Consumerist
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diy
How To Ruin Your Jeans On The Cheap
If there's one thing my grandmother and I agree on, aside from the fact that Marlena being possessed was a dumb storyline on Days of Our Lives, it's that it makes no sense to pay top dollar for deliberately weakened/damaged denim. The ConsumerReports blog ShopSmart has found a website that offers tips on how to distress your jeans at home, like using a pumice stone to cut holes, or a cheese grater to create patterns.
"Site of the Week: Jeans and Accessories" [ShopSmart]
(Photo: rileyroxx) -
this exists
99-Cent Cardboard iPhone Case Won't Make You Awesome
If you think 99 cents is a fair price to pay for the latest fart-simulator or "Are You a Moron?" quiz in Apple's App Store, Case-Mate has a deal for you. The company's Recession iPhone case is made from 100% cardboard, and sells for 99 cents — with free shipping included. Case-Mate doesn't claim that the case is actually useful in any traditional sense of that word; the FAQ for the product makes it clear that there's no warranty, it doesn't include any kind of screen protector, and that it's flammable "if you light it on fire." More » -
diy
Now You Can Crochet Your Own Snuggies At Home
If a Snuggie is just a blanket with sleeves, doesn't it follow that as the crazed hybrid of a blanket and a sweater, it makes an ideal crochet project? One yarn manufacturer thinks so, and has released a free pattern which, coincidentally, requires at least $21 worth of their cheap acrylic yarn. More » -
manure
Make It Yourself
If you really want to claim the title of the most do-it-yourself Consumerist reader, you will grab this book (free PDF) and learn from it. Just don't come back here and post about it in the comments.
"The Humanure Handbook" [CoolTools]
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diy
How To Cook A Meal In Your Hotel Room
We've never looked at a hotel's bathroom counter and thought, "I could probably roll out some dough right there." We've also never tried to use an iron for a hot plate, or shoved uncooked spinach into the coffee maker. But now that we've watched this proof of concept video from George Egg, we may consider going grocery shopping the next time we're stuck in a hotel with an overpriced room service menu. More » -
roll your own
"I Make My Own Bathroom Gag Gifts"
Twice this week, our Morning Deals post has featured a link to Tinkles the Toilet Cat, which surprisingly has still not sold out. ("It's the lowest price we've seen for a toilet cat by $4," writes dealnews.) We underestimated the ingenuity of shoppers, it looks like: Todd sent us this picture from his girlfriend's incredibly frugal brother, who makes his own Tinkles. Or, uh, something like that.
Todd adds, "Yes, it is actually using the toilet."
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what would macgyver do?
Make Your Own Green, Cheap Cleaning Products
When McGyver wants to clean his kitchen, he doesn't need any fancy Clorox or 409. Give him some baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice and he'll create a clean-up bonanza of the likes the world has never seen. And he'll catch seven bad guys and utter a catch-phrase quip, all before the commercial break. More » -
how to
Make Your Own Sports Drink
Why waste money on Gatorade when you can brew an equally effective sports drink from sugar, lemon juice, salt and orange juice? Hit the jump for the simple, inexpensive recipe. More » -
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weddings
1.3 Mile Long Wedding Dress Shows China Is Ready For Gross Consumerism, Too!
A Chinese bride recently walked down the aisle wearing a 7,083-foot-long wedding dress that took 200 guests over three hours to unfurl. The $5,800 dress could be a sign of China's potential to threaten America's reigning status as the capital of gross consumerism, if only the bridegroom hadn't personally designed the dress with his family's help. Explaining the lavish garment, he said: "I do not want a cliche wedding parade or banquet." More » -
farming
Should You Keep Your Own Chickens?
We're gonna say "nope." But since we're all here, let's look at the recent New York Times article over the subject and consider whether the current "chicken boomlet" is right for you. More » -
how to
Make Your Own Pretreater and Stain Remover
Using little more than leftover soap slivers, baking powder, and hydrogen peroxide, you can brew up a powerful potion to get that damn sauce stain off your brand new shirt. Inside, Tipnut's easy recipes for pretreater and stain remover. More » -
om nom nom
Make, Serve, And Preserve Your Own Homemade Ice Cream
Ice cream makers may not be worthless pieces of junk, but they're not absolutely necessary, either. Check out this most delicious roundup of ice cream-related tips and projects from Lifehacker. Make your own ice cream in a plastic bag, keep your store-bought ice cream fresh, learn new scooping techniques, and turn strange-colored liquid medicine into a tasty hangover cure. And more! More » -
pretty
Fancy Fast Food Makes Your Favorite Junk Into Eye Candy
We're really intrigued by Fancy Fast Food, which takes standard fast food items and, using only those ingredients, transforms them into something approaching haute cuisine. The recipes are available on the site if you want to try at home. (Pictured above: the Tacobellini) -
Tired of Big Sunscreen profiting from your love of the outdoors? Instructables shows you how to make your own sunscreen, with a few fun ingredients and some safety equipment. Alternately, sunscreen-ify your favorite premade lotion by adding zinc oxide or titanium oxide. (Via Lifehacker)
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clothes
Repair Your Tattered Rags With Office Supplies!
Wise Bread tells us that office supplies can quickly and easily help patch-up ailing garments. In a hurry, staples can save skirts and cardigans by holding together fragile hems and clasps. Markers can even be tasked to help clear scuff marks from leather shoes. Still, it never hurts to stash an extra set of shoes and accessories in the office, just in case your repair calls for more than just office supplies. How do you fix your clothes in a pinch? Share your secrets in the comments.
Cheap and Easy Repairs for Wardrobe Malfunctions [Wise Bread]
(Photo: Tengaport) -
diy
Want To Learn How To Make It Yourself? Visit Homegrown Evolution
HomegrownEvolution.com is sort of a simplified Instructables for people interested in "mead making, beer brewing, bread baking, urban poultry raising, container planting, pirate gardening, foraging, pickling," and more, according to Cool Tools. We have a feeling "pirate gardening" isn't as fun as it sounds. More » -
diy
Award Your Own Golden Poo To That Special Company In Your Life
We tallied the votes and awarded the coveted Golden Poo trophy to AIG, winners of Worst Company in America 2009. However, we're all about empowering the consumer. If there's a company in your life that you feel deserves a Golden Poo of its own, though not on the epic scale of AIG, ThinkGeek has you covered. Order your own tiny golden poo charm for just such an occasion. Carry a pocketful and award them as needed! Attach one to your cell phone for good luck the next time you call the cable company! The possibilities are endless. [ThinkGeek] (Thanks, Adam!) Edit: ThinkGeek is now sold out. For an wide selection of poo bling, look here.
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diy
Recycle Old CDs Into An iPhone or iPod Dock
Do you have a dozen or so unusable CDs or DVDs lying around, some glue and tools, and a burning need for a cool-looking iPod or iPhone dock? Geeky Gadgets can show you how to combine all of these things into a functional, and fashionably recycled, gadget.
DIY: Recycled CD iPhone Dock [Geeky Gadgets] (via Lifehacker)
diy
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Mon Nov 9
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