Simply "Cycle" Saturday

This week I thought it would be fun to figure out what to do with an old chandelier. Chandeliers are very beautiful and can be used to make many more beautiful things! Here are some examples:

1. Have you heard of Chandelier earrings? Well, why not save the money and make your own! This is perfect if you have an old chandelier laying around. All you need to do is take part of the chandelier that you would like as earrings, get earring hooks (only a couple dollars for a multi-pack), and a pair of pliers. Example earrings can be viewed made by craftjuice who runs an etsy shop of homemade items.
2. You can also make necklaces, bracelets, or anklets in the same manner. Just purchase the chain to strin it on or use one you may have laying around the house. You can then have a perfect matching jewelry set to wear.
3. You can use chandelier pieces to make beautiful scrapbook pages or to decorate a card. You could use either glue dots to affix it to the page or sew it on with a needle and thread.
4. You can use them as ends to pull strings. You could put them on window blinds, ceiling fans, ceiling lights, etc. All you need to do is pry open the ring on one of the chandelier pieces and put it into the pull string. Use the pliers to clamp the ring tightly so that the chandelier will stay attached to the pull string.
5. You could make windchimes out of it. Take an old lamp shade, fishing line, needle, hanging hook and some chandelier pieces. Tie the fishing line to the rings of the chandelier pieces and sew the other end through the lamp shade. Make sure it is tied securely. Place as many chandelier piece strings as you desire for look onto the lamp shade. You can then tie fishing line from the lamp shade to the hanging hook. Now your windchime is finished, hang it out where desired.

Thanks to Colleen for the idea to re"cycle" old chandeliers. Do you have an object that you would like to re"cycle" but you aren't sure how? Post it here and let me know. I will do a post of it!

Simply "Cycle" Sunday

This week I wanted to talk about how to re"cycle" old office supplies. So lets think, what items are usually in an office stapler/staples, writing utensils, paper/folders, tape, ruler, envelopes, envelope sealers, pencil sharpener, pencil holder, paper clips, push pins, or page clasps.

1. Staplers & staples can also be used for scrapbooking. If you have a bunch of old staplers and staples laying around, use them to attach things to your scrapbook pages. Instead of using glue or tape, use a staple! I have learned that when you are on a budget, you use what is on hand instead of buying more stuff.
2. Writing utensils can be used for several things. If you have a pencil and it is getting too small for your to use, give it to your kids (if they are old enough to handle sharp objects). Their hands are smaller and you will get more use out of a pencil.
3. Paper or old folders can be used several times. If you print something and only use part of the page, use the rest as scrap paper (cut it down to post-it size) or shred it. The shredded paper can be used as packing material if you need to ship anything.
4. When you use Scotch tape, what do you do with the little ring that is left when the tape is gone? It is perfect size to use as napkin rings. You can use them white like they are or you can decorate them. You can add ribbon or glitter or any other type of material that matches your dinning room decor. The picture below is an example of the type of dispenser.
5. Rulers can be used for lots of things. Kids love them when they color, they can make straight lines which seems to make them happy. If you have a playroom for your kid/s, you can affix old rulers on the wall long ways up the wall. You can then mark your child's growth on the ruler with a sharpie! The kids will be thrilled. You can use any color of ruler or paint wooden onnes to match the room decor.
6. Old envelopes can be used to organize receipts. At the end of each week, take all your receipts and place them in an old envelope that can still hold things. Write the week's dates on the front and store your receipts in them.
   
7. Envelope sealers can be used in scrapbooking as a stamper. You can dab ink on the end and sponge it onto your paper for colored blots on a page. You can also fill them with accent paints for colored blots. The picture below is the type of sealer.
8. Pencil sharpeners can also be used as eye liner sharpeners. If you use a pencil liner, these are great! The below picture is an example.
9. Pencil holders can be used to hold q-tips and cottonballs in your bathroom, small scrapbook items, or crayons for the kids. You can use the holders as they are or paint/decorate them to match your decore.

