Thriifty Decor Chick

Decor steals!

Hello friends and happy Thanksgiving/Black Friday! I hope your holiday was wonderful! Mine was just lovely, I have much to be thankful for. Today I’m thankful I’m not going out in the crowds and shopping and instead staying home and decorating and maybe doing some shopping from the comfort of my couch. :) Are you with me? :) If so my friends at <a href="http://www.decorsteals.com" rel="nofollow">Decor Steals</a> are back and I just realized today is their four year anniversary and we’ve been working together for all of those four years! Sniff. I remember them when they were just a babe… <img alt="decor-steals-LOGO.jpg[7]" border="0" height="120" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T9BtzwfXXBc/Upi_yce7LTI/AAAAAAAAjIg/nWMHDADmIvs/decor-steals-LOGO.jpg%25255B7%25255D%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="decor-steals-LOGO.jpg[7]" width="500" /> If you aren’t familiar with them, Decor Steals is a deal a day site – you can find unique decor items you won’t find anywhere else…and you’ll find them for a great price. Let’s jump in to see a few of their latest/upcoming goodies, shall we? This cute bunting would be pretty as is but wow, think of all the possibilities: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YN2VWg6Zi8E/Upi_zbH3c_I/AAAAAAAAjIo/F6aZXt3jCyQ/s1600-h/FEEDSACK-GARLAND-BANNER-decorsteals%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="feedsack bunting" border="0" height="339" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T7Du39K8Lio/Upi_0mNKYDI/AAAAAAAAjIw/SOEXXImy5ZI/FEEDSACK-GARLAND-BANNER-decorsteals_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="feedsack bunting" width="500" /></a> It would be lovely with some glittery letters on it, draped across your Christmas mantel! I don’t think the mason jar trend is going anywhere soon, and I love these lights: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wqoUj1RFK38/Upi_1bEH5sI/AAAAAAAAjI4/d-tbziuwTKk/s1600-h/masonjarlight-pendantligths%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="mason jar pendant lights" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MvERkFTBkDc/Upi_2CuQE5I/AAAAAAAAjJA/0UhfYr2qkHs/masonjarlight-pendantligths_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="mason jar pendant lights" width="500" /></a> They’d be especially cute in a kitchen or a bathroom. They are a great mix of vintage and industrial! And these are actually solar lights, how cool is that?: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hqJiIz57ChE/Upi_28MPuZI/AAAAAAAAjJI/8wTVbRP6SeU/s1600-h/solarlights-masonjars-ledlights-lids%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="solar mason jar lights" border="0" height="415" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-479vO6eHJCA/Upi_41BJ5QI/AAAAAAAAjJQ/HfaorhL9Zoc/solarlights-masonjars-ledlights-lids_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="solar mason jar lights" width="500" /></a> I love the Decor Steals boxwood wreaths – you can see how I use mine year-round <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/03/boxwoods-for-spring.html">here</a>: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Gn2C14n8_DQ/Upi_5g54k1I/AAAAAAAAjJY/fJdEBYImZYA/s1600-h/Preserved-Boxwood-Wreaths-with-Ribbon-Trim-decor-steals-one-deal-a-day%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="preserved boxwood wreaths" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8Ze_6r4A_MA/Upi_6oYLXXI/AAAAAAAAjJg/RX1WvD5WYnM/Preserved-Boxwood-Wreaths-with-Ribbon-Trim-decor-steals-one-deal-a-day_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="preserved boxwood wreaths" width="500" /></a> I would fill my house with them this time of year if I could! They are so classic and pretty! These ladders are so functional – I love to see them used in a bedroom for extra blankets:  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-F5PHv208ClA/Upi_7mBCL7I/AAAAAAAAjJo/zPuYF7lP014/s1600-h/Vintgae-wooden-ladder-decor-primitive%252520decor-Country%252520Decor%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="vintage wooden ladder" border="0" height="454" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oTmVrw7O27k/Upi_8_a0BtI/AAAAAAAAjJw/T_ZpUyZdaxA/Vintgae-wooden-ladder-decor-primitive%252520decor-Country%252520Decor_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="vintage wooden ladder" width="450" /></a> But how about in a bathroom for towels, or for Christmas – hang ornaments from them, or Christmas cards? Today’s deal is another versatile one – their reproduction feedsack fabric is always a hot seller and I’m sure today will be no different!: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cyQOTRFyY8g/Upi_9quEJkI/AAAAAAAAjJ4/vp0LKD4pzjA/s1600-h/Feedsack-sewingfabric%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Feedsack sewing fabric" border="0" height="455" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uROSTW4mVWw/Upi_-qZ7F3I/AAAAAAAAjKA/raVDwwE6EKA/Feedsack-sewingfabric_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Feedsack sewing fabric" width="433" /></a> It comes in five different colors and I think it would be SO lovely as a Christmas skirt! The best news today is that Decor Steals is giving away a $50 credit to two lucky readers. They are also throwing in a surprise box to a reader as well! Here’s how to enter to win one of two $50 credits and the free goodies to Decor Steals: 1. Leave a comment here. What did you eat yesterday? We made prime rib instead of turkey – it’s become a tradition for us. :) SO good.  2. Visit Decor Steals <a href="http://www.decorsteals.com" rel="nofollow">here</a> and check out their pick steals page. Which item do you want to see offered in the future? Come back here to let us know in a comment. 3. Visit their Facebook page and “like” it <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DecorSteals" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Let us know you did in another comment. (Or let us know if you already do!) 4. Subscribe to their email list <a href="http://www.decorsteals.com/signup" rel="nofollow">here</a> (you’ll get email notices about the new deals) and if you do (or are already on the list), leave one more comment here. * You can enter one, two, three or four times – it’s up to you! All options are not mandatory to win. * Remember if you comment anonymously or you have a private blog, please include your email address in each entry, and spell it out with “at” and “dot” to avoid any spammy emails coming your way. This giveaway is open to the contiguous US only. It will close this Monday, December 2 at 9 a.m. EST. Have a wonderful weekend!

