2011 Goals: Share More/Organize More - Repurposing Vintage Pillowcase Fabric To Cover Bulletin Board With Tutorial!

As you know, I have set goals for 2011 to Organize More and I have started with my "studioffice."  You can read about that ongoing adventure HERE.  Earlier this week, I gathered an old bulletin board, some thrift store/Habitat ReStore items, and a can of ivory spray paint:

 

Bulletin Board - Already had

Clock - Paid $2

Tissue Box Cover - Paid $1

Lamp - Paid $5

Yummy Vintage Pillowcases - $1 each

 Here is a closeup of the pillowcases.  The pillowcase on the right has already been cut to put on the bulletin board.  I washed the pillowcases and then simply trimmed along the seams, opened it out, and ironed it.  Super easy!

DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1:

Spray paint the bulletin board frame with ivory paint and allow 

to dry completely.

 Step 2:
Remove cork from frame.  I had the hubby pull the frame apart at the
corner and we worked the cork out of the frame.

Step 3:
Apply spray adhesive (I used the kind for quilt basting that
I already had on hand) to the cork and smooth the fabric
over the adhesive, wrapping around the sides to the back.

Step 4:
Return cork to frame and secure.

Step 5:
Hang and enjoy!

The pillowcase that I used was very, very old.  There were a few "rust" stains on it and there is a permanent crease in the fabric that would not iron out.  I will be covering the flaws when I hang items on it anyway, so why not let this gorgeous piece of vintage goodness breathe new life into my "studioffice?"

I will be sharing the other finished items soon, so be looking for those!  I can't WAIT to share the lamp!!

Have a Blessed Day!!

Katie Burke

Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator

Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

http://www.bellabdesigns.com/

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!

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LINKING TO THESE PARTIES:

   

   

2011 Goals - Share More/Spend Less: Share More Monday - Frugal Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

This week's Monday Share is
Frugal Homemade Dishwasher Detergent!

Ingredients Needed

1 cup Borax

1 cup Washing Soda
20 packs of lemonaid Kool-Aid
1/2 cup kosher salt
Knee-high panty hose
Rice

Instructions

Fill a container (with tight-fitting lid) with all ingredients. 

Add 1 cup of Borax:

Add 1 cup of Washing Soda

Add 20 packets of Lemonaid Kool-Aid

Add 1/2 Cup of Kosher Salt

Close lid and shake to mix all ingredients well. 

Fill the "toe" of a knee-high pantyhose with

a handful of rice and tie tightly.

Add this to the mixture to prevent clumping.

Now you are ready to wash your dishes!

Use 1 tablespoon per load by adding to detergent

reservoir on your dishwasher.

Fill rinse agent dispenser with white vinegar

to prevent spots.

Simple, easy, frugal, and no harmful chemicals!!

For more frugal homemade cleaning recipes, visit HERE and HERE!

Come back next Monday to learn about amazing nontoxic

cleaning for surfaces using just tiny drops of solution

and plain water.  A little goes a LONG way with

incredible cleaning power and NO CHEMICALS!

Have a Blessed Day!!

Katie Burke

Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator

Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

http://www.bellabdesigns.com/

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!

"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!
Visit My Demo Service Site - I Blog For Demos!

2011 Goals - Share More/Spend Less: Share More Monday - Frugal Homemade Fabric Softener

In an effort to focus on spending less as 1 of my goals for 2011,
I began researching homemade laundry detergent online.
I was able to come up with a recipe that works wonderfully for me
and I shared it last Monday HERE. 

This week's Monday Share is
Frugal Homemade Fabric Softener!
I am sharing my recipe with you today in an
effort to show you how to remove dangerous chemicals
and toxins from your clothing (it touches you all day folks!)
and also to save money by going back to basics. 
Here is ALL that you need:

Ingredients:

Vinegar

Aluminum Foil

Lingerie Bag

Water (optional)

Directions:

STEP 1 - Fabric Softener in the Washer:

Take your vinegar and (instead of store-bought fabric softener)

pour it into your fabric softener dispenser or "Downy ball".  

