Homemade Laundry Detergent

Several years ago I was looking for ways to save money. I began looking at items that we needed, but were expensive. (Especially on a newly married, young couple in college budget) Laundry detergent seemed to be one of the larger expenses and something I thought we could save some money on. My next door neighbor Kayla told me that she made her own laundry detergent and she loved it. This gave me just the inspiration I needed. I could find a way to make my own laundry soap. Kayla told me that making laundry soap was very easy and I wouldn't regret it. Well, I took to the internet and searched for a laundry soap recipe. I found some for powder detergent and some for liquid detergent. I decided that I would want to have a liquid laundry soap, so I went on from there. I found several different recipes for soap and decided on one that I found to be simple and one I could make my own. As I have made this soap a lot it has evolved and changed and I have made it my own.

So, do it yourself. Test out this recipe for yourself, fall in love and never look back! 

What you will need:

ITEMS YOU WILL NEED: 

*Bar of soap - any kind you want. ($.99-$1.50 a bar) 

*Box of Borax - $6.00 - $7.00 depending on where you get it. 

*Box of Washing Soda - $3.50

*A pot that holds more than 2 gallons. I just bought one at Walmart for like $20 instead of searching for one at the thrift store. The $20 cost was definitely worth it. 

*A cheese grater. $1.00 at the thrift store. 

*A funnel. $.25 at the thrift store. 

*A long spoon. $.25 at the thrift store. 

*3 empty milk jugs or juice containers. - FREE - recycled from the refrigerator.  

* about a half an hour of time.

Don't know where to find Borax or Washing Soda at your local store? Try the isle that has laundry detergents and fabric softeners. This is where you will most likely find it, let's just say I've never not found it there. You will use the Borax and Washing Soda multiple times as you only need 1 cup of each per batch. They all around cost of making this will save you oodles. 

I promise you will thank yourself time and time again for trying this out and will definitely save some pennies, heck even dollars in the process.

The recipe I use is below:

Open Up Shop...

Ok everyone. It's time to open up shop!

As of two weeks ago I finally opened up my etsy shop. I was a little slow getting it up, and it is definitely still a work in progress, but I am very excited to have accomplished this little goal as a part of the big goals I have set for myself.  If you would like to check it out click here.  There are a few items up, and more will be coming this week, so please keep checking back. I also take custom orders! So, if you see something you like, but have an idea you would like even more, let me know.

In the meantime, start your week off right by watching a great pep talk from kid President.
 

DIY Shadowbox....

Are you ever in search of a simple holiday decoration? Something real easy to whip up?

I know that I am always in search of fun, simple, and cheap ways to add a fun holiday something to the house. A few years ago I was wandering around Porter's (the local craft store) and they had 12x12 shadowboxes for $10.00 or something like that and of course that got me thinking "What can I do with this?!?" After wandering through the store for quite some time, I decided that I would use it for holiday decoration. It was spring time and I was looking for something for Easter. I decided I would make something to put in the shadowbox for easter, then I would have a cute decoration for easter. Then, my idea just got better. I could reuse the shadowbox for any and every holiday & event. Interchangeable sheets, to me the idea was genius!

So, when a holiday, birthday, or something special comes up I make a sheet to put in my 12x12 shadowbox. I have a variety of sheets I use.  How I come up with what I'm going to do for the shadowbox often goes like this: I go to the craft store or my big box of paper, check out the 12x12 scrapbook paper and look for one that #1- I like and #2 - Matches the theme I am going for. And most importantly, #3- sparks an idea. Sometimes I know exactly what I am going to do and sometimes it takes me a while to figure it out. I typically try and do something on the paper that will stand out, add texture and make the sheet look 3D. Sometimes this means using buttons, ribbon, foam, felt or folded paper to make the 12x12 sheet stand out. Because it is a shadowbox, I don't want to just stick a plain piece of scrapbook paper in there.

This craft costs:
>$5.00- $10.00 for a shadowbox (I always use a coupon & you only need to purchase this once.)
> $.79 - $1.00 for a 12x12 paper of your choice
> $1.00 - $3.00 for fun things to put on your 12x12 sheet
> FREE- finding random crafty stuff you already have that you can use. i.e. buttons, ribbon, paper, foam letters, felt, fabric, etc....

It has been really fun over the past few years to come up with ideas and make them come to life.
Here are a few ideas of shadowbox pages that may help come up with a few ideas of your own.

Whether it's Christmas, July 4th, a birthday, baby shower, or a 60 year wedding anniversary, this simple DIY craft is easy, very cheap, and adds just the perfect amount of handmade craftiness to any celebration.

Happy Crafting!

A Craft Fair

Well, we are going to our first craft fair as a vendor. We are very excited and can't wait to take another step into our hobby business journey. If you would like to come to the craft fair and check out The Dandy Dill booth, here is a flyer with the information. We would love to see you there!

Also, check out our etsy shop, we have finally got a few items posted.

Welcome to the blog....

Welcome to.... thedandydill.... a great place to find fun crafting ideas, follow what projects I'm working on, and maybe learn a few tricks along the way.

For a long time I've wanted to do some sort of craft/project/whatever-I'm-working-on, kind of blog. I've finally worked up enough courage to go for my dream. This will be the place where I chronicle my crafting journey from here on out. I'm full of a wide array of emotions. I'm excited to follow this dream, afraid of failing, giddy to share what I love, hesitant to put myself out there, BUT I can't ignore myself and I'm taking a risk. I really can't wait to get my toes wet and test out the waters of the craft blogging/selling world.

I have great ambitions and hopes for the coming year and I am really excited to get things rolling. I'm very excited to begin sharing some of my favorite crafts, tricks, DIY projects, decorating ideas and all sorts of other shenanigans. Be excited because this is going to be a lot of fun.

So, here's to a fun new adventure... May it be everything I've been dreaming of and more.

Oh, don't forget to check back for updates!