Tag Archives: DIY

May 29, 2013

Summer Parties On A Budget

Filed under: Food, Seasonal Celebrations, Tips - Angelina
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Sylwia Baran Biography

 

 

 

 

School is officially over! Well, at least for those who aren’t taking summer courses. But whether or not you’re taking classes this summer, it’s time to enjoy this nice weather! Summer parties are great because you get to hang out outside with your friends and family, fire up the grill, and enjoy the sun.

However, throwing these parties can get a bit pricey especially if you get a bigger crowd. Here are some ideas I have for throwing a great party without spending tons of cash!

1. Homemade Drinks

People are a lot more thirsty when they’re eating outdoors with the sun blazing down on them. It is important to keep hydrated, but buying beverages can put a dent on your budget. A great way to save is to make your own! Make your own lemonade and iced teas with this easy recipe that includes water, ice, lemons, and strawberries.

Pink Strawberry Lemonade Drink

Photo © craftaholics anonymous

2. Chinese Paper Lanterns

Chinese paper lanterns are a cute addition to any party. They run on batteries and create such a great ambiance. Plus they’re fairly inexpensive! Here are some lanterns that you can use over and over again!

White Paper Lantern String Party Lights

Photo © Paper Lantern Store

3. Appetizers

No one said you have to barbecue massive amounts of meat. I love to just make a few different appetizers and put them out and let people munch on those before the grilling begins. This way, they’re not as hungry by the time the meat comes around and you won’t have to buy tons of meat. Start with stick salads. This is essentially just cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil leaves. They’re delicious and my guests always love them! Fruit is always a great thing to play with because you can make all sorts of different shapes out of it, like this hedgehog made out of watermelon.

Lettuce tomato cheese salad on a stick

Photo © POPSUGAR

With these ideas, you can throw a fun and festive party without breaking the bank. Just allow yourself some time to get creative and you can come up with anything!

Twitt
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April 23, 2013

DIY Toiletries & Cleaning Supplies

Filed under: College Life, DIY & Crafts, Money/Budget, Tips - Angelina
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Serena Piper Blogger Biography

 

 

 

 

College is where we all learn how to live frugally. Students always need to save money. However, that doesn’t mean we always see opportunities to save money. A lot of us spend what we think are small amounts of money on things we use every day (shampoo, soap, shaving cream, etc), not even realizing there is a cheaper way. Have you ever made your own toiletries or cleaning supplies? It might seem like difficult, time-wasting work, but it pays off in the long-run. Here are a few ways to get started:

1. Deodorant

For the solid kind, follow this recipe, which uses coconut oil, baking soda, and cornstarch. Want to try a spray-on? Go for this recipe, which uses only baking soda, water, and a spray bottle. If you want a nice scent to it, try adding an essential oil.

DIY Make Your Own Deodorant Craft From Scratch Supplies

Photo © One Green Planet

2. Shampoo

As the writer of this recipe notes, just a tablespoon of baking soda and a cup of hot water will make an inexpensive, yet effective, shampoo. If you want a shampoo that smells good, buy the Castile soap in the first recipe in a different scent.

DIY Make Your Own Shampoo Craft From Scratch Supplies

Photo © Money Saving Queen

3. Toothpaste

Just 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil, 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and 1 ½ teaspoons of salt will make you toothpaste! For a little flavor, add some peppermint essential oil or cinnamon.

DIY Make Your Own Toothpaste Craft From Scratch Supplies

Photo © Thankfully Thrifty

4. Countertop Cleaner

This recipe for a multi-purpose cleaner calls for quite a few ingredients, but you know what they say: a little goes a long way! The maker gave it great reviews too – this might be one I even try!

DIY Make Your Own Counter Cleaner Craft From Scratch Supplies

Photo © Our Semi Organic Life

5. Dish Soap

For liquid dish soap to wash with by hand, try this recipe. Have an automatic dishwasher? Try this one.

DIY Make Your Own Soap Craft From Scratch Supplies

Photo © MadeFromPinterest.com

6. Shower Cleaner

I like this easy recipe for doing one of the most hated household chores. All you need is borax, baking soda, vinegar, liquid soap, and warm water.

DIY Make Your Own Shower Cleaner Craft From Scratch Supplies

Photo © Whole New Mom

As you can see, a lot of these recipes require the same ingredients, so you’ll save time and money on something you can use multiple ways.

Is there anything you make to save money? Let us know in the comments!

Twitt
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April 11, 2013

Spruce Up Your Spring Wardrobe!

Filed under: DIY & Crafts, Fashion, Money/Budget, Tips - Angelina
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Darlene Megino Blogger Biography

 

 

 

 

With the seasons and weather changing, so are the latest fashion trends! If you’re on a budget or simply just want to change up your style, here are a few ideas on how to spruce up your spring wardrobe.

1. Statement Necklaces

One of this spring’s hottest trends are statement or collar necklaces. Adding something as simple as a statement necklace will transform your entire outfit. For a student on a budget, you can check out this DIY statement necklace YouTube video here:

2. Black & White Stripes

The latest trend this Spring is black and white stripes! If you’re looking to follow the trend but not hurt you wallet, here’s a couple of ways you can do it. You can easily transform a simple black or white clutch by painting black or white stripes onto them. To learn how to do this, check out this awesome video below. You can also use this simple spray painting tutorial on various other items such as heels, ballet flats or headbands!

