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Don’t toss that wood! Looking for thoughtful handmade gift ideas? This roundup features 40+ creative DIY gifts you can make from scrap wood, perfect for holidays, birthdays, and special occasions.

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Scrap Wood Gift Ideas

If you’ve ever stared at your scrap wood pile wondering what on earth to do with it, you’re not alone. This collection of DIY gift ideas is here to fix that!

Each project includes a full tutorial and can be made with simple basic tools. We’ll show you how to take pieces from that pile and turn them into a unique piece that’s not only functional but also full of personality.

Whether you’re making something for a friend, a family member, or even yourself, these projects are all about letting your creativity shine.

What’s great about this collection is how versatile it is. From rustic home decor to clever organizers, every idea lets you put your own spin on it and really show off your creative expression.

Plus, there’s something so satisfying about taking something that might’ve been tossed aside and turning it into the perfect gift.

If you love hands-on projects and want to impress your loved ones with something truly one-of-a-kind, these simple scrap wood projects are just the ticket!

Scrap Wood Gift Ideas

45 creative DIY gift ideas transform scrap wood into charming, personalized treasures. From rustic home decor to practical organizers, these woodworking projects make thoughtful, budget-friendly gifts.

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4 image collage diy gifts & crafts

Make gorgeous gifts and crafts using items from your recycling bin, scrap pile or even the trash. 35 creative and eco-friendly DIY gift ideas!

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DIY Gift Ideas & Crafts

When it comes to giving something meaningful, DIY gifts are always a win. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, surprising a family member, or getting ready for the holiday season, the best part about these amazing homemade gifts is the love and thought that go into them.

Unlike store-bought gifts, these crafty ideas show off your creativity and add that personal touch everyone appreciates.

In this post, we’re sharing fun and easy DIY gift and craft ideas that are perfect for any time you want to make someone feel extra special.

Gift & Craft Ideas Made from Trash, Scraps & Recyclables

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Are you inspired to create your own DIY gifts after seeing these ideas? There are so many great crafts too!

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If you like this post, you may also like this post with DIY gifts from your kitchen.

Gifts from your Kitchen Pinterest image
diy laundry detergent with chalkboard label

Today’s tip is a DIY laundry detergent recipe that is gentle on your washer (HE and regular), but most importantly it will save you money!

homemade laundry detergent in glass jar

If you’ve ever looked at the cost of store-bought detergents, you may have choked at the cost. I have a wonderful detergent recipe to make your own own homemade laundry detergent for only $1.25 per year!

And the detergent is low suds and low residue which will keep your washer and clothes cleaner.

How to Make DIY Laundry Detergent

If you think this homemade liquid laundry detergent couldn’t possibly work on dirty clothes, think again. I can tell you that in addition to our regular clothing, I’ve been using this recipe for 9 years on my boys’ clothes, on my own work clothes, and my husband’s karate clothing. And it really works.

Whatever stains don’t come out in the wash are no match for my DIY Miracle Stain Remover.

The great thing about this laundry detergent is the basic ingredients are simple, gentle on sensitive skin, and can be purchased at your grocery store. Just look on the high or low shelves in the laundry detergent aisle.

If you can’t find them in the laundry aisle, it’s always a good idea to look at your local hardware or home improvement store.

To make the homemade detergent, you only need about 15 minutes and then let the liquid detergent sit overnight. The next morning, you stir, add more cold water, and you are done!

Do you think that’s too much time to devote to making your own laundry soap? What if I told you that this batch lasts our family of four (did I mention two of them are young boys) six months or more.

Make Your Own Laundry Detergent for Only $1.25 per year

Click Here to Download the Printable Version of the Recipe

Laundry Detergent for $1.25 a Year

Several of you asked me to make a video showing how I make my own detergent. For your convenience you can watch the video, then scroll down to read the directions to make your own laundry soap.

Ingredients:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

DIY Laundry Detergent Ingredients

Please note, you can purchase these items cheaper at your local grocery store or hardware store. The links are here to help you see what the box looks like or to order if you can’t get to the store.

