Tipnut’s Weekly Update: {October 24th, 2012}
71 Comments 
It’s time for Tipnut’s Update where each week free projects and tips are handpicked from around the web for you to review. Today you’ll find DIY Chocolate Gems, Braided Suede Bracelets, Vintage Sheet Pajama Bottoms, Basketweave Mug Sweaters, Dried Banana Peel Fertilizer Shakes (for plants) and a whole bunch more…Enjoy!
Quick Notes Before Getting Started:
This will be the first time in years that I haven’t added new projects to the DIY Halloween site…I’m sorry but the clock ran out on me this time and I just couldn’t make it happen. I hope to do better for the upcoming holidays!
You’ll notice the introduction has changed for the weekly updates…I’ll be highlighting a few project updates instead of just announcing new Tipnut articles (if there are any for the week). I think it’s more interesting this way and gives a nice peek at what you’ll find.
A Tipnut.com Milestone
The first post on tipnut.com was published in October, 2006…as of this month the site has been online for a full 6 years and now working its way to 7!
The first few months (2006/2007) I was busy uploading my recipes and tips for things like Homemade Laundry Detergent and Dishwasher Detergent…DIY Febreeze, Fabric Softeners and nifty ways to clean things like Microwaves, fix Wood Table Stains or make things like Microwaveable Heating Bags, Playdough and Vanilla Extract.
No one was blogging about this stuff six years ago. Back then no one was compiling themed craft collections and lists or Recipe Hit Lists, at least not regularly…and now they’re everywhere on all kinds of sites (including more “Tip” this-or-that sites than you can shake a stick at, lol).
I see the Crafts/DIY/Creative niche as getting dangerously close to “boring” because there’s so much replication but there are two positive things happening as a result which I find exciting:
People are now talking about things like DIY laundry detergent, oven cleaner and freezing eggs (and actually making/doing/trying…this kind of stuff is no longer “fringe” activity!). Yes I was looked at sideways by a few people back in the day 
.
It’s also more fruitful today to create new content and blog new ideas than it was years ago. Many truly talented people are lesser known bloggers but there’s a much easier time nowadays gaining exposure because of all the linking going on (from sites like this one).
==> When true originators in a niche are supported and allowed to flourish, expect great things!
Please ask your favorite blogs to share tutorials/articles from other sites by linking to them instead of re-writing them and taking new photos in an effort to gain ownership of the info (keeping readers on their own blogs). It’s something I’ve learned is so important…and I know from the notes I’ve received from many appreciative bloggers, this practice will help save good, promising sites from shutting down or being abandoned.
==> For those that are new to blogging, the best way to share a great idea is to just give a “summary” and a link to the full tutorial. If you provide all the how-to information, then readers don’t have a reason to click over to the person who was generous enough to share the idea in the first place. If we want fresh, “new” ideas and projects to be consistently offered in our favorite niches, let’s support those who try to give us that.
What started out with just me and then gradually a handful of readers has now boomed and blossomed with over 2,250,000 people a month referring to this site for a variety of reasons: needing help with a cough, or how to cook something, boost a battery or wanting a little inspiration for making all kinds of creative crafts and thousands of other reasons (including just popping in to check out what’s new on Wednesdays). I thought last year’s record of just over a million visitors a month was unbeatable…how wrong I was since that doubled in less than a year!
There’s a certain “secret sauce” here on Tipnut that no one’s cracked yet (thankfully), but one vital ingredient that I don’t mind disclosing: Link freely and generously, be fair and the internet will respond somehow, some way, in kind. It’s old school ‘net. And although new content creation has slowed a bit here on Tipnut, the show’s not over. Not by a long shot. I have much, much more to upload and publish…it’s just going to take some time.
I have a promotional/marketing budget of exactly $0, a style of writing that can be cringe-worthy, there’s no Facebook page, no blogging buddies to count on for links or buzz and no gorgeous KitchenAid mixers, sunny vacations or sparkly jewelry to give away in return for “likes” and “votes” and “tweets” and whatever else is expected for a chance of winning a prize. What I do have: Very faithful and supportive readers that can’t be beat! And I wouldn’t have it any other way 
. Incredibly, there are still many subscribers from early 2007 (when I first added the email subscription option), that’s over 5 years ago!
I can’t express how grateful I am for all that so many of you have done over the years to support this site (THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU). The response to my collection of tips and recipes has been so warm, I simply wanted to share with whoever found them helpful. Who knew so many would be interested in the type of content I have been able to cobble together here on Tipnut!
