Our First Home

Dollar Tree Painted Glass Plate

2009-12-02T01:44:00.006-06:00

After I made the ‘Give Thanks’ glass plate, Summer Rae left a comment that she had seen similar plates at her local Dollar Tree and sure enough I found a whole bunch of them at one of the local Dollar Trees in my area. At $1 a piece I could afford to create a new plate for each Holiday and change of season. Be sure to visit Latasha’s blog for her Dollar Tree gift card giveaway. Hurry though because it ends soon!

I started with this 10” clear glass plate.

I had some vinyl lettering that I had never used that was the perfect size for the plate. The only catch was that I like to decorate the back of my plates to allow the embellishments to show through the front of the glass. This normally wouldn’t present a problem but vinyl letterings come with the adhesive on the back of the letters and I needed adhesive on the front of the letters. So instead of removing the backing of the vinyl letters, I removed the front paper. I then used spray glue to coat the front of the letters and applied them to the back of the plate. This technique worked but I was left with a lot of left over adhesive on the plate. I used glass cleaner to remove the glue once I thought the letters were secure but that didn’t work out so well. I suppose some of the glass cleaner got under the letters and a couple began to peel off. I had to reapply spray glue to the individual letters and attach each one to the plate. This is why some of the letters aren’t perfectly aligned. I am going to have to find a better technique next time.

Here is the plate with the crooked letters attached. I just refused to abandon this project!

I added two coats of Rust-Oleum Metallic Gold Bright Coat to the back of the plate and finished it off with a coat of clear protective spray. I love this color – it is such a rich beautiful gold! I see many more future Christmas projects using this color.

I am linking up to Transformation Thursday at the Shabby Chic Cottage.

I am adding this project to Shanty 2 Chic’s Rust-Oleum Revamp party.

O’ Christmas Tree! Part VI – The Finished Tree w/ a Quick and Easy Tree Skirt

2009-11-30T00:01:00.004-06:00

I finished the final step in decorating my Christmas tree. I created a quick and easy Christmas tree skirt.

I started with two packages of this shimmery brown fabric mesh garland I got for 50% off at Hobby Lobby.

I didn’t even cut it! I just draped both pieces loosely around the tree stand. That way if I decide to use these pieces for a different purpose next year, they are still intact.

I then took some leftover ribbon and pinned it in a couple of places to the mesh garland. And there you have a quick and easy tree skirt!

I'm linking up to The DIY Show Off's 3rd Holiday Highlights Party. Go check out the other great holiday projects.

Bargain Find of the Week

2009-11-29T11:36:00.002-06:00

Although this weekend is the granddaddy of shopping bargains, I really didn’t feel up to leaving the house and battling the crowds so I don’t have any spectacular bargains to share. But Latasha was hitting up a few stores on Friday and I asked her to pick up this pair of 4ft pre-lit topiary trees from Wal-mart for $25.

I had been looking for inexpensive taller topiary trees for awhile now and $12.50 each is the lowest price I have ever seen for these.

Right now I have the pair flanking my TV console and I will probably decorate them with some ribbon, but I have a feeling that they will probably grace many different areas of my home before the Christmas season is over.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T00:01:00.002-06:00

I wish everybody a joyful and blessed day! And thank you Amani for your lovely turkey hand drawing. I love you, kiddo!

O’ Christmas Tree! Part V – Topping Off the Tree.

2009-11-25T00:01:00.001-06:00

If you think I overdid it on the tree – wait until you see my topper! This topper was really an accident. For some reason, I never seem to find nice tree toppers on post Christmas sales so I have always used a bow or something else as a temporary solution until I found the perfect topper. Over the years I have accumulated a large selection of Christmas floral stems and leaves. Well last year, I decided to stick a couple of the floral stems into the top of the tree. I decided I like the look and just kept going until I had created a large Christmas floral arrangement on the top of the Christmas tree.

I start with these two glittered floral sprays. I have a plastic tie loosely wrapped around the top of the tree and I use it to hold the stems in place.

Next, I start randomly placing stems throughout the top of the tree as if I was arranging florals in a vase. I have picked up all of the stems from places like Michael’s, Target, Garden Ridge, etc. for huge discounts after the season. I have actually purchased some before Christmas at a discount because they were considered Fall clearance. So if you use a lot of browns and copper in your Christmas decor be sure to check out the Fall clearance for items that you can also use for Christmas.

These glittered sprays are the only things I have purchased recently to decorate my tree this year. I found these glittered sprays at the Dollar Tree a few weeks ago and I bought a dozen of them. I wish I would have bought them all because I went back to get some more and they were all gone. I could really use some more for my mantel garland.

I think my topper adds a good foot to my 6.5ft tree! Next – A Quick and Easy Tree Skirt!

O’ Christmas Tree! Part IV – DIY Bling Ornaments

2009-11-24T00:01:00.001-06:00

Since I am not using any glass balls on the tree, I wanted to make sure that the tree still has some sparkle. I accomplished this by making some tree jewelry.

I found these Gem Stones and Gem Drops at Z Gallerie a few years. They are acrylic instead of crystal but they are faceted and they do sparkle a bit. They could have easily been used as a vase filler but they came with holes in them also to allow them to be strung up for garland or such. So I used my jewelry making supplies and extra beads to create a number of these drop ornaments.

I think they add just the bit of sparkle I was looking for.

Next – Topping off the Tree!

Linking to Kimba's DIY Day at a Soft Place to Land.

O’ Christmas Tree! Part III – Oversized DIY Ornaments

2009-11-23T00:01:00.000-06:00

After the ribbon and floral picks, I start placing my large size ornaments throughout the tree.

I love to use large glass ornaments, but every year I have lost more and more of my beautiful glass ornaments due to breakage. Only the glass ones seem to ever fall off the tree! So this year I am using my glass ornaments on more level surfaces only. As a substitute I am using these large plastic ornaments I bought for $0.79 for a pack of three at last year’s Hobby Lobby’s after Christmas clearance.

I bought 5 packs of these and I have decorated them in different ways. I have spray painted some, embossed some, glittered some and beaded some. It was fun trying to come up with different ways to decorate them.

I also used four of these oversized crosses that I purchased at Garden Ridge’s after Christmas clearance a few years ago. I liked these so much that I went to every Garden Ridge that was within a reasonable driving distance to find more of these, but I could only find four.

I know you are probably saying to yourself that I should really stop now - add a topper and call it done. Not yet! Next – Bling Bling!

Bargain Find of the Week

2009-11-22T00:01:00.000-06:00

This week’s bargain find comes from Hobby Lobby’s 80% off Fall/Thanksgiving clearance. These bronze beaded trees costs $4.80, $4.00 and $3.20 after discount. I would have liked to wait to purchase them for 90% off but I had a feeling that they wouldn’t last that long. Although Hobby Lobby considers them Fall decor, I think they could be easily pass as Christmas decor in my home.

O’ Christmas Tree! Part II – Nontraditional Ornaments

2009-11-21T00:01:00.001-06:00

I like a very full and lush Christmas tree and even post Christmas bargain shopping and DIY ornaments can still add up in price and be very time consuming. So I use nontraditional items as ornaments to add to the fullness of my Christmas tree.

One of these nontraditional items is candle rings. I purchased these from Michael’s at a 90% off after Christmas sale a few years ago. I think they cost $0.49 each and I use about 10 throughout the tree. I place the rings around a group of tips and push it towards the trunk of the tree.

I also use Christmas floral picks in the tree also. I lay the larger ones of top of the branches and the smaller ones are great for covering up the twisted tips that hold the ribbon in place. I also purchased these at 90% off a few years ago from Michael’s at prices varying from about $0.19 to $0.59 each. I use about two dozen picks throughout the tree.

Next – Oversized DIY Ornaments. Are you wondering to yourself yet “Where is she going to find room to put anything else on that tree!?” I am only halfway finished at this point. I told you I like a full and lush tree!

