Take A Number

Time for a cheap bedroom update.  We've had these pillows on our bed for 9 1/2 years.  Are you suppose to keep things that long?  {M is so rolling his eyes right now}

The stuffing was even coming out of one corner - embarrassing.

So, with a little burlap (from my dear friend, The Church Lady) and some black acrylic paint, and number stencils from Hobby Lobby I came up with this...

I only used 1 through 7 because there are seven of us in our family.  #2 couldn't quite get this concept but #3 said she "totally understood" - she's 4!

Then we sewed around three sides to make pillow covers and used embroidery floss to hand sew them closed.

I've come to the conclusion that I like quick projects that I can see the results ASAP!  Seems as though I'm not a real patient person.  {Now everyone in my life is rolling their eyes...DUH.}

Blessings-B

Simple

Recently introduced to me was the phrase: "glitter is the herpes of the craft world".  {Aren't ya just crackin' up?}  I love glitter and below are the 50 cent Goodwill ghosts that got to participate in my latest indulgence with the bling...

[I really don't know why I was clinching this itty bitty ceramic guy with my great big thumb.]

...and after...

...a little silver spray paint, and a little spray adhesive, and a whole lotta silver glitter...

Easy.

Blessings-B

May I Take a Message?

Do you ever walk in to your house and say to yourself, "Wow, that's ugly"?  When I say this to myself, then I am OBSESSED until I can make it un-ugly (atleast in my eyes).

Current Obsession:
#1. Entry bulletin board
#2. Where to put the kids' artwork

#1-
Recovered entry bulletin board with burlap and put it in an old frame:

This baby was on of those el-cheapo boards from Wal-Mart that had absolutely NO character.  {BTW - these are readily available at thrift stores EVERYWHERE!}  I tore off the old frame and covered the cork with burlap. Then I popped it in the frame and secured it with a staple gun.

Much classier - don't ya think?

This was absolutely free!  Remember, I had all the supplies, so no costs are realized!

#2 -
Project number one lead to an idea for problem #2:
More recovered bulletin boards!  This time I stepped out a little and went to Menard's for the board and the trim.  Did I mention that I HATE MENARD'S?!  More on that in a minute.  Because I have 5 children it would be necessary for us to have a rather large art display.  For $9.00 we found this:

It's 48X32 - HUGE and PERFECT!  But I also needed some decorative trim for the frame.  Here's where the loathing comes into play.  I found an oak piece for $6 for a 6 feet piece or I could buy an 8 foot piece of that primed MDF stuff for $4 - no brainer since I'm going to paint it anyway, right?  But how is one to get it into her CAR?  I asked the kind gentleman behind the "lumber desk" if they could cut the 8ft piece in half.  He said, "Well, we might have a hand saw back here somewhere."  Huh?  Are you kidding me?  On second thought, is there a Lowe's nearby? (NO)  Believe it or not, I got the 2 - 8 foot pieces in the front seat of my car.  The kids had to ride home with their heads cocked a little to the right but they've recovered.

Anyway...  I painted the trim pieces and then covered the board with upholstery fabric while the paint was drying.  I distressed the trim a little and found that the white came through -duh.  So, I used some wood stain to go over the sanded parts and it turned out to be amazing.  Maybe not amazing, but it looks nice.

I glued and stapled and nailed all of these parts onto a 1/4 inch piece of "somethin' cheap" plywood. 

It hangs in the kitchen and is already full of masterpieces! I feel like one of those good moms now. HA

Blessings-B

$16 of Unadulterated Fun

Monday's trip to Goodwill provided me with all of what's pictured below for only $16.00!

{I am so not a photographer!  Oh, how I long to be!}

My weekly budget for "thrifting" is $25.00.  Those of you thinking, "she needs a junk budget?" - trust me, it's necesssary.  However, if there's something out there that I really "need", then the budget is merely a guideline - you understand.  I digress.  With these limits in place, one is sure to realize how excited I may have been to get so much for so little.  To the untrained eye it may look like junk but it's oh, so much more.