Do your laundry as normal! 

NOTE:  I do not like the smell of vinegar at all, so I have been cutting

the vinegar 50/50 with 1 part vinegar and 1 part water and using it

instead of the plain vinegar.  It works just as well as

full strength without the smell during the wash cycle. 

Vinegar also doubles as a natural deodorizer.... and it is CHEAP!!

If you have a house full of sweaty "man stink" clothes during

the heat of a Georgia summer, vinegar is the perfect solution to

skunky socks and smelly shirts... TRUST ME - It works!! 

STEP 2 - Aluminum Foil in the Dryer:

Yep, you read that right!  Aluminum foil!

Simply take a few pieces of aluminum foil and wad them up. 

I cut each of mine to about the length of a cookie sheet.

Take your aluminum foil "balls" and put them into a zippered lingerie bag.

Toss it in the dryer with your clothes and forget about it!

That's it... and it WORKS!!

Now how much simpler could fabric softening be?? 

No fuss.  No muss.  No static!

Check Back Next Monday for

Homemade Frugal Dishwasher Detergent!

I will be doing a post on dishwasher detergent

next Monday, so be sure to check back! 

You will LOVE how simple it is

and it costs LITERALLY pennies per load! 

I hope you have enjoyed learning about homemade fabric softener!

Comments make me smile!
I would love to hear your thoughts! 
Leave me a Comment below!
Have a Blessed Day!!

Katie Burke

Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator

Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

http://www.bellabdesigns.com/

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!

"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!
Visit My Demonstrator Service Site - I Blog For Demos!

2011 Goals - Share More/Spend Less: Share More Monday - Homemade Laundry Detergent

In an effort to focus on spending less as 1 of my goals for 2011, I began researching homemade laundry detergent online.  I found recipes for liquid detergent, as well as powder detergent.  I will be honest, I don't like powder detergent (at least the store-bought kind!).  I did not, however, have any desire to make up a batch of liquid detergent in a huge bucket to sit in my laundry room.  I am trying to declutter and adding anything else to my laundry room would be a step in the wrong direction. 

After lots of research, I formulated my own recipe for powdered laundry detergent that is based on all of the research I had done online.  I am sharing my recipe with you today in an effort to show you how to remove dangerous chemicals and toxins from your clothing (it touches you all day folks!) and also to save money by going back to basics

This recipe is super simple and may remind you of the smell of your grandmother's laundry room!

Ingredients:

1 Box of Borax

1 Large Box of BAKING Soda

1 Large Box of Super WASHING Soda

1 Bar of Fels-Naphtha

Other Needs:

Container(s) for Finished Detergent

1 cup Measuring Cup

Bowl

Cheese Shredder

Food Processor (optional)

Directions:

STEP 1:

In your empty container, add 1 cup of Borax...

..... and 1 cup of Washing Soda.

I am making 4 batches at the same time...

STEP 2:

Next, get your bowl, cheese shredder,

and 1 bar of Fels-Naptha...

Shred the Fels-Naphta.

Don't leave this sitting around in the bowl unattended!  

My kids thought it was cheese.... just sayin!!

STEP 3:

Add 1 cup of Baking Soda to the Fels-Naptha shreds.

STEP 4:

Add the mix of Baking Soda and Fels-Naptha to a food

processor.  I use a tiny one I bought for cheap!

You can hand-stir the mixture, but I have well water

and wanted to be SURE that the soap dissolves completely.

This is what it looks like after it has been processed:

STEP 5:

Add your chopped mixture to the container of

Borax and Washing Soda from earlier.

STEP 6:

Secure the lid on your container and shake, mix,

and tumble the mixture around until it is completely

mixed up.  Again, I have made 4 batches at once.

STEP 7:

Wash until your heart is content!  The beauty of this recipe is that

it only requires 1 TABLESPOON of mix per regular load of laundry!!

If you have heavily soiled laundry or if you feel that your water is too

hard to wash with the 1 tablespoon then 2 tablespoons may be used.

FAQ #1 - How Much Does it Make/Cost?

