DIY Projects

For self-sufficiency, homesteading, prepping, or just plain saving money

Whether you are geared towards prepping, self-sufficiency, homesteading, or simply saving money, learning to make the most of what you have (learning to "make do") is a necessity. I have long admired those with the creativity and sharpness of mind to create solutions to a problem using only what they have on hand. This ability is both a gift and a skill. For those who do not possess this talent, we rely heavily on inspiration from what we read, hear, and see.  This page is for those of you who, like me, benefit from the inspiration of others. Read on for some simple do-it-yourself ideas that will easily fit into your lifestyle.

Homemade Laundry Soap 

Click on the link above for an easy, low-tox, DIY laundry soap recipe!

Upcycled Jean Quilts

I have been saving old jeans for a long time with the idea that I would eventually make a quilt or some other project out of the usable pieces. My sister-in-law even gave us some of their cast-offs to use.  It was a number of years before I actually sat down to make a quilt, but when the quilts the boys used for years began to wear thin, I decided it was time to finally put the jeans to use. Read on for more...

After going through various ideas for patterns and test sewing a few pieces, I decided that it would be best to make a quilt out of the largest pieces possible while maintaining some kind of visually appealing pattern.  My reasons were as follows:

Since most of the jeans were worn out at the knees, I eventually settled on using one of my rectangular quilting rulers for sizing the main pieces.  It fit well between the worn-out knee and the end of the leg lengthwise and just between the seams on either side for men's, women's and the larger youth sizes. This saved time on cutting the pieces.  I only needed to place the ruler and cut around it with a rotary cutter.  I then sketched out a simple pattern of rectangles and squares (for the ends) and calculated how many pieces I would need for a twin size quilt. For the first quilt, I had two different colors of fabric for the backing (I used what I had, which at the time was a couple of sheets) and three colors of jeans (blue, black, and cream), so I sketched a color pattern for both sides. For the second quilt, I used the same pattern, but since I only had blue and black jeans, I replaced the cream rectangles with black (see pictures below).  I only had one fabric for the back of the quilt, so I didn't need to worry about sewing the backing on in any particular order.

This quilt pattern was super easy because it did not require batting or joining three layers of materials.  I simply cut enough rectangles and squares for the front and back of the pattern, sewed the jean rectangles to the fabric rectangles in strips, leaving the seam up towards the jean side, and then sewed the strips together.  Once all the strips were sewn together, I sewed around the edge twice to secure the pieces together and to make it sturdy.  Finally, I cut the raised fabric on the seam with a pair of scissors every inch or so (being sure not to cut too close to the sewn seam) and washed the quilt to get the ragged look.  I used a heavy-duty thread to increase the durability and longevity of the quilt.

You could easily make your own pattern, as I did, or find one online.  The site I used for inspiration, which has very clear, step-by-step instructions, can be found here. 

These quilts are heavy, making them perfect for keeping warm during the cold winter.  They are also very durable, so they work well as picnic quilts or as an emergency quilt to throw in the back of your car.  I anticipate that these will last for a long time.

DIY Infused Oils

Knowing how to make your own infused oils is helpful for both culinary use and natural body care.  I use infused oils as the base for the healing salve I keep on hand.  I also use them as a base oil to mix with essential oils for massaging onto a scar, wound, or rash. I plan to experiment with using infused oils in homemade soap making when we begin making our own soap.

We use infused oils for cooking as well. Basil infused olive oil is one of my favorites to use in homemade vinaigrette salad dressing or to toss with pasta for a side dish.  Infused oils are also good in marinades and sauces, as dipping oils, or in baking breads.

Below you can find the method I use to make infused oil:

Choose your herbs: You can use fresh or dried herbs.  Fresh herbs give great flavor, but many will need to be acidified to ensure safety. Click here for an article describing how to safely use fresh herbs for infused oils.  You can use a single herb, or a blend of herbs for a more robust flavor. If picking herbs from the garden or foraging for plants, you can clean them and dry them yourself before infusing into the oil.

Culinary  herb suggestions - basil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, chive, cinnamon, clove

Body Care herb suggestions - rose, plantain, comfrey, chamomile, chickweed

Choose your oil: You can use many different types of oil.  Olive oil is a great option since it is safe for culinary use and for skin care. For skin care, I like to make a blend that includes coconut oil, which is nourishing for your skin. Remember that your skin will absorb what you put onto it, whether it is toxins or beneficial plant extracts, so be sure to avoid  highly processed oils and stick with more the more natural, non-gmo oils.

Sterilize your jars: Anytime you make something that you will be ingesting or putting on your skin,  be sure to use sterilized equipment in order to prevent botulism or other contamination. Use a glass jar to store your oil.  You do not want plastic to leech into a product you will be putting on or in your body. Once you have chosen the jar you will be using,  you can sterilize the jar by submerging it in boiling water for a minimum of 10 minutes.  You will need to be sure it is completely dry and has no water remaining on it before adding your oil.

