Frugal Friday on Thursday!

Just to keep you on your toes...it's Thursday...but I'm feeling frugal. Speaking of expressions...I've had a killer headache today...and was taking a break lying on the couch trying to get a grip on the pain...and my little people were crawling all over my body...cuz they were worried about MomE...and my baby girl decided to be my Dr.

She was poking and prodding me...and then she plunked her dress up shoes on my stomach. I laughed and asked what they were for...and she said, "They're to keep you on your toes!" HAHAHA...she must have heard that expression somewhere...and is trying to make sense of it. I loved it!

I decided to re-purpose a sweater and some scraps from Loverbrain's shirts to make Bible bags for the kids for church. Caleb desperately wants a "purse" to carry his bible and "money for Jesus" on Sundays. I've been putting them in a ziplock baggie but he's not satisfied and neither am I.

My Mom got this sweater for Emmer...and it was too small...so she gave me permission to chop it up! Eeek!
Do you like my little rose with leaves. Okay, I've never done that before...so be nice!
I sewed the bottom inside and then outside. Just for the record, felted angora doesn't like to be sewn through the machine. You have to push it!
Isn't it so cute...and snuggly. I was telling her how it could keep her hands warm too! Neat!
NEXT, I used the two side panels of a shirt, the pocket from another shirt, and some random scrap pieces. I chopped around a CD to get the size I wanted for the bag...I know, how original and er, crafty of me!
Isn't it adorable? I'm glad it looks masculine...
AND...what are the odds...the buttons matched up and buttoned! HA HA ....I totally didn't do that on purpose. That's so funny...when I try to match things they won't...hehehe!

Frugal Friday: Bookmark Scraps...

I suppose I should start this post by mentioning that I am in NO WAY a scrapbook person...I use the paper for crafts and such...not actual scrapbooking. So, yes...I know these "leftover" pieces are large enough for some of you creative scrapbooking chicks to use...but for me...they're just plain old leftovers.
But...they are so pretty...and being the insatiable bookworm that I am...and living with Loverbrains who also is a bookworm...and being CHEAP..well, there is always a need for bookmarks. Plus, I can't write in library books...so if I get a good idea...where would I write it down?
They come in super handy for Bible study too. I like to use them for a straight edge to underline verses...and to write out verses. They are also great for cooking shows for that matter...yes, I MULTI-TASK during naptime...I blog, read and watch Barefoot Contessa! I know...I'm talented!

So...if you have leftover bits of pretty paper...maybe you could use some bookmarks!?

Frugal Friday! Fresh Cucumber Pickles...

The pretty strap off an old vintage bath cover up I converted to a skirt.....PLUS an antique handkerchief...PLUS a washed salsa jar....EQUALS....
The perfect little outfit for my fresh cucumber pickles...
This, and some fresh bread, was my "don't come empty handed" gift to a sweet couple who had our family over for dinner the other night!

Fresh Cucumber Pickles

Two thinly slicked medium cucumber
1/4 minced onion
1 finely minced garlic clove
Liberally salt and pepper
Fill jar 2/3 full of apple cider vinegar
Fill jar the rest of way with water.
I salt the top and close it tightly!

Frugal Friday- Sweater Purse

I'd seen a pattern for one of these sweater purses a while back...and now I can't find the link...sorry ya'll! I'll try to explain it clearly...
I started at Goodwill...finding a half off wool sweater...someone had obviously semi felted it in their dryer...oops! It was GAP...should make a nice purse!

Lay it out on it's back....cut down the collar to about the chest area...cut off each sleeve. Turn inside out...meet the side seems and then sew across the bottom...a few times for strength. Voila...a purse! I attached a fake green rose for a little flare. I plan to use the sleeves as babylegs this winter...very very warm ones!

I have been making other things....but they are all Christmas gifts so I can't show you...sorry!

Frugal Friday- Matchy Pillowcase Skirts!

These two pillowcases were my parent's...and I took them off to college with me...'cuz they are my favorite blue and yellow color combination! One in particular was very thin...so...I made a double layered skirt for Curious Georgette....

...isn't she cute! She was so excited...especially when she saw MomE's matching skirt....

Taking pictures in a mirror is tricky by itself...but with Sweet Boy...it's, uh, very exciting!

This was such a good picture of his involvement and her excitement that I had to include it...doorknob and all!

We'll make sure our shirts match the skirts (and I'll need a slip...yikes) when we wear them out...but you get the idea! I'm so tickled that she's tickled about looking like MomE! Neat! If you have cute pillowcases...send them to me! I'm having way too much fun with this frugal premise!

Frugal Friday- Sweet MTO gifts!

