Reducing Waste and Saving Money: Bath and Body Works

Who doesn’t like discount Bath and Body Works soap?? I do miss shopping there on the regular though! Here is how you can extend the life of those soaps and shower gels for months!

Some of my favorite scents: Method Minnie Mouse (Target), Honolulu Sun (BBW) and Italian Citrus Sun (BBW)

DIY Foaming Soap Recipe

Ingredients & Shopping List

  1. Fill your soap dispenser with water about 3/4 full
  2. Add 2 Tbs castile soap
  3. Add a pump or two of your favorite smelling soap
  4. Cover and shake to combine ingredients
  5. Add more water to fill if needed

Bath and Body Works Savings Tip: Subscribe online for coupons. When shopping in-stores, take the survey from the receipt to receive $$ off. Shop during the buy 3 get 3 free sales, use the $$ off coupons and shop through ebates online to get the best bang for your buck!

Bath and Body Works Candle DIY

UUgh and the candles… I have a Bath and Body Works candle problem. I’m actually in the process of trying to use all of my candles and almost at the point where I need more (it’s been a year and a half and I burn them every night). But what if they stop selling my favorite scent!?? That’s why I stock up!

Anyway… I like to have candles around the tub for relaxing soaks and stumbled upon a fun hack on accident. My 3 wick candle had burnt out but precious wax still resided on the bottom. I kept it on the bath ledge for a few days not really needing to move it and it collected some water.

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I dumped the water and the wax just fell right out! The jar was clean to re-use and the wax pattie was ready for dissection! That accident took a few days so you could also heat in a foil lined pan on the stovetop on low until melted enough to pop out.

From here you can break the wax up and use in a tart burner or melt down and create mini candles for gifts!

DIY Mini Candles

Choose a receptacle of your choice. From a condiment cup to an almost empty mini jar or an empty tealight tin, you probably have something you can use to use as a candle. Here is what I scrounged up:

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BUT, I also went to Hobby Lobby to get some more inspiration. So many ideas! Just make sure they are safe to house a candle. I also picked up some pre-waxed wicks for an easier craft.

After you’ve melted the wax down, remove as many little soot crumbs as you can as well as the burnt wicks. Pour into the jar of your choice and, place the wick in and prop the wick up until it sets.

And voila! Two new small candles ready for spring!

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*FTC Disclosure: All links to Amazon products are affiliate links and I receive commission based on purchases.

December 25

 

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Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you have a wonderful day full of happiness and family. With half our lives in storage and a handful of my craft supplies, I still got me tree and filled it with adorable recycled bits. And it got me posting every day!

Most of the decorations will be recycled but a new I will keep – especially the little book!

Since I only had white paper, Christmas Day let me add some color to my tree with bows, ribbons and tags from gifts. And Lucy cat added her few decorations too…

I hope you enjoyed these crafts and stay tuned for some upcoming beauty videos, crafts, and more in the New Year!

December 24

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Happy Christmas Eve! You didn’t think I could forget the angel, could you?? This is so so simple and very little cutting. Just lots of folding! And a little gluing.

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Accordion fold a full sheet of 8.5 x 11 paper lengthwise.

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Fold in half.

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Glue together to make her skirt.

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Accordion fold an 8.5 x 11 width-wise.

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Pinch in the center and either glue, staple or tie together. I went with tying.

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Hot glue her wings to her skirt. 

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Take one of those scraps you probably have 20 of that were left over from making a square out of a sheet of paper. 

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Cut into quarters. You only need one quarter. 

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Accordion fold that as small as you can. 

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Glue together to make a small medallion. 

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Hot glue in the nook of her wings. 

Then add to the top of your tree! You may need to make a cone or use some string to tie onto the tree. If you have a fake one, you can bend the branches to hold her into place.

I hope you have a fantastic Christmas Eve! I’ll post my completed tree tomorrow!

December 21

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From wreath to igloo! Just like the paper ball wreaths, this is just a stacked version. With a little door.

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Put on a movie! This one takes a little longer.