Choose your ratio: How much oil and herb you use depends on your preference.  Some people use a one part herb to 10 parts oil.  I personally prefer to use something along the lines of a one part herb to four or five parts oil ratio for a stronger oil. 

Choose your warming method:

Method 1 - Warm oil pour over

Place herbs in your sterilized jar. Heat oil in a pan to just warm and pour over the herbs in the jar.  Screw on a clean, sterile lid and leave for  one to ten days before straining the oil. The longer you leave it sit, the stronger the flavor of the oil. Be careful not to get the oil too hot or it will burn the herbs in the jar, leaving an unpleasant taste to the oil. 

Method 2 - Warm water bath

Place herbs in your sterilized jar. Pour oil over the herbs and cover the jar with a clean, sterile lid.  Sit the jar in a pot of warm water (or a crockpot filled with warm water) and let warm for two to four hours.  You do not need the water to simmer, just to get warm enough to distribute the heat to the oil and allow the plant extracts to release into the oil. Be careful not to get water into the jar with the oil. Let sit for one to ten days for a stronger flavor.

Method 3 - Sun warmed oil

Fill jar with herbs.  Pour oil over the herbs and cover the jar tightly with a lid.  Place in a sunny location for ten days.  

Strain your oil and pour into a jar: Once you have allowed the oil to infuse, strain out the plant material using cheesecloth and pour the oil into sterilized containers. Close with a clean, sterile lid.

Oils are best stored in the refrigerator or in the freezer, especially if they are made from fresh herbs. Oils made from fresh herbs should last in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks.  Oils made from dried material and kept in a cool, dark place should last 2 to 3 months.

Prepping for a Wedding

We have had two daughters marry in the past nine months. In addition, we have attended the weddings of several of their friends. While preparing for a wedding does not typically fall into self-sufficiency and preparedness, many of the principles for accomplishing any preparedness task without breaking the bank will apply.  Here are three tips that will help:

1. Plan Carefully

Make lists of tasks to accomplish (such as shopping for the wedding dress, choosing flowers, and decorating the reception venue) and materials you need (such as decorations, food, and drinks for the reception).  Write them down on paper or type a list on your phone, computer, etc. and prioritize them by the date by which they need to be accomplished.  Add the tasks to your calendar to be sure you set aside time to accomplish them and so that you do not forget anything. Be sure to also add a day or two to your calendar to dedicate to gathering materials for the reception, whether this means shopping for food items, gathering decorations from your attic, or picking up items to be borrowed from a friend's house.

Ask for help!  Remember that one person can't do everything, so assign tasks to people you trust and keep a list of who will be doing what.  This will keep people from wasting time by doubling up on the same task and will keep things from being missed.  Keeping a list will be crucial for when you need to call to verify that people who agreed to do a task are still available to help and for when your friends call you to ask what it was they had agreed to do.

2. Repurpose

Use what you have.  If you have decorations from other events or items around the house that can be re-used or modified for the wedding, don't hesitate to do so. One daughter used hardback books from our library shelves and teacups from the cupboard in her wedding decorations.  We also used teapots, teacups, and candlesticks from our homes to decorate for her bridal shower.  Faux flowers she purchased for the wedding were used for both the shower and the wedding reception. Flower garlands we had on hand were included for both wedding receptions.

Borrow what you don't have or use what others are discarding. One daughter borrowed the reception greenery from her boss, who was gracious enough to loan her the greenery from her own wedding that took place a few months prior. Flower girl baskets and card baskets come from the second hand store and a family member who was getting rid of her extras. Ribbon wrapped around the handle and a few flowers glued to the side added elegance and beauty to an otherwise plain basket.

3. Involve Your Community

Let people help.  This can save you time, stress, and money. People who like you are happy to be involved and many will offer to help you with whatever you need without you even asking. Don't be afraid to accept help when it is offered.

Capitalize on people's skills. When people offer to help, let them help where they have the interest and skill.  Each of our daughters had a friend that is a fabulous baker.  Their friends made them a homemade wedding cake as a wedding gift.  Another friend put together the bouquets as a wedding gift (after the bride bought in-season flowers at a local store). Others friends who love baking made cupcakes for the dessert table.  One friend offered to make her delicious pasta salad for the reception dinner.  Each of these wedding gifts saved the couple money and allowed their friends to gift their time and talent in lieu of a gift to be wrapped.

A Parting Thought

Remember to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Family, friends, and community are important. When our daughter's friend married, we made salad and desserts for the reception dinner and passed out the champagne before the toast. Before another friend's wedding, we were honored to be asked to serve the rehearsal dinner. When your family or friends have a big event, offer to give a helping hand.  It may be more appreciated than you will ever know!