Decor steals!

Hello friends and happy Thanksgiving/Black Friday! I hope your holiday was wonderful! Mine was just lovely, I have much to be thankful for. ...

8:25 AM

DIY work bench, YES!

Hey there everyone! Are you ready for Thanksgiving? I’m excited to sleep in, stay in my pajama pants all day and eat with family. :) I hope yours is wonderful! So remember last week when I showed you the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/11/most-epic-clean-out-ever.html">massive clean out</a> in the garage? I’m SO happy with it. There was one last project I wanted to complete in there and it was actually fairly quick and easy AND inexpensive. The trifecta! This is the area I was planning on addressing: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gQw5SMjyZ_w/UpEA14a-8TI/AAAAAAAAjFg/rYK-35AAxXU/s1600-h/IMG_73052.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PaEwWgkal5I/UpEA3CIHS4I/AAAAAAAAjFo/MvsVBYggKMc/IMG_7305_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="500" /></a> I’ve had my saw on that storage cabinet for years now and it worked OK but not great. I wanted to have a lot more room to spread out. My dream has always been to have a work bench in the garage and that dream was much easier to realize than I thought. :) I put a plan together (in my head) and gathered my supplies at <a href="http://www.truevalue.com">True Value</a>. Originally I thought it would be a lot more elaborate than it ended up being. I am quite sure you could do this, even if you’ve never built anything! And if you’ve never built anything I don’t know if you need a work bench, but whatever. Let’s pretend. I got two 1 by 4’s and one 4 by 4 – all eight feet long. (I already had most of another 4 by 4 leftover from another project too.) I measured out how long I wanted the bench to be and it turned out to be right at eight feet, which was a bonus because I didn’t have to have to make nearly as many cuts. The first step was to figure out how high I wanted the table to be – I knew I wanted it taller than the storage containers because I wanted to keep them underneath. Then I attached the board (making sure it was level) to the studs along the wall with three inch screws: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nuWgmeot6to/UpEA4FtxM7I/AAAAAAAAjFw/kAyGbZCJC4Q/s1600-h/photo2.jpg"><img alt="building a work bench" border="0" height="375" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mjCEvlDnq0s/UpEA5WgzSxI/AAAAAAAAjF4/VmcYOHv36yM/photo_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="building a work bench" width="500" /></a> Next I held the 4 by 4 post up to that to see how tall I wanted them to be. I marked it at the top of the 1 by 4 on the wall, because I wanted it the same height, since my plywood would sit on both the board along the wall and the 4 by 4’s in front. Does that make sense? It will in a minute. ;) I cut three posts down to use as supports along the front, then placed the plywood (I used a 4 by 8 piece cut right down the middle, so two feet wide) on them and started screwing them together: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LDmduh_yKjA/UpEA6u6cz1I/AAAAAAAAjGA/CoJZxI8owzk/s1600-h/WB12.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-D2gJDYnjW24/UpEA8FsiYzI/AAAAAAAAjGI/IjAccnJ986s/WB1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="500" /></a> I did make sure the posts were level before securing them to the top. I put four screws in through the top of the plywood into each of the posts. I used drywall screws for this part – I use those for a lot of woodworking projects since they are so easy to get into the wood. I secured all three posts and then did the same at the back of the plywood, up against the wall: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O9gJqLu478A/UpEA9YAh8PI/AAAAAAAAjGQ/uCoX9YGg-UA/s1600-h/WB22.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-psDh8tUZKt0/UpEA-vXpxJI/AAAAAAAAjGY/zHajoRBl-rA/WB2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="500" /></a> You could easily do that part first and then the posts, it doesn't matter what order you do it in. Here’s where I opened my mouth, stuck in my foot and said, “Wow, this is going so well!” WHY? Do I EVER learn? Cause then I messed up. I used the second 1 by 4 as an “apron” across the front – I just thought it finished it off nicely and looked a little better. Then we (my sis actually) realized the storage containers wouldn’t fit underneath with it on there. So we took that off, put them under there, then started putting it back on, but realized the container doors to the right wouldn’t open with the wood along the front: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YDluUoFGGHc/UpEA_5RLCpI/AAAAAAAAjGg/VRL2KRBBD4k/s1600-h/WB42.jpg"><img alt="work bench in garage" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qy345MwBQK0/UpEBAzOFNXI/AAAAAAAAjGo/3oR9pl-piOk/WB4_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="work bench in garage" width="500" /></a> So instead I used a scrap 1 by 2 I had – losing those two inches made it so I could open everything just fine. (As you can see above.) I secured that to the posts with drywall screws too: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ez-obexytD8/UpEBCJzh_gI/AAAAAAAAjGw/EHHcfcyomDk/s1600-h/WB31.jpg"><img alt="building a work bench" border="0" height="675" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SEiUW13XRhs/UpEBDdpql8I/AAAAAAAAjG4/mDbcyCONTdA/WB3_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="building a work bench" width="450" /></a> You can see in that photo how simple this whole thing was – it’s just a brace along the back wall with plywood on top and 4 by 4’s as supports in the front. Super simple design: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hLoH83T8q3k/UpEBE4pM5GI/AAAAAAAAjHA/cI1TQtcEeBU/s1600-h/WB52.jpg"><img alt="DIY workbench garage" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WOnBJxhFbgE/UpEBF2i3kEI/AAAAAAAAjHI/_KTKYdMYR6o/WB5_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY workbench garage" width="500" /></a> I didn’t secure the posts into the cement floor – there’s no need to. The weight of the wood keeps them where they are. Since the table is so close to the door I knocked down the edges and corners just a bit for safety: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JrKrdPee_MU/UpEBG0OLvDI/AAAAAAAAjHQ/UDzRG8qwN_w/s1600-h/WB62.jpg"><img alt="DIY workbench" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i1kzUiu-p7w/UpEBH0PSnSI/AAAAAAAAjHU/Wx9Db3NL4ws/WB6_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY workbench" width="500" /></a> Can I just say how much I love this?? I LOVE IT!! Why did it take me so long to do this? I finally have space to spread out – there’s plenty of room for me to work and in my old workshop area it was impossible: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1yGyHDcyAhM/UpEBIz2EHqI/AAAAAAAAjHg/qi-m4q0fvd4/s1600-h/WB72.jpg"><img alt="Easy DIY workbench" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GEfVoxJjdUc/UpEBK9bE_RI/AAAAAAAAjHo/3VZfk1j7YuE/WB7_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Easy DIY workbench" width="500" /></a> Plenty of room for a table saw too. ;) I got one a few weeks ago but it was messed up so I took it back. I’m going to try again soon. Even with our slight mess up this project was much easier and quicker than I thought it would be. And that NEVER happens. The total cost was less than $50 – the main expense was the piece of plywood that was $25. (The thickness is more than half an inch for extra strength.) It’s silly but it makes me feel like a real DIYer: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9qRtx2sT5_g/UpEBNaNZR-I/AAAAAAAAjHw/aSjy6MnicUU/s1600-h/WB82.jpg"><img alt="easy DIY workbench" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vI8-M8w87Qg/UpEBOtt5uwI/AAAAAAAAjH4/7zIKwJSKPzA/WB8_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="easy DIY workbench" width="500" /></a> And it looks so much cleaner and nice compared to how this spot used to look! Love. The garage is like night and day from before – I can’t believe how much better it looks and functions now. It’s stayed clean for three weeks now – that’s how I know it finally works for us! Isn’t that a great feeling?   I was one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as writing about my experience. I have also been compensated for the materials needed for my DIY project. However, my opinions are entirely my own I would have done this project anyway and I have not been paid to publish positive comments. For more project ideas visit True Value <a href="http://www.startrightstarthere.com">here</a> or their Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TrueValue">here</a>.

