If you get my Freebie Friday newsletter, you most likely read Midge’s question about frugal wrapping ideas (if you don’t get my newsletter be sure and subscribe via the sticky note in the upper right corner of the blog). Read below to find out my favorite method! Molly

Dear Midge,

I’m so excited to answer this question for you today and share my absolute favorite present wrapping method! To begin, look for any fabric (usually cotton blends work best) that would correspond with major holidays or even birthdays. If you have a July birthday in your family, you might choose a stars and stripes type fabric. There are fall/autumn fabrics, Christmas fabrics, Halloween fabrics, etc. I like the rustic country look so I’ve also chosen fabric that is plaid or checks or even blue pinstripe.

Next, encourage your inner seamstress. Your goal is to make different sized fabric bags. If you have a large enough piece of fabric, you need to only cut, fold and then sew up two sides. This is very easy to do, even if you are a beginner at the sewing machine! Worse case scenario, you need to sew around three edges. Be sure to sew on the “wrong” side of the fabric so when you are done you can flip it right side out and the seams will be on the inside. I’ve left the top a raw edge, in the past, so it could unravel and look “rustic.” I’ve also cut the fabric in the past with a pinking shears so the top edge didn’t need to be sewn.

For larger Christmas gifts, be sure your fabric bags are extra large! Simply place the gift(s) inside the bag, gather the top and tie off with a pretty ribbon, twine or even raffia. You can then either make a homemade gift tag, use a hole punch to make a hole and tie it to the ribbon, twine or raffia. Or you can use a sticky gift tag and place it right on the front of the fabric bag (I’ve even used address labels in a pinch!).

This method is a sure fire way to save you ALL KINDS of wrapping anxiety this holiday season. Start sewing now and stack up those fabric bags, you’ll be the talk of the party when you bring a gift wrapped this way! Be sure to scan the fabrics on sale or the $1/yd. fabric bolts for the bags you intend on giving away, that will help you save some money. The bags you use for your family can be used for years to come!

Happy wrapping (and sewing!).
Love ya, Molly

Have you strolled the aisles of your favorite store drooling over the cute, fall decor? I have. Sometimes I am able to gather myself enough to look at how a certain centerpiece was created so I can go home and try to be just as creative. Again, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. But, it’s all about being creative right? That’s really the heart of all things frugal. How can I be creative and use things I already have and transform them into something amazingly cute?

Have no fear – simple, frugal fall decorating tips are here!

This blog has some really cute ideas using things you already have (or can easily locate). Ever wonder what you could do with mismatched stemware and some branches? Check it out!

Here’s some easy and crafty ideas for things you may have on hand. Is your yard full of pine cones like mine? A little spray paint and some little gourds can make a trendy centerpiece!

Do you wonder WHAT items to buy WHERE and WHEN? Here are some handy tips if you find yourself like me, standing in the aisle starring at the colorful decor and running your checkbook balance through your head.

What do you do to decorate for fall? Do you have a “stash” of decor you take out every year or do you use living things such as gourds, apples, pine cones and branches to adorn your home?

Guest Blog by: Midge

Ever since reading Molly’s January 09 magazine, I have been inspired to create a seasonal focal point in my home.  So far, I have yet to accomplish this task.   I discovered many great ideas for fireplace mantels and entryways but I do not have a fireplace and my front door opens directly into my family room.

Rather than be discouraged, I have had to improvise.

Step one - Freshen up the plant barrel near my front door by removing the dead flowers.  Yes, I know, I do not have a green thumb.  But, I tried to plant a few little flowers in a tub this year.  Surprisingly, the flowers actually looked like they could flourish in the wooden tub for sometime.  But, then, unexpectedly, they started to wither.  Soon, I was left with a barrel of dead flowers and a few white winter-like plants that seem to stay alive even without watering them (love that!).  I removed the withered flowers and kept the few plants that survived.

Step Two – In the frugal spirit of Molly Green, I bought a few very inexpensive fall decorations and decided to use them to spruce up my empty flower tub.  The result is not as gorgeous as I had hoped for but it is definitely a cute display.  It makes me smile every time I walk by the decorations.

Step three – This will involve finally picking out one small place in my home for our seasonal focal point.  I eagerly anticipate the day my daughter will be old enough to assist in making a few seasonal crafts to sprinkle around our home.  Until then, I will light my pumpkin pie candle, buy a few more frugal decorations and turn our house into a home which is ready for Fall!