1. Paper clips are a great addition to a scrapbook page. You can glue decorations onto the paper clip and attach it onto your page or use them as they are if it fits your theme. You can also use them as a bookmark like in the picture below.
2. Push pins flatten so easy, don't they? If you have flattened push pins, use them on a scrapbook page as well. The below picture is an example of how you can decorate with them. Just glue them onto the page!
   
3. Page clasps can be used to keep your receipts & rebates together until it is time to send them. Just clasp it around them. You can also attach them to scrapbook pages for decoration. Do you see the theme, scrapbooking is fun!!!

What are your ideas? Leave a comment and share them with everyone!

Simply "Cycle" Saturday

This week I thought I would list different types of places that will take recycled items. If you are interested in recycling instead of reusing items, this will be the post for you! Some of you may have recycle bins that get picked up every week from your home. If this is the case, you can more easily recycle most of your everyday items. If you live in the St. Louis area, here are some centers listed.

There are some items that you can still recycle and make money. These are the following:

• Aluminum: This includes cans, foils, etc. A Recycling Revolution has a search link that you can enter your location and see where your nearest aluminum recycle center is. The Can Manufacturers Institute has some fun facts about can recycling. Around the country can prices are averaging $.50/lb.
• Glass: There are some places that still have glass recycle centers that pay. Not all glass can be recycled for cash. How do you know if you can receive cash for your glass? If it has a cash value printed on it. For instance, glass soda bottles have a $.05 value printed on some of them & states in which this can be redeemed.
• Scrap Metal: Check your local phone books for scrapmetal centers near you. They will pay by the pound for scrap metal. This includes cars, sheds, etc.
• Books: Rather than making money, you can trade your used books for other used books. This helps to keep the books in circulation and good use. You can trade your used books at Paperbackswap. You can also donate your used books at your local library. This is tax deductible. Be sure to ask the librarian to give you a tax receipt for your donation.
• Leftovers: This is a facility located in St. Charles, MO that accepts a large variety of recycleable items. They will in exchange give you in-store credit for the items you recycle. If you have an art/craft project that you are interested in and need supplies for, this is perfect! Check your local phone book for recycle places like this.

Other Recycle Location Ideas:

• The Recycling Center has a search engine for you to see where local recycle centers are.
• Salvation Army or Goodwill will take any items that you no longer want. If they are unable to resell these items, they will recycle them to the appropriate facilities. These donations of your used items are tax deductible. Be sure to ask the recipient of your items to give you a tax receipt.

Simply "Cycle" Saturday!!!

Welcome back to Simply "Cycle" Saturday! It has been a couple weeks since I posted this due to the holidays. This week I would like to discuss how to re"cycle" old CDs or DVDs.

A lot of us get CDs in the mail from tax companies or AOL, etc. Instead of throwing these away, you can use them in many creative ways. Here are a few:

1. Use them as a frisbie for your dog. This is a fun thing for your dog to do and will provide lots of exercise. The down side to this is that your dog will think that any CDs or DVDs he sees are fair game so be aware!
2. Use them as an art project for your kids or volunteer to host one for a nursing/assisted living home. Both kids and adults will have fun with this. You can create many interesting things using CDs or DVDs. The circular shape is great as a starter. One of the things I have done in the past is make fish hangings with the CDs. You just need construction paper, felt or foam in bright colors, glue & scissors. Let the artist's mind be creative. The picture below is from Make: technology on your time. They used a CD Rom for their fish body.
3. You can make coasters out of them. All you need to do is use a hot glue gun to seal the center so condensation doesn't go through the center and get your table wet. Another great way to do it is to use plastic lids from canisters and hot glue them to the CD. This provides legs for your coasters and seals the hole in the center of the CD. For the pictures below, I used the blue lid from a Gerber Graduates canister and glued it to a CD.
4. Collect them and turn them in for money. There are several stores that will accept recycled products for money. One that is local to me is called "Leftovers". They will give you in-store credit for items that you donate. You can then use that in-store credit to get supplies for your child's or other craft projects! My mom and I love this store, check it out!
5. If you have CDs or DVDs you no longer need, you can trade them at a resource called SwapaCD or SwapaDVD. They will allow you to post your gently used CDs or DVDs to receive credits. You can then use these credits to request CDs or DVDs from others. You can sign up by clicking on the images below!
   
