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Hey, this is part of my never-ending quest to find stuff that you can really use - around your house, or to wear, or to, well, even clean stuff.
I knew about baking soda and vinegar already - but salt? Who knew? Well I recently found a super useful article on 46 Smart Uses For Salt!
Ordinary, Everyday, Super-Useful Salt
Here’s a sample of how you can use salt (and avoid Overhyped, Overcommercial, Overtoxic Other Store Bought Products):
Prevent fruits from browning.
Most of us use lemon or vinegar to stop peeled apples and pears from browning, but you can also drop them in lightly salted water to help them keep their color. (I tried this - it just takes a little!)
Relieve bee-sting pain.
Ouch? Immediately dampen area and pack on a small pile of salt to reduce pain and swelling. (Supposed to help with mosquito bites, too. TOTALLY worth trying.)
Extinguish grease fires.
Keep a box of salt near your stove and oven, and if a grease fire flares up, douse the flames with salt. (Okay, we all knew that one, right? and keep a full container of salt right near the stove - right?)
Dry clothes in the winter.
Use salt in the final laundry rinse to prevent clothes from freezing if you use an outdoor clothes line in the winter. (I mean, this makes sense when you think about it - but since I’ve only tried drying clothes outside in the summer, I hadn’t thought it through.)
Repair walls (!)
To fill nail holes, fix chips or other small dings in white sheet-rock or plaster walls, mix 2 tablespoons salt and 2 tablespoons cornstarch, then add enough water (about 5 teaspoons) to make a thick paste. Use the paste to fill the holes. (An alternative to the toothpaste trick. Better? I don’t know. But worth trying!)
Giving credit where it’s (totally) due - here’s a link to the original post over on Yahoo Green! There are lots more good tips for all kinds of uses.
Salt is cheap - it’s one thing we’ve got a lot of on this planet! And it’s eco-friendly. And it works (at least one the ones I’ve already tried - which makes me think it really does work as advertised here!)
And did I mention, cheap?
Silver is beautiful. It’s also - how to put this politely - okay. Call it a Challenge to photograph 
I have some lovely vintage glass jewels in my Jewelry Supplies Shop on Etsy:
I’ve recently gotten some silver plated settings for my pretty vintage jewels - and I’d forgotten what a challenge silver can be to photograph! If it’s clean and shining (like these settings) - it reflects nearby colors almost like a mirror. Place the settings on a wood background - which is usually a good choice - and guess what? The silver looks tan, beige or bronze - the color(s) of aged brass! Well brass is wonderful - I use (and sell) a lot of it - but the point here is to show the silver!
I’m working on it. The composite above shows some of the pics that worked - and as you can see, those silver settings are highlighted by a lot of colors besides just “silver”.
This is going to be an ongoing project - better pics, more silver (plated) settings, more silver all around - and more of a learning curve. So - stay tuned, this will be continued!
Here’s a great example of indie design - fab style - and recycling too! This dress is from Amanda Vaughn-Redmon on etsy.
First and foremost of course, is that it’s a great-looking dress - it would be fun and flattering to wear!
Equally important in my book - she makes her garments in the U.S. (North Carolina) and she uses recycled/repurposed clothing for all or part of them. Of course that makes each garment one-of-a-kind, which is terrific too
Think about it - this is style at its best. It looks great, those fabrics would feel good and be super easy to care for (here, she’s used an old t-shirt, and slinky drapy poly knit) - and she’s taking what would otherwise be tossed away, and turned it into something fabulous.
Talk about a feel-good dress! Love it
This isn’t a new idea but I just found a great example of the classic “reuse cardboard containers” Do It Yourself idea:
Recycled cardboard container (this was oatmeal) into good-looking storage
Like I said, it’s a classic idea. Cover the cardboard with contact paper, fabric, recycled magazine pages (yeah, more recycled stuff!) to match your decor. Make a grouping of three or four of them, maybe - really your imagination’s the limit, and more storage is always good
Once again I’ve found great tips - this time it’s 50 Healthy Foods for Under $1 a Pound at The Daily Green - over on Yahoo. (Scroll down the page to find 12 Things To Do With Oatmeal.
There are tons of great tips, and cost-saving ideas over there - all green oriented. Really, check it out!
This is such a simple idea I’m crushed I didn’t think of it - but it’s so cool I have to share
I discovered this idea over at Domestically Speaking Blog - there’s bunches of useful info and fun ideas over there and you really ought to check it out.
And this idea is lovely - fun - easy!
Painted Bottles - Do It Yourself
She shares how she made them and it’s worth reading the tips she offers - but basically? You take clean empty bottles, drop in several drops of acrylic paint, put the lid back on the bottle, and shake! Much prettier than painting the outside of the bottle because you get not only the color - you get the shine and gloss of the glass.
Check out her blog - and then add a terrific punch of color to your house with recycled bottles.