Optional: Essential Oil for Scent (see below for scent ideas)

Instructions:

  1. The first step is to cut your Fels Naptha Bar in quarters. Grate one quarter of the Fels Naptha Bar using a fine cheese grater.
  2. Boil 1 cup of water. Pour grated Fel Naptha into pan of boiling water. Stir continuously until the soap has dissolved. Meanwhile, pour 2 1/2 quarts (10 cups) of water into a large container or bucket. Pour dissolved Fels Naptha into the bucket of water. Stir.
  3. Add 1/4 cup Super Washing Soda and 2 TBSP Borax to the bucket.
  4. Add 2 1/2 quarts more water and stir.
  5. Cover the mixture and let is sit overnight out of reach of pets or children. Uncover the bucket and stir the gelatinous mix.
  6. Add 5 Quarts (20 cups) of water to the bucket. Stir.
  7. Add 15-30 drops of your favorite essential oils.

Some essential oil scents you may like:

Citrus scents: the added scent of lemon, lime, orange, bergamot, or grapefruit is a favorite!
Herbs scents: peppermint, spearmint, rosemary, basil
Other scents to try: Eucalyptus, chamomile, cypress, lemongrass
Want to fight mold & mildew? Use Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca)

Blends to try:

  • basil & lemon
  • lavendar & lemon
  • orange, bergamot, and lemon
  • chamomile, lavender, and orange
  • lemon & tea tree

Miracle Stain Remover Recipe:

If your clothing gets stained, try soaking in this miracle stain remover a day or two before laundering. You’ll be amazed how the stain lifts out effortlessly. It’s a great way to get even the toughest stains out.

miracle stain remover

How did I figure out my cost per year?

I had to do a little guestimating to figure out my cost. In the nine years I’ve been making this recipe, I’m only on my second box of Borax and Arm & Hammer Washing Soda.

Each batch of this homemade laundry soap consists of at least 4o cups. If you use the required 1/4 cup per load (do not use more, as more detergent won’t get your clothing cleaner) you can easily get 160 loads of laundry from each batch.

All this to say, I came up with a very conservative estimate that I pay $1.25 for laundry detergent per year, much less than commercial detergents.

The next time you have a load of laundry to wash, give this diy laundry soap a try. You may never buy commercial laundry detergent again!

Make Your Own Laundry Detergent for Only $1.25 per year

Storing Your Laundry Detergent:

The first time I started making this recipe, I used my empty laundry detergent plastic container. But, it was often too small for the batch size. Next, I used an empty 2.5 Gallon bucket water jug.

But, several years ago I bought a big glass drink dispenser and a smaller bottle with a flip top stopper. The smaller bottle is filled and used for dispensing detergent into the 1/4 cup measuring cup and then added to the washer.

The large drink dispenser holds all the excess detergent. This is a prettier solution to storing all the detergent and looks better on your laundry room shelf.

DIY Laundry Detergent | Pretty Handy Girl

Gift Idea:

Once you try this DIY laundry detergent, I know you’ll love it. And then you’ll want to share this recipe with everyone you know!

It does not contain any harsh chemicals and takes just a little bit of time to make. I like to share the recipe with a small sample amount in a laundry themed basket.

DIY Laundry Detergent |Pretty Handy Girl

If you want more uses for that big box of Borax, check out my 2 Ingredient Ant Killer!

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Make Your Own Laundry Detergent for Only $1.25 per year

A DIY Mattress?! How I Chose a Savvy Rest Mattress | Pretty Handy Girl

If you’ve been searching for a mattress that won’t break down and need to be thrown away after several years, you came to the right blog post. I was like you until I found what I call our DIY Latex Mattress. It’s a great option for any type of sleeper and is eco-friendly.

FYI, this is an article I released in 2014, but I added an update and I still sing the praised of our DIY Latex Mattress! If you’re in the market for a new mattress, you really need to read on.

