Fall Swag on the Cheap

Hi again.

I've been browsing through catalogs and online lately and drooling over some of the gorgeous and adorable fall wreaths and swags that are out there.   Unfortunately, like my pottery barn issue that you can read about here, I do not have the kind of budget  at the moment ever to spend more than $100 on something pretty.  I decided to make my own!   With my own hands

These are not actually my hands.  My own have not seen a manicure that lasts more than 1 day since about 1993.  Aren't they lovely though, whomever they belong to?

Actually - what I really did was DISsassemble a few old and gawdy things that I already have and then re-assemble them in a more pleasing (to me anyways) way.

A few berries from another wreath

A cute and cheap plastic pumpkin "thing" from the Christmas Tree Shop

Some twiny ribbon that wrapped up a box of potpourri at one point

And.....

Tada!

I think he's pretty cute to be honest.    I basically just attached all this with some craft wire and alot of glue to a branch form that I had lying around from something.   Most of it was actually just kind of stuck into the branches with a prayer that it will not fall out.    That way, I figure I can dissassemble the whole thing AGAIN and make something else when it's winter!  The plaid bowlike thing you see is just some fabric that I had left from another project.

Here it is again..

Hanging on a wall in my hallway

Hanging on the back of my office door

Hanging on my front door which is actually NOT white and I don't know why it looks to be in this photo

and

....... taking a rest on my old beat up rocking chair because he's tired from all that moving around.  Okay. Yes.  I'll stop now.

This whole thing took about 1/2 hour from start to finish and I didn't have to spend a dime!

Leave a comment and let me know about something YOU made from "lost treasures" kicking around your place!

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce

Pottery Barn Wannabe

Good morning to you all!


Today's project has to do with my never ending list of wants.   I really REALLY want a mudroom and I really REALLY want a cute coat rack, shelf combo with a bench underneath.   Like everybody seems to have nowadays! 

Something like this would be fine.  Nothing too fancy. 

Even just one of these...

That would do.

I saw this one from Almost Amish (cute name, no?) 

It's $139 dollars.   Not exactly falling into the decorating on a small budget theory.

Courtesy of Woodworkers Warehouse

This one is gorgeous too.  I love the little cubby drawers instead of the usual baskets you see.

Anyways, I did  already have a small shelf coatrack thing so I looked at it, and looked at it again, and looked at it some more, and got to work.

I can't seem to find a before photo, but it was basically that ugly oak material.  Or wood I guess you'd say.  So I got me my faithful black paint and just painted the whole thing.  While it was still attached to the wall actually - Don't Tell My Husband.

Then it seemed to look kind of funny with this bulletin board I have above it with my daughters school "stuff".  This I do have a before picture of...

There she is!

Basically kind of basic and boring.   She wanted a make over too.  Luck would have it that I am so lazy sometimes that I never even hung the damn thing up.  So I took her down and started painting away.   Yes right on my kitchen counters.  Again, Don't Tell My Husband.

I've been using some of the cheapest acrylic craft paint possible (it's about 1.42 at Walmart) and a matchingly cheap paint brush.   Works absolutely fine so far.

Don't worry if things don't go exactly perfect - this project got a bit all messed up (maybe I SHOULD get a better brush) but it doesn't show when it's on the wall anyways.

I did 2 coats and it literally dried in about 1/2 hours, so up on the wall she went (hung with push pins - this will someday prove to be a mistake - I can just feel it).

It's still pretty basic and boring, but I added a basket to the shelf (makes me feel more pottery barnish)

And then I took a crooked picture, because all the cool bloggers do that...

That was a joke by the way.

My point is that looking through "designer" magazines and websites can leave us jealous and frustrated at times, but it can also be an incredible source of inspiration.  I love paint.  I look around my house for things to paint.  Often.  Too often apparently.

If anybody has some cool or interesting painting projects or updates, I'd love to hear about them!

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce

Sunday Dinner - Baked Ziti - Mmmmmm...

Happy Sunday to you all.

I've promised to mix in some cooking and recipe posts so here goes.   Nope, nothing as pretty or complicated as this purdy little turkey (chicken?) above, but it kinda sets the mood.

Anyways, I found this recipe for Baked Ziti a few years ago (on AllRecipes - check them out sometime) and it's become a family favorite.  It is not low fat, or low calorie, or low carb, or anything redeeming, but it is very yummy.

Ingredients

1 lb dry ziti pasta                         6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
1 onion, chopped                        1 1/2 Cups Sour Cream
1 lb. Lean Ground Beef               6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 (26 oz) jars spaghetti sauce      2 Tablespoons grated Parm cheese

Directions

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.  Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes.  Remove from heat and drain. (don't rinse)

In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef (you can easily omit the ground beef - either altogether or just get spaghetti sauce with meat in it) over medium heat.  Add spaghetti sauce and simmer approx. 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350
Butter a 9x13 (now that I am re-reading this, I realize why mine always sticks to the bottom of the pan) baking dish.  Layer as follows:
                                                      1/2 ziti
                                                       Provolone Cheese slices
                                                       Sour Cream (what I usually do is spread the sour cream right onto                                                           cheese slices and then just put the whole thing ontop of pasta - 
                                                        much easier)
                                                       1/2 Sauce Mixture
                                                       Remaining ziti
                                                       Mozzarella cheese and then remaining sauce mixture.
                                                       Top with grated parmasean cheese
Bake for 30 minutes in preheated oven (approx. - bake until all cheeses are melted)

Makes approximately 8 servings and should look something like this:

                                          

    Bon Apetit!                                                     

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce

It's A Pink Pink World

Sure seems to be a Pink Pink World at this point! At least in my daughter's room.

