Super Duper Quick Make-over

It started when I went to throw this in the recycling bin. 

I wanted something to store pillow labels in and so I did a super quick (under 10 minute) make-over.

I wrapped a piece of scrapbooking paper around it and used a glue stick to stick the end down.

I covered the top with a scrap of fabric using hot glue.

I printed the doily off of public clip-art and attached it using a tiny clothespin to some twine I wrapped around the jar a few times.

At the last minute I remembered I had a few posies laying around and hot-glued it to the top.



Quick and easy :)

A quick before and after

This is probably the billionth time you've seen a chalkboard make-over.  Ha!  I know I'm not getting any points for originality here.  But it's still cute and fun.  

Just in case you didn't know this, it's important to let that paint dry at least 24 hours.  Rub a piece of chalk all over it and then wipe it off before you write on it.  I'm still waiting my 24 hours :)

In other very exciting news, I got Mother-of-the-Year award this week for buying my kids a box of Fruity Pebbles.  I don't usually let them eat sugar and food coloring for breakfast, but since it's Spring Break I threw all caution to the wind ;)

I've been sewing and sewing and sewing...I've got lots of new items for my shop.  Lots and lots!  I can't wait to show you.

Ok, I'm off to find Easter eggs.  If your kids are bored, bring out the plastic easter eggs.  Mine have been playing easter egg hunts ALL week!  Totally entertaining :)

Happy Thursday!

xo,

Chrissie

Things that made me smile this weekend...

I had a lot of fun painting my Sunday Scripture for the week over the weekend.  It's the colors.  It makes me want to run all over my house and spray paint everything a different color. 

The colors make me so happy!

(11 x 14 available here, 8 x 10 available here)

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We are celebrating two Grandpa's birthdays this week...

One who is here on earth with us,

one who is in Heaven looking down on us.

It is important to me that we celebrate both of our grandpa's!

Ava says there are definitely cupcakes in Heaven :)

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There is a newish Goodwill near Ava's dance studio.  We usually run in about once or twice a month.  I scored on Friday.  This vintage Fisher Price house was just sitting there waiting for us...Do any of you remember having this?  It is in perfect shape...so clean.  It says it was made in 1969, made in the USA...sigh...
I happily paid $3.99 for it.

The little girl peeking through the door is my favorite!

I hope one day to find some vintage little people.  I've never been willing to pay an ebay price.  I'm hoping one day I'll just find some at a thrift store or garage sale.

Oh, and I found this little treasure too.

Hand embroidered and the back is signed 1982?

I spray painted the frame yellow.

It is like a little pop of sunshine!

I'm collecting little pieces for a vignette that I'll show you as soon as it's done.

Nesting makes me happy.
Creating makes me happy.
Celebrating makes me happy.
:)

Blessed Sunday

Hi!  I got home from my trip yesterday and have been eating up my family to no end.  I had a great time but I always like to be home with my loved ones.

I worked on this piece of Sunday scripture all week while I was gone.  The original measures 9 x 12 and it took me about 7-8 hours all together to finish it.  I knew when I got home I wanted to hang it up in the house.

I snuck out this afternoon with the kids and made a Goodwill run, just to find a frame for it.
Ta-da!  $2.99 is a price I like!  :)

It had a watercolor in it from 1994... I knew before I went in that I would be buying something to repurpose.  I had burlap and turquoise spray paint on my mind.  :)  It worked out great!

There are 8x10 copies of it available right here if you're interested.
I'm excited for the week.  I have lots to talk about and a lot to show you.
Happy Sunday Friends :)
xo,
Chrissie

A New Corner of Our Home...2

Over the last few months my kids have all shown a lot more interest in art. I do guided art projects with them regularly, but now they are all interested in drawing and coloring more often on their own. I wanted to set up a space just for them where they could go at any time and have all their art supplies ready and accessible.

I went to Home Depot and bought the two pieces of wood and painted them white. My husband screwed them into the wall for me and I hot glued the black clips from Target's dollar section on there so they could have a rotating art gallery.

I've had these three letters forever; all collected from Goodwill trips at various times. They all got a coat of black spray paint.

I had the silver buckets from Ikea and I threw away all the old mismatched, dried out, and broken markers and crayons. New art supplies are so inspiring! There is a strict rule to always put the lids back on:)

I found these magazine holders in the dollar section at Target. They hold coloring books in one and drawing books in the other. White drawing paper is all set to go in the organizer.

We set this up for the kids Sunday night so when they woke up on their first day of Spring Break Monday they would be surprised. They were all proud to see their artwork hanging and they have already used this space constantly.

I spent less than $18 on everything and used what I had. I'm pleased with the area but I'm really happy to see how excited my kids have been using it. The neighborhood kids have been enjoying it too!:)

A New Corner of Our Home...One

Instead of striving for a "perfect" house, I'm embracing the "we have four small children" house. Celebrating that fact and trying to curb some of the decor to make it slightly more kid-friendly while still trying to eliminate clutter.
I thought I would show you some of the corners I've been working on...Here's the first one.


