A little design project

I am planning for a yard sale in April so I was going through some things yesterday. I came across this shelf that my Daddy made me back in the 80's. I have not used it for years because I couldn't find the "perfect" use for it any more. But I couldn't part with it because Daddy made it. 

As I looked at it, I thought "Hmm, I have blue paint in my craft stuff, wonder if I painted this if I would find a use for it. So I started painting it with no idea what I was going to do with it. 

But my cousin had just talked to me about my craft room this morning and I was inspired to do some kind of little shelf. I remembered the little metal sign I got at Walmart on Saturday. I decided to attach it to the top of the shelf. I think it being such a long top with no decor is why I couldn't ever decide how to use it in the first place. 

Then I hung it up and put a doily on it. I am convinced that anything looks better with a doily. Comes from growing up in a family that was forever crocheting doilies.

I went to a big daisy bush I have in another part of the house and clipped off two little daisies that wouldn't be missed on the big planter. I stuck them in the little votive candle holder I found a few weeks ago and put my little pink bird from Hobby Lobby with it. And wah-lah! I have something to decorate my wall that I am absolutely in love with!

But then I thought it looked a little "lonesome" just hanging on the wall alone. So I got my other spring stuff I bought recently, and now my wall looks like this. 

So that motivated me to do something with a few of the other spring/Easter things I had purchased and to figure out what to do with my new vintage pitcher. So what do you think? I'm pleased with the results.

Weekend wrap up

I had a short weekend considering I worked until 7:00 on Friday, was off on Saturday and worked 6 hours after church on Sunday. But I did find time on Saturday to go to an estate sale, Hobby Lobby, Target and Walmart. I picked up a few things and got some great deals. Here are my finds for the weekend. 

I love vintage pitchers. I did some research and found one place that said mid-century and one said retro 60's. So I would say this is from the 1950-1960's time era. I love it. They made matching glasses. I'll have to keep my eyes open.

I found this little trinket box. I did some research on it as well and it was Avon and called A Gift of Love. Nobody seems to know the date it was made, but I was told it is old. It belonged to the mother of one of my dear friends so I will always treasure it. It has a lot of loving wear because I found pics of what this originally looked like and the flowers were coming out of a wicker basket and had the words "A Gift of Love" on it. She must have used this a lot for the basket and words to be worn off.

I have been looking for a hobnail milk glass toothpick holder and finally found one. I am so happy. It is so cute.

I picked up this tulip candle holder and little bunny at Hobby Lobby.

This has me really excited. The two charms were on sale for 1/2 off and the chain for the necklace was 40% off coupon. So I got a new necklace and a Believe Charm to put on my key chain and the total cost was $3.98. SCORE!

Here's the necklace....

And here's the key chain. I love how Tinkerbell's wings are filled with gold glitter. I wonder if it is "fairy dust"?

I have a wall in my office that I need some things to hang to add some color. I love this. It goes with my little whimsical birds I have in there.

I also love inspiring or motivating quotes so I fell in love with these.

I found this little plant for $1.00 and decided to grow it and see what it does. I found a video and once it grows, if you touch it, the leaves will curl up away from your touch and stay that way for awhile. How cool.

Saturday evening I was looking through a box and found a couple of rolls of washi tape and some tea candles. It made me remember the Pinterest idea of putting these two items together. So I had to try it. Super easy and super cute to do. I want to do some with tea candles in colors to match some of my rooms. 

That's it for today. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Happy Sunday!

Friday Finds

I had some cool things pop up in various feeds this week. These are a few of my favorites. I keep looking for an old mirror or picture frame that I can paint and make a chalkboard out of.  I can't wait for yard sales to get started so I can find some of the stuff to make the things on my craft/project list. 

This is right up my alley. They bought little blocks of wood for the base at Michael's. Then they cut off the ends of the craft sticks (popsicle sticks) and covered each stick with washi tape to make the coasters. I am loving this.

I have said for years I was going to make a rope basket. One of these days I am going to get brave enough to try it.

I am in love with washi tape so I had to go find more ideas for it. Cute little banners to decorated the front of a table for a shower, to drape across a cute little frame with an inspirational quote in it.

And oh my gosh this is amazing. Color coded file labels. This would come in handy in my file drawer where I have my Thirty-One stuff and my personal stuff.

Now this kind of made me stop and think. A key is a lot wider than washi tape. But I googled it and it does come in the wider widths. It even said Walmart carries. I plan to investigate further. Even thought this is pretty, I don't think it is practical. The keys being dropping into purses, carried in your pocket, etc. I would think this would cause it to peel off. So cute but probably would never make.

