Mini Wooden Books Makeover using Chalk Paint

A crafty makeover to this little set of wooden books found at a thrift store. I knew I could make them better & more to my liking by simply using paint!

Crafty ideas came to mind of painting them white and adding words. I’m loving them in this new look and have left them as is ...for now!

Below is the before of the these mini wooden books!  I'm so pleased with this little crafty project!

“Finding joy in the little things!”

Spring Refresh Centerpiece/Table Decor

Loving these glorious spring days!

And all the spring greens, and a little refresh with this centerpiece for our table!

I enjoy changing up this centerpiece box.  This is nice look for Spring.  With greens, white flowers, a bird with succulent for the center instead of a candle, and the "hello spring" sign.

~ Hello SPRING!

Wreath Restyle for Winter

 

I've enjoyed restyling this beautiful wreath.  I purchased this lovely wreath from Kirkland's long ago and I have added embellishments to change it up for different holidays and seasons.

For winter I simply added some evergreen picks and buffalo plaid ribbon to change this beautiful wreath.  I just tucked the evergreen picks into it and then added the ribbon.  Just a couple items tucked into the wreath gave it a new look.  I can still use this favorite wreath seasonally by making simple changes by adding different elements.

Below is a view of it in its original form.  It's truly a favorite wreath of mine!

I love this beautiful wreath, and have enjoyed it for many seasons, and hope to enjoy it for many more!

September~Late Summer Decor in our Foyer Area

September brought us lots of sunshine and blue skies.  I'm hanging onto summer while being inspired by all the fall inspiration.  This is a current view of a little late summer decor in our foyer area.

A sweet floral arrangement for the door is perfect for this time!  Sharing a close up below as I was creating it.  A wicker hand bag with sunflowers and greenery tucked into it, added a simple bow and voila!

~ Happy Labor Day weekend!

Thrifty Painted Medallion Transformation~ Simple makeover using paint & wax!

I transformed this beautiful medallion with a makeover using paint.

~*~

I picked up this medallion for two dollars at GW.

I knew I wanted to paint this the second I saw it! I’ve added a few images of the process. And isn’t it lovely with its new look?!

~*~

I gave this a layer of white chalk paint then after dry, distressed it using an emery board nail file.  Next I gave it some clear and dark wax and then did some buffing with a soft cloth.

~*~

It’s now the piece I envisioned it to be! I love the details and how the distressing and wax make them pop! I’ve seen similar pieces for twenty-five dollars and up!

Using chalk paint and wax is the easiest way to transform a piece!  Don’t be afraid to give it a try!

  

Tiered Tray - Summer style

I dressed up my little tiered tray today!

Just a little something I put together with a summer feel using some greens, white flowers and the sweetest picture frame I found at GW for 1$ sometime ago. I simply used an image from a sales brochure to create the picture in the frame!

- My Tip of the day! -

Crafty Christmas Ornaments

Aren’t these the cutest ornaments?!  I think they are so adorable!

I received them as an early Christmas gift.  My daughter and her daughters/my granddaughters crafted and hand painted these!  A fun Pinterest inspired idea.  And, if you hadn’t figured it out, they’re wine and champagne corks!  So perfect for a wine lover, which I definitely am!

~ Such a fun gift to treasure!

My Christmas Gift Baskets

I made these cute gifts for a few friends, a fun gift basket for making cookies with their kids/grandkids!

~*~

I filled each basket with a cookie mix, sprinkles variety, oven mitt and pot holder, tea towel set, holiday cookie plate, cookie cutter and a few small candy canes, embellished the basket with a Christmas ornament and all tied up with a clear bag with a bow & a bell!

Gift Basket # 1

Gift Basket # 2

Gift Basket # 3

::: Tip of the day :::

If you need a last minute gift idea...This makes a sweet gift! I picked up the basket and contents at Target, the bag, cookie plate and embellishments from the Dollar Tree!

~ I enjoyed making and gifting these, and they enjoyed receiving them!

Christmas/Holiday Centerpiece

Merry Christmas & Ho~Ho~Holiday Greetings!

