Spring Wreath

Spring with with pastel dyed coffee filters

Rustic Love Sign

Barn wood and chipped paint sign.

Starfish Wreath

Bring summer to your front door!

Sheet Music Letter

Sheet Music Letter from cereal boxes {my most popular post}

Easter Eggs

Wrap your easter eggs with yarn

Showing posts with label budget friendly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget friendly. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Zebra Themed Teen Room

 I am participating in the Apartment Guide “New Year, New Style: Decorating on a Budget”  Blogger Challenge.  I am tackling my teen's room as she prepares to head off to college.  See our planning process here.  I wanted to update her space with items that will transition well to college.  The challenge was to take $150 and refresh the space.  You will have to read all the way down for the budget breakdown.  


The place to start is bedding.  We were adding zebra touches to the room so we had to have zebra bedding.  First, I had my teen pick out the bedding she wanted.  It was zebra with pink cheetah touches.  (Cheetah!!)   I then scoured the net for the best price.  Would you believe that JCPenney had the best price by far?  As in 1/2 as much as the other guys.  $55 for whole bed in a bag set.  The best part of this deal?  She had gotten zebra sheets a few months back.  I was able to use the cheetah sheets as fabric for other elements in her room.  BONUS!  The art above her bed I made over a year ago.  It is just black and white fabric with the "peace, love, and happiness" added on with heat n bond.  I then stretch the fabric over the top of an oversize frame.  We collect "E's" whenever I find them at at thrift store.  The ruffle pillow cover was from group dealz a few months back and it was actually given to me by a great friend.   

 


Now for the desk area.  She already had two memo boards.  I used my own tutorial for covering memo boards and recovered both of them.  The zebra desk lamp came from Big Lots for $15.  I will be talking specifics about some of the elements more this week...so look out for more on that mirror on the left. 


My daughter loves quotes of all types.  I had purchased some quote art for her for Christmas this year.  We had not hung it up so this was the perfect excuse to use it.  I will be showing you more about that white and green covered memo board in a few weeks. 

  

The other memo board got covered in zebra.  The fabric came from Hobby Lobby and was clearanced at $5 a yard.  That tone on tone black ribbon also came from Hobby Lobby at $2.99.  The roses are from the boyfriend so free to me.  :)


Some of that cheetah sheets ended up recovering a pillow that she already had.  The colorful crochet is courtesy of my teen.  Yes she is a crocheter.  :)  The storage ottoman was $14.99 at Big Lots and will be making the college trek.  Perfect to hide things in.  There was also a pink hamper that I failed to get a pic of and it was $5 at Big Lots.  Do you notice a trend?  My fave stop for budget decor is Big Lots!


Another budget friendly idea is to frame fabric and hang it on the wall....


I had the frame on hand.  I just added in the fabrics and a piece of the ribbon in between them.  Instant art with things I already had on hand...


Spray paint was also my friend for this makeover.  Those wall boxes were already on the wall and they are filled with momentos.  Around the mirrors are post its with quotes on them.  I told you...the girl loves quotes. 


I just had to make a zebra jewelry organizer.  I will talk more about that tomorrow night.  This is definitely something that can go with her to college.  Plus it makes a bold statement! 



She has also became the scarf diva.  So we took a scarf hanger and an over the door hanger and used it to display her scarves....





Ready for the cost breakdown?


Bed in a bag $65 (shipped)
Lamp $15
Hamper $5
Ottoman $15
Spray paint $10
Zebra fabric $10
Ribbon $6
Scarf Hanger $3
Craft Paint $2
Hooks $1
Button Kits $6
Thrift store finds $7.50

GRAND TOTAL $145.50



The best part is that every single item can transition to her dorm room and beyond.  Gotta love that!  Stay tuned as the rest of the week I will let y'all in on some more room details!


If you’re ready for a whole new space or are looking to move, Apartment Guide has the photos, floor plans, features and tips to help you find the perfect apartment community.   Be sure to “like” Apartment Guide on Facebook at Facebook or follow them on Twitter @AptGuide for real-time tips and updates on making the most of your space. 
   Are you ready to redecorate your home but short on cash? Apartment Guide can help you find inexpensive decorating ideas for how to update an area or room without spending a lot of money.  Apartment Guide has tips for how to decorate your apartment on a dime.  Those tips can easily apply to any space whether it be your house or dorm room.  Whether you're living, looking or moving Apartment Guide offers how-to tips for making the most of your space on a budget.   Apartment Guide provides ideas for people in any sized home on Moving Today and the Apartment Guide blog.

Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in their monthly blogger programs. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Posted at Show and Tell on Blue Cricket Design.
Posted at Whatever Goes Wednesday on Someday Crafts.
Posted at What I Whipped Up Wednesday on Sugar and Dots.
Posted at Good Life Wednesdays on A Beach Cottage.
Posted at the party on Organize and Decorate Everything
Posted at Sugar and Spice on 733.
~Thanks for stopping by!~

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Make your own Valentine's art

I did a few searches on art to display for Valentine's Day.  It was all so very pink and red.  Yes, yes...I know it is supposed to be pink and red.  But I am thinking of a more rustic Valentine's display.  So instead I searched for some rustic heart images, then popped them into Picasa and added some quotes.  I thought I would post them here in case y'all like them too!  Here is what I came up with as I was playing around...





