Homemade Granite Cleaner

Remember way back when when I shared the recipe I used for homemade dusting spray and I said I would share the other homemade cleaners I use "soon"? Well apparently by soon I meant nearly 10 months later. What can I say? Blogger fail. 

But trust me when I say this granite cleaner was worth the wait. I call it granite cleaner, but really it is my go to all-purpose cleaner. I use it on all of our granite (obviously), but I've also used it on our toilets, in the sinks, on tile, I've even dusted with it when I'm in too big of hurry, or too lazy, to pull out the dusting spray. It works great and once again I LOVE that it is incredibly simple to make and I always have the ingredients on hand.

Granite Cleaner

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
1/4 tsp castile soap 
Fill with water

A couple of notes... 
For the castile soap I always use Dr. Bronners Organic Baby Unscented because it is what we have on hand, but I'm sure one of the scented versions would work great too and make the cleaner smell good. Also, I always use distilled water in the cleaners as we have hard water. 

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The Weekend Retreat Link Party at AKA Design
Tutorials & Tips Link Party at Home Stories A to Z

Homemade Dusting Spray

A couple of years ago, after a bit of a healthy-living-free-range-chemical-free-back-to-nature-documentary binge, I decided that I wanted to give making my own cleaning products a try. I was pregnant with Owen and thought that we didn't need all those chemicals floating around the house. Plus, the idea of little hands getting hold of a strong cleanser and getting sick from it was also a big catalyst. 

It didn't take much googling to find a million and one different homemade cleaning "recipes". I gave a few a try and altered them to my liking and now I have a few that I've been using for the last year and a half. A couple of people have asked me for the recipes so I figured here was as good of place to share them as any. 

First up today is dusting spray. I've used this on both painted furniture and natural wood and it works great. And I LOVE that the recipe is so simple and ridiculously inexpensive. These are things I always have on hand so I don't have to worry about keeping something special around. 

I keep all my cleaners is spray bottles with the recipes right on the front. That way when I run out I don't have to try to remember the recipe, which, let's be honest is not going to happen, or have to go look it up somewhere each time I need it.

Doesn't it bother you that I capitalized the "t" in "tsp"? Yeah, me too! To bad I'm too lazy to change it. 

Here is the recipe, as it is a little hard to read in the photo:

Dusting Spray
(Shake well throughout use)

1 3/4  cup water
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tsp olive oil

A couple of notes... I always use distilled water in the cleaners as we have hard water. Also, because oil and water don't mix you have to shake throughout using it to make sure you are getting a little of everything.

Let me know if you decide to go the homemade route, I'd love to hear what you think. Happy dusting!

Tie Baby Shower Invitations and a Free Printable

My mom, sister-in-law, and I had a baby shower for my sister this weekend. She is due with a little boy in September and we are all so excited! My first time being an aunt. My sister-in-law came up with the great idea to incorporate ties into the shower because this little boys dad is obsessed.

Here's what I came up with for the invitations.

I was really pleased with how they turned out. It is always such fun to design something like this. And if anyone is interested I made a fill-in-the-blank version to share.

Click here to open the Tie Baby Shower Invitation pdf.

I have yet to even look at the pictures I took over the weekend, but I'll be sure to share some of the decorations from the shower when I do.

Linked to: 

Motivated Monthly: Hello Baby! at Etcetorize
Pretty Things Thursday at Johnny In A Dress and Scissors & Spatulas 

Airplane Mobile

My good friend Cate is due with her second baby in just a couple of weeks. When I saw this mobile over on the Silhouette blog I knew it would be the perfect gift for the new little munchkin.

It was extremely simple to put together. I used the 3D Airplane and 3D Cloud shapes on the Silhouette. I used this Mobile Photo Clip from Kikkerland Design Inc. and modified it a little to give everything room to hang.

I helped Cate hang it up yesterday in the little guy's room and it looks great. Now I'm just anxiously awaiting his arrival... I'm hoping for a very on time delivery so we get to meet him before we move.

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The Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello
Saturday Seven Party (No. 29)  at Positively Splendid
Mingle Monday  at Add A Pinch

Homemade Gifts

I'm going to extend the Christmas posts by one more day because I simply can't miss out on sharing the fantastic homemade gifts I got this year.

The first one I was kind of expecting, considering that I had specifically requested it a few months earlier. It was a pair of spool holders from my mom and dad made to hold both the spool and the bobbin. They were exactly what I wanted. And are so beautiful filled with my colorful thread.

The second gift was from my sister-in-law. I was so lucky she picked my name this year for our gift exchange. She took some of my absolute favorite photos and printed them onto blocks of wood. The effect is amazing and I love how they look sitting on top of our bookshelves.

