#who needs a plan when you have a sewing machine and a scrap bin

[makereadgrow]

I've gone into a hyperfixation rabbit hole and been making and thinking about paper pieced blocks non stop for a week. I'm riffing on traditional blocks and geometric shapes (because that's what I like) and using scraps, bits from mystery bags and bundles, and the leftovers from a variety of charm packs I've part used.

My blocks are a mix of ones I downloaded and ones I drafted myself on paper with a ruler and pencil.

I don't really have a plan for what they will be, initially I was thinking table topper, now I'm thinking maybe placemats? Maybe I'll go as far as quilt? Dunno. We'll see how many I make before I get tired of doing it.

[tidyturnip]

toxic mentality tbh (jk jk I'm teasing please don't be mad)

starting a new hobby (as cheaply as possible) is my go-to reward for completing something big and difficult. let go of the notion that you have to "stick with" a hobby for that time spent to be valid. let go of "finishing what you started" as the goal of beginning a project. beginning something new is itself joyous and wonderful and you can plan to go exactly nowhere with it.

the curse is consumerism. yes, yarn is calling you! listen to that! succumb to the human experience of craving the act of creation!!! but do NOT go to hobby lobby and buy a shit ton of brand new yarn and needles, they're terrible people, please DM me and I'll send you a baby's first scarf kit for nothing but postage! half this yarn is inherited from people who got bored with knitting and donated it to me! i'd LOVE to pass that energy on to other new knitters, because I'm bored with knitting now! and that's okay!! my grandma got bored with crochet when she was in her 20s and put away the hooks and projects she'd inherited from HER mother! guess what! that's how I got my great-grams hooks and unfinished projects which are now priceless heirlooms

my current upcoming new hobbies to start when I get tired of ceramics and need dopamine:

glaze chemistry

kiln building

indoor vegetable gardening

lace making

calligraphy, again

spinning, again

3D printing, again

bookbinding

herbal remedies, again

mushroom hunting

basket making with foraged materials

hand carving wood

print making

ink making

you may have noticed that some of these are re-interests in things I've done before, in several cases I did get rid of the Stuff, so here are my tips for doing this without going bankrupt

get in touch with local crafting guilds, or adjacent crafts with similar tools (quilters may think you're weird for doing cosplay but they DO have sewing machines and the best scissors) and make friends with similarly enthusiastic dilettantes who may have materials or tools in storage from their own wanderings and who could trade - I think there's even a facebook group for ADHD crafters to destash their old hobbies to each other? I haven't needed to find them yet because of the following things:

learn tool-making crafts, such as basic woodworking, plastic forming, metalworking, etc. - I've made half my ceramics sculpting tools out of old credit cards, scrap wood, and milk jugs

join a local maker space for access to more expensive tools like sewing machines or lathes, even if your interest is solely in crafty stuff and they're all techbro-y. it'll do them good.

my favorite - mine history for historical crafts. the farther you go back in time, the simpler and easier the tools are to make. basket weaving requires nothing more than a knife, water, and patience!

every craft has old undiagnosed autistic people that are hyperfocused masters. find them. their sheds are full of old beginner's tools they might let you use for a song.

my last piece of advice is, learn the basics of how to safely and effectively store your old projects. i may be giving away a bunch of knitting stuff, but i'm keeping my old projects and the needles they're on because if i pick it back up, i might want to finish them, or maybe i get rid of them later (always an option). this means tightly closed storage bins with plenty of cedar sachets, stored in dry conditions. each material has its needs and i give you permission to hang on to stuff as long as you have space and can meet those needs.

release your guilt. you do not have to master shit. indulge the craving. create.

I don't know who needs to hear this, but

YOU DO NOT NEED TO START A NEW HOBBY!

STEP AWAY FROM THE TEXTILES!

YOU DON'T NEED MORE YARN!

THAT FABRIC IS NOT CALLING TO YOU! LEAVE IT ALONE!