Now onto this week’s finds!
Oldies But Goodies
tipnut.com
tipnut.com
tipnut.com
Random Web Wanderings
*Click images to view (these are for newsletter readers and are not added to project pages here on Tipnut unless noted otherwise)
brettbara.com
chasingdelicious.com
feathersflights.com
Project Sheet Updates
Ready to check out the project updates added to the site collections this week? Here you go…
*How it works: click on the images to access the direct link to the project itself, click the text links underneath to view the project pages here on Tipnut that they’ve been added to.
thecraftedsparrow.blogspot.ca
marthastewart.com
somethingturquoise.com
marrylallwrite.com
handmadecharlotte.com
agirlwhomakes.com
maker-land.blogspot.com.au
heatherlyloves.com
chichideehandmade.blogspot.ca
bhg.com
duckyhouse.typepad.com
maycieafterfive.com
a-crochet-ninja.blogspot.ca
crochetvolution.com
lovestitches.blogspot.ca
cascadeyarns.blogspot.ca
charmstitch.com
jennihodges.wordpress.com
estherscardcreations.blogspot.c
family.go.com
balancingeverything.com
These are exclusive to newsletter readers and are not added to Tipnut’s project pages unless otherwise noted. Click the images to view details.
mommybydaycrafterbynight.com
korenainthekitchen.com
bluebirdgardens.com
preparednotscared.blogspot.ca
premeditatedleftovers.com
marthastewart.com
That’s it for today, I’ll have a fresh batch of goodies for you to check out next Wednesday. Enjoy your week!
PS: Did you miss last week’s update? No worries, you’ll find it here: October 17th, 2012.
I would like to Thank You for all of your hard work in putting together and keeping this site up. I go to this site first before going to something else. THANK YOU.
Total agreement, this is my go to site when I want a pattern, recipe, or solutions to some cleaning problem. Glad it is here and hope that it remains around for a long long time. It is the only site that I forward to friends and family, Thanks for providing a quality product.
I so look forward to Wednesdays! Thank you for taking the time out of your life to put this site together! I know when I need a tip for something I can turn here first and usually I find exactly what I’m looking for. So much inspiration and knowledge in one spot!
Thank you!
My Wednesdays are not complete until I see your helpful and dazzing updates. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
I’m not from back in your beginning days by a long shot , but I have to say I LOVE coming here. I find something to do off your site each and every time
And SO much catching up to do too! LOL
It’s very appreciated!!!
Keep up the grrrrrreat work!!!
Thank you so much for your had work over nearly 7 years! kisses from Ireland x
*hard*
Yes, you are my Wednesday go-to also. Thanks for your work.
Never mind facebook or any of the “fancy” things other people think are needed. We love what you are doing. I found you in the begining because my sister shared quite some time ago and I have shared many of the things I have found here with family and friends. Keep it up.
Thursday here in Australia when I get to open your mail! It is my favourite go to site for all my creative needs. Thank you for Tipnut!
Happy blogging anniversary! I thoroughly enjoy your Wednesday line-up and have found so many new blogs to enjoy. Thank you for all your hard work!
Thank you so much for all that you do to make TipNut such a wonderful site.
Hugs
Love your blog it really is my go to place for hints tips and how to’s. Every Wednesday after supper my coffee and Tipnut’s Weekly Update..Thanks for all the work you do, it is admirable and greatly appreciated.
i really look forward to wednesday nights to read tipnuts update.Thanks for all the tips and ideas many thanks love from Ireland
Thank goodness it WED. Look forward to your post as it so easy to use and helpful! Thank you!
Thanks so much for doing this. I found the site abut a year ago and always look forward to reading all your hints. I am amazed at how generous you and many others are in sharing knowledge. What did we do before the Internet and all of you
I love getting this update everyweek! It really makes my Wednesday! I share alot of your stuff on my account on Pinterest! And it all links back here! See you next week!
I had a look at this tip link, but honestly, I think it’s not quicker than using my usual method of drawing around the tin. Folding paper into square, then points, then putting in in middle of tin, drawing on it and finally cutting is definitely a lot more fiddly and won’t result in better results. So thanks for the option, but I’m happy to continue with my old ways
Thank you for all you do. I search Tipnut every time I need something crafty or home made.
Thanks again.
Thank you I know this is real work for you. I am always delighted to see your email on Wednesdays. Happy Anniversary!!!
