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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

100 Decorating Ideas under $100--PB Inspired Art

I have always enjoyed the magazine 100 Decorating Ideas Under $100. I decided I am going to do my own 100 decorating projects under $100 this year, Yes, it may take me a whole year (I am getting a jump start). I saw maps framed in a "tower" in a recent Pottery Barn catalog. I couldn't find that they were for sale (not that I would buy them anyway), but liked them enough to duplicate the idea.

I started with graduating frames from the thrift store--I spent $9 total on 6 frames, it was 1/2 price day. I had an old 1953 Atlas that I used for the maps--cost me a couple bucks.

I used different layers of paint--cream, green and blue and finished with brown and then a coat of walnut stain. I also used the stain on the maps. I picked places I have been or want to go. I had to get Montana in there too--some of the maps are sideways.

Have you seen these command hooks--they were the most expensive (unnecessary) part of the project, but sure saves your walls from too many holes.

When I looked at the catalog again, I realized that their pictures didn't make a pyramid like mine do, but I like the pyramid.
So here is project #1. Sometimes I might cheat like the magazine does and show you old projects or versions of the same idea, but I promise all ideas will be under $100 (most likely a lot less than $100).

I am participating in Kimba's DIY Day and Funky Junk Interiors DIY:
DIY Day @ ASPTL

Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Little Old Suitcase Love

While hunting for new ski poles at thrift stores, I spied this wonderfully old, small (and STINKY) suitcase (just about 12 x 10 inches)
full of old Christmas junk. I am going to paint on the case, will keep some of the goodies, maybe can make something with these old light bulb sockets,
and loved this little bird.
All mine for $2!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas

May the miracle of our Savior's birth bless you and surround you this Christmas. I pray that His peace reigns in your life today and always. Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Rock-a-Bye



Finished up this special order this weekend. Also got all of the gifts wrapped and the baking done. Aaah--should be a stress-free week!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Tacky!


My husband is a high school teacher and they are having a tacky sweater party today. Apparently this is a trend this year as all of the tacky sweaters at the thrift stores were MIA. I even looked at the plus size women's sweaters for him. As I was leaving the last thrift store I saw these old ornaments sittin' in a box and decided I could make a tacky sweater for him. Hot glued them on, added some battery operated lights and there you have it--one tacky Christmas sweater. Buddy the Elf would be so proud!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

The Stockings Were Hung by the Chimney With...

Curtain clips! I picked up cream sweaters last year at a thrift store to make stockings--I didn't get around to making the stockings until this year. I had hoped to find wool sweaters so I could "felt" them, but couldn't. I used interfacing on the back of the sweaters to give them stability. While I was looking for some ribbon to use as a hanger, I spied these curtain clips I had and decided they would be perfect.
I need a mantle--didn't happen when the house got built (6years ago), but haven't decided what I want. The only time I really think about it is at Christmas. I used antique bronze upholstery tacks to hang the stockings on.
These cream stockings are what I call my "decorative stockings". My kids usually use these stockings on Christmas Eve that my mom made for them for their first Christmases.

Check out more fun ideas at:
ASPTL

and at:
Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Tu-Tu Cute!

My daughter loves to make clothes for her webkinz (with mom's help). Then her friends wanted designer stuffed animal clothes. We came up with the idea to make tu-tus for her friends for Christmas gifts using tulle and hair elastics-- it is something my daughter can easily do herself.

This would be the afterschool, chocolate on the face, messy hairdo photo:
The piece around the neck is a "scarf".

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Having a Ball

So, Christmas decorating, hmm... In this economic time and season in our life, I am keeping it simple. Doing less, with less. I have also been on this organizing kick so I have not been creating, but feel great getting things cleaned out! Last year I showed you how I used Christmas balls purchased from thrift stores on my porch. Check it out here: Christmas on the porch. (It was 27 below zero today--not going outside to take new pictures Ü. ) This year I brought the balls inside too to use as filler and accents. I like their color, simplicity, and shine. I would love to hear about some of the ways you are keeping it simple this year.

This church was a card holder purchased on clearance at Traget quite a few years ago.
Notice the balls around the lamp and candle.

Sitting on the top of my wine rack.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Eye Candy

Over Thanksgiving in my hometown of Billings, I got to visit one of my favorite "looking" stores, Raffia (click on the link to check out their blog). When I am there I feel like I have stepped into an issue of Home Companion (RIP). Creative ideas are everywhere--thought I'd share a few. Sorry pictures were taken on the phone so quality is not great (neither are the ones that I take with a real camera Ü). Make sure you click on the pictures to enlarge them and see everything!