[migrainegraveyard]

small little ways to help save the planet

right, so given the fact we're all in another panic about climate change, and i'm sick of the constant "just stop using staws lol", i wanted to make a more, me post about this whole situation

so, some new and different ways that can help out (as well as some already talked about ones that are pretty important)

1) grow plants! - the bees are, thankfully, making a comeback but it's still important to plant bee and butterfly friendly plants as well as plants that produce a lot of oxygen and take in a lot of carbon dioxide! you can get seed mixes for bee friendly plants, but some good plants for helping with producing oxygen are mosses and cacti/succulents, but you can search up others too! other plants that'd be a good idea to grow would be growing your own fruits/berries/vegetable/spices! that then saves a load of emissions of co2 because you aren't driving up to the shop and back to get the foods that've been imported internationally!

2) speaking of plants, single use plastic is hard to avoid and absolutely everywhere. i get that. however, an idea if you are going to plant stuff is reuse that plastic and other containers as plant pots! caps off of deodorant and other aerosols, yoghurt containers, pot noodle containers, egg cartons, plastic bottles, literally anything that'll fit some dirt and a seed or a plant in!

3) use ecosia as a search engine! ecosia is a search engine which plants trees for however many searches they get because of ad revenue etc., you don't even have to make actual searches all the time, if you're bored with some time to kill, go on there and search up random things, press on a link, boom, that classes as another search!

4) if you're able to go vegan or vegetarian, go for it! if not or you don't want to but you happen to have a local non industrialised farm you can buy from, go there for your meat, eggs and dairy products and anything else they may offer! independent farming at least in the uk is so much different to industrialised and i truly mean it when i say that independent farmers kind of see their animals as like, their own children or pets! my dad works on independent local farms and before i cut him out of my life i spent a lot of time with him and honestly, those animals are in good hands

5) try and go to or make your own protests (preferably peaceful!! don't break the law or get yourself or anyone else hurt), i don't know about america but in the uk and ireland extinction rebellion is a massive organisation for this stuff!

6) try and support brands that make their products ethically, and with clothes, if you can get yourself hands on a sewing machine, some fabric and a sewing pattern, sewing machines are easy to use and it's so easy to make stuff with patterns, so try and have a go to make your own clothes and bags!

7) if you could walk, bike, or get public transport somewhere easily and safely and cheaply, do that rather than using a car or taxi! or even if you halfway use your car and halfway use public transport! it'll make a bit of a difference.

8) make your own fertiliser! got any food scraps or food that's gone mouldy? if you don't have a food bin, find some spare bucket or something and dump it all in there, leave the lid open and leave it outside for the sun and rain and insects to come after it, and boom you have your own compost/fertiliser. also put any weeds or dead plants/leaves you might pull up in there, and you can also put in paper and cardboard! even if you don't use it, you could sell it to someone who does want it.

9) solar powered portable chargers! if it's got a usb end on the wire, it can use a portable charager, if you have sunlight (which you will in summer), you can charge a solar powered portable charger! if in summer you can use something like that for your phone etc more than your mains, it saves electricity which means a lower bill and less fossil fuels being burnt!

10) donate things you no longer want/need to charity that you can. that way they don't end up in landfills and someone else can enjoy it especially someone in need who possibly can't afford firsthand things!

11) try and be as unwasteful with electricity and water as you can. if you have decided to grow your own plants, maybe try and use rainwater to water them when you can instead of normal tap water? and remember to switch off lights and wall sockets when you don't need them on!

12) buy or make one of those bug house/hotel things! i've seen the one i have at my house actually get used by insects quite a lot over this summer!

13) if you can, go out to say, a local park and pick up any rubbish and especially recycling and sort it! or if you can get to a beach or a pond or something, i know a pond near me is horrific for litter and i'm planning on going down there one day and doing a bit of a sortout!

[livingcorner]

10 Wood Pallet Ideas for the Garden

One of the most overlooked sources of recycled materials in the garden is the humble wood pallet. Millions of wood pallets are used in the retail industry to transport goods, and they often end up clogging the landfill. In addition to being a source of free raw materials and a way to recycle in the garden, making things for the landscape out of pallets gives you a product that no one else has. Put your signature on one of these wood pallet garden ideas (starting with this creative planter idea!), and see what you can do with a few tools and a little sweat equity. 