O’ Christmas Tree! Part I - Ribbon

2009-11-20T13:53:00.003-06:00

This is Part I in a series of posts detailing how I decorate my Christmas tree. I usually try to wait until Thanksgiving day to put up the tree, but after I ventured out last night for the first time in almost two weeks I was surprised to see how many Christmas decorations were already up – commercial and residential. So since I am moving slower than usual due to the surgery, I figured I should start early so I could be finished by Thanksgiving.

I start with an artificial 6.5 ft pre-lit slim Christmas tree. This tree is so easy to put up. The branches are prehinged and the tree comes in three sections. I easily attach the sections and the lights, the hinged branches fall in place and with a little fluffing of the tips, the tree is ready to decorate. I took me about 5 minutes total!

The first item I use to decorate the tree is ribbon. I love different types of wired ribbon that can be twisted and shaped in various ways. I bought this ribbon from a local Christmas decorating store and it is the only items in my Christmas decor that I didn’t make or buy in a post Christmas sale and paid full price for. They costs about $12.95 - $14.95 for a 10 yard roll. I love them and have reused them over and over for a couple of years now.

I use the tips of the tree to hold the ribbon in place.

I don’t have a specific set of rules here. I just start intertwining the ribbon throughout the tree. Since all of the ribbon is wired it is easy to shape and twist the ribbon different ways. I just keep going until it appears that the tree is adequately covered in ribbon.

Next – Using nontraditional ornaments/filler to decorate the Christmas tree.

Pick Colors You Love!

2009-11-18T18:27:00.008-06:00

When trying to decide on colors to use to furnish and decorate your home, look no further then your own closet! It is likely that the majority of colors you choose for your wardrobe and accessories are the same colors you are most attracted to and would feel most comfortable with in your home. Here are a couple of pieces from my wardrobe to further illustrate this point.

This is one of my favorite handbags.

Here is a pair of shoes that immediately caught my eye when I was on my way to the restroom in Macy's. I wasn't even shopping for shoes, but at a clearance and coupon price of $17 and it being tax free weekend in Texas I couldn't pass these up!

And here is my "goes with everything" lipgloss.

Do you notice a pattern here? They all contain various shades of browns, beiges and golds - the same colors I have used to decorate most of my home (and my blog!).

Splurge of the Year

2009-11-15T05:00:00.000-06:00

Since I haven’t been able to do any bargain shopping this week due to my surgery, I thought I would share the story behind my splurge purchase of the year instead of my bargain purchase of the week.

In the past I had always done the matching bedroom sets with the bed and nightstands and dresser and mirror, but I was so over that now. I lived in apartments with ample closet space so I came to realize that I only needed minimal bedroom furniture. My two key pieces other than a bed was bedside chests to sit reading lamps, etc… and store some personal items such as books and extra toiletries and somewhere to place the TV opposite the bed that included drawers to store miscellaneous items from pockets and handbags.

When I saw these two mirrored pieces in Z Gallerie almost two years ago, I immediately liked them and I knew that they were what I wanted for my master bedroom. I loved the idea of adding glamour to a bedroom with the use of mirrored furniture and I loved that the pieces are so versatile. If I ever wanted new bedroom furniture, that mirrored chest would look perfect in an entryway and the the wine cabinet could be used for its intended purpose in a dining room.

The only thing that held me back from immediately purchasing the pieces were the prices. The chest was $699 and the wine cabinet was $899. A little more than my frugal self wanted to spend. I had seen Z Gallerie do pretty good price cuts on some of their furniture before, so I figured if I waited long enough the price may be reduced enough and I can swoop in for the purchase. Well I waited. And waited…

And Miley Cyrus bedroom was featured in In Style magazine and what do I see next to her bed. My mirrored chests! And guess what happened soon after that. The price of the chests went from $699 to $799! Coincidence? NOT! I had waited over a year and the price of the chests went up $100 instead of down. Since my fondness for the mirrored pieces hadn’t dwindled even after all that time, I decided to take the plunge and buy them anyway.

At $799 each, I still couldn’t bring myself to buy 2 of the mirrored chests, so I purchased one and decided to use a round table on the other side of the bed. But there is too big of a height difference and it looks disproportionate, so I must find another option.

I suppose as a consolation for the chest going up in price, the wine cabinet had went down in price to $799 by the time I purchased both pieces. I do want to find a way to conceal the wine racks. I thought about using mirrored or frosted spray paint on the glass doors, but I don’t want to make a permanent change to them. I may try stainless steel contact paper on the glass to give the appearance of a mirrored inset. Any other ideas?

To compensate for the splurge, everything else in the bedroom is going to be completed on a tight budget. I purchased this very sturdy king size bed frame from West Elm on sale for under $250.

I plan to build an upholstered headboard to duplicate the Jameson Upholstered Bed from Restoration Hardware. I may also upholster the side rails of the West Elm bed frame to look more like the Jameson bed.

I purchased this accent chair from Homegoods for $75 to use in the corner of the room by the closet. I also found a $5 can of Oops paint in this rich chocolate color that I am thinking about using. Dayka posted this picture of designer Eddie Ammonds’ master bedroom that really sparked my interest. I love the idea of doing an entire upholstered wall behind the bed in a lighter color and a rich chocolate on the rest of the walls. I think that would alleviate my fears of the room becoming too cave like.

I will sew my own duvet using this chocolate and white damask fabric I bought online. I will compliment it with this quilted coverlet I purchased on clearance from Target last year. I also bought an extra twin size coverlet to make pillows and a table skirt. I am still trying to decide on an extra accent color to change out seasonally.

So in my opinion, I think it is okay to splurge on an item that you really really want as long as you can truly afford it and it doesn’t cause you any guilt after purchasing it. I have no regrets about my splurge purchase and currently they are the only decor items in my bedroom that make me smile – but I am going to be change that soon enough.

The Neglected Master Bedroom

2009-11-14T02:26:00.002-06:00

Considering all of the time and effort I have put into other areas of my home, you would think that our bedroom would have some sort of style to it. NOT! I neglected this room because no visitors ever enter the master bedroom. I rationalize that I can just close the door whenever company comes over. Do others do this also? I shouldn’t think of our bedroom this way. It should be a place of comfort and relaxation. I should put as much emphasis on it as I do the rest of my home. Although it probably won’t be seen by many visitors, it should be enough that we will see it everyday. So I pledge that as soon as I am fully recovered from surgery, I will tackle this room and no longer neglect it.

My plans for this room include:

Building an upholstered headboard.
Finding a wall color and finalizing a room color scheme.
Finding a side table or chest for the other side of the bed that is equal height to the mirrored side chest.
Sewing a duvet and all of the accent pillows for the bed and sewing curtains for the windows.
Finding new lamps.
Painting the brass ceiling fan.
Finding artwork for the walls.

My Public Service Announcement

2009-11-13T11:24:00.002-06:00

I know I have been MIA this week and I debated with myself about posting such a personal subject on a home decor blog but I figured if I could give some helpful information to at least one person, it would be worthwhile. And I have met some real nice people from blogging and it feels so much like an extended family.

On this past Monday at the age of 35, I had a hysterectomy. Fortunately, I was able to keep one ovary so I will not have to take hormone replacements. This surgery came as a disappointment to me because I hoped to at least have a chance at bearing another child if I wanted to in the next few years.

The hysterectomy was necessary due to my numerous and enlarged fibroid tumors. When I first became aware that I had fibroids years ago, I was told that they were benign and that I didn’t have to worry about them until they started causing me problems. Well that wasn’t totally correct. Due to my lack of knowledge of the subject of fibroids, my fibroids grew to the point of no return. For the most part, I was symptomless because I had normal albeit slightly heavy periods every month. I never had multiple periods or missed periods and never had any pain other than normal menstrual cramps controlled by over the counter medication. I contributed my expanding waistline to the lack of regular exercise. By the time the fibroids had swollen my uterus to the size of a seven month pregnancy and I was having periods every two weeks and intolerable pain (which happened within a month of the surgery being scheduled), it was too late and surgery was my only option available.

If I had been closely monitoring my fibroids over the years, I could have possibly shrunk them with new medications that are now available or had a myomectomy to remove just the tumors and been able to keep my reproductive organs. So if you or someone you know have been diagnosed with fibroids, don’t wait until obvious symptoms appear to have the current status of your fibroids checked.

