I have been so busy.

I have been busy as of late. We had to replace our washer and dryer. Dryer went out a few months ago, which was okay. I could hang the clothes outside then just fluff them in the dryer a bit and they were good to go. But then the washer decided to quit on us. Boy trying to find a set now days at a reasonable price is hard. We did get a set finally. Then we got sold a bad bill of goods. They guy sold us a GE set, mind you we love the dryer but the washer was a different story. 
It was what they called a low agitator washer and water sensing machine. If you have never had one of these I strongly suggest you DO NOT get one. With out the agitator your clothes do not get washed well, then on top of that the water sensor does not fill up the machine full of water like you would expect. So your clothes don't always get fully wet. 
Long story short I complained and after 2 weeks I got a new washer- another GE but with 5 water levels and a regular agitator. 
Now I am happy.
But what has kept me so busy is I have been making my jewelry and getting it listed.
Here are just some of the new pieces I have listed as of late.

 Bird Watching Necklace

 Blue Mother of Pearl Silver Earrings 

 Brown Mother of Pearl Silver Earrings

 Blue & White Mother of Pearl Silver Earrings

 Brown & White Mother of Pearl Silver Earrings

 Caged Fushia Earrings

 Memory Wire Bracelet, Swarovski Crystals, Pink-Hearts

 Memory Wire Bracelet Pink-Blue

 Memory Wire Bracelet Sea Shells

 White Mother of Pearl Silver Earrings

 Memory Wire Bracelet Gold-Silver

So I hope this finds you all well.
I have been reading your blogs just haven't had the time to post myself, but 
hopefully I can get back to that now that things have slowed down a bit. 
I can't believe school has started already for some. My grand kids start the first week in September. 

Have you ever tried Oregon Chai Tea?

This stuff is delicious in my opinion. But is also good for you. With the ingredients in it - it helps to rev up your metabolism. It comes in a canister like this, dry style so all you have to do is add hot water and you're good to go. Or it comes in a box of liquid form. I prefer the dry form. 

Well anyways this stuff isn't cheap at $4.99 a canister. So I searched online and found a recipe I could make at home. I am all about saving money as most of you know. It does take several ingredients but most we already have at home if you bake. 

I have to admit I really hoped the recipe would taste as good as the real thing. WELL it came pretty close. So this is in my cupboard now instead of the expensive priced item. One batch lasts Mr. L. and I one week. That's with us each drinking about 2 cups a day. We only use 1 heaping spoonful in our cup- it tastes that good.

1/2 c. instant tea

1/2 c. instant milk (powdered milk)

1/4 c. powdered creamer (coffee mate or the like)

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 tea. cinnamon

1/2 tea. ginger

1/4 tea. nutmeg

1/4 tea. ground cloves

1/4 tea. allspice

1/8 tea. white pepper

Mix all together and mix well. Put in tight sealed container. 

Use 1-2 heaping spoons per cup of hot water. ENJOY...

This can be doubled if you'd like to make a bigger batch.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Second time this week. Mr. L. loves my homemade chicken noodle soup. So thought I would make him up another batch today.
Only this time I thought I would share it with you. As the other batch got eaten up so fast I didn't get a chance to take a picture of it.

I have to leave out one special ingredient when making this as Mr. L. doesn't like onions, so I use radishes instead. It still  puts the color in and adds a different taste to the dish.
I make this all in one pot. It is a 2 quart pot.
I start with just plain ole water, then add 3 cubes of chicken broth. Add any seasonings you may want at this time.
I can get a 12.5 oz. can of chunk chicken at my Adli's store. I put the whole thing in the water, juice and all. Letting this cook on high while I am cutting the ingredients to go in the pot.
Then I add a hand full of diced small carrots.
Along with 3 stalks of diced celery.
I added 5-6 radishes diced up to the pot.
Let this continue to cook on high while you add a half bag of noodles. It will come to a rolling boil again. Stir often. Let this cook for about 7 minutes. Then turn off the heat and set aside. It should be ready to eat.
Enjoy.

