paris or sturdy craft foam
Cardboard
Paint
Several bags of candy
Here is what you do.
1. Wash the pot and make sure it is clean. Then, put a piece of cardboard over the hole in the bottom. Then...
Three Ways to Organize in 5 minutes: DIY
Here are three quick and
The Look for Less: Freecycle
We apologize if you have already heard of Freecycle, but we just discovered it. And it is a must for the fabulously frugal. Do you already Freecycle? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
Freecycle is a way for frugal men and women, such as yourselves, to hook up and unload trash or score some treasure, depending on which side of the exchange you are on. So, for example, that old oven you tried to sell on Craigslist but got no...
Decorating Myths: DIY
Myth: Everything must match
No way. Matchy spaces can feel thick and boring, lacking in depth and warmth.
1. Coordinate your house by finding an inspiration piece like china, fabric, a photograph or painting, and pull 3-4 inspiration colors from there.
2. Use those colors as your main palate for each room but give each room an individual feel by coordinating accessories that fit that color.
3. Coordinate colors by uniting them in pattern...
DIY: Picture Easels Four Ways
When we saw these picture easels at Gordmans for $2.33-$4.99. We got excited and bought three of them. Picture easels are a versatile way of displaying pictures, or art that you can’t hang on your wall. But they can also help you when you need say corkboard for your office but your desk is by the window.
Here are four fun way to use picture easels.
1. Corkboard. Because we don’t have wall space by the desk. We took a...
Here are four fun way to use picture easels.
1. Corkboard. Because we don’t have wall space by the desk. We took a...
Homemade Pancake Mix: Budget Grocery Tip
There’s no need to buy that boxed, premixed pancake/biscuit mix when you can make it yourself – plus it’s cheaper and fresher, too. In a Mason jar or a container with a tight-fitting lid, combine:
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3 tsp baking powder
1 T salt
2 T sugar
Shake to mix. Store tightly sealed in the refrigerator, and use within three months.
To make pancakes:
Measure 2 cups of mix into a...
DIY: Cheap Backsplash
Last week, we painted the bathroom and took it from nasty black to refreshing green This week we put up a simple, cheap backsplash that only costs us $7.49 plus the price of supplies, (wallpaper smoother, $5; 16 oz of adhesive mix, $3.99; we already had the paint). Menards sells textured wallpaper that is paintable. Look for it over in the wallpaper and border’s section. It was on sale last week for $7.49 for a large roll, normally it...
Flavored Coffee: Budget Food Tip
We like our flavored coffee as much as the next person, but those designer drinks get expensive after a while. Here’s an easy way to make your own flavored coffee.
Use pure flavor extracts to add flavor to your next cup of Joe. McCormick makes a great variety of extracts, including almond, amaretto, raspberry and vanilla, all for around $4 each (the price of one designer coffee!) and available at any grocery store. The pure extracts are...
DIY: Decoupage Desk
This is the desk before.
We took this old hand-me-down desk from drab to fab in a few easy steps. And it only cost us $13 in supplies.
Here is what you need:
The Look for Less: Free Inspiration E-zine
What: A beautifully crafted, free e-zine by Erin at Design for Mankind.
What we say: Read it. NOW! It is gorgeous. Inspiring. This e-zine is full of gorgeous pictures that will inspire you to add style and beauty in your home and wonderful words of wisdom from some talented designers. We loved reading what they had to say in the e-zine and then following the links to their own sites, which were full of even more inspiration. This magazine is...
When You Shouldn’t: DIY
In order to save $, we’ll basically do anything. We’ve fixed our heater when it was -10 outside and installed a dishwasher (a project that ended in tears and cursing, but the dishes got clean). But sometimes, even we admit that it’s best not to DIY.
When to throw in the towel
But sometimes, as with our dishwasher installation, it is not always evident if you can do it yourself or not. So, here are some things to keep in...
Vermi Composting Basics: Budget Gardening Tip
While composting is usually considered an outdoor activity, vermi composting can be done indoors and is a good use for kitchen and other waste. Vermi composting uses worms to turn organic matter into rich, lightweight compost to add to your garden soil. The compost is odorless and can be kept indoors for handy use.
Starting a vermi composting box is simple and easy.
You will need:
A plastic storage bin with lid (about 50 quart size)
Drill...
Fruit and Veggie Wash: Budget Grocery Tip
Ever wonder about how clean your produce gets from just washing it with water? Even organic produce can be sprayed with natural substances such as sulfur, copper, dolomite, Bacillius Thuringensis, and diatomaceous earth, according to the Berkeley Farmers’ Markets website.
If you want something more than just water, but don’t want to use store-bought sprays, here’s a simple recipe for making your own wash.
To make: in a
...DIY: Bathroom Makeover
Sometimes, fixing up a room can be as simple as painting some walls. Painting a basement bathroom a bright color is a good way to turn dreary into refreshing. And the best part? You can DIY in a day.
We have a bathroom that we never let guests see. It's our basement bathroom. When we moved it in was painted black and the cement floors were painted pink. It is disgusting. Recently, we finished remodeling the other upstairs bathroom and decided...
Entertaining on a Budget: Lavender Punch Four Ways
Spring is on the way, and that means its time to start planning wedding and baby showers. One of the best parts about a shower is the punch. But punch doesn't have to be all sprite and sherbet, punch can be whimsical, sophisticated, delicious, and good fun. Here are four recipes for a punch that is all of those things and more.
Lavender punch doesn't just refer to the color, it refers to the ingredients. While lavender doesn't bloom until...