My daughter has been asking me to repaint and update her bedroom for AGES.  Well, except that she's only five, so it can't have been that long.    Anyways, she picked out all the colors herself, God Help Me.    Yellow, Pink, Red and Green.  And maybe Blue.  And a Big Yellow Sunshine.   Well, we'll figure out the details later... and I'll be sure to post photos along the way.



We picked out a pretty light pink sheer fabric for the windows and the plan was to get some fancy tie back to dress it up a bit.  Trouble is, I couldn't for the life of me find anything that was at all pretty and unique.  So I did what any self respecting Cheap Girl would do - I made them!

Very proud of myself in fact.  Little One loves them, and they do add a little spark to the curtains.   If the whole room was going to be this pink?   Too Pepto Bismal for my taste.  But we've got a pretty light yellow for the walls picked out, and this really will be the only pink in the whole room.  I hope.

Basically what I did was this:  You know those sometimes (usually) awful silk flower arrangements they sell at W#$mart for about $2?  I bought one bouquet of those and ripped it into pieces (not REALLY but I did dissassemble it - the flowers pop right off).  Then I found some very pale shimmery pink ribbon in my craft room, and glued those suckers right to it.   Easy peasy pie, right?   It really was that simple and it looks fairly pretty and my daughter thinks I ROCK!  Awesome Possum.  Gotta love that.

And, I cannot actually recommend this for a child's room, but I just used a push pin to attach the ribbon to the window trim.  Can't even tell!  Well, not really.

I'm thinking of TONS of possibilities now for more handmade curtain tie backs - can't wait to start playing around!

While I'm at it, I've been browsing online for Little Girl Room ideas (by the way, BEWARE of using the search terms "cheap little girls rooms") , and WOW there are alot of pretty rooms out there..

Courtesy of HGTV

I'm really enjoying the rooms that showcase other colors, besides the traditional Little Girl Pink

From HouseDecoratingIdeas.com (where I will be headed next!)

Sandra Belle Interiors - just love the green and purple combo!

Courtesy of Firefly Furnishings - More green - I just adore this nightstand and the head and foot board. 

Here's a couple using the standard *PINK* but with their own unique twist.

I forget where I pinched this photo from and I apologize.

Pretty for a sophisticated parisian look

The above is one of my favorites - from Rustic Decorating Gone Wild.   Perfect for my future log cabin!  Except for the fact that my little girl will probably be 30 by then.  She won't need a bunk bed.

Doesn't this look like a fun little spot for a tea party??

Another thing I want to try to somehow incorporate into my daughter's room (at her request) is a canopy of some sorts above the headboard. We've got a bunch of built in shelving, so at the moment it seems impossible. 

And  the little rugs!  They look like adorable little polka dots scattered around - LOVELY touch.

The above is from Diapers to Design - Awesome idea as a headboard!!!

Courtesy of Sprouts Gallery

Love the idea of something like this in my little one's room.   A small desk that can double as a vanity.  I would find a *cheap* (of course) mirror to place above the desk and raise the pics up a bit.

So, that's one of the decorating challenges ahead of me.   My daughter is old enough to have some say in her room, but I'm thinking it's definitely going to be a battle of the wills here!   I keep compromising by telling her we can get a little more crazy in her playroom (another challenge for another day year).   I want her "little girl" room to still look like it belongs to an actual little girl!

Do any of you guys have girls you decorate for?   Any suggestions for me?   I clearly need all the help I can get!

Please leave a comment or link to your own photos - I love hearing from you all!

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce

...Thrifty Finds

Re-edited to add that I am including this post over at Tales From Bloggeritaville for her Thrifty Thursday linky party!


Recycling last week's post in doing so, but after all, this blog is partially ABOUT recycling!

First I want to say hello and welcome to my new followers.    So, Hello and Welcome To My New Followers!   Seriously, there are almost 20  40 of us here now, and that's definitely not a bad way to start a blog.   Next I want to say this:


I. Am. So. Excited.

Wanna know why?  Well - do you??    Okay, I stopped by a little thrift store this morning.  I cannot BELIEVE that I have never been there before.  Oh. My. Goodness.

I should have known what to expect, being the penny pinching cheap girl that I am.  It was an absolute Treasure Trove of old stuff, just waiting for a makeover.   Soon to be new, beautiful stuff!   I will no longer be a slave to full price.  Or even half price.  Heck, the most I spent on any one item was $1.00.   ONE DOLLAR!   And that was for a PAIR of stuff.

