Making Christmas...

  Last year I made all of the gifts(well most) that we gave people out of necessity and I just loved it so 

I wanted to do it again this year. Yes it's time consuming and frustrating when something doesn't come out exactly perfect but to me that is the beauty of it. That one flaw is what makes it unique. Here is some of the stuff I have made so far but there is still tons more to do(and that's not counting baking!!)

 

I painted blocks so there are six puzzles in one..

 

A Snow globe that is Plastic(for a toddler)

 Articles of Faith Flip Book

 Reversible Tote Bags

Crayon Rolls...

 Heat/Cold Wheat Therapy Bags

 Christmas Dresses

Nurses Apron(to go along with a doctors kit)

and Rice filled Pocket Warmers for cold little hands!

I also helped show my mom how to make some fleece tied blankets

Saturday Night Projects: Homemade Laundry Soap

Over the last couple months I have been looking up homemade laundry detergents recipes.You can find the one I decided on  Here . At our last Relief Society meeting a sister did a demonstration on the recipe she got from the Duggar Family website(19 Kids and counting) anyway I saw how easy this was going to be so I thought I would give it a try. This is what I did it took me about an hour and a half from start to finish. "Start" being driving to the store to get the ingredients and "Finish" taking my pictures for the blog :)

 Ingredients: 

1 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent isle

1 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) found in the cooking isle

1  box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent isle

3 bars of Fels-naptha soap, found in the detergent isle

2 small containers of oxyclean or store brand oxyclean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total (1.58 kg)) found in the detergent isle. (This is optional)

1 bottle of Purex crystals. I just dumped the whole bottle in because my Hubby loves good smelling clothes and this product really works it leaves out clothes smelling great a week later.

First Step: Buy ingredients

Second Step: Shred your Fels-naptha(I used my Bosch to finely shred it then used my processor to chop it in tiny pieces)

Third Step: Add all ingredients into a sturdy bag(I say sturdy because I used a cheap bag and it tore) and mix

Fourth Step: Put into storage containers

AND YOU ARE DONE! That was simple wasn't it? The hardest part for me was the mixing  because I am anal and I wanted EVERYTHING evenly distributed.

I paid $20.53 for everything including Purex crystals and you are suppose to use only 1-2 Tablespoons of the detergent. I ended up with 32 cups of detergent.. this stuff will last for months. I saved my scoops that came out of the oxygen tubs and measured it. One scoop is exactly 2 Tablespoons. I have a load in the washer I hope this stuff works as good for me as it did for all the people who left reviews! I will let you know in a week.