Simply Homemade

Here is a collection of Simply Homemade Posts.

Homestead Gift Baskets

Frugal Travel Mug Teacher Gifts

Valentine Card Box

My son needed a Valentine card box for a birthday party with his picture on it. I gave my husband an empty tissue box and asked him if he could come up with something. He created this great rocket ship Valentine Card Box. Great job Honey! We didn't spend a cent - we recycled materials we already had and our son had a cute Valentine card box. In fact, I think it's so cute, I couldn't throw it away. I stored it away for later. If I ever decide to pitch the box, I will keep the picture rocket ship for scrap-booking.

Play-Doh Recipe

This recipe is from my son's preschool and is really easy to make.

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 tsp. cream of tarter
2 cups water
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
Optional: food coloring, unsweetened koolaid, glitter, vanilla, peppermint, or another scent

1. Mix dry ingredients thoroughly (including glitter, if desired). Place in a heavy saucepan.
2. Combine liquid ingredients (including food coloring), then whisk together with dry ingredients.
3. Cook and stir over medium heat until dough is too stiff to stir. Add scent if desired.
4. Turn out of pan and knead until smooth. Store in Ziploc bag or airtight container.

Homemade Baby Wipes

Homemade Baby Wipes

1 Roll of Paper Towels – cut in half horizontally

2 1/2 Cups of Water

2 Tablespoons of Baby Wash

1 Tablespoon Baby Oil

1 plastic container large enough to hold half the paper towels (with lid)

Remove the cardboard center from the paper towels. Place 1/2 of the paper towels in the Rubbermaid container and pour all of the liquid ingredients into the container. Use 1/2 of the liquid ingredients for each 1/2 roll of paper towels. Put the lid on and shake for a minute or two. Let it sit for 15 minutes. When your ready to use the wipes, just pull from the center of the roll.

I saw this recipe on 2 Wired 2 Tired, a blog that I follow and decided I had to try it. It was easy to make and is a lot less expensive then buying Pampers wipes. I have been using these wipes for about a week now and I really like them. I love the way they smell and they are so soft. I feel like they clean better than regular baby wipes too. I put them into a ziploc bag until I went to the store and purchased a plastic container. I am going to mix up the liquid and put it in a spray bottle too for use with cloth wipes since I use cloth diapers a lot at home.

Additional notes:
Today, one of my readers asked me what kind of paper towels I used for making baby wipes. She had made them and thought they were thin. The first batch I made were thin too. I used Scotts select-a-size when I made my first batch of wipes and they were too thin and small. I used them until they were gone, but they were not very effective. The best towels I have found for making wipes are Bounty (not select-a-size). I buy them in large bulk packages. You can get good deals when they are on sale and use coupons.

Also, you will need a tall round or square container that will hold a roll of paper towels that has been cut in half. I use a large serrated knife (reserved for only cutting paper towels) to cut the roll in half. I use scissors to remove the cardboard in the center of the roll. I have forgotten to remove the cardboard center a few times. It slips right out when it is wet from the homemade wipes solution. I have two canisters and can make two rolls at a time so that I can have wipes in more than one room of the house and so that I never run out. The canisters that I use were around $6 each at Wal-mart. They are the Better Homes and Garden brand.