And last but certainly not least, THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of my friends and family who visited, called, texted, sent well wishes, sent flowers, picked up/dropped off my daughter to various events, cooked food, etc… And a BIG THANK YOU to my blog sister Latasha for all of your support. So since I have a six week recovery time, my decor projects will be very small scale for the time being. So I am off to catch up on reading everyone else's blog and responding to comments and emails. On to regularly scheduled programming.

Bargain Find of the Week

2009-11-08T08:59:00.001-06:00

This week’s bargain find came from Ross for $4.99. This rubber scroll mat is a good find in its self, but I don’t have a need for a new door mat so I have other plans for it. Here are a couple of possibilities:

Maybe I could use it as a stencil to create a wall tapestry inspired by this $699 one from Horchow.

Or maybe I could do a faux paint treatment on it to have it resemble iron like this $215 iron wall grille from Accents of Salado and hang it on the wall. But whatever I decide to do with it I will probably be sure to get my $4.99’s worth out of it.

Wisteria Shadowbox Knockoff

2009-11-04T01:15:00.008-06:00

When I saw that Shanty 2 Chic was having a Gorilla Glue party, I was excited to see the upcoming new posted projects but disappointed that I wasn’t going to be able to participate in it because I had never used wood glue in a craft project before and didn’t have any on the horizon.

But that all changed after a recent visit to Wisteria.com and I saw these shadowbox display cases. As soon as I saw them, I knew that it was my Gorilla Glue project!

I used an 5x7 unfinished wood shadowbox, candlestick and finial - all purchased at Hobby Lobby for 30% off. I also purchased a larger 11x14 wood shadowbox, a taller candlestick and another finial from Michaels.

I used an anodized bronze spray paint as a basecoat and brushed brown metallic glaze and Spanish Copper Rub ‘n Buff over all of the wood pieces to create a faux metal appearance on the surfaces.

I screwed small eye hooks into the top of each shadowbox. I removed the backs of both shadowboxes and used it as a template to cut a piece of acrylic sheet I had leftover from this poster frame to fit the back of each shadowbox.

I used the fast setting, short clamp time Gorilla Wood glue to glue the candlestick to the bottom of each shadowbox. I also hammered three small nails thru the bottom of the shadowboxes into the candlesticks for added stability. I also glued each finial into the top of each shadowbox and hung the crosses from the eye hooks.

Bargain Find of the Week

2009-11-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

This week’s bargain find is a set of glass canisters that I picked up at a local thrift store for $4.50 for the entire set. I saw these twice at the store before I actually purchased them on the third visit.

It wasn’t until I saw these inspiration pieces at Hobby Lobby that I became convinced that the canisters would be a good buy. I plan to add some embellishments to the corks of my canisters.

Happy Harvest!

2009-10-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

Magnetic Chalkboard Art Project

2009-10-26T01:32:00.001-05:00

At the beginning of this month, I posted this $7.99 frame from Hobby Lobby as the Bargain Find of the Week. At the time, I didn’t know how I was going to fill the frame or where exactly I would place it in the house. But I am a firm believer of letting things sit until you find some inspiration and have a clear vision of how you want a finished project to look and feel.

I found my inspiration for this project in several places. First, one day I walked in the front door and noticed the empty frame sitting on the easel. I hadn’t noticed it immediately after placing the frame and easel in that spot, but I noticed that day that it could be clearly seen when standing in my front entryway. That is when it occurred to me that I should make some sort of message board.

But what kind of message board? I had seen some great chalkboard projects done all over blog land, but I just never thought I could fit a black or dark grey chalkboard into my Family Room decor. Then I found a jar of BROWN chalkboard paint from Joann’s. Perfect! I still wanted to add a little sparkle to the chalkboard though. I found that inspiration over at Shanty 2 Chic’s Too Cute Magnets! If you haven’t done so already, please check out these two wonderful ladies’ blog. They have some terrific projects and I also won their most recent giveaway (I love my pink hammer!). Whitney’s project inspired me to use a magnetic paint primer under my chalkboard paint so I could attach some sparkly letters to the board also.

So I used the hardboard backing from this poster frame (I will be using the acrylic front in another project to be completed soon) and added so many coats of magnetic primer that I actually lost count. I think it was about 4 or 5 though. The instructions said that the magnetic receptivity increased with the amount of coats added and I wanted to make sure my magnets would stick. I then went over the top with 2 coats of the brown chalkboard paint.

I found the exact same letters Whitney used on sale for $5.99 at Joann’s last week. I spray painted and embossed them and added pieces of magnet sheets to the back of each letter.

That pack of punch out comes with tons of letters. So far, I have enough to spell out Welcome, Happy Harvest, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Easter. I plan to decorate all of these letters and change out my message board seasonally. I think this is another one of my most favorite projects so far. And to think it all started with a $12.50 easel and $7.99 frame that I thought was just too good of a bargain to pass up!

I am linking up to Kimba's Diy Day at A Soft Place to Land. Go check out the great projects!

Bargain Find of the Week

2009-10-25T22:36:00.002-05:00

This week’s bargain find is this tall and slim apothecary jar that I picked up from Hobby Lobby for $6.90. It was originally priced at $19.99. Not a rock bottom price, but probably one of the cheapest clear glass apothecary jars I have found in a very long time. I plan to collect more of these in various shapes and sizes and use them as a Christmas centerpiece on my dining room table. I think a grouping of these would look fabulous filled with glass Christmas ornaments!

Decorating a Sofa Table

2009-10-24T01:05:00.002-05:00

I posted back in early September asking advice on how to decorate my new sofa table. Well I got a lot of good advice and this week it finally all came together.

I started with these three candleholders I already had from Hobby Lobby’s last 80% home decor clearance sale and I added these DIY embossed candles to them.

One of the most repeated piece of advice I received was to add a basket to the bottom shelf. So this was my very first new purchase for the table. This basket has come in very handy for storing newspapers and magazines until they are read and recycled.

My friend Latasha surprised me with this gorgeous Fleur de Lis platter that she knew would look terrific in my family room. I have gradually started picking up various Fleur de Lis pieces since then because it reminds me of home (I was born and raised in south Louisiana and lived there up until 11 years ago).

All of these glass pieces was found at the thrift store or the Dollar Tree. I posted about creating this mini cake stand here. I made those glittered/sugared pumpkins to add a touch of fall to them and added some ribbon and tassels. I plan to change the decor out to match the current seasons throughout the year.

On the top of the sofa table, I added this oval glass tray I picked up on clearance at Target. I placed these decorative balls I made on it. Since I don’t have the space to add tables to the ends of the sofa and this table is as tall as the sofa, I added a set of coasters to use when a place is needed to sit drinks down. Did you notice another touch of Fleur de Lis on the coaster holder?

And last, I added this decorative and functional storage box/book to the top of the sofa table. I use it to store family pictures and keepsakes and mementos. I love having them within easy reach and not stored away. That way I still get to enjoy them more often even if they are not on constant display.

My advice to anyone who needs to decorate a sofa table or another large piece of furniture is to don’t rush it. Let the decor evolve as needed over time. When you do buy something, place it on the piece and live with it a couple of days before you commit to it. Not everything I purchased for this table actually ended up there as time went on. I took a while to finally get a finished look to this table, but I am glad that I can say I honestly like every piece of decor that is there and that I am not just filling space.

Going Green with a Brown Thumb!

2009-10-19T10:18:00.004-05:00

After Symone’s Mommy and Symone bought my daughter a bouquet of flowers in honor of her first high school dance and we enjoyed those gorgeous blooms for a week, I knew that I needed to incorporate something green and living (or was once living) into my living spaces to break up all of the browns. But I knew that I have never been successful in keeping green plants alive, so I would have to come up with an alternative. And I found it in preserved sheet moss and preserved reindeer moss.

