We make some tea soap...

...for Project Eighteen and what is tea soap, you ask? Watch and learn...we try two types for fun!

Here's what you'll need to complete this project:

• Glass jar
• Melt and pour soap (we used Shea butter)
• Molds
• Tea (we used peppermint and pomegranate green tea)
• Peppermint essential oil (on one type of soap)
• Grits (for the exfoliating soap)
• Plastic fork
• Tea kettle
  

We took two pictures, for two different batches.

Melt the soap in the glass jar in the microwave according to package directions.

Brew strong tea in measuring cup;

steep five to seven minutes.

Open tea bags and scrap out wet tea leaves into melted soap....

OR


...open dry tea bags and add to melted soap.

For exfoliating soap, add 1/3 cup grits...

...and five drops of peppermint oil.

Stir well.

Pour into molds.

Here's our finished product: flower tea soaps!

To package, put soaps back into dry tea bags.

Place tea tag inside bag...

...and staple to secure.

Cover existing tag with a custom tag.

Here's our packaged flower tea soap...

...and our square cut tea soap.

Here's what we spent on this project:

• Melt and pour soap (Michael's, $10/32 ounces, 1/8 used) - $1.25
• Mold (Dollar Tree) - $1.00
• Tea (Kroger) - $2.00
• All other items are household items - free (to us)

Total cost: $4.25

...including 2 small bars, 10 decorative soaps and 4 mini tea soaps

or about $.27 per soap!!

Soap making is so easy, plus you have a consistent project that won't let you down come gift time. We've tested our soaps and they're awesome so get jiggy with some soap!

This t-shirt bag is easy-breezy crafting...

Project Seventeen is an awesome recycled t-shirt shopping bag. This project has quickly become our personal favorite, since it combines actual recycling with using our recycled product.

Here's what you'll need to complete this project:

• old t-shirt
• scissors
• iron
• hem tape

Start by cutting out the neck band of your t-shirt.

Then, cut the sleeves off.

This is what it looks like.

Iron your shirt flat and fold in the bottom hem.

Measure your hem tape and place it inside the fold.

Iron over the the hem tape, on both sides, until it adheres.

Here are three of our t-shirt bags!

We tested these with 5 cans and a jar to determine their durability and they passed!!

Here's the breakdown of what we spent:

• T-shirt (out of our closets) - free (note if you have to buy one, check garage sales, secondhand stores or clearance)
• Iron & Scissors - household items
• Hem tape (Walmart, $2.47 roll, does approximately 30 shirts) - $.10
  
  
  Total per bag: $.10-$.25!!
  
  
  This project is, in a word, fabulous. It's cheap, easy and is something absolutely everyone can use. It's also really fun and makes great gift wrap! When you pull out all your fall clothes, dig out all those t-shirts that are too big, too small or too not you, and make bags to use and to give.

Check out our....Custom Flask and Bag Set!

Project Sixteen is a birthday gift for a dear friend, so we're customizing a flask with a cool carrying bag. It's what she asked for and we brave epoxy to make it...

Here's what you'll need to complete this project:

• Stainless steel flask
• Custom metal adornment
• JB Weld Qwik epoxy glue
• plastic fork
• paper plate
• recycled wine bag
• ribbon
• bead adornment

With the end on your plastic fork, on the paper plate, mix epoxy according to package directions.

When the glue is mixed, carefully cover the back side of your metal adornment.

Place carefully on the stainless steel flask and hold until quick-set.

Here's our finished product!




For our bag, we used a recycled wine bag with a frayed bottom edge.
Size your bag to your flask and cut off the bottom of the bag.






Fold the bottom cut edge in and place hem tape inside the fold.







Iron over the hem tape inside the fold until set.

For the ribbon adornment, we frayed the edge of this gold ribbon.

By pulling strands out, we make our own 'tassel'.

Attach the ribbon to the bag with hem tape and/or a stitch as needed.

Tie the bead adornment on and your bag is complete!

Here's the cost breakdown:

• Stainless Steel Flask (Walmart) - $3.88
• Metal adornment (we made our own) - free
• Bead adornment(s) (Hobby Lobby) - $2.50
• Ribbon (Hobby Lobby grab bag) - $.25
• Wine bag (recycled, approximate value) - $1
  

Total cost of our set: $7.63

This project was fun and rewarding to give as a gift.

Get creative and design your own!

It's the (semi) knitted coasters....

Project Fifteen is so cheap and easy, you won't believe it...use it to fill your time when you're waiting at the Doctor's office, the DMV or on the phone with technical support. Trust me.

Here's what you'll need to complete this project:

• Yarn (we used 100% cotton- light colors work best)
• Plastic circle forms
• Scissors
• Needle (we used the Sacks needle from a homecraft needle assortment)

Start by threading your yarn through your needle.

Feed yarn through the middle of your circular form.

On the back side of your circle, knot your yarn.

Follow the form (in a circle), pulling your yarn in and out of the plastic.

Soon you'll have it nearly complete.

Continue to fill in your circle, and then loop around the outside edge to finish.

We wrapped ours with simple gold ribbon....

...and here's what we spent:

• Yarn (Hobby Lobby, 153 yds./$1.50- half price) - $.15
• Plastic forms (Hobby Lobby, 10/$1.59) - $.64
• Needle (Walmart, 1 in set of 7 for $1.96) - $.28

Total cost of a set of four coasters: $1.07

Yes, we're amazed as well but we have to warn you, this is mind-numbing work.

Attempt at your own risk!

Wow! That's a wine bag?!

Project Fourteen may be the easiest, most clever of them all. Come with me and you will see...

Here's what you'll need to complete this project:

• Long-sleeved shirt


• Hem tape


• Iron


• Scissors

We actually used an old cardigan for our long sleeves.

Cut the sleeves off with scissors.

Fold edges in and measure the hem tape against your sleeve.

Insert hem tape (we doubled ours up) between the folds.








Fold together and iron over the hem tape.






Be sure that you don't use steam.





Iron flat until hem tape adheres.

Here's our completed bag...






...and here it is with a bottle of wine!

This is what it looks like wrapped with a bow...

...and this is our completed set!

Wrapped and ready to give, here's what our wine set cost:

• Cardigan (it was in the closet) - free
• Hem tap (Walmart, $2.47/roll) - $.10
• Iron & scissors - on hand
• Wrapping materials - recycled!

Total cost of our wine bag: $.10

• Add our $3.13 wine stopper
• Add our $4.05 custom wine glass tags
• Add a $6 bottle of local wine

Total cost of wine set (including the wine!):

$13.28