January 2010 – Grocery Shrink

Frugal Gift Wrapping–In time for Valentine’s Day!

By Angela Coffman on January 31, 2010

When it comes to gift giving, presentation is huge and can cost as much as the gift! The thought of spending a ton on something that will be wadded up and thrown away makes me cringe.

Do you save wrapping? In the sub-culture I live in made of my extended family and church family, saving wrapping is expected. There is a designated person at birthday parties and showers to smooth out the paper and tissue and rescue the bows from the trash. I have a box in my basement with gift bags, paper and tissue all saved from previous gifts. I’m not as big on saving the actual paper as I am the tissue. (Telling a child to go ahead and tear the paper brings gasps from the older crowd and a wide-eyed look from the child with a “Really?!!” in response. It makes me feel extravagant to do it, lol.) A good ironing makes tissue look like new, while paper that has been previously taped and crumpled just doesn’t get it’s finesse back.

Above: Reused mylar wrapping paper and tulle

With reusing in mind, I like gift bags, tulle or wired edged fabric ribbons (travels well, irons out or finger presses and lasts a long time), and furoshiki wrapping cloths. I also love giving a gift where the wrapping is part of the gift. I’ll often wrap a baby gift in a homemade receiving blanket with diaper pins and hair elastics to help secure it, and a teether with tulle for a bow. Flour sack towels are great for wrapping wedding gifts. Another good choice for a wedding gift is a laundry basket or hamper “gift bag” filled with bulky every day items like toilet paper and laundry detergent.

Check out these blogs for awesome frugal gift giving ideas. I especially like this first one which uses common household items–a plus if you didn’t think ahead and are late for the party!

1. Sandy Babb of Quill Cottage is a paper flower genious! These make beautiful pacakge toppers. Click the link below for instructions for carnations and daisies from tissue and below that beautiful collage flowers of tulle, tissue and even muffin liners! http://quillcottage.blogspot.com/2009/07/paper-flower-memories-paper-daisy.html

2. Enjoy this Youtube video from www.flairdesignery.com on using tulle for simple and inexpensive package toppers.

3. If getting smooth beautiful paper on your gift eludes you. Try this tutorial from Dandee: http://dandeedesigns.blogspot.com/2007/12/gift-wrapping-tutorial.html

4. From the inspired room: http://theinspiredroom.net/2007/12/02/gift-wrapping-tutorial-part-one/

These gifts are beautiful. It is possible to spend a ton to get these looks, or you can use their ideas for inspiration and gather items from your own yard to make a beautiful package.

5. Hideous, dreadful, stinky, has as a step-by-step basic tutorial for you that doesn’t fit her blog name! Even her wrapping pattern overlaps exactly! http://hideousdreadfulstinky.blogspot.com/2009/09/perfect-gift-wrapping-tutorial-part-1.html There are 3 parts to this tutorial, so be sure to click on.

6. Use this tutorial from Smart and Trendy Moms to make your own bow from leftover wrapping paper scraps: http://www.smartandtrendymoms.com/2009/11/fun-and-trendy-gift-wrapping-tutorial.html

7. Using a brown paper sack and painter’s tape!

8. Furoshiki–Think baby blankets, dish towels, bandanas, recycled clothing …

9. Purse fold furoshiki. I thought of lunch when I saw this one (but it doesn’t take much for me to think of food.) If you gave someone a Valentine lunch wrapped up in a cloth like this, their placemat or napkin would be included!

10. I LOVE THIS! Make some homemade baker’s twine using the instructions from A Foothill Home Companion: http://foothillhomecompanion.blogspot.com/2009/12/homemade-bakers-twineish.html. This makes the perfect touch for a home-style gift. You have to click over there. Her pictures are drool quality and she has a gorgeous gift bread wrapped in a white and red tea towel with baker’s twine and a crocheted strawberry as a finishing touch!

A word from this post sponsor: ProFlowers.com

Valentines Day flowers from ProFlowers.com

Handmade Valentine Treats

By Angela Coffman on January 29, 2010

Need ways to save money this Valentine's Day without looking cheap? Taking time to make a special gift yourself takes more effort and thought than picking up something at the store and can save money att he same time. Here are some instructions and recipes to help you get started.

Here's a link to a fabulous cooking blog and a post for a homemade sugar cookie pop bouquet.

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/02/tutorial-valentine-sugar-cookie-pops.html

Here's a tutorial for a handstitched love letter:

http://lucykatecrafts.blogspot.com/2009/02/love-letter-for-valentine-tutorial-and.html

Here's a fun tutorial for a Valentine Book:

http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2008/01/post.html

Here's a great gift for a daughter or friend! http://sew-fantastic.blogspot.com/2010/01/tutorial-valentine-padded-zipper.html

Family Resemblance

By Angela Coffman on January 29, 2010

My uncle is getting married in 2 weeks and as I was scanning in some family pictures for them, I noticed an uncanny resemblance between my grandfather on my mother's side and my husband. They are not related as far as we know, but even my 2 year old noticed a resemblance. He saw this picture and said, "Look at my daddy!"

Brown paper packages tied up with string…

By Angela Coffman on January 28, 2010

Look what the postman brought today! I splurged on some alpaca and mohair yarn for my mother. This is her BEST color to wear. As most of you know she does so much for me..babysitting, teaching reading classes at my homeschool, babysitting, cooking, babysitting…you get the idea. She's also the best at finding good deals just when I have a need.