That is how I make my Chicken Noodle Soup.

How to Make Your Own Dress Form

Steps

1. Strip to your undergarments, wearing a bra that you normally wear 
2. Put on an old t-shirt that won't be missed, since it will become part of the dress form.
3. Begin wetting some of the packing tape.
4. Start wrapping the tape with your friend's assistance, making an X over your chest and continue wrapping horizontally, preserving the shape of breasts for female shapes, until you have a few layers of tape.
5. Remain still while the shell around you dries, usually about an hour, perhaps watching some TV or something so you don't get too bored.
6. Cut the shell beginning at the bottom of the middle of the back, cutting upwards all the way to the neck.
7. Remove the shell carefully, bending it no more than necessary, to avoid damaging it.
8. Seal the cut in the back with packing tape.
9. Set the shell in a place where it won't be disturbed while it dries completely.
10. Hang your dress form securely, so it will not fall.
11. Use two poles, one small enough to fit inside your dress form the long way yet doesn't extend through the neck hole, to make a lowercase T, with the crossbar at approximately your shoulder level when it's standing up, and tape the poles together.
12. Place pole securely into a Christmas tree stand so it stands upright.
13. Place your dress form over the top of the pole, resting on the crossbar of the T.

Tips

 Cutting some strips beforehand will help quicken part of form making.
Measure the finished product with your personal measurements (chest, waist, hips) to make sure the size is as close as possible to your own. If it isn't you can simply tighten the form along the seam in the back.

Warnings

• Make sure your tape is the kind with the envelope glue, and isn't covered with plastic. Sometimes it won't say on the package, and the kind that's already sticky and plastic covered really doesn't work nearly as well.
• Be careful that your friend doesn't accidentally cut you, or your undergarments, instead of the dress form shell.
• Uline carries a really great packing tape that can be used to do this, and you don't have to wait for it to dry. You will also want to use a plastic garbage bag instead of a t-shirt (the bigger the better). You will also want to cut across one shoulder and down the back to the left of center, and stuff the form with cotton batting.

Things You'll Need

• Paper packing tape, the kind with envelope glue that needs to be dampened. It can be found in a paper supply store alongside packing materials.
• Water.
• Sponge (optional, but it will help in wetting)
• A long t-shirt that you don't particularly care for, one that reaches to about mid-thigh.
• A close friend to help you.
• Scissors.
• Pins.
• Something to hang the dressform with
• A couple of free hours

New Necklaces I have been making lately

This is a necklace I made for one of the ladies that works at my Post Office.

I had worn another one in a different color to the Post Office one day and she just loved it and wanted one. But she likes the color purple. So I came up with this for her. They go from 18in to around 26in or more depending on how long or short you leave it when you tie it in the back.
I have started making these in many different colors, and will have them listed on my website in the next week for $15 each with $2.50 shipping/handling, plus I put a confirmation on all packages I send out,(which I do at my expense). As with all my things I make, these are made with new and recycled/reused materials.
At this time---I only mail within the US.

Easy Peasy Cheap Envelopes

I have been meaning to post this for some time now but have been forgetting. Until today when I needed an envelope to mail a letter to my nephew.
So I figured this was as good a time as any to get busy and post the way I make my cheap homemade envelopes. Before you ask--**YES**-- these do go through the postal system just fine.
I have many magazines laying around as I get plenty. Most have very nice/interesting pictures on the pages with very little words.
So, me being the frugal person I am was out of envelopes one day and had to get this one particular letter sent out many years ago. Well I had one of my magazines laying on the coffee table and it was open to a page that had a nice picture. I decided to tear out the page and fold it twice just so-- as it would hold the letter and put tape on the sides and the back to secure it. You'll have to trim off the one side. I called the person I was mailing the letter to after I mailed the letter to let them know what I had done and asked that they let me know when they received the letter.
To my happiness it was received in the same amount of time as a letter sent in a regular envelope. Plus it wasn't torn or anything.
I had placed the stamp in the same place as normal -- all I did was put a piece of white paper with the address on it for the person it was being sent to and my address label where it belonged.
A major AHHH moment.
I have tons of magazines- I can save on envelopes and just make my own- well I have for the past 5 or more years now. I get tape at my Dollar Store in these 6 packs and I just transfer it onto the holder when it runs out.
PLUS you know those envelopes they send you in your JUNK mail-- the ones with the little windows???
I save those and use them also. BUT make sure they don't have a prepaid label or stamp on them. Just the blank envelopes. Those are simple to use. You can either cover the window with a address label, or I have sometimes made a label and put inside. Or you can simply turn the envelope around and use the back as the front. Making sure to cover the window so no one sees what is inside.

