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Hometalk is where people share and help with everything home & garden

Cristin Frank

Blogger | Buffalo, NY http://www.eveofreduction.com
79 Followers 303Likes 1740 Shares
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About Me:

Hi, I'm Cristin Frank, In 2009, I founded The Eve of Reduction, a lifestyle movement encompassing consumption control, simple living and upcycling. My message is clear. "Use your talents and creativity to find personal satisfaction. I will be presenting at the Buffalo Home Show in March on the subject of furniture upcycling. This presentation will also introduce my new book, Living Simple, Free & Happy, which is launching nationally that month. Eve of Reduction's platform continues to attract media attention. My story and projects have been featured in Money Magazine, FamilyFun Magazine, NPR Marketplace Money, CNNMoney.com, HGTV.com, eHow and Apartment Therapy.

Favorite area of home improvement:

I love furniture upcycling, and the challenge of making something useful and beautiful from what is otherwise trash or clutter.


Recent Activity


How to Make Braided Easter Eggs from Eve of Reduction

These Braided Easter Eggs are made from recycled water bottles and fabric scraps.

Supplies: ...»

Assorted Fabric totaling approx. ½ yard

(small egg will require approx. 54" of braided fabric, 74" for the medium egg and 100" for the large egg. These measurements are just to give you an idea of length, be sure to wrap a tape measure around your egg templates and plan accordingly)

Glue Gun (Please note that a lower powered glue gun is preferable since the super guns will melt the packing tape and could effect the thin plastic from the 12oz water bottles.)

1 24oz plastic water bottle

2 12oz plastic water bottles

Large Plastic Easter Egg (approx 2.75" in height)

Iron (optional)

Sewing machine

Click on the link for the full tutorial:

Cristin Frank
Cristin Frank Buffalo, NY on Mar 01, 2013
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  • Easter Ideas
  • "Egg"cellent Easter Ideas!
  • Easter

2 DIY Easter Decorations to "Chick" out

Braided Chick and fabric yo-yo chick project are easy, fun crafts for Easter. On the braided chick, use fabric scraps, a plastic egg, googly eyes and pipe cleaners. The ends of the braid ...»
make the beak and the tail!

Visit the link for both tutorials:

Cristin Frank
Cristin Frank Buffalo, NY on Mar 01, 2013
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  • Spring has Sprung

Eco Alternative to Plastic Easter Eggs

I was just at the grocery store looking for Jelly Bellies to put in my kids' Easter Baskets. Holy cow, I did not realize it cost $5 for a little box. So, onward I moved into the bulk ...»
section where they were 1/2 the price per pound. But what to do about a container for them? I personally think it's annoying to dig through basket grass to find each jelly bean.

The obvious choice would be those plastic eggs that are super cheap - and that will never biodegrade and like I said are cheap so it's not like you're going to decorate with them.

My eureka moment hit when I came up to my office and visited my craft supplies.

I decided to make containers out of my toilet paper tubes.

Click here for how-to instructions for making pillow boxes out of toilet paper tubes:

Cristin Frank
Cristin Frank Buffalo, NY on Mar 01, 2013
1 Comment | Post Comment | 194 Views
  • Sharon @ mrs. hines class
    Sharon @ mrs. hines class on Mar 01, 2013
    how innovative! I love this idea.
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  • Cool toilet paper storage

Mouthwash dispenser

I'm sure this has been done before, but I wanted to share anyway.

I was tired of looking at the ugly, clunky Listerine bottle on my sink top. ...»

I picked up this soap/lotion dispenser (plastic) for around $3 at Walmart. It looks nice and takes up less space. Even my husband who rarely notices things in the house, said it works nicely and controls the amount of mouthwash you want in your cup better.

Diane S
Diane S Wantagh, NY
21 Comments | Post Comment | 5201 Views
  • Cristin Frank
    Liked on Feb 14, 2013
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  • Things I need to try
  • Clever idea

Wish I could make it to the Buffalo Garden Walk (yes in Buffalo, NY) July 30 and 31, 350 gardens open for tour-

http://gardenwalkbuffalo.com
Erica Glasener
Erica Glasener Atlanta, GA
1 Comment | Post Comment | 43 Views
  • Cristin Frank
    Liked on Feb 13, 2013
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Lisa D Petticoat Junktion Redheadcandecorate.com Linda @ it all started with paint House on the Way - Leslie Marty's Musings
  • Cristin Frank
    Followed 6 people on Feb 13, 2013
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Stripping Oak is Tough but Worth It

The only other furniture restoration project that's taken longer than this one had 7 layers of paint on it. That's why when I accessed this job with one layer of paint, I thought it would ...»
be a breeze. Wrong. Oak slurps down paint and it's very difficult to strip. Do I sound like I'm whining? Take a look at the before and after photos and you'll see how happy I am.

Click the link for cost, hours and work in progress photos. After all, if you're going to restore furniture, you want to do it right because good quality dressers can potentially last forever. This one is 90+ years old.

Cristin Frank
Cristin Frank Buffalo, NY on Feb 13, 2013
7 Comments | Post Comment | 618 Views
  • Barbara
    Barbara on Feb 19, 2013
    This is so pretty! Hard work, but very rewarding.
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  • With Liv n Barb in Mind
  • Cool Projects
  • Furniture
  • Side of old crib used for upcycling
  • Quilt rack made from upcycled crib 1

Upcycling: from Crib to Quilt Rack

Today, I'm talking about how I made a DIY quilt rack from the rung of an old crib. This came about because I went to a cute, roadside diner that had the sweetest quilts hanging on the ...»
wall and I left there wanting a hanging quilt.

I worked from the side of the crib to make the quilt rack. As you can guess I could make like 14 racks if I wanted to. And, actually I did make a rack for my neighbor, which she is using as a scarf rack. Click the link for instructions on how to repurpose a crib bar and reuse it for decorative hanging purposes.

Cristin Frank
Cristin Frank Buffalo, NY on Feb 10, 2013
4 Comments | Post Comment | 1371 Views
  • Eddie B.
    Eddie B. on Feb 17, 2013
    The wire frame spring support for the mattress can also be repurposed in the garden for ...»
    growing pole beans and other vining vegetables.

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  • D Y ideas
  • Mantel Madness
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  • An attractive baffle close to a window or patio provides instant privacy. 6
  • A baffle - or series of baffles - provides inexpensive, instant privacy. 5

Creating Backyard Privacy

Sometimes a tree or additional shrubbery doesn't cut it when you're looking to add privacy to your outdoor space. Felder Rushing share his suggestions when you're dealing with a small ...»
space. #yard #landscape

HGTVGardens
HGTVGardens Atlanta, GA
14 Comments | Post Comment | 12581 Views
  • Cristin Frank
    Liked on Feb 08, 2013
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  • A garden hose, small terracotta pots, and gloves for a "bow" 1
  • Double doors..double the wreaths
  • "Bee Happy" 1

A Garden Hose Wreath!

I received so much attention with this #ProudestDIY project of wreaths made of garden hoses and vintage garden tools and brought ...»
lots of attention from neighbors too!..What are on your doors!!...Hoses?...

Shirley@Housepitality Designs
Shirley@Housepitality Des... Chapel Hill, NC
42 Comments | Post Comment | 7530 Views
  • Cristin Frank
    Clipped on Feb 08, 2013 to For the Garden
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