DIY work bench, YES!

Hey there everyone! Are you ready for Thanksgiving? I’m excited to sleep in, stay in my pajama pants all day and eat with family. :) I hope ...

6:00 AM

A Little Christmas Garland

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uh6K6FsZJ9U/UpUUjtRmA3I/AAAAAAAABGg/YmXf-ADZrLQ/s1600/ornament+garland3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas garland, garland, DIY garland, ornaments" border="0" height="163" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uh6K6FsZJ9U/UpUUjtRmA3I/AAAAAAAABGg/YmXf-ADZrLQ/s320/ornament+garland3.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>I KNOW! Most people wait until after Thanksgiving before they decorate for Christmas, but I just can't help myself! Not only have we strung some lights on the front porch - we built an outdoor Christmas tree for our front yard (<a href="http://happyhouseandhome.blogspot.com/2013/11/making-outdoor-christmas-tree.html">tutorial here</a>), we put a small artificial tree in the kitchen, I made a couple of wreaths, AND I made a couple of easy garlands. I won't bore you with all of the details, but I will show you my favorite garland. Cuz it's so easy and cute. The garland I like the best is simple. I found a box of 36 x 2" gold ornaments at Big Lots for $4. I took a roll of twine and just threaded the ornaments on. Every 6 inches I knotted the twine just to keep the ornaments from moving around too much. (If you want to make something similar, I had to put a dab of hot glue on the end of the twine, and twist it, to keep it from fraying when I threaded it through. Yes, it burns a little, but who needs finger prints?) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nscYRqHcDoE/UpUUisIDN8I/AAAAAAAABGc/xOexyFRTKPk/s1600/ornament+garland2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nscYRqHcDoE/UpUUisIDN8I/AAAAAAAABGc/xOexyFRTKPk/s320/ornament+garland2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nearer Christmas (or at least after Thanksgiving) I may "bling up" this little garland a little, but for now I like the rustic look. </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uh6K6FsZJ9U/UpUUjtRmA3I/AAAAAAAABGg/YmXf-ADZrLQ/s1600/ornament+garland3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uh6K6FsZJ9U/UpUUjtRmA3I/AAAAAAAABGg/YmXf-ADZrLQ/s320/ornament+garland3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, now that Thanksgiving is only a day away, it's safe to say I'll be decorating quite a bit more this coming weekend. Especially since we're all going out to the woods to get a tree on Sunday, AND, more importantly, Big A bought some Egg Nog! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a rule that you decorate for Christmas if you have egg nog in the house, isn't it? That's what I thought. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What about you? Have you started decorating for Christmas yet? </div>

A Little Christmas Garland

I KNOW! Most people wait until after Thanksgiving before they decorate for Christmas, but I just can't help myself! Not only have we ...

