It’s Friday!!! That means it’s time for our weekly giveaway linky. If you love to enter giveaways, be sure to browse the selection below. Or if you host giveaways, feel free to post yours to the linky list. We put a new linky up every Friday morning. If you are using Rafflecopter for your giveaways, be sure to also add your giveaway to the Friday Rafflecopter giveaway linky over at Blog Giveaway Directory as well.
With just a couple of weeks until my daughter’s Grad Party, I have been busy, busy, busy. So much to do and so little time to do it! This week I have been focusing on graduation crafts that I can use for decorations. I love the look of paper medallions and they are so easy to make. So I thought I would share how I made some graduation themed paper medallions, using scrapbooking paper and my Cricut cutter.
There are a ton of tutorials out there to make paper medallions, but I especially like this tutorial over at Handmade by Anne Potter. Many of the tutorials I came across called for using a glue gun to hold the medallion together. The one I linked uses string and a hole punch. I have made them both ways and I think Anne’s method is simpler and less messy.
The original tutorial used a map to make the paper medallions. I adapted the tutorial to use 12×12 scrapbooking paper, graduation themed, of course.
Materials
Instructions
Cut each piece of scrapbooking paper in half. So you will have 6 pieces that are 6 inches X 12 inches. Set the last piece aside for another project as you will only need 5. If you have a paper scorer, position your paper with the long edge horizontally and score it at 1 inch intervals. (I scored it on the backside but I don’t think it really matters.) Make sure you don’t press too hard. I discovered quickly if you press too hard you will cut the paper, especially if you are using light weight patterned paper. If you don’t have a paper scorer, use a ruler to mark your paper at 1 inch intervals.
Fold your paper up like a fan.
Tape ends together so you have one long strip of pleated paper. Tape ends together to form a ring.
At the middle of each folded section, punch a hole. I punched my hole approx 1/2 inch from the edge. No need to measure, just try to be consistent in your placement.
Thread the needle with the yarn. Sew through the pleats.
Gather together tightly. Knot to hold.
I used my Cricut to cut the cardstock shapes to decorate the medallion. I cut
I used glue dots to assemble my center decoration. First I adhered one of the white circles to the orange flower. Then I added the black grad cap. Lastly, I added the tassel.
Use hot glue to adhere the remaining white circle to the back of the pleated paper medallion. This adds stability to the decoration.
Use hot glue to adhere the graduation cap decoration to the front of the medallion. Punch a hole in the top and add string to hang.
I think I am going to make several more of these to hang over the food table. I am also considering making some smaller ones and turning it into a “Congratulations” banner. This Graduation Pleated Paper Medallion craft tutorial is participating in the great link parties listed here. So tell me… What sorts of graduation crafts have you been making?
Although I would love to make a hot breakfast each weekday morning before the kids head off to school, I have to admit, that rarely happens. Our school district lost busing this year. So with 4 kids needing to be dropped off at 3 different schools, we are relying on healthy cereal more and more for breakfasts. It is easy and the kids can serve themselves.
I am always on the lookout for healthy cereals that my kids will eat. I was recently sent a box of Post’s Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal in the Honey Roasted flavor to review. Since the kids have never tasted this cereal before, we were happy to give it a try.
Post Honey Bunches of Oats Honey Roasted Cereal
Our thoughts
We had never tried Honey Bunches of Oats before because I wasn’t sure if the kids would eat it or not. I tend to stick with the tried and true because I don’t want to waste any of our grocery money. I was pleasantly surprised that all the kids loved it. They especially enjoyed the granola clusters. My husband and I thought it tasted great too.
I love that Honey Bunches of Oats contains no high fructose corn syrup. We avoid HFCS like the plague so it was nice to find a cereal that doesn’t contain it. I also love that it is relatively low in sugar. I don’t feed my kids sugary cereal in the morning because I don’t want them to crash before lunchtime. Honey Bunches of Oats is a cereal I can feel good about feeding my kids before they head out the door.
My two youngest started asking to take a baggie of Honey Bunches of Oats to school for a snack. So it’s not just for breakfast – It makes a great snack too if you eat it dry.
With its 4 grains and yummy granola clusters, Honey Bunches of Oats is definitely a cereal I would buy again for weekday breakfasts. The whole family definitely enjoyed it and we will be trying some of the other flavors soon. To learn more about Honey Bunches of Oats, visit their facebook page.
Disclosure: I received a box of Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
I hope everyone had a wonderful week! I have been busy with preparations for my daughter’s graduation party. It’s hard to believe that my oldest will be leaving home and heading off for college in just a few short months. I have quite a few graduation craft posts planned for the near future. So keep watch for those coming soon!
Anyway, it’s Friday. That means it’s time for our weekly giveaway linky. If you love to enter giveaways, be sure to browse the selection below. Or if you host giveaways, feel free to post yours to the linky list. We put a new linky up every Friday morning. If you are using Rafflecopter for your giveaways, be sure to also add your giveaway to the Friday Rafflecopter giveaway linky over at Blog Giveaway Directory as well.
