Most families are starting to think about things that they can cut back on, so that they can save money anywhere they can find it. We have gone to making a lot of our own soaps, shampoos, conditioners and other stuff like that. These are two recipes for shampoo and conditioner that we use in the household and everyone love them.

Chamomile Shampoo

• 1 handful fresh or dried chamomile flowers
• 1 3/4 cup boiling water
• 3 tablespoons pure soap flake, OR save leftover pieces of soap.
• 1 tablespoon glycerin
• 5 drops yellow food coloring (optional)

Place the flowers in a bowl and cover with the boiling water. Let stand for 15 minutes, then strain into the other bowl. Clean the first bowl. Combine the soap and hot infusion in it. Let stand until the soap softens — a few minutes. Beat in the glycerin and food coloring until well blended. Pour the mixture into the bottle. Keep in a cool dark place.

Fruit Conditioner

• 1 avocado (peeled and mashed)
• 1 cup coconut milk

Combine mashed avocado with some coconut milk. Mash together until it’s smooth and about as thick as shampoo. Comb it through the hair and let sit for 10-15 minutes, then wash out.

Doormat are great to have because they can keep the dirt outside and off of your floors in the house. They are also nice to look at. I found this one and fell in love with it. I can’t wait to try this (going to this weekend) and add this to our cottage. There is a great tutorial that shows some of the steps that need to be done in pictures, which is always very helpful. You could even try dying the rope to make it match the color of your house or cottage.

Quilting is something that I am still new at learning. So anything that helps me out is great. I found this great tutorial that shows you how to make easy quilting blocks out of recycled material. Since this these are made out of material that you probably already have on hand, this project is something that can be done for free. This quilt can make a unique gift for that special someone that is hard to buy for.

I am looking for new inspiration for future posts, and am inviting you to enter my “Christmas in July” Give-Away. It’s easy to enter…just comment to this post with a craft project for which you would like to see a tutorial.

It can be any thing! Something you have wanted to learn for a long time, something you just saw yesterday!

All comments which include a future craft post idea or request, and are posted before 11:59pm on July 31st, will be eligible. Winner will be chosen and notified on August 1st. The project suggestion that is chosen will be featured in one of my future posts, and on my personal blog Creative Origins (entries accepted there, also). PLUS! The submitter will receive a “Homemade Holiday” Gift Package filled with handcrafted holiday gifts.

See a sneak peek of gift package you will receive here.

Even though he’s too nice to admit it, I’m sure my husband has wondered why he ever bought me the sewing machine I begged him for!  I would do an occasional project, but for the most part, it sat unused on my craft table for months at a time.  But not anymore!  I have found a ton of easy summer sewing patterns online.  Plus, I heard through flickr that WalMart is getting rid of their fabric departments so there will be lots of fabric sales this summer.  Anyway, here is a run down of some patterns that should be simple enough for sewing novices like me!

Turn a men’s shirt into a cute fitted cap-sleeve top with the help of this tutorial on craftster.org.  I haven’t tried this one yet, but I raided my husband’s old clothes and have a shirt to use for it.

Another one on Craftster that uses a men’s shirt is this adorable button down shirt into a toddler dress tutorial.  This one I have done, and my daughter loves it!  I was able to do the whole thing during her naptime.  I took a couple of quick photos of her this morning:

Here’s another one that I want to try as soon as I get some grosgrain ribbon to match my fabric…this easy circle skirt tutorial.

This last one might be a little bit more complicated (at least, it will be for me!) but I definitely want to try it.  There is a tutorial for making a shirred top for yourself and a shirred sundress for a little girl.

I think the best part about finding these tutorials online is the fact that so many people leave helpful hints and discussions in the comments.  I am NOT good at sewing, not at all, so these tutorials are much easier to understand than patterns!