5:58 AM

Chevron, take two

Hey everybody! Happy Thanksgiving week! I won’t be posting much this week, and today’s post is short and sweet. I’m taking most of the week off and hope you’ll get plenty of family and rest time in too! So here it is – my second attempt at chevron. If you remember I tried it a few months ago with my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-touch-of-chevron.html">chevron Frogtape</a>: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z106UhvcVWk/UpD9I-ioYXI/AAAAAAAAjEs/3l4e5fu0iSk/s1600-h/IMG_60202.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0linvTvQuTk/UpD9KN0M5II/AAAAAAAAjE0/gB3TxD-mjGo/IMG_6020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="500" /></a> WELL. Funny story. When I was <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/11/most-epic-clean-out-ever.html">cleaning out the garage</a> a couple weeks ago I realized I used the WRONG chevron tape. I work with Frogtape and they sent me their new shape tape before it even came out in the stores. This one must have been an early prototype that they didn’t use. I grabbed this one off the shelf and didn’t even realize it was different from the others. The actual chevron Frogtape is actually much more chevron-y and less Charlie Brown-y. I laughed out loud when I realized what I had done. Leave it to me. So last week I decided to do another little redo to that trash can. I spray primed it and then spray painted it white…again. :) Then I played around with the tape to figure out the design I wanted. I was originally planning a thin line of chevron around the top and bottom but decided on a slightly different design instead: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_tFUr7Yv4Dk/UpD9LO2wTSI/AAAAAAAAjE8/V-FD0XxHTnU/s1600-h/ft12.jpg"><img alt="chevron shape tape" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qpVsQPDcXAI/UpD9MUoGD5I/AAAAAAAAjFE/1B-JB8nyK5I/ft1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="chevron shape tape" width="500" /></a> I just offset the second line a bit to make it not exactly chevron. I rubbed some gold rub n buff in between the tape and that was it!: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jumRtSaoLD0/UpD9Nh7KpsI/AAAAAAAAjFM/3kwB8DoCxkQ/s1600-h/ft22.jpg"><img alt="chevron painters tape" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zHTiqoo6fe8/UpD9PAwAO1I/AAAAAAAAjFU/V7Tm_LIiR6s/ft2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="chevron painters tape" width="500" /></a> I decided simpler was better. :) Much better. This I love! Their shape tape comes in three different designs – chevron, scallop and wave. (I showed you how I used the scallop design <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/10/candy-corn-crafting.html">here</a>.) As you can see you don’t have to use them as they come -- play around with them a bit to make your own look! Want to try them out yourself? (You can see the designs <a href="http://frogtape.com/index.php/products/frogtape-shape-tape">here</a>.) Leave a comment here this week and let me know which one you’d like to try! We’ll give away three of each design. I’ll announce the winner next week! P.S. My friend Marty at A Stroll Thru Life has a lovely blog and highlighted me last week – go <a href="http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/11/show-off-inspire-thrifty-decor-chic.html?showComment=1385231728150#c5246118073721563175">here</a> to check it out!

Chevron, take two

Hey everybody! Happy Thanksgiving week! I won’t be posting much this week, and today’s post is short and sweet. I’m taking most of the week ...

6:00 AM

Making an Outdoor Christmas Tree

<div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8Mg-liGz60/UpIDrlDpD5I/AAAAAAAABF4/Lgliv3gaMeY/s1600/aug+2013+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="build a tree, make a christmas tree, build a christmas tree" border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8Mg-liGz60/UpIDrlDpD5I/AAAAAAAABF4/Lgliv3gaMeY/s320/aug+2013+013.JPG" title="" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>Our front yard of full of trees. It's beautiful, but at Christmas time, there's one glaring omission - not one pine tree to wrap in lights. Last year we decided to try and wrap a couple of the maple tree trunks with lights. It looked kinda cool. But we wanted a more traditional look. (Planting a pine tree isn't an option because we like the look of the yard exactly as it is the rest of the year.)  So we had the great idea to build a tree. (Reeeeaaal traditional, I know!) Oh, we were well aware that this could be a total waste of time, but we like to live on the edge. Off to Home Depot. We didn't have a list or a plan. We talked about ideas in the truck. That was our plan. After walking around Home Depot aimlessly for a while, here's what we bought: 4 x 1/2" x 10' of conduit pipe (these are super fun to carry around in Home Depot - I didn't look back to see the carnage left behind..) 