A "Homemade Christmas" ... take 5!

I really wanted to have this up for y'all last week, but... life happens! As most of my readers know, I am expecting! Last week, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes...BOO! Gimme a break, right before Christmas, are you kidding me!?!? Well, needless to say I had to make some changes & fast.... tests and appointments and classes...oh my! Really put a cramp on my "crafting!" If you are looking for something last minute & homemade there is still time... I promise, I'm still making my gifts!

You have probably come across this recipe during the season or you may even remember it from when you were a kid. Salt dough ornaments! These are so simple to make & they don't take that much time at all. I know this because, I had less then 5 hours on Tuesday, to make my GIANT Cub Scout den their annual Christmas Ornament! Whew! Kneading all that dough was quite a work out! I also like to make this for my kids to play with, while I'm trying to get other stuff done! It keeps them busy forever, it's completely non-toxic, & I love anything that requires them to use their imagination!

Ok, so... Here's what you need:

-Flour
-Salt

-Warm Water

-Oil

Yupp... that's it! Here are the measurements I use; but you are can alter it to make as little or as much as you need! I mix 1c. salt with 1 1/2c. warm water & about a tablespoon of oil. You don't have to add the oil, but it does make a big difference in how easy the dough is to work with.  I let that sit for a few minutes for the salt to begin to dissolve. If you would like to make your dough colored... now is the time to add the color. I will let you know, that it takes A LOT of food coloring at this point to get the dough any TRUE color. I recommend painting them after you are done instead. But never the less I have done it both ways, to each their own! In another bowl I put 4c. of flour & then add the salt mixture to that. Mix well, put your hands in it & knead it...if it's too sticky, add some more flour... if it's too dry & crumbly, add some more water (little at at time)

Now you're ready to rock & roll! At this point you can either hand if off to the kids to play with, along with some cookie cutters; Or, you can make your own ornaments! I can play with this stuff for hours! As always, your imagination is the limit. Just remember the thicker you make the ornament, the longer it will take to dry! So, if time is a factor at this point (3 days before Christmas!) then you should probably consider making snowflakes rather than snowmen!!! Once you have finished your design you can put them in the oven on a cookie tray at 200*. This process can take anywhere from 1-3 hours. When they are done you can paint them & then either apply a layer of white glue or clear paint to help protect them!

Another version of this dough is to add spices. Like cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, etc. This makes the dough smell amazing.... but it also colors the dough brown. I love to make my "Gingerbread People" ornaments out of this or a "stamped"/"mold" ornament. You can use anything as a stamp! If you like the design, stamp your ornament with it!

I have more projects to complete today-- I better get to it so I can share them all with you!

A few quick deals! Hurry while they're HOT!

So, this deal is not Christmas related in anyway... however, I ALWAYS need printer ink! I swear there are little elves in my printer that drink that stuff! I did recently switch to a Kodak printer & that has made somewhat of a difference! And the ink is a lot cheaper. Any who... right now you can get 27% cash back at 4Inkjets, when you shop through your Ebates! I get ink dirt cheap this way!

And speaking of Ebates... have you signed up yet??? Well, I know you haven't! We've had about 6 people sign up, but only one person has made a qualifying purchase! This means that I will not be able to do the money giveaway! BOO! I'm not giving up hope yet though! We have until December 30th to make a qualifying purchase with through your Ebates account! We only need 9 more people in order to meet the first money benchmark & for me to GIVE YOU MONEY! So, when you open up those gift cards this Christmas... take advantage of all the after Christmas sales online & get PAID!

Children's Place is offering an extra 30% off with the code JOLLY or SANTA! Use your Ebates for 2.5% cash back! Or print this coupon to get the discount in store. Also, if you got any CP cash earlier this month, now is redemption time!

I will be the first to admit, I really hate shopping at WalMart... but sometimes, ya just gotta. Well, right now there are offering expediated in-store pick up! This is awesome because, you can shop online, get your 2% cash back through Ebates, NOT have to pay shipping or fight too much of the crowd, just go & pick it up! You must place your order by 6pm!

The stores listed below are also offering the in-store pick up option....and cash back! Hehehe...

One of my favs...GROUPON is offering $20 Old Navy gift cards for $10! Get it now for those after Christmas Sales! Of course... use your Ebates to get 3% off your GROUPON purchase!

Christmas deals from the "Up & Coming"...Local Artists & Small Businesses

I love when I am able to support local artists & smaller businesses-- or as I like to call them, the "Up & Coming"! I wanted to share with you some of my favorites! Giving a gift that is an original & one of a kind, makes it that much more special! If you still have someone special on your list to shop for, I'm sure you can find something amazing with these folks...or maybe a Christmas present for yourself!

