A Thrifty Mom - Extreme couponing the right way » Look What I Made

Time to Link Up ~ Look What I Made

A Thrifty Mom — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:01:22 +0000

Would you like to be part of our Look What I Made post? What have you been up to this week? Did you make a fabulous recipe, sew something new, turn a dumpster find into something divine? We want to see it!!! If you have a blog, online store or an Esty page and are looking for a way to show off your handmade, one of a kind items look no further. Or if you are creative and would love to share your how to DIY, or look what I made posts. You can link up for FREE. As an added bonus, each week we will select a few entry to be featured as full post on “Look What I Made” on our site

Also don’t forget about our newest feature, our Market Place. Where you can sell your items right here on A Thrifty Mom.com and you can list them for FREE. Click here for more info.

Make your own lace headband

A Thrifty Mom — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:05:24 +0000

Thanks to Living life and loving every second for this money saving tip on how to make your own lace head band. Cute, trendy, useful and budget friendly… love it!

If you would like to be a featured guest post on Look What I Made ,watch for our weekly post each Tuesday called A Thrifty online craft fair, link up and you may be selected for our weekly feature post.

You will need:

Lace (mine was not stretch
Jersey Knit
Sewing Machine
Scissors
Elastic

First cut your jersey fabric into a strip about 6 inches wide then fold in half hot dog style and measure around your head then subtract an inch and cut. Sew along the raw edges from end to end and when your finished pull the tube right side out and slide that seam to the middle so it is not visible and flat on one side. Pin and sew the lace on. Final step you will now measure what you have around your head again and figure out the length of elastic you need cut it and tuck it into the opening on both ends and sew shut. VOILA YOUR DONE!

Quick and simple way to make kids tops longer ~ Money Saving tip

A Thrifty Mom — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:03:22 +0000

Thanks to No time to be bored for this money saving idea. It made me smile because this is SO something my own Mom would have made. My kids pajama tops are always to short so I LOVE this idea.

Extending the life of clothes – making tops longer

By ~ No time to be bored

I think most moms recognize how fast kids outgrow their cute clothes. I found a way of making tops last longer, using some old t-shirts from myself that were on my ‘donation’ pile. It’s really fast and easy, I added this extra layer to these 2 pajama tops in about 15 minutes! So why not give this a try?

This would also work for boys’ clothes, with one little adjusment. I will give a step-by-step tutorial, I didn’t take pictures of the separate steps, but it’s so simple that you don’t really need the pictures to go with this.

1. Take the top that got too short, and find a t-shirt in a matching or contrasting color. For most clothes, even a simple white t-shirt would create a cute, layered look.

2. Cut off the bottom part of the t-shirt, about 1 inch longer than you want the bottom layer to finally be.

3. Flip the part you just cut off inside out. Measure how wide your kid’s top is. Zigzag the side of the part you cut off (inside out) so that it has the same width.

4. Then, trim off the excess fabric. Next, stitch on the inside of your zigzag with a straight stitch.

5. Now there are 2 different ways to proceed, depending if you want a ruffly bottom (like pictured) or just a simple, straight bottom.

For the ruffly bottom: Zigzag the raw edge of the “tube” you created with a small zigzag stitch. It will end up curly looking like the pictures above. Then, pin the tube with the finished edge underneath the bottom of the shirt, and attach with a straight stitch. (I just followed the seams that were already there to make it look neater. So you might want to do that twice if there where 2 originally.)

For a straight bottom: pin the raw edge of the “tube” you created underneath the shirt. Attach with a straight stitch. (I just followed the seams that were already there to make it look neater. So you might want to do that twice if there were 2 originally.)

And that’s it!

This would be even quicker if you would use a shirt that is of the same width, so basically combine 2 outgrown shirts. That way steps 3 and 4 could be skipped.

Basil and Garlic Butter Pasta Recipe ~ Money Saving Recipe

A Thrifty Mom — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:05:18 +0000

Thanks to Hot Eats and Cool Reads for this money saving recipe for Basil and Garlic Butter Pasta Recipe a quick and simple recipe that I am excited to try!

This recipe is super quick and so full of flavor. It makes a great side dish or meatless main dish. It goes with so many foods and if you don’t have fresh basil, you can always substitute with dried. I hope you enjoy this as much as we do!