I purchased my products at Walmart, but they can certainly be found

elsewhere, including grocery stores. 

Borax = $3.36

Washing Soda = $2.77

Baking Soda = $2.16

Fels-Naptha =$0.97

I was able to make 5 batches from the powders listed above. 

You then have to add in the cost of 1 bar of Fels-Naptha per batch. 

This means you end up spending only $2.63 per batch!!

FAQ #2 - How Much Savings?

I generally wash at least 1 load of laundry every day. 

Using the recommended 1 tablespoon

of homemade detergent recipe,

it lasts me approximately a month!

Considering I was spending $9.97 for store-bought detergent

and another $4.97 for fabric softener

every 2 to 3 weeks, it is a HUGE savings!

FAQ #5 - How Does It Smell?

It smells wonderful!  The powders themselves do not really

have a smell, but the Fels-Naptha has a pleasant, fresh

smell.  You can add essential oils to the wash water if you

prefer a different smell, but I do not see any need to do so.

FAQ #4 - What About Fabric Softener?

I will be doing a separate post on fabric softener

next Monday, so be sure to check back! 

You will LOVE how simple it is

and it costs LITERALLY pennies! 

I hope you have enjoyed learning about homemade laundry detergent!

Comments make me smile!
I would love to hear your thoughts! 
Leave me a Comment below!

Have a Blessed Day!!

Katie Burke

Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator

Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

http://www.bellabdesigns.com/

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!

"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!

Free Workshop - All Profits Go to Relay For Life

You are invited to a Make and Take Workshop
04/18/2011 at 4:30 pm

New Mountain Hill Elementary Art Room
33 Mountain Hill Road; Fortson, GA

No artistic talent needed!
Each attendee will take home a FREE handmade card.
We will be using the gorgeous
Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper!

Workshop is FREE. 

100% of profits from Stampin' Up!® orders,
as well as any donations will go directly to
the New Mountain Hill Elementary School
Relay For Life Team!

Light Snack Provided!

COME JOIN US FOR THE FUN!

Have a Blessed Day!!

Katie Burke

Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator

Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

http://www.bellabdesigns.com/

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!

"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!

Please Help The Landreau Family

Most of you know that I am a proud firefighter's wife, as well as the daughter of a man who lost a hard-fought battle with leukemia.  Chris Landreau (26 years old) is a fireman who has recently been diagnosed with stage IV T-Cell Lymphoma.  He serves the citizens of Coweta County, Georgia, and may well have been one of the firefighters that responded to help my Dad so many times when he was sick. 

Corbette Jackson wrote the song "Heart of  a Champion" about Chris: 

WAYS YOU CAN HELP THE LANDREAU FAMILY: 

• Pray. 
• Download "Heart of a Champion" on itunes.  Corbette Jackson is donating all proceeds from itunes downloads of this song to the Landreau Family.  Please consider downloading to help this fellow "fire family" as they face the journey before them. 
• Visit Chris Landreau's page at http://www.helpafireman.com/Chris_Landreau.html.  They are selling T-shirts to benefit the Landreau Family.  You will also find listings of all of the benefits and activities in his honor. 
• Donate firefighter-themed fabric to Daddy's Dreams for a special quilt.  100% cotton and/or cotton flannel material.  Mail to PO Box 1151; Pine Mountain, GA  31822-1151.  You may also email me with questions at katie.bellabdesigns@gmail.com. 
• Share this post with everyone you know. 

As this family faces the challenges of the future, please lift them in prayer and share what resources you can to make the coming months a little easier. 

Have a Blessed Day!! 







Katie Burke
Stampin Up!® Independent Demonstrator

Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

http://www.bellabdesigns.com/

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!

"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!



Celebrate National Craft Month With A Springtime Vintage Bundle!!

*PHOTOS COMING SOON - I am with my mom after knee surgery and don't have access to my usual computer functions.  Will also announce an additional bundle when I get home!