Captive Glass

Ruby Marble Bowl

Red & Gray Cane Bottle

Captive Glass is based out of Richmond, and specializes in "production vessels & custom furnace blown glass." You won't find a more unique Christmas gift, than one of these pieces of beautiful glass. Become a "fan" and receive $10 off per piece during the month of December. For more information, you can find artist, Matthew Athayde, here!



For The Love of Pearls

If you are looking for an affordable & stunning piece of jewelry for someone for Christmas, you have to check out For The Love of Pearls! As Courtney will tell you, "These are not your Grandmother's pearls!" She offers customizable pieces in pearls & semi-precious stones. She is offering 20% off your purchase through the month of December! Just tell her I sent you!

JillianReneDecor

JRD offers a beautiful array of home decor pieces, including "original wire woven button designs, sculptural flowers and decorative pillows." If you are looking for a fresh & fun, one of a kind design, visit Jillian here! As a thank you for supporting local independent artists, Jillian will offer 10% off with the coupon code LOCALART2011, through the end of the month!

 

Photography by SMC

Have a special event coming up? If you are looking for a passionate & fun photographer, look no further! Sarah is a local photographer that servers the Richmond & Williamsburg areas. She specializes in weddings, couples, families, maternity, newborns, pets, and digital painting. To say thank you for keeping it local, she will give you a FREE 5x7 of your choice, with any session booked by 12/25/11 (session does not need to be redeemed by that date).  Visit her here, to schedule your session today!

  

Abe's Market

 I call Abe's a "conglomerate" market... meaning it's a whole buncha stores in one! They are a collection of small businesses & independent merchants that offer amazing natural & organic products! I use them to purchase a lot of supplies for my projects; like essential oils, carrier oils, and my soap nuts! They have given me a coupon to share with all of you! Use the code BUYERTHANKS to receive $10 off of $30 until Dec. 19th! They are also offering FREE shipping through the rest of the year! Try them out, I know you will find something you love!

CCSG

Have a music lover on your Christmas list? Check out this awesome group. Connor Christian & Southern Gothic hail from Atlanta, Ga. This Southern Rock Band is a must for your playlist. You can listen to them here! Then pick up the new album & take a look at their tour schedule, to see when you can catch them live!

A "Homemade Christmas" Part IV

FINALLY!!! Gosh, I didn't think I was ever going to get to post this. And although it's not quite as pretty as I would like, I wanted to get it out to you! So, here goes!

I absolutely adore chalkboard paint! You can pick this up pretty much anywhere. Home Depot has a really large selection of Chalkboard products... including spray paint (under $5), which would be perfect for this project! Don't forget to log onto your Ebates & shop Home Depot so you can get your 3% cash back! Stop by & pick it up on your way home...total time saver & you get paid to do it...WIN.

Okay, so here are my supplies that I used...

- Chalkboard Paint (about $10/qt, but you can get the spray for $5. A quart will last you FOREVER!)
- Picture frames with glass or mirrors (I picked up the large frame at the thrift store for about $.50 and the mirrored ones at the $ Tree. UP-cycle something you already have!)
-Paint Brushes (here I used some cheap nylon brushes... I DO NOT recommend using those! Next time I'd get the sponge or nap rollers... you'll see why.)



Mistake!



This is super simple! All you have to do, is take the glass or mirror out of the frame & paint it! Let the paint dry COMPLETELY before you add another coat. This is where I went wrong yesterday. Like I said, I'm super impatient when it comes to crafting... I want it done like 10 minutes ago! If you do not let the chalkboard paint dry all the way... this is what happens when you go to add another coat...

As you can see it's really not pretty... there are several areas where the mirror is showing through. Thus, the reason I could not put this up yesterday! I had to be patient and let the paint dry longer, before applying another coat later last night.

Now, if I had used a roller of some kind, I probably wouldn't have even needed a second coat... another lesson learned!

After you have finished painting, just pop the glass back in the frame.You can hot glue a piece of ribbon to the back & tie a piece of chalk to it. That's it you're done! You've made a custom chalkboard! These make adorable gifts, for SUPER cheap! Best part is, you can make so much more than "chalkboards" with this paint. I also used it on the lids of my homemade laundry soap, so I can write a message on the top! You can buy glasses or vases at a $1 store & paint a smaller block on them so you can add a personal message!  Personalize Christmas ornaments or anything! As always, your imagination is the limit.