Back at ya, Tipnut!! T.G.I.W.! And Happy Anniversary from a new fan!
Happy Anniversary! I look forward to your weekly emails, thank you so much.
Happy Anniversary and thank you for all your hard work. Thursday’s (I’m in New Zealand) become my favourite day of the week, Tipnut is always the 1st place I look if I need a home made solution for something around the house or for gifts.
Thank you thank you thank you
I wish I could say that I have been with you since 2007, but I only found you by chance last year or so. I have happily told everyone I know about your site. I look forward to Wednesdays when there is a new or not so new update – The old or the new are all great !! I adored the vintage apron patterns and have made several of them. Tipnut is my place to go when looking for recipes, craft ideas or just general to do ideas. You are so generous with sharing your knowledge – Thank you Thank you, Happy Anniversary – may we all continue to share with you for years to come ! !
I’ve been following you for many years…..and I too want to thank you for all the fantastic hints & tips you send out! I’m so happy to SEE you in my inbox on Wednesday’s!!
Happy Anniversary!! And hope you have many, many more!!
Can´t thank you enough for sharing all these knowledge.
Happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary Tipnut! I love your site and I love how simple it is to use. I prefer it over blog-style sites. I don’t mind when you don’t add new tips since I am sure I haven’t seen all the old ones yet anyway. I love how the tips get me to thinking about how to do things or use things that I would not have been curious about otherwise. You are doing a GREAT job and should be proud!
I’m a relative newbie here and I read your post with interest. So important to give credit where credit is due~hope folks will listen to their better angels..
You are an inspiration and your success is a direct result of all the good karma you’ve generated in the blogosphere. Happy 6th! Keep the good tips coming!
Thank you for this site. I certainly enjoy it and I have referred it to several of my friends that love it.
Thank you for all the great ideas. You are appreciated
I am new to this site but this is GREAT!!!!
Happy Anniversary! I love your site and I check it all the time whenever I need an idea or a suggestion on how to do something. Keep up the awesome work!
Congratulations and thank you for your pioneering work. I love Wednesdays when Tipnut comes around!
Congrats and Happy Anniversary to you! Your Great! I will repeat what most have been saying, your the first spot I go to if I need some info. on something or have a problem of some sort. Please keep up your good work. Love Love Love your emails on Wed. Thank you so much.
I,too, thank you for being my “Wednesday-go-to guy.”
Janet
This site is wonderful so many great ideas. Thank you so much
I love your tips, tricks, hints and recipes!!! Thanks you, thank you, thank you for coming into my life!!!! And I hope you’ll be around for a long time to come.
Happy Anniversary and Thank you for everything you’ve done and all you do now:) I look forward to reading all the tips and love to pass them along! You are awesome and I wish you many, many more years! ~Cheers~
CONGRATULATIONS on a job well done!! I thoroughly enjoy your site and appreciate the work involved in producing it. Thanks so very much for providing such a well-rounded resource. I love it, and always really enjoy browsing, even when I’m not in need of tips. Best wishes and Happy Anniversary.
Thank – you for all your hard work! I look forward to getting the weekly email and going through just about every link. So many interesting things to look at and try. Thanks again!
Happy Annniversary!! Looking forward to many more to come.
Thank You for the great work you do in gathering and “kobbling together” all these lifestyle goodies.I’ve been receiving your e-mail for some time now and always find an a-ha! trick in it somewhere. Good Job !!!
Congratulations!!! I look forward to your weekly email letting me know there are more tips ready. You do a great job and I hope you continue for a long time.
You very eloquently said what has been on my mind. I can’t tell you how discouraging it is for me to create an original recipe and then see several other people share my recipe on their blog almost word for word.
Thank you for sharing my tip for quickly dicing peppers for freezing!
I just wanted to say I’ve been with you a very long time and have enjoyed every issue. Where and how you find all the wonderful items you do is a marvel to me. I know I see ‘Tipnut.com’ show up in several of my craft links as a reference point for directions. I appreciate all you do and hope to have you around for a long time.
I wanted to thank you again for all the hard work and dedication you put into this site every week!
Tipnut is my “go to” site whenever I need inspirations, ideas, patterns, etc…
IMO, you’re the best site on the web!
Congratulations and keep up the fantastic work!
Happy aniversary and congratulations for this amazing site, I appreciate your generosity in puting all this together.
