Holiday Ornaments

Creating holiday ornaments may not save you time, but this is time well spent with your family.  For me, spending time with my family is what the holidays are all about.  Many of the items used in the ornaments are already in your home.  Empty cereal boxes and multi-packs of soda are great sources of cardboard.  I find glitter pens to be expensive and frustrating, and I prefer to use a glue bottle and glitter.  Paint brushes are an excellent way to spread out glue from the bottle.  This saves you from having to buy a separate glue stick.  If you enjoyed making any of the ornaments below, I would love for you to send in a picture!

Personalized Stocking Ornaments

Make one for each member of your family, including your pets!

- red felt (or construction paper)

- cardboard

- cotton balls

- glue

- glitter

- hook

1. Cut cardboard into the shape of a stocking.  Just think of it as an elongated J. 

2. Use cardboard as a stencil and trace the shape onto the felt.  Cut felt and glue to cardboard. 

3. Stretch out cotton to make it extra fluffy.  Glue to the top of the stocking.

4. Make a hole for the hook, and thread the hook through. 

5. Write the name in pencil and trace over it with glue.  Sprinkle with glitter.

6. Let dry flat so the name doesn’t drip. 

Snowflakes

Vary sizes, glitter colors, and shapes to create unique ornaments.

- paper

- scissors

- glitter

- glue

- hook

1. Start with a square.  An easy way to insure you have a square is to fold the paper diagonally, then trim the excess.  Open and you will have a square!

2. Fold paper diagonally twice. 

3. Cut along edges and corners to create an interesting snowflake.  Open paper

4. Paint on a thin layer of glue, and sprinkle on the glitter.

5. Create a hole at one of the corners.  Insert hook.

Pipe Cleaner Candy Canes

Consider giving these to family and friends instead of a candy cane with your holiday cards. 

- Pipe cleaners in red and white

- Ribbon

1. Take one pipe cleaner of each color, and line them up side by side. 

2. Twist the pipe cleaners together evenly from top to bottom.

3. Shape the top into a hook.

4. Tie ribbon into a bow around the middle of the candy cane.

Ornament Balls      

Styrofoam balls can be found in any craft section.    

           

- Styrofoam ball

- paint

- paint brush

- glitter

- wire

1. Lightly paint Styrofoam ball a uniform color, if desired, and let dry.

2. Paint a design on the Styrofoam ball.  stripes, polka dots, or stars on ball.  If you are more artistic, go for something more challenging.

3. Sprinkle glitter on wet paint.

4. Carefully push the wire through the ornament.  Leave a tail on the end, and create a hook shape on top.

5. Let dry before putting on tree.

Santa Buddies

Facebook makes it easy to find a good pic of all your buddies!

- picture of buddy

- cardboard

- cotton balls

- red felt (or construction paper)

- ribbon (or hook)

1. Cut a circle out of the picture.  The bottom of a soda can makes a good guide.

2. Cut a slightly bigger circle out of the cardboard.  Glue the picture in the center of the cardboard.

3. Use the circle as a guide and cut out a triangle with the width the same as the circle.

4. Glue the edge of the triangle to the top of the circle.  Be sure to cover the top portion of the cardboard with the triangle.

5. Cut out a second triangle about a third of the size of the first.  Glue it to the top of the first triangle. 

6. Cut the felt into the shape of the Santa hat created by the two triangles.  Glue it on the cardboard.

7. Stretch out the cotton balls and glue them on the circle around the picture.  This will be your buddy’s Santa beard.

8. Glue a piece of cotton to the end of the Santa hat.

9.  Let dry, and then make a hole in the top of the hat.  Thread a piece of ribbon through the hole and tie it into a loop. 

DIY Hair Trim

Photo by Golden DIY Savings

by Shanna Golden

This next Do-It-Yourself project is not for the feint of heart.  A good haircut can make us women folk feel like a million bucks and on the contrary, a bad haircut can make us want to hide under our covers.  The relationship between women and their hairdressers is a sacred bond.  But really, how hard is to trim an already styled haircut?  My sister Karessa and I decided to find out.

