Showing posts with label decorating on a budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decorating on a budget. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

  {How To: Spruce up a bulletin board}

I am so excited to finally get this posted! I have been so stuck on food, I had forgotten about my DIY projects I have been working on! :)
Today I am going to show you how to take an UGLY old bulletin board (or a new one if you want, hehe) and make it FAB-O!!
Here is what you need:
a bulletin board
fabric (enough to cover the front)
spray adhesive
ribbon (enough to go around the edges)
hot glue gun
scrapbooking paper
glass marble things from the floral department of your craft store
modge podge or school glue
pushpins that are almost flat
Craft paint (optional)
ok, here is what I did, I started by painting the edges of the frame so they are white. Then I measured and cut the fabric BACKWARDS to make sure it fit:




Next, I sprayed it down with spray adhesive:


then flipped it over CAREFULLY, make sure your sides don't stick (you might want someone to help you on this step) and press down fabric so there are no gaps or bubbles:


next, you want to cut your ribbon to fit each side...make sure they are separate cuts, not all one long piece, then use your glue gun to glue down to the sides:

Then you will want to make your push pins.
I started with these large glass thingys


and I cut our scrapbooking paper to fit the bottoms, glued it on using modgepodge, and then hot glued a push pin to the back:


Then you can push them into your board, and its ready for hanging! :)


Dont forget to check out all the awesome DIY projects at Kimba's Blog:

http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/2009/08/diy-day.html

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Friday, December 26, 2008

  {The Secret is out}


Hey Everyone! I hope you all had a WONDERFUL Christmas! I have so many photos to edit and put up on the blog, I will do that very soon, but for now, I wanted to FINALLY list my secret blog over here so if you never got to see it, or just wanted to bookmark it for future use then you are more than welcome!

I sent out over 100 invitations to you wonderful blog readers for the secret blog, and have decided to LEAVE IT UP so that you can come to it year round!

So here it is! http://nikkisthriftyunderfifty.blogspot.com

Even better, whenever other occasions come up, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. and I make gifts, I will be sharing them over there as well! I am hoping this will be something really fun to keep up and help me be more inspired to create instead of buy, buy, buy!

Thank you all so much for supporting me and all of the other "Thrifty 50"!

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Monday, December 15, 2008

  It's a sad end...


No, I'm not going to stop blogging! Its just the end of the Thrifty for under Fifty Challenge tonight! I have had the most amazing time crafting my Christmas gifts this year. I hope I am giving some gifts that will really mean something to my family! :) Plus, I made all of my presents for a GRAND TOTAL OF:

Drum Roll Please.....

$25.34!!!


I have posted all of my gifts onto my secret blog. If you don't yet have the address, let me know by leaving a comment on this post with your EMAIL ADDRESS so I can send it to you!

Also, don't forget to check out the YCMT blog for updates. I am on TEAM KRIS!! We have really been knocking out these gifts! Some amazing girls on there!!!!

I just want to say thank you to Kim, Kris, and the entire staff over at YCMT for letting me participate in this opportunity. I had a blast!!

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Friday, November 28, 2008

  {Im sharing my secret...}



Hey Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a Fun Black Friday seeking out amazing deals! Yes, I was one of those crazies! I was up at 4:00 to be at Walmart when they opened at 5:00am!! I went and got everything I had planned on buying. Tomorrow I will be doing my "craft" shopping for my Thrifty under Fifty challenge!

Speaking of Thrifty under Fifty. I have had so many of you wanting to see my "Secret Blog" so guess what....I'm going to let you!!!!
Just leave me a comment on this post, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS so I can send you the link and you can all keep up with my projects, get inspired, and make some of your own. Plus, I might even feature YOUR projects!!
Just don't send the link to my mom or my sister!! :)

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**Photo found here: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_organizing_storage/article/0,1801,HGTV_3142_5741723_01,00.html isn't that an AWESOME room?!?! WOW! I would love to craft there!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

  {A Christmas Project}

Have you ever seen something in a catalog and wanted it so bad, but you just couldn't justify the cost?
Well, I saw this in my Ballard Catalog a few weeks ago, and thought just that. I mean, $49????? I don't think so!

