Creative BirdbathsIf you enjoy watching a robin splash about in a birdbath and want to help our feathered friends to a cool drink during these hot summer and fall days, you don't have to spend a fortune on fancy, high-priced garden store models.
Paper Towel Tube Seedling PotsWhen it's time to transplant my seedlings into larger pots, I usually have a good supply of recycled plastic yogurt cups. But this year, I ran out of them. This turned out to be a good thing as it forced me to try something new. And probably even better.
Zippered Plastic Bottle ContainerTurn two pop bottles into a zippered container.
Button Flowers in Salt Shaker VaseUse your button collection to make these funky flowers. Add a vintage salt shaker to hold your bouquet.
Grilled Provolone Instead Of Bacon In BLTCraving a BLT and no bacon in the fridge? Doctor says, "cut the bacon from you diet?" Gone vegetarian? Tummy can't handle the additives in bacon?
Animal Cracker CraftsWhy should the squirrels in your yard get all the stale animal crackers when you can wear them as jewelry instead?
Heirloom ShadowboxesHere's a way to get your family mementos out of old shoe boxes in the attic or jewelry boxes in your dresser drawers and into display boxes where they can be enjoyed every day.
Thimble NecklaceAn old thimble becomes the flower pot and brightly-colored straight pins become the tiny flowers. This would be a great gift for someone who sews.
Quick Cheesy Egg On ToastThis is an easy alternative to the frying pan and requires only a tiny bit of butter, cooking spray, or diet margarine. Older children and teens can make this, or younger kids with adult help.
Getting Last of the Chocolate SyrupThis might seem like a little thing, but I was tired of not being able to get the last of the chocolate syrup out of the squeeze container, frugalista that I am. You know that awful spitting that it does at the end and it splatters all over your clothes and the kitchen walls?
Fresh Linen Drying On The LineLine-dried laundry!
Silverware for Butter Dish HandleUpdate a simple glass butter dish by adding a bent piece of silverware. Glue to top using a good adhesive like E-6000.
Color Coordinated FrogPulling weeds is one way I like to relax, my moment of Zen, some would say. Every now and then I get a bonus. While reaching into a patch of day lilies, I discovered this little guy. Being so well-disguised by his coloring, I very nearly missed seeing him.
Old Door Knob VaseEven the tiniest flowers in the garden deserve their moment to shine. But how to display them? Most vases are way too large for these miniatures.
"Sweet" Gift BagMany brands of sugar include a cookie recipe on the bag. This gave me the idea to make the cookies as a gift, then turn the sugar bag into the gift bag. The recipient receives a nice treat as well as the recipe all in one bag.
Life Must Go On - GravestoneWandering through an old cemetery on top of a mountain in Pennsylvania, I came across this reminder that life will find a way. This beautiful gravestone wreath, fashioned from cold rock and standing colorless for more than a century, is coming to life in soft, green moss.
Miniature Christmas DisplayWhat is it about Christmas that makes us love things in miniature? I don't know, but I always have. Each year I make a miniature Christmas scene, mostly from found items and natural bits from my yard. This kind of display can be achieved with very little expense or effort.
Turn a T-shirt Into a NightgownI wanted a new nightgown, and figured there must be something in my wardrobe that I could fashion into one rather than buying one. A touristy tee shirt that someone had given me was just the thing.