Surprise mail for kids and more

photo by booleansplit
If you have kids or grandkids, you know how all of their crafty little supplies can get messy to cart around. I like the first tip for organizing supplies and projects. I’m a fan of story sacks (cloth bags with a book and activity), so having activities ready and stored in reusable containers gets a big thumbs up from me. You could create travel activities, and they could easily be mailed as a surprise, too. Think: Play dough or clay and cookie cutters, puzzle books, school supplies or baking kits. The possibilities are endless.

DIY CRAFT TOTE: I buy my shortening at Aldi, and they package it in a plastic canister. I’ve been cleaning and saving them for a while and finally thought up a second use for five of them. I punched two holes opposite each other on the top rim and reused some gift-bag handles to make each container a tote. I’ve packed each of them with a special craft the kids and I can do together every weekday. One day is watercolors, paintbrushes, cups for water and paper squares; one is a simple critter to sew and stuff; one for make-and-bake clay; one is a simple pony-bead project; one is a cut-and-glue stick picture. I have so many craft supplies that I haven’t touched in years, so I’ll just keep refilling the “totes” every weekend with new projects. Two birds with one stone! –Constance, New Jersey
Note from Sara: You can use ice-cream tubs for this, too.

REFILL BOTTLES: I always keep one empty or almost empty shampoo bottle to put all my samples in. I just open samples and put them in the bottle. Because of this, I don’t have a bunch of samples sitting around. I just mix them all up together! — Kim, Nebraska

HOMEMADE V-8 JUICE: My husband says you can’t tell the difference in the taste. It saves money. Use 48 ounces plain tomato juice and 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning. Mix and serve chilled. — Brenda, New York

REUSE SHOEBOXES: I paint and decorate shoeboxes so they match the rest of the house. I have one for our dog with glossy dog pictures on it and a similar one for our cat, storing their brushes and claw clippers, medicine and other stuff. — Ida, Finland

MULTIPURPOSE CLEANER: I wanted to clean my bathtub and found that I didn’t have any of my favorite cleaner on hand. My nephews went into the shower with terribly dirty feet. Something black, almost like tar, was all over the sides of the tub. Not wanting to give up without a try, I got the Shout spray bottle and proceeded to clean my tub with it. I was very surprised and pleased when it worked and made short time of the black rings in the tub. — Mystical Rain, Pennsylvania

DECORATING WITH SHEETS: I recently bought my son a new full-size bed. I had sheets for it but not a bedspread. I took an old full-size comforter and covered it with a duvet cover. I had three solid black twin top sheets, purchased for $2.50 each, which I had used as a backdrop for our 4-H exhibit last fall. I cut one in half lengthwise and sewed the half and the other two twin size together into a huge pillowcase. Then I slipped the old comforter inside. The black comforter looks great. Plus, the leftover half twin sheet will be made into curtains. Curtains plus comforter for $7.50! In addition, my mom is making four throw pillows for my son’s room with a red flat sheet, purchased for $2.50. I think it will match great! My mom is taking some old silk pillow covers (they’re getting kinda frayed) off the pillow forms to make the throw pillows, too. She plans to use the silk pieces to make doll clothes. Total: full size comforter, two matching curtains, four pillows: $10. — Mom K, Arkansas

Posted by Sara Noel on August 11 2008. Filed under Frugal Tips.
Sara Noel owns Frugal Village, LLC and is a nationally syndicated columnist with Universal Uclick. Bio, Follow me on Twitter, Join us on Facebook