A DIY Mattress?! How I Chose a Savvy Rest Mattress | Pretty Handy Girl
Our DIY Latex Mattress: the Savvy Rest Serenity

Disclosure: 

Here’s the disclosure before you start reading. It seems like every blogger has been approached by a mattress manufacturer. I’ve received a fair amount of pitches as well in my inbox. But, I’ve declined them all. Instead, I chose to approach Savvy Rest because I REALLY wanted to share their product with you. BUT, here’s the whole truth (and nothing but the truth.) Once you learn a little more about latex mattresses, it is going to be a sleep changer for a lot of you! Savvy Rest was nice enough to consider my proposal and agreed to send me the mattress in exchange for a mention on my blog. Just so you know, I choose the brands I want to work with because I love the products. If I don’t like a product, I don’t blog about it. This is one of those products that I have recommended to my friends, family and anyone who will listen to my ravings. 

Update:It’s now been over four years since we began sleeping on our Savvy Rest Serenity mattress and we are still happy with it. Recently Savvy Rest asked if I’d like to use affiliate links since I still sing the praises of their product. I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links hereNow that you know the whole truth, this is my opinion and my story: 

Why I Love Our Savvy Rest Latex Foam Mattress:

When I shared our master bedroom plans, I told you that it all started with getting a new mattress. And, I have been dying to share the information about that mattress with you! I literally have to control myself from stopping random strangers on the street to tell them about this amazing latex mattress that I discovered. In fact, as I sit here typing this post I’m worried that it’s going to sound too much like an infomercial because of how much I love our Savvy Rest Serenity latex mattress.  In a nutshell, here are the main reasons I have fallen head over heels in love with it:

  • Comfort & Support: It is amazingly comfortable and supportive. We’ve been sleeping on it for a month now and my back aches are GONE!
  • All Organic: Made with natural materials. No chemicals, no off-gassing, no bleaching! The cover is made with natural cotton and organic wool. The interior layers are natural talalay latex and/or organic dunlop latex. I have purchased memory foam mattresses in the past and the odor was awful.
  • Eco-friendly mattress: Not only are the materials natural (harvested from rubber trees in a process that doesn’t harm the tree), but this mattress will last you a lot longer than any traditional mattress (often times latex mattresses can last 20 years or more!) This means less waste going to the landfill! And you know how passionate I am about keeping things out of the landfill.
  • Customization for Your Needs: It is completely customizable to your support and pressure relief needs. (As well as separate customization for your partner.)

Sounds good right? But, this isn’t your average mattress. I like to call this a DIY mattress because you literally pick three distinct latex foam layers to customize to your comfort needs. First, you choose either talalay or dunlop latex or a combination. Then you can choose between soft, medium and firm. This offers you more firmness options than you can count sheep!

A DIY Mattress?! How I Chose a Savvy Rest Mattress | Pretty Handy Girl

Let’s not forget about your spouse who likely has completely different comfort needs. He or she can chose their own comfort layers when you select the Savvy Rest Serenity split queen or split king mattress. This is the key to a happy marriage, is it not?!

A DIY Mattress?! How I Chose a Savvy Rest Mattress | Pretty Handy Girl

But, I want to back up and discuss a little more about how I realized we needed a new mattress and how I decided on a Savvy Rest mattress.

Is it Time for a New Mattress? Read more

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Create beautiful DIY planters and containers on a budget! Discover 25+ DIY container garden ideas for every style—modern, rustic, whimsical, and more.

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DIY Planter Ideas

Good news—whether you’re working with a big garden bed or decorating a tiny patio, this collection of 28 DIY planters and containers has something for everyone!

Each project is an easy DIY with a helpful step-by-step tutorial, so you can create stylish indoor planters or tackle outdoor projects with confidence.

Most of these ideas use basic tools and materials you may already have on hand, making them perfect for beginners or weekend crafters.

DIY Planters and Containers

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With these 28 DIY garden planter and container ideas, you can give your outdoor space a fresh, creative makeover with new planters that reflects your personal style.

Whether you love rustic charm, modern minimalism, or something more whimsical, there’s a creative project here to inspire every green thumb and DIY enthusiast.

We hope you are inspired to make your own planters after seeing this collection.

To build the ultimate raised garden bed with arched trellis, you’ll want to see this tutorial:

Thanks for stopping by!

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