I used some small urns purchased for 50% off from Hobby Lobby, a Styrofoam ball and a Styrofoam cone and hot glued the moss onto the foam using my LOW temp glue gun. That reminds me – do you know that there are low temp glue guns? I’ve read so much about burned fingertips in blog land that I don’t think a lot of people may be aware of them. I works the exact same way as hot temp glue guns, but it just doesn’t get as hot. I find them to be perfect for projects like this that involves using your fingers to press lightweight items into the glue.

I used the sheet moss on the cone topiary and the reindeer moss on the ball topiary. I loved how the came out and adds just a bit of green to my living spaces. I’ll definitely be making more of these to place all around my house.

I am linking up to Kimba's DIY Day at a Soft Place to Land.

Bargain Find of the Week

2009-10-18T11:39:00.000-05:00

This week's bargain find wasn't found in a store, but in my garage! I found these Christmas decorations that I purchased at Garden Ridge in late January of this year for 90% off. I had completely forgotten about these items and stored them away with my other Christmas decorations and moved them to my new home in April. While organizing the garage I stumbled across a receipt totaling $6.93 for various Christmas items. I started going through bins and I felt like I was shopping in my garage. I found 2 bundles of 9-ft pre-lit garland, 2 7-ft bow Christmas tree toppers and a couple of berry picks. As much as possible, I try to purchase seasonal decor items after the season is over for 90% off. So I always get to shop my stored items in the following season. I can't wait to find creative ways to incorporate these items in my Christmas decor this year.

Quick and Easy Glass Display Stand

2009-10-15T10:33:00.005-05:00

Glass cake stands like this are hard to come by in the thrift stores I frequent. Even the cheese domes have seemed to increase in popularity lately and aren’t seen as frequently. But I finally found one yesterday at the same thrift store I purchased my bargain chair from.

I had no so luck in finding a cake stand to use with it though. So I used a sundae dish from the Dollar Tree and a thrift store dessert plate to make one. I didn’t even glue them together. I just turned the sundae dish upside and set the dessert plate on top. Quick and easy!

I am linking up to Creative Cats Friday at Poppies at Play. Go check out the amazing ideas!

‘Give Thanks’ Painted Glass Platter

2009-10-11T22:10:00.009-05:00

Okay, I have been a little obsessed with decorating glass objects lately. This is my third glass project in as many weeks. I promise I will stop – right after I complete one for Christmas… and maybe Easter also. My inspiration for this piece came after I saw similar Fall decor platter at Hobby Lobby with gold leaves and a green background.

I started with a plain glass platter I picked up from Wal-mart. I then printed a design in reverse and taped it to the front of the platter.

Next I used Liquid Leaf and a small paintbrush to trace the design onto the back of the platter.

I then sprayed about 3 thin coats of Krylon Metallic spray paint in Sparkling Canyon onto the back of the platter and finished it off with a coat of Valspar Clear Gloss spray paint.

Because I used paint supplies that I already had on hand, the only costs involved was the $4 platter from Wal-mart. I plan to look for glass plates and platters at the thrift store to be able to do more of these projects in the future at an even less expensive cost.

I am linking up to the Fall Festival at The DIY Show Off. Be sure to visit the great Fall projects that are being showcased.

I am also linking up to the Knock Off Knock Out Party at Its So Very Cheri! Go check out the fabulous projects there too.

I am also linking up to Kimba's DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land.

Bargain Find of the Week

2009-10-11T00:01:00.004-05:00

I think this may be my favorite bargain find of the week so far! I picked up this week’s bargain find at a local thrift store for $37.50. If you are reading this, thank you so much Shine for turning me on to this place. The fabric on this chair is in terrific condition. There is no noticeable wear and tear, stains or smells!

And the very best part of this find – It blends in perfectly with the rest of my family room. I don’t need to re-stain the wood or change the upholstery. After a good vacuuming and steam cleaning (just for good measure), I will have expanded my family room seating for under $40. Now, I am the lookout for the perfect side table!

I'm linking up to the Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday party. Be sure to check the other frugal finds and ideas over there.

Glidden Paint is giving away a free Quart!

2009-10-10T11:31:00.002-05:00

Glidden Paint is having another free paint giveaway. This one is not as quick as the last giveaway because it involves having to mail in a form and send in another paint brand label, but you still get a free quart out of the deal. Hurry though because this offer ends Sunday, October 11th.

Glidden Paint Test Drive

Dining Room Wall Treatment

2009-10-07T21:19:00.003-05:00

I completed my dining room wall treatment all by myself. This included adding two coats of paint, the gold paint pen diamonds, upholstery nail heads, chair rail and shadow box molding! And to top it off - the ceiling is over 11 feet high in this room! (I included more of the details involved in this room here and here.) This was actually the first time I stood on a ladder taller than a 3-step step ladder. This room was a LOT of work and I still have some finishing touches to put into it, but it gives me a great sense of accomplishment and pride to know that I was able to do it all by myself.

I am participating in Shanty2Chic's first ever link party 'I Made it Without my Hubby'!

Glass Cutting Board with Vinyl Art & Gold Leaf

2009-10-07T02:20:00.013-05:00

Whenever possible, I try to make a practical household item also function as a decorative household item. So when I needed a new cutting board, I set out to make sure it was decorative as well as functional. I used a method similar to last week’s DIY glass platter to decorate the cutting board.

I started with this two sided glass cutting board I picked up from Wal-mart for $6.96. The board is smooth on one side and textured on the other. I added all of the embellishments to the smooth side only. Therefore, I plan to only use the textured side for cutting purposes.

I printed a quote in mirror image and taped it to the top (textured side) of the board. I then flipped it over to the underside (smooth side)and used a small paintbrush dipped in gold leaf adhesive to trace the quote onto the underside of the board.

After the adhesive was tacky I then applied the gold leaf over the traced quote and brushed away the excess gold leaf. I used another small paintbrush to apply sealer to the gold leaf.

I then used my inkjet printer to print some flourishes onto the clear adhesive vinyl sheet.

I then applied the vinyl to the underside of the cutting board and lightly sprayed a clear sealer to the entire underside of the board. To keep from ruining the embellishments, I will hand wash the board without fully immersing it. Now I have a decorative as well as practical kitchen countertop item.

I am linking up to Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage.

DIY Pumpkin Tassel

2009-10-06T02:39:00.005-05:00

I made my first tassel today! This was a fun and very inexpensive project.

I said earlier that I wouldn't have any new home decor posts this week because I was busy making Homecoming mums, but during one of my many trips to Michaels to pick up mum supplies I purchased this cute Fall pick on sale for 99 cents. So I decided to take a break from the mums and craft a quick and simple tassel. First, I glazed the pick with a little brown metallic glaze.

Then I used an empty plastic ribbon spool to make the base of the tassel. I hot glued the pumpkin pick to the spool. Then I started gluing fringe I had leftover from various sewing projects to the spool. I used a gold eye pin from my jewelry making supplies and some leftover ribbon to tie my finished tassel to my entryway lamp.

The only cost I incurred was the pumpkin pick for 99 cents because I had everything else on hand! This is a great way to repurpose leftover fringe that is too short for other projects.

I am linking up to Its So Very Cheri 'I made my own Tassel Party'.

I am linking up to Kimba's DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land.

The reason why there will be no new home decor projects posted this week...

2009-10-05T02:09:00.006-05:00

I live in Texas.

It is Homecoming Week at my daughter's High School.

I have a reputation for being the crafty Mom (Hmm, I wonder how that happened. Ha ha.).

Enough said.

P.S. For all of the readers that aren't located in the Southwestern US and are wondering what in the world is that in that picture, I have been busy creating Homecoming Mums for my daughter and her friends. Homecoming Mums are VERY elaborate corsages that girls wear on the day of the Homecoming football game.

Bargain Find of the Week

2009-10-04T15:57:00.011-05:00

This week's bargain find comes from Hobby Lobby. I purchased this 24x36 open back picture frame for $7.99! It is sitting on a floor easel that I purchased a few weeks back from Garden Ridge also at a great bargain price of $12.50.

I suppose the 90% off markdown is due to this small chip in one of the corners. Definitely not anything that would keep me from purchasing it! I don't exactly know yet what I am going to frame but it looks great now just sitting empty in my Family Room. Any suggestions, anyone?

