Recycle Buttons into Magnets . . . .

Hi everyone! I’m Taryn from Design, Dining + Diapers and I’m so excited to be visiting Thrifty Decorating today. When it comes to my living space, I am a complete neat freak. I hate clutter and I like everything put away in its place (just don't look behind the closed doors, something might jump out at you. I have to put all our stuff somewhere :P ). Because I like things so orderly, I'm not a big fan of pinning things to the fridge. HOWEVER, there are some things that just need to be on there, like the grocery list and the adorable birth announcements and Save-the-Date cards that accumulate each year.

Recently, the collection of magnets on my fridge has really been getting to me and I've been looking for something with a little more style. Call it fate if you will, but I was at a craft fair a few weeks back and stumbled upon old buttons that were turned into magnets. I was completely inspired and decided to make some myself.

First, I pulled out my button collection (Correction: It's actually BOTH my mom's AND my collection that currently resides at my house. Although, she will tell you that I stole it hehe). There are hundreds of buttons in there and they date back to probably the 1930's. I love looking at all of the colors and character that each one holds.



Because our kitchen blends into our family room, I choose colors that will go with my new family room design.



Next, I picked up this pack of magnets at my local craft store for a mere $1.99.



Then, I hot glued the magnet directly onto the back of the button.





To add a little variety, I stacked some of the buttons in unique designs. I love how they turned out and they definitely add a new look to the fridge :)







My total cost for the project: $1.99

So here's my tip. Never throw away those extra buttons that come on your clothes, you never know what you might need them for in the future :)

-------------------------------

Thanks, Taryn, for visiting today!  Taryn also made this beautiful book page wreath!

You can head over to Design, Dining + Diapers to check out Taryn's other great ideas!

We're hanging in the Pocono Mountains today, so I'll share what we're up to later!

Read more ...

My 3.00 fall wreath. . .

Confession.....I have yet to make a single fall decoration...yet!  When I get the inspiration, I am sure I'll be crafting like a lunatic, but I'm just a tad bit overwhelmed with putting my basement back together. Do you ever notice how if one area of your house is out-of-order, it just spills into all the other areas?? (and....it can make one a little grumpy??)


So I didn't actually make this wreath this fall....I made it last year and just today hung it on my door....but, it really did cost only $3.00!


I love all of the round wreaths, but I wanted my door to look unique, so I opted for square.  My inspiration came from Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick.


(I apologize in advance for some of these pictures...it was before I learned how to use the manual settings on my camera and how to edit with Picassa and Picnik.)


I started with a $1.00 piece of foamboard from The Dollar Tree, a utility knife, a large measuring squarish device and my hubby!

I decided how large I wanted the opening and then drew a perfect square in the center to cut out with a utility knife.

After I had my square, I took some $1.00 packs of leaves from The Dollar Tree and started randomly gluing them on with hot glue.

My compulsive personality made me do a pattern so that no two identical leaves were next to each other....

Overall....it was an inexpensive solution to a rather boring fall door and I love the unique square look to it!

What does your door look like?

Read more ...

Pretty chalk paint pumpkins. . . .

I have been working hard in my basement and I can't wait to show you what we are doing!!  It's a completely different look and I am lovin' it!  


My husband keeps telling me that I got an extra special gift for my 40th birthday.....a new basement!  (I punched him in the arm!)  Actually....I am grateful for ALL that he is doing and has done....he is working like crazy down there and he trusted my vision and is loving the result.


I hope to have a sneak peek later this week.....


But today....welcome to Bonnie, from a wee Meenit....

--------------------------------------------

The fall is my favorite time of the year!
Nothing beats the changing color of the leaves, cooler temps, the need for a jacket in the evening. I would live in a climate like this all year round!
I also love to decorate for fall. I figured I better get started before I had to add the Halloween decorations that I love too, but that is just not as pretty as just fall!

So here are a few things I did (with my super awesome, 6 year old helper girl!) ;0P

I just got back from an Annie Sloan Chalk paint workshop & was excited to see what I could do to the finish on faux pumpkins. I did a few in Greek Blue (LOVE that color, I see a table in my future in GB). I started with an assortment of faux pumpkins, mostly orange. I love the shape of these two, got them from local craft store (they are all running together so I don't know which store), they are not your standard 'round' faux pumpkin.

I only did one coat as I knew I would be doing a wash on it with Old White: after completely dry I added a bit of water to Old White & brushed it on over my kitchen sink, while wiping away what I wanted to with a damp paper towel. When it gets too full of paint to wipe away, just rinse it out & use it some more. I found it easier to break it up into a few sections and that way I didn't have to work so fast.

The picture frame in the photo above I finished in the workshop

& as soon as I get a new hard drive for my laptop ( back it up people!!!) I will do a post about that.

I also did a taupe pumpkin using an oops paint tester from Home Depot, it was only $.50! I did the same Old White wash over it & I love this one too!
I painted another small one Paris Gray but no wash on it but did use some of the high gloss spray paint from Deco. It is in a photo below with all the other pumpkins.

Lastly I did a cute little pumpkin that started out white & covered it with Provence. After it dried completely I painted thick & thin spots on top with Old White.

I hit it with a hair dryer so the thinner spots would be dry but the thicker spots not.