My budget for this small project was...$0! I had all the frames stored and a lot of them were different colors. I spray painted them all black so they would all be unified.

I wanted a variety of the kids at mostly recent stages so I just printed them on watercolor paper using my printer at home. I can update them easily.

I centered all the photos around our family name plaque, which has been in several different places around my house.

A few of my favorite...

this silhouette was made at Walt Disney World in 1981. It is me, my brother, and mother.

Remember I told you of my new favorite color combo? I forgot that I had this piece. I bought it from this etsy shop about three years ago.

There's not a lot of room for much on the piano without it looking too cluttery, so I settled for some fresh roses and a spring themed item. This is a good excuse for me to splurge on fresh flowers for myself on a regular basis:)

Thanks for looking. I'll be back with more soon!

xo,

Chrissie

Oh, just in case you were wondering, I used the brown paper method for hanging the frames. I traced them all on brown paper, cut them out, and taped them all over the wall and moved them around until I liked the arrangment. Then I actually hung the frames.

Also, check out Kimm's Trash to Treasure party today for other frugal decorating ideas!

Sweater Dress (Alterations)

I found this red sweater dress for Ava at a garage sale for 50 cents. It was begging to be altered a little.:)

Here it is before:

And after...:

I used the same applique method that I used here. I just used pieces of fabric I had in my bins. Ava insisted, (I mean asked very nicely) that the snowman be a girl. So the pink fabric had to make an appearance.

Of course a posie barrette was made to wear with it! Man, I can't believe I haven't gotten tired of making those yet.
She wasn't in the mood to model for me.

But I'm pretty sure she likes it.

I'm linking up to:
Metamorphisis Monday
Make It for Monday
DIY Day
Trash to Treasure Tuesday
and
Get Your Craft On

Wow, there is a loooooooot of cool stuff going on!

Guest Bathroom...Before and After

We started on the kids/guest bathroom, ahem, in May. There is nothing like an impending Thanksgiving holiday where 25 people are coming over to get your hubby to finish it up.
Here are some before shots. We basically gutted the whole thing. Took out and replaced the bathtub, toilet, sink, and all the tile (floor and shower walls.)
We thought we would do most of the work ourselves. We actually did all the demolition, but turns out there is a lot involved when putting in a jacuzzi tub. You need an electrician and a plumber. Well, we did anyway.
I found that really nice waffle cloth liner at a garage sale during the summer, still in the package. I haven't found a shower curtain I love yet. I'm thinking of making my own out of a white fabric and monogramming the center. Anyone know what kind of fabric works best for a shower curtain?
It is very simple. We replaced the 1980's toilet and sink with the newer streamlined Kohl's throne and a Kohl's pedestal sink. Mike had earned reward points from work at Homegoods, where I got the garbage can, matching soap dispenser, and brushed nickel toilet paper holder. We went with the brushed nickel for all of the fixtures.
My husband insisted on the jacuzzi tub for me because he loves me:) I take a bath almost every night for relaxation, and I have to say I do love it! You can see the new tiles on the shower walls here.

I found that mirror on sale at Ross for 12.99 but it was a dark wood. I had been looking everywhere for a white oval mirror, so I finally bought this one, spray painted it white, and distressed it slightly. (The little postcard is a small print from Jen Lemen.) The towel rack is behind the door and I haven't found anything to hang above it yet.

I repurposed that shelf from Goodwill (4.99 I think?) It was painted white and distressed. The shell frame and small basket holding soap were GW finds too. I added some of my favorite shells. The storage unit was from hubby's reward bucks at Homegoods too.

I wish I had better pictures, but there is no natural light in that room. It feels nice to have another updated room in the house. As many of you home-owners know, it's a never-ending process when you buy an older house!

Thanks for looking. How can it be that we're already half-way through the week again?

xo, Chrissie

99 cent find leading to a million dollar question

I haven't been thrifting in a long time, but I've been on the look out for a few things so I went to Goodwill today. I didn't find anything I was looking for, but I did find this 99 cent pile of sticks.
It already had the hook on it and I didn't even want to spray paint it. I hung it in my bathroom to hang all my earrings. What do you think it was originally made for?

This is my favorite pair. I'm thinking of getting a short haircut again where you can actually see my earrings. My husband likes my hair long, and I've been trying to grow it out. But it just doesn't look like it used to.

How about you? Do you wear your hair like your husband likes it, or do you care? Or does he even care, for that matter?:)

I think we all want our husband to think our hair is beautiful, right? But if I don't FEEL beautiful, I don't think I'll look the part.

Short hair is so much easier, and in my case, I'm in need of style.

I'd love to hair (hear) ha ha your thoughts on it.

Oh, and I'm linking up to Kimm's Trash to Treasure.