Thursday, September 27, 2012

Cheap?


I prefer to think of myself as thrifty rather than cheap... after all, why spend $$$ on a template that you'll only use for one... maybe, two projects?  I'd rather spend that money on more fabric!


So... what's a thrifty girl do?   Yup, that's right....  math time!

First, I got one of the heavy cardboard backs I've saved from various tablets and legal pads.



After marking a 70 degree angle on one side and extending that line across the board...


...I did the same on the other sides of the cardboard.


Yup...that's looks good!   Next, using an old blade in my rotary cutter and my ruler...


I cut out the isosceles triangle!   Ta-da!

By taping the triangle to the back of my ruler, I will be able to cut out the Christmas trees for the table runner easily... and without investing $18 for a template!


What do you think?  Cheap or thrifty?







27 comments:

  1. I vote thrifty. Definitely thrifty!!

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  2. I call that smart!
    I think the template is the Daily Deal at the Missouri Star Quilt Company website today. But I see you already have one : )

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  3. Definitely thrifty! And, you can also make your template exactly how *you* want it! :o)

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  4. Definitely thrifty! Sometimes I think I quilters are folks who would like to work with puzzles...we love to figure out things like this :)

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  5. Thrifty! I would have done the same thing if I could figure it out!

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  6. Thrifty and very smart! Way to go!

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  7. Very smart and thrifty, I make templates that I'll use over and over from sheets of plastic I buy from Home Depot, the entire sheet costs a lot less than one template or ruler.

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  8. I agree....thrifty and smart. Super idea.

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  9. I prefer frugal, but I freely admit that I'm cheap, ha ha. Great idea.

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  10. I would do that to not have to buy the template--oh yeah!

    hugs!:)

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  11. If you are cheap....then I must be too.
    You should see all the cereal boxes I have....
    There is nothing wrong with recycling !!

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  12. Super thrifty - and my kind of gal!!! Blessings!!!

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  13. I go with smart...isn't this what they call "upcycling" now?!

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  14. This is fantastic! When I watched the video from your post yesterday, I thought what a cute tablerunner. But I also had the thought that I'd never make it because as you say, why buy an expensive template for a project you'll only make one or two of. Now I'm going to follow your example and make a template from the back of a notepad. Thanks for sharing such a great solution!

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  15. I say "Smart"...that's better than either of the other words!
    Hugs

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  16. thrifty of course, and clever to work it out as well.

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  17. That 18 bucks you saved by not buying a template
    you can now use towards purchasing MORE FABRIC! It's a win-win situation!

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  18. Neither cheap nor thrifty, but wise! You have much better control with your large rectangular ruler than with a triangle template that easily shifts. Wish I had your idea before I invested in mine...

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  19. I had to look up the word thrifty but you're definitly thrifty.
    All those beatiful fabrics you can buy now for $18,-, very clever.
    Greetings Roos

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  20. Echoing the rest of the readers - thrifty, smart, genius, frugal, wise. Good job.
    Lillian
    lillianscupboard.wordpress.com

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  21. Not cheap. Creative. What a great idea.

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  22. Definitely thrifty, I think I will follow your example!

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  23. Found it!!! :D I think you are BRILLIANT!! And I think I have to try to make me one. :)

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