Northern Cheapskate

Frugal. By Nature.

Make a Pair of Mittens From an Old Sweater

Make a Pair of Mittens From an Old Sweater

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Remember the monster stuffies I made as Christmas gifts for my children? This is more of that 100% cashmere sweater that I am recycling. It is just so soft that I knew I wanted to make a pair of lightweight mittens for myself. As I was cutting out the fabric pieces, my daughter felt the fabric and commented on how soft it was and how she wished the mittens I was making were for her. So, guess what! I still have more sweater left and am planning to make a pair for her and a pair of baby mittens … [Read more...]

Making Christmas Gifts: Doorway Puppet Theater

Making Christmas Gifts: Doorway Puppet Theater

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Most kid love puppets. I know mine do and have quite the collection of puppets. My daughter even has a wooden tabletop puppet theater that my parents made her, but she isn't fond of sharing it with her brother. Plus, it can tip easily if a toddler bumps in to it the wrong way. My solution was to design a doorway puppet theater using items I had around the house that were leftover or not in use. I chose to sew my project, but you could easily do this without any sewing at all and you may just … [Read more...]

Making Christmas Gifts: Monster Stuffies

Making Christmas Gifts: Monster Stuffies

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I don't think October is too early to be thinking about Christmas gifts. To be honest, I shop for presents for Christmas, birthdays. etc year round when I see something I look for a really good price. But once fall hits, I start thinking about those presents I will be making for others  and begin creating so that I have enough time to get my projects completed. So, I thought that for the next couple months I would share how to make some of the gifts I will be giving away this holiday season … [Read more...]

How to Make a Dress-Up Tutu

How to Make a Dress-Up Tutu

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These tutus are so simple to make and can be done without any sewing needed and are loved by little girls. The instructions provided will make a tutu that will fit a young girl about a size 6. You can easily make adjustments to the length of the tulle and length of elastic waist (if you are sewing elastic.) The supplies needed to make a tutu include: 1" elastic (or a thin elastic headband), 25+ yards of tulle & thread. To embellish the tutu I used ribbon, felt, an alligator clip, … [Read more...]

Make a Boutique-Style Flowered Headband for a Fraction of the Cost

Make a Boutique-Style Flowered Headband for a Fraction of the Cost

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Ever thought about buying a little girl a cute flowered headband/clip/ from a boutique, only to be shocked by the $8-10 price tag? Well, these are easy enough to make yourself and all you need are some supplies from the dollar store, a glue gun and glue and some scissors. If I was to only make one of these headbands, it would have cost me roughly $2, which is a fraction of the cost of one from a boutique. Use up all the supplies and make some as gifts and I was able to make 4 flowered … [Read more...]

Homemade Gift Ideas

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Pull out the hot-glue gun and felt! It's time to make some homemade gifts for the holidays!Now, for the record, I will be the first to admit: I am not craft or creative. But I can find my way around the internet, and I know there are lots of other folks who are crafty AND creative and can help me come up with frugal gift ideas.Here are a few basic frugal gift ideas that I have done in the past:Photo gifts such as calendars, scrapbooks, t-shirts, and collages.Gifts-in-a-jar. I've made all kinds … [Read more...]