So what's a girl to do? Make her own of course!
And that's just what I did...and I'm going to take you along the journey with me so you can make your own too! :)

Step 1: Create your template.
Ok, so I used the same silhouette from their website by searching through istock. Its actually in sections so you will have to look for all three sections! I actually lost the links, otherwise I would share them! :(
Once you have your template, print it out in sections and trace around it onto a piece of white poster board.
**TIP: trace it backwards on the WRONG side of the paper. This way, you can cut it out on the back and not see your cut lines or any pencil lines that you miss.


Step 2: Cut out your pattern
Now you will want to cut out your design with an xacto knife.


Step 3: Make your Frame
Now you want to make your frame. I bought these frame pieces at Hobby Lobby on the isle with the canvas. They are SUPER cheap!
Then I painted them with black craft paint and allow to dry.


Step 4: Cutting the Background
Once your frame is dry, you will want to trace it's size onto a red piece of poster board. This one I am using is like a textured paper, not shiny like regular poster board.
Once you have measured the frame, then cut along that line.


Step 5: Connect the Dots...Glue Dots that is!
I LOVE these! I used glue dots on the back of the silhouette (remember, you cut it out backwards, so make sure you are putting the glue on the correct side for it to be able to flip over and be right!)



Step 6: Stick it to 'um
Once you have all the glue dots on the back, you want to line up the bottom and stick down the silhouette onto the red paper.


Step 7: Prepare the frame
Now you want to put the glue dots all along the back of the frame.


Step 8: Last step
Now you want to stick the entire background onto the frame, making sure to line up the sides and top and bottom. Once the glue sticks, you cant move it around, so try to be as accurate as possible!


Now flip it over and find somewhere awesome to put it for your holiday!




Here is the cost breakdown for you!
(I got EVERYTHING at Hobby Lobby)
White poster board: $0.49
Red poster board: $1.89
Glue Dots: $3.99 (plus 40% off coupon)= $2.39
Frame: 2 long pieces $1.69 ea.
2 short pieces $0.69 each
Total: $9.53

Ballard Design Inspiration:
$49.00 plus shipping= $60.95!!!!


Wow, that's a savings of $51.42!!

Now get to crafting!!!

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Monday, November 24, 2008

  {I am so thrifty...I got this one in the bag!}


One of my favorite websites, youcanmakethis.com is hosting a really awesome opportunity. They had a contest of sorts to see who could be Thrifty under 50. That is, they chose 50 people to make the vast majority of their Christmas presents for under $50.00 TOTAL in about a months time.

So I thought to myself when I saw the opportunity..."I think I could do that!" So I applied. And guess what? I GOT CHOSEN!!

So now I am part of this ultra secret society of 50 awesome women and we are all currently working on awesome projects for our friends and family. I am having the best time and really getting some great ideas! We have all also started SECRET BLOGS that no one can see so that we can show each other our progress...but not the people receiving the gifts!

I just wanted to say thank you to all the girls over at YCMT that put this together. I am having the best time!
I cant wait to show you all what I made...since I cant show you here. My sister and my mom read my blog and I am doing some projects for both of them! :)

YAY TEAM KRIS!! We are totally going to win!

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Thursday, November 6, 2008

  {...and everything in it's place}

I found somewhere to put it!! :) On the top of an armoire!


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  {FALLing for Autumn...}





This really isn't a "project" that is original or creative, but it was cheap and fun to do! I have TONS of projects coming throughout the holiday season though! So keep your eyes peeled for that!! :)

But before I share, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who posted a comment on my previous post. We had communion at church last night and 4 people that are members of our congregation all prayed for President Elect Obama in their native tongue, then we sang some of the most beautiful worship songs ever! One being "My Nation Healed" and the other was "He Reigns".
I truly believe that God's people will come together in every tribe, every tongue, and every nation to say that HE REIGNS, no matter what the situation!


