Frugal Living Swap (SIGNUP CLOSED; MAIL BY 2/6/2010)

[Jenna_Gayle]

AND.... being that I live down here in the south..... the need for "keeping warm" is already taken care of......although I would love to make things for other people to keep warm with

I don't know how much farther south you live from me (I'm on the Fl/Ga border), but today I sure could use something to keep warm!!  It's freezing!!!

Oy!  Please, please, please, I can't have a partner who wants something heavy like a box of washing soda or draft stoppers.  Sorry, but I can't afford the postage!

I'm right there with you on needing to keep the shipping as low as possible.  If your partner needed draft stoppers you could still make them and just not put the filling in!  I think I saw someone mention this earlier and that it worked out great 

[irish_chicky]

I'm only saying I would LIKE/LOVE haha to receive a box of washing soda, not that you HAVE to I just can't get it here, even a small container with some in it would be huge

And if you make draft stoppers I can totally fill them if you just want to send a sleeve to fill! I'm sure a lot of people will do/say the same!


No worries about postage, we're all in the same boat

[Ninzip]

Reusable tea bags are a great idea, Idlersdesign!
I have been thinking of frugal crafts myself and I came up with reusable make-up remover pads. They might not be for everyone but they sure are frugal (and ecofriendly). I could definitely use some!

By the way, I can't believe how this thread exploded in the last few days! 

[bethiej78]

this is such a cool swap idea it's lured me out of swap retirement!!  

also, just an FYI, some of the patterns which are linked for reusable sandwich baggies in the list on page 2 recommend using vinyl or PULs, but they both have off-gassing issues which may make them unsafe for this purpose.  however, I don't really have a better suggestion.  for the ones I have made (mostly sandwich and dry snack baggies) I use organic non-dyed cotton canvas (embroidered or stencilled to make it interesting!), and just tell people not to throw anything too wet in there.  but i have put strawberries in before and any small amount of bleeding from the juice usually comes out in the wash.  just my 2c!

can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

now I have to go read 23 pages worth of thread!

[pantsafari]

I have been thinking of frugal crafts myself and I came up with reusable make-up remover pads. They might not be for everyone but they sure are frugal (and ecofriendly). I could definitely use some!

Ok so a few months ago I bout a neutrogena Wave to see if it would help with my acne issues...and it worked ok but didnt exfoliate as well as I had hoped and I didnt like the cleanser on the pads (which are ridiculously expensive BTW)   SOO I made some little wet felted pads to use with it instead and I put the kind of cleanser I want on it. Works amazingly- the wool exfoliates wonderfully and Im saving so much money by not buying their cleanser pads.

[IdlersDesign]

I bought a new teapot yesterday (a good one; one that I can use without spilling tea on the table while pooring... ) and desperately need some reusable teabags. I drink tea (herbal & green) all day long.
Maybe that's something to add to the list?

Oooh reusable teabags ... so made out of a fine mesh, I suppose?  Great idea!  I'll go add.

Yes, I use cheesecloth; cheap, thin; perfect for this purpose!

[AttieNichole]

another frugal craftster who just sent in her questionnaire!  Hello everyone!

[PixieVal]

another frugal craftster who just sent in her questionnaire!  Hello everyone!

Yay! I'm so excited to see so many people joining, i can't wait till the gallery!

[Aikibookworm]

Jenna-Gayle, where are you?  Sounds like you aren't too far from my parents (Dothan, AL).

As far as all those out grown boy's shirts, I just took a big bag of outgrown 10 and 12 pants from my son and gave them to the guidance counselor at his elementary school.  She discretely saw that they reached the family of a younger boy who desperately needed them.

I had originally planned to just throw them in the back of the closet to hold until a spring yardsale.  But, things are so awful around here, I couldn't in good conscience not find a need.

[bethiej78]

whew!  back!  long long thread!!

I used scraps of Pink Power ranger fleece fabric to give me special supermum powers for days when I feel like my life force is being drained 

lol@mink_bikini (don't know if anyone else saw this but it made me giggle)


itchyfingers - sorry you had such a crappy christmas!


everyone else - hello!  your outpouring of creative ideas is truly inspiring!  also, i totally fall into the trap described on page 8(?) or 9(?) - of feeling totally unmotivated to craft for myself, and always preferring to make things for other people!