PS Once again, this could be great for brides. Use silver or white paint on the inside of the bottles, and add real or silk flowers, as centerpieces for your reception tables. Or make a big grouping of the bottles, in your wedding colors of course, to add drama to any table. You’ll think of more ideas than I have - and you’ll be adding a personal (thrifty) touch to your wedding!
So I’m back on track, yes. I’ve found a SUPER do-it-yourself project that is (1) recycled, (2) easy to do, (3) goodlooking, and (4) will fit anywhere you need art!
And it’s practically FREE.
I found this on a fun blog, Homemade Mamas Blog and they not only invented the project, they share how they did it! I’ll bet a nickel you are going to love this as much as I do:
Recycled Wall Art invented by Homemade Mamas (dot net)
Just to give you a hint: this is what the project starts with:
Recycled paper towel and toilet paper cardboard tubes
Now, you see what I mean? This really handsome, sculptural wall art - is made entirely with recycled paper tubes you just throw away anyway! Well, and a little paint, and some paper clips (you can reuse those, too).
This is an idea I am definitely going to steal!
PS I added this to my “bridal and weddingj” category, because think how you could adapt this for some beautiful wedding decorations. Make floral wall art in your wedding colors. Paint the tube(lets) and scatter them on your reception tables. Spell out the names of the bride and groom! I know you can think of more ideas. And you can make them at the bridal shower!
A bucket, you say? Now wait, it is MUCH cooler than you’re thinking.
If you’re like me, you always need places to PUT things. You need to get more organized. You don’t want to spend a lot of money but you want whatever it is that’s doing the organizing, to look good. And you’d be thrilled to do it yourself - if you just knew how.
So take a look at this absolutely terrific burlap “bucket” - container - catchall - magazine holder - tote - you name it:
DIY Burlap Bucket or Tote - PDF Instructions from Designsmayamde on Etsy
No this is not my idea - this is a wonderful tutorial available for only $9.00 from Designsmayamade on Etsy
Think how many ways you could use this. In every room - in colors made to coordinate and look good with what you’ve already got. You can do it yourself. You could use all kind of great recycled fabrics!
And she offers online help if you need it!
Please take a look at these pics. And tell me if you agree with me - I bet you will - that they are beautiful, and refreshing, and soul-calming.
Beautiful rooms in Filicudi Italy - as seen in style-files.com.
It makes me feel good just to look at the pics. And it inspires me. Yes, these rooms are in an exotic (to me) island halfway around the world. But the ideas here are absolutely universal.
USE LESS STUFF. Clear out the clutter. Have a wonderful color. Let the light in.
Let me be sure to give credit where it’s due - I found these wonderful pictures, and more you will love, over at style-files.com. Totally inspirational!
This is completely do it yourself. GET RID OF SOME STUFF. Let the bones of the room show. Add some light. Take away some of the crap.
Do I seem to be stuck on that idea? Well, yeah, I am. Use less - and love what you have, MORE.
PS You may have noticed that I included this post in the category “Going Green”, and I haven’t mentioned recycling once (till now). But I have mentioned “using less” - and that is a very important green idea!
You know it’s fun to give presents, and it’s very nice when they’re all prettied up to make the gift even more special. And now I’ve found a way to make those fancy bows I used to buy. And to make them out of recycled paper - so (1) you don’t have to spend money on them, and (2) you can make them out of practically any paper so they can be as fun or colorful or unusual as you want to make them.
And it’s easy! Take a look at the results:
Make your own gift bows from recycled paper!
Now I can’t take credit for this - I found instructions at How About Orange Blog.
The blogger is Jessica Jones, and she gives full pics and instructions and even admits she just grabbed what she had on hand - in other words, you can do the same thing and adapt as needed. She’s got lots of other good ideas over there - go read, you’ll see how easy it is.
No more having the money to either buy the present or the wrapping/bows Now you can find cool mag pics - fashion mag? Harley catalog? Phone book? (She used that one!)
Easy. Cheap. Recycling-and-reusing. Fun. And did I mention easy? This is of the good!
No, really, I’m not obsessed with cardboard. But once I started thinking about cardboard, and how useful it is, and how it’s all over the place, and we usually just throw it away - I couldn’t resist finding more good examples of what we can do with it. Easy, Inexpensive, and Fun Home Decor Idea No. 2 (or 3, or whatever):
Corrugated Cardboard Wall Decor created by Jonathan Fong
That wall looks great! Neutral, strong, geometric, dramatic - take your pick of descriptives. We could all use some version of this! The article even tells how to do it - though I imagine there are as many ways to do it (easily!) as your imagination can come up with patterns.
And if you mess up part of the design, you just cut new cardboard. If your baby scribbles on the wall, you can replace that section (or celebrate her creativity!) If your cat shreds the bottom, so what? Tear up another cardboard box. And reuse the pieces
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