Thrift Stores & Dollar Tree...Got To Love Them

Up this morning and determined to get a lot of things done today.  My husband is home from the tug after a rough flight into Philadelphia airport in a thunderstorm on Wednesday (after a two hour delay flying out of Florida and about an hour of circling Philly).  Yikes!  He sleeps most of the first day he is home, but is getting back in the swing of things now and will be grilling for us tonight and tomorrow. Go, hubby!

Got a few things to show you today, then it's back to business.  Today I want to share with you more thrift store and Dollar Tree finds.  These are from my most recent trips off the island.  I'm afraid if I lived off the island I would never have a cent to my name between thrift stores, Dollar Tree, Hobby Lobby & Michael's, Sonic and Panera.  

First, here is a cheap Fall spruce up to the crock in my living room that belonged to my Nanny.  All of the florals came from Dollar Tree and came to a grand total of about $8 including the little green foam brick I stuck them in.  I like how it turned out!  

This picture has a look at the corner of my living room. I have a lot of items that belonged to my Nanny & Dada, from their house where I grew up.

Nanny, Dada, and me

                                        


In that living room pic you can also see a wooden candle stick up on the shelf that came in one of my recent thrift store hauls.  It was either 50 cents or $1, but it looks nice up there with with a wax dipped timer battery candle I got from ebay.  I love those timer candles that turn themselves on and off at the same time each day!

I haven't had a chance to post any pictures of the things I got when we were away on our trip last weekend.  So here's a look:

my new $2.50 Nine West purse and $4 giant heavy glass bowl from Halo Ministries Thrift Store (Snow Hill Rd in Salisbury - great place!)  In the picture below is the mirror I got from Rt. 346 Emporium in Parsonsburg, and the thrift store wall pocket I fixed up for my door, but decided to keep in the kitchen.  The mirror was $15, which I think was a good deal for it's size, and it looks really nice over my buffet.

Take a look at Lucky the Cat watching me type my blog from atop the one piece of furniture (other than the table) he knows he is not supposed to get on, which of course he has claimed as his "special place".  And he knows I won't do anything to him either, cause he's my "baby".  smh

I am also trying to list a few things for sale on ebay today, and bring down some stuff from my attic to finish my Fall decorating and have a small yard sale.  It's busy, busy, busy here again today!   Cue up "The Busy Song" and let's sing once again.  Have a great weekend!

More Thrift Store Fix Ups

Last night I decided to clean up the mess on my kitchen table by doing some crafts.  Funny but true! A lot of the stuff on the table was craft supplies that came in the shipments I got earlier this week. Let me say again how much I love online shopping.  When you live on an island and can get things shipped right to your door, instead of having to take a 45 minute boat ride, then a car ride to the store, lug the packages around with you, load them on a boat, and bring them home in a golf cart it's a blessing!  

You might remember some of these items from my Hospice Thrift Shop post (picture 1) and Good Will Finds post (picture2)

I have been posting a little along as I get them fixed up and repurposed.  It's still a work in progress, but things are starting to come together and many of them are showing up as part of my fall decor.

This pic shows some of the supplies I need to find a place for so my table can be used to eat once again.  Hmmm, why spend time searching for a place to shove store them when you can just make a few crafts and use them up instead.  Plus crafting is so much more relaxing after a hard teaching day than cleaning, so I deserve it.  (Sounds good doesn't it).

So here were go...

Here is the black stoneware vase from Good Will, filled with some red and brown berry stems and sporting the bow that tied up the box of acorns and pinecones in the picture above. I think the vase was $4, the berry stems were $2.99 and the bow was free.  I think its pretty cute for less than $7 and is actually much bigger than it looks in the picture.  It's going on the bottom shelf of my console table.

The rest of the little box of acorns and pinecones and some of the straw (which I got on sale for 60% off so less that $5 ! ) went into the little mixing bowl on my buffet.  The blessings chalkboard tray was one of those from the Hospice Shop I spray painted with Rust-oleum antique copper and chalkboard paint.  The little ceramic pumkins were a Dollar Tree score at $1 each, the flower and fall leaf picks were also from Dollar Tree, I wrapped the stems in some jute twine. The Welcome sign and ceramic gourd goose are down from the attic.  They both came from Terry's Village a couple of years ago.  I LOVE that goose.

Next I went to work on the wall pocket I found at Good Will.  I got a lot of fall florals on sale from Joann's online and if you spent a certain amount you got free shipping.  Needless to say, I spent that certain amount, and it was really easy to do, too (am happy to have found Joann's).  I was just starting to arrange them in the wall pocket when I finally remembered I was supposed to do a before and after.  So here is a (semi) before and the after.  

I  had planned for this to go on my front door like this pic from a blog I love Thrift Decor Chick.  But I really liked how it turned out and I noticed it matched the colors in my breakfast room really well, so can you guess where it is now?

