Thrifty Decor Chic ~Blog Feature~

March 23rd, 2010

I am so excited about today’s blog feature.  There are many ways to save money, and there are times that saving money means making a little sacrifice here and there, but when it comes to decorating our homes, that doesn’t have to be the case.  Sarah from Thrifty Decor Chick does a great job of showing us all how to make our spaces look like they are high-end without paying the high-end price.  She has very graciously agreed to allow me to feature her blog today, and re-publish one of my favorite posts. 

I have to say, I had a nearly impossible time trying to decide which post to feature, but I finally just picked one with the intentions of emphasizing that, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO SEE!!  Oh yes, I went there, I am owning the caps lock!  I finally decided on this post because as I was searching through her archives, I happened to glance up at the dischelvement of my children’s art supplies and gasped in horror.  I need organization people!  Anyway, without further adieu, here’s Sarah:

Four ca-ute projects under $5!

And three were under TWO BUCKS!!
Awwwww yeah…
And yes, some involved spray paint, of course.
Remember the little tool box from the previous post? I got it for $3.99 at Goodwill and about peed. my. pants. when I saw it. I have been looking for one forever! (OK, just a few weeks, but…whatever.)
I printed out my stencil:
After I spray painted the whole thing brown, I added the stencil to the front:
(
The blurriness is me, not the stencil.)
Then took another trip to Goodwill (good thing there are three within 1.5 mile radius of our house, right??) and found five little glass cups that fit in perfect:

Totally and completely adorable, no?? I still have to find more art supplies that are scattered throughout the house, but I absolutely positively adore it:
Total cost was $4 for the box and $2.50 for the cups. Uhhh…wait…that’s more than $5. OK, well…whatever.
The next two involved the following:

Basically 60 cents of paper, $1 wood tags and $1.50 knob from Hob Lob — almost all half off!

I got this little container from my sweet stepmom last Christmas, (hello LA!) and loved it, but have been staring at it in my son’s toy room thinking I needed to jazz it up with some ca-uteness:

Spray adhesive, scrapbook paper, spray paint and a knob later:
He loves it! I love it! Ahhh! Feel the love!!
More scrapbook paper and spray adhesive on the wood tags for this one. Add in some fun scissors (1.99 at Hob Lob — I have a few and love them!), $1 ribbon, the printer and you get this:
(Again…blurriness is me. I swear I wasn’t drunk.)
I drilled holes, ran the ribbon through and tied them to the baskets:
This box was a $1.99 Goodwill find. It’s the perfect size for the itty bitty teeny tiny toys little boys love:
Adorable!! Less than $2 bucks for all four people!
And for my final trick of the evening, I give you 60 cent wood cuties you can find at any craft store:

Hot glued magnets to the back and you get new magnets for the Bub:

I did all of these in just a couple hours and they were F.U.N. I’ve got a couple more little projects to do to the toy room and then I can’t wait to show you!

The Mighty Futon

February 8th, 2010

When it comes to saving space, and providing a nice place for guests to sleep, I can’t think of many things better than futons.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I know that futons have gotten a bad wrap from a design stand-point in the past, but they really have come a long way.

Many people think of the cheap black metal frames, when they hear the word “futon.” This is because most futons people have seen are those found within college dorm rooms. However this is not the best example of what a futon is. There are many different styles of futons, and each part has multiple variations, allowing for an infinite amount of combinations, and in turn ensuring there’s a futon that’s perfect for you.

Your browser may not support display of this image. First there’s the frame. While many futons do have a metal frame, they’re also available in wood. Wooden frames are sturdy and look good in a variety of settings. Also, wooden frames Your browser may not support display of this image. use slats to support the mattress which results in a more even and therefore a more comfortable, surface to lie on.

Speaking of the mattress, they’re no longer limited to cotton and polyfil. You can get them with an exterior made of several fabrics, including leather, and numerous fillings. Some have bed springs like traditional mattress, while others are made of space-age memory foam. They come in all levels of firmness from the most soft to the most firm, which means you can find one that suits you.

The last part of the futon is the futon cover. Most people either don’t know these exist, or forget about them, because most college students don’t have the budget for them. However they are an essential part, as they keep the futon safe and clean. They come in a wide variety of materials and designs.

So as you can see. Futons are a very versatile and stylish piece of furniture to have in your home, and not just for the college dorm room.