I was also able to pick up another smaller frame for $4.99 to complete my collection for my family photo wall that is going in my hallway. I bought one of these frames from Hobby Lobby on clearance about 2 years ago. Ever since then, whenever I would spot one of these styles on clearance, I would pick it up. I never knew exactly what I was going to do with them until I moved into my house last spring and saw this long narrow hallway wall. I will soon be using my mat cutter and framing a lot of candid photos of family and friends!

I have used a lot of open back picture frames in various ways for wall decor throughout my home and all of them were purchased on clearance at large discounts. For example, I used these two clearance frames also from Hobby Lobby to create my own matted artwork in my breakfast nook.

I purchased these two large frames from a local furniture store and they were deeply discounted due to minor nicks and scratches. I used one to frame a vinyl wall clock and one to frame a cross that flanks my mantel in the Family room.

I am fortunate enough to have 5 Hobby Lobby stores within 15 miles of my house and I have noticed that at least two of them now have a clearance section of open back frames marked down 50% - 90% off because of scratches and dents. One of these stores have had this section open for weeks now - so this may be a permanent fixture in some of the stores. If you have a Hobby Lobby near you and are in need of some frames, this may be a great place to start looking.

Hollow Macrame Balls Gone Wrong!

2009-09-29T19:35:00.017-05:00

Not all projects I start turn out exactly like I envisioned them so I thought I would share with you a project that went a different direction along the way. I was so inspired by Maryann's Hollow Jute Twine Balls over at Domestically Speaking , that I decided to try to create my own version.

Instead of using jute, I spotted this macrame braid cord at Hobby Lobby and I thought the colors would be perfect in my Family Room. Initially, I had concerns about the thickness of this cord, but I figured enough glue should harden it - Right?

So, I went about using the same process Maryann described and blew up a balloon and wrapped the macrame cord that had been soaking in Shimmer Mod Podge mixed with a little water around the balloon. I also repeated the same process using some tiny leather strips I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I then set it aside to dry. I still had a nagging concern that the macrame ball might not shape correctly because of the thickness of the cord, but it thought enough glue should harden it - Right?

WRONG! I popped the balloon, let it deflate and pulled it through the side. I then tried to arrange the macrame ball on the glass tray and it started to disassemble in my hands! I was left with a pile of shimmering, slightly stiff macrame cord. By the way, the leather ball turned out perfectly because the strips are so thin and lightweight that they took the shape of the balloon without a problem.

Not one to easily give up on a project and considering the fact that I bought 100 yards of macrame cord, I had to find a way to make this project work! Maryann mentioned in her post that she wrapped some jute around a styrofoam ball. I remembered that I had some styrofoam balls left over from another project gone wrong. Last Christmas, I decided I wanted to make large glittered Christmas tree ornaments from styrofoam balls. I didn't know at the time that some spray adhesives would melt foam! I still tried to glitter the half melted balls and they turned out horribly. I didn't totally give up on this project though - I just suspended it until the next year and I didn't throw away the balls because I thought they might come in useful one day. So, I used my low temp glue gun and glued the macrame cord tightly around the styrofoam ball.

As an added bonus, I loved the texture and color that the Shimmer Mod Podge gave the macrame ball that I am going to brush it on the other balls that hadn't been soaked in glue. In the above picture the one of the right is covered in Shimmer Mod Podge and on the left isn't. But in all actuality, Maryann's hollow jute twine balls are a very easy and fun project to do - if you use lighter materials than I did.

DIY Vinyl Art on Glass Platter

2009-09-28T20:20:00.027-05:00

I created this glass platter to display on my entryway console using inkjet vinyl and gold leaf. I wish the edges of the vinyl wasn't so apparent but I'll try using a thinner vinyl next time.

I was inspired by this Christmas ornament I spotted at Kohl's recently and an expensive glass platter that I saw in a local home decor store. I didn't get a picture of the platter, but it was beautiful. I always seem to break my glass ornaments, so I knew the platter would be the route to take.

I started with an inexpensive glass square plate from Wal-mart. My first thought was that I could use my letter stamps and stamp the platter with StazOn ink which is made for non-porous surfaces. But since I wanted all of the decor on the underside of the plate, all of my lettering would appear backwards. Then I remembered some sample papers I had bought from an online store. This paper was clear cling vinyl and clear adhesive vinyl that was made to be used with inkjet printers. I had bought it weeks ago with the intention of making my own vinyl wall art, but I had never got around to that project. I thought that this was the perfect time to try out my sample sheets, but I knew I had to be extra careful because I only had a few sample sheets to try and make this work.

So I used Microsoft Word to create the layout for the saying and I printed it in Mirror image on the vinyl cling sheet using the Transparency setting. I then cut it out and placed it in the center of the plate.

I thought I would then stamp the decorative flourishes on the plate using the StazOn ink. I tried one edge and determined that I didn't like it very much so I immediately wiped it out and went another route. I had used my only sheet of cling vinyl, but I still had a sheet of adhesive vinyl left so I used that sheet to print out some flourishes in color. I then cut them out and applied them to the plate also.

At this point, I could have probably stopped and proudly displayed my plate as is. But I decided to gold leaf the entire plate. I had never tried gold leafing before.

First I brushed the antiquing glaze on the underside of the plate and then I added the adhesive for the gold leaf.

I have to admit - gold leaf was not an easy project for me. Those little thin sheets of leaf had a mind of their own - or I just didn't know what I was doing. But I completed it and I noticed that the gold leaf accented the vinyl edges more than I liked, but that is okay. Practice makes perfect and I will be practicing on a decorative Thanksgiving platter soon.

I am linking up to Kimba's DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land. I am also linking up to my very first Make Your Monday party @ Twice Remembered.

I am also joining my first Celebrate the Holidays party at It So Very Cheri.

Bargain Find of the Week

2009-09-27T21:26:00.004-05:00

This week's bargain find comes from Target for $4.24! After posting the pictures from last week's pumpkin topiary and Fall wreath projects, I really noticed how incomplete my front door looked without a welcome mat. I had been on the lookout for an inexpensive one since then and I was pleasantly surprised when I ran across this very nice Fall themed mat today.

Before:

After:

I think it completes the space very nicely.

I am linking up to Rhoda's It's Fall, Y'all! party at Southern Hospitality.

I am also joining my very first Frugalicious Friday party over at Finding Fabulous. Go check out all of the over frugal finds!

Fall Wreath

2009-09-25T22:41:00.014-05:00

After completing my pumpkin topiary, I wanted a Fall wreath to go along with it. With the exception of the Dollar Tree ribbon used to hang the wreath, I created the wreath using Fall clearance items I purchased last year from Garden Ridge.

I used a large wire wreath form like the one above and used floral wire to add various strings of garland and ribbon to it. I then stuck some Fall picks through the wire. I wanted to make it so that I could easily deconstruct it and redo it for next year (or next month for that matter).

I knew that I had to hang the wreath so that I could still see through the peephole, so the Nester's method of hanging a wreath was the perfect solution for me.

Now I just need to find the perfect welcome mat to complete my Fall outdoor decor.

I am also linking up to my very first Fall Festival Party at the DIY Show Off!

I am also linking up to my very first Celebrate the Holidays Party at Its So Very Cheri.

I am linking up to Rhoda's It's" Fall, Y'all! party at Southern Hospitality.

Pumpkin Topiary w/ House Numbers

2009-09-23T22:49:00.017-05:00

This is my very first outdoor decor project for my new home! I saw a similar project online a couple of years ago and I have wanted to recreate my version for some time now, but I never had the appropriate outdoor space in my previous apartments to properly display the topiary.

When I saw that Michael's had their foam pumpkins on sale for 50% off last week, I knew that it was finally time to get this project rolling. I bought 5 of the white pumpkins and used this metallic glaze on them to give them an aged look.

