I originally posted this on my family blog two years ago...and recently came across it. It is exactly what I needed to read today.As the weather turns cold and the Christmas preparations begin, I have been thinking back to one that wasn't like any other Christmas I had ever known. It was one that was hot, very hot, windy, dusty and wonderful.I was into the second Christmas of my mission and on a tiny African island in the middle of the sea where the people I served had little to any material ... View the Post
$5 Christmas—An Infinity Scarf
While perusing the local dollar store a couple of weeks ago {please tell me that I am not the only one}, I saw a stack of sweatpants sitting in a bottom bin. And the fabric hoarder voice in me said, "hmmm.....that's a lot of fabric for a dollar." And so I bought a pair of size XXL purple fleece sweatpants and threw them in my "to be sewn pile." Well, then one afternoon, I pulled them out and saw that the inside was a soft fleece and a very pretty purple color and decided to do something with ... View the Post
$5 Christmas—Button Garlands
I've always loved buttons. (Even when I was a kid I'd hide them away in little stashes.) So when Elizabeth and I started talking about all the different Christmas items we could make for less that $5 I knew I'd have to do something with buttons. Here's what I came up with: I kind of love it. I took a bag of white and clear buttons that I had laying around downstairs in a ziplock bag, strung them on some white thread and hung them on my Christmas tree for trim. It was easy and free. (You ... View the Post
$5 Christmas—Felt Bow Jewelry
Hannie wanted to make some gifts for her friends and we needed some gifts for some tween and teen cousins, so we sat down one afternoon and made a couple of presents. Felt bow rings for Hannie's friends and a necklace and ring set for the cousins. I ordered all the supplies off etsy or ebay and they are super reasonable.....and if you don't want to put felt bows on them....you could do anything you want on the front of them. We got 20 ring backs for about $5 (they are even cheaper in larger ... View the Post
$5 Christmas: Placemats
I am making up the 98 cents today. These placemats cost $4 and look like they cost a lot more. {Don't you love projects like that?} I used these placemats from the dollar store that I walked by several times and then finally went back to pick them up. They really don't look "dollar store" in real life. The fabric has almost a raw silk/ shantung look that is prettier in real life than the pictures. And the oatmeal color is a pretty color with the white holly leaves. My dollar store ... View the Post
Holiday Party Games for All Ages and all Under $5
First of all let me apologize for the super long, million picture post that is to follow. (Actually, I'm not really sorry. These games really are fun and the picture explains them better than my words can.) Secondly, I can't take credit for any of these games because #1 my parents organized all these games and #2 the ideas came from the TV game show Minute to Win It. (And they have a list of all of their games, the rules and needed supplies HERE. The list is huge and there are tons of fun ... View the Post