Category Archives: Do It Yourself

DIY: Mason Jar Soap Dispenser Tutorial

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Mason Jar Soap DispenserI LOVE these mason jar soap dispensers! They are so cute and save you money on soap by helping you to not squirt so much on the sponge. I read several tutorials on how to do these (I apologize I don’t have the original links) before I decided to give it a go. These are so easy to do and you most likely have all the items needed already. I am the fortunate owner of a good sized stash of Blue Ball Mason jars which what I started with. I made a second one with a regular clear mason jar. You could really use any jar as long as the lid fits. Since making these (one for my dish soap and one for my hand soap in the kitchen) we are using a lot less dish soap when washing dishes. I would say we are using 1/2 the soap we were.

Mason Jar Soap Dispenser - Tools Needed

Items needed:

  • Clean jar, lid & ring. (You can use a used lid since you’re not canning this)
  • Pump from lotion or soap
  • Work surface like an old cutting board (you need to be able to hammer on it & it will get marked up
  • Hot glue & glue gun
  • Hammer
  • Nail
  • Pliers (needle nosed worked best for me)
  • Dish soap, hand soap or lotion to put inside

Instructions:
Plug in glue gun & be sure to add glue

Remove tube from pump & set aside

Make a hole in the lid. I used a nail & made several holes. I then used my needle nose pliers to pinch and pull it until it was big enough. You could do this with a screw driver too.

Just be careful! The punctured lid is sharp! Test the size of the hole by inserting the pump.

It should fit snugly & allow the bottom of the pump to be flush with the lid.

Mason Jar Soap Dispenser - Gluing Pump In Lid

Insert the pump through the lid. Apply a generous amount of glue around the pump where it meets the lid on the inside. I did a few rounds of this. Let dry. You don’t have to glue the pump but I felt like it made it sturdier & also protects me from slicing myself on the lid when refilling it.

Insert tube back into pump. If the tube is too long to fit in the jar use a pair of sharp scissors to cut it until you can fit the lid on & screw it tight. Cutting the tube with slight angle will help with the soap flow.

Add soap or lotion, admire your handiwork & enjoy.

Two Finished Mason Jar Soap Dispensers

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DIY: Balloon Wreath Tutorial

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Balloon WreathI made this balloon wreath to use for our families birthdays. I hang it on the door in the house for a few days before & after their birthday. On the day of their party I hang it on the outside of the door. I have glitter foam letters with each child’s first initial that I put on the wreath at the birthday. I was totally inspired by A Grande Life!

Items needed:

  • Craft wreath. I used straw wreath with the plastic cover intact. A foam wreath would also work.
  • Straight pins, wig/ T pins or any kind of long pin
  • Balloons. Lots of balloons. The amount needed will depend on the size of your wreath. I used about 150
  • Foam/wood letter, picture frame or any other item you want to personalize your wreath

Instructions:

  • Get comfy, this is going to take awhile. I did mine while watching TV
  • Using 1 pin per balloon attach by pushing the pin through the balloon & into the wreath. I folded my balloons in half because they were large & I alternated directions with each one. I attached them in a line all the way around. then started another line above/below that. I think you could also just attach them in sections & it would make no difference.
  • After you have finished attaching all the balloons you think you need, hang it & make sure none of the bare wreath is showing from any angle.
  • Add your personalized item if using & celebrate!

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Twine Covered Vases

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Twine Covered Vases

Twine Covered Vases

These super cute vases cost me next to nothing. I used Starbucks Frappuccino bottles (these were a gift so they cost me nothing), hot glue that I have oodles, acorns for the fall ones & mini pine-cones for the winter ones (free :-D ) & twine that was left over from another project. We all have bottle and jars we can re-purpose so just find ones that you like the shape of.