Garden Walkway

Funky Junk Interiors

What happens when a garden path isn’t just a way to move through the landscape, but becomes a focal point in itself? Funky Junk Interiors shows that even when dismantled, a wood pallet can serve as a stunning design element in the garden. Although a wood pallet walkway will help your garden by keeping you from compacting wet soil, it’s best used in a low-traffic area of the garden: no heavy wheelbarrows or garden carts here. 

You're reading: 10 Wood Pallet Ideas for the Garden

Because pallet boards are thin and already weathered, a bit of preparation can help your path last beyond a few seasons. Rather than laying the pallet wood directly on the soil, excavate the area a few inches underneath the path and backfill with gravel. This will help water drain away from your path, preventing rot. 

Wood Pallet Garden Walkway from Funky Junk Interiors

Garden Bench

Our house now a home

After a hot day of pulling weeds and fighting insect pests in the garden, a rest on a garden bench is a well-deserved treat. At first glance, a wood pallet might not seem like it has the potential to transform into a beautiful piece of garden furniture, but as the blog Our House Now a Home proves, some inexpensive paint and a few throw pillows can turn scrap wood into an Instagram-worthy seat in your landscape. 

Building furniture from wood pallets requires some shooting from the hip, but the results are limited only by your carpentry skills. Look for free woodworking plans or youtube tutorials to remove some of the guesswork. Once you’ve mastered the bench-making basics, you may even decide to attempt a garden rocker or recliner. 

 Wood Pallet Garden Bench from Our House Now a Home

Read more: How to prepare a raised bed for spring planting

Garden Swing

The Merrythought

There’s nothing new about the garden swing, but a garden swing bed is the best thing since spiked lemonade for true relaxation. Buying a fabricated garden swing bed can set you back at least several hundred dollars, which is a real buzz kill for the lazy gardener. The Merrythought used 2 x 4 lumber to reinforce two wood pallets and topped it off with a mattress covered in vinyl zippered mattress covers. You could also make your own cushion with outdoor patio fabric if you’re handy with a sewing machine. Make sure you use rope with a high working load limit and have a suitable branch to hang this beast from, as it will weigh several hundred pounds when occupied. 

Wood Pallet Garden Swing from The Merrythought

Raised Garden Bed

Ma Passion Du Verger

The raised garden bed isn’t going anywhere as a method to practice intense flower or vegetable gardening in a small space. The soil in raised beds warms up quickly, the elevation raises vulnerable plants away from ground-dwelling plants, and the loose, friable soil you add to raised beds promotes the healthiest root systems on all types of edibles and ornamentals. 

Line your raised bed with landscape fabric to keep the soil from migrating out when you irrigate your plants. The ideal height of a raised bed is 6 to 12 inches, but you can go higher if you reinforce the walls with staking to prevent outward bowing. 

Wood Pallet Raised Garden Bed from Ma Passion Du Verger

Continue to 5 of 9 below.

Compost Bin

Lovely Greens

Who needs a compost bin in the garden? Anyone who has a bottomless appetite for soil-boosting humus, also known as black gold for the garden. You have several choices for compost bin construction when you start with a wood pallet. A heavy-duty pallet can serve as one of three or four sidewalls of a bin, attached with brackets or simply wired together. If the pallet is coming undone, dismantle the boards and attach them to a frame you make with 2 x 4 lumber pieces.

Gardeners with small plots can get by with a single bin, but those with larger spaces can reap the benefits of an open-sided three bin system constructed of pallets. The first bin holds fresh garden waste and kitchen scraps, the second bin is used for moving and turning the decomposing materials, and the third bin holds finished compost ready for use. A three-bin pallet system isn’t much to look at, but you can pretty it up by planting a few flowering vines around the outside, which will flourish from the nutrients within the bins. 

Wood Pallet Compost Bin from Lovely Greens

Wall Planter

Creative Homemaking

Vertical gardens are the solution for homeowners who desire flowers, herbs, or vegetables but lack the space to grow them. A living wall may consist of a pallet you fill with soil and plants, or the pallet may serve as an anchor upon which you attach pot-holding clips. These planters are very heavy when loaded with wet soil, so mount them securely with cleats, large wood screws, and metal brackets; or, rest the bottom of the pallet on the ground for added support. 

