DIY Twine Balls

Yoo hoo, bloggers! ;) How are ya'll?! We were hit with some minor setbacks these last two weeks, but we are slowly picking ourselves back up and brushing it off. Adoption hasn't happened yet... was postponed until Monday. We were notified 2 hours before it was to happen, so naturally we had this huge cake we had to eat. Couldn't throw it away right? Hahaha.

Anyway, to ease my frustration, I was finally able to work on some crafts! I've seen these done before and can't remember who did it first, so if you know, please tell me so that I can give credit where credit is due. ;) It all started with an inspiration that I found at GW. A dirty lonely platter seeking a table:

For $4, it was mine. Now, I had someone awhile back leave a rather... rude... comment about how my thrift stores finds seemed pricey. I recently discovered a thrift store on the opposite side of town that priced their items significantly lower. However, since I don't want to be making that 30 minute drive there and back, I will take my over-priced items instead. Thankyouverymuch! To me, the price STILL beats new, store-bought prices.

Anyway, after a couple of coats of some brown spray paint, it looked better:

Remembering the post I read ages ago about creating twine balls, I wrapped some jute and twine around balloons and coated them with my tacky glue spray can.

Once they were dry, I popped the balloon and removed it. The twine looked great and held strong, but the jute turned white and easily lost shape. I purchased that particular twine months ago at the dollar store.

LOVE the crazy looking twine ball, not so much the jute. Throw in some dollar store moss balls, jute wrapped around styrofoam balls I made here, bada bing, bada boom, and you have yourself a cute table centerpiece:

Remember that burlap table runner? I promised I would wait until fall to use it, but I couldn't resist! I blame it on the BHG magazine that was delivered to me today. Did anyone else see it? The fall leaves on the cover? *sigh* Be still my heart...

I had nearly all of these supplies on hand, except for the platter. Total project cost: $4! Yeaaa buddy!

Tween Jewelry Display

I want to start by saying "THANK YOU" to the ladies who have posted summer projects to my link party. You have shared some great ideas! There is still plenty of time to post more, so don't forget about the party and please help me spread the word. :)

CLICK HERE TO JUMP TO MY
NEWBIE SUMMER LINK PARTY

I have been absent for about a week because I was preparing for a garage sale that turned into an EPIC FAIL! I advertised, posted signs leading cars to the sale, and only two people showed up. I had no choice but to have our sale on a Sunday and I think that was our first mistake. Now, I'm having loads of fun trying to sell these items individually on Craigslist. *sigh*

On a positive note, I finally found a solution for my daughters bracelets and necklaces. My 9-year-old doesn't wear earrings and lacks the space for a jewelry box. So, taking advantage of her walls and a robe hanger, I found my latest victim item that needed to be spray painted:

Look at that brass beauty! You know how much I adore brass. ;) We've had this hanger for years, with the intention of one day using it. However, I thought it was perfect for little necklaces and bracelts. After a couple of coats of some plum spray paint, it looked like this: 

I apologize for the poor color. It was a cloudy day today and I had to use the flash to capture the color. It's not that bright, though. I promise. :)

Here is my daughters cluster, with her new jewelry hanger. And it only cost $3 (for the spray paint).

Remember to keep posting to the party! The last day is July 25th!

I also have a GREAT recipe to share, but I wanted to get some input from my readers. Do you all care much for recipes? I try to only post ones that can be done in under 30 minutes, don't cost a whole lot, and pass the "picky eater seal of approval." However, I've noticed low traffic on my recipe posts. Thoughts? Would you like to see recipes or do you not really care for them?

Linking up with: House of Grace, A Beach Cottage, Christina's Adventures, House of Hepworths, At the Picket Fence, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Newbie Summer Link Party!

May I just say, I am loving the coastal style right now. It is a trend I don't want to see going anytime soon. However, living smack in the middle of the desert, I feel a little ridiculous putting up oceanic decor in my home. So, this is my small attempt at "hinting" the coastal style without feeling like a fool.