Loved the red locker decked out for Christmas. The wall treatment? Old Reader's Digest pages stapled at the top of each page to the wall
Loved the scenes on paper behind these windows. I am thinking of putting a window up and having my kids paint different scenes for different seasons.
This wall treatment has always been a favorite--decoupaged napkins.

Love the Santa hat chair covers, and an ornament sitting on each plate, plus more of the great Reader's Digest wall.

Great green sofa and red bench coffee table, but really wanted to show you the floor treatment, or untreatment. It is the glue stuck from old linoleum floor tiles being pulled up. I once asked hubby if I could glue down old tiles and then pull them up to get this treatment in our new house--he nixed that idea!

Loved the yummy blue cabinet against the burnt orange wall.

Pink and green confection--notice the rough pink beadboard.I want to sit here and have tea--love that birdcage lighting fixture--complete with birds on a wire!
And who wouldn't love a holiday red table and chairs?


Keep yours open this season for inspiration everywhere!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's wishing you all a blessed and safe Thanksgiving, surrounded with love and laughter and thankfulness too!

Caught this beautiful sunrise the other day!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Christmas Craft Show Quickies

I did a last minute holiday show this week--whipped these things up the night before.






Check out some more great projects at Funky Junk Interiors!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Mudroom (Laundry Room) Finale

Well here it is--the finished (at least for now) room. We keep so much stuff in this room--stuff that probably shouldn't be there. But it is, so my goal was to find better ways to organize and store it. The only thing I purchased were the 3 brackets for the shelf above the washer and dryer ($7.50). Now mind you, I am a junker so I had plenty of a stash to dive into. The pieces I used I did buy at one point and time (still spending less than $40), but not recently and not for what they are being used for now.
This hall tree replaced the locker system I had. I bought it in June for $25. I have had it in my entry way, but it doesn't fit there and the front door hit it. It needs a paint job, but will do for now. The kids are allowed to put their backpacks and 1 coat on it only. The rest go in the closet. I also told them that not every hoodie that they owned needed to be in here, but could be hung up in their bedroom closets. The bench opens for more shoe storage. No one is allowed to sit anything on the bench, except their hinies--so far so good. Hubby's and my drill battery chargers sit on top--not a great place but better than on the washer where they used to sit. There is a plug in behind it.
The step ladder is a must have for watering plants I have up high and I have this one laundry basket (between the hall tree and step ladder) in there for dish towels and things--bought it a few years ago, a few dollars at a thrift store.
This wall has a few different storage ideas.
The shutter is a great place to hold all kinds of things, even CDs. Why do I have CDs in my laundry room? Who knows, but I did. I think they come in from cars, plus I listen to some of them in the summer in the garage while I work.
This little metal box I picked up at thrift store last year for $2. I think it was a dehydrator or??? It had the metal racks in it. I do need to buy a magnetic closure for it. I painted it and am using it to keep paint stuff in. I have bottles of paint in pretty much every room in my house. I keep my small paintbrushes in the long metal box.
The drawer boxes were given to me by a friend--she just stuck them in my car one day and told me later, "I put something in your car." One is holding all of the hooks I use for projects (there are more in the garage). Again, why do the hooks end up in the mudroom? Not sure but they were all over my dryer and in the cupboards, so now they are together. The other drawer is empty right now. I am sure that won't last too long.

I made this sign to balance the space out. My teenager said, "I think everyone knows it is the laundry room. You don't need a sign to tell them." Argh!
And here is my favorite reuse. I was going to build a cabinet to go above the sink, but instead used a nightstand that I bought for $2 or $3 last year. I had to add a top. I made this little curtain for it--might need to shorten it. I am going to buy a paper towel holder to mount underneath (at a thrift store), but for now used a ribbon tacked up to hold the paper towel.
Here is the before of the area above my sink.
I can't get the paint off without removing the wall paint so I came up with this solution for now--a painted cupboard door, well sealed for "washibility". I added hooks to it for drying paintbrushes (did you know you should dry paintbrushes with the bristles down?). It covers up some of the paint splashes. I also added a curtain under the sink to hide the watering can under there.
Again, I hope you found and idea that you can use. I might even like doing laundry now--or not!

I am sharing this on Do It Yourself day at Kimba's--where you can find over 200 great ideas in one place!
ASPTL