Christmas Decor Part 2

This year I chose to do something more whimsy with the hutch. I found some red and white damask wrapping paper that I had leftover from last year and taped it to the back. I like it. I think it is fun and even have my eye on some velvet damask wrappin paper at Target and will wait for an after Christmas sale to snatch it up.

Christmas Decor (part 1)

I love how my starbursts turned out. I found out how to make them Here. My Grandma Mary gave me this Santa just after I was married. I didn't like him. His gold on his hat was all scratched up and he just wasn't my style. But now he is. I am not sure why I kept him and didn't toss him out long ago- but I am glad I didn't. Every year, I like him more and more. This year he plays center stage in my new cloche on the piano.

Other items are from Goodwill, Michael's, dollar tree (and the wooden green glitter 'hope' sign is from Walgreens for $1.99)

Anthropologie and Kmart

Who woulda thought that these two stores would have ever have come together in one outfit. (Anthropologie stores everywhere are cringing right now)

One thing I have learned from working at Kmart during college was that they have really cute shoes. Everyone ALWAYS over looks Kmart when on the search for a delicious shoe. We don't have a Kmart in our city anymore, but on my recent trip to Oregon, I had literally 20 minutes before I had to be somewhere and was right next to a Kmart. I ran in and booked it to the shoe dept. I found these babies for $15 (on sale). (You can close your mouth now!)

My Anthropologie dress that I found for $30 on a sale rack. Not appropriate to wear to church (or in my case anywhere) with the halter top, so I layered it with a black under shirt and a 3/4 sleeve sweater that I bought last year from Shade.

Jaclyn Smith shoes found Here

Anthro dress found Here (sorry- couldn't find it on the Athro site anymore)

I also found some rocking jewelery and hair accessories from Forever 21 for super cheap.

Because I feel like the prettiest girl at the ball when I am wearing it, it is probably my favorite outfit in my closet right now.

Dream room!

I just saw this one a blog and fell in love with this headboard. If I could have any headboard in the world- right now it would be this one- I am loving the colors in the room too.

A Big Difference

Before

I had this buffet cabinet that I bought at a thrift shop for $30 and refinished years ago ( someday I will have to post the b4 pics- hideous!) and have since changed the wallpaper panels a few times in it. I wasn't sure if I liked it this time after I put some toile wallpaper in it (last spring) that I had left over from my daughter's headboard- but keep getting a lot of compliments on it. I decided this week that I like the look of it in the living room, however- the search for fun- even somewhat trendy wallpaper has begun. (just keepin' my eyes open!)

After

I think it goes nicely with the new coffee table. The black grounds the lightness of the wallpaper.

Dollar store project

I saw this on THIS blog and fell in love with it. I just bought pumpkins rom the $ store. Cut them in half and tied some ribbon I already had around them. Next, I glued them to a dollar store plate. I love the shape of that plate.

Spooky Dishes

I honestly don't know where I got this idea. It might be one that I saw somewhere or one that I created from a bunch of silhouettes that I have seen. Either way- I love the way it turned out. I found white plates at Goodwill for 25 cents each and printed out pictures from my computer. Then traced the pics onto clear shelf liner using cabon copy paper and then I cut out the shape and put it on the pate. (Kinda like making your own sticker) Next I took black spray paint and srayed the whole plate. When it was dry I peeled off the sticker and touched it up with a paint pen.

The shelf was also a find from goodwill. It was wooden and super ugly. I sprayed it black and let my daughter help me put silver rub-n- buff on the edges and detail.

Spooky Decor

I haven't decorated for Halloween in years (fall, but not Halloween). This year I decided that I really like the "Goth" look. Maybe something that you would find in Dracula's castle. So I went thrift shopping and $ store shopping and found a bunch of things and got a bunch of ideas.

Here is one of them:

I got the ideas for the candles HERE. I can't tell you how cool they look in person. The pics just do not do them justice.

I found these at a thrift store for $2 each I spray painted them black to give them that goth look I was going for.

This was just the beginning!

The New Coffee Table

I bought this baby at a thrift store for $30. Okay- so it was a project. It was white with a scratched up -pine colored top. (I do have pics but they are on my phone and I haven't figured out how to download those yet.)

So I painted it black and refinished the top into a much darker color.

I found a damask that I liked off the Internet and blew it up, then copied it on the top with carbon copy paper and a paint pen.

I chose a stencil for the side which I put on in with an antique gold rub-n- buff.

The best part is that this table has a hidden compartment,

Just perfect for toys!!!

The Extra Pocket!

So I have been looking awhile for a handbag made outta cute fabric. I found one on sale at Fred Meyer for like $13, but it didn't have what I use most..... a front pocket.


When I was looking through it, I noticed that it came with 2 small coin purses made outta matching fabric. (Ding, ding....light bulb went off in head)

I got home and figured out that if I took the larger of the 2 coin purses and discected it, I would be able to make a pocket out of it.