Wood Pallet Wall Planter from Creative Homemaking

Read more: What to do about foxes

Click Play to Learn How to DIY a Wall Planter

Garden Cart

Serendipity Refined

This riff on the planted wheelbarrow leaves your real garden cart free to haul mulch and dirt, while the wood pallet version accommodates pumpkins, ornamental cabbage, or whatever’s in season in your garden. Serendipity Refined added some vintage iron wheels to complete this wood pallet charmer, but you could also build some ornamental (non-functioning) wheels from pallet wood if you don’t have metal wheels available. 

Wood Pallet Garden Cart from Serendipity Refined

Planter Box

Her Tool Belt

Take the backaches out of gardening with a wood pallet raised planter box like this one from Her Tool Belt. The slats on a wood pallet are just the right size to tuck in a few petunias, million bells, or other trailing annuals. These large pallet planters have an edge on hanging baskets, as they hold a large volume of soil that resists drying out. For an even more drought-tolerant display, add perennial succulents to your planter box. 

Wood Pallet Planter Box from Her Tool Belt

Continue to 9 of 9 below.

Garden Fence

Realeyes Homestead

It’s true that good fences make good neighbors, especially if your neighbors have four legs and a taste for hostas. The wood pallet garden fence may not exclude adamant pests like deer, but it can repel rabbits, dogs, and woodchucks from your prize roses and tender cabbage plants. 

Long fences face stability issues, but Realeyes Homestead addressed that by adding support pallets in an “H” pattern. The addition of some plastic bird netting can add a layer of pest-excluding protection to your wood pallet garden fence. 

Wood Pallet Garden Fence from Realeyes Homestead

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/10-wood-pallet-ideas-for-the-garden/

[thedailychangejar-blog]

25 Useful Ways to Save Money Everyday-Part 2

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission or other benefit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Daily Change Jar.

Here are 25 MORE ways to save money every day!

If you haven't already, check out the previous post on 25 Useful Ways to Save Money Everyday Part 1.

1. Dilute your Conditioner

Did you know that you can dilute your conditioner and it will still be just as effective? I did this the other day when we were just about out of conditioner and my oldest daughter (the picky 13-year-old didn’t even notice ;-) ).

2. Use dryer balls instead of dryer sheets

Although if you read the previous post I shared a link to a post on how to make your own dryer sheets-which is also a great way to save money. However, dryer balls are also another option. You can purchase a pack for 6 here for under $10 or if you would prefer to make your own, check out this post by The Seasoned Homemaker. Also adding a little bit of essential oil before popping them into the dryer gives your clothes a great scent boost!

3. Consider giving personal gifts for Holidays

I used to do this all the time when I was younger and seemed to have more free time (free time? What is that?!?) And this was before Pinterest was a thing! I would DIY my Christmas gifts. Even before Pinterest was a thing, I DIYed my Christmas gifts-frugal and meaningful! Click To Tweet One year I made each of my grandmothers a little rocking chair out of clothespins with a cute little stuffed bear in a straw hat. How many years later, they still have them! As I got older I did things that included the kids. Framed handprints in clay for my husband’s first father’s day. Nice framed pictures of the kids with their handprints for grandmas and grandpas. Every time I have MADE my husband something for Christmas, his birthday, or father’s day he has appreciated it 1000 times more than anything I have ever bought him. PLUS it is more frugal! Last year there was a gift that I wanted to get him that I found on Etsy-which was listed for $145! Now I am all for supporting people on Etsy, but I couldn’t afford it at the time. So I improvised, well more like copied the idea and made the gift myself. The total cost? $12! Yup, a savings of $133! Pretty darn frugal if you ask me!

4. Eat seasonal

When you are at the grocery store, make sure you are looking for things that are in season. They tend to be cheaper that way! A pint of strawberries in Wisconsin in the middle of winter can run $5 or more, while during the summer they are at least half that!