Y'all enjoy!  Search around and make some of your own. 
Posted at Show and Tell on Romantic Home.
Posted at Frugal Friday on Shabby Nest.
Posted at Frugalicious Friday on Finding Fabulous.
Posted at Feature Yourself Friday on Fingerprints on the Fridge.
Posted at Catch as Catch Can on My Repurposed Life.
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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Striped Curtains with Decoart

I am about to show y'all a room that has never before been seen on this blog.  The kid's bathroom has really been the same old, same old for years.  I have decided to give it a little makeover with some new accessories.  First up was curtains.  I may be the only human being you know with 5 windows in her bathroom....FIVE!  One hint:  if you are looking at building a house with five windows in the bathroom...don't.  It is cold!  I had valances up on those windows.  I have been dreaming of floor length curtains for sometime.  My hope is that they will keep some of that cold air out this winter.  But five windows with floor length curtains is a BUNCH of fabric.  I finally had a brainstorm...sheets.  I had enough white sheets to make curtains for the windows for FREE!  But plain white sheets for curtains??  So I decided to paint on some stripes....

I am going a little bit bold in here.  So I went with a dark charcoal grey on the bottom with a couple of shades of green on the top.  And yes...great big clawfoot tub and 5 huge windows...in a bathroom people...on the second floor!  That view so could have been better used with a different room!  But that is a topic for another time -- aka "How I would layout my house in a dream world".  Now for my before and after....

Oh so lovely!  I literally laid out my stripes with a ruler and paint brush...marking the lines.  They are all different sizes.  I went with 3 inches on the bottom, 4 inches in the middle, and about 2 inches on top.  I used Decoart paint with their fabric medium.


 The fabric medium really made the paint thin and oh so easy to apply to the curtains.  I was going for 6 stripes.  But gosh...after sitting on the floor for 4 to 5 hours doing three on each of the five curtains....I was done!

Partway through I was not entirely sure I liked the look.  Yes after 3 hours on the floor, I was unsure.  Aack!  I decided to finish them all, hang them, and then decide.  Once they were all up there I was smitten!  Hooray for perseverance!
Stay tuned as I have BIG plans for this room!  You won't want to miss this one.  {Well as long as it turns out as well as it looks in my head.}  The jury is still out on whether or not this is going to make this room any warmer.  But heck, for the cost of a little paint and a little backache, I am willing to chance it!
 Posted at Transformation Thursday on The Shabby Chic Cottage.
Posted at Show off your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans.

Posted at the under $100 party on Beyond the Picket Fence.

Posted at the Open House Party on No Minimalist Here.
Posted at SNS on Funky Junk Interiors.
Posted at the Weekend Wrapup on Tatertots and Jello.
Posted at Sunday Showcase on Under the Table and Dreaming.
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~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~
The Country Chic Cottage

Monday, January 9, 2012

Hide the toys in plain sight...

I discussed one way to tame the toy clutter yesterday.  I have another tip for you.  Hide those toys in plain sight!  Can you tell me where the toys are in the picture below?

Yep I have a little parking garage under that covered table...

I made the original slip cover for the table here.  It was short and showed off the table legs.  Then I found a lovely image on Pinterest of a table with a tablecloth for toy storage.  I cannot for the life of me find that image now.  If you have it and want to link it in the comments, I will be more than happy to give credit where credit is due.
At any rate, I just sewed another longer skirt on my original slip cover and made it where it would open in the front...

See the original one is still under there and you can just catch a glimpse of some bumpers...

I added ties so we can have the cover open or closed...

So when company comes, all you see is something neat and orderly.  Best part is my son loves to park his trucks in here.  Yep...that means he LIKES putting them away!
 Posted at Get Your Craft On on Today's Creative Blog.
Posted at Take a Look Tuesday on Sugar Bee Craft Edition.
Posted at Tip Me Tuesday on Tip Junkie.
Posted at Tutorials and Tips on The Stories of A to Z.
~Thanks for stopping by!~
~Angie~

The Country Chic Cottage  

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Snowman Wreath Door Art -- with The Graphics Fairy

This week over at One Month To Win It the theme is The Graphics Fairy!  If you have not voted yet -- head on over here to vote for your favorite contestant project.  I couldn't let the week slip by without making my own graphics fairy project.  I have been infatuated with BIG door art ever since my JOY Christmas Door.  I wanted something equally as BIG for winter.  So I took a little pinterest inspiration and came up with this snowman wreath...
I started with a very rustic vision of what I wanted.  More true to the original.  However, the kids had other ideas.  They took one look at my rustic version in progress and gave it a big veto.  So I went whimsical.  The kids love it!  The wreaths came from the dollar tree and I spray painted them white.  I then cut white felt to the size of the wreaths...
I used the tulip shimmer iron on sheets for a very easy snowman face and buttons.  So very easy.  Just cut out your shapes, peel, and iron.  You can't mess them up.  Yes the nose is really red....but you won't tell will ya?? 
I then used these snowflake images from the graphics fairy.  I just printed them on white paper and cut them out.  The snowman got a pretty hat from the basket of winter hats in the mudroom.
The scarf is just a few pieces out of an old sweater that I glued on.  The "arms" are broken pieces from a dollar tree snowflake that I painted blue.