Do you have a seasonal focal point in your home?  What are your favorite Fall memories or decorations?

Don’t forget tonight is the FREE EXPO!!  Sign up here: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/307031038

Flashback Monday is where I bring you “back in time” with me to previous topics discussed in my magazines. Molly members simply need to go to your Member Page, find the back issue we’re talking about and click on it. If you’re not a Molly member and would like to be, sign up here. Not only will you receive a new magazine each month, but you will have access to all back issues as well as other fun (and helpful!) resources. Molly

Is your home a beautiful, cozy nest and shelter? Start weaving your own attractive love- and dream-filled nesting place! Make your home and décor a pleasing, personal, frugal reflection of you—with Molly’s help.

Have you read it? Molly’s Money-Saving Digest-Frugal Decorating

“A lovingly decorated home is not about high price tags, debt, or keeping a set of design rules. It’s about pulling together pieces that work for your family, at a price you can afford, in a way that makes you smile . . .”
—Molly Green

There’s so much packed into this special issue—ideas to express creativity and enjoy beauty; inspiration for daily living; and gentle wisdom and encouragement shared by real, contemporary families. Check out the fabulously frugal topics you’ll find in Molly’s September Digest:

Begin with the Basics: Are you couponing yet? Maybe you’re not convinced that it’s worth the hassle. Listen up with a sensible, step-by-step introduction to why and how coupons really can help your family’s budget. This is the first part in a series by Amy Howard that takes a good, close look at how a real family uses coupons for real savings. If you are tempted to shy away, you need to read this!
On Sale This Month: Every little bit adds up! What items are usually discounted? What should you stock up on? Find out now.
Keeping it All Together: Creating a Home Décor Binder—Learn from Kris how to create and maintain your own three-ring binder that will save you time and money, and keep all of your pertinent decorating information in one place! Get organized to ensure that you have what you want when you need it and go on to acquire the fabulous results you envision.
Feather Your Nest Frugally: How did Virginia help her son find and refurbish a solid wood dining room set for only $135? See this photo transformation!
Pull up a Chair: There are plenty of interesting reasons to celebrate in September! What should you put on the menu? Get the recipes for Black Bean and Sausage Soup, Paul’s Cornbread, and easy-but-tasty 1-2-3 Cheesecake!
Parenting that Pays: Todd Wilson, the funnyman of Familyman Ministries, shares a cartoon, and Molly shares some brief, but sound, advice on keeping your family’s decibel level lower. You can have a more peaceful home—within minutes! This advice alone is worth the price of this E-Book!
Something Old-Something New: What do you have in your home right now that’s just screaming for a li’l update? One of Molly’s favorite bloggers, Tracey Buxton from A Cottage Industry, takes an old calendar frame and gives it a charmingly new 2009 look. Sometimes it’s all in the paint!
Monthly Feature: Frugal Decorating—With the word count down and the picture count high, you’ll hear from three special guests then go on a “blog walking tour” visiting a dozen additional favorite décor bloggers. These are real women with real families living in real houses and creating lovely home environments on a realistic budget.

Become a Molly Member here and for only $3.85/month you will receive a new issue of Molly’s Money-Saving Magazine as well as access to ALL the back issues of my Money-Saving Magazine. That’s more than THREE YEARS’ worth of back issues! See you soon!

Guest Blog by: Midge

Have you ever had a project that has felt like it has gone on forever?  You work on it hard for a week or two, and then you run out of paint or flooring.  You end up putting it on the back burner for a few weeks until you can get around to buying the necessary supplies.  After that they sit in the unfinished room waiting for you to get up the gumption to finish!

Our guest bedroom has become one of those Forever Projects.  We tore out the carpet and discovered we also needed to tear out the sub-floor.  We went ahead and tore out the sub-floor and replaced it.  This process took about a month of Saturdays.  While we were at it we also took off a wall of wood paneling and put dry wall up in its place.  Just as we were finishing putting the dry wall up, we realized there was more drywall to replace.  Once we started to take off the dry wall a few other issues popped up so we ended up replacing almost a full wall of the dry wall throughout the room.

Do you know how long it takes to tape and mud and sand and tape and mud and sand and…?  Okay, you get the picture already!  It seems like that part of the dry wall project took the longest.  Texturing came next and then my favorite part which is PAINTING!

My nieces and nephews all came over for an afternoon painting party (check out the pictures of their little hands on my wall).  I loved the help and was feeling like the painting portion of this project would be over quickly.  But so far, even with my family helping us to get a jumpstart, I am now on week three of not finishing it.  And my husband and I are even starting to doubt our color choice!  I really don’t want to paint these walls all over again.