Now, on to what I was talking about! :)
I was in Hobby Lobby the other day getting some materials for some upcoming projects, and I happened to spot this little wood sign and the fall colored paints in the "Fall Decor" section. They were both $2.99, but were on 50% off sale! So I got them BOTH for $2.99!
Now THAT'S a deal!! So I came home and painted the sign! I LOVE it! Its so "fall" and warm! I cant wait to find a spot for it! hehe



Oh, and did you spot my dollar store candle holder there behind it?! I LOVE those!!

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Wednesday, October 8, 2008

  {Charting your Chores...}

Hey Everyone!! I am so excited to share this post with you, but first I wanted to say thank you to everyone who wrote me about the book review. I was ecstatic to see some of you go check it out or buy it just based on my recommendation! :) I'm totally flattered!!

Ok, on with the post at hand! :)
Keeping a house clean while your trying to sell can be quite a chore all on its own. But when your doing it by yourself, it is a nightmare! So I was surfing the web the other day and came across this post...but I thought "I can do that for really cheap!" So I did! One trip to hobby lobby and about 3 hours in between working, and I had a really cool chore chart.

And I wanted to share it with you all, so I took pictures along the way! I hope you enjoy doing this project as much as I did!

You want to start with:
-an unfinished wooden shelf
-1 piece scrapbook paper
-craft paint in choice of color
-2 yards of coordinating ribbon
-1 sponge paint brush
-1 set alphabet stickers
-1 picture hanging kit (only if your shelf doesn't already have this.)
(a hole punch and tape are also needed)


Next you want to wriggle the pegs out of their spots from the shelf

Now lightly sand the entire surface until smooth.
(I used a 220 grit sandpaper) and wipe down with a dry cloth.

Paint the sides and slightly up the top of the shelf, also paint the pegs.

Cut the scrap booking paper to fit on the top portion.
Mine is long so I had to cut two pieces to match the length.

Using Modge Podge (or glue medium a.k.a Elmer's school glue with a little water added)
paint on the paper to cover the top. Allow to dry for about 2 hours.

After glue dries, use a small knife to cut an "X" into the paper where
the peg holes are, then push the paper down into the hole.

Fit the peg in the hole just to make sure the paper is cut enough.

Now, if you were to just use this as a shelf, you could add wood glue to the peg holes and allow to dry.

Remove the pegs and use your stickers to write out your families names under each peg hole.

On my computer I designed these tags just using 3 different fonts.
Once printed, I used a pencil and a ruler to measure around them so I know where to cut.

Once you cut along the lines, you will want to cut out the sides around the { }

and this is what that should look like.
Now you want to punch 2 holes into the sides at the top of the cards...

Next you will want to measure your ribbon. I used 2 yards for 4 tags.
For each tag, I cut the 2 yards into 4 pieces (18 in.ea.)
then I cut each of those into 2 pieces (9 in.ea.)
I now thread the ribbon just through the hole and tape to the back of the card.

This is how it looks with the ribbon taped to the back.

I then hammered on the photo hanger to the back of the shelf.

Now you can tie your chores onto each person's name, and rotate them throughout the week! :)


And now for the price breakdown:
Wood Shelf $3.99 plus 30%off sale: $2.79
Alpha Stickers $2.99 plus 40% off coupon: $1.79
Ribbon $0.50/yd X 2yds plus 30%off sale: $0.70
Scrapbook paper $.50/sheet plus 50%off sale: $0.25
Picture hanging kit $0.99
Craft Paint $0.69
and I already had glue, sponge brush, tape, and hole punch
Project Total: $7.21
w/out coupons or sale: $10.16

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