   
6. You can use them as a backdrop or curtain. All you need for this is string or fishing line. You can then tie them together with fishing line and hang them from a wall or doorway. This makes a very retro wall or room design! The below picture is from ThriftyFun. They used other beads to fancy up the CD curtain a bit.

Do you have a creative idea for using old CDs or DVDs? Be sure to post it here if you do! How about a re"cycle" idea. I would love to hear some of your ideas. If you email me a great one, I will feature it here!

Simply "Cycle" Saturday

I know, it is Sunday but this post is Simply "Cycle" SATURDAY. I had the opportunity to hang out with my best friend last night so I decided I would just put this post off until today. When you have a great friend that life prevents you from seeing a lot, you treasure the time you get with her!

This week, I thought we would talk about what to do with old wrapping paper. Since Christmas is this week, I thought this would be the best time to post this.

Here are a few things you can use old wrapping paper for:

1. When you receive a gift, open the package carefully as to not tear the paper too badly. If you are able to salvage it, wrap it back onto a roll and reuse it for future gifts. All you need to do is cut off the part of the paper that either ripped or has tape stuck on it. You will probably have to use it to wrap a slightly smaller gift next time.
2. Use it as a dust cover for your favorite book. If you have a book that you are reading or love and you would like to protect the cover a bit, just take your old wrapping paper, fold, cut and tape it to fit your book. Now you have a beautiful dust cover for your book. I used an old paper shopping bag for this book. I crinkled the paper a bit for a textured affect.
3. Make paper mache ornaments with it. If you like to have new ornaments for your tree every year like I do, this is the perfect idea. All you need to get is some Modge Podge or school glue, which only costs a couple bucks, cut your old wrapping paper into pieces and affix it to a plain ball ornament. This is great to do if you have a lot of small scraps of wrapping paper that are too small to wrap another gift with. I used school glue for this ornament & scraps of snowman paper. I finished off the re"cycled" look by using a twist tie for the hanger. It is still wet so it isn't on the tree yet!
4. Use it on a scrapbook page. If you have a picture of the gift you received in that wrapping paper, or the person who gave you the gift, it will make the memory all the more special.
5. Shred it in a paper shredder and use it for packing material. It is beautiful to use colored paper shreds if you are making a gift basket. It brings some color and festivity to the gift. When it is shredded, you will not be able to tell if it is holiday wrap or not!
6. Use it to label Cookie Jars for gifts. If you use jars like, empty spaghetti jars to fill with your cookie mix, this is a great way to cover the old labels without having to take the time to peel and scrap. It is very creative and leaves a bit of a personal touch. For this I used old Apple Sauce and Smuckers Preserves containers. I used a little ribbon on the Smuckers jar with the wrapping paper to cover the Smuckers logo on the lid.

I would like to hear some of your ideas. If you have used your old wrapping paper for anything else, leave a comment here and let everyone know your creative idea!

Hard Drive Hardship

Why is it that when it rains, it pours? My laptop has been down for a couple of weeks. The plug shot sparks at me and we have since been searching for a new, affordable one.

Thursday evening as I was working on a post, our main computer just stopped working! My husband worked with it and couldn't get it running again. It didn't detect a hard drive! The computer I am on now is a temporary rig. It will not work permanently and I am not able to get to my files, pictures, or anything for that matter except the internet right now.

Because of this delay, Simply "Cycle" Saturday will not be posted this week. I will post my last weeks' savings report on Saturday in combination with this week.

My 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway will start today. It will just be postponed by a day. The first drawing will be tomorrow evening. I will draw once every day until the 26th!

