Thrifty Mommy » do-it-yourself

33 Do-It-Yourself Costume Ideas

Karen Weideman — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:13:16 +0000

For the first time ever, I have three kids this Halloween. If you’re like me, you don’t have $30-50 per kid to spend on a costume. I’ve been searching around the internet and have found some do-it-yourself ideas. Hopefully there will something that you like.

Black Knight Costume

Pocahontas

Parents has some cute costume ideas. You probably have many of the items needed already at home.

Scuba Diver – uses 2 liter soda bottles, tubing, and goggles
Beauty Queen
Basketball Player
Artist
Mad Scientist
Rock Star
Magician
Doctor
Chef
Zoo Keeper
Construction Worker

Handmade Costumes – Most of these costume ideas are for smaller children.

Little Lamb – This one is my favorite. It’s so adorable!
Dalmation Puppy
Crazy Caterpillar
Rooster
Goldfish

From Better Homes & Gardens

Were there any costumes that you liked?

image from sxc.hu

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Decorating on the Cheap, Part 2

Karen Weideman — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:11:34 +0000

Last week, I discussed some ways to save on decorating your home. We learned that money could be saved from shopping for used items by using Craigslist, yard sales, and thrift stores and also how an inexpensive item like paint can transform a room. Today we’re going to see that there are more ways to decorate on the cheap.

4. Repurpose what you have. Paint that old lamp or picture frame. Change your night stand into a bookshelf. Recover your old pillows with fabric. Use a sheet for window treatments.

5. Get an outside opinion. It helps to ask someone else’s opinion for ways to help your decorating space. Many times others will see things you didn’t see and have ideas you had never thought about. They may suggest moving a piece of furniture or changing a wall hanging. Those small inexpensive tips can make a big impact.

6. Borrow furniture. When I first got married, I didn’t have any living room furniture. I ended up borrowing some things from my parent’s house. All you have to do is get the word out to friends and family that you need some items for your home. Some people have things in their basement that are just sitting around collecting dust. Some will let you borrow things and others will just let you have the stuff.

7. Be patient. You can’t expect your home to look perfect right away. It takes moving things around, searching for deals, and tweaking things a bit. It will all come together eventually.

What tips do you have for decorating on the cheap?

image sxc.hu

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Cost-Effective Summer Curb Appeal

Karen Weideman — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:32:51 +0000

Guest post from Lou Manfredini of Ace Hardware

Lou here, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man” and today I’m sharing some great budget-friendly tips on adding curb appeal to your home this summer.

The first step to having a home that looks great from the street is a healthy lawn. It is easier and cheaper than you might think. First you’ll want to clear away any leftover debris, including leaves, branches and your kids’ favorite summer toys. If your lawn is loaded with weeds, spray it with Ortho Weed and Feed – just attach to your garden hose and spray away. It costs about $10.00 and will kill the broadleaf weeds and also feed the healthy grass.

In about two weeks you can reseed the bare spots. First, scratch the soil a bit with a rake and sprinkle the seed over the area. Cover with peat moss and then water lightly. The peat moss will keep the seed moist and will prevent birds from eating it. Water just a bit every other day to help the seed take and try to keep the kids and animals off of these areas while the seeds germinate. After two weeks, the grass should be filled in and your lawn will look terrific!

Another budget-friendly secret to a great lawn is to run a rake across it to thin out any dead grass and promote healthy growth. This will keep your lawn looking thick and neat, and the only cost is a little bit of your time and some elbow grease.

Now that the grass is looking better, how about adding some perennial flowers along the walkway leading up to your home? While perennials cost a little more, they will come back each year, giving you more bang for your buck. Look for plants that bloom at different heights like Moon Beams, Hostas and even rose bushes. Make sure you give them room to grow to create a beautiful, full border leading up to your door. Most plants will come with a recommended spacing to allow for full growth. I always take two inches off the recommended spacing because I like the thick, bursting look of healthy plants. Each year you can add a few more plants to change up the look and keep the front of your home fresh.

What low cost ways have you used to boost your home’s curb appeal?

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Decorating on the Cheap, Part 1

Karen Weideman — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:55:55 +0000

Many of us think of our home as our castle. We want it to look warm, inviting, and relaxing, yet we don’t have a lot of money to spend on decorating. Today, I’ll begin to share with you some tips for decorating and furnishing your home on the cheap.

1. Shop yard sales and thrift stores. I’ve been doing this for years. Just a few months ago I was at a yard sale and found a really nice living room couch and oversized chair. The person I bought it from had only used it for a year. She paid $1200 for it and I got it for only $120. Sometimes you can find some really unique items by shopping this way.

2. Check Craigslist. You just never know what you’ll find on Craiglist. We’re getting ready to move into our house and the home inspector found some issues with the bathtub. My husband found a brand new tub with jets on Craiglist for 1/5 the price. It was one a contractor didn’t use.

3. Think paint. Paint is one of the least expensive ways to add warmth and color to your home. It really is amazing how $30 in paint can transform a room. I am not very fond of white walls and in our last house, all the walls were white. Once we painted the living room a taupe color, the whole look of the room changed and I could hardly wait to paint the rest of the house.

