Reducing Waste and Saving Money: Bath and Body Works

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Emily Poirier

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

Foaming Soap Dispenser (I love this mason jar one!)
Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap Unscented
Your favorite Bath and Body Works soap or body wash
Water

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

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:

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!

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

Girl Scout Flowers

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Emily Poirier

Here is the blog that I found the tutorial and template for these flowers to download and use on your own paper. Below is the template over vintage Girl Scout handbook pages. For the leaves, I traced the template onto pearl scrapbook paper. For the bottom of the leaves, I stained using coffee and a bristly paintbrush. Perfect for Girl Scout Week, bridging, appreciation and recognition gifts and events! Happy Birthday Girl Scouts!

cc book flower

Here is a patterned image you could trace the template over for a more modern flower.

gs pattern (1).jpg

Framed Wrapping Paper

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Emily Poirier

Love those boutique wrapping paper sheets but never had a reason to buy them? Here is a simple and quick craft idea to get your creative juices flowing and gives you a reason to get some of that adorable wrapping paper!

I found a Christmas frame on clearance and removed the canvas. You can also get inexpensive frames or artwork at the dollar store, Christmastree Shops, and at a craft store with a coupon.

Glued some wrapping paper onto the cardboard backing, then glued a contrasting cutout of another wrapping paper on top of that. It would look fine with just one pattern as well!

And that’s it! It’s inexpensive and can easily be updated.

Contrasting and matching patterns can be kind of a “huh?” thing but here are some really simple pattern matching ideas.

patterns

December 25

Posted on December 25, 2017 by Emily Poirier

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

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Emily Poirier

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.

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

Fold in half.

Glue together to make her skirt.

Accordion fold an 8.5 x 11 width-wise.

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

Hot glue her wings to her skirt.

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

Cut into quarters. You only need one quarter.

Accordion fold that as small as you can.

Glue together to make a small medallion.

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 22

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Emily Poirier

“Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see” – Conductor, The Polar Express

Start with a small rectangular scrap.

Cut pieces from the corners to scoop out the edges.

Write or print on another piece of paper so you can trace with a hole poker.

Start poking. I used a very large safety pin on top of a mouse pad.

Using a smaller pin or needle, poke around the edges as a border.

Clean up the larger holes if needed by re poking and flattening the hole flaps in the back.

Add your ribbon and hang! Make tickets for each word if you’d like. And always, always believe.

December 21

Posted on December 21, 2017 by Emily Poirier

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

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

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.

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

Add a little door block and cut out.

Start gluing.

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

Glue and dome. Leave the door for last.

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

Put on another movie if needed…

Start with about 2 deep and 2 straight up.

Angle the next row then top with one.

Now start filling in the rest of the roof.

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!