I liked the way it turned out- but I really wish I was a better sew-er. (Some stitches are a little too visible) -

Also- one of the corners was giving me a really hard time and looked awful- so I made a fabric pom pom to sit in the corner and cover my sewing fiasco. I think it is my favorite feature of my new handbag though!

Fall in the Season!

I LOVE fall! I love the smell in the air, the first cool breeze to touch your skin, and the rich colors. I can never wait very long to get out my fall decor. I found a bunch of cute stuff at the dollar store (where else?) I loving the way my hutch turned out!Mini plastic pumpkins, small ceramic pumpkins and beautiful crisp faux leaves are all things I picked up at the $ Tree.

My piano even got all decked out for fall. The best part-- last year, I discovered that the mainstays brand (I am pretty sure it is mainstays anyway- in the candle aisle at Walmart) has a fall scent of air fresheners called pumpkin spice- I stocked up because they stopped carrying them in the spring. I seriously have never loved an air freshener like I love my pumpkin spice- yummmm!

Book it to Your Nearest Thrift Shop!

I found my daughter a (much needed) bookshelf at Goodwill for $10. I immediately saw the potential in it! (Loved the little retro legs on it!)

I painted it black and decided to put wrapping paper in the back to make it more intersting.

Of course I chose to put toile in the back- Carli said, "I think you have enough of that in my room," So I chose to do something a little more funky!

(Someday her room will get a makeover- but for now- it looks cute in her pink room anyway! Nevermind the trash can)

Seat Yourself!

I bought this chair at one of my favorite thrift shops for $1.99. I knew I could do something cute with it. In the thrif shop, I thought it was white- but when I got ithome, I could tell itwas a very faint blue. I had fabric that looked lovely with the blue and I didn't even have to paint anything.
The total of this project was $1.99 and now we have lovely little chair for the old computer in the guest room!!!

Framed!

I saw THIS on Joys Blog awhile ago and thought that her idea would solve my jewerly problem. I love fun necklaces and baubles of sorts... but my jewelery box was a tangled mess. I just didn't have the time to make one. So I was uber excited when I saw this one at the Fremont Flea Market in Seattle. I love the fun old-style frame and thought it looked awesome in our blue bathroom. I love that my jewerly is organized and I love that I walk in my bathroom and get excited cuz my eye has something lovely to look at. I want to create a couple more for bracelets and earings.

Good ol' Find!

On our way back from Seattle, we stopped in Yakima to grab a bite and found some little antique shops to play around in before we had to go. I found this old school desk for $25. I was so excited and my friend suggested that I paint the front with leaves and our initial! When I got home, I checked my e-mail and wouldn't you know it- Martha sent me just what I needed to complete my project! (Click Here to view her idea)

I just printed her idea out and with some carbon copy paper and a paint pen- I was able to create a personalized object to display outside on our porch.

(Oh- never mind the items on top- I'm not sure what I want to do there yet!)

Dollar Store Decorating!

I never thought that one could decorate using dollar store finds. but the more I read The Joys of Home blog the more I see that you really can.I bought the vases at a thrift store for .50 each. I have been chaning out the decor in them seasonally. For example, Autum was acorns and apples, Christmas was Christmas ornaments and spring was cute faux eggs. But I couldn't figure what to put in them for Summer. I went to the dollar store for something lse and set my eyes on these little strawberry and daisy plants. They fit nicely on top and then I just put some moss, which I also found at the Dollar Tree, as a filler. I may try to paint the pots black, to make them pop- but I still think thy look cute as they are!

The Initial J!

Our initial has been popping up all over the place. I got the idea for this one HERE. This project cost me all of $1. I bought this cheapy tray at the dollar store. Then printed out the letter I wanted on cardstock and carefull cut it outand pasted it on with a glue stick. Wow! Easy- Peasy- Mac -N -Cheesy!!!

Your Initial makes it Perfect!!!

I was inspired by This post to do something pretty with my front door. (For Easter anyway!)I found the wreath at Good will for $3.30. Then, I went to Walmart and bought a cheapy wooden Initial to go in the middle. Cute and cheap for the holiday! Hope you had a great Easter!

Book Page Wreath

I posted this on our fam. blog awhile back too- but here goes. I saw this wreath on a couple of friend's blogs and thought it was awesome so I made one too. It is made of old book pages. I cute out a ring of cardboard and wrapped black ribbon around it for the back. Then hot- glued the rolled up pages to it. Then I found this paper cut-out flowers from a local craft store. Here is a pic of them b4 I decided to put a little black paper around them to make them stand out more. I also put them on with hair clips, so that I can take them off and put on another design anytime I want to.

So easy and fun! Go make yours today!

Thrift Shop Find!

I found this table at Goodwill for $38. I noramlly wouldn't spend so much on a piece of furniture from a thrift shop- but this one was already painted and had the cutest drawer pulls already! What would I do without thrift shops???