She and dad are taking a well deserved cruise to Alaska this spring (and I volunteered to babysit and teach my own children so they could go alone. I know, I know, generous of me.) I thought she ought to have a beautiful moebius shawl to wear on the deck of the ship so everyone could be jealous of her stunnin beauty. They're all the rage–have you heard? http://groceryshrink.typepad.com/the_grocery_shrink_blog/2010/01/do-you-have-a-moebius-yet.html

I'll hold two strands together (one of each kind of yarn) to knit. I'll cast on as soon as I get the flower girl dresses finished!

Heidi’s Valentine Hair

By Angela Coffman on January 28, 2010

Sometimes life is hard, especially when it involves math. I love it, and Heidi doesn't…yet. After a bout of tears neither of us wanted to do it anymore. So we made a deal. She worked while I did hair and she didn't get any hints or a mirror until that math page was done. The tears turned to giggles and I learned that doing hair can be like spinning and plying wool and sewing all in one–who knew?

The style came from this great blog: http://www.princesshairstyles.com/ Where there are a ton a fabulous ideas I can't wait to try out.

The other children oohed and ahhed while I worked and I reminded Heidi she could see as soon as her math page was done. That page was finished in record time. Life just feels better when you have cute hair.

12 ways to reuse your old t-shirts

By Angela Coffman on January 27, 2010

T-shirts abound! They are often free gifts at conventions and business events. Or are part of treasured memories from summer camp, a sports team, or school club. After awhile our drawers get stuffed and their memories make the shirts hard to part with. Here are some great ideas for repurposing those beloved (or not so beloved) t-shirts.

1. Make it into a tote bag! Here's an instructional video from Martha Stewart: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/good-thing-t-shirt-bag

2. Make a t-shirt quilt: Instructions here– http://craftsbyabby.blogspot.com/2009/04/t-shirt-quilt-tutorial-planning.html

3. Turn them into cute underwear: http://belleandburger.blogspot.com/2009/06/panty-tutorial-how-to-make-your-own.html

4. Cut them into 9" squares for washable toilet paper that doesn't ravel!

5. Make pot-holder loom loops from them and weave a variety of fun projects! http://craftsanity.com/?p=2783 (Possible projects include a bath mat, door mat, picnic blanket, table runner, scarf, and a purse–by sewing several squares together.)

6. Turn them into gift wrap! Furoshiki style–

7. Make a throw pillow: http://www.savvyseams.com/apt/tpillow.php,

8. Make a baby hat and donate it to a newborn charity like www.newbornsinneed.org Instructions: http://groceryshrink.typepad.com/the_grocery_shrink_blog/2009/07/preemie-knotted-hat-pattern-download.html

9. Make a t-shirt scarf: Tutorial http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2009/08/super-easy-t-shirt-scarf.html

Here's another tutorial for a cute t-shirt scarf: http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/2010/01/ruffle-scarf-tutorial.html

10. Make a cute purse: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=101237.0

11. Make a more fashionable shirt: http://rufflesandrosescrafts.blogspot.com/2009/08/flower-ruffle-tank-tshirt-refashion.html

12. Make a toddler shirt with roses: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-girls-skirt-with-fabric-flowers-from-an-adult-t-shirt/2010/01/25/

Have a tutorial for using a t-shirt? Add the link with your comment.

By Angela Coffman on January 22, 2010

My second yarn

This is 100% merino wool, hand dyed, and spun with lots of variations of thickness. It's an art yarn and I'm pretending I meant to make it this way–grin. I purchased the roving from my new friend, Molly, who listed it on craigslist. It turns out we're near neighbors.

I left it as a single ply so it would stay fluffy and soft. I'm hoping there is enough to knit a chunky moebius cowl with it. There's about 150 yards and my 40" long circular knitting needle set came in the mail today!

By Angela Coffman on January 22, 2010

Would you like to have some Home Fries?

Slice 4 scrubbed potatoes into 8 wedges each. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Lightly mist the tops with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt. Bake at 425 for 20-30 minutes. Or until the potatoes are tender on the inside and golden brown on the outside. To speed up the process you can use the broiler, but watch them closely!

These are nearly fat free and so tasty! Full of potassium and other good stuff too.

By Angela Coffman on January 22, 2010

Multigrain Waffles with Chocolate Syrup–Happy Birthday Heidi!

Waffles

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup oat flour (pulverize rolled oats in a food processor)

1//4 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 cup oil

2 eggs

2 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately, then combine. Cook in a waffle baker per manufacturer's instructions. (1/3 cup batter per waffle for about 5 minutes.)

Chocolate syrup

2 cups water

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup pure cocoa powder

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup light cream or milk

Mix water, flour, cocoa, and sugar with a whisk until smooth. Cook over medium high heat until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla and cream. Serve immediately with whipped cream. Yum!

(Oats tend to absorb a lot of moisture. If your batter gets too thick you can add more milk.)

This syrup tastes decadent, but it has about half the sugar of commercial syrups and the cocoa powder is rich in antioxidants.

My first yarn!

By Angela Coffman on January 21, 2010

It's not perfect but it's mine :). I spun a naturally colored white single (from a white sheep) and a single from a brown sheep and plied them together. My kids and I worked together to wind it onto a homemade PVC pipe niddy-noddy. Then we filled the bathtub a couple of inches deep with tepid water, squirted some hair conditioner in, and turned the niddy noddy so it would lay flat. We dipped it in the water until the yarn was saturated, pulled it out and turned the niddy noddy back to the traditional shape. We hung it to dry all day in the shower and now I have this lovely yarn! (All that winding, getting wet and drying was to set the twist. The conditioner was to soften the yarn, but it's still not too soft.)

I hope to have enough yarn to make a potholder, we'll see! It's not soft enough for clothes and I could really use a trivet or potholder. I have a bad habit of catching mine on fire and wool is naturally fire resistant.