Window Shopping Wednesday

Happy B-Day to me!!! Happy B-Day to me!! OK not really for another month!!! I saw this beauty in a shop window and drooled ALL THE WAY BY!!! It was love at first sight!!! The shop was closed and had been for months. What's a girl to do but dream!!! But yesterday (my lucky day) I went by and surprise!!!! Shop opened!!!! So I stopped by and casually asked how much (because I'm cheap, thrifty....no pretty much cheap) and was told it was $50. Not bad I saw another one very similar for $75 recently. But, the lady was kind and said she would take $40!! OK I'll take it!!! Hmmm, do I have an extra $40 laying around???? Uh, NO!!! So I justified my purchase by coming home, calling my mom and saying you bought me something really great for my b-day!!! Wow, what good taste you have mom....I LOVE IT!!!! (She didn't mind)

I also found these lovelies at Michael's over the weekend.....clearance!!!!!
Birds and crowns.........Yay!!!

Here is a project I did a while back.....a .69 find at a thrift store paired with .50 yard sale dominoes.....cute I think!!

And, last but not least a birdcage for spring (I forgot I put in the attic. I just love finding treasures in my own attic)!!! I love birdcages, and birds, and birds nests, oh, and eggs!!!

Well, those are my whites for White Wednesday!!!!

Have a great Wednesday!!!

Playing With Paper

I spent ALL day yesterday in bed. Because I was sick....no. My daughter was. I felt so bad for her. But, because she didn't want me to get up (too much) I sat in bed and played with paper. I used burlap and scrap booking paper on these. Hot glue was my friend!!! So after wrapping and gluing I tied a bow and glued a button. Not bad for a few minute project!! These also were "bed" projects. I cut strips for the one on the left, fan folded them, used stick glue to attach them together. After finishing I had a rosette and hot glued a button in the center.

For the next one I cut out squares....several squares. I glued each one together then hot glued them in a circle. I hid the middle with another button and then glued a stamped image on to the button.

I'm thinking at least I did SOMETHING yesterday!!! Don't forget to leave a comment if you wanted entered in the giveaway!!!! If you want a peek at what I'm giving check here ......http://crystalscottage.blogspot.com/2011/03/big-5-0.html

The Big 5-0 !!!

Yes I've hit the big 5-0.....not age I'm in my 30's ( I'm going to enjoy saying THAT for the next oh...15 yrs....ha ha)!!! 50 followers!!!! I'm so thankful for all of you..... for your support, your words of kindness, your comments, and especially all of the inspiration!!! You are such talented bloggers!!!!

When I began this journey I didn't know if I would ever have followers....much less make wonderful friends. To thank you I'm having my first giveaway!!! If you would like to be entered to win everything here just leave me a comment and I'll draw a name next Friday!!!!
Good Luck and I'm thankful for all of you!!!!

Paint Expedition!!!

Seems as though with everything I do.....nothing is simple!!! I guess that is just a perk of being me.....yay (insert sarcasm here)!!!! I went to buy paint for my daughter's bedroom last weekend. I didn't have much (any) money but, mom decided to float me a loan (thanks mom)! While in Wal Mart looking at paint swatches (because I left mine at home) I ran upon the mismatched paint!!! Oh Yay!!!! I was sure I would find something I could use. This is what I found......except I was looking for grey. Yep, it looks like it could be a shade of grey (black)!!!! She wanted a really dark grey. As you can see.......this is definitely black-esque!!!!!


But for this price.....hmmmm, the wheels started to turn......

So I did politely ask the person behind "the counter" if you add color to this, can I still get it 1/2 price? Logical I'm thinking because at least it will sell. It took some persuasion....a lot!!! I finally convinced him to add white to the mix. That's all just a squirt of white. Makes sense right? Add white to lighten the color???? So I convinced him to add the white......he did alright.....lots of white!!! Yikes!!!! How do you scream.....too much!!! Stop!!!! That's enough!!!!! to someone who is doing you a favor????? Ummm, you don't (or at least I didn't). So although I was really worried this is how it turned out.....

