Coffee Table Tray

Thought it'd be nice to spruce up my coffee table and so I found this idea on another blog. I added some of my ideas and special touches :)

Here are my supplies:



YAY FOR THRIFTING!!! Picture frame from thrift store $3.00, white spray paint (already had), Fabric from JoAnn's $5.00/yd, cabinet pulls from Home Depot $1.29/each, glue gun


First, remove all the contents from the inside of the picture frame and spray paint it. I had to use 2 coats. Let dry.





Then, take the inside contents and glue the fabric around it.





This is what it should look like once all glued, and flipped over.





Place the inside contents back into the frame.





Lastly, take the cabinet pulls and attach with the provided nails to the picture frame, and you're done! (Scroll up to the top of the post for the final product picture.)


Total cost of the project: $7.60

I think this is OOBER cute! You can choose to place anything on this tray... candles, remotes, books, etc.

Coffee Filter Wreath for indoor decor

Supplies: foam wreath from Dollar Tree $1.00, brown coffee filters from Tom Thumb pack of 200 for $2.00, push pins 150 ct from Walmart $1.50, chocolate ribbon (already had)

1. Take one coffee filter and "fluff it up" like you would to make it look like a flower.

2. Pin each coffee filter to the wreath until you fill entire wreath.

3. Attach chocolate ribbon.

4. Fluff up the coffee filters once it's displayed where you want it :) TADA!!

Total cost for the project: $2.00

**I only used 50 coffee filters and 50 pins for my size of the wreath.**

Stick Bundle

Have you guys seen those stick bundles in home decor stores or catalogs? They're extremely over priced!! I've seen the majority go for $30-$40!! I love the look of them so I brain stormed and this is what I came up with.





Supplies: can of soup or veggies (already had), bundle of grass or sticks from Joann's $2.50, twine from Dollar Tree $1.00, glue gun, floral foam from Dollar Tree $1.00, brown acrylic paint (already had)

1. Open can of soup or veggies and empty contents. Wash can and let dry.

2. Paint outside of can with brown acrylic paint to camouflage the look of the can.

3. Cut floral foam to fit inside can.

4. Fill the inside of the can with the sticks/grass in the foam.

5. Glue each strand of grass/sticks on outside of can with the glue gun.

6. Wrap twine around bottom of can and glue to secure.

Total cost of project: $3.75

Spring Wreath

Supplies: foam wreath from Dollar Tree $1.00, hydrangea blooms from Michaels, 3 at 50% off, $1.25 each, chocolate ribbon (already had), glue gun (already had")

1. Take hydrangea blooms and cut small bundles of flowers off to make the wreath look more full.

2. Stick the small bundles of flowers into foam wreath and glue each one down.

3. Glue chocolate ribbon to back of wreath and enjoy!

Total cost of project: $4.75

Decorative platters for wall decor

Supplies: 3 tin platters $1.00 each from Dollar Tree, vinyl stickers various sayings $1.00 each from Dollar Tree, Spraypaint Heirloom white from Hobby Lobby (already had), chocolate satin ribbon from Michael's (already had), hot glue (already had)


1. Take tin platters and spraypaint them with Heirloom white. You may need to do 2 coats. Let dry.

2. Apply vinyl stickers to each platter.

3. Take the chocolate ribbon and glue to the back of each platter.

Total cost of project: $5.00

Crackle initial and decor balls

Supplies: Unfinished wooden initial from Hobby Lobby $1.50, acrylic black paint (already had), crackle (already had), acrylic red paint $1.00 from Hobby Lobby, black spray paint (already had). Decor balls from TJ Maxx in home decor section on clearance for $2.50 (many balls left over after this project).

