Monday, December 20, 2021

12 Days of Christmas Day 11 Retool a Toolbelt for Christmas

12 Days of Easy Christmas Ideas

If you've been around my blog at all, you know I love old tools so I always check the tool section at my local thrift store. The other day (HALF PRICE DAY, WOOT-WOOT!) I spied this suede and leather tool belt. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it, but decided since it was only going to cost me $3, it would come home with me. 

Thrift Store Tool Belt
It didn't take long for me to decide to cut it into 2 pieces so I could use one of the pouches for a wall hanging.
Upcycled Tool Belt Wall Hanging Pouch

Thursday, December 16, 2021

12 Days of Christmas Day 10 Dressed Up Basics

!2 Days of Easy DIY Christmas Ideas
I love to take something ordinary or something that is basic and dressing it up a bit. Signs--they have been going strong for years now and while I am over signs telling me what to think and feel, I still love them for adding a little something seasonal to my decor. 
Snowshoe Sign

"Dressing up" is exactly what I did with these decorative snowshoes from the Target Dollar Spot. Attaching them to a painted board and adding the perfect stencil took something that was cute enough and turned it into something unique and special. There are so many simple items you can dress up and improve upon to make them yours. I will share more ideas at the end of this post.

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

12 Days of Christmas Day 9 Simple Front Door Wreath

Make a Simple Christmas Wreath
I know, it has been a bit since I have posted...

 If you follow me on social media, you know that I held my first solo holiday open house. I busted to but to have plenty of items for customers and to fill the biggest space I have sold in. It was a lot of work, and was exciting, tiring, hard, and a great success. I held it in the MIL apartment we are just about finished with. Eventually I will move to our carriage house--just need some heat out there. Here are a few phone pics from the open house.
Make a Simple Christmas Wreath

Make a Simple Christmas Wreath

Friends and my family, especially hubby all encouraged and helped me--I could not have done it without them. It did mean my 12 Days of Christmas Ideas posts had to hit the backburner. So, I will be finishing up the easy, simple, Christmas ideas this week (as I finish decorating my own home.) Today, I made some simple wreaths with items I had on hand.

Make a Simple Christmas Wreath

Thursday, December 2, 2021

12 Days of Christmas Day 8 Simple Advent Centerpiece

12 Days of Easy Christmas Ideas

I have always loved the idea of recognizing and practicing Advent. Advent is a time to slow down, prepare, and wait. It is a time to remember peace and to reflect and it is often marked by the lighting of four candles on the four Sundays before Christmas. I wanted to make an advent candle centerpiece. I wanted something simple, elegant, natural. Some thrift store finds helped me create a unique, topiary style advent centerpiece. I have lots of ideas how you could change this to fit your decor and style.

Simple Elegant Advent Centerpiece

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

12 Days of Christmas Day 7 Felt Forest

12 Days of Christmas Ideas

Decorating for Christmas is happening slowly around here. I like adding bits and pieces, new items and treasured favorites. Adding a bit of Christmas cheer to the windowsills in my sunroom was on the agenda today.

Easy Felt Christmas Tree Forest
These felt trees have been around for a few years. I decide to try to make some and give them my own twist by cutting different shaped trees and grouping them together in a felt forest.

Monday, November 22, 2021

12 Days of Christmas Ideas Day 6 Boho Basket Art

DIY BOHO Christmas Basket Stitching

I always check out the basket selection at my local thrift stores. I like finding flat, round basket "trays" because I love their natural look and that they add texture and warmth to a wall or propped on a shelf. You can use them as frames or wreath bases or for centerpieces. 

DIY BOHO Christmas Basket Stitching on Thrift Store Baskets
I decided to use a few for cross stitch or embroidery "fabric".
DIY BOHO Christmas Basket Stitching on Thrift Store Baskets

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

12 Days of Christmas Day 5 Little Wood Houses

Easy DIY Wooden Houses For Christmas

I have been loving the little wood (and ceramic) houses I have been seeing a lot of. Of course I said, "I can make those!" so I did!

