Simple Paint Update on Fireplace Finials

I've been trying to inspire my readers for years to think outside of the box and look at how something old and dated that would otherwise be cast off, could up be upcycled to fit into your home. Not only is it a good way to use what you have or even to pick up something for a deep discount at a thrift shop or garage sale, but it also keeps more waste out of landfills. I found these two large wooden finials at a garage sale this past summer and knew a coat of paint would do them a world of good. Sometimes, that's literally all it takes to update an item. I'm hoping that this post will inspire you to think outside of the box and pick up something you would otherwise consider dated and give it a transformation with some paint, just like I did with these fireplace finials. 

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DIY Live Edge Hairpin Leg Side Table

Lately I've been leaning towards the modern bohemian style. I don't know what it is that I love about it, but I can't seem to get enough. Maybe it's the natural texture or the sleek organic feel, but you can see how my style is starting to gravitate in that direction. Check out this modern wood lamp I made from a vase last month and you'll see that the wood has me all googly eyed. This summer, I was garage sale shopping and found a slice from an old stump. It had a beautiful live edge and the guy said it was just taking up space in his garage. In the 1970's someone probably would have put a coat of lacquer on it and made a clock, but today, I'm finishing it up and making it into an end table with hairpin legs.

I did a quick search on Craigslist and it turns out you can buy a wood stump or log slice and make your own, so I'm going to show you how!

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The Ultimate Garage Sale Handbook

I recently read a question that asked "if you had to give an hour long presentation on one topic with no preparation, what would you give it on?" I thought this was an interesting question and the first thought that popped into my mind was, hands down, I would talk about garage sale shopping. To be able to speak on a topic with no preparation requires you to be very knowledgeable on that topic. Some might say that it would require you to be an expert on that topic. 
I don't know the exact age that I started garage sale shopping, but I know that I have more than 35 years worth of experience shopping sales. Through the years, I've taken friends who had never bought anything used before under my wing and showed them how they could save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars by buying used items at garage sales. 
Every summer for decades, I have spent nearly every weekend going to garage sales. Garage sale season is starting and I want you to be prepared to get started saving money by shopping used. I've put together all my best tips and tricks so that you can get started saving money as soon as the garage sales in your area start. 

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DIY Leather Earrings

Earlier this week I shared a little tutorial with you on how to paint leather. I used those painted leather pieces to create some really easy DIY earrings that you can make in about 10 minutes. I actually used a pair of my favorite earrings as a guide {and I'm sharing the template with you} and think that I love this really lightweight pair even more than my old favorites. 

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Embroidery Hoop Chandelier {What I Made in My Thrift Store Challenge}

A few months ago, a team of bloggers decided to get together for a thrift store challenge. The challenge was set to get paired up with a blogger who would send you a box of thrift store find(s) under $15 and you had the liberty to create whatever you wanted to create with those items. In case you missed it, you can read more about the challenge here.  

Today, I'm going to show you what I created with one of the items in my box. It's a project I've been wanting to make for quite some time. I'm so glad the challenge finally gave me the kick in the pants to make this embroidery hoop light. I love how it turned out and it's been a great addition to our back patio on our warm summer nights.

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Thrift Store Challenge!

If there is one thing I like, it's a good challenge. Especially when that challenge involves shopping at a thrift store and creating something new out of that item.  There is a twist! This challenge requires you to purchase an item for another person, send it to them and see what they create. That means a box showed up on my doorstep of my supplies, all purchased at a thrift shop, ready to see what I could create from one of those items. 

How much fun is that?! Come check out what I sent and what I received as part of the blogger's thrift store challenge.

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Easy to Make Painted Rock Cactus Centerpieces

Inside: Fun and easy painted rock cactus centerpieces.

Last month, we celebrated my son's high school graduation with a little Tex Mex taco party. He's leaving the Seattle area and heading to the great nation of Texas to attend college, and while we were visiting colleges on our college tour, he fell in love with Tex Mex. What's not to like really? I couldn't think of a better theme for his graduation party, so I created these painted rock cactuses {cacti?} as centerpieces that we used around the party. They cost me next to nothing to make and look great. It's an easy DIY craft you can do and I promise, even the blackest thumb can't kill these plants! 

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Customized monogram slippers

As a thrifty crafter, I'm always on the look out for plain surfaces that are cheap so that I can customize them and make them my own. If you hadn't noticed, sometimes finding plain items to use can be hard. Finding plain items that are cheap can be even harder! But, I'm always up for the challenge! Some of the best places to look are in the clearance rack {Target has some great tank tops I love to use HTV on} and of course, my favorite, at garage sales. 

I found this plain pair of slippers {they were originally from Victoria's Secret} for $3 and couldn't wait to get some sparkly heat transfer vinyl on them. I'm showing you how to make them today.

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Small Box Turned Into A Custom Sign

It's gearing up for my favorite time of the whole year. It's nearly garage sale season! Is anyone else excited? I'm dying. I can't wait for Friday and Saturday mornings to be spent looking for good deals, future projects and other crap I just can't live without.

Last week, I got a little garage sale teaser when a random sale popped up just down the street. I stopped in and picked up a small wooden box for a quarter. I was thinking outside of the box {see what I did there?} and crafted a little handmade sign simply by turning the box on it's side, painting it and adding vinyl. 

