Splurge- Crewel Pillows

Ok I admit..... I splurged (in my standards).

It was so worth it though. I found these crewel embroidered pillows at Marshalls the other day and they were just too perfect to pass up. $20 a pillow isn't that bad considering it adds so much visual interest, great texture, adds beautiful colors and ties the pops of color in my kitchen into my family room. Totally worth it.I have had my eyes on these for about 9 months. I first saw them in pottery barn and didn't know this type of embroidery was called crewel.I also saw this at Pier One, but I wasn't about to spend $30-$40 on either of these. At one point I went to a specialty fabric store and found the crewel fabric I loved was over $100 a yard! What the?!
Anyways mine are perfect for our home and I am loving them.

DIY Roman Shades

If you love hot glue, saving money, and sleeping in you will love this post! Here is how you make some black out roman shades using your regular $4 mini blinds! Lots of pictures and very easy steps- sew, disassemble, measure, glue, hang!
Let me also say that these are great because they function as an attractive window treatment as well as a privacy blind!
1. Buy black out liner and top fabric. Liner always on sale for about $2.50 a yard at your favorite fabric store. You will want about 1/4 inch wider than blind size, and actual length of your window.
And for your top fabric of choice about 2 inches wider on all sides.
FYI when buying blinds they always run a half inch shorter than size stated on package.

2. Cut the liner about 1/4 inch wider than the actual size of the blinds. Then lay the top fabric under the liner. Fold top fabric over twice so no raw edge is showing and press, pin, and sew- so it looks like this, but better. It's easy I promise :) I have also seen no sew ones where the ladies fold and glue directly over the back of the blind.


OK you will have a nice sewn rectangle that should measure slightly smaller than the inside of your window, and slightly larger than your mini blinds. If you want to get fancy like I tried, you could make a smaller rectangle and sew it to the top- for a more finished look.
OK all sewing complete!

3. Fun part! Start with your regular mini blind and disassemble as follows. Pop off the caps on the bottom of blinds using screwdriver.
Locate the ladder cords that separate all the blinds vertically.My blind had 3 ladder cords and 2 main cords on the sides. DO NOT CUT the Main Cords. So cut and remove all ladder cords. See picture.


4. Next remove most of your mini blinds off the remaining 2 cords. You didn't cut those right ? ;) This is what it should look like.



5. Measure how many separations/folds you want and space your mini blinds evenly. Remember that this measurement will be divided in half visually -because when the blinds are pulled the separations will be folded in half.

6. Glue 2 blinds on top of each other for more stability and weight. Be careful the glue can burn you through the blinds. :(
7. Glue blinds to your measurements on your fabric. Do not glue the cords or the openings down. Because we are using blackout liner the hot glue doesn't show through. If you use a different liner I suggest a strong fabric glue.

8. Making sure the cords are fully extended tie a knot at the bottom and cut off excess. You can choose to make your last fold before the bottom, so it had a "skirt", or go completely to the bottom and it will fold.

9. Next cut a hole for your pull strings, make sure it is wide enough.
(I had to cut mine a bit wider than this) No the raw edge doesn't bother me-but you could sew a button hole here instead- I'm just too lazy. :)
This is what you have, beautiful!

Even though I didn't(please learn form me) I suggest gluing some blinds at the bottom for added weight so they go down easier.
10. To hang them you will have to pull back the glued fabric on the top for them to fit in the brackets.
Enjoy sleeping in with your new black out roman shades! Really they are easy to do once you get going.

Make Your Own Chia-Caterpillar

Isn't this little guy darling? My daughter brought this home from preschool and I just had to share him with you.

Supplies needed

• old pantyhose (can have runs but not big holes)
  
• dirt
• grass seed
• googly eyes
• pipe cleaner

Cut a leg off of some pantyhose
Mix about 4 cups of dirt and 1 1/2 cups of grass seed in bowl or bag.
Put about 1/3 of mixture in the end of the pantyhose leg, tie a knot.
Repeat 2 more times. Cut off the extra.
Hot glue on eyes and pipe cleaner antennas.
Water him regularly and watch him grow!

My little ones have loved watching his "hair" grow. He might need a haircut soon. :)

Recent Thrifty Treasures

Not to brag or anything ;), but look what I found at Goodwill for $5- This will look fabulous on my porch during the Holidays with my vintage ice skates hanging on it.