I have leftover muslin from the trimmings of Sweet Boy's comforter. I wanted to make sachets for the sweet MTO (Mom's Time Out) helpers. FYI...MTO is much like MOPS (Mother's of PreSchoolers)...I go twice a month when I am able! Very cool group that would be nothing without the free child care by super sweet ladies and a few older gentlemen! Our last meeting for this year is today!

Anyhew, cut out the circles (traced an empty cream cheese spread container)...ironed them flat...assembled smelly pellets in pomegranate. Phew...they stink (well, are strong)...I put them in a Ziploc and freeze them when not using them. Otherwise, I have headaches in my craft room!

My sweet girl assisted me with hand printing half the muslin. Awwww!

I rough stitched the edges using red floss...cuz I wanted it to look childish and cute! I put some stuffing and a tablespoon of pellets in each one.

I used a free printable for the baggie top from Living Locurto...she made cookies for her MOPS gals...Sorry, I wasn't feeling like baking...

AND...there ya have it...In the words of my Curious Georgette..."TA-DA!" I am posting this about the time they'll be getting them...I hope they think they're cute too!

Frugal Friday...Pillowcase Purse and Quilt Top...

If you remember last week here...I said I'd use the rest of the peach pillowcase to make a purse or something....

A little ribbon and a hem later....Voila...

Isn't she cute...with her band aid (it's covering a bug bite so she won't pick it)...and her backwards pants (she got dressed all by herself)...

See...she can open it without help...

AND HERE IS THE ASSEMBLED QUILT TOP FOR CALEB'S ROOM! FINALLY!!! A friend is coming over Friday to help me pin and tie it. Then when I visit my Mom...she'll give me another binding lesson! Kayren at Everything's Coming Up Daisies asked if it was Americana...I hadn't really planned on it...just wanted home spuns and masculine...and didn't like anything in the stores. Once I do the valance with the leftover fabrics...you'll see the room theme is actually "planes, trains, and automobiles." I'm going to try my hand at paper-piecing a plane, train, and auto.

Frugal Friday! Curtains and Pillows...and playclothes...

We've been having an ant invasion...

Somehow, my irritation with these little monsters....led to a rather frugal sewing day! I got a great little wrap around skirt pattern here... and cut it down for Emma! I pinned it onto a pillow case I'd gotten at Goodwill for 99cents.

I reheated my coffee (again) in my cute little mug...another Goodwill find for 50cents! Woohoo..yes, yes...those are the blocks for Sweet Boy's comforter that aren't being sewn right now...shame on me...stupid ants!

After a few hours...and a messed up waist...meaning I had to use some pink scraps from something else...here is the completed skirt...

Awww! She was like..."okay, okay...I said cheese...now let me watch Blue's Clue's!"

That was so easy I cut one out for me...yes, they are my old curtains from college. Cotton made to look like denim...sort of...pretty but haven't used in over seven years...so....

And if this makes you think of The Sound Of Music...you aren't alone! My friend at church said that too! Ha ha ha! Incidentally, I played Maria in our high school's production when I was 15...I had this crazy science teacher who'd sing, "The halls are alive with the sound of music..." every time I walked down the hallway ever after that...hahaha! Ah, lots of memories...

By trimming the hem of the curtain I saved myself some sewing for the waistband...nifty, nifty!

I didn't want to wait until LoverBrain's came home to take a picture...so here's me in my dusty mirror in the "hills of laundry."

I then cut another peach eyelet pillow in half...and put some elastic in it for another cute pillow skirt...yes, Goodwill...99cents...She loved this one...won't take it off!

I'm going to use the pocket remaining to make some sort of tote bag...I'll save it for next Friday...

Frugal Friday- Mug Pincushion...

So, I had this mug I loved...but it was HUGE...and then it chipped in two places ....

...I put it aside for crafting possibilities...(yes, I do that with a lot of stuffs otherwise considered trash)...

So, after seeing some pincushions on Etsy in cute bone china, etc. I decided to go practical...

...cut a circle (traced a Folgers lid)...from a fat quarter I already had....and sewed around the circle and stuffed when I created a little pocket....this was trickier then first thought...hahaha...

Here's my favorite part....I needed something to fill the bottom of the mug that was heavy to keep it solid when nabbing pins...I have LoverBrain's old tube socks with holes in the feet (more saved trashy treasure)...So, frugal little me...I duck taped the hole...cuz no one's gonna see it ya'll...filled with beans (cheap cheap)...and knotted the top....

...put the sock in the mug knot down...a little glue...smoosh roundy pillow on top (filled with that pillow fluff stuff), and Viola! I've had that hat pin for a while and wanted to show it off...yeah...now I can!!!