Couponing for the Rest of Us

Homemade Firestarters | Dryer Lint & Candle Wax!

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I’m re-posting this tutorial I wrote previously on how to make homemade firestarters because camping season is HERE again!

This weekend I took my 4 boys out for our first ever family camping trip.  It was all I could’ve hoped for – they were thrilled to cook hotdogs over the campfire on sticks, make S’mores, tell silly ghost stories, and listen to mom play old John Denver songs on the guitar.   We swam in the lake until we were exhausted, and finally cuddled up in our tiny 4 person tent together while I lay awake hoping no critters would come looking for leftovers.

It was wonderful – memories they’ll have forever  – just like I do from when I went camping as a kid with my parents.  There was one thing, though, that I wished I had remembered to bring along – something to make the all-important campfire even easier to get going: My HomeMade Camp Fire Starters.

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As some of you know, I was a girl scout for many years. But this particular trick I learned from my brother (an Eagle Scout) during his boy scout days. It’s a little recipe for homemade fire starters, useful for taking camping with you, or just for a little backyard bonfire when tinder and lighter fluid aren’t at hand.

Step 1: You’ll need a cardboard egg carton and some of your old candles.

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Step 2: Break up the candles into smaller pieces and melt over low in your oldest, yuckiest skillet or pot.

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Step 3: Get the dryer lint out of the lint trap, or if you’re like me, get the whole bag of dryer lint you’ve been saving for this specific purpose. :)   It’s very flammable, and smells nice to boot.

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Step 4: Pack the dryer lint very tightly into each egg receptacle.

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Step 5: Spoon the wax carefully over top the dryer lint, about 3 spoons per wad.

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Step 6: Let cool completely, if I’m in a hurry I stick mine in the freezer for a bit, and then cut out your fire-starters.

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Just toss one or two of these under your pile of firewood and light the cardboard.  It will stay burning long enough to get the wood to catch fire really well.

You can also make a “bunson burner” for heating up food/canned goods by cutting a 1″ wide strip of cardboard in a long length.  Roll it into an old tuna can until it’s made a tightly packed spiral.  Drip wax over the cardboard and you’re done!

Happy Camping!

 


April Fools Pranks: 25 Fun Practical Jokes

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25 April Fools Pranks

I’ve always loved playing April Fools Pranks on my family – and if you do too, here’s a roundup of 25 of the BEST April Fools Day Pranks we’ve heard!

  1. Rubberband the Spray Nozzle|  Rubberband the sink sprayer handle so that it immediately sprays out as soon as someone turns on the water.
  2. Glue Money to the Ground|  Hot glue or superglue a quarter, dime, etc… to the sidewalk or porch and watch everyone who comes in try to get it up!
  3. Water Cups| Fill two cups with water and ask if someone wants to see a magic trick.  Tell them to put out both hands flat on the table palms down and then quickly set both full water cups on top of their hands.  They’ll be stuck that way for awhile :)
  4. Car Accident|  Leave a note on someone’s car (someone who would FREAK OUT if their car were scratched) and apologize profusely for scratching/denting their car.  They’ll be looking for the scratch forever.
  5. Zoo Prank|  Get a family member or friend to “return a call” to someone named Harry Lyon, or Mr. Fox, etc…
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How to Make Perfect Hard-Boiled Deviled Eggs (The Devil’s in the Details!)

How to Make Perfect Deviled Eggs

I loathe deviled eggs.  This looks like I’m happy, but I’m pretending.

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FREE Educational Printables (Print Worksheets, Coloring Pages, Mazes)

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easter-printables

FREE Printable Worksheets!

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10 Creative Uses for Coffee Filters!

10 creative uses for Coffe Filters

Jamie here, being frugal oftentimes means being creative – making do with less, and making it into more!  I’ve often told my husband that if I could get a gold medal for only one thing – it would probably be the ability to “Make Do”.   When something I want/need just isn’t on hand – or isn’t within my budget – I can usually look around and find something and “make it work”.  (Case in point – the Tinfoil Heart Pancake Molds I showed you a couple weeks ago.)

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Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe & Fun Facts!

 

Today is Mardi Gras – meaning “Fat Tuesday” in French – and it’s the last hurrah before the Season of Lent begins tomorrow (Ash Wednesday)!  For many, tomorrow signals the start of a season that includes fasting, moderation, spiritual discipline and repentance in preparation for Easter.  However, today is all about merrymaking and getting rid of all that yummy food in the house… by eating it!

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Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids: Heart Shaped Crayons

Valentine’s Day Craft for Kids:  Heart-Shaped Crayon

Photo Credit: All You Magazine

If you’re already thinking ahead of Valentine’s Day Crafts to do with your kids – you might want to start collecting old crayons!  I don’t know about you – but I am ALWAYS finding stray crayon pieces around our house, in the van, under the couch cushions – I think this is the perfect Valentine’s Day Craft for us!   Basically, you just melt old crayons in a heart-shaped mold and pop them out, voila!  Heart-Shaped Crayons!  They’d be great to give out to classmates – or if you’re a teacher, a great gift for your kiddos!

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New Years Eve Party: 7 Family Fun Ideas & Crafts!

Credit: Martha Stewart

I posted this a few days back – but in case you’re looking around for some quick and easy projects to make the night more fun – here are a few we like!

New Years Eve means party time – and even if you’re just staying home for a low-key family party, you can still have a great time with these 7 easy and FREE crafts and ideas!  Here are 7 FUN & FREE ways to celebrate New Years Eve and make sure that 2012 goes out with a BANG!

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