Here are my "finished" products...

As I said earlier, you will want to use a roller of some type... if you look closely, you can see that there "ridges" in my writing. Thus, making my handwriting look really rough! That's because the brush left tiny lines all over the surface... not cool, but I learned my lesson for next time! Oh, and my kiddos stole all my little chalk, so I didn't have any to attach to these yet! All in all, pretty happy with the results! Enjoy!

We're running out of time!!

Last week, I announced a really exciting contest... but I need YOUR help! Wouldn't you like to win $75, $150, or even $375!?! I'm trying my best to give you that opportunity! We only have 18 days left to get as many people as we can to sign up for Ebates!

What is Ebates, you ask? WELL... Ebates is a site you go through that offers you CASH BACK when you shop! You can earn anywhere between 1%-30% cash back at the stores you are probably already shopping. And of course everyone knows, my favorite part is.... you get to shop in your jammies!

Just in case you missed it, here's how this works; between now and December 31st the more people you get to sign up at THIS link, the more money I get to give to you! If 10 people sign up, I get to give away $75! 20 people and I will be giving away $150! And if 50 signed up...$375! It just keeps going up from there! Once you sign up, you have to make a qualifying purchase of $25...which of course you get cash back on! That's equivalent to one or two Christmas presents!

Best of all, you will also get a $10 gift card from Ebates, just for signing up! I love this site & and they love to give you money! I just got an email today, that I have another check in the mail...YAY!  You honestly get paid to shop! So, it's up to all of you...how much money do you want?
Pass on this link...

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=PbtbBS53%2FgxzCaSOs9hF%2Fw%3D%3D

And see how many referrals you can get!!

Only those who sign up & make a qualifying purchase will be entered to win. Please let me know if you are already an ebates member & as soon as I see you post the referral link above, you will be entered to win as well! So far we have 5 people who have signed up! We're half way to our first goal!



Stay Tuned...

I was hoping to get another segment of a "Homemade Christmas" up for y'all today... that obviously did not happen. But not for lack of trying, I assure you! I learned that some things just cannot be rushed! For starters, paint! I am soooo impatient when it comes to my projects & this is one that just cannot be hurried along. So until tomorrow...

I'm baaaack... with some super deals!

Hi All! Did ya miss me? Sorry for the silence over the weekend, as I said on FB earlier today, one of my little guys found up in the ER this weekend. Didn't leave much time for deal hunting! But he's better & I'm playing catch up!

So.....
I told you about the Yankee Candle coupon for $15 off of $45 (or use the code TMS45 online).

But they are also offering a coupon for $1 Tarts & Votives (or use code H1112 online)! These are actually all I ever buy, candle wise. My house smells like Balsam & Cedar right now, Mmmmm!

I don't know that they are allowing you to use these two together online...probably not, but they may let you in the store!

I LOVE The Body Shop, but I never remember to shop there! Maybe because we don't have one locally, I forget about them. And to be honest, I think they can be a little pricey. I missed getting their killer deal to you this weekend, but this one is pretty good too!  You can buy any 3 Bath or Body items for $30. It seems to be giving you an automatic addition 10% off of that. If it doesn't you can use the code JOY10 for the 10%.  And you can get free shipping for the code FREEJOY! Don't forget to use your Ebates account and you will get an additional 10% in cash back!!


If any of you subscribe to Target's Mobile Coupons (where they text you coupons & deals), you can text "DD" to them today & they will send you a special "Toy Deal" from now until Christmas Eve! If you want to subscribe you can do it thought their website!

Today is the last day to get 30% off at GAP, Banana Republic, & Old Navy with the code HOLIDAY!  Use your Ebates for 2% cash back at GAP & BR or 5% cash back at Old Navy!


The LOFT is offering 50% off everything (except new arrivals), TODAY ONLY! Use the code TAKE50 at checkout! And Ebates wants to give you an extra 3% cash back!


Bath & Body Works has added $1 shipping to their already awesome deal line-up! Use the code SHIP25 at checkout. And of course... use your Ebates for your 3% cash back.
Sheesh! I think that's all I have for now! I hope you got some good deals even without me over the weekend! Off to run some errands & hopefully have another "Homemade Christmas" edition up for you later today!

Feed it Forward

I missed this one on the previous post... Restaurant.com offers a unique opportunity every year, that allows you to send people $10 gift certificates for FREE. Here is a little about "Feed It Forward"...