Total cost for my front door -- $4 -- three dollar tree wreaths plus one dollar tree snowflake.  All other items I had on hand.  You gotta love that!
Posted at Show and Tell on Blue Cricket Design.
Posted at Whatever Goes Wednesday on Someday Crafts.
Posted at What I Whipped Up Wednesday on Sugar and Dots.
Posted at Good Life Wednesdays on A Beach Cottage.
Posted at the party on Organize and Decorate Everything. 
Posted at DIY Under $5 on A Little Tipsy.
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~Thanks for stopping by!~

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Vintage Ladder Quilt Hanger

I couldn't let that great vintage ladder I got for my Christmas card display go back to the barn.  So I came up with a plan.  I have some great quilts but no way to display them.  Let's face it...having them stacked in the closet is not doing them justice.  So I took my vintage ladder and used it to display my quilts...sort of like a quilt hanger...
 Like a quilt hanger but oh so much better!  Chippy paint, worn wood, I heart this ladder!  And it is perfect up next to the vintage quilt perfection....
I leaned it up against the wall in my bedroom... 
It made this corner look amazing!  Do you have your quilts in a closet?  Get them out and display them proudly! 
  
Posted on Met Monday on Between Naps on the Porch.
Posted at Just Something I Whipped up on The Girl Creative.
Posted at the Sunday Showcase on Under the Table and Dreaming.
~Thanks for stopping by!~
~Angie~

Monday, December 12, 2011

Cork Christmas Ornaments -- Crafting with Kids

Every year I make some type of ornament with my kids.  This year I went with some cork!  A touch of rustic with a little whimsey added by the kids....
Cork??  Yes cork!  I found these cork strips at the dollar store for $1.  One pack made a whole pile of ornaments.
Did my kids paint those??  Why yes they did!  The secret....teach them to paint perfect dots with the WRONG end of the paintbrush.  Yep dip your paint brush end right in the paint and dot til your heart is content!
I used a pair of scissors and cut the cork into shapes.  The kiddos went dot wild.  After they dried I pokes a hole with a small screwdriver and added some twine.  Yep this is one $1 pack of cork...
We even made a set of mittens!
Red and green polka dot perfection!  We had an entire pile of ornaments in 20 minutes.  Kid's crafts need to quick!
The cork is backed in a foam material.  It cut fairly easily.  I would not let the kids cut it though.  And don't use your best scissors.
We added them to our stair railing.  Stay tuned as later this week I will have a full Christmas tour.  Any kid's crafting happening at your house?
 Posted at Get Your Craft On on Today's Creative Blog.
Posted at Take a Look Tuesday on Sugar Bee Craft Edition.
Posted at Tip Me Tuesday on Tip Junkie.
Posted at Tutorials and Tips on The Stories of A to Z.
~Thanks for stopping by!~
~Angie~

The Country Chic Cottage  

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Vintage Inspired Christmas Decor

I find tons of inspiration via pinterest and other blogs.  Sometimes I have to take time and make some of that inspiration come to life in my home.  This past week I made three things that are inspired from pinterest or other blogs....
 All three were very vintage inspired and that is the direction I am headed this year for my Christmas decor.  All of them were super simple and quick.  You could make them today and add them to your home.  The first is from Madigan Made.  Her milk glass Christmas trees have been dancing in my head since last year. 
Yep they are gorgeous!  I actually picked up a few glass trees at the thrift store after they marked them down last year.  They have been hidden away in the attic.  They finally got a coat of white paint on the inside....
I love how painting them on the inside makes them look like milk glass!  Shannon with Madigan Made is a genius!! 
The next one came from The Tortoise and the Hare.  Her Christmas jars blew me away when I saw them on pinterest.  Simple and gorgeous...
 I added my love of mason jars to the mix.  The bottle brush trees I got on clearance at the end of last year.  I just used a little epsom salts and dropped in some trees....
The next pinterest inspired project actually came from the Vintage Junky Etsy Shop.  A gorgeous shop if you have not been there.  She sells vintage cars and trucks with bottle brush trees tied to them.
While not vintage, I dug through the toy box and came up with a few trucks to put some trees on myself... 
 I just set mine in this little wooden dump truck...
My son loves when his toys are used in my displays.  And the trucks can go back to him when I am finished with them. 
Stay tuned this week for my mantle reveal and a Christmas home tour.  Then you get to see how I worked these items into my home.  Have you made anything lately that you have seen on pinterest or other blogs?
  
Posted on Met Monday on Between Naps on the Porch.
Posted at Just Something I Whipped up on The Girl Creative.
Posted at the Sunday Showcase on Under the Table and Dreaming.
Linking up to the Holiday Party on Centsational Girl.
Linking up to the Pinterest Party on The DIY Show off.

~Thanks for stopping by!~
~Angie~

The Country Chic Cottage

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