I did a little Christmas-ing to my thrifty candelabra centerpiece by changing out the previous candle holders & candles for plain glass candle holders & gold candles, added some holiday/winter accents/picks & red sparkly tulle ribbon!

This candelabra has been a fun decor item to decorate, and re-decorate throughout the seasons!

Such a great thrifty find this year!

Sources:

-Glass candle holders, Gold candles & Red sparkly tulle ribbon - Dollar tree

-Candelabra centerpiece - Thrift store

-Greenery, holiday/winter accents/picks Hobby Lobby & Michael's

Visit these links to see my original Centerpiece Makeover & Fall Centerpiece 

~ Happy Christmas-ing!

Fall Shelf Decor

I have a few spaces in our home that I enjoy changing for the seasons and holidays. This space is definitely one of them!

Hubby put this shelf up for me long ago.  I knew it world be perfect for this spot, and fun to decorate.

Sometimes I make only minimal changes or add just a bit of a holiday or seasonal touch.  

I've enjoyed using greens and golds this Fall season, they're two of my favorite colors so I'm happy they have been popular this year!

I’m just getting used to fall and pumpkins around here, although I’m beginning to see lots of Christmas inspiration that has begun.  There are many ideas floating around in my mind at the moment!

Fall Wreath

I made something pretty for our front door today!  This lovely Fall wreath.  We are just inside the second month of the Fall season and some of the beautiful Fall colors are appearing outside.  

It's been so hot and dry here that I've wondered if we will even see much Fall color change before the leaves just dry up and fall off!

We have a storm door, so a lower profile wreath is needed due to the narrow space between the two doors.

I chose to use a simple wire wreath form and covered it with burlap/mesh ribbon folded in half.

Next I cut-off part of the stems from two floral picks, placed them in opposite directions and attached them and a pre-made bow, using floral wire.

It was simple, easy and low cost!  And, I can easily change the look for another season or holiday, too!

- Items List, Sources & Prices:

Floral Picks - Hobby Lobby 1/2 off =1.99 ea

Ribbon - Hobby Lobby 1/2 off =3.98 per 10 yd roll (Used appox 1 yard)

Wire wreath - Dollartree =1.00

Bow - from a recent gift pkg =.00

This will easily adorn my door until Christmas decor makes its way there!

I hope you've found this easy wreath inspiring and you'll make something pretty for your door too!

Happy Crafting and Decorating!...

Fall Centerpiece Basket

I created this lovely Fall centerpiece by adding some lamb’s ear greenery, sunflowers, and a faux pumpkin to this pretty basket I recently found at a thrift store.

The basket was only two bucks and it was already painted in a neutral color, which matches well with my decor.  I love it when that happens, don’t you?!

I always encourage others to have a look at the thrift stores and antique markets!  You never know what treasures you'll find!

  

~ I’ll enjoy styling this thrifty treasure throughout the seasons!...

Thrifty Fall Tablescape

It’s always fun to set a pretty table!

Those golden suede pumpkins were my inspiration for this festive Fall tablescape.

I pulled this fall setting together by using mostly $one dollar$ items and what I already had on hand!

The beautiful amber glass candle holders-with medal leaves attached, Fall florals-(tucked into the lamb’s ear greenery), plain & printed napkins, and burlap leaves are all from the Dollar Tree.

The adorable golden/mustard suede pumpkins are from Target.

Total cost was 10 bucks!

I shared my thrifty Fall Centerpiece makeover in a previous post.

I enjoy the challenge of not spending a lot to change up my decor!  “It doesn’t have to be expensive to make it beautiful!”

Happy Decorating!...

Fall Centerpiece

I recently did a little restyling to my thrifty centerpiece that I shared back in the summer, and now it’s updated for Fall!

I visited the Dollar Tree and found these cute auburn colored candle holders, each with a sweet little metal leaf attached to it! And, I also got some Fall florals to tuck into the lamb’s ear greenery I had on it before!

Just a couple bucks to transform and update it!  That's my favorite kind of decorating!

A glimpse of the before, after the original makeover.  See the original post here!

Next I'll be sharing a thrifty fall tablescape!  I'm off to do some shopping!

Fall Framed Art~Easy Craft DIY

And then it was FALL!

