DIY Life

If you're a coupon-clipper, you'll know the challenges:

• how to keep those bits of paper, plastic, and cardboard from taking over your purse or the drawer in the kitchen,
  
• and how to develop a system that ensures they get used before they expire.

The super-helpful people at Tipnut have put together a list of suggestions that pretty much guarantee you'll find the system that will work for you, whatever your organizational style -- or lack thereof! You like the casual efficiency of envelopes? You can do that! You prefer an accordion file or a wallet, a card file or a binder? It's all there!

If you have a pacifier baby, then you know the panic of a lost binky. The soother clip has been a big rescue in our house. There is nothing interesting or attractive about it, but it works, so I'm a big fan. I hadn't considered making my own, but this tutorial shows how easy it can be.

The cool thing about doing it yourself is that you get ultimate authority over the style. This means no more tacky nylon straps and weak velcro. You could even make a few to match different little outfits. Once you've found the perfect ribbon, you'll also need Dritz Stay-Tape, velcro, hot glue, thread, and the pacifier clip. Follow the simple instructions, and you'll have a one-of-a-kind soother clip. I plan to make a few for myself and keep some on hand for baby shower gifts.

A secure clip lets you decide when it's time to give up the beloved soother (except of course if you opt for the cactus pacifier habit-breaking method).

I loved Maureen's post about making your own hair bows. With balloons and curling ribbon, she showed us how to make fun hair clips that any girl would adore. Here's the seasonal twist on homemade hair bows: The Christmas tree clip.

This little Christmas bow is one of the cutest things ever. I can just imagine how precious it would look in a little girl's hair. You can work together making it, she'll love to be the crafter and have even more fun showing it off to her friends. The instructions clearly illustrate how to make the Christmas clip. You'll attach it onto an alligator clip. I'm sure that you could modify it for any size clip depending on what you're looking for.

If you're looking to add a little extra flair this Christmas, or have a little girl on your Christmas list, make one of these sweet little pieces.

So, you need a safety pin. Now. You don't want to leave your office and find one. You're afraid that this wardrobe malfunction might land you in an even more embarrassing moment. Don't worry, if you have a paper clip on hand you'll be fine. I do wonder how well it works with the thickness of the clip and without a sharp point for entry. Still, I'm sure it would work until you find a suitable alternative, and it is a neat hack to have on hand. You never know when you might need a safety pin.

Grab a paper clip and a pair of pliers. Watch the video and follow along. It only takes a minute, and you'll be pretty impressed with your own handy-work and this useful transformation.

[via Lifehacker]

It's really not too difficult a task to trim your cat's claws if you know the techniques and have the right tool for the job. Problems often arise however, when kitty decides that claw trimming is not an acceptable game for the two of you to play. There are a number of things that you can do to make the endeavor easier on both you and your cat. First and foremost, you should review the proper techniques of claw trimming. You can find some nice pictorial assistance here from Cat-World.com and here from Washington State University College of veterinary medicine.

There are good ways to ease the stresses of claw trimming. First, you should begin trimming your cat's claws when it is just a little kitten. This way, kitty learns that having you handle its paws and feeling the slight tug on its claws is a natural thing. Believe it or not, the majority of cats appreciate having their claws trimmed after the task is done. Claw trimming reduces the incidence of claws get ting stuck in carpet and fabrics, meaning that your cat will have more comfortable paws overall.