I have used washi tape for several years now in my planners. It is a great way to make things pop when you look at your calendar. Between work, Thirty-One, church and personal things, my calendar stays pretty full. So this has been a lifesaver for me. 

I love paper straws. This is a cute idea for people to remember which drink is theirs.

Spruce up the plain old white price tags if you have a retail shop or every sale anything in a flea market or craft event.

This is a cute idea for tying bags closed. They just put fine wire (either the floral wire or jewelry making wire) in between two pieces of washi tape and they have cute, decorative wires. I need to make some of these because I am always sharing goodies with friends and this would be a great way to wrap them up.

Have a great Friday and be sure to visit Ms. Debbie at Friday Foto Friends.

Throwback Thursday

Found a picture in my FB memories I wanted to share. This would have been from 2008 or 2009. I had went in to visit my mom. My brother, Jack, had a cookout at his house. Jack lives in the old home place and totally remodeled it from a one story white siding to a two story wood siding. This is my all my nieces with my daughter. We actually took the picture because it was the first time in many, many years that my mom had all her granddaughters together at the same time.

(L-R: Amy, Cindy, Tara, Christy, Lori Beth, Emili and my daughter, Diana)

A day in the life....

Yesterday was one of those wonderful days that I spend just doing whatever I felt like. And it was a great day. I got up and it was warm enough for my flip flops so that got the day off to a good start. First stop was a local thrift store where I found this cute little chick for Easter for just .99 cents.

Next, I went to Heartland Antiques. One of the booths has nesting chickens salt dips for $3.00 and I was in search of a pink one. I was exciting to find one exactly the shade I wanted. Another booth prices all her stuff at yard sale prices. The rest of the items in this picture other than the chicken were .25 cents each. She doesn't just have antique stuff, she just has "stuff". 

Then I headed to Dollar Tree to pick up some Easter Eggs with the holes in the end so I can make a wreath. I normally get them at Walmart for .99 cents for 12. Good to know the Dollar Tree is 18 for $1.00. I can use the other six in a little vase that I'm planning on making. I also picked up this gorgeous wire ribbon for the bow for my wreath.

Next, was Hobby Lobby. I picked up somethings that I'm going to use to make a wreath. The fabric was on sale 50% off and I only needed an 1/8 of a yard of each so it cost a whole whopping $1.16 for the fabric and then the ribbon was on the 40% off all Easter items. 

While I was there, I picked up the spool of red ribbon I was needing for a project that I will show you later this week. I used my 40% off one regular price item coupon for it. And I found some blackboard tags I need for the same project with the ribbon. They were on sale for $1.79 instead of $2.99.

Grand total for my 1/2 day shopping expedition was just $13.89. You all know how much I love a bargain. I was very happy.

Some vintage finds and wishes.....

I stopped at a favorite antique booth Saturday and got all of this for under $5.00. I was thrilled. 

I have been in love with the vintage Glasbake tulip pattern for years and pick up any piece I find. Here is my collection so far. 

I need to find the brown coffee cup as well. I have seen it in antique stores but it has always been pricey. Everything in the above picture was purchased at a price of $1.00 - $4.00. So I won't pay a fortune for one coffee cup. This one was $12 at a recent location. 

But I see them a lot so I'm sure I will stumble on the brown since the red and brown were the most popular ones back in the day. But the elusive one is the beautiful blue. I want this one the most. And it is the only one I have never even seen in the wild. I can order a set of two of them from Etsy, but with tax and everything it is $25 and that would make it $12.50 per cup. Nope. No matter how bad I want it, I'm not paying $12.50 for a coffee cup for decoration.

The little Salt & Pepper that I got Saturday, were just .50 cents for the set. They will work for what I have in mind and I still am glad I found them. But I really want this whole set. 

If I can't find the whole set, I will settle for either nutmeg, ginger or preferably cinnamon. I have a plan for the tater masher as decor and I need the spice characters for the display I want to make. Updates as they occur.

For 4 or 5 years now, I have had my eye on the pink & orange floral pattern by Arcopal France. Since these originated in France around 1958 - 1960. I have longed for the pitcher since I first laid eyes on it. But you know my policy, I have to find my stuff in the wild. No fair going online and snatching it up just because it is there. Pricing is a big part of my collecting and I refuse to pay the exorbitant E-bay prices and shipping on these items. Here is the pitcher I want so bad.

I didn't realize until today that they also made a spice set in that pattern.

And I love the sugar canister.

Along with the salt & pepper shakers.

Here are a few of the coordinating bowls in various patterns. 

That's just some of the things on my mind today. Have a great Tuesday.