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6 Amazingly Affordable Toys That Can Make Your Child Happier And Smarter

I smiled when I saw the definition of the word “toy” at dictionary.com. According to it, toys are supposed to serve as a diversion rather than practicality. It is also an object that typically represents something familiar for children or others to play with. As a children’s teacher I can vouch for that meaning. Sometimes, we use toys to divert the kids’ attention while we prepare for the class. I am sure some moms use toys as a distraction for them to do chores too!

If toys are so helpful and pervasive, are there cheaper alternatives? Fortunately, there are. You can use your imagination and creativity to make handmade toys. Not only can you save more money but you can also increase the toys’ safety.

Two types of toys are mainly in the market today namely: educational toys and entertaining toys. Let us start with the latter…

FUN TOYS

1. MADE OF MILK CARTON

It is vital for kids to consume more milk in order for their bones to grow stronger. And, after they finished the whole carton, do not throw it just yet. You can transform an empty milk carton into a sailboat that can survive sizable splashes of water.

Full instructions – here.

2. MADE OF SPONGES

Have you ever played Jenga or Tumbling Towers? It is a fun game that you and your little ones can get addicted to. But, a new box can cost over S$19. Save more money while retaining its structure by making block pieces out of sponges.

Image Credits: facebook.com/pages/Toddler-Approved/179029702145360?fref=photo

Alternatively, you can practice making patterns or letters out of it. Full instructions – here.

3. MADE OF SHOEBOX

Have you saved up old newspapers, shoeboxes, and rubber bands? Well, you can turn those things into an old-fashioned toy guitar. Browse here for full instructions.

SMART TOYS

1. IMPROVE THE CHILD’S TOUCHING SENSATIONS

Various childcare and preschool centers include sensory tables to improve the fine motor skills and touching sensations of the young minds. Make your own by taking a simple wooden base out of a plastic bin. Then, you can fill it with colorful beads, dried beans, handful of rice, and so much more. This set toy will keep your child occupied for hours!

Image Credits: https://www.facebook.com/RingAroundtheRosies

Full instructions – here.

2. IMPROVE THE CHILD’S VISUO-SPATIAL AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS

Say the weather is not friendly enough to go to the nearby playground, what you can do is to round-up your kids, take a large sheet of paper, and several shaped blocks. Then, challenge them into a giant block puzzle. Let them figure it out on their own. Full instructions – here.

3. IMPROVE THE CHILD’S PHONETICS

A toy made out of inexpensive materials can go a long way in terms of improving your child’s language abilities. Repeat the letters and add sounds as you read along the alphabet board (full instructions – here).

Image Credits: nicandkate09.blogspot.com

Also, you can incorporate magnetic letters for your child to match it with the alphabet board accordingly. This activity is both educational and enjoyable! 🙂

Reminder: Although the ingredients and materials used are safe, it is still essential to look after your child from time to time to avoid any unforeseen events.

Sources: 1 & 2

Cheap Ways To Include DIY Crafts To Your Dream Wedding

Wanting a wedding that is immensely personalized and stylish yet money-saving? Then, consider including a myriad of lovely Do-It-Yourself (DIY) crafts. These DIY crafts can be used in wedding ceremonies, bridal showers, and receptions. Budget for these elements depend on the type and quantity of materials necessary to fill in the needs of the guests.

Since time is of the essence, here are 3 wedding DIY ideas that are easy and quick to make:

1. PAPER FLOWERS

DIY paper flowers with beads or laces could be presented at the centerpiece, at the wedding shower, or given as souvenirs. To flourish an elegant touch to your big day without breaking the bank, you can make the classical wedding pomander:

2. RIBBONS

Ribbons are beautiful to look at, especially if they shine with vivid patterns. You can just hang these at the entrance arches, doors, or bouquets to add a dramatic flair.

What’s more? You can even decorate a chair with 9 shades of ribbon colors or 10 types of ribbon patterns. Here is how:

a. Gather either the 9 strips of ribbon or the 10 types of ribbon patterns.

b. Tie the strips sideways and rotate these toward the middle.

c. The excess shall create a pretty fringe effect cascading down to the center.

