Here is another fast and frugal craft you can make for your Christmas gift giving-a printable tea towel calendar! All you need for this craft is a tea towel (or two if you want to make the cool background like in the picture below) and some of that special iron on paper for your printer…. Keep Reading
DIY Apothecary Jars
Love the look of those glass apothecary jars in decorating magazines, but gasp at the price when you see them in the store? Never fear! I’ve got a super frugal tutorial that will give you great, one of a kind Apothecary Jars that can fit into anyone’s budget. You don’t even have to be all… Keep Reading
DIY I Spy Jar (Make it for Christmas)
This one is a great present for the kids in your life-big and small! An I Spy Jar (also called a treasure jar or Eye Spy Jar) is simply a sealed clear jar filled with small “treasures” hidden in rice, beads or small pasta. You attach a list with all the items hidden inside-you have… Keep Reading
DIY Button Earrings (Make it for Christmas)
The holidays will soon be upon us, so once a week I will be featuring a great DIY project / tutorial from around the internet that would make a fabulous frugal Christmas gift. I’m kicking things off with simple yet stylish button earrings. You could easily whip up a pair of Button Earrings for every… Keep Reading
DIY: The Halloween Hand
Need a quick, cute and and frugal Halloween themed treat for your child’s classroom, a holiday party or just for fun? Try making Halloween Hands! Not only are these adorable, but they are also fairly low sugar-a fact that teachers and parents alike will appreciate. This video tutorial will show you how simple they are… Keep Reading
DIY: Frugal Halloween Trash Bag Wreath
Looking for a Halloween decorating project that is easy, inexpensive and looks great? Try making a frugal Halloween Trash Bag Wreath-not only is it “all of the above” it will also last for years! For those of you without the time (or patience) to watch a 3 minute video (*pthhth!*) here is the written tutorial:… Keep Reading
Tutorial: Coiled Magazine Paper Bowls
As I’ve mentioned before-I’ve been fascinated with paper crafts this year. It really appeals to my frugal nature to make something lovely out of junk mail, catalogs, old books and magazines! I already tried making folded paper books, so it was time to try something interesting with magazines and catalogs. Coiled Magazine Paper Bowls are… Keep Reading
Reader’s Question: Homemade Shower Spray Recipe?
Dear Frugal Upstate, I’m looking for how to make a frugal/homemade solutions comparable to Tilex or Arm & Harmmer’s “Clean Shower”. They are everyday shower sprays and I love just spritzing versus wiping down the ceramic tiles! Has anyone come up with a frugal solution? Thanks! A Loyal Reader Great question! Cleaning really isn’t one… Keep Reading
DIY: Folded Paper Books
I have been fascinated this year with the idea of crafting with old books, magazines & junk mail to make functional or decorative items. There is just something alluring about the idea of making beauty out of what some would call junk. . . part recycling, part artistry~but completely “one of a kind”. The first… Keep Reading
FLIA: Making Breadcrumbs
It’s the little frugalities in lfe that we sometimes forget to talk about-like tossing a bunch of breads odds & ends on some racks to dry out so I can make homemade breadcrumbs to store in the freezer. Using up those odds & ends instead of letting them get moldy then throwing them out…well that’s… Keep Reading
