I love beautiful art in people's homes, I just have a hard time spending money on it.  So I decided to make some of my own out of some favorite scriptures.  They were way fun to make

You can print them and share them to your heart's content:

My daughter was reading scriptures recently and this one really helped her.

This has always been one of my favorites, it reminds us of our importance to our Heavenly Father

DIY Earring Holder

So I have a goal this year of doing homemade gifts for all of the kids this year.  Definitely good for the budget, plus maybe they will mean a little more to the kids...now to find the extra time...

My oldest daughter is turning 12 this year, and gets to get her ears pierced - she is SOOOOO excited, she's been talking about it for months.  So I thought I'd make her an earring holder (otherwise they will probably be lost within a week.

So I found a frame that we weren't using.  Yay free!  They are only $2 at Ikea, so if you had to go and buy one it wouldn't exactly break the bank.

Then I took a sharpie and decorated around the edges, just whatever designs were fun.

Then I went to Joann's and got some plastic crossstitch canvas.  It was less than $1. I was thinking I'd need to decorate it some way, but they had it in colors, so that made it easy! Cute huh?

I decided I wanted some cloth flowers on it, so I gathered up some small strips of cloth 2"x15" for the small flowers, and 2"x18" for the bigger flower.

These were really easy to make.

1. You fold it in half lengthwise, and then again, making sure the raw edges are a little shorter so they don't show up when you're rolling the flower up.  I ironed it so that it would stay.

2. Then you start at one end and roll to make a little bud.  Use a little glue all along the way so that it stays.  I couldn't find any kind of glue besides super glue (you'd think I would have glue in the house with all my kids), but the super glue worked great, especially gluing the flowers to the frame.  I just have to figure out how to use that stuff without getting it all over my fingers!

3. After you have a nice sized bud, you fold the strip out  over and over as you roll, to create the apperance of petals, all the time gluing along the way.

4. glue the flowers to the frame, and you're done, cute, right?

One present down - a whole heap to go! :)

Homemade Laundry detergent

I never would have imagined that you could make your own laundry detergent and have them wash clothes well, but this works great.
1. It's a lot easier to store a year supply of laundry detergent, when you just have to have the ingredients.
2. This liquid detergent doesn't leave leftover soap on the clothes, like the dry stuff.
3. When you have these ingredients, you can make a bunch of other cleaners, like dishwasher detergent.
4. It's way cheaper, and you can use it on cloth diapers, which is another great way to save money, (and now a days is a lot easier than it used to be.  I'll have to do a post on cloth diapers some time).
5. People seem to think you are superwoman if you make your own laundry detergent -
    we won't tell them it's just cause we're cheap. :)
Ok, I'll stop babbling now so you can get on with your life.  Here's the recipe!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

1/3 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Soap, grated
6 cups water
1/2 cup washing soda
1 cup borax

1. Heat 6 cups water and soap in a large pan until dissolved.
2. Stir in washing soda and Borax. Mix and heat until dissolved. Boil 15 minutes. Remove from heat. 
    (It will have the consistency of honey.*)
3. Turn off the heat on the stove and move the pot to a hot pad.
4. Measure out 4 cups hot water and pour into your bucket. Add the Fels Naptha soap mixture to the bucket and stir well. Pour 1 gallon and 6 cups lukewarm water into the bucket and stir the solution to mix.

5. Mix until well blended. Let sit 24 hours. The soap will gel*. Use 1/2 cup for each load.

*If the detergent doesn't gel or reach honey consistency it will still work.

Makes 2 gallons. (Approximately $ .40 per gallon)

Stir before each use as this soap does separate. Detergent can be stored in a liquid detergent bottle. Just shake it up each time you use it.

This detergent will not suds up in the washer, but it is still getting your clothes clean.

If you have extra hard water the soap may not clean as well. Add 1/2 cup borax or washing soda to the load and that may help.

Homemade Valentines

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on someone to make them feel special.  The thoughtful, homemade gifts can be the best. 
We like to give out love coupons. To be redeemed by you, like…

• Good for one long walk together
• Good for a 30 minute back rub
• Here are some other good ideas!

Here's a website with some great coupons!
http://www.allfreeprintables.com/coupons/index.shtml
Happy Valentines Day!!