6 Things to Look for NOW to Use LATER for Christmas

I know, I mentioned the "C" word...Christmas.  Please don't throw anything at me.  I promise there's a good reason for my mentioning it now, during the heat of July!

We are in the height of yard sale season and NOW is the time to be looking for some items you will want to have on hand this fall.  For, you know, when you get ready to think about that time of year.  When it's chilly outside.  Everything is dressed up with red and green.  The "C" word.

First, and this is not just for later this year but something that can be used anytime...MASON JARS.  Honestly, can you have too many of these?  If you're in my household, you're not allowed to answer that.

Mason jars in all shapes and sizes are great for making snow globes, water-filled or waterless.  They also make great candleholders and baking mix gift containers.

Second, you're gonna need something to put in those snow globes.  Yard sales and thrift stores are the perfect places to pick up miniatures and toys that will fit nicely in mason jars.  Look for animals, small cars or tractors, bicycles, tiny houses, or anything that speaks to you.  It's your snow globe and it can tell whatever story you want it to.

Third, gumball machine.  Seriously?  Yes!  I found one at a thrift store last year and turned it into my all-time-favorite snow globe yet!  Don't pass over a gumball machine with writing on it.  I think mine had "Jelly Belly" on the glass.  I simply removed that before using it for my snow globe.  If it's hard to remove, you can hide or disguise it.

Fourth, ICE SKATES!  How many of you have seen cute decorations in magazines or on Pinterest using ice skates?  How many of you have kicked yourself in November for not picking up that pair you saw during the summer at a yard sale?!  (Me!)

Fifth, old books.  You can probably find some old, non-collectible, non-interesting (think old tax law or something), books at thrift stores or your library's book sale.  Disassembled, the pages are great for all sorts of crafts like this book page wreath.

And, lastly, the sixth item...greenery.  Yes, that's sort of obvious but think outside of the box here.  I picked up a thrown away artificial tree because it was broken.  However, the branches were beautiful.  I use the individual branches to fill my window boxes and to build a foundation in arrangements around the house.  Think about how many broken artificial trees you've seen at thrift stores and yard sales.  Yep, lots of cheap greenery right there!

Ok, that's my last mention of the "C" word.  Until at least next month.  You may return to your summer break now ;)

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

Tool Box Becomes a Flower Box

Are you getting your hands in the dirt and planting flowers this spring?  I picked up a few annuals this week at the nursery and have begun adding them around the yard.

I've had this old metal tool box for many years.  I picked it up at a yard sale for $1.  I'm sure the man wondered what in the world I wanted with that old metal box.  Ha!  Silly man, I thought it would make the perfect planter for some beautiful flowers.  And, it does!

This year I planted two asparagus ferns and a bright pink geranium.  I forgot to mention that the tool box already had two holes in the bottom...perfect for drainage.  Geraniums hate "wet feet."  

Well, one container down...several to go!  What are you planting this spring?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

I'm linking here:

RAIN ON A TIN ROOF    THE STYLE SISTERS    JENNIFER RIZZO    HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS    COMMON GROUND    HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY    FRIDAYS UNFOLDED   FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS    TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW    SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE    STONEGABLE

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING    A DELIGHTSOME LIFE      DIY SHOWOFF      ART IS BEAUTY
CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP   IT'S OVERFLOWING   THREE MANGO SEEDS    ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS    PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY    THOUGHTS FROM ALICE   HYMNS AND VERSES

MISS MUSTARD SEED   CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT

Compass Table

I have been wanting to make a compass table for a while.  So, when I came across an oak table at a yard sale for $30, I snatched it up.

Pretty decent shape...the table, not my garage!  I did very little to the table besides a good wipe down with a damp cloth.  

I pinned several compass tables (see them here) to get an idea of the design I wanted.  This is going in my oldest daughter's apartment so I knew the color scheme needed to be gray, white, blue, and yellow.  Because of the table's construction, it was pretty much divided into segments for me.  Drawing out the compass is fairly simple if you think about it like cutting a pizza or a cake.  Divide in half, quarters, and then eighths.  

When it comes to DIY projects, I'm somewhat impatient and usually break all of the rules.  I'm an instant gratification kinda gal.  Like to git 'er done, now! 

 I had an old bottle of milk paint in cornflower blue.  I used that for the outer circle.  The inner circle was lightly spray painted with Krylon Bright White.  I say lightly because the can was almost empty and I needed to make sure I got the entire tabletop covered...somewhat.  Then, the compass star was painted using plain ol' craft paint in white (uh, almost empty bottle) and gray.  I think my rule breaking stems from living 30 minutes from the nearest Wally World or craft store.  When I get the hankering to do something, I don't want to take an hour+ running into town gathering the proper supplies.  

This step is after I sanded the top and began applying a coat of stain with polyurethane.  I had a can of Minwax Special Walnut on hand so I used that.  I loved what it did to the blue but it muddied the white.  And, I kid you not, the can of Minwax was...wait for it...almost empty.  

So, this is where I left it at the end of day one.  Guess where I headed first thing the next morning?  Yep, Wally World.

So, whadda ya think?  I think it was worth that trip in to town.  I finished by spray painting the pedestal and legs with Rustoleum's Ultra Cover 2x...love the coverage you get with that stuff.  I did go back over the muddied white on the top and then gave the whole thing a good distressing with sandpaper.