The "Trick or Treat" bucket found itself full off Halloween candy (currently hidden from those sticky hands that belong to M and four of the five children).  The corboral (is that what it's called) thingy in the middle I love but it's in purgatory waiting for its assigned spot.  The candles got a new home in the bathroom.  And finally, the candlesticks and cheese plate got a fresh new coat of.........black spray paint!

The birdcage came from an auction and no one wanted it - I dug it out of the dumpster, painted it black, and added a crow.

There's a glittery skull inside these plate. Would you call that "head cheese"? HA

Who can't love a pumpkin on a candlestick?

Blessings-B

Spooky!

Mom and Dad are coming... no, that's not the spooky part! It's time to clean and redecorate the whole place for the season!  Mom always says, "Now, don't try to change everything just because we are coming."  That's great and considerate and all but truth be told I love cleaning and trying to make my house look festive... now, what to do with 5 kids, hummm??  Well, there's always the hours between 9pm and midnight.  Laugh - but that's when "fun" projects get done {if I'm not to the point of exhaustion}. 
We completed this simple little project last weekend.  We just used scrap wood, spray paint, and a paint pen for the letters.  They stand up so nicely with a 3 inch piece of dowel rod glued into a hole in the back of each piece.  It was fun, quick, and didn't cost a dime.  {REMINDER:  If one uses the stuff one already has, then the project is FREE! - in my book anyway}

And then there's the mummy that myself and Pammie Sue {that's the alias that sister chose for herself} created a few years ago.  I adore this guy.  We found the instructions in one of those special Halloween Mags.  We used 2X4's for his tall masculine frame - he's 6 feet tall.  His head is a styrofoam ball and we used batting for his "fluff".  All of this was wrapped with strips of muslin {from my stash, of course = FREE!}.  The final touches were some fake spiders and spider webs!  Very Cool!

Some important business... #4 wants to be a "giraffe rider" for Halloween.  Keep in mind he's three.  None of us, including any of his siblings, seem to know what that exactly is.  HELP!  We thought maybe he meant a cowboy but he said, "NO!".  Let me know if anyone has a suggestion.

Blessings- B

What's For Dinner?

The kids circling, yet?  I have a wonderful new, easy dish!  From allrecipes.com of course...  simmer some frozen Tyson {are there any others?} chicken breast tenderloins with a jar of salsa - covered, over medium heat until no longer pink.  I used black bean and corn salsa - delicio!  We had them just like this with rice, fresh veggies, and grapes.  You could even shred the chicken and make tacos or burritos!  Happy cooking!

Blessing - B

Dresser For #1

The auction crew (3 daughters) and I hit a sale last weekend. I was so thrilled and excited to attend, only to be horribly disappointed in not only the goods, but in the auctioneer! M warned me about this guy but I didn't believe him - imagine that?! Lesson learned. No matter how enticing, the next sale conducted by this guy will not be attended by me and the crew.

Task at hand:

#1 needed a dresser and we found one at said sale...$15.00!

The ladies were getting a little tired/bored waiting for Mom to make the big buy. So, what better way to nurture a child than with FOOD? {A topic for their therapist in years to come} I'm tellin' ya - a bag of peanuts in the shell can keep a kid or 2 busy for a good hour!

The dresser was obviously very ugly so we did a little sanding and then painted it with what? That's right, black spray paint! After it dried then we did what? That's right, roughed up the edges with the sander. And then we did one of my favorite things... painted some words on our creation.

VOILA!

OK - so here's how I do my "stenciling"...

1. Use your computer to print the words just like you want them

2. Place carbon paper behind the paper and trace the words onto the surface.

3. Then take a wonderful think called a "paint pen" {purchased at ANY craft store} and fill in the lines!

4. This is VERY EASY! If you want to put words on your wall just like EVERYONE is doing - use the "banner" option on your publishing program to print out the inspiring quote suitable for your wall!

I love the way this turned out - M even said he liked it!!! Woo... Hoo..

Blessings- B