**Note: You can use any color you wish. I just used red and black because that is the color of decor in my dining room/kitchen.**

1. Take the unfinished initial and paint with black acrylic paint. Let dry.

2. Once black is dry, paint initial with crackle. Let dry.

3. Paint with red acrylic paint. Let dry.

For decor balls:

1. Take black spray paint and paint one ball. Let dry.

2. Paint another ball with red acrylic paint. Let dry.

3. Other ball in picture was not painted for contrast look.

Total cost for project: approx. $3.00

**Quality of picture does not allow for you to see the crackle on the 'P'. It is there, I'm promise :) **

Easter Egg Wreath

I've fallen in love with Easter egg wreaths, they seem to be the trend this Easter. Although I love the wreaths, I have not fallen in love with the price. Pottery Barn is asking $49.00 for this wreath...worth it? I think not!





So I decided to try and make my own Easter egg wreath. I went to Dollar Tree and purchased a plain wicker wreath, and 3 bags of pastel speckled Easter eggs. I purchased a pink ribbon for $1.84 a yard at Michaels. I didn't post a tutorial on here because this was VERY easy to make. I simply glued all the eggs onto the wreath, attached the ribbon, and VIOLA!





**NOTE**This is a HORRIBLE picture of the final product. I finished with my product at night and the lighting is all wrong and does not do this wreath justice. The eggs are much lighter and you cannot see the lines as well as you can in the picture.

TOTAL COST: $5.84

Personalized topiaries

Even though Jeff and I are not married yet. I am in love with personalizing your home, and there are so many cute ideas out there to do that to your home. I came across the idea of making a topiary because if you buy one you'll be paying an arm and a leg for them. Some place charge $20-$45 for just one. That's a bit ridiculous!

Here are the supplies I used to make the personalized topiaries:




**Note: There are some supplies in the picture that I DID NOT use in this project. I will only list the ones I used**

10 pack 3" garden pots- $1.00 from Dollar Tree, Spanish moss 2 bags- $1.00 a bag from Dollar Tree, River rocks-$1.00 a bag from Dollar Tree, Styrofoam balls & circles- 2/$1.00 from Dollar Tree, Mod Podge Matte- $6.99 from Hobby Lobby, Black spray paint- already had, glue gun- already had, Stick from tree in backyard- free, computer paper- already had

First, spray paint each pot black. (Use one pot for each letter of your last name). Let the pots dry.






For the letters for the last name, I got on Microsoft Word and opened a Wordart. I used font type Monotype Corsiva, size 96. Cut each letter out and set aside.






Take the styrofoam balls and use your glue gun to glue to spanish moss to each ball.





This is what they should look like once covered with moss.





Take your letters that you cut out and Mod Podge to adhere the letters to the pots. One letter per pot. Brush the Mod Podge over letter. Let dry. It will dry clear.





Take the styrofoam circles and cut in half to fit pot. Place one half in each pot. You may have to trim to fit.





Place a one stick inside styrofoam moss ball (I cut the sticks from my tree in the backyard). Each stick should be around 7 inches long.





Then, place the other end of the stick into foam inside pot.





Lastly, place a few river rock in pot to disguise the foam and weigh the topiary down.





All done. Turned out great!





I already had the book I purchased at Hobby Lobby and the tray was purchased prior at Ross.

Total approx cost for project: $10.00 :)

My first project... St. Patrick's Day door sign!

So I took the plunge and decided to take up a hobby, and I'm completely obsessed! I love the thought of having nice looking decor for your home at a very low price. They are easy and cheap. What more could a girl ask for?!

I decided to do holiday decor as my first project. St. Patrick's day is kind of a boring holiday and I really didn't have any decorations for it in my collection, so I thought, why not? I stole this idea from a decor website. Here is their version...






My first initial project will be the most expensive one because I have no supplies (paint, brushes, etc), so I needed to stock up at the craft store. Here are the supplies I used... *Please excuse the quality of the pictures, my camera is still in a box.*





Supplies for project- Mirror from Dollar Tree $1.00, Anita's Acrylic paint 11183 Shamrock 2oz. $0.50, Anita's Acrylic paint Black $0.50, Folkart Crackle Medium 4oz. $3.43, Elmer's Spray Adhesive 110z. $6.99, Scrapbook paper $0.33, Burlap $2.99/yard, 100 goldtone thumbtacks $1.99, Green with white polka dots ribbon $1.99, Homemade stencil of shamrock, foam brushes for paint pack of 10 for $2.50, stencil brush $2.00, hot glue gun $5.00 **All supplies were purchased at Hobby Lobby, except for the mirror**

First, remove the inside contents of the mirror so you are able to paint the wood frame.