My daughter is excited about it too.  Now to find 4 chairs to go with it before the move-in date in July.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS

JENNIFER RIZZO

FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON

COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW

SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

A DELIGHTSOME LIFE

ART IS BEAUTY

  CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP
DIY SHOWOFF
IT'S OVERFLOWING

THREE MANGO SEEDS

ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFT

PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY

The Best Cleaner for Brass (and many other things)

A couple of years ago I stopped by a yard sale and found a large brass planter.  It was pretty tarnished but for $2, I couldn't pass it up.  I brought it home and planted it with succulents and stuck it on the table on the deck.  

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I began sprucing up the deck for spring and found the planter...dead succulents, lots of dirt, and plenty of tarnish.

I decided it was too pretty to just waste away on the deck so I brought it inside and began to restore it to its former beauty.

I found Bar Keepers Friend several years ago and have used it religiously ever since.  I first discovered it while looking for something to clean the marks off of my white porcelain sink.  You know the ones that e-v-e-r-y pot and pan make on your white sink?!

So I pulled out my trusty cleaner and began scouring my brass planter.  

It didn't take a lot of elbow grease and the old toothbrush came in handy for the small areas.

So, ready for the after?!  (ok, I know you already saw it in the header but humor me)

Isn't it beautiful?  I had a pot of shamrocks in there until recently...brown thumb, had to throw them away.  I just stuck the feathers in to go with the bird nest in the iron piece in front of the planter.

The planter is sitting on top of my grandfather's old pie safe.  It's one of my favorite pieces in my home.  I still remember it sitting in their basement filled with old gardening tools.

The little lithograph print hanging on the wall in this vignette was also purchased at a yard sale about 20 years ago, possibly THE best yard sale I've ever been to!  This print was $1.  I also purchased a huge wooden bowl with a teal stripe around the outside and sailboats painted on the stripe and a gorgeous pair of brass and crystal sconces. Again, for $1 each.  Why oh why did I sell those?!  Still kicking myself.  

Back to the best brass cleaner ever.  Bar Keepers Friend is an amazing product.  Like I said, I use it on my porcelain sink, pots, pans, copper, and fiberglass shower/tub.  I does say NOT to use on silver but I confess, I purchased an old silver punch bowl (see that post here) that just would not clean up.  I tried all the typical silver cleaning tricks, Wrights Silver Polish, and even bought a bottle of Tarnex.  Nothing.  Nada.  The tarnish would not budge.  So I went against the directions and used Bar Keepers Friend on the silver punch bowl.  It turned out beautiful!  Warning, it may scratch!  I had no other options and it worked for me.

Silver Punch Bowl Before

Silver Punch Bowl After

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

This post was not sponsored by Bar Keepers Friend.  It is just my honest opinion of a product that really delivers.  I was not compensated in any way for this post.  

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS

JENNIFER RIZZO

FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON

COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW

SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

A DELIGHTSOME LIFE

ART IS BEAUTY

  CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING

THREE MANGO SEEDS

ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

Spring in Blue and White

We finally received a decent amount of snow this winter.  And, now I'm over it!  I'm ready to get on with spring.  I've pulled out some of last year's spring decor but it seems I'm going with a blue-white-yellow theme.  So far, I've only added a few things to the kitchen and living room area.  As soon as the temperature gets back in the 50's at least, I'll work on the front porch and deck.

Warning this post is a little photo heavy so grab a cuppa something to enjoy while you're here.

Some of my favorite blue and white dishes in a old brass planter.  

I've also added a glass with vintage silver and ivory handled flatware.  

Love the patina...fancy word for tarnish :)

I swapped out the bamboo tray that was on the bar table for my grandfather's old tool caddy.  I love the mix of the old rough wood with the silver and glass.  Cobalt blue tumblers, found at Goodwill for $1.99, were added for a punch of color.

An old calf muzzle, purchased from a yard sale, holds wine corks.

The silver punch bowl, ladle, and demijohns were all found at my favorite thrift store, The Bargain Center.  I've found SO many things there.  If you're ever in the Murfreesboro area, let me know.  We'll go treasure hunting together.

I didn't use a wreath on the mirror of the bar this season.  I let a couple sprigs of forsythia cascade over one corner.  I love forsythia bushes.  I planted a couple this past summer.  I hope they come back this year.

And, because I'm dying to get my hands in the dirt, I started the kale plants from seeds a few weeks ago.  We love kale broiled with a little sea salt and olive oil.  It's so good it rarely makes it from pan to plate.

Finally, what says spring more than a baby chick?  This little guy is so life-like he's fooled a few people.  We've actually raised chicks before and enjoyed it.  Now, since the girls are older and involved in so many activities, it's easier to just buy pullets and raise for eggs.  It's on my to do list once the temperatures stay warm.

I hope you've enjoyed the spring decorations I've added so far.  I'm linking the The Scoop's Mega Spring Linky Party HERE.  Be sure to check it out!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

I'm linking here:

JENNIFER RIZZO

FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON

COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW

SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE 

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

ART IS BEAUTY

 

Personalized Stationery for the Graduate

Spring is coming and that means graduation time...

Our middle daughter graduates this May and, if you've had a senior before, you know that graduation can get expensive.

I came across this almost complete stationery kit at the thrift store a few weeks ago.  It was only $.59 for the box and it was a nice quality of paper.  I thought it would be perfect for my daughter to use for thank you letters for graduation gifts.  So, I took it home and ran it though the printer, adding her initials.

I think it took me longer to decide which font to use than to actually make these.  Literally, it took less than 10 minutes from start to finish and we ended up with 24 pages and 25 envelopes.

I think they turned out pretty spiffy for only $.59!  So, the next time you've got a partial box of "something" to donate and you wonder if you should even bother??  Yes!  Yes you should!  People like me are counting on it.  :)

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

I'm linking here:

JENNIFER RIZZO

FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON

COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

One more time events

 

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