"Started in 2008 by Restaurant.com, as a result of the economic downturn, Feed It Forward enables individuals to give FREE $10 Restaurant.com eGift Cards to friends, family or anonymously send random acts of kindness to the Restaurant.com community. Over the past three holiday seasons, Feed It Forward participants nationwide have gifted more than $32 million in dining experiences."

Send someone a gift, here!

 

Deals that will fill your belly!

I had almost forgotten about these! But I won't let you forget, that everyday this month Chili's is offering an awesome coupon. Here is tomorrow's-- FREE Dessert! Yummy!



TGI Friday's is offering a $5 bonus card, for every $25 in gift cards your purchase! More details here!



IHOP is offering a similar deal... Buy a $25 gift card & get $5 off your next meal!

Restaurant.com is letting you purchase gift certificates for as low as $3 with the Promo code SHOP! I love these! Shop through Ebates & you'll get 30% cash back...yes, 30%!!!

Goooood Mornin'....Yankee Candle!

I love Yankee Candle anytime of year, but especially around the holidays! If you aren't quite into Christmas mode yet, take a walk around their store! While you're there, take this coupon with you to save $15! Enjoy!
 

Santa Diapers by Huggies for $3!

I have no idea why they come out with these silly diapers... I guess they are kind of cute. But who can resist diapers for $3! ToysRus/BabiesRus are offering packs of these Santa themed booty covers for $5 (21-29ct). You can use the coupon from your 11/20 paper for $2/1, bringing your total down to just $3! There was also a coupon that day for $1.50/1 & one sent out in a Huggies Mailer for $2/1. HO! HO! Huggies!

FREE ShopRunner...again!

In case you missed it the other day... ShopRunner is offering their one year membership this morning for FREE!! That means you get a year's worth of FREE 2 day shipping! Head over to their Facebook page & try to get one! Also, the VS reward card is STILL available if you haven't been able to get one yet! Good Morning...now HURRY!!

A "Homemade Christmas" Part III



Since the temperature has finally decided to come to it's senses & act like it's December, I am finally getting a little bit of Spirit today! And with said Spirit, is coming a lot of nostalgia... maybe I should blame it on the "Baby hormones," I'm not quite sure. Christmas in my family has always been BIG. No matter how much or how little we may have had, I don't think I can remember a Christmas that I didn't consider "Grand."

Now, don't get me wrong-- when I say BIG, I don't mean in any way, shape, or form expensive. We all know it's not about the money you spend or who gets the biggest gift; at least not in this family. When I say BIG, I mean big memories, big traditions, and big hearts. If you have been following my blog, you obviously know that I'm all about saving $$ & I'm gaga for a good deal! But all that aside, making Christmas FEEL like Christmas, means a whole lot more to me. So, don't forget to stop and celebrate old traditions & create new ones!

You might be surprised at how much you can do with very little. To me one of the blinking signs that Christmas is around the corner is the smell of pine! Is it just me? Well, I prefer a live tree hands down over a fake one... but that isn't always an option. So, one of my favorite things to do is at least decorate with live evergreen. Now, you can go to a nursery & pay for live greenery, or you can go out & find your own. I don't mean you have to go out into the woods... but you can if you want!! You can stop by any place that sells Christmas trees & ask them for their scraps! Guess what? More often than not, they will give them to you for FREE! Actually, they usually appreciate that they don't have to get rid of the stuff themselves! I got almost an entire truck bed of "scraps" the other day for free! So here's what I've been doing with them...



This is before...

Pine scraps, candles, & mirrors make amazingly beautiful Christmas decorations! Please be careful... do NOT burn your house down! You can also use magnolia leaves, nuts, twigs...all kinds of things that are probably right outside "you own front door!" The mirror behind this display, is a $5 over-the-door mirror from Target... it magnifies your light so you'll use half the candles! It's a beautiful twinkling reflection-- these pictures don't do it justice!



And After...



One of my other favorite decorations are snowflakes! I put them everywhere! Now, I'm short so they don't ever hit me in the head... but I can't say that everyone that comes over to my house loves my hanging flakes! Be mindful of the tall folk. You can buy a pack of about 10 glittery snowflakes at Target for $1-$2. Use ultra fine dental floss (which coincidentally, you can usually get for free with a coupon, also at Target) to hang them at different lengths from the ceiling. You can use string or thread, I think I just like the minty smell that comes along with the floss! I do it in my big doorway, like this...