The twin iron candle holder I decided to leave "rustic shabby" for now.  It looks nice on my hall bench some of my other attic treasures.  Picture 1 shows the cleaned up cropped version of the photo, Picture 2 shows the real bench scene with all our shoes and usually a few book bags thrown underneath.  

Don't you love fall decorations?  I think they are my favorite. Well I better get back to crafting I mean cleaning.  Bye for now!

Autumn Leaf Projects For Fall

Fall is right around the corner now ( like tomorrow!) and I am making plans for catching some of the gorgeous sights to be had when the air gets crisp and the leaves begin to change. This led me to a search for fall leaves (did you know there are actual "leaf peeping" websites that predict the time of best color for certain areas?) and I found some wonderful projects I would like to share.  All images below came from either Google image or Pinterest.  I have tried to tag with the website or blog if it was listed.  

But first, let me share with you one of my favorite pictures EVER of N.  He was about three and I was taking a portrait for another family when I turned around and saw him playing in leaves on the ground.  I just fired off a couple pics, not knowing what I had until I got them developed.  Yes, my younger readers, there used to be something called film that went inside cameras to take the pictures on - and you had to wait to see them.

And now that I am sad over "where did my little boy go" let's move on to the projects.

This one caught my attention right away.  Love it!

Leaf art on a wooden panel from Just A Girl blog

These luminary jars are lovely!  There is a tutorial at this link:  Fall Mason Jars @ spark&chemistry

Images from Google image search

Love the framed leaf on plain burlap, the other would be nice on a piece of sheet music, a special verse, etc.

These leaves turned into butterflies are a great idea!  Thanks Martha Stewart.

I saw several ideas for leaf paint rubbings.  This was pretty, and would look great framed.

From bloombakecreate.com

And lastly an idea for an initial for your door.  There is a link to a tutorial at The Thrifty Abode that follows:

Leafy Initial Tutorial Link



And if you are getting married this fall, I think you should seriously consider this cake!  Gorgeous!

Do you have any fall leaf projects you'd like to share.  Please leave a pic or link in the comments and I'll share.

A Few Updates...

Here is a quick post tonight to give you a few updates on some of the projects I have been working on.

Remember the failed first try at making a chalkboard out of a thrift shop silver tray?  This is the one that all the gnats and mosquitoes stuck to when I spray painted it outside one afternoon.  After picking off the dried bug remains, a top coat of antiquing, and sanding down the trim to expose the tarnished silver underneath, it turned out pretty good.  The lamp is repurposed too, and painted with my trusty Rust-oleum Hammered Copper.

On Monday I picked up a pack of fine line chalks and a pen type holder from Michaels.  I went looking for a "chalk marker" to write on my DIY chalkboards, but they were out.  I hoped these would work OK instead, and I am happy to report that they do.  Still want to get a chalk marker as they have a wider tip and would be good for big writing, maybe I can order one online.  I so love online shopping on Tangier!  It saves a lot of time and money, and the packages get delivered right to the post office, or better yet my door!

Here I am sprucing up some of my thrift store finds from Monday.

 

So here's a peek at my console table with the finished shelf sitter, the black (thrift store) crock, the picture with the mat and frame I spray painted, and another chalkboard tray all dressed up for fall.

In snacking news the candy corn is all gone (and I'm hoping since I have satisfied that craving it won't be back) and the key lime white chocolate chip cookies are almost done for.  I would also like to report I have become strangely addicted to those Sonic slushies with the Nerds mixed in.  I had another one on Monday (working my way through the flavors - tried the strawberry with nerds this time, it was good!)and I also saw they have brought back their deep fried cheesecake bites. Thank goodness Sonic is so far away 'cause I know I'd be there every day!  N. too, he is addicted to their chili cheese tots and caramel peanut butter shakes (but not together - EWWW).

Speaking of candy corn, I am going to leave you with a link to a page with a collection of recipes that use it as an ingredient.  I had seen a recipe before for homemade Butterfinger Bars that called for it, too.  Who knew you could cook with candy corn?  Who knew there were people who could make it last long enough to cook with it?  LOL

Click Here for recipes using Candy Corn

and here is the original candy bar type one I saw on allrecipes.com:

Homemade Butterfingers Link

and if you like recipes with odd ingredients, a facebook friend shared this today and said they were excellent:

~~ 7 UP BISCUITS ~~

INGREDIENTS:
4 cups Bisquick
1 cup sour cream
1 cup 7-up
1/2 cup melted butter

DIRECTIONS:
Mix Bisquick, sour cream and 7 up. Dough will be very soft - don't worry. Knead and fold dough until coated with your baking mix. Pat dough out and cut biscuits using a round biscuit / cookie cutter. Melt butter in bottom of cookie sheet pan or 9x13 casserole dish. Place biscuits on top of melted butter and bake @ 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until brown.

Thrift Store Silver Trays - Part 2

Well as you may have read, last nights attempt at a little "I'll just relax after school with a project" project turned into a bug-biting, temper tantrum throwing disaster.  Think trying to spray paint while suddenly attacked by giant blood sucking insects similar to Hitchcock's "The Birds".  I mean I am used to swarms of insects living by a marsh, but last night was something else!