Basil and Garlic Butter Pasta

What you need:

6 oz pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c. red onion, diced
2 tablespoons fresh basil, sliced in ribbons
salt and pepper, to taste
shredded parmesan cheese

Directions:

In a large pot with salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Using the same pot from the pasta, heat the butter and olive oil over medium low to medium heat. Add garlic and onions and saute until tender. Add pasta, basil, salt and pepper and saute for another couple minutes until heated through. Top with parmesan!

Look What I Made ~ Link up your Recipes, DIY posts, Esty all for FREE

A Thrifty Mom — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:46 +0000

Also don’t forget about our newest feature, our Market Place. Where you can sell your items right here on A Thrifty Mom.com and you can list them for FREE. Click here for more info.

DIY Seed Tape for Gardens~ Garden Tips

A Thrifty Mom — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:37 +0000

Thanks to Tales of a Domestica for this saving money garden tip on how to make your own seed tape.

Planting small seeds can be tricky. I am terrible at thinning my veggies once they get growing. I hate to throw out a good thing…. But if you don’t thin the seeds you won’t get a good product. That I know all too well! So to eliminate the need for thinning the little seeds I made these seed tapes.

Cut your toilet paper the length of the garden row. Fold it in half and cut it down the middle to make 2 long skinny rows.

In a small bowl mix one part flour to one part water.

Use a paint brush to put a dot of paste (flour water mixture) the distance recommended on the seed package. Each seed is different so read carefully. Drop 1-2 seeds per paste drop, fold and seal with paste, roll up for storage. Roll out the seed tape in your garden row , and cover with dirt!

Look What I Made 5/8 ~ Link Up for FREE, Show off your latest project!

A Thrifty Mom — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:00:27 +0000

Also don’t forget about our newest feature, our Market Place. Where you can sell your items right here on A Thrifty Mom.com and you can list them for FREE. Click here for more info.

Crock-Pot Mexican Lasagna ~ Cinco De Mayo Recipe

A Thrifty Mom — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:15:29 +0000

Thanks to CrockPot Ladies for this saving money recipe for Mexican Lasagna in the Crockpot!
I would have never thought of this… but great if you want a festive meal and you are going to have a busy day!

Ingredients

1 1/2 Pounds Sirloin, Thinly Sliced Into One Inch Strips

1/2 Small Yellow Onion, Chopped

6-10 Flour Tortillas (Depending on Size of Your Crock-Pot)

1-2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

16 Ounces Ricotta Cheese ,Part Skim

8 Ounces Canned Corn, Drain (Or Frozen Corn)

4 Ounce Can Chopped Jalapenos, Drained

6 Ounce Can Sliced Black Olives, Drained

14.5 Ounce Can Diced Tomatoes With Green Chilies, Drained

19 Ounce Can Black Beans, Drained and Rinsed

1 Jar Medium Salsa or Picante Sauce

Instructions

Spray crock with Pam or grease slightly with shortening or butter
Brown beef and onion and drain fat.
Mix ricotta and 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese in bowl.
Place one or more tortillas at bottom of crock-pot. (Basically cover bottom of crock, rip or cut tortillas if necessary to just cover)
Add a few tablespoons of tomatoes, then a few tablespoons of ricotta mix, then some olives and jalapenos.
Add another layer of tortillas, again covering entire surface.
Add another layer of tomatoes, then 1/2 beans, 1/2 the corn, 1/2 meat and some of the leftover cheese.
Add more tortillas and repeat layers until all ingredients are used up, making last layer tortillas. Be careful to only fill 3/4 full.
Add some salsa or picante sauce just to lightly coat.
Then sprinkle with more cheddar cheese if desired.
Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
Cut carefully and serve with a little extra salsa if desired.

Notes

You don’t have to be too worried about how you construct the layers, you can layer them as you see fit. Just use your tortillas at bottom and top to keep everything together as much as possible. Make sure to drain canned vegetables and meat or this will be very liquidy. The tortillas will be soft but you don’t want them soggy. You can also mix this up and add other veggies or a different type of meat, or even do it without the meat. I made this in my 4 quart model.

Look What I Made Link Up is Now open ~ 5/1

A Thrifty Mom — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:00:57 +0000

Also don’t forget about our newest feature, our Market Place. Where you can sell your items right here on A Thrifty Mom.com and you can list them for FREE. Click here for more info.