Then, paint the wood frame with the Shamrock green paint with a foam brush, then let dry.





While you're waiting for the frame to dry, you can make your stencil for the clover design. I used a spare divider I had around the house and free-handed a clover. Once your design is to your approval, cut it out to make a stencil.





Set the stencil aside and check to see if your wood frame is dry. If so, apply a generous coat of the crackle medium. This product will allow us to have an antique crackle affect. (I didn't post a picture of the frame with the crackle because it is clear.) Let dry.

Apply the spray adhesive to the mirror and place the scrapbook paper on the mirror with applied adhesive. Once the scrapbook paper is secure, trim the paper to fit.





Cut the burlap 7inX6in.





Use the hot glue gun to glue down the 4 corners of the burlap in the middle of the paper.

Then, take your homemade stencil of the clover and play on top of burlap, use stencil brush to apply green paint to the burlap. Let dry.





This is what it should look like once you remove the stencil after painting the clover.





Take 4 of the gold thumbtacks and cut off the pointy ends with wire cutters.





Hot glue the "non-pointy" tacks to 4 corners of the burlap.





Check to see if the crackle is dry on your frame. If so, apply the black acrylic paint with a foam brush on top of the crackle. Make sure you only use one stroke at a time with a generous amount of paint on your brush. Do not go back over with another coat of black. It will not give the crackle affect. Let dry. **I forgot to take a picture of this step, sorry :( **

While waiting for the black paint to dry, measure green with white polka dots ribbon and cut off 24 inches.

This is what the frame looks like once dry. The crackle effect is pretty neat, huh?






Once the black paint is dry, put the "inside" of the frame back in.





Turn the frame over, take the 24 inches of ribbon and hot glue to the back of the mirror. Let dry.





Project is finished!





Even though I bought alot of supplies for this project, I did not even use a third of my supplies. I still have a ton left over for future projects. I estimate this sign costs less than $5 to make, what a deal!

Voila! My version of the shamrock sign. Hang on your door and enjoy! Cuteness!

My new found LOVE!

Ok folks, so when I started this blog, I figured I would have TONS to write about, but come to find out..my life isn't as interesting to put into words as I had imagined. LOL! But now I finally think I have found something to let you guys in on. My new found love for.............crafts! I know, I know, I probably sound like an old lady saying this, but these aren't just any crafts, these are shanty, cheap items found at your local dollar store, craft store, or thrift made into a brillant piece of art. Some mock Pottery Barn designs, but you play nearly 90% less than you would if you bought it from PB, its great!

I'm planning to document my crafts on my blog and give you a step by step tutorial with pictures on how to create your own. I will be heading to the craft store tomorrow and hopefully will have one finished by end of tomorrow night. No promises, but keep checking back.

I promise guys, these are awesome and you will love it. Most of them will cost under $10 to make and they are OOBER simple!! Stay tuned.....

A new year, a new decade, a new beginning. Welcome 2010!

10 years ago, I was just entering high school. That's crazy to think that 10 years has already passed! Where did the time go? I know one thing...I am very blessed to have had those 10 wonderful years. There was alot of laughter, definitely alot of tears, but all in all..I'm blessed to have had them. God is good!

The holiday season was good. This was the first Christmas celebrated since my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. It was good to come together as a family, although there was an emptiness. She wasn't there to fill the room with the scent of her delicious food, or her smile, but she was definitely there in our hearts. My Papa loved the holidays. He loved family time. I could just picture him sitting in his easy chair opening gifts. Oh how I miss him.

The past 2 years have been filled with sadness, but I am definitely confident God has a plan for my loved ones this year.