One little tray was beyond help - but the other I thought might be OK after a little de-bugging.  Here is a repeat of last night's last picture.

Even without the bug damage I didn't like the tray plain as much as I thought I would so I decided to try out my new Rust-oleum Chalkboard spray paint and make the center part a chalkboard like I had seen on other blogs and Pinterest.  I want to our shed this time (hey I can learn a lesson or two) and sprayed on the first coat.  It went pretty well so I came back in for another tray and decided to have a go at it too.  Here are the results after some dry time and some distressing with my sanding block.  

Not bad, but I still wasn't happy with the little copper one, so out came my trusty Home Depot black satin paint sample for some antiquing.  I couldn't seem to get a good picture with the flash after antiquing but trust me, it's better this way.  It will look great with a monogram or fall message and some decorations around it. Really liking the black one too!  That may end up on my bedroom dresser.  Have a couple more for later and a couple different ideas.  But for now I am happy especially after last night's project FAIL.  Here are the final results for now.  Bring on the chalk.

It has been so unbelievably hot on Tangier the past few days.  The weather here has really been pretty mild all summer but it is making up for it this week!  They have been predicting bad storms because of the heat and humidity, but we really haven't got any.  The sky however last night looked pretty wild!  The colors were amazing, and I couldn't capture them with my camera.  Here is a shot taken from my front door (couldn't go out because of those pesty swarming insects.  Hmmm, maybe the two are related.

Thanks for checking in, I'll be back for some more posts this weekend.  Have a plan for a quick trip off.  Hopefully that also means more thrift shop shopping!

Thrift Store Silver Tray Fix-Up....xx FAIL xx

How Not To Spray Paint A Thrift Store Tray

Well, things were a little calmer Day 2 of school, so after helping N. with some homework (and avoiding mine) I decided to mask off and spray paint a couple of those cute thrift store trays I found.  Big Fail.  So, learn from my mistakes.  

1.  Don't paint on an evening when it is 90 degrees in the shade ( I thought "it will dry quick!" ) and there are 10 million biting flies, mosquitoes, and gnats (if you live in the south you know what I mean) swarming.  You might think they are just on your arms and legs but when you look closely at what you painted, you will see they are also embedded in your paint job, and they do NOT make cute decorations.

2.  Do not wear your school shoes while you spray paint on kind of day mentioned above.  I was smart enough to change my pants, but being in a hurry jammed my feet in my good sandals I wear to school.  All was well til a biting fly the size of a vampire bat hummingbird took a chunk bite out of my leg making me jump and get spray paint all over my shoes.

Ah well, lesson learned.  I should have just taken a nap...

Don't you hate it when you have something all planned out in your head and it just doesn't go the way you thought it would?  

Scene from my backyard tonight...just kidding it wasn't quite that bad

To end on a happy note, I'll leave you with these two pics of other people's trays that DID turn out.

via Pinterest

from Priscillas2000@blogspot

UPDATE:  2 hours later (and most of it spent dabbing bug bites with alcohol)

Maybe all is not lost!  Was able to pick off several bug carcasses and I think the rest might be covered if I am able to do the chalkboard paint layer in the center.  The copper paint went on kind of too thick though so I'm not sure if painters tape will pull it off when I try to mask it off.  We'll have to wait and see.  The other tray sadly went to the trash, maybe it will end up and trash and treasure for someone else.

TRAGIC FAIL ...

but maybe not!

New Ideas For Old Denim

Some Cute Ideas For Repurposing Denim

While searching for a sea glass project yesterday, I happened to come across a great idea for a flower vase using old jeans.  It's very cute for Fall.

from cfabbridesigns.com

Isn't that sweet?  It was made from the leg of an old pair of jeans and a tall metal coffee can, and looks pretty simple to do. You can find the instructions at crabbridesigns.   I had never thought much about repurposing old jeans.  That's one of the reasons I love DIY blogs and sites like pinterest so much.  They spark creative ideas about things you've never considered.  A few years ago I did have a "booty bag" purse.  These were purses made to look like the top part of a pair of jeans.  I loved that purse.  

Here are some other denim ideas that I love:

from debbie-debbiedoos.com

Not made from actual denim but painted up to look like it. Love those old ceramic chickens.  I have a couple that belonged to my Nanny and always sat on the windowsill in her kitchen.  I haven't displayed them in a couple of years but it may be time to get them out again...

from denimdoover.com

Love this denim scrap rag wreath.  The yellow ticking mixed in gives it just the right touch of color.  I think red bandanas cut into rags would be cute as an accent too.

from somedaycrafts.blogspot.com

Oh look the inital H.  Perfect.  And a cute memo book too.

from threadingmyway.com

Here is an idea for denim storage baskets.  This person made them for their sewing room.  I think they could also really be sweet in a nursery or little boy's room.


Just a short post today, I am getting into the swing of things down at the school.  Less than a week now til classes officially begin!