Greeting a newborn child in the big world is a fantastic oportunity to make a unique gift for the young mum and baby. Of course we can get anything out of the box, but we can also step up and give an awesome, handmade present. We have a lot of possibilities to work with because a little baby needs a lot of special items.
Most popular presents for a new born child are: necessary diapers and towels, baby bottle, baby powder, teat, clothes, baby socks, baby blanket, pram toys. Sometimes people give something else but these are the most frequent gifts, ones that one doesn’t have to put much thought into. Present wrapping is another dilemma, in a broader perspective it is a way of eventual presentation that will make the gift look special and is often underestimated. The giver should definetely put some thought into it. We suggest an original solution: diaper cake or baby bunch.
For begginers a quick review of most amazimg projects of this kind of activity:
To create cool home decor on a budget, look no farther than the closet. Cast-off clothing and linens can be transformed into a multitude of home decor items such as decorative pillows for the sofa, large floor pillows or rugs, framed or unframed art, and placemats, napkins or coasters. Old luggage or a briefcase that is no longer used can be combined with legs or set atop a base to serve as functional furniture with built-in storage. Use your imagination and reuse potential trash to make home decor treasures.
Simple throw pillows can be made from any shirt, blouse or cardigan sweater. Cut the garment straight across just under the sleeves and sew closed at the top and bottom. Use the buttons as the opening to insert a pillow or to cleverly store linens or out of season clothing.
Frame decorative motifs or interesting fabrics and hang as art. For larger pieces, mount on stretcher bars and hang without framing. Use the ample fabric from a full skirt or dress to sew a matching set of placemats, napkins and coasters for everyday dining or a special occasion. Cut stained or torn garments into strips and weave a rug. (more…)
Beautiful, edible decorations can be made for a variety of occasions such as garden parties or weddings. All that is needed are organically grown edible flowers and two simple ingredients.
To sugar preserve flowers, start with edible flowers that have been organically grown without the use of pesticides. Pansies, violets and nasturtiums are all good choices. To be completely safe, grow the flowers yourself.
Prior to picking the blossoms, assemble all needed equipment and supplies. For this project you will need scissors, a paper towel, a small bowl of egg white, a small bowl of super-fine sugar, a small paintbrush, a large plate and a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.
Pick the flowers in the morning while it is cool outside. Cut the stems as short as possible and lay the blossoms on a paper towel to dry. Keep the batches of picked flowers small as the sugaring process is time consuming and must be completed in one sitting.
Gently hold each flower by the back and coat thoroughly with egg white, using the paintbrush. Ensure that no part of the front, back or sides is missed. Hold the flower over the plate and sprinkle with sugar until completely coated both front and back. Lay the blossom on the plate if necessary to complete this step. Gently bump or blow on the flower to remove excess sugar. (more…)
Recycle tank tops, t-shirts or sweaters into cool, reusable shopping bags. With minimal sewing and just a pair of scissors, a needle and thread, yarn or string, you can create a shopping bag to be used every day. In fact, why not make several? Keep a few at home, at work and in the car so that you’re always prepared. They are so quick and easy to make, you could even give them away while out shopping!
T-Shirt or Tank Top Shopping Bag
Making a shopping bag from a t-shirt or tank top is easy! Just turn the shirt inside out and sew completely across the bottom, either by hand or by machine. For added durability, sew across the bottom again a time or two. Then turn the shirt right side out. If you’re using a tank top, your bag is finished! If a t-shirt has been used, you must now cut off the sleeves right next to the seams and cut the neck opening to the desired size. Voila! A cool, reusable shopping bag! (more…)
Once the holidays are over, the real work often begins. Cleaning up after the holidays can be a daunting task. To make clean up easier, ask for help. Enlist the aid of family members and the job should be finished in no time!
Remove Decorations
Unless the decorations are fragile or of sentimental value, this is a great job for kids. Have them carefully remove ornaments from the tree and wrap or box them. Especially outside, avoid climbing up and down a ladder by handing lights and garlands to someone on the ground. (more…)
There are many reasons why a last minute Christmas gift may be needed. Sometimes Christmas suddenly arrives or someone was simply forgotten during holiday shopping. Whatever the reason, being caught at the last minute without a gift is easily rectified.
Gift Cards
Available at a variety of places or online, gift cards are the perfect last minute gift. Choose the recipients favourite store or buy a card that can be used in many places. If time is really short, opt to purchase a gift certificate online that can be delivered immediately by email. (more…)
Decorating for the holidays is fun! Whether you prefer traditional or contemporary décor, choose to decorate the entire house or just certain areas, confine your decorating to just the inside of your home or expand out into the yard, start decorating for the holidays today.
Simplify
Decide how much decorating you’d like to do this year. To keep things simple, choose to decorate only certain areas. Select the size and type of tree that fits your space and lifestyle. For a festive look from the street without the bother of outdoor lighting, place lights inside of windows. (more…)
Christmas is almost here and so is that long-standing tradition of exchanging gifts. Shops will be creating a festive atmosphere and displaying all sorts of treasures. Keeping Christmas affordable amidst all this temptation can be a real challenge. There are several strategies, however, that can be used to save money this year.
Make a Budget
Determine the total amount of money available for gifts. Be realistic, taking income and all expenses into consideration. Commit to spending cash only. The goal is to save money, not roll expenses into the next year by incurring debt. Decide what you can comfortably afford and stick with it. (more…)
Many litres of water are wasted daily in most homes across the country. Much of this precious water just disappears down the bathroom drain. Follow these simple tips to prevent wasteful water use in your bathroom.
Top Priority
A dripping faucet wastes valuable water around the clock. Check bathroom faucets for leaks and repair or replace, if necessary. To further reduce waste, install a faucet aerator and low flow showerhead.
Toilet
Older tanks or cisterns use much more water than necessary. In toilets installed before 2002, a displacement device is effective in reducing water waste. Either purchase a device or make your own by placing a plastic jug of water inside the tank. Use the largest jug possible that still allows an adequate flush. (more…)
Households with hard water deal with a number of inconveniences, such as limescale build-up and stains. Even washing one’s hair can be problematic. Many people with hard water complain of dry, brittle hair.
The calcium and magnesium minerals contained in hard water affect soap’s ability to build a good lather. Therefore, building a rich lather takes major amounts of shampoo. Each hair shaft consists of overlapping slates, called scales, which are similar to a roof’s shingles. On a healthy shaft of hair, the scales remain smoothed down. (more…)
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