The inspiration for this began with a lantern that I found at Goodwill for $4. It was a lovely, brassy thing, and the glass panes were still perfectly intact. After a couple of coats of some black spray paint, it looked good as new:

I filled it with some Dollar Tree rocks, a candle, and paired it with a votive holder turned Q-tip holder. :) I found that votive holder at the Dollar Tree and thought it kind of looked like a sand dollar. I also added some coastal looking shower hooks and a hurricane vase:

The shower hooks and vase were clearance finds at Target ($3 for each hook) and Walmart ($7 vase). The base of the vase was brown so I gave it a quick coat of black. This is what my guest bath looked like before:

A bit empty, wouldn't you say? And now: 

We bought the picture frames a long time ago and they had been sitting in storage because I didn't know where to hang them. I put some of my favorite pictures of the hubs with his ladybugs.

So, there you have it. This is my summer, coastal inspired, guest bath. I really didn't know how long I would enjoy a "gray room," but all the white and black accents just make this guest bath feel very crisp and refreshing. Perfect for a candlelit soak! Now, it's your turn! Let's see those summer inspired projects.

<center><a <SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow" class=goog-spellcheck-word>href</SPAN>="http://<SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow" class=goog-spellcheck-word>mamaslittleladybugs</SPAN>.<SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow" class=goog-spellcheck-word>blogspot</SPAN>.com/"><<SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow" class=goog-spellcheck-word>img</SPAN> border="0" <SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow" class=goog-spellcheck-word>src</SPAN>="http://i306.<SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow" class=goog-spellcheck-word>photobucket</SPAN>.com/albums/nn248/<SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow" class=goog-spellcheck-word>mcsneaky</SPAN>/<SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow" class=goog-spellcheck-word>summerpartybutton</SPAN>-1.<SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow" class=goog-spellcheck-word>jpg</SPAN>"/></a></center> 

Here's a quick reminder about the rules and who can post:

* You don't have to be a follower to link up (although, I really hope to meet new friends at my party)

* Please link back to my party somewhere in your post AND/OR post my button

* You must be qualified as a NEWBIE

Porch Redo Pt 2

Five more days, bloggies! Is everyone getting their projects/crafts/recipes together for my SUMMER PARTY? Remember, you can post anything summer inspired, as long as you qualify as a newbie. Read here to see all the rules to enter.

Well, I took a break from decorating my own summer escape and finished up with my front porch redo. I didn't find any patio furniture on Craigslist that fit our budget (story of my life), so I have to make due with what we had. First, I needed a paint color on those walls. I tried to be brave and pick something different. Here were my choices: 

Immediately, hubby and I disliked the "Briquette." It was too bright for us and looked nothing like the chip card. Next, I was really into the "Grounded" when I first painted the sample onto the wall... but after an hour of dry time, it reminded me of something my kid upchucked once. TMI? Thought so. Lastly, I really loved the "Roasted Pepper" but was scared it would be too dark for a porch. So, I chickened out and went with my safe color of "Dusty Trail" by Olympic. Same color I used here for my entryway. So, here is a picture of my doorway before:

Strong, solid door in need of a paint job, welcome mat that has seen its days, and unattractive red Spanish tile. Here is the after:

My little summer nook! The window frames and door received coats of white paint. The walls are my safe tan "Dusty Trail," the doormat is new ($9 at Target), and you can read how I did my sign here and my stick arrangement here. The ceramic planter was a GW find ($3.99) and the plant was $5 at Walmart. The rocking chair and throw we've had for years and will be replaced when I find a small porch bench.

Things I still need to do here:

replace the doorknob and locks

update the dated light fixture (not shown on purpose)

replace the tile or cover it with an outdoor rug?

Pin It

Linking up with: House of Hepworths, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating , At the Picket Fence, Just a Girl

Twice Owned Pail

A couple of weeks ago, I was looking at some decorating projects, posted on a link party. It was during my "craft rut" and I was looking for anything to light the fire in me again. At that time, I was so exhausted from all the home renovations that the last thing I wanted to do was something for fun. I just wanted sleep.

 Well, after some R&R, I was finally able to work on a project that was inspired by The V Spot. Check out what she did to a pail using spray paint, sticks, butterflies, and crepe paper streamer:

Seriously, I was hooked on how cute and easy this was. LOVE!! Remember this metal pail I found at a thrift store for $3.99?

I spray painted the whole thing with 2 coats of primer, followed by 2 coats of "Harbor Blue" by Rustoleum. I gathered some sticks around my neighborhood and stuck them in some floral foam that was placed inside my pail. I didn't have paper streamers, so using coffee filters, I rolled them in little "buds" and hot glued them to my sticks.