Simply "Cycle" Saturday

Welcome to another week of Simply "Cycle" Saturday. Here are the highlights from the previous weeks. We discussed great second day ways to eat your Turkey Dinner, how to reuse cards you have received, what to do with your old flat pillows, uses for your empty shoe boxes, how to make good use of your old t-shirts, what to do with the newspaper when you are done reading it, and what to do with all those millions of phone books you get at your door.

This week lets talk about what we can do with our old curtains when we decide to change the look in our home. Most of the time when we women decide we want a new look in our homes, the curtains are still in great condition. Here are some uses for them rather than just tossing them out.

• You could use the material to make clothing. Did you ever see the movie Sound of Music? Great idea right? Need a new shirt, wallah!
• You could make table placemats out of them. These are very easy to make. You just cut the fabric into squares (about 1" in diameter larger than you want the final product) and sew around the edges. You can sew by hand or a sewing machine. If you want to spruce them up a bit, add a ribbon edging. They will be beautiful.
• Make tie blankets out of it. You could get a solid colored material for $1 a yard at Walmart, if your curtains are designed, some old pillow batting, and some yarn. You sew three sides of the two materials together, stuff it with the batting, and sew the fourth side shut. Now the yarn is used to hold the batting in place once you have it setting where you would like it to be in the blanket. You can either sew smaller squares with your sewing machine and tie the yarn through at the corners for decoration or you could just use the yarn to hold the batting down about every 16 square inches. My example blanket is in my little guy's room and he is asleep so I will post it later.
• Decorate headbands with it. You know how you can buy those plastic headbands for a few cents a piece? Well this is a great way to fancy them up a bit! You just cut a piece of material, get out your hot glue gun (or purchase one at the dollar store), glue one side of the material down to the underside of the headband, fold the rest of the material tightly around it, glue the part that meets the material you already glued down, and cut off the excess. There you have it, a beautifully decorated headband!

Now it is your turn. Tell me what you have used your old curtains for. Just leave a comment with your way to re"cycle".

Simply "Cycle" Saturday

Another week of recycling, how exciting! Here is a short review of what we have already touched on:

1. Phone Books
2. Newspapers
3. T-Shirts
4. Shoe Boxes
5. Pillows
6. Received Cards

This week, in honor of Thanksgiving, I wanted to list different ways to re"cycle" your Turkey Dinner! I'm sure you all have different ways of creating new ways to enjoy your leftovers. I, myself, am not a fan of leftovers! If I am to eat the leftover food again, I have to do something to make it taste different. Here are some things I have come up with:

1. How I eat Leftover Turkey: Fry the turkey in a small amount of butter and put it on your leftover buns or on 2 pieces of toast.
2. Several Turkey Leftover Recipes: All Recipes, Mind Spring, or Simply Recipes.
3. How I eat Leftover Mashed Potato: Pack the mashed potato in a hamburger former. Place a small amount of butter in a pan and fry the potatoes. I tastes like a hashbrown patty. I then drizzle a little ketchup over the top.
4. Several Mashed Potato Leftover Recipes: eSSORTMENT, Big Oven, or WiredBerries.
5. How I eat Leftover Cranberries: Hmmm...I just eat it as is. Sometimes it is good to spread a little on a turkey sandwich. It gives it a little bit of a sweet, tart flavor.
6. Several Cranberry Leftover Recipes: Chowhound, Slashfood, or All Recipes.

Now it is your turn. Let me know how you re"cycle" your leftover Thanksgiving meal. I would love to hear what you do!

Simply "Cycle" Saturday

This weekend was crazy, that's why this is late but here you go! Several ways to re"cycle" old cards. That's right, the ones you receive in the mail, read once and usually throw away. Not anymore! Read some of the things I came up with to use your old cards for:

1. You can cut off the backs of the cards that have the writing on them and shred them in a shredder. You can use this shred paper for packing gifts with to ship instead of using packing peanuts! The picture below is an eco friendly version of paper shredder. It is manual so does not use any energy except for yours!
   