5. Tailor your own clothes

Ok, so I admit, I normally hand this task off to my grandmother. First off she is much better at it than I am. Gotta learn to outsource those kinda things right? Secondly, she already has her sewing stuff set up 24/7, while I have to drag mine out of the basement and set it up every time. If I do plan on fixing clothes that are torn, too long, or need to be sewn in some way, I just pile them up until I have a good amount that makes it worthwhile to drag out my sewing machine. But it really is a way to save. There have been many times where my kids just get a small tear in their clothes, or I get a rip in the seam of my pants. Should I just toss them? NEVER! Fix the darn things rather than going out and buying a whole new pair! Or better yet-upcycle the garment into something new! Feel free to check out my board from my personal Pinterest account where I have like 1000 different ideas saved on how to upcycle old clothes! (Don't judge my boards-I am slowly working to reorganize them!)

6. Don’t toss your outdated clothing

If you find that your clothes are outdated, a little stained or ripped, don’t throw them out. Wear them around the house or for pajamas. I have quite a few random pants and shirts that I use for when I paint, dye my hair, or know that I will be working on something potentially messy.

7. Trade for babysitting

So I really hate paying for babysitters. Unless it’s a teenager (who I know well) that is looking to make some extra cash-support the side hustle! I have plenty of friends with kids around the same age as my kids. Trade off nights to watch each other's kids. Or plan sleepovers for the little ones at their friends’ houses :-) I have one friend in particular who is a lifesaver when it comes to watching my kids and even though she hardly ever asks me to watch her kids, she will gladly take mine anytime. You know who you are ;-)

8. Keep the heat turned down

Wisconsin winters can get pretty darn cold! My mother tends to turn up her heat so much I am sweating just sitting in her house. We prefer to save a few bucks and keep the heat turned a little lower. Nothing a few layers of sweaters can’t fix!

9. Do a clothing swap

I heard about this idea a while ago and I have yet to try it. I have an entire room in my basement filled with clothes. Everything from newborn girls to adult women’s to boys and men’s clothes. Instead of donating the things you don’t wear anymore, get together with some other moms (or dads) and swap clothes. This can work really well for kids clothes especially. But if you have some girlfriends that are around the same size as you, or you have clothes that you have grown out of (or maternity clothes) see what you can trade. You never know what you might find!

10. Stockpile great deals!

Find any amazing deals recently you can get a bunch of stuff for really cheap? Like toothpaste for $1 a tube? Stock up on it! This is where couponing can come in really handy! I have found this particularly helpful when it comes to donating items. Homeless or Women's shelters are always in need of personal care type items. But frugal, but give back! Even though you think you may have it bad, there is always someone out there who has it worse. Even though you think you may have it bad, there is always someone out there who has it worse. Click To Tweet

11. Purge things that are taking up space

My husband and I go through spurts of purging things. Which is really liberating actually. We will start in one room and look at all the crap we never use, like that cake pop maker my daughter wanted so badly and only used once. Or the plethora of Monster High Dolls we have accumulated over the years that just sits in the basement. There are two advantages to this. You are decluttering. You can make a few extra bucks by listing these items on local Facebook buy/sell sites.

12. Buy in bulk

One of the things that I absolutely love that stores are doing now is putting how much the cost per unit or ounce is on the labels on the shelves. Saves me from doing any math! When you are buying in bulk you can save quite a bit. As long as you are purchasing things that aren’t going to go bad. Plus it is a good life lesson when I take the kids shopping, we can talk about comparing prices. Just because it might be listed as less expensive doesn't actually mean that it is.

13. Volunteer your time instead of purchasing gifts

Many years ago I worked as a CNA in a nursing home and it would break my heart when the holidays would roll around and some of the residents had no visitors. If you can, instead of purchasing gifts for people, give your time instead. Go volunteer your time at nursing homes, humane societies, daycares, or other organizations that tend to be short on volunteers. Especially during the holidays. For many people, giving your time is priceless and means so much more to them over a physical gift.