For a portrait of the ribbon arrangements, click here.

3. MASON JARS AND CANS

You need not to have a degree in design to brighten up the special reception. Just place several mason jars or cans on the table and put small candles inside.

Image Credits: sugarspiceandnice.wordpress.com

Alternatively, you may place your family’s old wedding photos or your pre-nuptial photos too.

Image Credits: sugarspiceandnice.wordpress.com

Look no further for the perfect candles and mason jars. IKEA sells a pack of 12 small scented candles for S$7.90 while mason jars are sold as low as S$2.90!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Upgrade Your Style By Making Your Low-Priced Clothes Look Voguish

No matter how much fashion and lifestyle magazines clamor over the S$1000 pair of Christian Louboutin heels, the average person cannot afford to have a shoe rack full of it. Fortunately, you can dress up fashionably without having to break the bank! All you have to do is make the low-priced clothing look more expensive. Try these tips:

1. BACK TO BASICS

The old saying is true: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. This is why you must avoid handbags or clothes that are filled with bargain embellishments or distressed denim patterns. If you want to accessorize, opt for a thick bracelet rather than stacking three little ones to increase the outfit’s impact. Remember: the sleeker and simpler – the better.

2. CHOOSE MONOCHROMATIC

Since splashing yourself with every color on the rainbow can look cheap, wear one color or one shade of color from head-to-toe. This creates an illusion of supreme quality. For example, you can wear the different shades of black, from Jet-Licorice, to look slimmer and fashionable. Although, this does not mean that you will avoid experimenting with color all together. You may suit up with bold pastels or deep jewel tones.

3. CHANGE THE BUTTONS

One of the tricks that stylists do is to replace the inexpensive plastic buttons with pearl or metal ones. You can purchase affordable and beautiful vintage, metal, pearl, and crystal buttons for as low as S$6.93 at Etsy.com.

Image Credits: Erich Ferdinand via Flickr with Creative Commons License

4. SELECT THE RIGHT FABRIC

Cheaper fabrics are always obvious especially if there are loose threads hanging on the side. So, prefer pieces that are made with cotton, linen, and tweed. The prices of these materials may be reasonable but they often seem more expensive.

5. TAILOR EVERYTHING

Tailoring your jeans for about S$5-12 is worth every buck as it can transform your S$13 Forever21 jeans into a designer looking one. It goes the same for a tailored blazer or a tailored dress. Aside from having it tailored by a professional, you can save more money by mastering these simple alteration stitches.

Image Credits: Hillary via Flickr with Creative Commons License Attribution-ShareAlike

Do not let the tight clothing budget fool you into thinking you’re not Vogue-worthy! 🙂

Sources: 1 & 2

Spend Under S$10 To Bring Back The Sparkle Of Your Jewelry

Letting your treasured necklaces, bracelets, rings, or other heirlooms shine again can cost you about $35-139.90. That is the hefty price you may pay if you want to purchase an Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner. So..instead of getting expensive cleaning machines, professional cleaning services, or cleaning solutions, opt for practical Do-It-Yourself ways to clean your favorite bling! Here is how:

1. DIAMOND AND SILVER POTION

This mixture is exclusively for cleaning your precious diamonds and silvers. The ingredients are mostly available in your kitchen thus; you would not have to spend a lot.

Ingredients:

Small bowl

Aluminum foil

Paper towel

Old toothbrush

1-tablespoon salt

1-tablespoon baking soda

1-teaspoon dish detergent

1-cup hot water

Procedure:

Fill the small bowl with a square sheet of aluminum foil then, put the salt, baking soda, and dish detergent. Watch as the liquid buzz while you add the hot water. Afterwards, drop your jewelry there and leave it for 10 minutes. Once the minutes are up, remove the jewelry and use the toothbrush to gently scrub around any prongs, groves, or gemstones. Lastly, rinse and pat dry.

Image Credits: Aleksey Gnilenkov via Flickr with Creative Commons License

*Note: For Pandora’s jewelry, do not use this method as it may be considered too harsh. Instead, check out 3c. below.