2. Now for the fronts that have the pretty pictures, you can use them as postcards. You just write on the backs as you would a postcard, place a stamp and off they go. A free, beautiful postcard!
3. You can also use the fronts to remake cards. You just glue, sew or hinge a new back on or you can cut the pictures or parts that you like from the card and redesign a whole new card. I love to do this. I have taken two or three different cards and combined the pictures for the look I want. Below is an example of a card that I made. I used a brad for a hinge so the card opens by sliding up and down.
   
4. You could also use your old card fronts to make gift tags for. If you are giving a gift bag, this is perfect. You just punch a hole in the card, cut to the shape you want, thread a short string through and there you have it. A beautiful gift tag. Below is one way you could do it designed by Southern Living. Take a card and cut off part of the design with some wording or not and write on the reverse side.
   
5. You can make designer placemats. You just collect the card fronts until you have enough in your desired theme. Get some contact paper and cardstock paper. Place the decoration where you would like it on the cardstock and cover it with contact paper. Hurray, you have new, one of a kind placements! This is great if you receive any oversized cards because you may get the look you want with just one card.
6. You can use the card fronts to make wonderful scrapbook pages. You can cut out the parts you like or even make an oval cut out and place a picture under it like a frame for your page. It turns out very beautiful and looks very creative! Below is an example of a scrapbook page I made out of a Lisa Frank Card. I cut the lenses out of the glasses and put pictures behind them. I used more of the card to frame one of the pictures and add stars. The script is from an old magazine.
7. Finally, if you don't have the time or would like to help out a charity with your old cards, send them to St. Jude's Ranch. They have a Greeting Card Recycling Program. Any of your cards that can be trimmed to fit the 5x7 backs that the children attach to them are appreciated. You can either cut the back off, or the children will do it for you. Click here for more information and the address to send the cards.

What have you used your old cards for? Post your ideas here and share with everyone.

Simply "Cycle" Saturday

Lets take a minute and recap the last 4 weeks. There isn't really much that we have that can't be re"cycle"d in some way or another. Over the last month we have seen how to reuse these items:

1. Phone Books
2. Newspaper
3. T-Shirts
4. Shoe Boxes

This week I thought we would look at how to re"cycle" old pillows. Pillows seem to go flat before you know it. I feel like I am always needing to replace my old pillows! So lets see what we can come up with to do with them.

1. You could give them to your dog for a doggie bed. Dog beds are SO EXPENSIVE. Why pay $10+ for a doggie bed (that may just get chewed up anyways) when you could just make one. If you have a small dog, you could just put the old pillow down as is for the dog to sleep on. They will love it because it has your scent!
2. If you have a big dog, you could get some $1 material at Walmart and make a larger square doggie bed. Take your old pillows and cut them open, take out the stuffing and fluff. Once you have fluffed, throw it all in the doggie bed. The great thing is that they are machine washable. Your dog will think he is so special! Below is a picture of the doggie bed I made for my dog Dodger. As you can tell, he loves it!
3. You could make sock monkeys. This is a great way to use old socks and old pillow stuffing! Below is a picture of how to make a sock monkey toy.
4. You could make a throw pillow out of it. You can find some $1 material at Walmart and use the old pillow stuffing for your throw pillow. Below is a picture of one that I made a while back. My mom gave me a basket of fabric left over from projects she had done. I used that material to make throw pillows like this one. They ended up being favorites of my cats!

If you have used old pillows for anything else, post it here and share it with everyone! If you have other items in your home that you have reused and you would like to see it posted here, send me an email and let me know.

Simple "Cycle" Saturday

Yes, I know this post is a day late. Better late than never right?! I have a great one for you this week. Last week we looked at how to re"cycle" old t-shirts. This week we are going to re"cycle" shoe boxes.