I like to call it a lovely French grey. Not dark grey.....a light airy French grey!!! Uh oh!!! I'm in Soooo much trouble!!!! The wanna be princess at home is NOT going to be happy with this. So, what did I do....sucked it up and brought it home. Well, once I was home my oldest daughter said, ya know I still have a little paint leftover from my room. Hmmmm, OK I'll try anything before I get caught with THIS color. So we mixed, and mixed a little more......

This is what happened.....not as dark as she preferred but, not too bad.

Both pictures are from her freshly painted room (makeover pics coming soon). The light is different but, trust me it's all the same color.

So the moral to this story is ask politely to alter colors and be specific about how you want it mixed. Just a little white please may have worked out a little better. But, all's well that ends well..Now...what can I paint French grey?????

I'm joining Show and Tell the week!!!

Have a great weekend!!!

Best Makeover Yet!!!

Are there times when you picture what a project will look like? Well, I kind of knew what I wanted, but wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do. These are the candle holders I picked up at the Salvation Army for .49 each. I began by removing the mirror and spray painting the frame (cardboard and all) black. Then I gathered all these items.....1 sheet of scrap booking paper from a yard sale (.10). White copy paper, the mirror (I removed), 2 letters (to trace), and jewels ($1.00 from Dollar Tree).

Long story short I traced the mirror on to the pretty paper, cut out 2 ovals. Traced the letters on to the copy paper, cut those......

Glued them on with stick glue. Then finally, placed the jewels with a dab of hot glue!!!

I can't believe how great they turned out....sometimes I amaze myself....(just kidding)!!! They are going in my daughters room.....I'm thinking I should have kept them for myself!!!!

Have You Noticed?

I was in Hobby Lobby recently.....(I know you're shocked) and I noticed something I had never noticed before. All of the display cases for the goodies and treasures up front had fake flowers and grapes on them. Hmmmm, I thought about how things would look with and without these little things. So my post for today is......with and without little touches...... I like the after here......funny how a few pearls go a long way.
Not great......

yes, much better!!!

Even here.....

The after looks finished.

Before......

and After (I knew these would look great painted)!!!

Even before & afters look better with a little bit of something extra!!!
Well, that was the lesson I learned this week (probably the only one for the week)!!!!

Have a great Wednesday!!!!

Weekend Treasures

Here are the BUDGET finds I found over the weekend.....

I'm not sure what this is......I liked it.....and I'm thinking I could use little clothespins and pin old black and whites to it with keys, ribbons, and things. I also thought it would be a cute display for earrings......all after it's painted of course. But, for .49 at the Salvation Army....it can be anything...or nothing!!! I couldn't pass up this mirror for $2.99!!! No, I don't need a mirror but $2.99!!!! This will get a fresh coat of paint too.....when I find someplace besides the attic to put it!!!

I found these too!!! I have big plans!!! One was .99 and the other was .49. I thought I could live without them and went back and snatched them up!!!!

Not to mention when I got to the register he looked at the price and said "someone priced them differently" so I paid .49 each!!!! Yay!!! I think they will begin life in my daughter's bedroom. Also Salvation Army finds.

And these!!!! Do you ever pass something by and wonder why you did??? You sit and think about it for a week wondering if it's still there? You honestly kick yourself for a WHOLE week wondering what on earth were you thinking? Well....I did that!!! I found these babies at Goodwill!! They were $2.50 each (in my defense that was the day I went crazy in Hobby Lobby and I had to draw the line....somewhere)!!!!

I went back to Goodwill (and tried not to run) to the back of the store. Initially I didn't see them (and was heartbroken) but, there they were pushed to the very back of the shelf....whewwwww!!! But, aren't they adorable.....waiting for paint!!! Where will I put them you ask???? Hmmm, up in the attic maybe!!!! I fretted for these for a week and probably won't put them out (which isn't the point at all). At least I'll HAVE them if I need them!!!! Hmmm, thought for a moment I had a problem.....nah, I didn't think so!!!! One day I'll have the prettiest crawl space in an attic anyone has ever seen!!!!