How to Make a Beach Towel Bag

I don't know about you, but I am ready for summer. Mentally, I am ready for summer, but the kids still need to finish school for the year and then we can begin all of our summer vacation plans. In the meantime, I am getting ready for it all and trying to add a few new things to brighten up our summer wardrobe since last years items are faded, worn out and were plenty used. I decided to make and customize a couple things so that I don't bust the budget since both kids have grown 1-2 sizes and … [Read more...]

How to Make Denim Coasters

By Justin Weinger Leave a Comment

Ever since I saw the beautiful jean quilts my mom's friend makes, I have been saving up all my ratty old pairs of jeans. The thing is, I'm not much of a seamstress. The last time I used a sewing machine was in 1992. But I do love the idea of keeping my old denim jeans out of the landfill. And I love the idea of turning them into something new and useful. Since I was getting tired of my old pair of wooden coasters, and while it's easy, I'm not a fan of fixing water spots on furniture, I … [Read more...]

10 Easy Ways to Re-Use Like a Cheapskate

By Justin Weinger 12 Comments

Earth month is all about learning to be "greener" and implementing new ways in to our lifestyle. Images of recycling symbols and the mantra "Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle" are blasted everywhere. But we cheapskates have been doing all of this before it was cool to be green because frankly, it saves us money, and we can see what impact that has on our resources. So, if you are reading this article today to learn to be a little "greener" or if you are a fellow cheapskate looking for more ideas on … [Read more...]

10 Ways to Use Leftover Halloween Candy

By Justin Weinger 4 Comments

I know what you're thinking. Leftover Halloween candy? Really? But let's be honest. If your kids are like mine, their trick-or-treating efforts have left them with more sugar than they should ever have. EVER! There's no reason to let all that excess candy go to waste. Try some of these ideas instead! … [Read more...]

Crafty Ways to Reuse Juice Can Lids

By Justin Weinger 4 Comments

If you are like me, you have been collecting juice lids thinking they would be great for some kind of project but you just didn't know what. I have done a few other projects with them before that I will share with you at the end of this post, but for now I have 4 ideas to share with you here on Northern Cheapskate. … [Read more...]

Simple Storage Crafts You “Can” Do

By Justin Weinger 3 Comments

This is a storage craft project that has so many possibilities on both the decorating and the uses that you "can" do it! Literally, you can! … [Read more...]

Cheap Trick: A Use for Old Vinyl Window Shades

By Justin Weinger 1 Comment

When my boys were little they had vinyl window shades in their bedroom. After many months of being opened and closed for nap times and being touched by little hands, the room-darkening shades started to get rips in them. Because the boys were young and, well, boys, I wasn't in a hurry to spend the money to replace them when they ripped. So I repaired the rips with clear packing tape and got more life out of them. Now that the boys are older, I've replaced their vinyl shades with new … [Read more...]