 I didn't add too many flower buds because I thought they looked more like spit balls than delicate buds. I attached a burlap bow to the side and voila!

Cute outdoor spring decor for our front porch! I want to add a farmhouse sign next to the pail. The front door is a dark (fading) brown and I'm desperate to paint it white to match the inside. Perhaps when that's done, you will get a "bigger picture" of our cute porch.

I already had most of the supplies for this project, so the total cost was $3.99 for the pail. Sweet spring!

Linking to: A Vision to Remember, Christina's Adventures, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Hookin Up With Hepworths, Funky Junk Interiors, Be Different Act Normal, Young and Crafty

Girls Bedroom Makeover

Ever since we moved into our home, I have been trying to accept like the color my daughter picked for her room. It's called "Himalayan Mist" by Behr and it's..... an okay color. Her walls were painted this color but with the dark brown carpet, dark brown doors, and black ceiling fan, it just made the color look dirty blah.


Last month, we tiled her room and I was thisclose to repainting her walls. However, she insisted she still loved the color and I decided to give it one more shot. After all, we were about to add light colored tile, white baseboards, white doors, and bright wall decor.


Boy, has her room brightened up now.


Here is the before:

Those chest of drawers have been asking for a new paint job for a year and a half now. One day I will be brave enough to tackle them.

That brown carpet is all over our house. I was told by a friend (who liked it) that it "hides all the dirt." WHAT? No! I want that nasty dirt revealed so I can clean it up! Ew, buh-bye dirty carpet.

 helloooo tile!

After:

 

Look at how beautiful and clean that looks.

Cute wall decor from Savers. Each one was $2.99 but I had a 20% off coupon for donating a bag of items. Tip: I always leave a bag of donations in my car, specifically for unplanned Savers visits.

Also, Hobby Lobby had all their wall decor on sale for 50% off. I grabbed these mirrored words for $6 each. They really reflect light from her window and her room doesn't look like a dungeon anymore.

Her room isn't "done" yet. Seriously, are any of the rooms I've started "done?" Will they ever be "done?" I still need to paint her windowsill, fan, door frames, and put in some updated doors and knobs. Little at a time.

Linking up with: Motivate Me Monday, TDC Before & After Party

10,000th Viewer Feature!

Well, almost 10,000th viewer. ;)

Last month, I was celebrating the fact that I had hit 10,000 page views! I wanted to share this milestone with you and asked for the 10,000th viewer to message me, so I could feature them. Well, no one claimed that spot. In fact, only one person claimed to be close enough. Without further adieu, here is my first feature, awarded to my 10,003 viewer, Christina from Christina's Adventures!!

Christina is a seriously talented, crafty, lady and she loves fixing up old finds just as much as I do. Just look at this desk she painted and stenciled back to life:

The desk was FREE (thank you, Freecycle) and a bit old 'n gross. However, using paint and stencils, she transformed it into this GORGEOUS desk.

Another paint project she did, and my personal favorite, is what she did to a $3.90 bench from a thrift store. You knooow, I love me a good thrift store find. Here is the before:

I wouldn't have given that bench a second thought. Christina, however, saw potential (that and the woman can make anything beautiful again). Here is the after:

AHHH!!! Are you not amazed?! Unbelievable. I applaud you Ms. Christina.

Finally, check out how she gave a mirror a new coat of paint and used it to create a serene setting.

I'm in the middle of doing something similar and it may just be my first project fail. I wish Christina lived closer. :)

Thank you for viewing my blog. I look forward to hitting more milestones with you all. BIG THANK YOU to Christina at Christina's Adventures for letting me do a feature on you. You are such an inspiration to me. xoxo.

Under $80 Entryway Transformation

Hellooooo Blogland! I am so excited to finally share my "Entryway Transformation" with you!

Here is what our entryway looked like when we first moved in:

It is a relatively small area that opens up right into our living room. It was a space that was being ignored, as transformations were happening in other rooms. Then, one day last month, I couldn't take it anymore. This was what visitors saw as they walked in! It needed to change! It needed to be inviting. Welcoming.

So, the goal for this transformation was to "lighten it up" and keep it under $100 (and boy, was it easy to stay under budget).

Really, other than a complete paint job, the entryway didn't need much. The light fixture needed to be updated...

and I desperately searched Craigslist for a sofa table under $40 to put under the window, but came up empty handed.

