Summer Mantel

As soon as I heard TDC and 3 other ladies were going to have a combined link party for next month, I knew I had to jump on board with the "summer mantel" and "spray paint project" train! Here is how I combined the two, to create my thrifty, summer mantel.

First, I needed a focal point for my mantel. I have been looking for a mirror to place over it for longer than I want to admit. I bought one on Craigslist that I thought needed just a bit of TLC to bring it back to life. I was dead wrong. That mirror was going to cost more to fix than I bought it for. Well, luck finally came on my side when I found this at my local thrift shop on Monday:

A perfectly sized mirror for only $9.10! All it needed was some white spray paint to cover up all that dated brass and it would be like new again! On the same trip, I saw this cute birdcage that I couldn't pass up.

Although it wouldn't fit on my mantel, I knew it would look adorable in my living room. The birdcage was only $3.50!

Here is my finished mantel with items I already had, and most of them were blogged about since I found them at thrift stores.

 Yes, those are sticks... that I found... and spray painted white. The moss balls and birds were from the Dollar Tree. I spray painted the birds, mirror frame, and sticks white.

Remember my birdcage? 

It looks precious on my side table. I'm still debating whether I want to fill it with anything or leave it as is. What do you think? Is anyone else getting ready for the link party? Well, I'm off to the gym. Got to get in that last workout before the royal wedding!

Linking up to: Christina's Adventures, Funky Junk Interiors, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Thrifty Decor Chick, Keeping It Simple, House of Hepworths, Christina's Adventures



Happy Easter!

What a glorious, wondrous day this is!!! Happy Easter, everyone!

I just finished doing some last minute Easter preparations and I'm getting ready to HOP into bed. First, I wanted to share a craft that my daughter created and she was pretty excited that I would be sharing it with all of you.

Felt Easter Frame!

She used items I already had in my craft storage and I bought the foam eggs from the dollar store. We cut them in half and glued them to the felt. Then, she adorned the border with all things pretty! We glued some heavy duty magnets to the back and attached an Easter photo. Sweet, easy, adorable Easter frame created by a nine year old for under $1.

Have a wonderful day!

Oh death, where is your sting?

Oh hell! Where is your victory?

Oh Church! Come stand in the light!

Our God is not dead! He's alive! He's alive!

- Matt Maher "Christ is Risen"

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

Thrift Store Love

Looking back at my recent posts, there is a total lack of crafting going on. Granted, I've been doing a lot more remodeling lately, but crafts are my love. My outlet. I sought out inspiration on more than one trip to my favorite thrift store. However, nothing spoke to me. I started to worry that people weren't "spring cleaning" this year. *cue dramatic music* Noooo!

Well, someone finally cleaned house! Look at what I snagged during my latest thrift store visit:

I am loving turquoise and blue lately and this planter will look beautiful with some fresh, spring flowers. This cost me $3.99 (forgot my bag of donations for a discount this time).

This wooden container was $1.99. After cleaning and lining the inside with felt, I am going to use this at my daughters upcoming birthday party... as a utensil caddy. Cute! After that, maybe a planter for some herbs? The winter freeze killed my rosemary plant, so this might be an opportunity to try growing something. HA! Or maybe I'll just use it to hold my makeup brushes. No sense in killing another plant.

I know what you're thinking.. ew, right? Trust me! During a recent "link party" I participated in, there was a fellow blogger that had something just like this and she turned it into the cutest door decor! I am so copying inspired by her! I'm working on this project now and will post soon (and give credit where it's due). ;) This metal container was $3.99.

Lastly, this item wasn't found at a thrift store. I found it at Walmart (gasp, yes I shop there) and couldn't give up the great deal.

I have seen these exact same hurricane vases at GOODWILL for higher prices. Seriously, I couldn't pass it up. I'm not crazy about the color of wood, but a couple of coats of my trusty spray can ought to fix it. Can you just see this filled with Christmas berries? Or snow covered pine cones? UGH! Spring. Spring. Spring. Think Spring. Spring. Spring.....

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