Soda Can (Beer Can) Coasters.

Simply empty out some cans of your choice and rinse them out with water.  Then take some tin snips and very carefully cut off the top and bottom of the can.  This can be a bit tricky.  

**But be very careful as these cans are super sharp!**  

I suggest wearing garden gloves while cutting to help give you extra protection.   Be sure to save as much of the flat part of the side of the can so that you can get a nice size square for your coasters.  Then cut down the seam of the can.  Most cans will have a definite seam on the side…usually by the ingredient list. Then I took some Silicone and put a good amount on the back of the square.  

I then attached them to some simple white tiles that measured 4 by 4 inches.  I found them at Lowes in the tile aisle and I believe they were $1.25 for four of then.  Flatten and rub the tin square so that it is securely attached.  Wipe any excess Silicone off the top of the tile with a damp warm cloth. Then I set a paper towel on the top of it and laid a pile of books on it and let them dry over night!  The next day I took a good amount Mod Podge glue over the top of it to seal it all off so that the edges would not peel up and to protect the edges from poking or scratching any users of the coasters. It will look cloudy, But will dry clear..Then simply place some felt pads on the bottom of the coasters to protect your table top from getting scratched!

Aren’t they fun?  I think they would be great to have in your TV room or game room.

Diaper inserts

Make your own gDiaper insert

 instructions were based off of Jedigurl's tutorial here: http://www.jedigurl.com/crafts/patterns/Making_a_gDiaper_insert.pdf
 

Materials: I chose to use microfiber as an absorbent layer because it was easy for me to get and inexpensive. 

I bought a 34 pack of 14”x14” microfiber auto cleaning cloths at BJ's and this was enough for 17 of my inserts.  Microfiber is so absorbent that it will dry out your baby’s skin if it rubs against it, possibly causing a rash, so it’s best to cover it with another layer of fabric.

 *If are making these for a Pocket diaper you will not need to cover it. See direction at the bottom *

 I picked fleece for the top layer to provide a dry feeling for the baby. I was worried about 

my hubby possibly putting the insert in the diaper upside down, so I choose 

100% cotton solid color for the bottom layer to completely enclose the microfiber. 

PREWASH all of your fabric! 

Pattern: I made the pattern for my inserts out of paper.  (Just ignore any clipping which 

might happen at the edge of the image and print it out at 100%) The larger shape is half 

of a M/L gDiaper insert and the smaller one is half of the size small. Just place the 

straight edge along a fold in the newspaper to make it twice as long. 

M/L is 5.25” x 13”

S is 4.5 x 11

Cutting: Pin the pattern to your fabric for the top and bottom layers of your insert and cut it out. Cut out 2 layers of microfiber in 4.75” by 12.5” rectangles (4”x10.5” for smalls)Sewing: Lay the 2 layers of microfiber 

down on the WRONG side of the bottom layer, centering them.

Stitch from the edge of the bottom layer. This should be about from the edge of the microfiber. It’s important to stitch through all 3 layers the entire way around.

Trim off any microfiber that you can see from the other side of the flannel, like at the corners. Place the fleece on top of the microfiber layers, right side up. Pin in place and sew around the edges with a zig-zag stitch. 

 This is what the insert looks like in a size medium/Large gDiaper.

~*~*~*~*~

Pocket diapers directions:

  You can use the same measurement as above, for this insert I wanted it bigger for an older child at night..

Once you know what size you want then you ca trace it and cut it out, I used two microfiber car shams 

(6 layers of absorbency).  

Stitch all the layers together with the zig-zag stitch. I did this one 3 layers at a time, than sewed it all together.

This is mine next a microfiber insert I bought. Enjoy!

DIY laundry soap

Are you tired of buying expensive laundry soap? 

Well..with a family of seven I was, so I found a recipe for homemade laundry soap. This stuff is awesome because it's way stronger then the store bought laundry soap. You only have to use 1 Tablespoon per load. I'm thinking it will last about 9 months (We do about 8 loads a week). 9 months of laundry soap for less than $10, have I got you interested yet?

What you'll need: 

• 1 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent isle

• 1  box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent isle

• 3 bars of Fels-naptha soap, found in the detergent isle

You should be able to find all of these items at your grocery store,(I was surprised to find it on all on the same shelf). This detergent is fairly mild smelling, it's not over powering. If you love a strong scent you may have to add a essential oils also (I used lilac scent). 

**I plan on using this for cloth diapers also, but I may omit the Fels-naptha soup not sure yet.**  UPDATE: Soap (including Fels-Naptha) should not be used because of the residue issues.

 Now that you have everything you need let's get grating. Start out by grating your Fels-naptha soap just like cheese. You can use a food processor or just use your hand held grater, what ever you have. This is the part my kids love to do! 

I decided to put the mixture in a container with a lid lined with a trash bag, (this way the little ones don't use it as a sand box & it will stay air tight). 

 Next add the boxs of Borax, Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, Essental oils (optional) and mix well. Don't worry about the Fels-naptha soap it will melt in any cycle, even cold.

Wasn't that easy? You just made soap..Enjoy!