Plus I added my new favorite, Deco Foil! I kind of want to foil all the things. Come on over and see how I made this. You won't look at a box the same way again!

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how to make your own handmade leather passport cover from vintage leather

I have a love affair with leather. Not just any leather--that soft buttery leather that just feels right when you touch it. That kind of leather is hard to come by, but when I found a piece of it at a garage sale this past summer, I couldn't pass it up. 

It wasn't in the best shape, but it was the smoothest leather you have ever felt and it was nearly 100 years old! It was an old book cover with a hand painted Indian on it that was falling apart. Boy if that thing could talk! The stories it could tell and the places it had been!  So, I kept that book cover that was falling apart tucked away in my closet until I decided what to make with it. 

I finally decided to make a leather passport cover. Our whole family has passports and in a drawer, they all look the same.  I knew I wanted something that would set it apart from the others and have a fun story to tell.

Lately, my passport has become one of my favorite possessions. I love the stories behind the stamps and the amazing places that it's taken me. Travel to me, is one of the greatest gifts.  I love my passport now even more with this handmade leather cover made from an old treasure I picked up at a garage sale.

You don't have to use a vintage book cover, you can use any piece of leather that you have. Maybe an old coat or a scrap from a project. It took me less than twenty minutes to make. Come see how!

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How to make embroidery floss tassels

I'm a huge fan of this tassel trend that is happening right now, so when I found some embroidery floss at a garage sale recently I knew I had to whip up some tassels of my own!  It's super easy and I can't wait to show you how!

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Garage Sale Finds Friday-American Pickers style Edition 77

Welcome back to another garage sale finds Friday, where I share with you some of my favorite garage sale finds.  This week, things are going to be a little bit different.  

My husband and I have been watching the first season of American Pickers on Netflix, and since so many of the items that I find each week end up for sale, I thought I would do a fun little follow up on the items that I have found this summer, the price I paid for them and {here's the fun part!} the price I have sold them for and the profit that I have made.

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Transformation Tuesday

On Friday, I shared with you some of my latest garage sale finds. I left you with the challenge of seeing if you could figure out which item I made over for transformation Tuesday.

Do you think you guessed correctly? I've even already sold the piece and made a tidy little profit on it.

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Garage Sale finds Friday Edition 76

Welcome back to another week of garage sale finds Friday.  Where I share with you my latest garage sale finds.  This series is starting to wind down for the summer as garage sale season is starting to come to a close. As long as I have finds to share, I will be sharing them with you!  In fact, this weekend is one of my favorite neighborhood sales all year long!  So there is sure to be at least one more good GSFF left in me!

For now, I can't wait to show you what I found!

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Finding the best deals on second-hand clothing and household items

Garage sale season is nearly over and instead of scoring deals every weekend, you may be finding yourself wondering what you should be doing now to get the best deals on clothing, shoes and items for your home.   Our garage sale season usually runs from May-September, which leaves me longing for deals from October-April. I've got a list of the places I frequent to find the best deals on clothing, shoes and household items during those months when there isn't a garage sale in site.

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Garage Sale Friday roundup of my best kept secrets! Edition 75

The summer is winding down, but our schedules seem to be amping up.  Especially on the weekends. We are doing our best to squeeze every last bit of fun out of our summer which means less time is being spent at garage sales. I've been traveling the last two weekends, which means no garage sale finds Friday from me.  I've bought zippo, nada, nothing the past few weeks but I'm dying to get back out to the sales for sure!

In the meantime, I thought I would revisit a few of my past garage sale tip posts {how to drive traffic to your garage sale, tips for the garage sale first timer, and how to negotiate the best deal} just in case you missed them.   

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Garage Sale Finds Friday Edition 74

Welcome back to another week of garage sale finds Friday, where I share with you my favorite garage sale finds from the week. 

This week, I got some pretty great authentic vintage items. I even got some pretty great deals on those vintage items too. 

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Garage Sale Finds Friday-the week I find rusty vintage stuff Edition 73

Welcome to another week of garage sale finds Friday, where I share with you my favorite garage sale finds. 

This week I am squealing at some of the most amazing vintage finds in some time. You guys are going to be jealous and want to all garage sale in my neighborhood when you see them.

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Garage Sale Finds Friday-the one where I steal furniture...sort of. Edition 72

Welcome back to another week of garage sale finds Friday, where I share with you my favorite garage sale finds from the week.

This week, I did some thrifty redecorating.  I have the hardest time decorating because I put these imaginary budget constraints on myself and unless I can find something at a garage sale, usually nothing fits in that budget.  

I've spent the past nine months thinking about a neutral chair for our living room, but I haven't been able to find one.  I really felt like something needed to flank the fireplace. Well, I finally found something.  And you won't believe how much I paid for the corner room redo!

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Transformation Tuesday painting a desk with metallic paint

Welcome back to another transformation Tuesday! I'm so excited to share with you my latest garage sale find from Friday that has been transformed!

I know I'm not the only one who loves painted furniture. Honey oak anything had it's place and now it's time for paint to save the day.

I had a chance to sample the metallic paint line from Modern Masters and was drawn to Pewter. There are some amazing metallics to choose from, but silver has my heart.

Bet you can't guess which item from my garage sale finds Friday I chose to paint metallic.

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