TGIF! Maggie Bags loves Pinterest and each Friday we bring you the coolest pins we saw for the week. This week we are rounding up the most repinned Easter pins. Glow in the Dark Easter Eggs - Wrap up a glow stick and put inside your plastic eggs! Have an Easter egg hunt at night to really change things up. I found the how-to on these here.                                                                             Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs - These would look gorgeous in a center piece!.. Read More »

  I’ve always thought of gardening as a seasonal activity. Plant in spring, harvest summer into fall, let the ground rest in winter. But this year my husband Bob has proven that year-round gardening is possible. Are you ready to make this the year you have veggies to harvest every day? I will confess that I’m not the green thumb of our family--Bob is. He orchestrates; I assist. We’re by no means master gardeners, and yet our small garden produces HUGE amounts of food.  If you’re just getting started, check out this post from my friend and fellow blogger Gabrielle... Read More »

  TGIF! For all you Pinterest fanatics out there, here's the coolest stuff we saw on Pinterest this week! DIY Doily Painted Lightbulbs - Cover a light bulb with a doily and spray paint it. The light will shine the pattern onto the walls. Upcycling Soda Cans - A great video tutorial on what you can do with soda cans.  Wow! I bet you can find a ton of uses for those cans now!                        Fix a Too-Small T-Shirt - Brilliant! You can take those too-small t-shirts and add a panel in the side. Also works.. Read More »

  TGIF! Here are the coolest things we saw on Pinterest this week. How to Spray Paint and Glaze Furniture - This is a great tutorial on how to prepare and spray paint furniture. This desk only took two cans of spray paint!   Refrigerate or Room Temp? - This is a quick way to see which vegetables and fruit to keep room temperature and which you should refrigerate. Store your produce correctly so it lasts as long as possible!   Toilet Paper Roll Holder - Filed under "why didn't I think of that?" This toilet paper roll holder made.. Read More »

  It's a rainy Friday here in Tennessee, so how about some cool pins to brighten things up? Here are the coolest pins we saw on Pinterest this week. DIY Travel Pouches - Filed under "why didn't I think of that" and great for on-the-go! Made using straws and a lighter to burn the ends together. You could use this for antibiotic ointment, toothpaste, beauty cream - the possibilities are endless. Label with a sharpie and you're ready to travel!  Top 10 Manners Your Kids Should Know by the Age of 5 - A great and quick read from EverydayFamily.com.. Read More »

  TGIF! Here's the coolest stuff we saw on Pinterest this week that you should definitely check out!   Make a Cardigan from an Old Sweater - I don't wear a lot of pullover sweaters anymore but I do wear a lot of cardigans! This tutorial shows you how to take those old sweaters and make them into cardigans! Recycled Computer Keyboards - How cool! These are pen/pencil holders made from recycled keyboards! For the geek in all of us... Best Exercises for Your Pooch - As a yoga practitioner I can attest that these will really make your abs.. Read More »

Winter is in full swing and the little ones would love to get outside and play, but it’s just too cold in most places! Chilly temperatures limit everything, including going out for dinner and shopping! As the temperatures fall, there are challenges that come with finding indoor activities to keep the kids occupied. Let it Snow…Inside!  There are so many fun winter craft ideas available online to help keep little ones happy! Do you remember making snowflakes as kids? That’s right, the paper ones! If you are craft-challenged or just want to keep things clean and in order, this is.. Read More »

  Snow globes bring such wonder and sparkle to our Holidays I wonder why we don't make them for every season, oh wait its the snow part isn't it? Let's start calling them Glitter Globes then we can have them out all the time! I tried making snow globe ornaments last year and needless to say they were gorgeous, but much to heavy for my little Charlie Brown Christmas tree. After making this Snow Glob your home or office will surely we filled with joy and maybe even rainbows like mine. (I think its the holographic glitter that creates this.. Read More »

Maggie Bags Giveaways on Pinterest If you are not already following Maggie Bags on Pinterest, you’re missing out on tons of stuff, including all the giveaways we are participating in! Below are some of the giveaways that are ending soon, so enter today! Just click through the images below to take you to the giveaway site. Ends 12/7/12                                       Ends 12/10/12                             Ends 12/10/12                                                                              Ends 12/11/12                                   .. Read More »

I grew up in a town of 350 folks where it seemed everybody knew my name and we all exchanged holiday gifts. I say gifts, but my mother called the smaller, homemade projects “happies.” From teachers to neighbors, from babysitters to mailmen, I carry on her tradition of homemade holiday happies. These gifts were DIY before we called it that and they were wonderful expressions of each person’s talents. Neighbors made pound cake, pickles, hot spice tea mix, pepper jelly, soup, banana bread, fudge, cheese straws, honey, cocoa mix, shortbread, and all kinds of cookies. My mother made huge batches.. Read More »

