Sneak Peak at Kitchen Re-do  

Posted by: Julie

Okay, I am down to the final details in my kitchen and soon I'll be taking you all on a tour, but I wanted to give you a sneak peak and show you what a difference window treatments can make.

Here is a picture of my old window treatments in my kitchen after I painted.
WAY too much white!



Next, I found these great valances at Lowe's.

Better, right?
I thought so, too, except for one thing.
I raised my rods so they would be in line with my cabinets and so more light would come through the windows. The only problem with that is you could see the tops of the molding around my windows and the ugly part of the mini-blinds.

Here's a closer look:

Boy was that driving me CRAZY!!!

I had to fix it!

HAD TO, I tell ya!


Ah, isn't that better?

I purchased some fabric at Walmart and basted it to the back of the valances.
It takes care of seeing the white molding peaking through and the valances hang much better!


So, what do you think?

Another little kitchen craft  

Posted by: Julie





I was shopping at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago and found some adorable tins to use in the kitchen. They were just simple white tins with black or red trim work and they said things like "Tea" , "Sugar", "Coffee", etc. The asking price was $7.99 each, but (of course) they were marked 50% off making them $3.99 each. Um, not in my frugal budget ;-)

Later I was at Goodwill and found some Christmas tins that were similar in shape to the ones I had seen at Hobby Lobby. They were $0.50, $0.50 and $0.80. Okay, THAT was in my budget.

Add some black spray paint, labels made on the computer and some check ribbon ($1.97 at Walmart) and here's what I ended up with:

(sorry about the pic. I just couldn't get a great shot)


I had a empty spot on the top of my microwave that just cried out for "something" and my set of tins are just perfect there.

Here are closer views of the tins:



Nope, they aren't "perfect" but I'm okay with that.
Like the Nester says,
"It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful"


With the flash you can see the brush marks where I used Mod Podge to secure the label but in "real life" you never notice it.


3 tins at $3.99 from Hobby Lobby: $11.97
OR
3 homemade tins: $3.77

Which would you chose?




Frugal Find  

Posted by: Julie

So, ya'll know I'm re-doing my kitchen, right?
Well, I've changed the entire look so none of my "old" decorations work quite right.

I had a beautiful blue pitcher on my fridge along with some Winnie the Pooh soup mugs. The blue just didn't work with the new black, brown and reddish-cranberry color scheme.

I found some GREAT rooster canisters at TJ Max and I put them on the fridge.
It still needed something to go along with it.
Yesterday I was at Old Pottery and found some reddish-cranberry colored soup mugs similar to these:They were $3.99 each. I REALLY thought abut buying them,
but decided against it. Boy am I glad I did!!!
Look what I found instead:




See those pretty mugs?
I found them at Goodwill for $0.60 each!
Aren't they just a perfect match to the reddish-cranberry color on the canisters?

Total spent: $1.20

Total Saved: $6.78

Cabinet Knobs Re-Do  

Posted by: Julie



Here is the step by step process I used for painting my kitchen cabinet knobs.

1. This is the BEFORE...simple, nice enough but in need of an update.




2. The first thing I did was spray paint the knobs black. I used a satin black. To make sure I covered all around the knobs I clipped twigs the same size as the opening in the back of the knob and stuck the knobs on top. It helped me to be able to move the knob around easily without smudging the paint. I then stuck the twigs into some florist foam so they could dry over night.



3. Next, I got a deep rich metallic paint to add some dimension. I used a color called "rich espresso"

4. I took a small paint brush and painted over my black knobs with the metallic paint. Make sure to the the underside of the knobs, too.

5. Then I dabbed off the excess paint with a paper napkin. It let some of the black show through and it gave it a hammered look.




6. Again I let them stand up over night on the florist foam so the paint would dry well and give it a chance to cure.


And here is the finished product!


Cost for 38 new kitchen knobs = minimum of $38.00

My cost for kitchen knobs re-do ::::: $5.14:::::

1 can spray paint: $2.97
1 metallic paint: $2.17
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*NOTE~~when I originally posted this I said to use a clear coat to seal the paint. I do not suggest doing this. When I did it, the paint crackled and it took away from the look of the finish. These were so very easy to do, if the paint starts to wear I recommend just doing a touch up on them.


Lots of Fall Projects Going On Around Here!  

Posted by: Julie


Wow it's been a LONG time since I've posted, hasn't it? I guess getting back into the school routine and doing things around the house has put blogging on the back burner.

I'm currently re-doing my kitchen and I'm SO in love with it. When I get all done (which may take a little while still) I'll give a full update. For now, here's 2 things I'm working on for the kitchen:


Aren't these funny looking?
I have a ton of cabinets and drawers in my kitchen and that means lots of knobs! 38 to be exact! Well, my old knobs were brass and white in the middle. VERY dated and worn looking. I figured it wouldn't be a big deal to replace the hardware. HA HA! The CHEAP ones are $1 each! Minimum cost would be $38.00!

So, I've decided to PAINT the ones I already have! First, I've spray painted them black ($2.97 for 1 can of paint). Next I'm painting over that with a metallic rich espresso and dabbing some of it off ($2.17 ) Finally, I'll spray them again with a clear coat to protect the finish ($2.97 for 1 can).
When I get them complete I'll show you the pics. They turn out SO nice!
Total cost for 38 = $8.11

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Who doesn't love Winnie the Pooh?
I've had a set of Pooh cookie molds since I got married and I just LOVE hanging them in the kitchen. The only problem is the molds are the same color as my walls now and you couldn't see them. Bummer! So, I got creative! I purchased 3 black wooden frames from the Dollar Store for $1 each. I removed the glass and put in a piece of scrapbook paper ($0.59 each). I secured the frames to the wall with one of those stick on, easy removed tabs. Then I screwed a cup hook right through the paper so there would be a secure place to hang my cookie molds. I lined them up under some of my cabinets and I just ADORE IT! (I still need to put a new ribbon at the tops of my molds. The ones I currently have are very worn out!)
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Welcome Fall!
I SO stole this idea from Doodles By Lauren!
She made a Halloween garland and I almost did one for my home, but I decided to do one in a fall theme instead. That way I get to use it all of Sept, Oct and Nov! So easy and SO pretty! I used four different types of coordinating fabric and cut them into 8 inch long strips about 1-1/2 inches wide. Then all you do it tie the strips onto a length of twine however long you want it to be. You tie and tie and tie until you are sick of doing it but the results are worth it!




The joys of thrift stores!
I was at the thrift store a few days ago and found this little hidden gem! The glass dome was dirty and had a little sticky stuff on it and the bottom was a pitiful brown color and dirty, too. BUT, the potential was there LOL! I paid the $1.50 they were asking and brought her home. A good washing and a little black spray paint and she was pretty as she could be :-) I picked up a ceramic pumpkin at the Dollar store and added a few leaves, berries, acorns and a raffia bow and my new treasure is all dressed up for fall.



Happy Halloween!
I really enjoy decorating for Halloween but I don't like paying a lot of money for decorations that I only use 1 month out of the year. I made this cutie for $1.46! I got the frame at the Dollar Store. It was one that had the mat in it for 3 pictures. Next I got some scrapbook paper. I traced the mat onto the polka dot paper and cut. Next I glued the spider web paper behind the polka dot paper. I printed the letters from the computer and covered them with orange glitter. I let it all dry over night then put it in the frame. Voila!

I've been working on lots of other things and when I get them complete I'll be sure to share!

HAPPY FALL YA'LL