1 x Conduit T or Junction Connector 3 x 1/2" x 2" Re-rods Zip Ties A Twinkle Light Star Twinkling Icicle Lights - we got the kind with random twinkling so it looks like they're shimmering. Here's a link if you're interested! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HLJ6QM/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004HLJ6QM&linkCode=as2&tag=fymoho-20">Celebrations Lighting V84B4112 Shimmering Icicle Light 100</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fymoho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004HLJ6QM" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0eVoR2TUKGU/UpEB2r5cQEI/AAAAAAAABFA/1A4s7QGIUDE/s1600/conduit1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0eVoR2TUKGU/UpEB2r5cQEI/AAAAAAAABFA/1A4s7QGIUDE/s320/conduit1.jpg" width="232" /></a></div> Looks like a tree already, huh? Can you see it yet? Me either. We needed the pipe bender. (We spent 45 minutes searching our basement for this thing! If you're looking for yours - look on the table in plain sight - that's were it will be.) <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FAqmX6mdEWc/UpECCLUVh8I/AAAAAAAABFY/M9AO0uWHqlU/s1600/pipe+bender1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FAqmX6mdEWc/UpECCLUVh8I/AAAAAAAABFY/M9AO0uWHqlU/s320/pipe+bender1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> It was sunny, but frigid outside, so we were working fast! The whole project (not including searching for the pipe bender) took about an hour. The first thing we did, was use the pipe bender to bend the conduit about 66 degrees, so that it would fit into the T and taper down to the ground. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8D5hdHE7vk/UpEBzKbhNmI/AAAAAAAABE4/uhAMbgMrzbY/s1600/junction+connector.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8D5hdHE7vk/UpEBzKbhNmI/AAAAAAAABE4/uhAMbgMrzbY/s320/junction+connector.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once the pipe was bent, we put it into the T and tightened the screws. This is what the top of the "tree" looked like: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t45WObw7weA/UpEB74qWHSI/AAAAAAAABFQ/fX51fASreRk/s1600/top+of+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t45WObw7weA/UpEB74qWHSI/AAAAAAAABFQ/fX51fASreRk/s320/top+of+tree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">It's about 8" across at the top, but don't worry, it's 10 feet tall so it looks pretty pointed once it's lit.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">To keep the frame secure we used 3 re-rods which Big A sledge hammered into the dirt. This is where the blood came in. Poor Big A sledged hammered his finger! We then fit the conduit pipe onto the re-rods. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yO7e2G53cI4/UpECFBzwBnI/AAAAAAAABFo/_KFgkO2u3aI/s1600/tree+frame2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yO7e2G53cI4/UpECFBzwBnI/AAAAAAAABFo/_KFgkO2u3aI/s320/tree+frame2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">We wrapped the icicle lights around the tree frame at 6" intervals. We secured the lights with about a million zip ties. This took FOREVER. (Maybe it was only half an hour, but at this point our feet and fingers were frozen.) </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IkaMbEaAFI8/UpEB4OPMrGI/AAAAAAAABFI/UOZiLU74cMY/s1600/lit+tree1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IkaMbEaAFI8/UpEB4OPMrGI/AAAAAAAABFI/UOZiLU74cMY/s320/lit+tree1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t45WObw7weA/UpEB74qWHSI/AAAAAAAABFQ/fX51fASreRk/s1600/top+of+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>Once the lights were on, we put the star on top. This proved a little tricky. We drilled a hole in the top of the T and put a tine of the star in the hole, but it was too wobbly. Solution - silver duct tape the "you know what" out of it! Done. The actual frame cost about $20. (The lights, star and extension cords are worth about $100 extra). <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yO7e2G53cI4/UpECFBzwBnI/AAAAAAAABFo/_KFgkO2u3aI/s1600/tree+frame2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0-nyxP3R6a4/UpECDQx_-ZI/AAAAAAAABFg/Zzeb9a8QIs0/s1600/xmastree1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0-nyxP3R6a4/UpECDQx_-ZI/AAAAAAAABFg/Zzeb9a8QIs0/s320/xmastree1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> It looks tiny in this photo, but it's actually 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide at the base. All in all we were pretty pleased with ourselves. We might have high-fived. In fact, we might build a couple of smaller trees to keep it company. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--6kD6yXLkB4/UpPYFFq0pKI/AAAAAAAABGI/wDaa7P4dvm4/s1600/christmastree6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--6kD6yXLkB4/UpPYFFq0pKI/AAAAAAAABGI/wDaa7P4dvm4/s320/christmastree6.jpg" width="182" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8Mg-liGz60/UpIDrlDpD5I/AAAAAAAABF4/Lgliv3gaMeY/s1600/aug+2013+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>

