The Little BLUE Lamp

Oh I'm loving my 'NEW' $5 thrift store lamp!
The color brightens up my living room and brings out the blue
in my map coasters and map foot locker.

 The before wasn't bad but I wanted something brighter....

 So I brushed on a sample of Glidden's Bermuda Bay.

 I always have my little helper around....
Can't ya tell he's the LIFE of the party:-)

 Well that shade is just boring.......
I have been lovin' all the rosettes I've been seeing all over blogland..
So I took an old curtain panel 
($1 from the fabric bin at my thrift store) and torn some strips.

Simply tie a knot in the end of your strip

 Wrap and twist around til your desired size

 

 Hot glue in place....so much better:-)

Oh it goes so well with my coasters and map foot locker! 
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FREE SAMPLES

I have a confession..................I LOVE free samples!  

I can't pass them up! I haven't reached the extreme couponing stage BUT I could easily get there with my favorite FREE SAMPLE site itsallfreeonline.com 
Go poke around their fabulous site and you will find all kinds of catorgires of free stuff....from coupons to codes to sweepstakes.

Check out my latest FREE sample

Yes!!! FREE FREE FREE!!! 
What DIY-er or Craft-er wouldn't LOVE free paint!!
I was alerted to this awesome free sample 
via Free Samples Facebook and Twitter page.
I follow both just so I don't miss anything.

I also get a morning e-mail alerting me to samples I might have missed.
I collect Pamper codes since my son's in diapers but this awesome site also alerts me to extra bonus codes to help me save up faster.

I'm only a few hundred points away from this BAD BOY

...shhhhhh don't tell my boy it's a surprise! 

AND thanks to FREE SAMPLES 
I will be able to collect points long after my boy is out of diapers ! Woot!  

 Here's some other FREE SAMPLES I have received in the past.
I have a nice little basket in my guest bath full of toiletries. 
Have a cold, need a cup of coffee, or wanta quit smoking????
I can fix you right up!

 Some more.......Thank you Itsallfreeonline!!

 As much as I LOVE free samples.....I also LOVE to donate them...
This is a box I sent to the troops for only $12.50!
Priority boxes, tape and labels are FREE!!

Don't know anyone serving??? 
How about collecting and sending your free samples to a mission or homeless shelter??
I don't have the means to write out a BIG check but I can take the time each morning to sign up for samples and donate them....
Just my way of volunteering:-)

Warning: This is what your mailbox will look like EVERYDAY! 
I love getting something besides bills!!!

Vintage Toy Phone Booth

 

I added home decor and a play station for less than $4!

Before

I found the CUTEST toy phone at the thrift store for $3.95!

 I simply sanded it down and gave it a wipe down with some walnut stain.

Painted the phone parts black.....

Then I decided to make a sign....for learning and decor purposes

First I took an old board and dry brushed it with some leftover red paint.

Then I printed out the word TELEPHONE and cut out a stencil using freezer paper. Next I used some spray adhesive to stick my stencil to the board and painted it with some antique white.

Peel off stencil and give it a quick sand...

My new sign was ready before the paint was dry on the phone.

Oh the difference a little paint can make!

Thank you to whoever made this precious toy and thanks to whoever donated it so our family can enjoy it for a little while

*Ring*Ring*

(yes this was a great find....BUT I will be re-creating it and writing a tutorial soon)

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It's an Easter Egg Hunt!!!

Oh the joys of an Easter Egg Hunt!!

 We practiced around the house so we were prepared on what to do...

 He got his picture with the Easter Bunny!

In search of some eggs.....

 And there they were...

 Gathering eggs.....

 Here he had to stop and sing a song....'La La La Elmo's World' when he spotted an Elmo Easter basket

 Yep...in the right age group..20 months!

 Candy Bunny Teeth....

 What a great hunt......
Happy Easter Everyone! 

BiGGER and BETTER House Numbers

The pizza guy will have no trouble finding my house now
with these nice new BIG house numbers!
I used an old shutter,  6 1/2" numbers from the craft store or home improvement store, some thrift store stars and a larger one I cut from scrap wood 
and a piece of leftover house siding.

Arranged my look to how I liked it, painted the numbers and stars and
screwed it all in place.....

Over time it will have a nice charming weathered look.

Home Sweet Home
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A Message to My Followers:

I
Love
You! 

........just saying

You could be the next American Crafter!!

American Crafter Season 2 Auditions are OPEN!!!

I was Champion of Season 1!!

Since I'm no longer eligible to compete......
I will be watching all the fun from the sidelines..


This was my first craft competition ever. 
I had such an amazing time in the competition. I loved getting wonderful feedback from the panel of Judges each week...


I received some fabulous prizes....
if you are a crafter you DON'T want to miss out!! 


Auditions are April 18th-27th
Nap Time Crafters is the wonderful host of this craft competition so make sure you head over and audition!

Map Footlocker

   I found this footlocker at a thrift store about 10 years ago.

I have decided to change it up a bit with some

thrift store maps and some Mod Podge for my Challenge on OMTWI

Here's what I did:

 I used Mod Podge to attach some thrift store maps to the footlocker.

Used a craft knife to cut around the hinges and smoothed out any air bubbles or wrinkles. Repeat overlapping maps until the footlocker is completely covered. Then last step apply 2-3 coats of Matte Mod Podge and

DONE  in less than an hour!

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Diy~$7 Bookshelf

Are you LOVIN this as much as I am?? 

As seen on HGTV! 

Who would've thunk you could make a bookshelf out of a 

cement form and old shutters?

 I watched an episode where they took a concrete form and hung the circles on the wall as shelves....I LOVED it!

I wanted to make one using the leftover shutters from my Headboard project.

I purchased a concrete form at Home Depot for around $7. 
They have a selection of different heights and widths.

These are the 2 options I considered...but went with the stacked upright.

 I cut 4 tubes the width of my shutters.

The inside has a very waxy coat so if you plan to paint you will need to sand. 

I used a nylon brush sander.

I painted a few coats of white on the inside and black on the outside.

Ready to assemble with a few screws

Screw to the shutters and cut a piece of wood for a topper...
I was gonna to put some fancy crown molding around the top..
but I think at some point I might want to hang this on the wall horizontal.

I am entering this project over at the  

DIY PROJECT PARTY

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