Caramel Dip made in the Crockpot ~ Money Saving Recipe

A Thrifty Mom — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 01:03:10 +0000

Thanks to Moms with Crockpots for this saving money recipe for Caramel Dip made in the Crockpot!
I have had this before and yes it is very yummy… easy as be too! Hope you enjoy!

Place a can of Sweetened Condensed Milk in your crockpot and cover it with water. Cook it on high for 4 hours. That is it!

Shut off the crockpot after 4 hours and allow the can to cool completely!

When you open the can you will be met by this golden creamy delicious caramel sauce. I used mine for some apples, and then put the rest in a container in the fridge. The caramel dip at the store costs almost $4, while a can of Sweetened Condensed Milk costs $1.25. So even if you aren’t saving loads of time, you are saving money. Plus, did I mention that this tastes WAY better?!

Blackberry Scones with Lime Glaze ~ Money Saving Recipe

A Thrifty Mom — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 23:02:39 +0000

Thanks to Hot Eats Cool Reads for this saving money recipe for Blackberry Scones with Lime Glaze
. I have never made baked scones before but the recipe seems simple enough… so maybe I will have to give it a try.

What you need:

Scones:

2 c. all purpose flour

1/4 c. sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 c. butter, chilled

3/4 c. milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 c. fresh blackberries

Lime Glaze:

1/4 c. freshly squeezed lime juice

1 c. powdered sugar

1/4 tsp lime zest

1/2 tbsp butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into 6-8 chunks and add to flour mixture. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour mixture until it reaches a sandy consistency, making sure there are no butter chunks bigger than a pea. Combine milk and vanilla extract, and add to the flour mixture. Stir until dough comes together and gently knead in the blackberries. (I had some very ripe berries, and they will get somewhat squished, that’s ok!)

Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and flatten into a disk about 1 inch thick. Using a knife, cut dough into 6 triangles. Place scones on the baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes.

While the scones are cooking you can prepare the glaze. In a glass microwave safe bowl, combine the lime juice, powdered sugar, and zest. Stir until completely mixed and sugar is dissolved. Add the butter. Microwave for 30 seconds and whisk to mix in melted butter. When the scones are finished, cool slightly and drizzle glaze over top.

Easy and Cheap Restaurant Style Homemade Salsa ~ Money Saving recipe

A Thrifty Mom — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:00:13 +0000

Thanks to Hot Eats Cool Reads for this saving money recipe for Easy and Cheap Homemade Salsa. I too am a huge salsa fan. My favorite is restaurant style salsa so this recipe has me all excited

I love salsa. The stuff from the stores just doesn’t cut it though. We eat alot of Mexican food at our house and buying fresh tomatoes to make a batch of salsa sometimes isn’t affordable. That’s where this recipe comes in. It is so CHEAP! It uses canned tomatoes instead of fresh and it’s even cheaper that the jarred stuff at the supermarket. Not to mention it tastes pretty darn good and you can use so many different ingredients to switch up the flavor! It was also great added in with the Vegetarian Taco Dip recipe. Enjoy!!

What you need:

2- 14.5 oz diced tomatoes (regular or Mexican style)

1 small can diced green chiles

1/4 bunch cilantro

2 cloves garlic

2 whole green onions

1/2 tbsp sugar

salt and pepper

additional add-ins:

peaches

pineapple

jalepenos

anaheim pepper

bell pepper

lime

Directions:

Mince all ingredients in a food processor except tomatoes. Add tomatoes, pulse a couple more times, or until it reaches the consistency you prefer. Refrigerate before serving!

DIY Cooking Spray ~ Money Saving Kitchen Tip

A Thrifty Mom — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:00:29 +0000

Thanks to A Lighter Journey for this quick tip on saving money byNOT buying cooking spray and making her own. My only question is… why didn’t I think of that I can not wait to try this!

Cooking spray…another thing I can add to my list of things I don’t buy. I found an easy, effective way to make it on my own

You’ll need:

Spray Bottle
1 cup of oil (whatever type you prefer)
1 Tbsp. of water

Add oil and water to spray bottle…and there it is…cooking spray!

This version costs far less to make and works great. I don’t know about you, but I love finding out how simple things like this are to make on my own!!

Look What I Made Link Up Now Open ~ 4/24

A Thrifty Mom — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:00:32 +0000

Also don’t forget about our newest feature, our Market Place. Where you can sell your items right here on A Thrifty Mom.com and you can list them for FREE. Click here for more info.