What you will need:

  • Bottle or jar
  • Hot glue gun & glue
  • Twine
  • Embellishments

Instructions:

  1. Prepare bottle by cleaning & drying. There was a sticky residue left on mine from the label. I didn’t bother trying to remove it since it would be covered by the twine & could even help hold it in place.
  2. Put a small line of hot glue on the bottle (I started along the edge of the lip of the bottle) and lay the twine on the glue
  3. Keeping the twine taught wind it around the bottle putting a small line of glue every couple of rounds
  4. When you reach the bottom cut the twine and secure the end with hot glue.
  5. Yes, it really is that easy.

Embellish anyway you’d like. For my acorn vases I hot glued the acorns to a length of twine and then tied it around the vase. For the pine-cone vases I tied twine bows around the vases & hot glued the pine-cones to the bows.

I think these would look great as a centerpiece on a table (maybe even with some greenery of wintry stems) or you could even make them into place holders & add name tags to them.

Easy Frugal Christmas Wreath

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Easy Frugal Christmas Wreath

Easy Frugal Christmas Wreath

I love Christmas wreaths & I love the use of deco mesh in them that is so popular right now. What I do not love is the price of pre made wreaths that are a minimum of $25.00 and go up to the too ridiculous to mention price. I didn’t want to do a 100% deco mesh wreath because of cost & I wasn’t going for the Candyland look. I made 4 of these for about $8.00 each. This project was fast & easy. I bought all my wreaths & a roll of deco mesh at Hobby Lobby for 50% off. The bows I bought at Big Lots. If you wanted to wait to make these after Christmas you could make them even cheaper with clearance prices!

What you will need:

  • Artificial greenery wreath
  • Roll of deco mesh (I used one full roll for my 4 wreaths)
  • Bow &/or other decorations
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. Prepare your wreath by removing any tags & fluffing out all the pieces
  2. Unroll a few feet of your deco mesh (do not cut it yet)
  3. Loosely fold the mesh in half and pinch the end together
  4. Place the end of the deco mesh into the wreath so the end is not showing
  5. Take a piece of greenery from each side of the deco mesh & twist the greenery around it just like a twist tie. (This secures the deco mesh without needing any other fasteners)
  6. Move down the wreath a few inches keeping the deco mesh loose and make a poof
  7. Put the mesh down into the wreath and secure it the same way
  8. Repeat all the way around then cut the deco mesh before securing the last section.
  9. Secure the last piece & be sure to tuck the end inside the wreath so it will not be seen.
  10. Attach your bow using the wire on the bow or looping a piece of greenery through the back.
  11. Hang wherever you like & enjoy! (I used large suction cups to hang mine on my windows. You could also use Command hooks.)

I love mine! They look so nice on all of my windows & I know they will last for years to come.

Frosty Tea Light Holders

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Frosty Tea Light Holders

Create a wintry frosty setting yet warmed up considerably from the soft glow of flickering candlelight with these super easy and inexpensive frosty tea light holders. This is a great way to upcycle food jars that otherwise would go in the recycling bin.

The cost of this project is super cheap and you may already have all the materials on hand except the Epsom salts which can be found at just about any grocery, drug or national chain store.

Materials Needed:

  • Jars of any size(s) you wish. Cleaned & dried
  • Mod Podge (or white school glue mixed 1/2 and 1/2 with water)
  • Paint brush
  • Epsom salt
  • Ribbon, embroidery floss or any other pretty thing to tie around them
  • Shallow pan or box
  • Wax paper, foil or paper plate to sit you candle holder on to dry

Instructions:

  1. Pour a layer of Epsom salt into your pan or box.
  2. Coat your jars with Mod Podge using a paint brush.
  3. Sprinkle, roll or whatever method you like the Epsom salt onto the jar.
  4. Sit on wax paper to dry.
  5. After it’s completely dry tap the jar to remove excess salts & tie a pretty bow, drop in a tea light candle & enjoy!

Notes: I sprayed mine with with a clear gloss to make sure it was more icy looking but I don’t think it’s necessary. I think I want to see what it looks like with glitter too! These look great on my cake stand with some pine cones & ornaments.