The last "homemade" decoration I will share with you tonight, are my favorite "candle holders." Now, these are probably the worst pictures...ugh I will try & share some better ones with you tomorrow. But anyhow, take a glass container and fill it 1/4 to 1/2 way full with Epsom salt...yes, you heard me, Epsom salt. It's CHEAP & it looks like beautiful crystallized snow! Just set your tea light, votive, or pillar into the "snow" and there ya go! 

Come back tomorrow for our handmade Advent wreath (I know, we're behind) & another "Homemade Christmas" gift!

A "Homemade Christmas" Part Deux (***UPDATED 9/30/13)

I said that I was going to be posting a few projects under this title, well I've been slacking! So here is part 2 of the series--hoping to have part 3 up sometime later today. If you are looking for a nice gift for someone, but don't have a lot of money to spend, here's your answer! Hand & Body scrubs. These are so easy to make & you can usually find just about everything you need in your own kitchen! If not, than the local dollar store is a great place to check for supplies. These are so great because, besides being SUPER cheap to make, they can be customized for everyone on your list. Now, I know you might be thinking that these are just for "girls", but let me tell you... after my husband has been working on the car, the first thing he uses when he comes in is the hand scrub! Everyone loves it!

Like I said you can purchase anything you don't have at a local $1 store...

Using these supplies that I purchased for $4 you can make 2 containers worth of Scrub! Add an extra buck, if you purchase the container. You will want to get something with a pretty air tight seal to it. Because these scrubs are made from 100% natural ingredients they will spoil if not kept properly. If you keep it in a container like this, your scrub should last about 6 months! I have put them in other containers that aren't quite so airtight, such as old coffee cans or something like that, to put by my kitchen sink. That works just fine, if it's a "high traffic" area. The product gets used so quickly, it really doesn't have time to go bad.



White & Brown Sugar Mix

Finely Ground Coffee

The first thing you need is the "grit." My favorites are finely ground coffee (no, you cannot use instant!), salt, sugar (white or brown), and oatmeal! There are certainly other things that you could use, these are just the ones that I have experimented with!

The next thing you need is an oil. You can use olive oil, but sometimes the smell can be very overpowering-- so the lighter the better. You can also use vegetable oil, but you would really only want to use that for a HAND scrub, as it can clog pores if used all over the body. Both of these can be found at the $1 store. If you want to use a carrier oil that is a little nicer for all over body, you can use sweet almond oil, palm kernel, apricot oil, grapeseed-- the list goes on and on. I purchase my oils from Abe's Market. I found this natural market through a Living Social or Groupon deal, and I LOVE them! You can also purchase a lot of different oils from Amazon.

Use enough oil to make the mixture nice & mushy.

You can add a fragrance if you would like,but most of the ingredients you will be using have their own unique fragrance & you don't want to make anything overpowering. I add cinnamon to a lot of the combinations I make, just because it's complimentary to a lot of things & I LOVE cinnamon!  You can use vanilla, lemon, peppermint, orange, or almond extracts. You can add some grated rind of a citrus fruit, tea leaves, or even honey (which is a great skin softener!)

So, you've got grit, oil, & a scent if you so chose...that's it! Mix it all together until you have a really nice mushy consistency & you're good to go! Tie a nice ribbon around the top & add a some type of scoop tied to that. Usually I just use a wide wooden craft stick, but you can use a nice spoon or scoop you find at the thrift store! Make sure that you include a nice little tag on your gift, that warns how slippery the tub or shower can get after use... you don't want anyone breaking their neck, due to your awesome gift! Experiment! Your imagination is the limit!

Here is the scrub I made today... it's one of my favorites, "Cinnamon Brown Sugar!"

-1 cup Brown Sugar

-1 cup White Sugar

-1/2 cup Carrier Oil

-Cinnamon

 Another one of my favorites is "Coffee House Scrub."
-1 cup Finely Ground Coffee ($1 section at Target has great ones!)
-1/2 White Sugar
-1/2 cup Carrier Oil
-Cinnamon

"Lemon Drop"
-1 1/2 cup White Sugar
-1/2 cup Carrier Oil
-Grated Lemon Rind
-Lemon or Vanilla Extract

None of these measurements need to be exact. Just play with it!
***UPDATE 9/30- Hey y'all! Just wanted to pop in with a quick update! I see that my pin for this post has been pretty busy! (AWESOME!)  I still love this recipe, BUT I love it even more when I replace the carrier oil with Coconut Oil! LOVE this stuff, I use it for everything! So, just warm the coconut oil to room temp & use the same amount as if it were oil. The coconut oil will solidify when it gets cooler. Happy Crafting! 

$20





$4