This cast iron bubblegum machine was only $15! It is pretty cute as is, but I am considering making it a fish tank. Not sure if I am ready to have a pet yet. It looks super easy to make though.
Thrifty Decor Chick did it, and all you basically do is cut a piece of glass slightly larger than the bottom and glue it to the bottom of the globe with aquarium sealant.

Last but not least...

on Craig's list I found this Bassett dresser and mirror for only $30!

I love antiques. I love the styling and that they are always so well made. It is hard to find dovetail drawers these days.

Well guess what this is going to be? Haha I feel so bad telling you this, because so many people loved it. But it will be my NEW turquoise dresser/buffet table. It will work better because it is longer and I am going to leave the top brown. And the old turquoise dresser will be redone and function as a dresser/changing table.
It was so easy to prime and paint and glaze I don't feel bad having to redo it. Good news is I will do a special glazing post when I redo the new dresser.

Family Hierloom Refinished

This was my great-grandmother's cherry wood end table. I like the beautiful simple design and the open airy feel. Hubsters sanded it down, as seen in the picture below. Sorry no real before, but it wasn't much different. It was very cracked and raw.


I stained it and then sprayed a flat polyurethane on it. Ahh much better.


The littlest one accidentally spilled a little water on it right after it was in place. But no fear now. Sure enough the poly worked and it beaded right up.

Oh and I found some great thrifty treasures recently. I have some great plans for them- Post coming soon.

Turquoise Dresser Revamp

Do you remember this $10 dresser????

Well after a coat of primer, paint and glaze, and a little bit of sanding. Here she is now. I used it as a buffet table in my dining room.

I love the color, the curvy lines, the glaze, and the antique handles. This bottom pict is more true to the color.
I'm not quite done, but I couldn't wait to show you. We (well probably my hubby) will add a shelf or two in the open area. I think I might re-spray the handles in an oil rubbed bronze to tie more of the dark tones into this area. She is coming along so nicely though.

If you want to revamp an old piece of furniture don't be scared. It's so easy.
Here are the steps.
1. Prime- I use Kilz water based primer, only $15 a gallon with tons left for many more projects.
2. Paint- I used a brush in the corners and a roller in the flat areas. The color I choose was Valspar's Seafoam.
3. Sand edges.

4. Glaze. This step was kinda intimidating to me, but it was soo easy and makes a huge difference. It really makes the detail stand out and tones down the color. Brush glaze into corners and over flat surface. Then lightly wipe down with a damp cloth. Keep repeating until it is dark enough.
Before the wipe down.

After the wipe down.



I plan on doing something different with the table display & picture. What would you do? I am thinking about flanking the dresser/buffett with a few chairs to add length to this wall and to balance out the room better.

On another note. I rehung the $10 mirror at the end of the table, across from the windows to brighten and expand the room. Looks great here.

Gigantor Art Display

I never have a lack of my kiddies art to display and being a former art teacher I want to encourage their art skills. SOOO I made this gigantic 8 foot art display board for their playroom.
I hung it low so they could put it up themselves, and see it at their level. I also made it 2 inches thick so I could enventually put the letters play up there and an old tennis racket.
Easy Steps

1. Buy one 2x8inx8foot long board, and 12 clothes pins-mine were prepainted at hobby lobby
2. Prime it. I just set it on top of a cardboard box in my garage
3. Paint it (red took 3 coats) :)
4. Measure & mark where clothes pins should go. 8 foot board 12 clothes pins. 3 inches from side, 7 5/8 inches in between each pin- the hardest part
5. Hot glue pins on
6. Screw into wall with 2 1/2 inch screws


Some other "art" we have in our playroom, simple scrapbook paper in 12x12 frames.

Sweet Pineapple Trick

We had the missionaries over for dinner tonight and it was great as usual. After we ate the roast and I asked if anyone knew how to cut a pineapple and Elder "T" said he did. I though he might since he is Samoan. And boy does was I right!
So, let me fill you in on a secret that he learned from a Science teacher. It makes the pineapple so sweet and less acidic.
1. Cut off the top
2. Sprinkle about a teaspoon of salt on the top of the pineapple.
3. Then use the cut off top to scrub the salt around and around. It will start to foam and that means it is working. The salt is taking the acid out of the pineapple.
4. Repeat 3 times.
5. Rinse off salt.
6. Slice and enjoy!

MMM. I just love fresh pineapple. Now go get a pineapple and try it out.

So sad I didn't get Elder T's Picture. To learn more about LDS missionaries and why they gladly serve 2 years visit mormon.org