Stay tuned for more ideas and tips on inexpensive decorating. In the meantime, we’d love to hear the ways that you save.

image sxc.hu

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Costume Sale and Free Patterns at Baby Center

Karen Weideman — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:56:30 +0000

BabyCenter is having a 30-50% sale on costumes. In addition to the sale they are offering free standard shipping on orders of $25 or more. Enter the coupon code SHOPPING during checkout. Now is the time to shop and save before the selection gets slim. You can get an adorable costume, such as this cute oatmeal bear costume, for only $13.50.

BabyCenter also has a do-it-yourself section on their website. Get crafty and download simple and free patterns to construct a skeleton, leopard, kitten, pirate, jailbird, carrot, or strawberry.

Enjoy the savings!

image from BabyCenter

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Do-It-Yourself Projects Save Money

Karen Weideman — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:41:00 +0000

We rarely pay someone else to do work to our house. It’s not that we wouldn’t love someone else to be outside sweating for us, it’s just that we’re too ~~cheap~~ frugal to pay someone to do something that we can do ourselves. Doing projects yourself can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars.

My hubby was feeling very motivated Saturday night and he got some projects completed around the house. One of the projects was pressure washing the deck. Check out these pictures which show the before and after.

You can see the line where my husband stopped cleaning so that he could eat his dinner. I’m actually glad that I got to see the difference so that I could appreciate it much more. I can hardly believe our deck got that dirty within just a few years.

DIY projects can save your family a lot of money. Just make sure you know what you doing.

What kinds of projects are you tackling on your home?

images by Karen

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Busy, Busy, Busy!

Karen Weideman — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:45:44 +0000

Whew! I am tired! My husband and I have been working non-stop on our house. We’ve spent countless hours in Home Depot, Lowe’s, and at the mulch store. This week we have:

repaired the flower bed (previous owner’s mess up)
put down weed guard material
planted new shrubs
took down the old light post
put down new mulch
filled in holes in the yard
seeded the whole yard
took out toilet and sink from bathroom
tore out vinyl bathroom flooring
painted bathroom trim and walls
fixed some drywall mess ups in the kitchen and bathroom
hung up fixtures in bathroom
finished putting up moldings in the kitchen
touched up paint in the kitchen
repaired loose carpet squares in playroom

The good news is that we did all this stuff ourselves. While we may have spent a few hundred dollars on materials, we were able to save a few thousand dollars by not paying someone else to do these repairs.

What kind of projects are you working on?

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Do-It-Yourself Cat Toys and Furniture

Karen Weideman — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:29:22 +0000

I really have been wanting a cat playhouse for the cat we rescued. She’s only about 7 months old now and she really enjoys climbing, scratching, and playing.

This past weekend, our family made a trip to the newest pet store in town. I knew that cat houses were expensive, but I was almost entertained at how much money people will pay for these things. I thought it was even funnier when I saw what they were made of.

I found my husband and told him I knew what his new profession could be . . . making cat houses. Well, I don’t think my husband’s giving up his day job anytime soon (lol), but I thought I’d pass along some info on making your own cat toys and furniture. I’m sure many of you thrifty people out there could benefit from this.

How to Make Cat Jungle Gyms and Playgrounds
Build Your Own Cat Tree
Expert Village has a series of videos you can watch on building your own cat toys.
Do-It-Yourself Cat Tree
This idea involves using shelves and brackets. The downside is you have to mount them to the walls.
How to Build Cat Trees
How to Build a Quality Tree House (this one looks more complex)
Sloped Scratching Pad
In case you still need a bit of help, you can download six plans for $9.95.

Here’s a really cool play tower from Target that’s only $28. The problem is, it is made of PVC pipes that pop together. With a 2 and 4 year old in the house, I don’t think it would last for long.

Give us your thoughts. Have you made your own cat toys, perches, trees, etc? How did they turn out?

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50 Thrifty Links for Valentine Fun

Karen Weideman — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:26:47 +0000

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Since you’re here, you’re obviously looking to be a bit more frugal. I’ve been surfing around and I’ve found 50 links to help you with Valentine’s Day. All of these items are inexpensive and most of them are do-it-yourself.

Crafts

Printables and Other Fun Stuff

Recipes

Valentine Gifts

Please share any links you have found in the comments.

images from Karen

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20 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding

Karen Weideman — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:36:39 +0000

With the cold temperatures we’ve been having, I know it’s hard to imagine that spring and summer are just around the corner. I’m sure some are thinking about or are already making plans for their special wedding day. I thought this would be a good time to share some ways to save money.

1. Plan ahead. I confess that I planned my wedding in just a few weeks. (Yes, I was a nervous wreck.) Perhaps the short amount to plan helped me to prioritize really quickly. Planning ahead gives you opportunities to think things through, to decide what you really want, and to shop around for the best deals.

2. Be selective about your guest list. A wedding is an intimate occasion. Do you have to share it with everyone? In fear of hurting someone’s feelings, I invited just about anyone that wanted to come to my wedding. If I had to do over again, I would be more selective about who I invited. You shouldn’t invite people just to impress them or in hopes of getting a great gift. Having more people there means it will cost you more to feed them!

