Thrifty Tuesday - Infinity Tube Scarf Tutorial

Have you seen these Infinity Scarves? They're apparently really popular right now. My sister sent me a link to one and asked if I would make one, or two, or three, or...I'm sure she'll keep bringing fabric over and asking for more. Perhaps she'll read this tutorial and start making them herself!

Note: No matter how much this looks like me, I swear it is my sister.

These are actually extremely easy to make. So easy that it's really a waste of money to go out and buy one. Want to know how to make it? It only takes 2 straight stitches!!

Buy 1.5 to 2 yards of 40 inch wide fabric. Check the clearance section, you never know what great things can be found there! Cut in half the entire length of fabric (it will be 20 inches wide). This will actually make 2 scarves. If you don't mind an extra seam, you can buy 1 yard and sew the two pieces together to create a 2 yard strip.

Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, right sides together. You should have a strip of fabric that is now 1.5 to 2 yards long that is folded to be 10 inches wide. Pin and stitch along the long side. I give myself a typical 5/8inch seam allowance.

Turn the scarf right side out. The seam you made is now on the inside. Take both open ends of your tube and pin right sides together. You will NOT be able to pin the entire way around.

Stitch along the pinned edge. Once again, you will not be able to stitch the entire way around.

Push this stitched edge into the scarf. You will be left with a small opening. Hand stitch this closed.

You now have an Infinity Tube Scarf for a fraction of the cost!

You can even wear it as hood! Note: This is a different fabric from the first Infinity Scarf that I made.

Also my sister, not me.

Day 40, BIG changes, and Homemade Lip Balm

We made it!! Today is day 40 of our 40 Day Challenge! What have we learned and gained from this adventure? I thought we lived a very frugal life but we have discovered that we can be even more frugal with little work! We slowly ate our way through a freezer full of meats that needed to be rotated out, I baked a lot, had to get creative when we ran out of things and when I didn't have wrapping paper for a birthday party, sewed a Halloween costume, and we had fun the entire time! Hubby and I were discussing the past 40 days and we've decided that we will not be going back to the old way. We won't be following our rules as closely as we did, but we saved a lot more money than we ever thought we could!

During the past 40 days I had plenty of time to reflect on my blog. Yep, my blog. My life requires structure and my blog just hasn't had it (hence the random posts that are sometimes consistent and other times nonexistent). So, I have created structure! I will now have themes to everyday to help bring about ideas for myself and consistency to you, my readers.


The BIG reveal

• Mondays: Munchies Monday - All things snack food. Some healthy, some not, but ALL delicious!
• Tuesdays: Thrifty Tuesday - Ways to save money! Do-it-yourself projects, bargain ideas, and anything money!
• Wednesdays: Whatever Wednesday - Who knows where this could go! Fun pictures, cute things my kids say/do, random topics that don't fit anywhere else. The possibilities are endless!
• Thursdays: Tasty Thursday - All things tasty! Recipes for dinner, breakfast, dessert, YUM!
• Fridays: Fun Time Friday - Want some fun ideas for the kids? See what kinds of crazy projects we're up to around here!

It all looks and seems overwhelming, but really, this is my life and my blog is a reflection of my life. Now to just snap pictures along the way!

In honor of our first Thrifty Tuesday, I thought I would share my homemade lip balm recipe. I've been making this for a few years but have finally tweaked the recipe enough and have found the perfect ratios!

Melt beeswax and olive oil in the microwave, 30 seconds at a time at half power.

Using a needle, puncture a hole in the vitamin E capsules and drain into beeswax mixture. Stir.

Fill containers. I have seen many different containers at our local natural food store and online. Ours have now been reused multiple times.

Let cool and then cap.
These would make great stocking stuffers!!

Recipe:
1 oz Beeswax (found in the candle section of your local craft store)
2 Tbls Olive Oil
3-4 Vitamin E capsules

• Melt beeswax and olive oil in the microwave, 30 seconds at a time at half power.
• Puncture a hole in vitamin E capsules and drain into beeswax mixture. Stir.
• Fill containers.
• Let cool and then cap.
• Makes approx. 10 tubes of lip balm.