Adding a simple touch of Fall. So easy to create, too!

I picked up a cute copper colored frame and a Fall greeting card at the Dollar Tree. Yep, just two bucks! The frame was a bit shiny, so I took a metal nail file and gave it some distressing! I loved the beautiful pumpkin scene on the card. I simply cut it to fit the frame and voila!

I just love a quick inexpensive project that gives me new & beautiful decor. Oh, and white pumpkins, I LOVE little white pumpkins!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Thrifty TreasureWooden Pedestal and Vase/Candle holder

My latest thrifty treasure and fabulous find is this beautiful wooden pedestal and wide glass cylinder vase/candle holder.

~ A cost of six dollars total for the two items!

I dressed them up with a pretty candle and some faux greenery I already had on hand.

The tray is a thrifty treasure from awhile back.  I chalk painted it white since I have another one that I originally purchased from “Southern Living at Home” some years ago for much more than the five bucks I paid for this thrifted one!
(Upon doing a little search, the pedestal above may also be a SL@H item?)

I’m so pleased with my thrifty treasures!  And, I love the beautiful arrangement I created using them!  All it took was just a few dollars, a little imagination and some creativity!
Decor doesn’t have to be expensive to be beautiful!!!

~ Happy Decorating!...

Summer Tiered Tray Styling

“Home” it’s my favorite place to be!!

::: It is my happy place!

Creating and decorating our home is one of the things I truly enjoy doing for our home.

::: And, I always enjoy styling my tiered trays, they’re such a fun decor item.  I’m liking this summer vibe, and that it’s about “HOME!”

~ The mini houses were my inspiration for styling my tiered tray for Summer, and a "home" theme.  Most of the items here are from a Thrift store, the Dollar store and Target Dollar Spot, even the tiered tray and items which I already had.  I shopped my home and did this for no extra cost.  That's my kind of inexpensive decorating!

Easy Wall Decor Idea

Yay for Saturday!  I think we need more Saturdays in the week!

::: I did a little decor refresh in our family room.  I changed up my wall sconces by adding some faux plants to these pretty gold-glass mosaic candle holders.  I'm loving the look for summer.  So easy and didn’t cost a thing!  I enjoy simply shopping our home to change my decor.  I say that often and always recommend doing that before making new purchases!

::: Speaking of love, this large wall plaque is a favorite of mine!  And, it works perfectly with the sconces.

I love this cozy space!

***Sources below***
Wall plaque: Kirkland's
Sconces-Pillow Cover-Faux plants: Hobby Lobby
Mosaic candle holders: Ross
Sofa: Haverty's Furniture
Throws: Homegoods & Bed Bath & Beyond

Welcome SUMMER!

In welcoming summer I added this beautiful Butterfly wreath to my door.  I found this beauty and simply added a little embellishment!  Perfect for summer and as a sweet welcome on our front door!

We're expecting a beautiful first weekend of Summer!

Happy SUMMER!...

A Romantic Table for Valentine's Day

I'm serving up some love and hearts!

I love these sweet little cookies “Mini Palmiers!”  Not only are they sweet and delicious, they look like hearts!  They are perfect for Valentines Day!

For a romantic table I’m using some roses, sweet treats and these heart plates I found years ago, they’re also perfect for Valentine’s Day!  I used a faux rose with a long stem and simply wrapped the stem around a pretty gold cloth napkin.  

Since I had used most of this table decor recently for the New Year table and was still enjoying the charger plates and place mats on their own, I only needed to change up or add a few things.  I also still had part of the previous centerpiece, however I removed the winter greenery and added more roses.

I often prefer to be able to change up the look without changing everything.  Not always, but sometimes.  Especially if using some favorite items or something that was recently purchased and I want to enjoy it a little longer without going to something completely different.  And in the long run that leads to inexpensive and easy decorating, which I'm always all for!  And, that simply makes for a much easier way of decorating sometimes.  It doesn't have to cost a lot to make it beautiful!

We'll be doing our Valentine's Day celebrating/dinner on the Saturday after.  Hmmm, I'll be needing to buy more of these sweet cookies by then! *wink* 

Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day!