My oldest daughter will be graduating from high school in a little over 3 weeks! Yikes, I feel old 
I have kicked into full party planning mode to get ready for her grad party. When I saw these cute Graduation Cap Candy Favors on Etsy, I knew I wanted to make them for the party. (If you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own, be sure to check out that listing on Etsy.) However, if you are crafty like me, it is so easy to make your own.
Materials Needed for the Graduation Cap Candy Favors
Instructions for making Graduation Cap Candy Favors
Start by cutting your black cardstock. You will need a 1″ x 3″ strip to go around the candy and a 1.5″ square for the top of the cap. Cut one of each of these pieces for each candy favor you are going to make. A paper cutter makes quick work of this.
Wrap the 1″ x 3″ strip around the middle of the candy, taping to secure. To ensure the cardstock wrapper doesn’t slip off, you can tape both ends to the candy.
Cut a 3″ length of ribbon for each candy favor. Fold the ribbon in half, forming a shallow V. Glue to the center of the square.
Glue 1 acrylic gem to the point of the V on the square. Then glue the square to the top of the wrapped candy, referring to photo for placement.
I used as glue gun to make quick work of these. If you use a glue gun, I would recommend low temp glue sticks.
These graduation cap candy favors are just adorable. I love how quick and easy they are to assemble. I am planning on scattering them around on the tables at the grad party. I also am going to make up little favor bags of these for my daughter to hand out on the Senior’s last day of school.
Do you have a graduate in your family this year? I have started a Grad Party idea Pinterest board to collect all the ideas I find. If you have any graduation crafts or recipe ideas to share, feel free to leave a comment below.
This graduation cap candy favors tutorial is participating in the great link parties listed here.
Buying used is a great way to save money on a geocaching GPS if you are short on cash. Used GPS units can be found in abundance on eBay and Craig’s list. While buying a used unit online can yield great savings over buying new, it does have the disadvantage that you can’t look the model over and try it out before you complete the purchase. To help avoid any potential issues, here are a few questions you might want to consider asking the seller before you commit to purchasing a used GPS.
1. What is the condition of the GPS? You want to make sure that the GPS functions properly before you buy it. Be sure to ask if there are any problems with the screen display. Sometimes if a GPS has been dropped frequently, there can be areas of the screen that are damaged. In addition, be sure to ask if there are any physical defects, like scratches.
2. What is the model number of the GPS? If it is not stated in the listing, ask for the specific model number of the unit they are selling. You want to ensure that the model you are purchasing has all the features you want.
3. Why is the seller getting rid of it? In most cases, the seller may simply be upgrading their unit or may no longer be interested in geocaching. If the seller is not willing to answer this question, they may be trying to hide a problem with the GPS.
4. How old is the GPS? While buying a model that is older and is no longer being produced is not necessarily a problem, you may have issues updating the software should the GPS ever require re-booting.
5. Does the geocaching GPS come with the cord to plug it into your computer. Plugging in coordinates by hand is time-consuming and runs the risk of human errors. You will definitely want to make sure any GPS you buy used comes with a cord to make sure you can download coordinates directly.
6. Does the used GPS come with an owner’s manual or instructional dvd? You might be able to find this information online or contact the manufacturer about obtaining one, but it is best if the unit you are buying comes with, at the very least, an owner’s manual.
7. Are there any maps installed on the GPS? While base models may not have this capability, more expensive units do. Having the maps for your area already installed can be a great timesaver. In addition, some brands charge for maps, so you will save money as well by purchasing a GPS that already has maps installed
8. What is the seller’s feedback rating (or do they have any references if you are buying from Craig’s list)? Any seller with a significant number of negative feedback ratings should be avoided, no matter how inexpensive the GPS is.
Any reputable seller should not mind answering any questions you might have. If a seller won’t take the time to respond, then move on to another seller. Buying a used geocaching GPS online can definitely result in big savings. Taking the time to ask questions ahead of time can save you the hassle of a return.
Can you believe it is May already? This year is just flying by! We are at 4 weeks until my oldest graduates from high school so I have been busy getting the house ready for guests and her grad party. If anyone has any graduation party ideas or crafts, feel free to leave me a comment.
Anyway, another Friday, another blog giveaway roundup! If you love to enter giveaways, be sure to browse the selection below. Or if you host giveaways, feel free to post yours to the linky list. We put a new linky up every Friday morning. If you are using Rafflecopter for your giveaways, be sure to also add your giveaway to the Friday Rafflecopter giveaway linky over at Blog Giveaway Directory as well.
In my quest to clear our home of as many unnecessary chemicals as possible, I have been researching a lot of make your own recipes and tutorials. After learning how to make my own wool dryer balls (post on that coming soon), my thoughts turned to laundry detergent. It turns out you can make homemade laundry detergent with just 3 simple ingredients that are easily found at your local discount store. I have been using this homemade laundry detergent recipe for 3 months now and it cleans just as well as commercial detergents. If you use a food processor to make it, it takes less than 5 minutes of your time.