Homemade gifts really are the best. Not only was the item fantastic, but knowing the thought and time that went into the gift makes it that much more special. I would love to give only homemade items. Maybe if I start now I will be ready before Christmas next year!

Bubble Bath Paint

I'm not sure what rock I've been hiding under, but I just stumbled upon the blog Meet The Dubiens. It is full of beautiful photos, great kid lunch ideas (bento boxes!), and fun crafts. I've been trying to think of something simple and homemade to give to a few of Audrey's friends when I saw this tutorial for bubble bath paint and knew it would be perfect.

The recipe is simple. A little tear free bubble bath, some cornstarch and food coloring and you have bubble bath paint. You can find the exact recipe here over at Meet The Dubiens.

Audrey tried it out a couple of nights ago and loved it, she didn't want to get out of the bath. And just as Jill said, it didn't stain the bathtub at all. In fact it was probably cleaner after "painting" than before. Now if only I could figure out how to mix a little actual cleaning solution into the recipe I could make my bathroom cleaning woes come to an end.

Audrey's friends are each getting their own four pack of bubble bath paint along with a few paint brushes. A perfect, simple, and homemade Christmas gift for a toddler.

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We Did It! Wednesday at Sew Much Ado

Felt Play Mat

I finally finished the felt play mat for Audrey's friend. I'm really happy with how it turned out, but more than anything I'm just so glad to be done. Especially considering I will be giving it to him seven months after his birthday.

The little boy's dad works at Campbell's so I made sure to include it on the play mat.

I also used super stiff fusible interfacing to attach the outside pieces and it worked so much better than trying to glue it.

Just like the other play mat I finished on time I used this tutorial from Cook Clean Craft.

Posted at:

We Did It! Wednesday at Sew Much Ado

Willow's and Zaydee's Busy Books

 Before we left for Omaha I finished and shipped a couple more orders for the shop.

Willow's mom asked for a light purple/lilac version of the busy book.

And Zaydee's aunt wanted multicolor with pinks and greens.

I hope they both are excited to see them under the Christmas tree this year!

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Get Your Brag On at Gluesticks

Homemade Toys = Complete Success

I forgot to mention, but the homemade toys were a complete hit with Audrey. They kept her entertained for a long time, especially the collecting game with the pom poms. My biggest regret was not having another game or two that was new for the return trip.

Definitely give them a try this season if you are doing any sort of traveling. Just be careful with the pom poms, they could be a choking hazard if you aren't looking.

$2.48 Airplane Toys

We have a lot of flying in our near future. First to Nebraska later today, then to Virginia on Sunday, and back home to California next week. Anyone who has traveled with a toddler knows that keeping them entertained and relatively still for that long will be a challenge. So we came up with a few new (also ridiculously inexpensive and homemade) toys to try to keep little miss Audrey (and all the fellow passengers) happy. 

A Collecting Game

Audrey is fascinated by putting different items into containers and taking them out again so this is perfect and couldn't be more simple. Bryce put holes in the top of a deli container and melted them a little to get rid of any sharp edges. Add a package of pom poms at $1.99 and that is all there is to it. Audrey can push the poms poms through the holes to her little hearts content.

A Stringing Game

I went down to Home Depot and bought two feet of rope for a whopping total of 49 cents. We put a knot in one end and wrapped the other with electrical tape to make it stiff. Add in the blocks we borrowed from her train set and now she has her own stringing game.

It always amazes me how the simplest little things seem to grab her attention, hopefully these will do the same. I'll let you know how it goes.

And don't worry, I'm not completely disillusioned that these two toys are the answer to toddler-airplane happiness. We also have a bag full of toys, books, and food; along with a few new apps on our phones and a computer full of new-to-her movies. Wish us luck.

Posted at: 

The Saturday Seven Party at Positively Splendid
Made by you Monday at Skip To My Lou 
Creative Bloggers Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime
Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog 

Haily's Busy Book

November is proving to be an extremely busy month. Audrey and I have already taken one plane trip out of town and we leave for another one next week. In between trips I'm busily working on getting all of the shop orders finished and mailed. Before we left last week I packaged and shipped Haily's Busy Book. Her mom asked for a pink version so I used many of the same fabrics I used on Audrey's.

I just love the look of the books all packaged and ready to ship.

I have two more books to finish before we leave town again so things may be a little quiet around here for the next few weeks.

Also, I will only be able to make a few more books with a guaranteed Christmas delivery. I would love for you all to get the first chance to purchase one so if you are interested in buying a Busy Book send me an email and I can put up a special listing just for you.

Posted at: 

Saturday Seven Party at Positively Splendid
Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog