Using what we have!

[wanna_homestead]

I love new ideas for using what we have on hand to create (or just unearth, lol) the things we currently want and/or need.

The other day I really, REALLY wanted a new lipstick. Not sure why, just a random makeup craving (surely some of you can relate). I shopped and shopped online and found a couple I liked but they were about $20. I decided that was ridiculous and set out to create my own out of my old lipsticks/glosses that haven't worked for me for whatever reason. I melted in a small glass dish (in the microwave for about 30 seconds): pieces of two lipsticks that were the right shades for me but just too shimmery, a hunk of a good lip balm, and a sliver of a lipstick that is nice but matches my natural lip color so much I never bother to wear it. After melting together, I poured it into the lip balm tube which I'd just emptied. In a few minutes, it had hardened.

Turns out, it's perfect on me, and exactly what I was looking for. I'm so excited and am going to make more as I empty lip balm/lipstick tubes.

When I was a teen I made a nice lip gloss out of vaseline mixed with the "dregs" (end piece scooped out) of a tube of my favorite lipstick. It was that memory that inspired this frankenbalm .

I'd love to read others' ideas for using what you have to make something new! There are a lot of great frugal minds here at the Village...I am always learning from you guys.

[ladykemma2]

frankenbalm! snorted drink thru my nose owwwww.

[krbshappy71]

I am currently brainstorming what to do to expand my turtle's habitat. I'm convinced there's something in this house that I can use for her and the brain just wont let go of that thought.

I definitely enjoy letting the brain come up with new solutions. Its like playing "I Spy..." the item is there, somewhere in our house...but where?

Thanks for the frankenbalm idea!! love it.

[Debbie-cat]

Great idea wannahomestead! I am going to have to try this! Thanks for the directions.

[frugalwarrior2]

LOve the Frankenbalm idea. FYI-at holidays Avon often sell really cheap lip balm. You could combine w/ 1 tube of lipstick and really stretch it.

[mamamia]

I have to think about an answer to your question because I'm sure somewhere along the lines I've "created" things. But I did want to mention that the saying "necessity is the mother of invention" absolutely holds true! I was always alot more creative when I had the least. Your post made me take a look back at when we lived a practically "bare bones" existence, and in spite of it, I was still able to pull off a decently decorated house.

I remember buying calendars, and cheap ugly framed pictures that I would take out the picture from and put my calendar prints in them. I remember also making a valance out of a tablecloth, and a night stand out of a cardboard box that I topped with a piece of circular wood and covered it all with a pretty table cloth.....well I guess I fooled myself, because I didn't forget as much as I thought. I'm gonna stop there, because as usual as I talked too much.

I really smiled while reading your experiment that produced your "frankenbalm". The fact that your results were good is definetely worth posting here...not to mention the fact that you saved yourself 20 bucks! Now we REALLY like that kinda news here at the FV!

That truly was a great way to use what you already have!

Theresa

[Luckybustert]

Oh yes, I can definitely relate to the random makeup craving!

Thanks for the frankenbalm idea.....sounds like a great, frugal way to satisfy the craving.

[patra]

love the frankenbalm! I've used that as well, but make more of a lip gloss with an empty screw cap tin or lip balm container not a tube but I'll have to try this!I've also used a mixture of coconut oil or jojoba oil and vasoline with a little color mixed in. I have a great natural beauty at home book in which I've used a dozen or so recipes.Shampoo's and the conditioners are great.Its so much fun to make beauty supplies that it does ease those cravings!


patty

[mamamia]

love the frankenbalm! I've used that as well, but make more of a lip gloss with an empty screw cap tin or lip balm container not a tube but I'll have to try this!I've also used a mixture of coconut oil or jojoba oil and vasoline with a little color mixed in. I have a great natural beauty at home book in which I've used a dozen or so recipes.Shampoo's and the conditioners are great.Its so much fun to make beauty supplies that it does ease those cravings!


patty

What's the name of the book, Patra? I used to have one by Adrien Arpel that had recipes, but it got ruined. I enjoyed it lots!

Theresa

I see your from LI. We moved here to FL from Shirley.