I then took a damp paper towel & started to rub off the thick areas.

I then took a sanding block & distressed the pumpkin!! The last step I glazed it with a wash of Old Ochre but no high gloss spray as I liked the matte finish on the ASCP pumpkins!

The Metallic pumpkins on the bottom shelf are a knock off of pumpkins I saw & loved @ Hobby Lobby and can be seen here&l t;/a>.

what do you think, did I make them look better than the craft store orange faux??

---------------------

Thanks, Bonnie!  And remember.....if you want to try making your own chalk paint, you can go to HERE to get a link to a tutorial!

As part of our basement redesign, I am going to be painting the furniture downstairs......I am going to try the make-your-own-chalk-paint tutorial and I bought some paste wax recommended at my local True Value Hardware store....

I'll keep you posted!

Read more ...

Scrap Wood Pumpkins....

Kathy truly has one of my favorite blogs....when she took some "time-off" this summer (she was actually working full-time!), I went through withdrawal from the lack of her fun craft ideas!

So I'll be honest....I kind've begged her to guest post for me knowing that she would have an AWESOME tutorial....and she does!

Here's Kathy from Dandelions and Dust Bunnies.....

------------------------------------------------------

Hi, I'm Kathy from Dandelions and Dust Bunnies. My yard is speckled with those pesky dandelions and my house has a few dust bunnies lurking about here and there. So that's how I came up with my blog - in hopes of weeding out the bad and replacing it was fun crafts, recipes, thrift store find remakes and home decor projects that are a little more pleasing to the eye.

Thanks Nikki for letting me guest post.  Poor girl - she's busy putting her house back together and here I am making crafts.  Wishing you and your family the best.

I wanted to make a fall craft with things I had on hand, so I rounded up some supplies.

I painted the wood blocks Burnt Orange.

Then gave the edges a sanding for a more weathered look.

I had these knobs in my stash and figured that would make great stems, so I gave them a coat of Mississippi Mud.

Then I attached the knobs with some liquid nails, but you could hot glue them too.

Add a little raffia and ribbon and your done.  Simple project - the longest part was waiting for the paint to dry and even that didn't take very long.

Display them on a cupboard, mantel or even your kitchen table.  I put mine on a Better Homes and Garden charger I picked up a Walmart the other day for $3.00.

Super simple and super quick.  Love those kind of projects.

Thanks again Nikki for letting me stop by today.  Feel free to come visit me over at Dandelions and Dust Bunnies.

-------------------------------

Thanks so much, Kathy!!  I can't wait until I have some time to craft again!

Also.....don't miss out on the awesome 

fall vinyl giveaway from Utah Vinyl!!  I'll be

choosing a winner this Friday!

Read more ...

Fun Fall Pumpkin Ideas....

Today I am hoping to crawl over our furniture, treadmill, television, bookshelf and everything else that got shoved into our storage section of the basement while we are finishing the new drywall in our flood-damaged section......and I am going to try and get to my fall decorations!!


Just in case I can't get my bin down, here are some pumpkin crafts that I'd love to make for this fall!


Pumpkin Candles.....

{A Pumpkin And A Princess}

Pumpkin Seed Art....

{Tattered and Inked}

Wooden Oval Pumpkins.....

{Smilemonsters}

Velvet Pumpkins....

{DIY Craft Projects}

Book Page Pumpkin.....

{Creations by Kara}

Glitter Pumpkins...

{The Queen of Iwasgonna}

Lentil-covered Pumpkins....

{HGTV}

What fall crafts are you working on?

Read more ...

Gilding a pumpkin....

Bon Jour!  I am Karen from the blog Redoux and I am happy to be guest
posting here at Thrifty Decorating today!

I don't know about you, but I am really ready for the Fall. This is my favorite time of year, the leaves change color, and the air gets crisp.  I have done a little "prepping" for Halloween decor already.

Here Goes my 1st project:

Materials needed:

• White or Orange faux pumpkin purchased from Craft Store
• Metallic Silver and Copper Spray Paint
• Metallic Silver and Gold Craft Paint (I am really loving the Martha Steward brand, much better than the cheaper stuff)
• Small paintbrush, (I used a 1 inch brush)
• Very fine Gauge Wire, about 3 inches per pumpkin
• Nail, or other sharp object (for puncturing the stem) 

This is your pumpkin before:

Start by Spray Painting your Pumpkin in Silver or Bronze (only one color per pumpkin!)

 

After paint dries, use metallic craft paint and "dry brush" from the stem down, all around the pumpkin.  (This mimics the natural color variation you would see on a real pumpkin, but not gold and silver....)

When craft paint is dry, paint stem in metallic craft paint.

While Stem is drying, use about a 3-4 inch piece of the wire and wrap around a pencil to make a "ringlet"

When Stem is dry, use a sharp object (I used a large nail), to "make a hole" for the wire.  Stick one end of the wire into the stem, until it feels secure.  (You can also stick the wire in, then do the ringlet)

Now you have a beautiful Fall/Halloween Gilded "Jacque - o - lantern"!

Ahh, so much better!  From Orange to Ooo la la!

-------------------------------

Karen has a wonderful blog called Redoux and she

also has a weekly link party...

You can head over and see what other fall ideas

are linking up!

Read more ...