I used the Hobby Lobby 40% off coupon from last week to purchase this hot knife tool kit. This kit has interchangeable tips and can also be used for wood burning, embossing and soldering. Umm yeah, I don't think I will be venturing into soldering anytime soon. I then printed my house numbers in Microsoft Word and traced each one onto a pumpkin. I used the hot knife to carve out the number. I carved "Welcome" onto the smaller pumpkin to sit atop the larger pumpkins. I also cut a circle into the top and bottom of each larger pumpkin and a circle into the bottom of the smaller pumpkin.

After carving the pumpkins, I sat a Styrofoam disk inside the urn and stuck a wooden dowel through it and threaded a set of Christmas lights onto the dowel. I then stacked the pumpkins on the dowel and pulled the string of lights through the pumpkins. I used my hot glue gun and added a small dab of glue between each pumpkin to secure it.

I then added some Fall garland I purchased from Garden Ridge on clearance last year. I also had some glittered mini pumpkins and gourds I made last year using some glitter from the Martha Stewart collection. The Fall ribbon came from the Dollar Tree. Also, I didn't glue anything to the urn because I plan to take the Fall decor out and reuse the urn for Christmas decor.

I love how my slightly askew pumpkin topiary turned out! Please stop by Kimba's DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land to see other DIY projects.

I am also linking up to my very first Fall Festival Party at the DIY Show Off!

I am linking up to Rhoda's It's" Fall, Y'all! party at Southern Hospitality.

Bargain Find of the Week!

2009-09-20T23:26:00.004-05:00

This week's bargain find of the week is this 21" fiberglass urn from Garden Ridge. Regularly priced at $59.99, I bought this for $15 after a 75% off discount. It is lightweight enough so that I won't sprain my back trying to lift it and heavy enough so that I won't wake up one morning to find it blown across my yard into the street. As an added bonus, it is the perfect color for holiday decor. Come back this week to see the house number pumpkin topiary project I am currently working on that will fill this urn.

DIY Embossed Candles

2009-09-15T23:18:00.008-05:00

I love to display decorated candles. And I love to switch out the candles as the seasons change. But obviously, this can get pretty expensive. This is why I was overjoyed when I learned last year that you can use wrapping tissue paper and stamps to create your own custom candles.

I bought plain inexpensive pillar candles for 50% off at Hobby Lobby. I used stamps I purchased through my Stampin' Up Demonstrator Barbara Raffman. The rest of my supplies were purchased at Hobby Lobby.

I then cut a piece of tissue paper to the size of the candle and stamped it with the embossing ink. Next, I sprinkled the embossing powder on the stamped image and tapped the excess powder off (just like using glitter). I then used my heat gun on the tissue paper until the powder became a raised image. After the entire image was embossed, I wrapped the tissue around the candle and then held a piece of wax paper tightly around the entire candle and used my heat gun on the candle to slightly melt the wax to adhere the tissue paper to the candle. This step takes a little practice because if you keep the heat gun too long in one spot, you will end up with hot wax running down your arm. Been there, done that. Not a pleasant experience. If you don't melt the wax enough, the tissue paper doesn't adhere to the candle. The key to start off small. I started learning to do this with small votive candles until I proficient enough to move to larger candles. Note: I use these candles for strictly decorative use only. I did light these for a few minutes to get a burned wick, but I can't attest to their safety.

I then wrapped a piece of ribbon around the candles and secured two with a stick pin and tied the other one in a knot. I added a cross to one and refrigerator magnet initials to the others. A & J are me and my significant other's initials. And coincidentally, all of our three children also share these same initials even though they were all named before we even met.

I am sharing this project over at Kimba's A Soft Place to Land for DIY Day. Go check out the other great projects.

Bargain Find of the Week!

2009-09-13T13:49:00.010-05:00

I am starting a new weekly (hopefully) series to showcase my best bargain purchase of the week. Yesterday, I found this 72" - 144" inch long, 1 1/4 " diameter metal drapery rod at Target on clearance for $17.48. When I was searching for a drapery rod a few months ago for my living room windows, Target had the least expensive option at $34.99 for a large diameter 144" rod. I could have actually found less expensive options at 120" and a smaller diameter, but the windows I was buying the rod for measured greater than 120" and needed a substantial diameter sized rod. So, if you are looking for a drapery rod for a very large set of windows, I think $17.48 for a 144" long, 1 1/4" diameter rod is a great buy.

If the metallic bronze color is not your style, grab a can of inexpensive spray paint. This rod would look great spray painted black or silver.

I plan to use this rod in my bedroom, which brings me to another dilemma. How many curtain panels would you hang on this window - 2 total on just the ends or 4 total with 2 on the ends and 2 surrounding the middle window? Also, these drapes will probably be unlined and strictly for decorative purposes. Blocking out the sunlight is not a priority for me because I enjoy it coming in through the windows - even when I am napping.

Please visit The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday party for more terrific bargains.

New Sofa Table Decorating Dilemma

2009-09-09T01:20:00.005-05:00

I am linking up to Amanda's Decorating Dilemma Party @ Serenity Now. I recently purchased this closeout sofa table at a local furniture store for $149 and I have been at a lost as to how to decorate it. It is very wide and very tall. I don't like its current sparse look but I also don't want to go overboard with accessories. I do like the set of candle holders I currently have on the top, so I will add some darker candles to it and keep them. I plan to get an small easel to display the framed cross, so I will keep that also. I am not tied to that vase that is currently sitting on the bottom shelf, so that will probably go. Unfortunately, I can't add any buffet lamps because I don't have any floor outlets and the wall outlets are too far away from the table and the cords would be a hazard. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Be sure to check out the rest of the party.

Weekend Thrift Shopping Finds

2009-09-08T19:28:00.009-05:00

Me and "Symone's Mommy" hit up the local thrift stores this weekend and made some fabulous finds! She knew I had been on the lookout for an antique chest of drawers to place in my entryway directly across from my dining room and she found this gorgeous piece for only $39! There is some slight damage on the top (where it appears a mirror once sat) and I will eventually repair it and add some darker stain and change out the hardware, but for right now I am thoroughly enjoying this beautiful piece as is.

It currently sits in my entryway with my made over Hobby Lamp lamp and clearance Hobby Lobby artwork that will also be eventually revamped and hung on the wall. Also, check out Symone's Mommy thrift store finds. She picked up some beautiful items at fantastic prices!

Edited to Add: I'm linking up to The Dalomba Days' Goodwill Goodies Party.

I am also linking up to my first Thrift Store Thursday party given by Holly at Homebody.

/a>

Dining Chairs Before And After

2009-09-07T03:47:00.012-05:00

I purchased this dining set on Craigslist for $300 and revamped it. The painted finish had yellowed, so I used liquid deglosser to prepare the surface and primed and repainted the chairs with Rustoleum Satin White Universal Spray Paint and used Rub 'n Buff to highlight the carved details on the edges. I painted the caning gold on the side chairs. I also reupholstered the seat cushions and the caning on the arm chairs. I still have the base of the table and one side chair left to redo.

I am very pleased with how my "new" dining room set turned out. It has been a lot of work, but it has also been very rewarding. Below is also a before picture of my dining room and the most recent after picture. There is still work to be done in this room, but I am currently enjoying it in its current state.

I'm joining Sarah's Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick. Be sure to check it out!

DIY Matted Art

2009-08-31T23:42:00.018-05:00

After seeing similar framed crosses and sculptural pieces at Garden Ridge for over $50 for smaller sizes, I set out to make my own custom version. I found these large frames with a 21 x 27 opening at Hobby Lobby on clearance a few years ago. I also purchased the crosses, matboard, scrapbook paper and ribbon at Hobby Lobby during various 50% and clearance sales.

I then purchased this mat cutter at Joann's with a 40% off coupon. This was my first time ever cutting my own mat for an art project and it was actually very easy to do. I just followed the simple instructions that came with the cutter and I cut a perfect mat each time I used it. I completed this project before I started blogging, so I don't have any detailed pictures. But I will be using this mat cutter to create a family photo wall in my hallway and I will detail just how easy it is to use the cutter. So if you have a lot of pictures to mat, this $15.50 (including a 40% discount coupon) investment will be well worth it.