In addition to the simplicity of the ingredients, I also love that making your own laundry detergent saves money. I did the math and the homemade version costs around 4 cents per load. The liquid I had been previously buying cost around 11 cents per load.
All you need make your own laundry detergent is Borax, Super Washing Soda, and a bar of Fels Naptha. (Incidentally, Fels Naptha also makes a great stain pre-treater. You just wet the stain and rub the bar into it.) This homemade powdered laundry detergent recipe has a pleasant aroma as it is, but you can certainly add essential oil to scent it. I am partial to the smell of lavender, so I might try that sometime.
Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe
Grate the Fels Naptha bar. I use the grating plate on my food processor to make quick work of it. (If you have Carpal Tunnel, I highly recommend that you do not try grating Fels Naptha by hand!) As you can tell, grated Fels Naptha sort of looks like shredded cheddar cheese.
Add the grated Fels Naptha and the remaining ingredients to your food processor and process until the everything is well combined and the Fels Naptha is powdered. I store mine in a Gladware plastic bowl. Use 1 tbs per load of laundry. Give the container a quick shake before you measure it to ensure everything is well mixed.
To give credit where it is due, I first became aware of this recipe over at Busy at Home. She has a great recipe for liquid laundry detergent. Someone commented on that post that it is easier to use the same ingredients to make dry powder. So I tried it, loved it, and the rest is history Incidentally the liquid version is even less expensive, but it is more work initially and takes more room to store. So I just go with the powder.
A note about HE washers: I have been using this homemade laundry detergent recipe for several months now in my HE washer with no problems. To be safe though, I would check with your washing machine manufacturer to be sure all the ingredients can be used in your particular machine.
So tell me… What are your favorite cleaners to make at home?
This homemade laundry detergent recipe is participating in Works for Me Wednesday and The Mommy Club.
Although the activity itself doesn’t cost anything, you do have to purchase a handheld GPS for geocaching to be able to play the game. While base level models are perfectly adequate for geocaching, many families still might not be able to afford the $100 price tag. Fortunately with a little shopping savvy, you might be able to pick up a handheld GPS for much less.
For those with little cash to spend, your best bet is to purchase a used GPS. At online auctions, like eBay, you might be able to score a GPS for around 50% of the cost of a new one. A lot of GPS units being sold on eBay are from people who bought one for geocaching and then later upgraded to a better model. Other sellers might have discovered that they didn’t really enjoy geocaching. Be sure to ask any questions before placing a bid. Also, check out the person’s feedback to make sure that they are an honest seller.
Another place to look for a used handheld GPS is Craig’s list or classified ads. You might find a seller locally and avoid shipping costs. Be sure to ask lots of questions about the GPS unit’s condition before you commit to buying.
While buying a used GPS will probably result in the greatest savings, there are disadvantages. There will be no warranty and no protection should the GPS unit stop working. An alternative might be to contact manufacturers directly to see if they sell refurbished units. Refurbished GPS units are devices that were under warranty and required repair. The company sends the customer a new GPS, but repairs and re-sells the other unit. Buying a refurbished handheld GPS for geocaching can be a great way to save money. As an added bonus, refurbished units typically come with a warranty.
If you prefer to buy a new GPS, there is still no need to pay the full retail price. When hunting for a discount on a new GPS, a great place to start is the advertisements that come with your Sunday paper. Check the ads for Larger sporting goods chains and discount stores as you never know when they might be running a sale. You can also check out the store website as a lot of companies put their ads online.
You also might be able to pick up a GPS unit at a discount at a buying club, like Sam’s Club or Costco. While these types of stores do not typically run sales, they tend to have lower prices overall with savings of 10-20% off regular retail price.
Also watch for group discounts at your favorite stores. Some sporting goods stores offer a discount for scout groups. If you are a member of the military, or are over the age of 55, you might be able to get a discount in some stores as well. The nice thing about these types of discounts is that they are typically in addition to any sales prices.
Don’t forget to check out online stores, such as Amazon. Because they have less overhead than traditional retail stores, they are able to pass the savings along to the consumer.
When purchasing a handheld GPS for geocaching or any other use, be sure to shop around and take your time so that you can find the best price. With a little investigation, you will discover that there is no need to pay full retail price. Your wallet will thank you!
I hope everyone had a good week! Did you win anything this week? If so, be sure to leave a comment below and let us know all about it
If you love to enter giveaways, be sure to browse the selection below. Or if you host giveaways, feel free to post yours to the linky list. We put a new linky up every Friday morning. If you are using Rafflecopter for your giveaways, be sure to also add your giveaway to the Friday Rafflecopter giveaway linky over at Blog Giveaway Directory as well.
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