What do you do with all those old shoe boxes? I always wondered why shoes "have to" come in shoe boxes. How much more are we paying for the shoes because they come in a heavy duty box? Did you know you can opt to not take your shoes home in a box? You can tell the store that you do not need the box and they will either reuse them or they will recycle them. The only problem is that some stores don't let you return your shoes if you do not have the box. My husband wears his shoes until he can't anymore, then we go and get him new ones. He will always just wear his new shoes out of the store. If you do this, you can leave the box right there at the store!

If you opt not to leave your box at the store, here are some great ideas for using them when you are home:

1. You can use them to store your shoes to keep them clean. In the past, I have stored my shoes in the boxes and stacked them neatly in my closet. This is much cheaper than buying a shoe caddy. It isn't as space efficient though.
2. You can slide old shoe boxes into drawers to sort your undies or socks. This is especially great if you have cats like me, who like to get cozy in your clean clothes! If I forget to shut my drawers all the way, I will come home and see a cat cuddled in my socks!
3. You can use them to organize your medications in. If you have more than one person in your home who takes medication, you can give each person their own box. Neatly place their names on the outside of the boxes and stack them under the sink in the bathroom. This is a great way to keep medications straight!
4. You can use them to give gifts to others. If you have a gift to give to someone that will fit in the shoe box, you just add some tissue paper stuffing and wrap the box with wrapping paper and give the gift. This is especially great for gifts you are shipping to others.
5. You can decorate them and use them to store small items. I love to scrapbook and have many items that are small and easy to lose. I love shoe boxes to store these items in. Its even more fun to decorate the box and make it match your room theme. Below is a picture of a shoe box that I decorated. Here is what I used to decorate: Blue spray paint, flower stem stamper, green ink for the flower stems, flower stickers, flowers from a lei cut apart and seperated, a brad setter, and brads to match the corresponding flowers. It was fun to create and looked fun when I was done!
6. One of the best uses for old shoe boxes right now is to pack them and donate to Samaritan's Purse. This is an organization that donates shoe box gifts to children in several countries who would otherwise receive nothing for Christmas. It is a way to reach out and help the less fortunate. I have donated a shoe box of goodies to Samaritan's Purse for three years now. Below is a picture of what I donated. My church supports this organization so we had boxes from them. They do encourage you to use your old shoe boxes and just wrap them with wrapping paper. If you are interested in donating to this wonderful organization, visit their website for the how to and what to pack.

I know some of you probably have several other great uses for old shoe boxes. If so, post them here and share with everyone!

Simply "Cycle" Saturday

Every week we are seeing more and more how easy it is to reuse or re"cycle" items that we have in our homes that aren't being used anymore. Reusing items will help us to save money and help the environment by making less waste. Last week the item that we saw how to reuse was Old Newspaper.

This week we are going to see great uses for Old T-Shirts! T-shirts are easy to get and it seems that they come out of no where. If you volunteer for organizations, give blood, work for a company, etc., you probably got a FREE or discounted t-shirt. You wear it for a while and then it just lays in your dresser drawer. I have tons of t-shirts that I just don't wear anymore.

I decided to sit down one day and try to see what else I could use my t-shirts for. They have some meaning to me so I couldn't bear to just throw them out. Here are some of the things that I came up with:

1. You could make pillow cases out of them: You just cut off the sleeves, turn it inside out and sew the arm & neck holes. This makes fun pillowcases that have a very retro look.
2. You could use them as bedding for your animal's cages or kennels. There is nothing better to your pet then your smell. Something you have worn, has your scent. They will be comforted when you are gone. I gave my dog an old pillow and I put one of my t-shirts over it for a pillow case. She couldn't be happier.
3. You could use them as rags. If they don't hold any meaning and you just want to put them to good use, this is perfect. Cotton is great for soaking up liquid. They are perfect for cleaning with!
4. You could make a patchwork blanket with them. You would cut the t-shirt into squares and sew the squares together. Since cotton stretches, you will have to sew them to another type of material that doesn't stretch. Cut up the rest of the t-shirt that you didn't use for the patchwork to use as the batting. You will then use the non-stretch material for the backing. You now have a one of a kind blanket that has all your memories sown together.
5. You could also donate them. If you don't wear them then why not give them to someone who will. It fits the old saying, "One man's junk is another man's treasure!".