I then used some brown metallic craft paint I had on hand to antique the scrapbook paper and I assembled the scrapbook paper and the mat on adhesive foam board and stapled it to the back of the frame along with the ribbon holding the crosses in place.

I am linking up to Kimba's DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land. Be sure to check it out.

EDITED TO ADD: I am attending my very first A DIY Show Off Party! And it is a surprise party! Visit the A DIY Show Off - Show & Tell Surprise Party for more great DIY Home accents.

Unconventional Furniture Solutions

2009-08-28T12:54:00.007-05:00

I have mentioned in this post before that I flipped a desk hutch upside down to use as a TV console. Using this unconventional idea possibly turned a costly furniture item into a very inexpensive one. Now whenever I am browsing furniture stores, I always try to envision ways I could use a piece other than its original purpose.

Take for instance this gorgeous hutch I recently saw at a local furniture store for just $99. Now envision this hutch flipped upside down and a changing pad on the long shelf. Wouldn't this make a perfect diaper changing table/storage for a baby's nursery?

I also saw this solid wood armoire top for the incredible price of $49. If you are handy with a miter saw, imagine flipping this piece over and adding some crown molding to the top and staining it to match. This would make a beautiful storage cabinet in someone's kitchen, office, craft room, etc.

So next time you see an incredible piece at a great price, think of alternate ways to use the piece in your home.

Rub 'n Buff Lamp Makeover

2009-08-22T18:59:00.015-05:00

I scored this lamp for $8.99 at Hobby Lobby's last 90% clearance sale. I adored the shape of the lamp and the style and color of the shade, but I disliked the orange tone of the lamp base.

I wanted to tone down the orange in the lamp base, but still have a little of the original color show through. So I decided to makeover the lamp using the Rub 'n Buff paint that I had been using to accent the carvings on my dining room chairs.

I used a foam brush to apply the Rub 'n Buff in Spanish Copper to the surface of the lamp. This stuff dries to the touch very quickly, so the application is very easy. Also, since the paint is a thick wax substance, there is also very little prep needed to protect surrounding surfaces. I actually did this on my dining room table with just one plastic bag under the lamp to catch any spillage in case I squeezed the tube too hard. And a little goes a very long way - I have used it on this lamp and six dining chairs and I still have plenty left.

This lamp will eventually go in the entryway that is directly across from the dining room. The entryway is painted a tan color, so I think this lamp would be perfect to pull in the deep chocolate and gold colors from the dining room.

I'm linking up to Kimba's DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land.

Price My Space Party #2

2009-08-19T11:41:00.015-05:00

I am joining the Nester's second Price My Space party and showcasing my still unfinished dining room. My budget for this room was $500, but I think once it is completely finished, I will probably be over budget by about $200. Still not bad for a complete dining room that will seat 8.

1. I described the diamond wall technique here and the Styrofoam chair rail and shadow box molding here. Because this is an open room and only consists of one full wall (shown in the pic below) and another short wall which is almost entirely taken up by a window, I didn't need a lot of paint and molding. The total was about $117 for the Ralph Lauren Lush Brown paint (I only used half of the gallon) and molding. I already had the Sharpie paint pen in the craft supplies and the upholstery nail heads were left over from a previous re upholstery project. Total: $117.

2. The one major purchase in the room was the dining room set . I purchased this set off Craigslist for $300. It consists of six side chairs and two arm chairs and two leafs. For every day use, I am only using one leaf and six chairs. This is a Heritage set (an in Drexel Heritage - when they were two separate furniture lines years ago) and is in excellent condition (other than the yellowed finish on the painted chairs). I am in the process of repainting the chairs and the table base white, reupholstering the seat cushions, adding batting, silk velvet fabric and nail head trim to the caning of the arm chairs, painting the caning of the side chairs gold and highlighting the chair detail with this Antique Gold and Spanish Copper Rub n Buff. I think the finish on top of the table is beautiful, so I will probably just touch up spots and polish it well. This is taking me a good while to complete all of these pieces. The total for the dining set, spray paint, Rub n Buff and fabric, trim and Hobby Lobby candleholders ($3 each) is approximately $415 .

3. This piece was my fantastic bargain find. I purchased this 9 candle chandelier from my local Habitat for Humanity Restore for $45. I was originally planning to spray paint it an oil rubbed bronze color, but I think I will like the subtle gold finish better with the deep brown walls. I have yet to install it yet, because I have never worked with electricity. I know I should just get over it and do it and I will because I am refuse to pay someone $100 to install it for me and it only cost me $45 to purchase the fixture. I am looking for some inexpensive chandelier shades to recover and add it the bulbs once it is installed. Total: $45

4. I will eventually hang the striped silk curtains I made on these finials. The silk curtains are leftovers that I had made for my apartment window. I had to add an additional half yard of fabric to the bottom of each panel to make them long enough to reach the floor. I fell in love with the fabric when I saw it in the fabric store years ago, but I didn't love the $27.99/yd price. Since I needed a total of 6 yards, I would have spent $167 for two drapery panels. Since they were going on the sliding glass door in my apartment and I knew they were only going to be stationary and would not cover the actual door, I cut the width in half to make to panels from one length of fabric. So instead of two 54" panels, I have two 27" panels. So I got two panels for $84 dollars instead of $167. I found the finials and clips at a fabric store for 75% off. They were silver and I spray painted them brown. So my total for the window treatments is $13.50 for the finials and clips and $28 for the silk lined drapes (I only counted the additional fabric I bought to add length to the drapes because I just repurposed my left over apartment drapes). Total: $41.50.

So my running total so far is $618.50 and all of my major purchases are complete. Although, I am still undecided on whether I should put a piece of art or a mirror on the wall centered above the table. I almost consider the wall treatment a piece of art in itself and I don't want to cover it up, but I concerned that the wall may appear to be missing something if I just left it bare. I hope to see a clearer picture once the chandelier is installed. Let me know what do you think?

Quick and Inexpensive Switch Plate Update.

2009-08-12T09:40:00.014-05:00

I wanted to replace all of the plain white builder grade switch plates and wall plates in my family room, breakfast nook, hallway and entryway with oil rubbed bronze plates, but when I added up the potential costs, I quickly decided against it and began to search for a less expensive option. My solution - spray paint!

I unscrewed the plates from the wall and spray painted them (including the screws) with two coats of Rustoleum Universal Hammered Paint in Brown. After they were dry, I finished them off by spraying a very light coat of clear topcoat on them to protect the finish from scratches.

The results: It has been over two months now that I completed this project and they have held up well. I noticed a very small nick in the paint on the most used switch in the breakfast nook area, so I will probably take it down and add a heavier clear topcoat to it.

But all in all this was a very easy and inexpensive update to my plain and boring switch plates.

Linking up to Amanda's Decorating Dilemmas @ Serenity Now and Kimba's DIY Day @ A Soft Place To Land . Check them out!

How to Shop for furniture on Craigslist!

2009-08-11T19:03:00.012-05:00

I have to admit that I have only made one major Craigslist purchase for myself and I suggested a purchase for a friend but we have both experienced unproblematic transactions and great satisfaction with our purchases.

I purchased the dining room table and chairs pictured below for $300 (not pictured are the two extra side chairs and the additional leaf allowing for seating of 8). The seller was even kind enough to deliver the set to my home allowing me to save the expense of renting a moving truck. (This dining set is currently undergoing a makeover to be unveiled soon.)

When my friend, Symone's Mommy, was searching for a set of chairs to go with a newly purchased dining table, I found this set of four antique dining chairs on Craigslist for $120 a mere 30 minutes after they were posted to the site. Again, the seller was kind enough to deliver the chairs to her house.

Here are a few tips to narrow down the hundreds of Craigslist furniture postings to find the really good bargains. Note: These tips are based on my experience searching the Dallas, Texas area postings. Please Note: Always be safe when going to examine or pick up furniture. Never go alone and trust your gut reactions in certain situations.

1. I limit my search to my general area of the city. For example, Dallas postings are categorized by five localities. Because I would more than likely be charged by the mile or hour to rent a vehicle to pick up the item, I don't want to spend the extra money and time driving clear across the Metroplex, so I shop close to home.

