Summer Thrifting

I am not able to go to many yard sales with my kids being so young (3.5 years old and 1.5 years old). But I have been lucky enough to hit a few up when my husband kindly took a day off work. My mom and sister-in-law had a really fun day together. The town we went to has a yard sale weekend every year and it is the biggest one in the community. I came home with these two adorable cat planters, I had seem one in a magazine recently but decided it would probably be impossible to find. But the same sale had 2 for 50 cents each! I need to find 2 little cacti to put in them as their tails.

I liked this tablecloth for $2.00, it had turquoise in it so it will match my stuff.

I don't normally buy glasswear but the starburst glass was pretty cool, I wish I could find a whole set of these at a reasonable price. I liked the Florida shot glass because it reminds me of the times we used to go down to Florida and visit my grandparents. It was always so sunny and happy there. The Myrtle Beach shot glass had pirates on it so I couldn't say no!

I also came home that day with a red vintage thermos with wildlife animals on it, will be fun to put out at Christmas time.

 Some other goodies I have picked up the last month, I found this retro magazine holder for a whopping 25 cents this past Saturday. I spray painted its worn frame a matte black and I plan on adding round wooden knobs to the 4 legs painted different colors. Probably turquoise, orange, white and pink. 

Cute little soap holder for 25 cents, I can put something in it.

Also came home with some ornaments, all for a dollar I believe and a cool lamp, now to find a shade for it. The shoe box has a bunch of vintage cake decorating stuff in it. One lady was selling a whole stack of her friends music sheets for 25 cents a piece, so I picked up a few that looked cool. 

I put this one in a frame and set it on my mantle for the 4th of July. 

I am hoping I can get to some more this summer, maybe I will take the kids with me....

Craft Room Makeover Step 2: Storage Containers on a Budget

I have some really great furniture pieces that will function perfectly for my craft space but I am lacking a bit on storage containers to divide things up. I recently signed up for a Big Lots rewards card, so I get emails for new products and sales weekly.  These bright pink baskets jumped out at me for only $1.50 each!

On my trip to target this past weekend, I snagged these cute metal polka dot buckets for cheap in their dollar section at the front of the store.

Also got this plastic rolling cart with drawers at Target that I dressed up with a little turquoise chevron washi tape.

Some things staying or also coming to live with me: I have a great library card catalog cabinet I found on craigslist last year for $25.00. I plan to fill it with all sorts of little random stuff like bells, buttons, pipe cleaners, etc.

The drawers pull all the way out so whenever I need to use something I can just take the whole drawer to my table.

I also have a great bookshelf that I have been storing my paper supplies in which will probably still be used for that, but it needs a little work. Paint, some screws....

 Lastly, I have a big plans for these!! They are retro metal cabinets that have been in my parents damp basement for at least 30 years. No they don't look pretty now, but with a little work I think they will come out looking and functioning wonderfully!!

So the next step is deciding how I want to divide my room to make sure it functions the best it can.

Here is another look at my list of things to do to make my creative space:

1. Purge my craft and storage stuff.
2. Inventory my storage furniture and containers.
3. Decide how I want to divide up the space according to what I do the most.
3. Paint the furniture that needs it.
4. Organize, organize, organize!!!

Traditional to Modern- Clock Makeover

I was gifted a clock after I had my first baby to keep in his room. It was a very nice gesture but not at all my style. I would look at it every day with it's wood frame and traditional numbers and I knew it had more potential to fit into my nursery's modern style. So almost 3 years later with a little time and paint, it has become a beautiful addition to the room. This project was super easy to complete in a day. So I started with my regular looking clock, pretty but not fitting in very well.

It was easy to take apart with 4 screws in the back.

I spray painted the hands so I could get into all the crevices without the hands sticking together.

Then painted over the spray paint residue with craft paint on the face of the clock. I moved the hands out of the way to reach all the points around the center.

I screwed the two pieces back together and put it back in the nursery.

Perfect touch of color to match the rest of the room! Happy crafting!!

St. Patty's Day Welcome Sign

Personalized crafts are my favorite kind to make. I love one of a kind items to display in my home, especially on holidays. We are not Irish so I don't do a whole lot of St. Patrick's Day decorating, but I thought I would make an easy, inexpensive and personalized welcome sign. It doesn't get easier than this!

I started by gathering my supplies at my local craft store:

1. an inexpensive, already painted wooden St. patty's Day sign- $3.00
2. 4 wooden shamrocks- 50 cents each
3. green glitter glue- $1.50

I already had green paint and brushes and my drill for the other steps.

So I chose this pre-painted sign, it was cute and I could not have made one for less than $3.00 with the cute cutout hat.

I painted the shamrocks a light green and a few dark green so I could alternate them.

I added our names and drilled a hole in the top and bottom of each one and wired them together and then to the sign.

I also outlined the light green shamrocks with the glitter glue to add a little sparkle. 

I love it and it adds a little welcome to our home in the month of March.

Happy crafting!