If you have another great use for old t-shirts, please post it here and share it with all of us.

Simply "Cycle" Saturday

I know that today is Sunday and I am just now posting "Super Cycle Saturday". See the post My Baby's First Birthday Party for the reason I am behind on posting, its a good one!

Last week I talked about how to get the best use out of Old Phone Books. This week I would like to touch on left over newspapers.

Many of us receive or purchase the Sunday paper every week for the coupons. What do you do with the rest of the paper? Some of you may have a recycle program where you live. Why not put the papers to better use. Here are some things that I have come up with to use the papers for.

1. Puppy Potty Training: If you have a new puppy who is not yet potty trained, use it as potty paper. You could go out and buy those expensive potty training pads, or you could use old newspaper. Just put a few layers of it down on the floor or kennel where your puppy stays (be sure to use the black and white pages over the colored because they soak liquid better). It is easy to clean up and soaks up liquid very easily. Most veterinary clinics use it as flooring in their kennels.
2. If you have cats, line the litter box with old newspaper. This will absorb extra liquid and soak up some of the smell. What I do is line the litter box with old newspaper, sprinkle some baking soda and then the litter. This prolongs the life of the litter and cuts down the odor.
3. If you are looking for a retro decoration for a room in your house, cover an old shoebox with it. Get some Modge Podge paste from Walmart and take your old newspaper and adhere it to the shoe box. You can do this with any old item that needs a little sprucing up. A friend of mine refinished an old table top of hers like this and it looked great!
4. Wrap gifts with it. Wrapping paper tends to be very expensive. What a better way to show that you recycle than to use your old newspaper as wrapping paper. You can personalize it by wrapping your gifts and writing on it with a Sharpie. If it is for a birthday party, use the brightest sharpies you have and draw balloons on the paper and write Happy Birthday in bubble letters. It is original and lots of fun to design.
5. Here is a website that you can check out other great ideas. There are 80 uses for old newspaper listed on this site. The ideas are endless!

How have you used old newspaper creatively? Post it here and share with everyone!

Simply "Cycle" Saturday!

I was given a suggestion by one of my readers to add content to my blog that was not only store deals but other ways in which to save money around the house. One of the easiest ways of doing this is to recycle and reuse. Every Saturday, I will blog about another great way to reuse items in your home, to save you money, and to help the environment!

This week, I will be featuring outdated phone books. A few times a year, we all receive a new phone book or two at our front door. Phone books are very large and use a lot of paper which is a big waste when they are outdated, if they are ever used at all. There are a few things that you can use them for rather than just throwing them away.

1. Use the pages of the phone book to clean your windows, picture glass, mirrors, etc. Spray your window cleaner onto the glass and use the phone book pages as paper towels. This is great because it will not leave lint on the glass like your paper towels or clothes will. Framing stores use this method. It is the most inexpensive way for them to clean their glass the very best. If the pros do it, why can't we!
2. Use the pages as packing material for shipping things like Christmas gifts to friends and family! Why go out an buy packing peanuts or pay for a shipping company to pack your items. Do it yourself by crumpling the pages and stuffing them all around the item to protect it.
3. If you have children, give it to them for coloring paper. This may keep them occupied for a while. Keep an old phone book & some colored pencils in the car (crayons could melt). If your child gets bored in transit, pull out the phone book & pencils and let them have at it.
4. Another option to reusing the phone books is to not receive them at all. Eco Chick lists a few resources in her blog on how to stop receiving these unneeded phone books.

If you have found other great uses for your old phone books, please share it here. Each one of you that participates and leaves comments, will make this blog so much better! Thanks and don't forget to check back next Saturday for another great tip!