Easy DIY Wooden Houses For Christmas
They are cute grouped together or spread out on a window sill or shelf. It finally dawned on me that I have a great little decorating spot above our front entry doors. 
Easy DIY Wooden Houses For Christmas

Thursday, November 11, 2021

12 Days of Christmas Ideas Day 4 Ornament Box

Stencil an Ornament Box

Today's project was not on my list of 12 Days of Christmas Ideas, but when Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils put out NEW stencils for the holidays, I had to play with them. 

Stencil an Ornament Box

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

12 Days of Christmas Ideas Day 3 Rustic Farmhouse Funnel

12 Days of Christmas Rustic Farmhouse Funnel

It is always fun to dig around in my junk bins--those containers where I collect and save rusty bits and pieces that I can't seem to let go of. I recently found (or re-found) four. old, rusty funnels that I have picked up from garage sales or thrift stores. I think I was collecting them for a funnel tree--stacked, upside down funnels. 

12 Days of Christmas Rustic Farmhouse Funnel
But, then I had another idea...
12 Days of Christmas Rustic Farmhouse Funnel

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

12 Days of Christmas Ideas Day 2 DIY Wood Cone Trees on a Budget

12 Days of Christmas Ideas Day 2 DIY Wood Cone Trees on a Budget

I am loving the wood cone trees I am seeing everywhere. They are simple and boho and will look great in a variety of Christmas vignettes. BUT, at $10-$50 a tree, creating a cute display with them could easily cost $100+. I decided I could make something that looked very similar and the best part, I could do it for about $5. 

12 Days of Christmas Ideas Day 2 DIY Wood Cone Trees on a Budget

Monday, November 1, 2021

12 Days of Christmas Ideas, Day One, Yardstick Tree

12 Days of Christmas Ideas

Welcome to my annual 12 Days of Christmas Ideas! This is my 12th year of sharing easy, DIY Christmas ideas with my readers, WOW!!

This year I feel ON TOP OF IT (famous last words?). I am starting on November 1st, I know what all of the projects are going to be, and I have some of them made already. What? Shocked? No, I do not usually have much of a plan and usually make it up as I go. Some years I have created all of the projects with similar items or really stick to a theme, but this year I am creating simple items that I love and will use in my own Christmas decor (I may sell a few of them).
12 Days of Christmas Ideas Yardstick Tree

This year's first project starts with some vintage yardsticks. I always buy these at thrift stores IF they are $2 or less. I made a Christmas wall hanging that is a little different from the graduating horizontal stick or wood trees we have seen over the past five years. I love those still, but wanted to create a little something different.

12 Days of Christmas Ideas Yardstick Tree

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Upcycled Old Hand Tools

I always like to check out the tool section at our local thrift stores. Sometimes I find tools that I need and can use, often times I find old hand tools that have been discarded for new, better functioning tools. I love the old hand tools with wood handles. They have such a lovely patina. I upcycled two recent finds into picture holders.
Upcycled Old Hand Tools

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Black and White Boho Toolbox

Wood boxes, can one have too many? No, the answer is no in case you were unsure. They are sturdy and can be used in so many ways in every room of the home, and can be painted to fit any kind of decor.

Black and White Boho Toolbox
I while they are easy to make, this toolbox came from the thrift store. I always look for them and if they are a decent price, I buy them (this one was $4.99).
Black and White Boho Toolbox Upcycled From The Thrift Store

I decided to paint it black. I then wanted something painted in white on it. I thought about stenciling the word tools or a number on it, but I really wanted something a little more funky and boho in style so I decided to paint a freehand rainbow design.

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Thrifty Thursday Primitive Spice Box

Thrifty Thursday Upcycled Primitive Spice Box
To buy or not to buy, that is often the question at the thrift store.
Thrifty Thursday Upcycled Primitive Spice Box
This little reproduction, primitive, wood, spice box is one of those items that I questioned. On the negative side, it screamed early 90's country primitive--I half expected to find apples or hearts on it. On the plus side, it is sturdy, real wood, would provide a bit of storage for small items, and I had an idea of how I could upcycle it.
Stencil a Primitive Spice Box
(This post contains affiliate links which means that if you purchase something from the link provided, I may receive a small compensation at NO cost to you.)