[ladytoysdream]

Not too long ago, I took some leftover deorderant pieces and made a new one. The push up kind. There is that little sliver at the end that I just put that part in a plastic baggie, and when I get enough, I take a almost empty container, lower the stick part, and stack up the slivers. Heat in microwave only a few seconds and it meshes together. I have only done this once as a challenge to myself. I will do it again, after I get some more saved up again. We both use the same kind, and it gave me quite the chuckle when hubby borrowed my microwave one and never knew the difference I just hate wasting things.

Hatching chicks out, I am using a old fish tank for a temp brooder for a day or so, and then they go into the big plastic dog crate. I just think a lot of things have multi purposes
I also picked up one of those big pet bowls with the upside down bottle the other day at a garage sale for $2. We already have one for the dogs but I want to try one in the chicken yard for the big chickens as a back up unit this summer. I have a small one that I bought used, that is for cats, that I am using in the crate with the broody chicken setting on eggs. Less easy to get tipped over.

Money was tight when I needed some curtains. A flat sheet is now the curtains in the living room, and the 2 little ones in the kitchen came from the matching pillowcases.

[ladytoysdream]

What's the name of the book, Patra? I used to have one by Adrien Arpel that had recipes, but it got ruined.

Ones on my bookshelf.....

"Rodale's book of practical formulas" .... has over 500 practical formulas for gardening, home repair, beauty, cooking, housekeeping, health and more. ISBN 0878579796

"Vinegar, duct tape, milk jugs, and more"...by Yankee Magazine. ... 1001 ingenious ways to use common household items to repair, restore, revive, and replace everyday things in your life.
ISBN 0899093795

"Rodale's book of Hints, Tips, and everyday wisdom"
over 1100 tips. ISBN 0878575782

"The complete tightwad gazette" Amy Dacyczyn
ISBN 0739404393

" The natural formula book for home and Yard" Dan Wallace
ISBN 0878573992

"Reader's Digest Hints & Tips to make life easier"
Practical solutions for everyday problems. ISBN 0895779862

All these books I have picked up used at garage sales, thrift stores, etc. My tightwad gazette is the 3 in 1 book. I had to buy it used on ebay. Could not find one locally.

[ruderring]

Great ideas everyone. You have inspired me to try out some of your ideas and maybe come up with some of my own. Thanks again.

[patra]

the book I have is called " Natural Beauty At Home" and it is by Janice Cox-i got it second hand at a used book store

Patty

[Grainlady]

I have a friend who is the Queen of Make-up, and she seems to accumulate "tons" of samples. One day she gave me several samples of scented talcum powder. Being the frugal person, I mix a sample with a large portion of cornstarch to make it go farther. The cornstarch works better as a dusting powder and the samples smell better, so now I have expensive-smelling cornstarch to use for dusting powder.

My SIL unearthed a really old box of powdered milk while cleaning out her pantry cabinet. She was going to toss it out but I told her I'd take it. I used a portion in the garden (you can use it as a fungicide, or to increase calcium in the soil - How to Water Tomatoes With a Powdered Milk Solution | eHow.com). Since the milk powder was just yellow from oxidation, not rancid, I also used a portion for a milk bath.

1 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup Epsom salts
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cornstarch
A few drops essential oil.

To add to the book list...

These books have come in handy many times when it comes finding things around the house to use to solve a problem.

Make Your Own Groceries - by Daphne Metaxas Hartwig

Yankee Home Hints and Practical Problem Solver - 1,001 Ingenious Solutions to Everyday Dilemmas - By Earl Proulx

Reader's Digest Household Hints & Handy Tips

Rodale's Book of Practical Formulas Easy-to-Make, Easy-to-Use Recipes for Hundreds of Everyday Activities and Tasks (Hundreds of Natural Alternatives to Toxic Products)

Old-Time Gardening Wisdom - by Jerry Baker
(Lessons learned from Grandma Putt's kitchen cupboard, medicine cabinet, and garden shed!) Although some of the homemade hints really don't work well, many of them do, and most use things we already have at home.

[BlissMommy]

I love what you did!