Don’t you hate it when you see a beautiful piece of furniture at a store, online, or in a catalog and the price tag is just plain ridiculous? I love walking through stores like Anthropology or Pier One but I almost never buy anything there! Their products are just so gorgeous but their prices are just too high.
Do you know what my solution is? DIY! That’s right, do it yourself! Now do not let yourself get intimidated! That is exactly what these fancy pants stores what. They want you to think that there is no way you could ever make something that stunning all on your own. They are totally wrong and you CAN do it!
All you need to do is find a piece of solid furniture that has pretty lines and you are ready to get started. I will need to do an entire post on how to pick furniture for a full DIY makeover. But for now let me show you what I did with this dresser I found on Craigslist.
With winter gone and spring in our laps it’s time to start freshening up our home’s décor. Don’t you agree? It is so nice to have all the warm and cozy colors decorating our house throughout the winter months but once spring gets here, it’s time to move on!
One of my favorite things I love to use in my home for decorations are fresh flowers! They are just so beautiful no matter what type they are. The problem is they are a little pricey for something that only lasts about 7 days.
I came up with the solution! Why not make my own fancy flowers and why not make them felt flowers! There are so many color options these days and the fabric itself is super cheap! There are so many different possibilities when it comes to the flower style or type. To make this entire bouquet only cost me about $2! Your not going to find that deal at your local floral shop, guaranteed!
I have shared my excitement about our local Salvation Army before and this tutorial will be no exception! Every Monday their entire store is 50% off and anything that has a price tag dated older than 14 days is 75% off! Take those discounts off an already low price and you have yourself a great deal! Does your local Salvation Army have the same deals?
Case in point, these beautiful wood bowls and tray. For the entire set I only paid $3! Perfect thing for a thrifty craft! For my kitchen, I am trying to collect more natural elements to add to my lacking décor. Natural woods and earthy colors make a kitchen feel so fresh and welcoming. (In my nonprofessional opinion)
Pretty much if I can make a fantastic craft for under $5 I can’t resist! Tell me it’s under $2 and there is NO stopping me! Not only did these two crafts cost me less than $2 total to make, it took me less then 30 minutes total!
This project is brought to you by my Pinterest addiction! I saw this idea floating around probably a whole year ago and there it sits in my Valentines board since then. As I was perusing trying to figure out what I would do to festive up my home for the lovely holiday, I decided this is the year I was going to make it!
I clicked the link and… nothing! I searched and searched the ginormous world of the internet to find the original tutorial where the photo could be found and nope! I couldn’t find it. I had to venture this one on my own! It’s a very simple project but thought I would put together a tutorial so you other ladies could create your own. But, if anyone does know where to find the original, please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due. You know!
I love making Christmas decorations! There is something so satisfying about seeing something in the store or online, then making it for a fraction of what it would have cost to buy it. Bonus, when I make it myself, no one else in the world has the same one as me! I love having a one of a kind pieces in my house! To be honest, they don’t always turn out how I wanted. But sometimes they turn out just the same or maybe even better. That’s how this craft worked out!
This burlap garland literally took just a few minutes to make and only a couple dollars. You know me; if a craft is elegant, easy, and cheap you can count me in! So if you are looking for something to add to your holiday décor this year but maybe short on time, this is perfect for you.
Are you ready to see how easy this is? Here ya go:
Materials Needed:
Burlap ribbon (I only used about 15 feet but if you want one longer use more accordingly)
Needle
Thread or string
Step 1: Feed thread through the fabric at the very beginning of the ribbon and tie it on.
Step 2: Start making very long stiches down the middle of ribbon. My stiches were about 3-4 inches long. I chose to make my garland more irregular shape by making my stiches in a zig-zag. This gave it a more curvy shape. If you decide you want your garland to be straighter then simply make your stiches in a straight line down the middle of the ribbon.
Step 3: While holding the end of your thread gently pull the ribbon away from the needle creating the gathering at the opposite end. You can choose to make the gathering more compressed or looser. I think I kinda went somewhere in-between. Just play around with it until you think it looks good.
Step 4: Continue doing stitching and gathering until it is the desired length you are looking for. Then cut the ribbon and tie of the thread. Super cute!
I decided to use my garland on our entry table and added a few pinecones that I painted with my daughter. I am also going to be adding to my table an adorable paper mache reindeer I found on Black Friday at Joann’s for only $2! My plan is to cover it in gold glitter. But that tutorial is for another day.
Anyways, back to the garland. I got distracted by glitter. Now you made your super fabulous and frugal burlap garland! Where are you going to use yours? Christmas tree, table centerpiece, entryway, or over a door perhaps? Let me know what you decide, I’m excited to hear!
Are you hosting a holiday party or dinner this year? Or maybe you want to add a little glamour to your table. There really doesn’t need to be a reason to decorate your table and here is an example of what can be done for a small amount of pennies.
It’s true that this tablescape only cost me about $12 but it could cost you a lot less! As a beginner in the decorating field I find myself still in the “need to buy” phase. I don’t have a lot of decorative pieces in my collection yet. But you, you might already have some pieces. When thinking about what you want your table to look like, first think about what items you already have in your home.
This table is courtesy of some awesome thrift store and dollar store finds. I new I wanted different heights at the table so the idea of having low flowers against raised pinecones was thought. So I made a list of things I wanted to find and went on a quick trip to the thrift store and eventually to the dollar store. I totally scored on my finds all in the same day! I originally found some smaller, very slim, candlestick holders at the thrift store along with the tablecloth and the cups used for the flowers. But once I brought them home and set them next to the big bunches of flowers I decided they were getting lost on the table. I decided to stop at the dollar store on my way to pick my daughter up from preschool. Such good luck! Something shiny caught my eye immediately and I snatched up the last two candlestick holders and walked down the floral lane and picked up two simple vases.
That was all for the shopping and barely any pennies had to leave my bank account. Plus, now in the future I won’t need to buy as many decorations now that I have basic items like a simple white tablecloth. Here is the breakdown of exactly what I spent:
Tablecloth $1.50
Flower cups $0.30 each
Candlestick holders $2.00 each
Vases $1.00 each
Flowers $6.00
Take a look around your house and even your yard to be inspired on the design of your tablescape. Maybe check-in with friends and family and see if they have anything to loan you. You don’t need a lot of money to make your table beautiful.
Just another example of living pretty for just pennies. Have fun decorating and celebrating!