Thursday, October 7, 2021

Thrifty Thursday How to Update and Use a Stepstool

Thrifty Thursday How to Update and Use a Stepstool

Little wood stools and stepstools are a common item at thrift stores. I always buy them if they are reasonably priced, made from wood, and if after giving them a little shake, they don't wobble. This IKEA stepstool met all three of my criteria so I bought it.

Thrifty Thursday How to Update and Use a Stepstool
It of course needed an update. I wanted something fresh and fun that would add a pop of color to a space so I decided to paint two-thirds of it a bright, sunny yellow. 
Thrifty Thursday How to Update and Use a Stepstool

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Sweet Chippy Vintage Stool Table

I was not sure what this little white piece of furniture was when I saw it at the thrift store, but I could tell that is was old and had some lovely chippy paint layers and it was solid so I decided to buy it.

Thrift Store Find
Isn't it sweet?
Sweet Chippy Vintage Stool Table
I thought it might have been a chair seat without the back, but it is a regular rectangle size. I think it was a little bench or stool and that it might have had caning or some type of an insert. Someone put an extra piece of wood on top long ago because it has the same layers as the rest of it.
Sweet Chippy Vintage Stool Table

Friday, October 1, 2021

Thrifty Thursday Upcycled Antique Rattan Chair

Thrifty Thursday Upcycled Antique Rattan Chair

Yep, it's not Thursday but this is a thrift store upcycle so I am still sharing it on a Friday, rebel child that I am.

Thrifty Thursday Upcycled Antique Rattan Chair
I found this very old (I do believe antique, meaning it is 100+ years old.), weathered, chair at our local Habitat for Humanity Restore. It was weathered, I am guessing it spent some time outdoors, and a little bit of the caning on the chair back was broken. But, because it was fairly solid and I loved its lines, the inlay on the top, and the rustic bits--rusty nails, raw wood, I bought it.
Thrifty Thursday Upcycled Antique  Boho Rattan Chair

A little care was all this antique side chair needed to update it and bring it back to life.

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Simple Wood Sign for July

Baby, it's hot out there! We are in the middle of record breaking heat here in the northwest and I am trying to stay cool (without an AC). Last night hubby and plopped the lawn chairs in the middle of the sprinkler, made a cold cocktail, and sat for an hour. And it isn't even July yet!! But, it will be tomorrow and I decided I better get SOME kind of fourth of July decor on my front porch. 
Wood Sign that is Not red, white, and blue
When you have a bright yellow door and your everyday summer porch decor is in bright yellows, greens, and oranges, adding red, white, and blue is just a bit much, even for this color loving girl.

Monday, June 14, 2021

Adding Texture with a Vintage Woven Chair

Grey, gray, greigh (?)--however you spell it I have a bit too much of it in my furniture repertoire. In my front room I have a small grey loveseat and three grey chairs. It happened accidentally, you know, gathered a chair here and chair there without realizing it was all getting a bit boring and same.

SO, I have been on the lookout at the thrift stores for a cute, colorful, vintage, adorable chair in excellent condition for a great price. But, that wasn't happening...until I spied this vintage, woven Palecek chair at Goodwill.

Adding Texture with a Vintage Woven Chair
While it wasn't colorful, I loved the texture and knew I could have some color fun when recovering the seat.

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Thrifty Thursday Reporposed Tray and Camp Stool

Thrifty Thursday Reporposed Tray and Camp Stool
I am working on 5 kajillion projects right now that I can't wait to share with you. Today's Thrifty Thursday project is one of those. It is quick and easy and requires no tools or construction or even paint. Using a great brass tray I showed you last month and a sturdy camp stool, I made a hip, little side table.
Thrifty Thursday Reporposed Tray and Camp Stool