We started the project at the end of April and now it is the end of August.  This forever project needs a firm ending date!!!  So, here is hoping for a Labor Day deadline…. I will let you know if we make it!   Maybe our holiday company will have to sleep on our sofa sleeper instead…

Do you have a Forever Project that you are working on?  I would love to hear about it!

Little hands helping…  Two colors of blue, what do you think?

My next project will be to create a seasonal focal point in my home. Where you walk in our home and are greeted by a holiday banner or decorations. This magazine shows you how to create one: http://econobusters.com/lets_get_organized_for_fiscal_fitness/

Guest Blog by: Midge

Fave Magazine Articles… Series 3 of 3

I don’t know about you, but every three to six months I feel an urge to rearrange my furniture and get a new perspective on my house.  I have found many Molly Green articles which have inspired me to want to add that little extra something in order to spruce up my house to make it feel more like a home.  Here are a few of my favorites throughout the years….

I love the Feather your Nest Frugally section from this issue of Molly Green Magazine.  In one of her ideas, she takes a variety of thrift store buys to create a beautiful countertop display including fresh fruit.  Her largest purchase for one item was only $2.99.  What a great inexpensive idea to spruce up your dining room!  http://econobusters.com/making_money_from_home/

Want to take some rugged looking chairs and give them a new look?  The chair idea in this magazine is really cute.   http://econobusters.com/frugal_family_vacations/

Do you or your husband want to organize the garage in a more functional way?  Check out the tool tutorial in this article!  http://econobusters.com/molly_saves_in_the_garage_and_shed/

I have always wanted to create a seasonal focal point in my home.  Where you walk in the house and are greeted by a holiday banner or decorations.  In this magazine it talks about how to create one… http://econobusters.com/lets_get_organized_for_fiscal_fitness/

Okay, I got so excited about this topic, I could just keep posting!   But, here is one more for the road… Our next big project is our bedroom and our sweet little girl’s room.  This magazine has ideas for organizing your child’s room and making your bedroom a comfortable haven.  http://econobusters.com/molly_saves_in_the_bedroom/

So go ahead and rearrange.   Move, paint and upcycle your items and recycle your house for the season.  It is like a breath of fresh air!

What is your favorite thing to re-arrange in your home?  I would love to know what projects you worked on this summer!  Please share your ideas in the comment section!

If you get my weekly newsletter, you most likely read Midge’s question regarding her request for frugal suggestions on putting together a child’s birthday party. (if you don’t get my newsletter be sure and subscribe via the sticky note in the upper right corner of the blog). Here are a few thoughts I had on fun birthday ideas. Molly

Dear Midge,

How about these simple ideas for your daughter’s next birthday party?

1. Cake (or some form of cake like cupcakes, ice cream cake, etc)

2. A few (frugal) decorations. How about some streamers, balloons, Happy Birthday sign (purchased or homemade by siblings) and a few goodies in a goodie bag for guests. All of these things can be purchased at your local dollar discount-type store.

3. A fun activity or two. If it’s summer time it could involve bubbles, water balloons, water guns or sprinklers. If it’s winter time, fun activities might include pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey or a coloring contest (with prizes for all at the end).

4. A nature scavenger hunt. The list of things to find could include pine cones, 3 different types of tree leaves, a certain colored stone, etc.

5. The biggest and best HAPPY BIRTHDAY song you can muster (how about adding in actions too?). A birthday ‘crown’ for the guest of honor would be extra special too. Don’t forget lots of pictures!

Birthday parties don’t have to break your budget. Being together, having a good time and making memories are what’s important. Use your imagination and enjoy your child’s special day. Why not include the story of their birth? If you have an adopted child, you could tell the story of how they came to your family and the first time you set eyes on them and how it made your heart happy.

Happy birthday party planning!
Love ya, Molly

Frugal party ideas works for me! To see more Works For Me Wednesday Tips, visit We Are That Family.

Does the word “remodeling” send shivers down your spine and immediately bring dollar signs to mind?  That’s exactly what happens to me!  I like to change the wording around some and call any remodeling project a “facelift.”  To me, it still sounds nice and the play-on-words tricks my brain into thinking I can still create a nice space without breaking the bank.  I thought I might talk about kitchens today because that seems to be where I spend a good amount of my time.  Just so we’re all on the same page, I’m not talking about something like this:

I’m talking about giving your kitchen a facelift, something along the lines of using paint and coming up with something like:

This is where creativity and imagination come into play.  Home improvement stores are just full of DIY project instructions and supplies.  Have you ever watched one of those DIY channels on TV or visited a site online?  For a project-enthusiast like me, I can dream the day away.  But then I quickly come back to reality when I happen to glance at my pocketbook.