First, we sanded down our dark, wood door (budget friendly means painting the door instead of buying a new one), and gave it 3 coats of white paint. Next, we painted the walls "Dusty Trail" by Olympic! This color is sooo beautiful and the pictures don't do it any justice.

Now, at this point, we realized the paint was all that was needed, so it was safe to "splurge" a little for a light fixture. I wanted a hanging fixture, but was really worried it would get bumped by someone's head (our ceilings are pretty low). So, "Plan B" was to find a fixture with frosted glass (like ones I see in newer homes).

This was our first time installing a light fixture and we were terrified of having to deal with wiring. In the end, we were so proud of ourselves. We updated our fixture in half an hour and NO ONE was electrocuted during the process. SCORE!

I was adamant on removing all of our popcorn ceiling before we moved in, but 6 months later, I really don't care. Eventually, it would be nice to see it gone, but for now it doesn't bother me as much. I lie. I'm too lazy to remove it after reading how hard/messy of a job it is. So, we painted a fresh coat over the popcorn.

One more time, for dramatic effect, here is the BEFORE:

Here is the AFTER:

Here is a breakdown of the costs:

$15.98 - 1 gal. of Olympic's "Dusty Trail"

$0.00 - paint for door, trim (already had from painting the floorboards in another room) Behr's "Ultra White"

$13.81 - Misc. paint supplies (new rollers and brushes)

$10.97 - 1 gal. Ceiling Paint, Olympic, on sale

$30.32 - New light fixture

TOTAL COST: $71.08

I love the way our entryway turned out. I thought I wanted brick red walls, but changed my mind when I saw this paint color on the internet. I really love it! I'm ready to continue painting down the hallway with this color.

On a side note, we have added something to our bathroom and I am thrilled about it...

Ta-da!!!

Yes, we started the potty training journey today. And by "started," I mean that we pulled it out of storage and introduced it to our toddler. :) She didn't use it, but we were just happy she wasn't scared of it either. We're going to take our time during this journey, unlike with my firstborn, and let her try this out when she feels ready. We decided not to push her. We'll see how long this takes. :)

Linking up with: Thrifty Decor Chick, Keeping It Simple, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Spring Accents for less than $10

Bloggers, March is upon us!

That can only mean one thing... spring is right around the corner and after the winter we had, here in the desert, I've never been more grateful for spring. I'm so eager for it, that I have already started adding flowers around the home. In truth, I'm not a "flower" kind of gal, but Hobby Lobby stole my heart with some of their faux flowers and I couldn't resist.

If any of you are like me, you are probably on a tight budget and want to decorate using little "spending cash." This is why Goodwill is my friend. Here are some mini projects I worked on (in between painting my entryway) that add some spring-like decor without breaking the bank.

Project 1: Twine accented vase for $1

Here is a simple vase with an ordinary white candle. Wrapping twine around it, though, adds a touch of sweetness. I'm sure almost everyone has a vase in their home and if not, Goodwill sells LOTS of them for pennies. The white candle and vase I've had for years. The twine was $1 at Dollar Tree.

Project 2: Flower Display for $6.49

Here, I took a Goodwill jar, for $2.99, and stuffed the vase with plastic bags to fill it up without having to use so much flower foam. Then, I added the foam on top and inserted flowers from Hobby Lobby ($3.50 at their half-off sale). I bought a pack of flower foam a year ago, don't remember the price, and I still have a lot left.

Simple, spring-y, fresh, and under $7.

Project 3: Adding "spring" to my desk for $6.49

I grabbed these little guys for $1 at the Dollar Tree. I spray painted them with a coat of primer, followed by 2 coats of "Heirloom White," and finished them off with a coat of gloss. I was feeling pretty nauseous by the time they were done. I do a lot of my painting in the garage (with the door open of course), because blowing dust is always in the air. Seriously, sometimes the desert life stinks.

I wanted to pair my bird with a plant, and this 99 cent find was the perfect container.

Again, I sprayed it with a primer and 2 coats of "Heirloom White," then filled it with plants I found at Hobby Lobby. The plants were $1.50 (half-off). I bought 3 of them to really fill up the container.

Those birds are so adorable. I bought 5 of them and plan on displaying them around the house. Ca-ute!

Linking up to: House of Grace, A Beach Cottage, House of Hepworths, Christina's Adventures