3. Hi-Low Skirts / Dresses

Revamp your old wardrobe by changing up an old trend! Maxi skirts and dresses were so last season! Instead of buying Hi-Low skirts and dresses for this Spring, just cut up your old maxi dress and skirts. To learn how to recycle and reinvent your old maxi skirts and dress, check out this easy DIY tutorial:

By creating your own pieces and making simple changes to a few wardrobe pieces, you can definitely stay up to date on the latest trends without hurting your wallet!

Twitt
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December 8, 2012

Pinteresting DIY Gifts for the Holidays

Filed under: College Life, Money/Budget, Seasonal Celebrations, Tips - Social Community Manager
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Megan Lehman Blogger Biography

 

 

 

 

The holidays are well underway! I love buying gifts for everyone, but as college students, the holidays can be just as expensive as they are enjoyable. Thanks to this wonderful site called Pinterest, I have developed a list of great, easy, and cheap gifts that you can make yourself!  Be ready to get crafty!

1. Wine Bottle Crafts

If you are of age or know people who are, keep empty wine or alcohol bottles. Make a twine bottle: you would need is a glue gun, empty wine bottle, and twine from a local craft store. All you need to do is start with the end of the twine, use your glue gun to glue the end to the bottom of the bottle, and start wrapping the twine around the bottle. As you go, glue down the twine occasionally. Make sure you keep the twine tight and close together, so that you cannot see the bottle through the twine.  You can do this with ribbon too! There are a lot of possibilities with wine bottles.

DIY Twine Bottle Craft

Photo © It's Great To Be Home

2. Ornaments

You can also get super creative with ornaments. Find some plain ones and grab the glue and glitter. You can make a design on the ornament with the glue. While the glue is still wet, throw the glitter all over it and let it dry.  Make a bunch of these and you just made new decorations for a loved one’s tree! Get creative and incorporate something they love into the design!

DIY Glitter Ornament Craft

Photo © Vitamini

3. Baked Goods

Everyone loves baked goods. Check out the recipes on Pinterest for some awesome ideas! Plus, you can be that person that everyone envies for bringing the best food to the Christmas party.

Baked Holiday Christmas Cookies

Photo © wildolive

4. Scarves, Hats, and Blankets

Know how to crochet or knit? Use the skill to make an awesome scarf for everyone! Pinterest has some awesome tutorials for how-to’s that can help anyone from beginner to pro. It’s not just an easy gift, it’s a pretty fun hobby and very easy to learn.

DIY Handmade Knitted Winter Scarf

Photo © skymagenta

These are just a few examples of crafty gifts you can make and give, don’t be afraid to get creative and come up with your own! Be sure to like my Facebook page or follow me on Twitter and let me know what you do for this holiday season. Take pictures and send steps! Best entry will be given the title of “Craftiest Gift Giver,” and will receive a secret prize! Let the crafting begin!

Twitt
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October 8, 2012

3 Cheap Ways to Spruce Up Your Dorm / Apartment

Filed under: College Life, Money/Budget, Tips - BookRenter Team
Tags: , , , ,

 

 

 

 

Dorms or apartments can be dreadful, especially if it’s your first year away from home. Make it your own and then you will feel more than welcome! Here are some dorm décor ideas to spruce up those boring old rooms!

1. Gift-Wrap Wallpaper

Dorm room and apartment walls can be a such a bore! Add a splash of personality by decorating your wall. This DIY project is cheap, easy and only requires a couple items: 2-3 rolls of gift-wrap paper, thumb-tacks, scissors and tape. Tack on two thumbtacks to the edges of the gift-wrap paper. Make sure you align the edges parallel to the ceiling and then let the gift-wrap roll all the way down to the floor. Cut off the gift-wrap paper parallel to the floor using the scissors and fold it inwards to have a straight-edge look at the bottom. Secure the bottom by tacking on thumbtacks to the bottom as well. Use pieces of tape to hold down the top, sides, and bottom of the gift-wrap paper. Repeat steps 1-3 until you have run out of wall space. Now, you should have your own customized wall design that everyone will envy!

Green Decorative Wallpaper Wrapping Paper

Photo © The Shabby Nest

2. Can Pen Holders

Need some inexpensive yet chic way to store your pens and pencils? Here’s a way to recycle some of your empty cans! All you need is a can opener, nail file and a few empty cans. Go ahead and take the empty soda can and remove the entire top portion and then file down the sharp edges of the can and rinse it out with soap and water. Let it dry and voila! You have yourself an awesome pen/pencil holder.

Fabric Covered Can Pencil Holder

Photo © Making This Home

3. Clothespin Photos

Why buy frames or tape photos on your wall? Here’s a unique, cheap and artistic way of posting photos onto your wall! All you need is some ribbon, clothespins, thumbtacks and your favorite memorable photographs! Cut the ribbon to size and tack thumbtacks onto each end. Evenly space out the areas in which you’d like to post your photos, use the clothes pins to create markers. Hang the photos in place using the clothespins and now you have a cool way of displaying photos!

Photos Hanging from Clothes Pin Line Inside

Photo © My, oh my! D.I.Y.

No need to splurge all your money on dorm/ apartment décor! Try these DIY décor projects and save even more cash! Can’t get enough of these DIY projects? Well, check out this website for different ideas on how to add a splash of your personality into your dorm/apartment!

Twitt
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