I have heard from quite a few people that they like hearing about my DIY projects.  Like I have said before, I have a list going of projects I want to complete this year and I have a goal to complete one each month (minus the summer when we are gone from home).  I had a few that I had bought supplies before but never completed for one reason or another – so it amounted to two weeks filled with completing them!

When I pick out a DIY project, I always have two things in mind:

1 – Is it something that I can make cheaper than I can buy?  I don’t care if the cleaning solution is homemade or the dress is cute, if I can buy it cheaper and I don’t have to do it, I will buy it.  If the mozzerela stick recipe has 1500 ingredients, there is no way I will spend that much money to make it – especially when I can buy them from the store for $4.

2 – Is it something that I need?  With two little ones, ministry, and friends, I don’t have a lot of time to sit around and make things.  So, it has to been something that I really need (or it has to be REALLY cute!).  I had quite a few things on my list to make that I ended up nixing because I decided I didn’t really need them.

So here is the result of this month’s experiments:

These crib bumper pads turned out WAY cute!  We had a store-bought one on the front, but found that Kinsley liked to chew on the sides too when she was little, so before Emerson could grow any more teeth, I decided to protect the crib.  These were only about $10 to make and so much cuter than the clear one on the front.  Love that they add a little pizzaz.

This tub and shower cleaner recipe called for half vinegar and half dish liquid.  The idea is that you put the solution in the wand, leave the wand in your shower, and clean every so often.  Since cleaning the shower is like #99 on my favorite list of chores to do around the house, I was up for trying this!  The result:  It works well, but I need to put a cup in the shower to use to rinse off the sides after I have used the wand.  I have to keep trying this before I can make a decision about whether to keep or lose.

Next up….a knock-off Betty Crocker brownie recipe mix I got from www.moneysavingmom.com.  We tried these today in staff meeting and loved them!  To me, they were just as the good as the store brought Betty Crocker kind.  They were gooey and had great flavor.  And they were oh so cheap to make.  Definitely will put this in my recipe arsenal.

And this isn’t a DIY project (though I guess Ed and I did make her), but check out Kinsley on her new “big girl” bike.  We got her a used one because she had mastered her tricycle and she loves it.  Seriously, we have been outside every day!

Up in DIY next month (and for the rest of August):

Cinnamon pull-apart bread, Freezer Friendly Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cheesy Garlic Sticks, Stovetop Cleaner, Sink Cleaner, and Sunglasses Case

Let me know if you have any suggestions!