The Stingy Mommy
Fashion Forward February: And Everything Else
by Amy Brayfield
February 24, 2009
All this month, we’re looking at ways to make the lifespan of your child's clothes stretch a little longer.
Reconstructing clothes can be as simple as adding an appliqué to cover a stubborn stain or as complicated as ripping a top apart at the seams to recreate it anew. Whether you’re an adventurous sewer or just a mom looking to salvage a favorite pair of jeans, I hope these ideas will inspire you to try a little reconstruction of your own.
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Amy Brayfield is a cheapskate, and she's not afraid to admit it. In addition to torturing her children by not taking them to McDonald's every day, she writes about parenting and family topics for various national and local magazines. She lives happily in the Midwest with her husband and two children.
Column Archive
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Holiday Helper: Presents for Pets
by Amy Brayfield
December 9, 2008, 12:00 amI hadn’t planned to do a column about pet presents, but I found so many good ideas for gifts for our fur babies that I wanted to share. Not to mention the fact that I think my daughter was more excited about making presents for her favorite cat than for almost anyone else. Read More
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Holiday Helper: T-Shirt Pillow
by Amy Brayfield
December 2, 2008, 12:00 amSince money's tight this holiday, we've been looking for ways to reuse stuff we already have. Then it hit me: those ancient T-shirts would make pretty groovy throw pillows! Read More
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Holiday Helper: Pretty Picture Frame
by Amy Brayfield
November 25, 2008, 12:00 amGrandparents are suckers for cute pictures of their grandchildren. Hereâs an easy way to make pretty picture frames that are perfect for holiday giving. My daughter and I whipped up a batch of these for each of her grandparents plus a couple of extras in just a few hours. Once you get going, theyâre a breeze to mass produce. Read More
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Holiday Helper: Make Soap Cubes
by Amy Brayfield
November 20, 2008, 2:18 pmHandmade soaps are surprisingly easy to make, and they're a perfect holiday gift that looks totally impressive (even though you hardly had to do anything). Read More
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Holiday Helper: Embellished Tote Bag
by Amy Brayfield
November 11, 2008, 12:00 amEnter the homemade gift: An idea whose time has (once again) come. This year, weâre encouraging our daughter to make, not buy, all of her presents, and I thought Iâd share some of our favorites here with you. These are easy to do â you can knock them out in a weekend â and not lame. Most people will really like receiving them, and your child (and you) can be proud of giving something she made herself. Read More
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Holiday Helper: Turn Your To-Do List Into an Advent Calendar!
by Amy Brayfield
November 3, 2008, 7:01 pmI confess: I am not a fan of the holiday season. I hate when things are crazy hectic and I hate spending money we don’t have, and the holidays are pretty much the season when both of those things seem inevitable. Read More
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Make It, Don't Buy It: Trick-or-Treat Bag
by Amy Brayfield
October 28, 2008, 12:00 amMy mom used to give us old pillowcases to tote our Halloween booty, but I think I can do a little better than that. Here’s the easiest drawstring bag pattern in the world —you only need to cut one piece of fabric, and you’re good to go! Read More
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Make Recycled Paper
by Amy Brayfield
October 24, 2008, 12:00 amLet me start by saying that I had every intention of taking those old newspapers to the recycling center when I started stacking them in the garage. But when my 6-year-old decided to point out the resemblance they bore to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, I had to admit the truth: I didn't have a recycling pile. I had a modern art installation where my car ought to be. Read More
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