Making an Outdoor Christmas Tree

Our front yard of full of trees. It's beautiful, but at Christmas time, there's one glaring omission - not one pine tree to wrap...

6:28 AM

Reindeer games

Hey folks! I’m going to keep this one quick because I have a cold and can’t focus on one thing too long. I looked for my keys for 30 minutes last night and looked for my phone for 20 minutes this morning. My brain is MUSH. So earlier this week I took a break and went into TJMaxx for a bit. I found this lovely lady: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lqpG_22bLFw/Uo-EVr3OqyI/AAAAAAAAjBk/dDi82wtOr_w/s1600-h/IMG_7382%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="decorative reindeer" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yl5NahLVnvc/Uo-EWcNUPQI/AAAAAAAAjBs/72O_xx81-XE/IMG_7382_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="decorative reindeer" width="500" /></a> I put her on <a href="http://instagram.com/thriftydecorchick">Instagram</a> and mentioned I was going to glitter her up. I got some “Noooooo's” and some “heck yeah’s” and also a “I don’t think she’s a she,” which is true but it’s just to elegant to be a boy. So I’m saying girl. ;) Anyway, I wasn't going to glitter all of her – just <strike>his</strike> her antlers. I used the bag to cover the rest of her up and then taped around the antlers: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1rpH5jMx_nU/Uo-EXBDjfmI/AAAAAAAAjB0/SLAoN2FIGDw/s1600-h/IMG_7384%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Christmas reindeer" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6bwynYfqHOQ/Uo-EYHccA3I/AAAAAAAAjB8/KAzxDDXFr5Y/IMG_7384_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Christmas reindeer" width="500" /></a> To make this as quick and easy as possible I used this Krylon spray paint to glitter them: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HBtBZhwqK6Y/Uo-EY-jGU9I/AAAAAAAAjCE/Aw4Kjuhmn3o/s1600-h/6115X3JMsEL._SL1024_%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="glitter spray paint" border="0" height="375" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-v-GJE63ApIY/Uo-EZnx4WKI/AAAAAAAAjCM/LlT45D0co3M/6115X3JMsEL._SL1024__thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="glitter spray paint" width="500" /></a>  OK -- I bought this a year or two ago and I don’t I’ve ever used it. These came out a couple years ago and I saw blogger after blogger had issues with this spray paint. I chose to believe that my can was different. Well, it wasn’t. ;) It was a MESS. It sprayed great for a few seconds, then started sputtering and spraying all on it’s own. Then the glitter wouldn’t come out, just the coating stuff, and it was pretty much a disaster: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dkzvDCqcUx0/Uo-EatCgwOI/AAAAAAAAjCU/Fztogpks10Y/s1600-h/IMG_7385%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="wow" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SqfleOj_ddM/Uo-EbmiJreI/AAAAAAAAjCc/cA7zrKDjMhw/IMG_7385_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="wow" width="500" /></a> That’s actually the good side – the color was horrible, it didn’t cover well and just looked like butt. Not the look I was going for. I think this paint would be good to give something a light, glittery sheen, but I wanted more for this project.  Then it wasn’t drying so I ended up trying to wipe it all off and it was just a science fair. (That’s what we say when something is a disaster. This qualifies.) So I was on to plan B -- the more time consuming plan. I grabbed my glitter glue and silver glitter and started doing it by hand. I got this glitter tray at Michael’s this past summer and it worked AWESOME: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-u7HQPvy6C6c/Uo-EcdEEmFI/AAAAAAAAjCk/eKZ07bXpQyo/s1600-h/IMG_7387%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="glitter tray" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wFOQ6Eq10YU/Uo-EdU1TyVI/AAAAAAAAjCs/pT2AkVwJix4/IMG_7387_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="glitter tray" width="500" /></a> You can lay items on it to dry and then when done just take that top part off and there’s a hole in the corner so all the excess glitter goes back in the container. It worked great, I just wish it was a little bigger! So, after about 20 minutes of glittering she ended up with some major bling: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MxiqC3ATuEI/Uo-EePy4MuI/AAAAAAAAjC0/atmRRmFDXpE/s1600-h/IMG_7393%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Christmas reindeer" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0hy4-G-2950/Uo-Ee0pE7gI/AAAAAAAAjC8/kIwPVP4gMo4/IMG_7393_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Christmas reindeer" width="500" /></a> I actually REALLY love how it turned out! She’s beeeeautiful! Yes, it was pretty to start, but I can never leave well enough alone, you know this. The silver is SO pretty: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OK0H6OXQ0p8/Uo-EfyQioOI/AAAAAAAAjDE/hbBpIpX-cq4/s1600-h/IMG_7396%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="glittered antlers" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CBrQYUCykfk/Uo-EggXm5wI/AAAAAAAAjDM/Rscush5qBUc/IMG_7396_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="glittered antlers" width="500" /></a> Who knows if it will last till next year, but for now she looks lovely: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WYOC9nqDwpA/Uo-EhiL1ymI/AAAAAAAAjDU/lcV1HkSFP7I/s1600-h/IMG_7399%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Christmas reindeer decor" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-np7k9vKMdPc/Uo-Eic7eWXI/AAAAAAAAjDc/mvlatStxRMs/IMG_7399_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Christmas reindeer decor" width="500" /></a>Have you tried that glitter spray paint? Did you have the same problems I did? Have you started decorating for Christmas? This is my first piece – more will come out this weekend. :) By the way – have a great one!!

Reindeer games

Hey folks! I’m going to keep this one quick because I have a cold and can’t focus on one thing too long. I looked for my keys for 30 minutes...

8:21 AM

Fabric Garland

<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RbohLM_0M0/Uo5DKqUNt0I/AAAAAAAABEk/ptB0700ru4Y/s1600/fabric+garland1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="fabric strips, crafts, DIY garland, fabric strip garland" border="0" height="154" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RbohLM_0M0/Uo5DKqUNt0I/AAAAAAAABEk/ptB0700ru4Y/s320/fabric+garland1.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"></div> Big A and I have been working on a rather large project. In fact, it measures 10 feet tall. It's led to quite a few swear words, some maniacal laughter, and blood. Despite all of that, in the end, we won! But I can't show you that yet. I need a couple of days grace period to get all the pictures up and, quite frankly, to have Big A to sit down and tell me the real names of the tools and parts we used. Otherwise, my post would give you a tool/parts list like this: Bendy Thing Nuts Poles Metal Slicer See what I mean? We need him. SO, until tomorrow, I am going to show you one little thing I've been working on. ("Working on" may be too strong of a phrase - perhaps I should say "puttering with".) A few weeks ago, I made a fabric scrap valance (tutorial <a href="http://happyhouseandhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/diy-fabric-strip-valance.html">HERE</a>) for our double doors to the back yard. I really loved the look of it: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ij_IbC1ZSrs/Uo5DJjx_uCI/AAAAAAAABEg/sCkTvOJtnN8/s1600/fabric+valance1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ij_IbC1ZSrs/Uo5DJjx_uCI/AAAAAAAABEg/sCkTvOJtnN8/s320/fabric+valance1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But then I decided I didn't like the rigidity of the tension rod with the rustic look of the fabric. So I strung all of the fabric strips onto jute twine and re-hung it as a banner. </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RbohLM_0M0/Uo5DKqUNt0I/AAAAAAAABEk/ptB0700ru4Y/s1600/fabric+garland1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RbohLM_0M0/Uo5DKqUNt0I/AAAAAAAABEk/ptB0700ru4Y/s320/fabric+garland1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Much better! I prefer the garland. What do you think? Tomorrow I'll be back to post about our larger adventure! Until then! Julia

Fabric Garland

Big A and I have been working on a rather large project. In fact, it measures 10 feet tall. It's led to quite a few swear words, some ...

