DIY No-Sew Swag Drapes, Curtains with Recycled Bed Sheets

Frugal is my middle name. DIY are my initials and resourceful is my main character trait. I'm always looking for ways to create expensive decor with recycled materials. Today's tip: reuse top sheets for no-sew swag curtains. When I buy a package of sheets or bed in a bag, I don't use the enclosed top sheets. For me, they are just something extra to wash and an extra step in the bed making process. So what do I do with all the extra top sheets? I have quite a few uses actually. For those with a little sewing experience and a sewing machine, you can create a lovely set of matched window curtain from one top sheet. You can also create a curtain for a closet door. Read more

Cheap Holiday Home Decor on a Shoestring

I'm the original frugalista. In home decor, I'm all about recycled, cheap and (my favorite) free. At Christmas, I save big with homemade, re-purposed decorations. Here's my guide to decorating for the holidays on a shoestring. Tasteful holiday decorations at prices even we cheapskates can stomach!  read more

Halloween Decor, Trick-or-Treat Spending Trends

Halloween is a controversial holiday. While parents are buying record numbers of children's costumes , other parents object to Halloween. Despite concerns of stranger danger, candy safety, religious issues and the fear factor, more parents are celebrating Halloween with their kids. In fact, spending on Halloween, including costumes, candy and decorations, is up. Despite unemployment, under employment and rising costs not commensurate with earnings, people are spending more on Halloween.

Before I give you the Halloween facts and figures, here are some suggestions--DIY-it. Make your own costumes and decorations and save drastically. My youngest wanted a $60 Teletubbies costume for Halloween this year. Now this was no problem when it was our money that would be spent. When I suggested she spend her own $, her tune changed fast. Now she's thinking homemade is a good idea. You can do the same with decorations. Use a few recycled sheets, some cotton stuffing from an old pillow and whip up spooky haunted decor cheap and easy. Read on. Facts About Parenting, Halloween and Trick-or-Treat Trends

How to Fix Damaged Walls--Wallpaper, Drywall, Paneling

Isn't it amazing how quickly walls get marred just in daily wear? I have lived in older homes all of my life. In my past 20 years of marriage and family, I have refurbished many a damaged wall: from drywall, to paneling, to stucco and plaster. To begin with, wipe down your walls occasionally with a soft cloth or feather duster. This will keep filth and cobwebs from accumulating. A damp cloth will clean up many messes. For more information, read on How to Fix Damaged Walls 

Cheap Repairs for Ugly, Damaged Walls

Isn't it amazing how quickly and easily walls in our homes get marred, scuffed, and damaged just in daily wear? I have lived in older homes all of my life. In my past 20 years of marriage and family, I have refurbished many a damaged wall: from drywall, to paneling, to stucco and plaster. To begin with, wipe down your walls occasionally with a soft cloth or feather duster. This will keep filth and cobwebs from accumulating. A damp cloth will clean up many messes. How to Fix Ugly or Damaged Walls

Cheap Kids Room Decor--Kids Bed Play Fort or Loft Bed Play House

Looking for cheap kids room decor? You've seen those cute play forts that come attached to a bunk bed or loft bed. They're pricey and not well made. You can make your own. Here's a plan for a cheap kids bunk bed play fort. And you don't have to be Sally Seamstress to make it! We've all got that friend who's a crafting diva. She whips up play forts for her kids and still looks like something out of Vogue. Her's has cute little windows, a door and probably a Jacuzzi somewhere. Her kids gloat over their cool new play area. Your kids cast wistful sidelong glances at you. You stand by feeling like a pretty sorry mom who not only has no time, but also no inclination to make a play fort for her kids' beds. But as I said, you don't have to be Domestica, the DIY to make this kids room play fort. You also don't have to be a Rockafeller. Here's my easy, no-sew cheapie alternative. How to Make a Play Fort from a Loft or Bunk Bed - Yahoo! Voices

Free Printable Halloween Party Decorations, Craft Activities

It's that time of year again. Time to scare and be scared. This Halloween, I've got even more free printable craft fun than ever before. I found a new website with literally hundreds of links for free printable paper crafts, toys, masks, costumes and Halloween fun. Frightfully fun free printables for Trick or Treat or autumn harvest decorations for fall Thanksgiving themes.  Free Printable Halloween Paper Toys, Masks, Party Decorations and Craft Activities

Ladder Safety Tips from OSHA and Federal Workplace Safety Guidelines

Ladder Safety 101: Tips from OSHA and Federal Workplace Safety Guidelines Ladder accidents account for over 220,000 injuries annually, according High Beam Research. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) studies have shown that 100% of these accidents could have been prevented using proper ladder safety. What safety precautions are necessary when using a ladder at home or on the job? These ladder safety tips are not difficult, time-consuming or expensive to observe.

-Whenever possible, use scaffolding instead of ladders to complete jobs. Scaffolding affords a flat working surface as opposed to a tilted work surface. Scaffolding offers a place to assemble tools and supplies. If you do not own scaffolding, consider renting it for exterior home improvement projects, such as roofing, painting, installing windows and siding installation and repair. Rental services offer many styles of scaffolding to rent. Read more...