Jigsaw Puzzle Mosaic Canvas

This week I'll be changing directions & posting some of my DIY crafts that I've done.

This is a jigsaw puzzle piece mosaic I did on canvas. Like my other projects, this was easier to do than one might expect, & only required a few, inexpensive items.

You Will Need:

• Any Size Canvas You Like
• Mod Podge Craft Glue
• A Sponge Brush
• A Pencil
• Assorted Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces

(Image by Kylie Keene on her blog {http://www.youngfreemaine.com/blog/diy-canvas-photograph.html}).

Canvases can cost about $3 or $4, depending on where you purchase them.  Mine is from Ollie's Bargain Outlet.

Mod Podge comes in a variety of sizes, but for a project this size, the bottle you need is only about $4.  You can find this at Walmart or any craft retailer.

Sponge Brushes are easy to find at just about any retailer.  I purchased mine in a package of about 10 at Dollar Tree for $1. 

(Image by Dollar Tree on their website {http://www.dollartree.com/toys/puzzles-games/Puzzlebug-500-Piece-Puzzles/629c623c623p305149/index.pro}).

You can find cheap, jigsaw puzzles at a variety of retail stores as well.  I bought 3 at $1 each at Dollar Tree.

• I first made a rough sketch of what I wanted my image to look like on the canvas.  
• I then used my sponge brush, dipped into the Mod Podge craft glue, and dabbed the glue along a portion of the lines of the sketch.  
• Next, I chose the appropriately colored puzzle pieces from the 3 boxes I had (licorice candy, jelly beans, & a field of tulips) & placed them onto the glue outline. 
• I simply repeated this process until I had filled in my sketch with the desired colors of puzzle pieces.  
• Once all my pieces were placed along the sketch, I used my sponge brush & Mod Podge to paint a layer of glue over top of the entire canvas.  This, not only helps to further secure and set the pieces, but it also give the canvas a glossy shine when it is dried. 

Thank You & Enjoy!

Homemade Forever Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets!

Sticking with a similar topic, today's post is going to be about making your own fabric softener sheets, which will last virtually forever, and cost about $3, depending on your personal preferences.

All you'll need for this project is a plastic container with a lid, 2 sponges, a bottle of your favorite fabric softener, & water.

 

(I purchased each of these items at the dollar store, costing me only $3!)

• Cut Your Sponges Lengthwise into Thirds
• Mix Fabric Softener & Water Together in Your Plastic Container with a 1:2 Ratio (Approximately 2 Cups of Softener & 4 Cups of Water). You Can Adjust Accordingly per the Size of Your Container
• Drop Your Sponge Strips into Your Container, so they Absorb the Mixture
• When You're Ready to Dry a Load of Laundry, Squeeze the Excess Liquid from the Strips Back into Your Container, Leaving Them a Little Damp
• Toss the Strips into Your Dryer, Followed by Your Wet Clothes
• Dry Your Clothes as You Normally Would.  Once Dried, Remove Your Clothes & Throw Your Dried Sponge Strips Back into Your Plastic Container For Next Time

 Voila! You Have "Forever" Dryer Sheets! Enjoy :)

Homemade Laundry Detergent on a Budget!

If you're like me, you're a working student with a lot on your plate, but probably not a lot of money to spend.  Over the last couple of years I've been trying out some homemade household cleaners and laundry detergents as a way to save money & stretch my products out over a longer period of time.  This is the second time I've made a batch of this detergent, and I think it's amazing.  A lot of my friends have asked for the "recipe," & have begun making it for themselves & their families also.  Depending on the frequency and amount of your clothes-washing, in my own experience, one batch of this can last you anywhere from 9 months to a year.

1 (4lb. 12 oz.) Box of Borax
1 (3lb.7 oz.) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (found in the laundry aisle)
1 (3lb) Container of Oxi Clean (or comparable oxi stain fighter)
2 (14.1 oz.) Bars of Zote Soap (I found this in the laundry aisle at Walmart. You can also use a soap    called Fels Naptha)
1 (4lb.) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
1-2 (55 oz.) Purex Crystals (or Downy Unstoppables)



*I mix everything in a big bucket I got from Lowe's.

It's easiest to grate the Zote Soap with a cheese grater. I bought one especially for this so I don't have to worry about having soapy cheese in the future. Other than that, all you really have to do is dump everything in the bucket & mix it. I mixed mine with my hands, and just kept folding it over until everything felt pretty well distributed. Due to the super concentration of the ingredients, you really only need a few tablespoons per load, not nearly as much as you would normally use with a powder detergent laundry scoop.  My supplies usually cost me about $30, but considering that one batch will last you nearly a year, it roughly breaks down to about $2.50 per month.