2. GOLDEN POTION

One of the biggest reasons why your gold does not shine anymore is because it is filthy! Clean your gold jewelry the right way with this mixture. Much like the diamond and silver potion, ingredients for the gold mixture are available in your home.

Ingredients:

Toothpaste

Old Toothbrush

Soft cloth (dry)

Procedure:

Apply the toothpaste on the toothbrush and scrub the gold jewelry well. If you have a larger piece of gold to shine, repeatedly rinse off the toothbrush and use more toothpaste. Then, rinse it off with water. Lastly, get your soft cloth to dry it. Use circular motions to polish your golden jewelry!

3. OTHERS

a. White Vinegar

If white vinegar had a C.V., its skills would fill 1-2 pages. Yes! That is abundantly skilled this multi-purpose agent is. To clean your bling, mix a cup full of water with a half-cup of white vinegar and stir well. Put your silver pieces onto the mixture and leave it for 2 hours. Once the hours are up, remove the jewelry pieces then, rinse with cold water. Lastly, pat dry with a soft cloth.

Not bad for S$2.60 a pop (i.e., sold at FairPrice)!

b. Beer

A beer that costs you as low as S$3.10-4.50 (i.e., at FairPrice) can not only give you a fun time but also can give you back the shimmer of your jewelry! In a mug of beer, soak your jewelry overnight. On the next day, remove your jewelry and rinse it off in running water. Dry these up and be astonished on how shiny the pieces are!

Image Credits: Aleksey Gnilenkov via Flickr with Creative Commons License

c. Dish Soap

The dish soup sitting on your kitchen sink can also be used to bring back the shine from your jewelry pieces. This is a milder form of cleaning you sterling silver and it works well with your Pandora’s bracelet and charms. Simply add a few drops of the dish soap into a bowl of warm water and let your Pandora sit in it for a few minutes. Clean it with a soft bristle toothbrush if you like and pad them dry individually with a dry cloth. Make sure that if your charms is made of wood, leather or pearl, you should not use this method.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7

Save Money On Clothing Alterations By Mastering These Simple Stitches

Tailoring or sewing services in Singapore can range from S$5-40 depending on the type of clothing article. For instance, altering straight-cut jeans range from S$5-12 while altering of jackets can range from S$12-36. Some of the prices are too much if you asked me. You might as well buy a new one.

Aside from the costs, the standard waiting time for its collection can last from 1-14 days. And, if you do not have the time, you might as well buy a new one.

To avoid this dilemma, it is important to master some simple stitches that you can immediately use as the need rises. Do not fret if you have zero knowledge on sewing because mastering the basics can be done at home. All you have to do is to browse through the free tutorial videos available online. Here are the simple stitches you may start with:

1. RUNNING OR STRAIGHT STITCH

The easiest and the simplest of all the stitches in this list is the running stitch, otherwise known as the straight stitch. This stitch involves taking the needle repeatedly under then over. You shall see the thread forming a line throughout the fabric. This is useful for repairing torn out parts of the pockets or sleeves.

2. WHIPSTITCH

Let us “up the ante” a little bit with the diagonal techniques of whipstitch. A whipstitch is typically used to sew to separate pieces of material together. It is perfect for altering or repairing trousers, sleeves, and jackets because it leaves nearly invisible traces of thread. Follow this video to learn about the fascinating whipstitch:

3. SEW A BUTTON

A usual situation that needs immediate repair is clothing that lacks buttons. Learning how to sew a button is quick and uncomplicated. The first thing you must do is to choose a suitable button and a matching thread. You may check if the manufacturer has included an additional button. Then, be guided by this short video:

4. SEW A HEM

From your table cloth to your boxers and gowns, hems are found on most common articles of clothing and fabric. This is why it is important for you to be familiarizing on how to sew a hem in case yours gets loose or in case you want to make your own. You can either use a catch stitch (i.e., exposed) or a slip stitch (i.e., invisible) to sew a hem. Learn how to make these two stitches, here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMqK-fNrCrM

Sources: 1 & 2

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