Congratulations on your 6 year anniversary and your massive growth from tiny beginnngs!I absolutely love Tipnut and your newsletter is the highlight of my week,I get it on Wednesday night(UK)and try to save it till Thursday morning to look at but often end up browsing through it at 11pm!You have such great tips,crafts and crochet patterns,not to mention natural alternatives for loads of chemical-ridden nasties.Appreciate your hard work so much,thank you!
Thank you and thank you again!
You have made my day and I sincerely thank you for the pingback. I checked my blog stats today and got a very nice surprise. My blog stats were so much higher than my usual day. This is so much better than being freshly pressed! This is very much appreciated! Happy Anniversary!
I usually go straight to the tips and don’t read the editorial that you write but this week I did this week. I just want to say thanks for what you do and i do look forward to the emails each week that you publish. I think that everyone of us is always ooooing and aaaaing the tips and even if we don’t use them, they do inspire us. happy anniversary.
I too am a saver of old magazine tips on anything free & useful. Have lots I’ve kept over the years. Just recently got tuned into your site, absolutely LOVE IT! Things I’ve seen & some new. Keep up the great work! Enjoy it when Thursday comes around & I have a new one to look at over my morning coffee. Gets me inspired to craft on something new or clean & even cook a new dish. Thank You!!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: I really enjoy your website, and have been for many years. The crafts and homemade, chemical-free remedies for most things you can think of, are indispensible!! THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND RESEARCH!!
Thank you so much. I have shared your website with everybody I know. My cousin wanted to know if I was a sponser:) My 30 year old daughter told me that this was her secret go to site for house stuff. My 29 year old daughter and my 18 year old son use it for craft DIY. We try very hard to consume less. My parents were children of the depression and the family motto was “Use it up, wear it, out mend it over, do with out”. Often, the wonderful bits of wisdom I find on your site remind me of something from my childhood. My parents were very “green” but we called it thrifty. I still have a jar from childhood that my dad put screws in. My daughters have each married men that think it is a waste of money to buy papertowels and will shop at thrift stores. Tradition! Your website helps carry that on. Thank you.
Who needs Facebook when we have Tipnut
proving once again that it’s all about the author and the content. You deserve a pat on the back for your great attitude towards sharing information and for all of your hard work. Congrats!
Happy Anniversary….can i just say also, yours is the BEST site…bar none….best organized…most helpful hints….just allround a great great site…i so look forward to it every wednesday…i can’t imagine how to improve it…thank you!!!!!!!!<3
I am new to your blog but certainly do appreciate all the great information you have gathered/linked and created yourself. I find it very helpful and a great site to repeatedly return to for all sorts of information and help with those pesky problems that sometimes call for just another twist on solving. Appreciate all your energy devoted to the site…Thank YOU… -r-
I love your site. Been making the homemade laundry soap and fabric softener ever since I came across you. I also post you site on the FB page to share with friends and family. So even if you are repeating some of your posts…..some of them are brand new to your new and newest readers.
Here’s to many many more years to come.
please do not stop even if you do not have new stuff or you repeat yourself for sometimes we need to hear/see things over and over to get it.
You make my Wednesdays…. thanks
Ditto on all the above comments. You’ve never let me down when I am looking for something. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. Thanks
Love, Love, Love this site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are by far my favourite blog site. I refer to you for all kinds of things, from gardening tips to recipes and everything in betwen.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
I always forward this site to my friend in Frankfurt, Germany who also enjoys it so much.
I live in a condo and need help making a coverlet for a small upright freezer
that sits in my dining room. can anyone help with ideas
thanks
Thanks Tipnut. You’re a favorite here at Taproot Farms in Chickaloon, Alaska !
Thanks!!! You’re the greatest!!! I always look forward to your site.
Thank you and happy anniversary! You’re a gem here in the Philippines!
Awesome site! I always find something new and interesting here. Thanks for all your hard work and Happy Anniversary
I look forward to your email each week and when I am busy or stressed I save it up like a lovely box of chocolates for a treat to cheer myself up!
Happy Anniversary! I too appreciate all that you do and the time it takes to put this site together! Thanks so much and here’s to another 6 or more!
Thank you! Your statement about not having glamorous vacations, KitchenAid mixers, giveaways…is a real encouragement to me as a beginning blogger. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. Your how-to. Most of all for being real.
I love this site and so look forward to Wednesdays!
Keep up the good work. Thanks for your hard work.
I am fairly new to this site. Have not found it boring at all. Thanks so much for all the neat stuff on it. I look forward to the Wednesdays also. And could get lost easily on this site for a couple of hours.