This type of at-home trim is meant to replace a few of the usual visits to the hairdresser.  This will take care of split ends and keep your look fresh.  Follow the already established style and clip small pieces at a time like professionals do.  Keep your hair dry as your hair will shrink if you do it wet and you end up with a shorter hair cut then you intended.  The DIY trim is not meant to be used for major style changes.   

Karessa and I were able to purchase a 5 inch pair of hair cutting shears from Dollar General for $3.  I then put my hair in a pony tail and used a second hair tie to mark where I wanted my hair cut.  Karessa put her fingers between the hair tie mark before she actually clipped the ponytail.  This gave us extra length to even out my hair.  If your hair is already close to the length you want, skip this step.

We were able to maintain the layers in my hair by working from the bottom to the top.  Karessa worked in horizontal chunks.  She began by keeping the top pinned up and working on the bottom most layer.  As each layer was finished, she used it as reference for the next layer before pinning it out of the way.  She did this by moving half to each side and pinning it separately from what had not yet been cut.  Consider adding long layers if you don't already have them if your hair cutting buddy lacks experience.  The layers allow for blending which hides minor imperfections. 

I have also trimmed my own hair in the past.  I did this by parting my hair into two even piecse and bringing it to front of my shoulders.  I was then able to use a similar process to trim my hair by pinning it up and working in layers.  A self trim requires medium length hair at a minimum.  

The DIY hair trim is a riskier project, but the pay off can be worth it.  Not only will you save money by not having to visit your hairdresser as often, but you will save time using a buddy for a quick trim or by trying it yourself.  No appointments necessary!  Definitely be conservative on length until you become confident in your skills.

We would love for you to share photos if any of you try an at-home trim! 

Pumpkin Roll

by Karessa Golden Cameron

I was shocked when I looked at the holiday desserts during my last grocery store run.  I couldn't believe a pumpkin roll could cost $7.50!  Even though it's one my favorite Thanksgiving morning treats to enjoy with a cup of coffee I left it at the store.

I never thought I could make my own pumpkin roll until I bought a Paula Deen children's cookbook at a recent work fundraiser.  I found a simple recipe inside that anyone could make.  The best part is most of the ingredients you will already find in your pantry or cupboard!   

Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Icing
Recipe is taken from Paula Deen's Cookbook for the Lunch-box Set, copyright 2009.

Picture by Golden DIY Savings

Ingredients:
Cooking spray
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup puree pumpkin
3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp backing powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
 8 ounces softened cream cheese
1 stick softened butter
                                                                                                               3 cups confectioners' sugar,  
                                                                                                               plus extra for dusting towel
                                                                                                               1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a 10-by-5 inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.  Spray the paper and the sides of the pan with cooking spray. 

2. In a large bowl, combine the eggs and sugar.  Beat with an electric mixer for 5 minutes.  Add the pumpkin and mix well.  In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.  Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix until smooth, about 2 minutes.

3. Spread the batter on the baking sheet, and smooth with the spatula.  Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the top appears set and the cake pulls away from the side of the pan.  Allow the cake to sit undisturbed for about 3 minutes.  Turn the cake out onto a kitchen towel that has been sprinkled with confectioner's sugar.  Starting at the narrow end, roll up the cake in the towel and let it cool completely, seam side down, for 1 hour.

4.  Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese and butter, and beat with an electric mixer until smooth.  Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until smooth.

5. Carefully unroll the cake, and spread the icing over it with a clean butter knife.  Reroll the cake, and place the cake, seam side down, on waxed paper.  Wrap tightly and keep in the refrigerator.

Makes 1 roll, which yields about 10 slices.

The Beginning

by Shanna Golden

My sister Karessa and I grew up truly learning the value of a dollar.  Our father, who decided to start his family late in life, experienced the great depression as a teenager.  Back in the day, Dad made a dollar the long and hard way. He picked peaches for ten hours a day making ten cents each hour.  Dad then had to pay 5 cents to ride to work, and 5 cents to ride back.  At the end of the day, Dad only walked away with 90 cents.  It was hard for me to appreciate this as a kid, but the lesson sunk in deep.

To this day, my sister and I find ways to save money by doing what we can ourselves.  We aren't exceptionally skilled, but we make up for it with our creativity.  We are excited to open this blog to share some of our money saving Do-It-Yourself ideas.  Join us down the Golden road to saving time and money!