Fru-Gal Friends

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1790

great vicki...thanks! I will check these out later...maybe when the kids are in bed tonight Smile

Subject: Re: Christmas Projects Tue 19 Jun 2007, 6:48 am

I was all excited about making a butterfly house for the kids. I was going to make it, make a butterfly net, buy a book on butterflies (9.95) and then buy butterfly larvae $18.60 (with shipping) then I went to discountschoolsupply.com and found a butterfly kit with the larvae for $20.10 (that is with shipping)only a few dollars more than the larvae themselves. So I figure it will probably be cheaper to buy it already made with the larvae and look for the book used. What do you ladies think?
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: Christmas Projects Tue 19 Jun 2007, 8:21 am

That sounds great Vicki, I say...the easier the better!!!

Thanks for the sites also Very Happy

Another easy gift for ladies (I made one for my neighbour a while back) is a pamper/bath gift set.
I bought a nice glass jar at a dollar store and filled it with homemade lavendar bathsalts. I stuck little lavendar coloured silk flowers to the lid of the jar. I also bought a pack of lavendar coloured tulle bags from the dollar store and some potpourri and divided it between the bags and tied them off and sewed more flowers to the fastening. The sachets smelled great. I got nice bottles/tubes of lavendar shower gel and body lotion and a lavendar scented candle in a tin all for around $2 each. I popped them all in a pretty giftbox (a basket or painted terracotta pot would also do) and stuck in a bath scrunchie too. It looked like a lot for a little Wink

I kept taking the lid of the box to sniff the contents Razz

I'd like to try a pamper set with 'sea-breeze' scented products and pop them in a whitewashed terracotta pot with seashells stuck around the rim. I always keep an eye out for bath/shower products on sale/clearance for budget gifts Wink

There are so many scents to choose from...vanilla, rose, lavendar, sea-breeze,etc....adding some chocolates make it extra special (yes I know I'm a chocoholic!).
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1790

thanks for the site Vicki! I will SURELY go to that one!!!
I would buy it if it's cheaper....

Skin~ the pamper set sounds great! My sister would like that!

Subject: Re: Christmas Projects Mon 25 Jun 2007, 8:42 am

I just posted a pic in portail of the Snowman scarf I knit over the last few evenings. I'd seen a pic on the internet of a similar one using a knitting board, but don't know what a knitting board is scratch

I reckoned I could make something similar using my plain old knitting needles. I used machine washable 8 ply (double-knitting) wool and lashes for the hat brim. I had enough wool left over to make a matching beanie, although I had a pattern for the hat Smile

I was chuffed with the google eye buttons I found although I'd planned on just using larger buttons for eyes. I put a face on both sides in case it flips over.
The pink mix wool was a 100g ball on special for $2.50 (normally $3.69). I already had the white wool and it will last for many scarves, as will the orange. It turns out the most expensive accessories were the buttons but in future I'll buy the plain black ones from the thrift store for .25c - .50c a bag! This set probably cost around $6....plain buttons would come in cheaper. I've just started another set in a purple & pink mix. Then I have a lilac mix....then a green/orange/yellow mix (it's bright Cool

)
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: Christmas Projects Mon 25 Jun 2007, 9:59 am

Skin, your scarf is way too cute. I wish I had the talent you do. Great work!
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Subject: Re: Christmas Projects Mon 25 Jun 2007, 10:58 am

Skin the scarf was so cute .. it would be wonderful for gift for any one
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Subject: Re: Christmas Projects Mon 25 Jun 2007, 6:31 pm

Skin,,I thik thats the cutest scarf..Id wear it in a heartbeat! You have such a talent!

Subject: Re: Christmas Projects Mon 25 Jun 2007, 9:07 pm

Thanks ladies Smile

But, trust me, it was pretty easy. Anyone who can do knit and purl stitches could easily make one.
I used 'knit one, purl one' rib for the face and hat portion (and also the mini scarf the snowman is wearing). The feathery lashes brim is just garter stitch (knit every row). The scarf looks exactly the same from both sides except for the tie on the snowman's mini scarf (opposite edge when flipped over). I made the whole thing about 1 metre long as it's only for a child and not too wide either (30 stitches across). The beanie size fits 2-6 years.
For a boy's version I wouldn't use the feathery wool and would instead make a matching monkey-hat with pompom.
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: Christmas Projects Mon 25 Jun 2007, 9:29 pm

Wow Skin. I just love them. Wish I could knit
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: Christmas Projects Mon 25 Jun 2007, 9:40 pm

Such an adorable scarf and beanie set, Skinflint. You are one creative and talented gal!
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MARY

Subject: Re: Christmas Projects Mon 25 Jun 2007, 10:50 pm

Amazing Skin you are so talented .
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1790

Skin...that is SOOO cute~ my kids would LOVE these!!! How much would you charge to make 2 for Christmas?

Subject: Re: Christmas Projects Tue 26 Jun 2007, 7:32 pm

Lol kim

Well...if you were serious, maybe we could simply make a 'trade'?

For instance...you could 'make' me an easy and frugal homemade Christmas decoration to hang on my tree??? Or any kind of 'easy and frugal' homemade Christmas decoration!

I just LOVE Christmas santa

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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: Christmas Projects Tue 26 Jun 2007, 8:42 pm

You know...I was also thinking that these would be sooooooo easy to make from fleece (for anyone who doesn't knit!).
I was actually going to try this also (even though I prefer knitting).
I reckon all you would need would be white fleece (a small square for the face), orange fleece (cut into a triangle for the nose) or make a button nose, and patterned fleece for the main portion of the scarf.
I haven't made a fleece scarf before but have read lots of articles and there's very little sewing involved (unless of course you're adding a face Razz

). A long narrow rectangle could be cut out and stitched across the top of the face on both sides for a hat brim and another could be stitched across both sides on the bottom for the mini scarf! Buttons again for eyes and mouth. Simply cut tassles into the end of the patterned fleece (some people knot these although I prefer the unknotted look). I bet it would be really easy to trace around kid's hands to make matching mittens too! I know craft stores sell fleece with nice winter patterns. I bet it's on sale during the summer too!
Except it's winter here!
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~