4:10 AM

Give yourself a break

So a couple weeks ago, I had one of those moments. I honestly don’t remember what got me so upset, but my husband had been out of town for days, I had forgotten something for the Bub’s school, I had overextended myself blog-wise and I was just feeling like a bad mom and wife in general. Just one of those days. I was talking to myself (I do that a lot) and lamenting all the things I had done wrong that day and really just beating myself up about it. And then I started crying (just great), which is not something I do often. So I’m standing in the middle of the bedroom, crying, and I it just hit me – I told myself (yes…out loud) to just give myself a break. My husband was gone and during the fall that was a common occurrence (he’s <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/bittersweet.html">retired from teaching</a> music but as busy as ever with other stuff) and you know what – like always, I was handling things by myself and doing a decent job of it. I needed to give myself a break. This blog is now my “job” and I love it so dang much, but there are times that it gets stressful. And then I beat myself up for even thinking that this perfectly perfect job is stressful sometimes. Like that means I’m not grateful for it. But I need to give myself a break. Every job has stress. And although I don’t feel like a bad mom often, I do hate when I don’t stay on top of things for my son. But in the end, he’s an incredibly happy, well adjusted kid. And that night he went to bed content and without a care in the world, and that is all that matters to me at the end of the day. I thought about all of us women – I believe the men in our lives stress just as much (you may not realize it but they do), but I think we expect every aspect of what we do to be pretty darn perfect, and our men take it a little easier on themselves. So, as we roll into the holiday season I wanted to remind you all to GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK. The past two years I’ve not had time to write out and send Christmas cards: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UqDjNjTAXhI/UozXO7Z-2RI/AAAAAAAAjAg/7hqWoOVlMHQ/s1600-h/christmas_card_signing%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="172" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v2HgTZ6nrRQ/UozXQAJsPgI/AAAAAAAAjAo/gUYBBCc0Chk/christmas_card_signing_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="306" /></a> It is STUPID how bad that makes me feel. Like I failed at Christmas. I didn’t. Santa still came. Joy was had. My friends still know we exist. :) I always like to hand write my cards – but this year maybe I’ll print out address labels and do the photo card. Or not. Either way, life will go on. I LOVE holiday traditions but they can get out of hand. There’s only so much time in the day people! So our Elf doesn’t get into crazy antics (although I enjoy seeing what he does at other houses): <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dIy6QKAoCxk/UozXQ_5QCSI/AAAAAAAAjAw/bM72FwgLnaw/s1600-h/IMG_2633_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Elf on the Shelf, my nemesis" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-r4vtXO_5u4I/UozXR9cpnWI/AAAAAAAAjA0/EsjDWp0TzqA/IMG_2633_thumb%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Elf on the Shelf, my nemesis" width="320" /></a> And sometimes…sometimes, he stays in the same spot two (three!) nights in a row. Mama has stuff to do. I may not be able to pull that off this year though, the boy is getting older and smarter. (Last year was stretching it.) I always have grand plans for baking and cooking and trying new recipes and entertaining like a BOSS…but then the day of the party comes and I end up throwing together my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-i-throw-christmas-party.html">cheater cookies</a> that are just as yummy and festive: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-I0YNIxTPQ20/UozXTOjGG4I/AAAAAAAAjBA/J-DMgRkydWU/s1600-h/xmas%252520cookies%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Easiest Christmas cookies, ever" border="0" height="375" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zO2NjlHetXI/UozXUZ-lM2I/AAAAAAAAjBI/jAbV8WfdISE/xmas%252520cookies_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Easiest Christmas cookies, ever" width="500" /></a> And the elaborate recipe I was going to try out ends up being frozen meatballs in the slow cooker. But you know what? Who cares?? People are fed and it’s good. Give yourself a break. This is just a friendly reminder – think of me as the tiny voice in your head this holiday season. Take care of yourself. Try to take it easy. Cut yourself some slack. It will be wonderful, even if the Elf on the Shelf actually stays on the shelf. ;)

Give yourself a break

So a couple weeks ago, I had one of those moments. I honestly don’t remember what got me so upset, but my husband had been out of town for ...