Inventive Eco Gift Wrap Solutions When it comes to the holidays I don't mind the big crowds, long lines, or even driving in circles around the parking lot. It's not the gift buying, but rather the gift wrapping that gets me feeling a bit frazzled each year. On top of being a mom of four, I have a huge extended family and every year I find myself dreading wrapping all of those presents. Oh how I wish I had a family who would appreciate the gift of a charitable donation in their name, but since that's not the case I've vowed to make gift.. Read More »

All-Natural Face Paint  Halloween is just around the corner and the kids are all excited! Everyone is talking about what costumes the kids will chose, what candy they will pass out and what decorations they’ll hang. Why not add in some great, simple ideas to make your Halloween as eek-o-friendly as possible? It’s far easier than you could ever imagine!                                 When it comes to costumes, being “green” is incredibly easy! Not only is it easy, but its fun to set up a costume swap with a local parenting group. You can trade.. Read More »

It sure smells good in here... With fall upon us, it’s not as easy to simply open the windows and air the house out. We’ve been having some pretty chilly days here so it’s time to freshen up the house in other ways. When you purchase air fresheners or candles many times you don’t know what is in them that could be harmful to your family. Why not go with natural air fresheners that you can make right in your home and without spending a lot of money? One of the simplest ways to naturally freshen your home is with.. Read More »

DIY: Tie Dyeing with the Natural Dye Turmeric! Anyone that has ever made a curry from scratch and gotten some on their apron knows turmeric is an incredible natural dye. Today I will show you how to purposefully dye fabric with this rich natural pigment. I'll also show you how to tie dye a heart shape design! Once you've purchased the turmeric and have dyed to your hearts content you may be wondering what else you can do with this root that has such a colorful history. One can add turmeric to food for it is excellent in reducing joint.. Read More »

Recycled Candles! Collect wax from your old candles and reuse them to make new scented candles with the changing of the seasons or give them as a gift.   What you'll need: Candle Wick cut to fit your jar Jar or Candle Mold Essential Oil you like Ladle Cloth and Rubber band to sift dust and old wicks from used wax   I found this jar at my local co-op and thought it was the perfect reusable candle container, but you can use anything you can think of: an old tea cup, soup can, mason jar, etc. 1. Melt your.. Read More »

Clean well! By now you probably know I am all about D.I.Y. As a creative person it is empowering and over time living on a budget can allow for those dream vacations to finally manifest. So to help you arrive on that sunny distant shore in good health and with ease I though I'd share this simple lavender dish washing liquid recipe with you. Here is what you will need: 3 Tablespoons Lavender Castile Soap 2 Tablespoons White Vinegar 2 teaspoons vegetable glycerin 2 Cups warm water 10 drops Lavender essential oil Simply combine all ingredients in a jar and.. Read More »

Creative Garden Watering Rain Barrels are a great way to go even more green with your garden. I love them and think everyone with a garden should have one. They capture rain fall and allow you to water your plants as needed without costing you a penny. I know my plants look happier and grow more after the rain vs. when I water them with tap water from a hose. That being said rain barrels are easy to make or purchase and fun to decorate with your family, and add a special personalized touch to your home and garden. To.. Read More »

Denim to Jewelry There are so many creative ways to repurpose materials and create something new.  Cindy Thai a YouTube fashion blogger shared a great idea to upcylce a pair of jeans to create capri pants, and two bracelets.  Check it out.   I would love to hear what creative ideas you have to upcycle.   Stay tuned for a Maggie Bags review by Cindy next week! Reuse, repurpose, recycle!  ~Kerri Find Maggie Bags on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheMaggieBags/featured Find Cindy on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/xangelx001  http://www.youtube.com/user/indefinitelycindy  Read More »

D.I.Y. Instant Summer Accessories: Maggie Bags Bracelet? Yes, I said it. Think outside the box, get creative! Just because someone says its a shoelace doesn't mean its only a shoelace. It's a belt, tourniquet, hair accessory, cat toy, tool for tie dying, braid them into friendship bracelets, let your imagination run WILD! It's not about shoelaces it's about re-imagining materials and what they can become. Think tire-swing. This is exactly how Maggie Bags came to be. We had a surplus of raw material that would otherwise go to landfills so we let our imagination take flight and came up with.. Read More »

 Toothbrush Bracelet Dentists recommend changing your toothbrush every three months. What are we to do with our old toothbrushes? Well, I'm glad you asked! Follow the simple instructions below to have yourself in the know about how to make an upcycled eco-chic accessory this summer. Tools: Old toothbrush Needle nose pliers Small towel Pot for boiling water large enough to fit toothbrush Bowl of cool water Here's my old toothbrush. It's pretty fabulous to begin with being gold and glittery and all. When buying your new toothbrush consider, 'will this make an attractive bracelet in three months?' Step One: Begin.. Read More »