Category: Create

homemade laundry powder

January 30th, 2012 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

About a year ago I discovered this homemade laundry powder recipe from Soule Mama, and I’ve been using it ever since…mostly. When I first started making it, I grated the soap by hand, which I loathed. I began dreading the process whenever my batch ran out, and eventually went back to my favorite laundry soap, only occasionally making the powder. For Christmas this year, I gave away several dryer balls along with a jar of laundry powder to friends and family, and during the hand-grating process, I wised up and streamlined the process.

I only purchase Dr. Bronner’s soap when it’s on super sale, which is quite rare, so my preferred castile soap is Kirk’s, which I get for 99 cents a bar. I have also used Fels Naptha, but stopped after reading it contains icky petroleum.

First I cut each bar into more manageable chunks using the blade on our cheese board.

Then using the grating attachment on my food processor, I run each chunk through the machine. It easily fits 10 bars at a time.

Finally, I transfer the gratings to a large bowl, change to the standard “S” blade, and run the gratings through the machine again. In my experience, this is a must to ensure the soap fully dissolves in the wash.

Following the recipe, I mix the other ingredients in a large bowl (my sinuses prefer this done outside), and transfer to large jars, adding up to 50 drops of essential oil to each batch. So far, these are my favorite combinations:

  • Clove, Sweet Orange and Peppermint
  • Lemon & Lavender
  • Peppermint
  • Rose & Grapefruit

I use anywhere from 1/16 to a 1/4 cup per load, depending on load size, stains, etc.

Again, a quart jar of the laundry powder along with several wool dryer balls makes a fantastic gift.

Happy Laundering!

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diy kids fire hat

January 18th, 2012 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

Shortly after Halloween my son’s dollar store fire hat that went along with his Pickles costume bit the dust. This made him quite sad, and made me quite sad because he would occasionally wander about the house calling out for it, thinking it might materialize out of thin air.

One afternoon when he had had a mini meltdown over it, I decided we would make him a new hat, together. A quick Google search brought up this tutorial, which was super easy to follow. We simply molded a brown paper bag over his head, as I quickly ran painter’s tape around his noggin. Then we folded the hat up and he painted it to his liking.

As you can see by his face in this last picture, he loved the painting part. He got so excited that those nice green curtains in the background now have beautiful paint splatters across them. But he’s so darn cute in the hat, I don’t mind the mess.

This is the best picture that I was able to snap of him wearing it because he quickly swapped it out for another.

That said, he wears the fire hat all the time (honest to God he is wearing it as.I.type.this) and it has held up for two months now without any repairs needed. Not bad for a quick diy.

Happy Playing!

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wool dryer balls, two ways

January 16th, 2012 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

One of the items that I sold at the craft fair this year was wool dryer balls. They were a huge hit, and for good reason.

  • Wool dryer balls are non-toxic, making them a wonderful replacement to using dryer sheets, which contain all sorts of nasty chemicals and have a tendency to gum up the dryer screen over time, which may pose a fire hazard.
  • Not only that, but they also replace the need for fabric softener (which I’ve never actually used), and depending on how much and what brand you use, by replacing both conventional dryer sheets and fabric softener,
  • it can save you over $100 per year.
  • And because dryer balls can last for over seven years, it can save your family nearly a grand. That doesn’t even factor in the energy savings, which I assume is pretty huge.

I’ve been using six balls in my dryer lately I’ve noticed that it has cut down drying time significantly, kept the clothes wrinkle and static-free, and imparts a very light scent thanks to adding a few drops of essential oil to each ball. My favorite is a combo of rose, grapefruit and tea tree. To make these balls, I used this tutorial from The Sleepytime Gal which uses 100% wool yarn, which I made sure to get with 40-50% off coupons. Wool yarn is spendy.

For Christmas presents I gave away what dryer balls I had leftover from the craft fair along with homemade laundry powder, which was very well received. After Christmas I started working on wool dryer balls using an old wool cardigan and vest (a gift from Kendra), and one of my husbands old hats that I accidentally put in the dryer. I used this tutorial from Eco-Friendly Homemaking, but used the felting methods from the previous tutorial by first creating a “core,” felting it, wrapping strips of wool fabric around the ball and hand-stitching it as I went, until it reached the desired size. Then I felted the balls twice in a pair of old pantyhose.

I won’t lie. It required a lot of hand-stitching. I used 100% cotton thread because I wanted something that would shrink up with the wool, but I switched to regular thread when my spool ran out. I’ve had no issues so far.

I made eleven balls using this method, and it took me about three weeks of working on it in little bits here and there. It was actually really nice having an ongoing project, something to keep my hands busy, mostly during nap times. I allowed myself to watch movies while I stitched (something I never do during the day), and really enjoyed watching New York in the 50’s and Magic Trip on Netflix. Totally interesting watching those two films back-to-back. I can’t really recommend using one method over the other, but I will say that re-purposing old woolen items is not only eco-friendly, but free.

Happy Stitching!

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number bean bags and carrying case

January 13th, 2012 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

For Christmas this year, I made two sets of number bean bags, using this tutorial from Chez Beeper Bebe. One set for my son: kazaam!

And one set for my nieces & nephews: kablam!

I added top stitching to each bag, as I wasn’t confident they would hold up well without the extra reinforcement.

I also added counting dots to the back of each bag (which, oh my, was quite tedious) by tracing a pen cap onto Heat n’ Bond and black felt.

Additionally, (yes, this was a seemingly never-ending project) I made a little carrying case for each set, using the juggling balls drawstring bag pattern from Oliver & S Little Things to Sew. Such a quick project (compared to those bean bags!) which resulted in very sturdy, fully lined bags.

And for my nieces and nephews, I also created a little bean bag toss out of a stunningly beautiful cardboard box, using Danielle’s tutorial.

Like, on Christmas Day, an hour before my family’s Christmas festivities began. Talk about down to the wire.

We’ve been playing with our set by tossing them into an empty laundry basket (or in the air, or at the cat and dog), studying the numbers and carefully counting each dot. Such a fun way to learn how to count.

The project was virtually free, as I used scraps for the bean bags, the beans from the bean bowl, the fabric leftover from making these pants and obviously a really old cardboard box. The whole thing took, what seemed like forever, but it was actually nice working at it bit by bit, at a more relaxed pace than what I typically create for myself. So often when I sew, I want it finished right away and I’m mentally lining up the next 50 projects I want to complete.

Here’s to a more relaxed approach to sewing (and life in general) in 2012!

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you are enough

December 20th, 2011 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

One perk (and minor annoyance) to being a stay-at-home mama, is that I rarely pay attention to the date. Did you know that Christmas is in five days? I didn’t, until yesterday that is. I honestly thought I had another week of preparation. Whoopsie doodles.

Last night, when I should have been doing one of 5,000 things on my to-do list, or perhaps more practical, sleeping, I stitched up this little piece while watching Home Alone. I needed to do it. I had to remind myself that I am truly enough, just as I am, right now, in this moment. Our home, even in its current disheveled state, is enough. The contents of our fridge and pantry, are enough. It is unrealistic to think that I have time to make all of the handmade gift ideas that I have swimming around in my head, create a plethora of lovely handmade holiday items for our home, and also have time to partake in the numerous holiday festivities that we want to attend. It’s just not possible. And you know something? That’s okay. I might still have 5,000 things left to do, but now it’s about prioritizing those and letting go of the unnecessary, so that I might truly enjoy what’s left of this holiday season. Because that’s what it’s all about.

I wish you all health and happiness this holiday season, from my family, to yours.

And if you’re feeling bogged down or stressed out, please realize, that you are enough.

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