I scored the following:  One white SUPER heavy and fat vase (dying for a coat of paint), Two black wrought iron candlesick holders, One heavy silver pedastal, One brown wood chunky candlestick holder, Two lengths of fabric, and One other thing.  Not sure what to call it.  I am gonna pretty the bunch of them up.  AND, I'm gonna show you how.  

But first, today's finds...........

Bad lighting, sorry....

See all those white stickers??   Those are price tags.  They say things like 35 cents.  1.00.   50 cents.  You get the idea...

This is a planter of some sort.  I have no idea yet what I'm going to do with it, but I loved it's shape.

Yup - it's "A Genuine Old Thing".

Here's a pretty pewter candlestick holder (which will never be pewter color again once I have my way with it)

35 cents. 

Another holder or pedastal - this time wood

Honest to goodness dust and everything.  She SO wants to be pretty again.  You can just tell.

Another planter or vase.   Again, I love the size and shape

50 cents.   I could probably even bargain with this poor woman who owns the store too - I feel like going back with a wagon and loading up.  I might even see if she wants to come home with me someday and just pretend to be my grandmother for a while.  She's just that cute.

I think these two cuties would look nice dressed for Fall.

Now, how's all that for a Cheap Frill!?

I called this post Thrifty Thursday, and it actually gives me a really good idea.  Each Thursday (beginning whenver I can actually figure out how to use links and whatnot) I will be hosting an online Thrifty Thursday party.   Link up and share your most recent, or most favoritest ( it's my blog and I can use bad grammer if I want to) thrifty find!

A fun way for you girls (and guys) to show of your own treasures.   Very good exposure for your blogs or stores too, plus just a great way to meet new friends.  

Stay tuned - I have great plans for my old junk....

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce

Who Decorates Your Life?

It's really not all about decorating our homes - It's about those who decorate our lives.

I was reminded of this (again) earlier this evening.  Coming home from my *real* job to a very very VERY messy house, a five year old with a fudgecicle colored face and a hungry husband put me in a bit of a foul mood.   Top that off with a case of PMS, and you get one unhappy momma.

Anyways, I ended up spending about 4 seconds asking my daughter about school, I proceeded to try to straighten up the living room, organize the kitchen counters, get a quick dinner ready, get school stuff packed for the next day - when a little voice stopped me.  My little one - Nicole (you can read more about her here) - wanted to show me the "artwork" she had done earlier that day.  I'm going to take a guess and figure that most of you know how much artwork a small child creates.  I really REALLY didn't want to stop what I was doing, so I managed to put her off for another few minutes.  But she's pretty relentless.  

I finally followed her back to what she wanted to show me (it was in her Hannah Montana folder, which is only for SUPER IMPORTANT papers) and this is what I found..........

It reads "I  L U MoM".

Stopped me right in my tracks, I tell ya.   And, needless to say, we spent the rest of the evening reading, snuggling and playing restaurant.   The house can wait until tomorrow.

I  L U too sweetie.

Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce

French Farmhouse Storage Bin

...Otherwise known as Repurposed and Upcycled Cheap Junk from The Christmas Tree Shop.

I don't know why I'm calling this French Farmhouse.   I think it's because of the rooster.  Aint' she cute? (I'm not sure people are very "into" roosters anymore, but that's okay )  And also maybe because it makes me feel better than to just call it a cheap tin bucket from the Christmas Tree Shop. 


Anyways, I wish SO MUCH that I took a before picture.  Maybe even some during would have been nice.   I have other ones of these lying around, so I will be sure to take both before AND after photos next time.   It was already decoupaged in some manner with a baby print.  Meaning a print for a baby's room.  I scooped up a bunch since they were only about a buck or so each!  I thought that they would look cute in my daughter's playroom.  They did not.  Way too much pastel.  Pastel OVERLOAD even.

Anyways, I'm always looking for cute storage solutions in my kitchen.  My kitchen counters are a haven for any stray piece of paper, mail, bills, food, toys, you name it.  It ends up there.   This controls a bit of the clutter.

So easy and fun.  What I did, was take the above mentioned bin/bucket/tin can and painted it black.  Should have done this outside with some spray paint (next time I'll know better) but this worked just fine as it turns out.  It needed many coats, but I used an inexpensive CHEAP bottle of acrylic craft paint.  It dries very quickly.  (Here I should note that:  It dries very quickly UNLESS you are expecting it to dry very quickly - after the first few coats I tested this out and ended up with black fingertips)

Even though I do seem to have a strange and vaguely satisfying love affair with plain black paint (I'll explain at a later date), this needed a little something extra.  So I grabbed some fabric that I had leftover from My First Window Mistreatment and basically tied a large farmhouse-y bow (I don't know what it means either) around the middle.   Added this cute Rooster chick with some craft wire.   Then SHE wanted to be a little fancy too.   So I attempted attaching a bit of fringe along the bottom to dress her up a bit. 

And took a bad photo with a shadow from my head in it apparently.

The handle is a pretty creamy white, so if the Rooster ever doesn't want to watch me prepare dinner or pay bills, she can turn the other way and it still looks kinda cute.

It's now sitting on my counter FILLED with coupons, business cards and my address book and I'm One Happy Cheap Girl.   :)


Smiles and Hugs,
Joyce