Fresh Fall Wreath

Although it's not officially fall yet, it was time to retire my spring wreath.

See why?

Once upon a time it looked like this (and you can read about that project, here.)  With the intense afternoon sun, the green moss has faded into a dull, dirty, green color. 

Last fall I made this wreath.  I was in a total felt kick then.

I did like the yarn I used because it was textured and easier to wrap because I didn't have to be so careful...I could overlap and it didn't matter.  I decided that a textured yarn was the way to go again.

Last night I ran to Hobby Lobby and came home with the following items:

Chocolate colored yarn

 miniature pumpkins, squash, and acorns

3 fall berry bunches (barely used but one)

fall colored leaves

After wrapping and wrapping and wrapping the yarn, I carefully arranged and hot glued the fall goodies I had purchased. 

The only thing I may go back and fix are the squash.  The white-ish circles on the bottom bugs me, and I think they need to be painted. 

Lampshade Updo

The post previous to this one is about this metal lampshade I found for six bucks at the Habitat for Humanity Restore.

The first thing I had to decide on was what color spray paint to use.  As fun as it would be to go for something fun and bright, I decided on a muted color by Krylon called "Celery."  I also needed something to cover the brass so I found a brown hammered paint I had in the cupboard.

As much as I liked the simplicity of the lamp, I thought it would be fun to spice it up with some homemade glass "tassels" to be hung from the base of the shade.  I was thinking something like what you might find hanging from a chandelier...but slightly different.

After visiting good ol' Hobby Lobby, I came home with some glass beads (which were all 50% off and totaled $15.00.)  Because I didn't have the tools or know-how of making the "tassels" I drove down to the nearby Bead Shoppe where an employee led me to the necessary crimp beads, wires, hooks, and tools to use.

She also gave me a copy of some directions I found useful.  Instead of taking step-by-step pictures for you, I took a picture of the directions.  Genius....and easier!

Here they are, my completed tassels.  I made a total of 8, four shorter ones with a larger bead at the bottom and four longer ones with a shorter bead at the bottom.

Here's a close-up of the top...an earring clasp.

Before spray painting the shade, my husband drilled 8 small holes along the base of the shade so that the tassels could be hung.

And after a couple of coats of spray paint, it was finished!

Lookie Here...

This week, while the kiddos are with the grandparents, I am getting to do things that *I* want to do.  Today, I dropped by the Habitat for Humanity Restore to take a quick browse around.

I didn't leave empty-handed either.

This metal lamp caught my attention and for the price, I couldn't leave without it.

Don't you just love this unique light bulb?

and for the price...

 

This lamp is perfect because it's going to go outside and the metal shade will withstand all kinds of weather.  Of course we'll need to get some new chain and a can of spray paint.  Spray paint!  What color???  So many possibilities.

The lamp will be hung above this table out on our deck (and yes, that is a disco ball in the upper left corner.  We hung it for the 40th birthday celebration and just haven't taken it down yet.)

Stay tuned for the re-do....

What a Bargain!

About 99% of this blog has to do with home decor and crafts.  Today I am going to branch out to the lonely 1% and do a post having to do nothing with home decor or crafts, but still involves a bargain.

You've noticed that the name of my blog is Bargain Bound because I love a good bargain.

Have you heard of this store?

I visited the store in my town today and totally scored on some school clothes for my 7 year old daughter.  Now, let me say that with the weather we have here in Roseville (warm summers....actually warm until end of October) makes school-clothes shopping financially reasonable.  In all stores, almost all summer clothing is on some sort of sale, and many on clearance.  I always scoop up what I can find on sale and those clothes can be worn for at least the first 3 months of school.

Today I left with these outfits:

 top = $4.99 shorts = $3.99

dress = $4.99

shirt = $4.99 skirt w/shorts = $7.99

 shirt = $2.99 shorts = $6.99

 shirt = $2.99 skirt w/shorts = $4.99

Drum roll please.....

The total, with tax = $49.24

Hello....all of that for just under fifty bucks?  Now that's what I call a bargain!

 

  

Goodbye Red Wall

The best part about paint is that in a matter of hours, a room or accent wall can be transformed. 

We have had the wall above the fireplace a deep red for quite some time.  I have enjoyed having it such a rich color, but was ready for a change.  I wanted something brighter, crisper, cleaner-looking.  So many of the blogs I follow feature such bright "cool" colors that I like.  However, our entire home is full of "warm" colors and I am not about to change everything.

I pulled out my paint swatches and searched for a color that would go with our taupe-beige-tan surrounding walls.  I decided on a "butter" color...bright, clean-looking, and a color that would blend with the rest of our home.

In addition to the wall, I also painted our mantel.  If I was able to, I'd knock the entire thing out and put something with more flair and style, but not now.  Another day...another day.

The mantel was white.  I gave it a light sanding, primed it, and painted it dark brown.  It looks better in contrast to the butter color than a white mantel would have.

Here is a picture of what the wall/mantel looked like before painting it.

The ceiling in this room is vaulted and above the red wall is a plate rack that I display some silk flowers on.

 

Drum roll please....the "Butter" wall and brown mantel.  I also did a bit of rearranging with the decor on the mantel.  Obviously the owls don't pop out as much so I will be hunting for something to put there in place of them.

I replaced the flowers in the vases above the mirror with roses.

Thursday Thoughts

Ten Thoughts This Thursday

1.  I wish...I had more time to complete projects around the house.

2.  I want...to find the perfect pair of white skinny jeans.

3.  I think...this season of "So You Think You Can Dance" is going to be a good one.

4.  I laugh...at the crazy running around our cat, Buzz, does.  He even plays "fetch."

5.  I appreciate...the patience of our daycare provider.

6.  I enjoy...sleeping in and having lazy summer mornings.

7.  I struggle...with getting things checked off my "To Do" list for the summer.

8.  I feel...sad that I won' be able to volunteer in my kids' classrooms this year since I will be going back to teaching full-time for the first time in 7 years.

9.  I recommend...this remix of "Call Me Maybe":  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XXKmtM6-oo.

10. I hope...my kids get along today so that I don't have to be the constant referee.

 

New Thrifty Finds

Today I went thrift shopping and boy has it been a LONG time since I've done that.  In fact, I had the whole day to myself...without my 2 kiddos.  I took advantage of an opening at my awesome home daycare that I use during the school year and enjoyed some alone time since school got out in early June. 

I thought I'd share a few of the finds I purchased today. 

The first was this glass jar and top.  It's funny because they don't really go together.  I think the lid is from something else, but they work together and for $1.50 you can't beat it.

The next item I found was this simple wooden crate...is it a crate?  I thought I could either stain it or paint it and this fall, fill it with some small (fake) red and green apples.  I can also envision flowers in it during the spring.  This, too, was around $1.00.

One of the pillows on my couch has colors in it that I am pulling from:  turquoise (muted), mustard, and dark red.  This piece caught my eye because it fell into the "mustard" category.  It was $2.00.

 

The above picture makes it look a bit darker than it actually is.  This picture is lighter and truer.

 

The last piece I purchased today was a candle holder.  I was pretty excited about this one being priced at $3.88.  It was hollering "SPRAY PAINT."  The colors are endless, but I will probably stick to something close to the natural color..maybe rubbed oil bronze at this point.  Some day though, when I want it for another place, I would love to spray paint it a vibrant color.

This is the truer color...in the natural light.

 

So there you have it--my thrifting for the day and all for under $10.00.  

Hopefully soon I can write another post about how I am utilizing all of the things I bought today.