14. You don’t have to buy gifts for everyone

When my husband and I first got together we would get gifts for everyone in our families. There were his 6 sisters, about another 6 nieces and nephews, my brother and his girlfriend, my 7 aunts and uncles, a bunch of cousins, their kids, the list went on. It would cost us a fortune just trying to be nice to everyone during the holidays. Not that I don't like being nice and giving to others during the holidays, but let's get real here! Now, our list is very limited-parents, grandparents, and kids. Plus we have 5 kids to buy for, that is enough right there! And again, my parents and grandparents would prefer something more meaningful that the kids and I make over anything we can buy. Save on gas!

15. Use a bike or walk where you can.

I know this can be a lot more difficult with kids, but there are times when it is nice out that we can bike to the store or walk to the playground instead of driving.

16. Carpool!

This is one we try to do when going out of town for gymnastics meets. Gas can get expensive when you are driving 3 hours one way! Of if you live out of town, see if your work has any type of carpool program. Plus if your not driving, that's more time you can get in reading the latest posts on your favorite blogs ;-) 

17. Start a compost

Even if you live in an apartment, you can start a compost for even the smallest garden with these cute little countertop compost bins. I hate throwing away food scraps just as much as I hate throwing away food. I hope to one day have a nice little hobby farm with pigs that I can feed all my scraps to and create an almost zero waste homestead. Future goals!

18. Find free entertainment

If you look hard enough I am sure there are things in your community that you can find to do, for FREE! Remember from the previous post I talked about checking out the library? Just search around the web or find a Facebook group in your area that keeps track of free events in your area.

19. Don’t impulse buy!

Have you ever heard of shoppers remorse? You get so excited about buying something and then a day or two later you wish you wouldn’t have made the purchase. If you see something that you really want to buy, whether it’s a new TV or the latest “business opportunity” that your friend has been talking to you about, wait on it. Wait at least 72 hours and seriously consider if it is something that you really need. There have been times where I found a software that I knew would just take my business to the next level (great sales copy is meant to sell right?) bought it and then realized I didn’t actually need it or it wasn't as great as I thought it would be after I tried it out. Although I never purchase anything like that unless there is a money back guarantee. That way if it sucks I can get my money back!

20. Pick quality over quantity

If you are going to make any type or larger purchase, make sure you are really looking at the quality of the item. Don't buy something just because it's the latest thing or all your friends are buying it. Make sure you are checking online reviews of things. There have been plenty of times that I have passed up a purchase after doing some due diligence on a purchase. Yeah it may look great on the outside, but after reading reviews you realize that it's only the packaging your paying for.

21. Workout at home

There is a quote that I really love: “If you really want to do something you’ll find a way. If you don’t you’ll find an excuse” by Jim Rohn. I could find a dozen different reasons to keep my gym membership and not workout at home-not enough room, the kids are in my way, the dogs get in my way, I don’t know where to start, blah blah blah. But let’s be real, these are excuses, and ditching the gym membership to save like $65 a month is worth it. Especially if I'm not using it like every day.

22. Create a budget and stick to it

I go a lot more in depth as to how to create a budget in this post. You need to be in control of your money and tell it where to go. Try out something like Personal Capital or Mint to track your spending. They even give you fancy little pie charts!

23. Meal plan

Meal planning can save you a ton! It does take some advanced planning but is well worth it! Check out my post on meal planning here to see how and why you should meal plan to save both time and energy every month.

24. Make a shopping list

Along with making a meal plan, make sure you include a grocery shopping list. It is so easy to go to the store, even more so when you’re hungry, and way overspend. *Tip-don't send an 8-month pregnant lady to the store alone at night when she hasn't eaten, all you will get is ice cream and cookies! If you stick to your list you will be less likely to purchase items you don’t actually need.

25. Don’t use credit or debit cards when shopping

When you go shopping, whether it’s grocery shopping or school shopping, try to use cash instead of using a debit or credit card. When you are using cash you have a limited amount that you can spend so you don’t have to worry about overspending. Just make sure that you are adding up everything you buy as you are shopping so you don’t get to the checkout and realize you are short. Annoying and embarrassing!

What are some creative ways that you save money every month?

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