3. Set a budget and stick to it. I confess that I forgot this one on the list and had to move it up to the top. lol Whether your budget is $1,000 or $10,000, you need to have a budget and you need to stick to it. Write out your plans and how much you estimate each thing will cost. Leave a little room for adjustments.

4. Try to do as much yourself as possible. My husband and I planned our own wedding. I was in college at the time. Every day he would pick me up after classes and we would drive around to flower shops, stores, etc.

5. Seek the talents of others. For my wedding, I had a friend from church greet the guests that arrived. My former piano teacher played the organ as a gift to me. A lady from my church sang. Another lady from my church made me a beautiful wedding cake for only $40 and a friend of my parents altered my dress as a gift to me. These were all people that I knew had talents and wouldn’t mind sharing them in my special day.

6. Try making things yourself. As I said earlier, I didn’t have much time to plan my wedding. If I were doing this today, I would make my own floral arrangements, make my own veil, and do whatever else I could myself.

We didn’t spend a lot of money on dresses. I didn’t feel right asking my attendants to shell out a bunch of money for dresses. As their gift, I bought each of them the material needed to make their dress and the pattern. A few of them knew how to sew and they made their own dress. One other paid someone to make hers, which was much cheaper than buying a dress.

7. Borrow whatever you can. I borrowed my aunt’s wedding dress and pearls. I only had to pay $150 to have the dress preserved again. I also borrowed a silver cake serving set, silver serving trays, and a centerpiece for the serving table.

8. Look around for used wedding supplies and/or dresses. You can find some beautiful used dresses for a fraction of the price. You can also rent some of the things you’ll need.

9. Check to see what the facilities offer. We had my wedding and reception at my church. Our church had wedding supplies and we were able to use their glass dishes, tables, table linens, altar, and more. Some reception halls also have things that you can borrow. You don’t know what they have until you ask.

10. Be careful of hidden costs. These could be manicures, pedicures, hair, make-up, and other things. I paid someone to do my nails, hair, and make-up. If I had to do over again, I wouldn’t have those things done. My nails were horrible and my make-up was not me. You know how you like your hair and make-up. Do it yourself.

11. Plan your wedding around meals. If you plan your wedding during lunch or dinner, then you know your guests are going to be really hungry. Instead, plan a 2:00 wedding and serve finger foods.

12. Delegate as much as possible. I was fortunate that I had grown up in my church and knew everyone really well. My parents had done many favors for the people and they didn’t mind returning the favor. We bought the food supplies and enlisted the help of others to help prepare it. When it was time to clean up, there were people helping without having to ask them. I guess this is a good lesson in reaping what you sow. Ask for help and help others when they ask.

13. Search for after holiday sales. My cousin is having a Sweet 16 party next week. The after Christmas sales have provided us a great opportunity to buy things on clearance for her party. It seems each time I go to the store, I end up calling my aunt to see if she wants this and that for the party. I have found great deals on fabric, hurricane lamps, chargers, candles, centerpieces, food, and more. You can find lots of great (non-Christmas looking) decorations for 50-75% off. Also, check after Valentine’s Day for things for your wedding.

14. If possible, trade services. When I was in my friend’s wedding, her mom bought my dress in exchange for my mom making the cake. It worked out great for both of us.

15. Most expensive doesn’t mean the best. As I stated earlier, I was disappointed with my nails and make-up. I was also disappointed with our portraits . . . EXTREMELY disappointed!!!!! Snapshots that others took at our wedding were better than the formal shots we paid someone to take. You may consider hiring an amateur photographer and/or asking some friends to take some pictures.

16. Find someone you know to cater. If you’re having finger foods, then this shouldn’t be anything hard for the person to do. It’s basically just preparing some easy foods and putting foods out as they start to run out. You or someone you know could make the mints ahead of time. You could make your sausage balls ahead of time and freeze them and then cook them the day of the event. There are many things you can do yourself that doesn’t cost a lot.

17. Utilize craft store coupons. Each week when you get the Michaels, A.C. Moore, or Hobby Lobby coupons, use them to get things that you need for your wedding. Some stores will even let you use competitor’s coupons.

18. For your reception, consider having a barbeque or get together at your home. Even celebrities with money have done this one. Your reception should be about having a good time and spending time with others, not about impressing people.

19. Use the internet. When I was planning my wedding, there wasn’t such much use of the internet as there is today. You can use the internet to comparison shop and find a great deal on a dress. You can also find party favors, decorations, invitations, and more.

20. Let the professionals help you. Check out websites such as Martha Stewart, Better Homes & Gardens, About.com, Do-It-Yourself Network, Bridal Choice, and more! There are many great, free resources at your fingertips. These can provide information on making your own bridal bouquet, making party favors, decorating, easy foods, and so much more.

I’m sorry if some of you found these tips to be tacky. Hopefully, there is something in this list that you can find helpful.

Do you have some suggestions for ways to save money on a wedding? Please share them in the comments. I look forward to reading your suggestions.

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