Combine this fantastic bundle with Sale-A-Bration rewards for an amazing opportunity to score big on exclusive Stampin Up!® products!   When you order my SPRINGTIME VINTAGE BUNDLE for only $50.00 (before shipping/tax), you will receive the following:   

• Your Choice Of: 
• Springtime Vintage DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (item 121782):  This paper brings to mind 1930s vintage springtime gardens and parlors. 12 sheets total: 2 ea. of 6 double-sided designs. 12" x 12". Acid and lignin free.  Coordinating Stampin’ Up!® Colors are Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake, River Rock, Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke
  - OR -
• Springtime Vintage DESIGNER FABRIC (item 121817):  Includes 1 each of 3 coordinating designs.  Extra-wide fat quarter size; each piece approximately 28" x 18".  100% cotton.  Coordinates with Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake, River Rock, Very Vanilla, and Always Artichoke.  Coordinates with Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper and Springtime Vintage Big Designer Buttons.  Use with 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon in coordinating colors for perfect finished look.   
• Big Designer Buttons (item 122301):  Custom-colored buttons in a fun style and large size.  Colors coordinate with Springtime Vintage suite.  48 total pieces, 4 ea. of 3 designs in 4 colors. Fourhole:  1" diam.; two-hole: 3/4" diam. Shown at 50%.  Crumb Cake, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz, Night of Navy. 
• Rosettes (item 118774):  These adorable ribbon flowers make quick and pretty accents. Dye with Classic Stampin’ Ink to create flowers that coordinate with any of our exclusive colors.  Adhere easily with our Mini Glue Dots (IB&C 197).  Each assortment contains 18 pieces total, 6 each of 3 sizes: approx. 1/2", 3/4", and 1". 100% polyester.  Vanilla (18)
• Your Choice of 2 rolls of 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon!  Soft and flowing seam binding ribbon that drapes like silk. Adds a delicate look to your creations! 1/2" wide, approx. 10 yds.
• 120999 Very Vanilla
• 120992 Cherry Cobbler
• 121000 Always Artichoke
• 122331 Baja Breeze
• 122332 Crumb Cake
• 122330 Pear Pizzazz
• 121884 Rose Red
• Vintage Flower Adornments (item 121879):  Cute vintage flowers reminiscent of treasures you would find in grandma’s jewelry box. Perfect accents for any project! Adhere easily with our Mini Glue Dots® Includes 24 pieces: 8 ea. of 3 colors. Very Vanilla, Rose Red, Baja Breeze.  
• FREEBIES OF YOUR CHOICE!! 
• Choose any 1 product from the Sale-A-Bration Catalog for FREE!!  You can see the selection HERE. 
• Choose 1 additional pack of either Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper or Designer Fabric!! 
• Also earn a punch on your VIP Customer Loyalty Card!! 

Offer good through 03/12/2010

Place orders with

Katie Burke, Stampin’ Up!® Independent Demonstrator:

(706)594-8088 or katie.bellabdeigns@gmail.com

Katie Burke
Stampin Up!® Independent Demonstrator

Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

http://www.bellabdesigns.com/

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!

"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!

Creative Idea - Friend Card

Stamps
• Sew Suite*
• You’re a Gem*

Paper
• Daffodil Delight Card Stock
• Early Espresso Card Stock
• Melon Mambo Card Stock
• Tangerine Tango Card Stock
• Whisper White Card Stock
• Sweet Stitches Designer Series Paper*

Ink
• Early Espresso Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Melon Mambo Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin’ Pad

Accessories
• Daffodil Delight Pompom Trim*
• Melon Mambo Pompom Trim*
• Sweet Stitches Designer Big Buttons*
• Rhinestone Basic Jewels
• Stampin’ Dimensionals
• Eyelet Border Punch
• Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack
• White crochet thread

*From the 2011 Occasions Mini Catalog

As always, you can order 24/7 from my online store by clicking HERE!   Thanks for stopping by! 







Katie Burke
Stampin Up!® Independent Demonstrator

Pine Mountain / LaGrange, Georgia

http://www.bellabdesigns.com/

Inspire. Create. Share.

Click HERE to place your online order 24/7!

"Like" me on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Exclusive offers!