2. Next, I select the "furniture - by owner" category in the drop down box. This will weed out all of the dealers and stores selling their wares. I find you can get better prices on items when the owner is selling the item due to relocation, redecorating, etc. They just want the item out of their garage and are usually not looking to make a large profit.

3. I always check the "has image" box because NO picture does me NO good!

4. Unless I am just looking for fun, I always set an upper limit that I am willing to pay for a particular piece that I am searching for. I do set this max price slightly higher than my actual max price in case there is some room for negotiation. Also, I would hate to miss out on a great piece just because the set price may be only $5 more than my actual max price.

5. Lastly, the keyword search can make the difference between finding a piece that you adore at a great price or declaring that Craigslist sucks and is only full of junk. There are no preset categories, so a seller may describe that French Provincial style sofa as just a sofa, couch, love seat, antique, old, etc. That is why you must be very general in your search because some postings may not contain a thorough and accurate description and the picture must be viewed to see a truer representation of the piece.

Happy Craigslist shopping!

Dining Room Diamonds Tutorial

2009-08-06T11:15:00.035-05:00

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments left about my dining room makeover. Since I got a couple of requests for a tutorial on how I drew the diamond pattern on the walls, here goes my very first tutorial. If you are a fan of HGTV's Rate My Space website, you may see some similarities between my dining room walls and the All-time Most Viewed Dining Room by Camryn1230 on the Rate My Space site, which served as my wall inspiration.

1. I painted the top portion of the wall using Ralph Lauren Regent Metallics Lush Brown. This is a gorgeous deep brown with metallic gold mixed in. It's just enough shine and sparkle to add some drama to a small and open dining room.

2. Next, I decided on the size of the diamonds by measuring the walls vertically. I made the diamond height divisible into the wall height. For example, the wall space I was working with is about 90"in height, therefore, I determined that I could fit 2 36" whole diamonds and 1 18" half diamond on the wall. Since I read somewhere that the diamond width should be 1.5 times the diamond height, I made the width 24". Note: This tutorial are going to use measurements based on 24" x 36" diamonds, but you can still use these instructions by substituting your own diamond measurements.

3. To begin the diamond pattern, I started in the lower right corner of my longest wall. I took my yardstick and marked the 18" vertical point (the center point of the first diamond- I will call this Point A) and 36" vertical point (and the upper point of the first diamond - I will call this Point B). Note: Point A is not an intersecting point, it is just there for reference now.

4. From Point A, use a yardstick or any straightedge and a level and measure 12" horizontally and mark this spot. From this 12" mark, measure 24" horizontally and mark the spot and continue to measure and mark the 24" spot along the entire wall until you can no longer measure a full 24" width.

5. From Point B, measure 24" horizontally and make the spot and continue to measure and mark the 24" spot along the entire wall until you can no longer measure a full 24" width.

6. Next, place the bottom of the yardstick vertically at Point B and repeat Steps 3, 4, and 5 until the entire wall is filled with staggering points vertically and horizontally.

7. Now it is time to play Connect the Dots! I used a yardstick and a Sharpie Metallic Paint Pen in Gold to connect the dots and draw the lines. That paint pen dried very fast on my walls, so I didn't have to worry about smudging. Because of that I was able to do the X pattern at one time instead of waiting for one direction to dry.

8. Finally, push a nail head in at each intersecting point. I was able to push most of them in using my thumb and a thimble. One tip I learned by accident: I got impatient and wanted to see how the nail heads would look before I got on the ladder to draw the upper lines, so I stuck a couple of nail heads in without pushing then in all the way. I found this later to be a great guide for my yardstick when connecting the dots on the upper lines. I just pushed the yardstick up to the nail heads and perfect alignment without me trying to eyeball it.

Look for Dining Room Makeover Part II next week!

Forget Design on a Dime! How about Design on a Nickel - Dining Room Makeover Part 1.

2009-08-05T13:35:00.012-05:00

This is the before shot of my dining room. (Please forgive the low-res cell phone pictures since I took these before I decided to start blogging.) I will be posting changes to this room slowly, because that is exactly how it is progressing - slowly. My budget for this room is $500 and so far I have used $117 after painting and installing Styrofoam chair rails and shadow box molding. I still need to hang the striped silk drapes I had leftover from my apartment, replace the ceiling fan with an inexpensive chandelier and add furniture.

This is the first after shot of my dining room after painting and installing Styrofoam chair rails and Styrofoam shadow box molding. The foam molding was so easy! I prepainted the foam (because I forgot to prime the chair rails, I still need to go over it with another coat), mitered the corners using a miter box and hand saw, applied construction adhesive to the back of each piece and attached it to the wall. I painted the walls with Ralph Lauren's Regent Metallics in Lush Brown, used a gold metallic Sharpie paint pen and a straightedge to draw the diamonds on the wall and accented the intersecting points with upholstery nailheads. I still need to touch up the paint around the thermostat and the edges. Dining Room Part 2 will be coming next week!

And it's DIY Day over at A Soft Place to Land hosted by Kimba. Be sure to check out the fantastic DIY projects.

Price My Space Party at The Nesting Place!

2009-07-12T21:54:00.002-05:00

Price My Space Party at The Nesting Place!

I have decided to join The Nester's Price My Space party and post my still a work-in-progress Family Room. Most of the items in this room was purchased over an extended period of time while I was still living in an apartment. I hoped that when I purchased my first home, I could pull all of the items together for a finished Family Room. I think it turned out fairly well.

This large picture frame was purchased at a local Dallas furniture store for $4o. The clock is a wall vinyl decal with mechanical hands that I picked up from Kohl's for about $13 with a coupon. The tall chest of drawers was also purchased at the same local furniture store for $20. The price was marked down because the finish is peeling on the top and there is a large chip on one of the feet, but I think it adds character to the piece, so I left it as is. After purchasing the item, I found it on the Internet selling new for over $500. The lamp was purchased at Homegoods for $50 and the two finials were bought at Hobby Lobby for $8 each. Total $139

I had to get real creative on this one. The "entertainment center" is actually a desk hutch that I flipped upside down and sat the TV on top of it. I only paid $99 for it in the Clearance Odds and Ends section of a local furniture store. The candle holders and candles were purchased on clearance/sale at Hobby Lobby for about $36 total. The 4 frames were on clearance at Garden Ridge for about $3 each. I'm still searching for some cute baskets to hold the Wii accessories and magazines. The large planter was also purchased at Garden Ridge for $25. In the future it will hold either a large silk tree or a tall dried arrangement. Total $172.

The large frame is a duplicate of the one used to frame the vinyl clock $40. I plan to use this frame to make a large framed mirror using beveled mirror tiles. The cross was purchased at Hobby Lobby on sale for $10. The decorative platter was found at Kirkland's for about $20. Four of the same finials used on the tall chest of drawers were also used on the mantle $32. I made the dried floral arrangement using materials from Garden Ridge for about $50. Total $152.

These faux silk 108" lined drapes were a steal! I purchased them at the Neiman Marcus Outlet Horchow Finale on sale for about $25 each. They actually ending up cost less than the price I was going to spend on fabric and lining to make some similar ones myself. The rod was purchased at Target for $40. The accent chair was purchased at a local DFW furniture store for $199. When I first purchased it, I thought that I would change the gold finish to a warm pecan finish, but it has since grown on me. The lamp is a duplicate of the one used on the tall chest $50. It is currently sitting on the floor until I find a suitable side table. Total $389.

The leather sofa and ottoman was purchased at the same local furniture store for $500 and $99, respectively. I made the pillows using a fabric remnant I found at a local fabric store and trim purchased at Joann's for around $10 each. I also recovered the ottoman in a gold chenille fabric found at another local fabric store for $22. I still have to finish adding the tufted buttons. The 9x11 rug was purchased on EBay for $149 including shipping. Total $790.

Total $1,642. I still need to put some finishing touches on this room (console table for the back of the sofa, an end table for the accent chair, something under the clock frame, a plant in the corner by the entertainment center and maybe some sort of wall art above the TV), but I think the majority of it is done.