DIY – Easy Bird Feeders

A Thrifty Mom — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:00:05 +0000

DIY Bird Feeder by Tiffany – When I was little and in school we made these easy DIY bird feeders. I thought my kiddos ages 3 and 6 were old enough to make them, so we gave it a go. They did a fantastic job and had so much fun making them. After we hung our bird feeders, we sat patiently and watched to see if the birdies would come, and they did! My three year old daughter thought this was the best project EVER! She was even nice enough to bring more empty rolls of toilet paper, wasn’t that sweet?! Yes, she unrolled several rolls before I knew what she was doing. Little stinker!

Supplies Needed:

Bird Seed
Creamy Peanut Butter (challenge yourself with the crunchy ..)
Empty Toilet Paper Rolls
String, Ribbon or Twine
Scissors, for cutting ribbon

1. Put the ribbon through the toilet paper tube and make a knot at the top. (This can be done before or after rolling in peanut butter & bird seed. We’ve done it both ways.)

2. Spread peanut butter all over toilet paper tube.

3. Roll peanut butter covered tube in bird seed.
4. Hang in your favorite tree & watch the birdies come.

Thanks Tiffany – hope your lil cutie pie has fun hanging those!

LOOK WHAT I MADE 4/17 – YOUR CHANCE TO SHOW OFF WHAT YOU MADE

A Thrifty Mom — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:01:28 +0000

Also don’t forget about our newest feature, our Market Place. Where you can sell your items right here on A Thrifty Mom.com and you can list them for FREE. Click here for more info.

Quick Snack Ideas For Kids ~ Money Saving Tip

A Thrifty Mom — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:00:56 +0000

Thanks to A Lighter Journey for this quick tip on saving money by pre planning and making snack packs for your little ones.

So…if your kids are anything like mine, they are ALWAYS asking for snacks. We generally have two snack times a day and I try to have things prepared! My favorite snacks are little trail mix bags I make ahead of time. Easy to make!

Take out anything open in your pantry that your kids love…(it’s a great way to use up the last of the box)

cereals
nuts
popcorn
dried fruit
pretzels
{I usually add one or two “fun” items}
chocolate chips
marshmallows

I add all desired ingredients to a bowl…since we have bigger kids and a littler kiddo…I make two batches! Big kids mix and Little kid mix. I scoop a generous handful into plastic bags and put them in a container. Easy to grab and hand out to hungry little ones!

My kids put their baggies back on the counter when they are done, and they are easy to re-use!

LOOK WHAT I MADE 4/10 – YOUR CHANCE TO SHOW OFF WHAT YOU MADE

A Thrifty Mom — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:00:42 +0000

Also don’t forget about our newest feature, our Market Place. Where you can sell your items right here on A Thrifty Mom.com and you can list them for FREE. Click here for more info.

LOOK WHAT I MADE 4/3 – YOUR CHANCE TO SHOW OFF WHAT YOU MADE

A Thrifty Mom — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:00:12 +0000

Also don’t forget about our newest feature, our Market Place. Where you can sell your items right here on A Thrifty Mom.com and you can list them for FREE. Click here for more info.

Swiss, Chicken and Spinach Muffins recipe ~ Look What I Made

A Thrifty Mom — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:00:23 +0000

Thanks to Hot Eats and Cool Reads for this recipe , this is one of those simple… but look like you spend all day in the kitchen recipes. Perfect for a get together or family meal!

You could serve this as dinner or also as an appetizer! It would be so easy to change up the ingredients as well according to what you have on hand.

What you need:

2 c. cooked chicken, cut into small pieces

3 c. raw baby spinach

1 1/2 c. fresh white mushrooms, sliced

1/2 c. shredded swiss cheese, plus more for topping

1- 7.5 oz. tube of biscuits

olive oil

salt and pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Separate biscuits and flatten each one into a 5 inch circle. Place one biscuit in each muffin cup in the muffin pan. (you will have 10 total, not 12)

In a medium skillet, saute spinach, mushrooms, seasoned with salt and pepper, in some olive oil until spinach starts to wilt. Add chicken and saute for a couple more minutes. remove from heat and mix in the swiss cheese. Scoop about 1/4 cup of the chicken and spinach mixture into each biscuit and top with a sprinkle more of the swiss. Bake for 15-20 minutes.Print Recipe