Crocheted Rooster Towel Sets

These are just some of the towel sets I have on my site over at christinas-creations .
These are selling for $5 a set with only $1.50 shipping.
There are many other items I have on the site to look at. Scarves, I have a few if you are wanting to get a jump on the winter months. Many items to help with your Xmas list.
As I have said before -- ALL proceeds go toward helping others that are in need. As the weather starts to turn we are wanting to stock up on blankets and gloves and hats. So anything sold from the site is much appreciated. I will give a discount on any **BULK** purchase if anyone is needing more than just a few items. Like the wallets and checkbook/coupon holders.
Thanks for looking and have a very happy sunshiny day.

Making Homemade Laundry Soap

Now when I make mine-- I just use regular bar soap- whatever I happen to have on hand. We usually have Irish Spring. It makes the clothes smell really nice. I have never had any problems with the color running. But I also use a 5 gal. pot that you would use for canning that you put your jars in on the stove and I fill that completely up with hot water. I still let it set over night. Mine gets to a gel consistancy. So I have to shake my detergent ever time I get ready to use it to remix it. But no biggy. I use the same recipe as she used and I only use 1/4 cup in my loads and they come out fine. But to each their own. I also use vinegar for my fabric softener too. "No it doesn't make the clothes smell"
Have a nice day.....

From Lamp Shade to Flower Vase.

I picked this lamp shade up at the Salvation Army Store yesterday for $1.50. Just had to have it. It went so well with my sofa I recovered a few years back. I just loved the way the flowers on it went all the way around it in 3 different spots. But not to overwhelm it.
I already had the flowers to put in it just waiting to be put to some use. Then I had to go through my ribbon stash and find the right one to accent this.
As you can see I think I found the right ribbon for the job. Although I am not sure of the length as of yet. I might still cut it down a bit and shorten it.

This is the end result. With it setting a top the coffee table Larry's folks gave him, which by the way is over 35 yrs old.

All in all I would say the lamp shade was a GREAT find for $1.50.

Liquid Hand Soap Recipe

Liquid Hand Soap Recipe

Learn how to make your own liquid soap, and you'll wonder why you ever paid
for it:
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 10 minutes of hands-on time
Here's How:
Grate or finely chop a bar of soap (about four ounces of soap). Bring four cups of water to a boil.
Turn off the heat, and add the soap. Stir to melt the soap. Continue stirring until the mixture is fully combined. At this point the mixture will be very liquidy. Allow the mixture to cool for at least 15 minutes. Then, stir again. At this point, the soap should be slightly thicker.
Allow to cool for another several hours or overnight. Stir to check the consistency. If it seems too liquidy, reheat and add more soap. If it seems too thick; reheat and add more water.
Once you're satisfied with your soap, add a few drops of essential oil and coloring, if desired.
Then, pour your soap into dispensers, and enjoy.
Tips:
Want to make a bigger or smaller batch? Just use one cup of water for every
ounce of soap. This recipe stores well. Make up a big batch, a few times a year. Results will vary depending on the type of soap used. Tweak the recipe until it meets your needs. For a super-smooth consistency, run the finished soap through a blender before pouring into dispensers.
What You Need:
A bar of soap
A knife or grater
Water
A sauce pan or pot
Essential oil (optional)
Soap coloring (optional)
Empty soap dispensers