DECORATIVE TISSUE HOLDER

Yes, some of us have to much time on our hands!

Personally, I love to use that time to make things...it give me great satisfaction to create something out of nothing, so to speak. A few years ago I made these little tissue holders for Christmas presents. They are fun and functional. Of course, mine are a little over the top, but you can make them as simple or ornate as you would like.

This is the detail of how the ends are fastened. You can use buttons and loops or hooks and eyes. Or be creative and come up with something else. Even a thin ribbon tie would work.

If you would like to keep it simple, just use one color of fabric, perhaps some simple braid or rickrack for the trim and ribbon for the closure.

It all starts with nearly a square which is made out of 2 fabrics. It should be about 15 Long and 14 wide. The lighter color will make the stripes on the ends. (That would be the leopard print in my pictures.)

Add a bit of trim on the sides, which will become the edges to the opening where you pull the tissues out. (You are sewing it across the patchwork seams.) With the rightside down, fold the ends to meet in the middle, pin, and sew the ends. You will have an "envelope" type of item. Turn, press and add the buttons or closure of your choice to where the seams meet.

Yes, you take the tissues out of the box before you put them in the tissue holder! This could also be made for the little travel packs for your purse.

LAPTOP BED TRAY

The older I get the more I become a creature of comfort. After getting my new bed, the portable, over the bed table I had purchased a few years ago, was too short to even clear the mattress top, much less, let me underneath it. (It has been repurposed as my bedroom desk at regular table height.) I dearly love to sit in bed and play on my laptop, but definitely want a table of some sort to sit it on. That laptop gets hot! (Maggie thinks it might be a good doggie shelter too.)
Depending on the size you make, it could be used on top of your favorite chair also.I have tried out several designs out of scrap wood, using my basic woodworking skills. It is not difficult to make, but I am waiting for the day I can really get some nice wood and trim to make a "good" piece of furniture. For now this will do. (The wood was from an old computer desk or entertainment center left by a former roommate. The nice thing is that it really did not cost me anything, as I had the wood, nails and glue.)

I used glue and nails, but I am sure you could also use screws or L brackets etc. This is just an idea to get your started.

This is 15" deep, the taller side of the leg is 9", the shorter side is about 7 1/2". The slope seems to be just right.

The top is 15" x 33", as I like room for my mouse pad, water glass, etc. It could be less, but remember you need to have room for your legs between the legs of the desk.



I used additional pieces underneath for added support, which I think it really needs. All you need to do is add trim and paint.

Talk about living in the lap of luxury, huh?

HOMEMADE CLEANERS

This has been a rough day, so decided I would give my brain a break and pass along some great ideas for Cleaning Products. These are products I use on a regular basis and am pleased with the results. If you start adding up the costs of the ingredients, you will be very surprised what you will save making your own even over getting cleaners at the $1 store.

GLASS CLEANER/GENERAL PURPOSE CLEANER
1/2 c Ammonia (sudsy or clear)
2 c rubbing alcohol
1 teaspoon dish soap, like Dawn or Joy
Put the 1st two ingredients in a gallon jug, then fill with water. Add the dish soap and mix well. Put in a spray bottle and use as you would any other glass or all purpose cleaner. (Just plain rubbing alcohol works pretty well for glass cleaner.)

DISINFECTANT SPRAY
This is great when every one has colds, or you want to make sure your cutting board is sanitized etc. Mix 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. This idea was give to me by the Health Department nursed when we did a seminar for my home health aides.

If you are interested in becoming more green look at all the possibilities of plain ol' vinegar and baking soda.

DRAIN CLEANER:
This is something that should be used on a monthly basis to keep your drains clean. Slowly pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, then add a few cups of vinegar. Allow it to sit awhile and pour hot water down the drain. (You can also use this to clean your toilets.) A 50 cents box of baking soda and $2 for a jug of vinegar goes a long way!!! Having a drain cleaner guy or plumber would not be near as inexpensive.

If you have allot of hair that goes down your bathroom drain, you might want to just use bleach on a regular basis as it will dissolve the hair.

You would be very surprised what all comes out of the hose on your washer, which all goes down the drain. A guy who worked for a drain cleaning service told me to put a nylon stocking over the washer drain hose. Tie it on the hose with a piece of elastic or old shoe string. Change the "sock" regularly. What do you suppose all that STUFF is? Maybe we don't want to know!

Well, those are a few of my favorites. Simple and basic....just like me!