Money Crashers has some great tips on getting started to give your kitchen a (frugal) makeover.  You’ll read about the use of paint, cost effective counter top choices, custom backsplash ideas, tips on saving money when choosing new appliances and updating light fixtures.

Do you have any frugal ideas on updating a kitchen?  Do you use paint to spruce things up or faux finishes on cabinets or walls?  How do you update light fixtures, flooring and fixtures and stay within your budget?

Fabulous Friday is a way to recap the week and give you some frugal tips for the weekend. Please share what you’re up to this weekend! Molly

Have you ever started watching one of those DIY shows and thought, “Hey, I can do that”? I rarely have time for the television these days but as I was flipping through the channels late one night, a certain project caught my eye: distressing furniture.  I’ve always loved the look of distressed furniture because it made me feel like I had a real gem, an antique if you will.  While I don’t have any real antiques, I like to make it look like I do. 

I started thinking that distressing a piece of furniture is really one of the most frugal ways to give a tired piece a face-lift!  If you don’t have anything you can work on, try looking at garage sales, estate sales or even your local charity type store (i.e. Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc).  Extra paint lying around? Search what you have sitting in your basement for your next project. No paint? Try asking a friend or relative (maybe you can trade them a batch of cookies for their unused can of paint).  You can also check stores for their ‘oops’ paint.  Sometimes an incorrect color is mixed up for someone and as a result they put it on the shelf to sell for a cheaper price.

Check out this tutorial on distressing a piece of furniture.  Does it give you the itch to start sanding and painting?

I have an old desk that needs some love.  I’m thinking I’ll paint it black and distress it. I’m wondering what to do with the drawer pulls though. Any thoughts? You guessed it, that’s what is on my agenda this weekend!

What’s in store for your weekend? Do you have any frugal projects you’re working on? If you’re traveling, how do you make frugal choices for your family while on the road? Enjoy your weekend, see you back here bright and early Monday morning!

Weekend projects work for me! To see more Works For Me Wednesday tips visit: We Are That Family.

Since the weather is warming I thought I’d re-post this frugal transformation from March of last year. Maybe it’ll make you grab a piece of furniture and your sander and head outdoors!

You know how when you have a ton of things that need done, you’ll suddenly find yourself doing something that wasn’t even on the list? (Please tell me I’m not the only one!!)

We have company coming this weekend and I decided it would be a good idea if I could finish painting all my lower kitchen cabinets. The ones from the kitchen makeover that I started this summer and never finished. I did the counter, backsplash and upper cabinets, but just never got to those bottom cabinets. Well, I did one section. So I had one section that was brown, one that was green, and one that was white (don’t ask).

But as I was taking off cabinet doors and sanding them down I decided it would be a good idea (this is the unrelated project part) to sand and stain the top of our coffee table. This coffee table is one that I bought for $5 at a yard sale. It’s sturdy and big. That’s about it. But I had little boys and you KNOW you don’t want a nice coffee table with little boys. They have to be able to race Hot Wheels and build things and knock them over and such on the coffee table. If you invest in some piece of beauty that can’t be scratched or scuffed, you’re just asking for a trip to the Funny Farm.

Hence, my $5 coffee table. The one with the top that looks like this:

But, since my boys are getting older, I’ve been intending to paint the table. Or maybe just the top. I can’t decide. Not only can I not decide whether to paint the whole thing or just the top, I can’t decide what color.  And so, the eyesore remains. And it bothers me. Every day.

OK, back to the sanding. As I’m sanding the cabinet doors I realize that I could just sand down the table top and use some remaining stain to stain the top. The top would be darker than the legs, but I rather like that look. And then, when (if) I decide what color I want to paint the table, I can still do that down the road.

So I yanked the table out onto the porch and sanded her down. It took probably 30-45 minutes, tops. She was so pretty I almost wanted to leave her like that.

But I grabbed my leftover can of stain and went to work. In another 30 minutes, I had a nice looking finished product. I’ll probably add a coat or two of poly and call it good. I can’t believe what a difference it made with only a short investment of time and no money at all. Now I just wish I’d done it sooner.