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Cut up strips. A ton of them. Probably a page and a half. These are cut at 1/4″ strips on the 8.5″ side. Then tear them in half and ball up tightly.

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Trace a small circle like a cup or a small candle. 

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Add a little door block and cut out.

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Start gluing. 

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And gluing. Stacking like bricks as you go. Slowly start to push the balls in the higher you get so it domes. 

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Glue and dome. Leave the door for last.

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Once you’re about here, start on the door.

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Put on another movie if needed…

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Start with about 2 deep and 2 straight up. 

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Angle the next row then top with one. 

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Now start filling in the rest of the roof. 

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Floof around if you have some gaps. Add your ribbon and hang!

This would be so pretty around the blue bulbs if you have colored lights. It would also be pretty without a base and with a faux tealight underneath! My husband pointed out I didn’t put anything inside and well, I forgot. So I’ll find an army man or dinosaur to put in there. Hope you enjoyed snow balling!

December 19

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The ornaments don’t have to stop at the tree! Decorate under your tree with simple tealight votives using battery operated tealights.

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Measure how tall you want your votive and cut.

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Wrap around to measure how wide you need your strip. Have about a half inch overlapping in the back. 

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Make a little mark for the width of the tealight. 

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On another strip equal in size, draw or trace the image you want for your votive. Keep it basic and simple. 

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Place over to trace. 

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Using a pin, poke holes to trace the shape. I poked over a mouse pad but foam paper or even a few folded paper towels on the table will work. 

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Re-puncture any holes that need touch-ups. 

Tape around your tealight and add anywhere that needs a festive touch!

December 15

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Cut a sheet of paper into strips. These are 3/4″ strips. 

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Stack the strips and fold in half. Glue or staple the fold in place. If gluing, use a small amount just in the center. 

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Add a dab of glue to the end of each strip and loop to the center. Hot glue, glue stick or double sided tape will work best. 

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Loop and glue until all strips are looped and glued. 

So easy! Try with shorter strips, thinner strips, colors and ribbons. Perfect for the tree or on top of a gift!

December 14

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Part xylophone, part tree. A symphony of fun!

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Cut paper lengthwise in a variety of widths. The first 5 should be the whole 11 inch length. The top tiers, use half of the length (5.5″)

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Fold each strip in half but only crease the corner to mark the center of the width of each strip. 

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Cut each strip from the corner to the top center where you marked with a crease. It doesn’t have to be perfect so scissors will work fine too!

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For the top tiers, use a 5.5″ strip and cut by hand. 

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Roll all of your strips into paper beads and finish ends with glue. If you’re having trouble keeping the bead tight, add glue as you roll. 

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Roll the teeny tiny ones as tight as you can! They are the tedious ones. 

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Use a string, Popsicle stick, or strip of paper as your trunk and glue beads on from smallest to largest.

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Trim off any excess trunk from the bottom and add your ribbon to hang. 

This is really pretty with magazine or printed paper. Play with different widths, trunks and paper to have a forest of recycled trees! From tree to tree!

 

December 12

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Let’s keep curling strips of paper! While gluing the first three pieces of my garland I stopped and said, “Aww!! A snowman!”

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These are about 1/4″ width. 

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Curl the strips varying in tightness. I glued the ends so they don’t flippy flappy around. 

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Glue the three together then add your ribbon to hang. 

Aww! Hi snowman!

December 11

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Small strips of paper turned into curly and cute garland!

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Cut strips of paper into equal widths. 

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Curl into a variety of spirals differing in tightness. 

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Arrange with alternating sizes and glue together. 

Just three steps for this simple and whimsical addition to your tree! Have fun with colors, sizes and textured papers!

December 9

Mini advent cubes for your tree! The perfect size for a mini toy or treat. This was another hand drawn template but I’ve created one for you to print and fold on your own.

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Cut out your template.

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Cut along solid lines and fold on dotted lines. Decorate your own number as you wish.

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Glue together and add your treat!

Add a dollop of hot glue at the top and glue on your ribbon to hang.

 

Here is the template to create your own! Fold with the guidelines facing in.

Advent Box