7:37 AM

Put a wheel on it

Hey there! I’m back today with a super easy update that I seem to like…a lot. I started thinking about all the times I’ve made this little change to an item and they added up fast. I think it’s a fun detail that also adds some functionality to a piece you already have. If it needs a little something -- just do what I do…put a wheel on it. ;) These small castors are so cheap at the hardware store – I think two or three bucks for two of them. If that? You can get the plastic ones for even cheaper. I added them to a <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/01/office-deets-and-show-off-yours.html">little shelf</a> I found at Goodwill years ago: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uJjj--SxV_k/UouKtP9yA1I/AAAAAAAAi7s/nYrvY9lHrko/s1600-h/IMG_9699_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="book caddy" border="0" height="600" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rx7DewOuJL0/UouKuAnWkpI/AAAAAAAAi70/jmHDfslydVg/IMG_9699_thumb%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="book caddy" width="400" /></a> It’s easy to wheel it around wherever and they add a bit of height to something that may be too short otherwise. I got an inexpensive ottoman for our basement last year that was super functional (there’s storage space inside): <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9CQ4NLyx9xE/UouKvHDmTiI/AAAAAAAAi78/aza-uekhgsM/s1600-h/IMG_7352%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="ottoman with storage" border="0" height="319" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jQxSuihzfls/UouKwe7rovI/AAAAAAAAi8E/ULwq9GrH8Sc/IMG_7352_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="ottoman with storage" width="550" /></a> But I wanted to be able to move it out of the way easily, so I picked up four of the slightly larger castors and screwed them into the bottom: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Kqqr-xowzsg/UouKx7AaY_I/AAAAAAAAi8M/4a0DobgxFrc/s1600-h/IMG_7359%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="adding wheels to furniture" border="0" height="600" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DmcZoAHUl4s/UouLIYCE2GI/AAAAAAAAi8U/OCaeEkDamG0/IMG_7359_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="adding wheels to furniture" width="400" /></a> I love the copper color on those. :) They come in this copper color and brass. I think silver too? Awhile back I added them to the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/10/coffee-table-redo.html">coffee table</a> in the family room so we could push it around if needed: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ncj_nUm5hdQ/UouLJQG7_WI/AAAAAAAAi8c/8Io-L2FId7o/s1600-h/IMG_3255_thumb%25255B4%25255D%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="bold graphic rug" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uA9T4DLfc2E/UouLKak7eAI/AAAAAAAAi8k/qdKSeeNxu0o/IMG_3255_thumb%25255B4%25255D_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="bold graphic rug" width="500" /></a> Still can’t believe the difference a <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/11/new-family-room-rug.html">new rug</a> made in there. ;) I’ve been thinking about adding them to my next victim for awhile. A couple years ago I made over a <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/11/well-hello-hope-you-had-fantastic.html">clearanced caddy</a> for the kiddo’s markers and crayons in my office: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0WQDv5lLLBc/UouLLm3EC_I/AAAAAAAAi8s/d4H21DIOeXk/s1600-h/IMG_8203_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="art caddy" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5jI7fRh7x0o/UouLM-0Oi_I/AAAAAAAAi80/vZZ7_C06EEA/IMG_8203_thumb%25255B2%25255D_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="art caddy" width="500" /></a> I wanted to add wheels to this too, but it was really deep underneath (the bottom wasn’t flush), so I didn’t do it back then because I’d have to add some wood to make them work. (I thought the wheels would have looked awkward because they would be so deep underneath there.) Well, my wheel obsession continues and I decided to make the little update to this finally. The bonus was that I found four wheels in the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/11/most-epic-clean-out-ever.html">garage clean out</a>, so it didn’t cost me anything! I emptied it out (this also gave me a good reason to go through the markers that seem to multiply) and measured the length I needed for the scrap wood: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HT7Mpt7evNk/UouLN-GuwOI/AAAAAAAAi88/VUPk37juT5E/s1600-h/IMG_7330%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="675" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BNZdEUYZJnA/UouLQHo87xI/AAAAAAAAi9E/hkZRKu9R-_A/IMG_7330_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a> See how deep that is? That’s why I wanted to make it more flush on the bottom. And yes, there’s a cat in there. There’s always a cat. See the paws? <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aNIPczhxRd4/UouLRG5_rlI/AAAAAAAAi9M/WdVW_mkYii4/s1600-h/IMG_7334%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="675" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cJedMBksxX4/UouLSBfI4pI/AAAAAAAAi9U/VJ-WfcqucRA/IMG_7334_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a> He likes to “help.” So anyway, I cut down the wood and just used wood glue to secure it to the bottom: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gYasilBAyaU/UouLTNB9x9I/AAAAAAAAi9c/VEPgwwWrTdQ/s1600-h/IMG_7336%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ibUDw9ILbJ4/UouLUM46nTI/AAAAAAAAi9k/MHsIPsjdXHg/IMG_7336_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a> I could have used a nail gun but I didn’t feel like dragging it out and I didn’t want to risk the nails to come up through the bottom of the caddy. I couldn't tell how thick that bottom shelf was. Not helping: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9LhbbhUtHGM/UouLVWQclzI/AAAAAAAAi9s/KR40hbSzvPQ/s1600-h/IMG_7338%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="675" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ir23kQevcy4/UouLWfccuUI/AAAAAAAAi90/pV6dEeM2goM/IMG_7338_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a> And yes, there were a lot of markers in there. Here’s the little castors I used: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-D2HzmyAO3l8/UouLXcSySmI/AAAAAAAAi98/1CJ-Ppf07SQ/s1600-h/IMG_7339%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="castors " border="0" height="667" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HqEKD2zUrLw/UouLYbgFFOI/AAAAAAAAi-E/owNjahj4vSg/IMG_7339_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="castors " width="455" /></a> They have more of an antique brass finish. Love it. You’ll want to make sure the spacing is fairly equal when you install – I just eyeballed them: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bM2K8wYVyIY/UouLZpN09rI/AAAAAAAAi-M/dNLQvrxUCTM/s1600-h/IMG_7340%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Adding wheels" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-u7SS3LIYAyY/UouLatuLEXI/AAAAAAAAi-U/D0k2iqiKjSg/IMG_7340_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Adding wheels" width="500" /></a> And that’s it! You just want to make sure you have some kind of wood for them to screw in to. If there’s not you can always add some scrap like I did to make it more secure: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-W0tOAvzI2SI/UouLbqyAnUI/AAAAAAAAi-c/j-IYpHPFaR4/s1600-h/IMG_7346%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="craft caddy" border="0" height="783" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5onS0V8s7bU/UouLc_Ky8RI/AAAAAAAAi-k/tJCmgBeSNVA/IMG_7346_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="craft caddy" width="479" /></a> If you don’t have to mess with adding wood or anything it should only take you ten minutes or so to install the wheels. Or 30 if you have a cat helping. There are also locking castors so you can secure something you don’t want floating around the place. :) Now we can easily roll the caddy around my office: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nL-RxLdhc-c/UouLd5PsTcI/AAAAAAAAi-o/lG7jRF8uUTY/s1600-h/IMG_7347%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="craft caddy with wheels" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HrNOOFFancI/UouLe19XMCI/AAAAAAAAi-0/DCO57VoBZvI/IMG_7347_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="craft caddy with wheels" width="500" /></a> Or take it all the way to the kitchen table for projects. This thing is heavy so being able to wheel it around is helpful. Cute eh? I think it’s a fun little detail. I’m always looking for ways to make store-bought pieces more unique and this does it. Do you ever do this in your home? It’s such an easy and cheap project! P.S. If a wheel doesn’t work you could always <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XM3vWJmpfo">put a bird on it</a>.

Put a wheel on it

Hey there! I’m back today with a super easy update that I seem to like…a lot. I started thinking about all the times I’ve made this little c...

8:02 AM