August 20, 2010

Children’s Artwork Display

Ok here it is. I finally finished this project.

Are you excited to see what I turned these cookie sheets into?

With school starting next week, the artwork is going to come piling in for sure. I wanted a prime spot to display all of my son’s art pieces without them taking over the refrigerator (I can’t believe I will have a Kindergartner this year!).

Here is our new art wall.

This wall is in our kitchen right as you enter from the garage. It has always been dead space that was never put to good use. I thought it would be the perfect “zone” for all the art.  I used Command picture hanging strips to secure these to the wall.  I love this product because they are removable and won’t damage your walls.  I used 2 large strips per sheet.

I thought it would be fun and different to use kitchen items for the display. I simply turned these baking sheets into art frames with a little spray paint. Make sure the sheet is actually magnetic before you buy or paint one. A lot of them are not, so just double check to make sure.

This one below perfectly holds 2 pieces of artwork.

These are the colors I used. Rustoleum Gloss White, Rustoleum Satin Aqua, and Krylon Gloss Ivy Leaf. Each baking sheet got two thorough coats (with plenty of dry time in between). At first I was going to paint them all white, but because most of the art coming home is usually on white paper, I wanted a bit more contrast between the paper and the baking sheet. All white would have been too much white on that wall.

This could also make a fun art display on its own. I love this just as much when it’s empty.

And one last look at the art.

If you don’t have a place for your kids artwork, the best way to stay organized and keep it all under control is to create a “zone” that is dedicated solely to that purpose. Here are more children’s artwork display ideas to help get you ready for the new school year.

How do you keep all the art under control?

Posted at: 8:04 pm by Heidi |Filed Under: Heidi's Projects | 4 Comments
August 20, 2010

Cookie Sheet Art

I am in the middle of a new project and tried so hard to have it finished by today. Unfortunately some things just take longer than I thought they would (OK, most things), and I am not quite done. I need to pick up a few more supplies this morning so I can finish and show you what I’ve made.

So here is a little teaser for you. Can you guess what I’m going to do with all these cookie sheets?

I will hopefully have this finished by noon today, and then I will post ASAP.  So don’t forget to check back and see the finished project.

Posted at: 5:03 am by Heidi |Filed Under: Heidi's Projects | Leave a Comment
August 19, 2010

Thrift Store Lamps

We are continuing the tour around my living room this week. Next stop: my newly refurbished thrift store lamps. I found these for $3.00 each and saw some great potential. I love the shape of them both. I also like that they are different, but just similar enough to look like they go together.

Here they are before.

Thrift Store Lamps

I took the same green color from our kitchen wall and used it on the lamps to tie the two rooms together.

I found the lamp shades at Home Goods for $12.99 a piece. As soon as I saw the price tag, I snatched them up pronto!

Our living room has no main overhead light, so these have made a fantastic addition to the space. I can actually see now–it’s great.

Total cost for each lamp: $16.00

Does anyone else love that green color as much as I do? Now that my walls are a little more neutral, the green is just what the room needs to give it some life. The windows desperately need drapes, but the fabric I want is not in my budget at the moment ( I need quite a bit). Hopefully I can save enough over the next few months to finally get this room finished.

The DIY Show Off

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

Posted at: 12:00 am by Heidi |Filed Under: Heidi's Projects | 14 Comments
August 18, 2010

My New Red Door

My living room has been and still is a work in progress. I have a complete vision of how it should look, but alas, the budget only allows my to do one thing at a time. Having said that, I decided the next project I had to tackle was the paint. We painted the walls a buttery yellow color when we first moved in 3 and a half years ago. It was a good color, but I was just dying for a change! I will show you the whole room reveal when it’s actually done, but here is a peek at the entryway transformation so far.

These are the old yellow walls.

Here is the new color. I chose Martha Stewart’s Driftwood Gray from Home Depot. I heard the quality of that paint isn’t the best, so I had them color match it for me in the Behr brand. I used the paint with primer in it and it worked great.

I wanted an extra pop of color in the entry to keep it from looking too plain, so I decided to paint the inside of the door red. I already have a gorgeous red hutch in this space, so I knew that to tie it in I needed to spread a little more red around the room. I thought the door would be a great way to do that. I almost forgot to take a before picture, which is why you see the red stripe already on the door. Our doorknobs also needed some updating, so I gave them a temporary face lift as well.

Here is my new red door. It looks a lot brighter in these pictures than it does in person. I just love the way it turned out. I’ve always had a thing for red doors, and now I finally have my own.  The best part is that I did the whole thing with a just a sample size container of paint for $3.00.  I’m very happy with that price tag.

Don’t forget to look closely at those closet door knobs. I took them off and gave them a couple coats of satin nickel spray paint. It’s not the same as a brand new knob, but for now it does the job and looks MUCH better than the gold.

So…any red door fans out there?

Posted at: 12:00 pm by Heidi |Filed Under: Heidi's Projects | 4 Comments
August 17, 2010

Thrifty Art Project

After flipping through the pages of the July Better Homes and Gardens Magazine (my favorite!), I came across this fantastic budget room redo. What really caught my eye was the artwork that the designer created. I fell in love with it. It was just the inspiration I needed and I knew exactly how I wanted to re-create it in my living room.

The bottom picture shows the room before the redo. If you look closely you can see a small picture of some pink flowers in a frame on the back corner table.

Image via BHG

He took that picture, blew it up, and put it in an oversize poster frame. The frame was $49 from Target. Here it is on the wall of the transformed room below.

Image via BHG

I absolutely love how big it is and the impact it creates. I didn’t want to spend $49 on a frame, so I looked for one at a thrift store. I found the perfect sized poster frame for just $2.00. It had a plastic front that was very scratched, so I went to my local glass shop and had them cut me a new piece of glass to fit the frame. It only cost me $11.00 and some change! Not bad, right?!

I gave the frame 2 coats of glossy black spray paint. I called a few places to find a custom matte, but they all cost more than I wanted to spend. So I decided to make my own–sort of. I took the board that was already in the frame and gave it a few coats of white spray paint. Then I adhered my picture directly on top of that. So it’s a faux matte, but you can’t tell. It looks great. I took this picture in April. I’m a sucker for tulips and took a million pictures of this patch when I found it. I ordered an 11 x 14 size print through the Costco photo center for only $2.99!! So my grand total for this thrifty art project was $16.00 I already had the spay paint, so I didn’t include that in my total. Here it is in my living room. Sorry the pictures are not the greatest. It was really hard to get a good shot with the glare of the frame and window in the day time, and with the lamp at night.

and just one more…

Here is the funny story about this. I was so excited all day while I worked on this, and couldn’t wait for my husband to get home and admire my creation. So what does he say? Well he was a little confused and said in a very nice tone: “Isn’t the frame a little big for that picture?” I just had to laugh that he couldn’t see the “art” in this piece as clearly as I did. But I absolutely love it.

So what do you guys think?

Posted at: 5:22 am by Heidi |Filed Under: Heidi's Projects | 4 Comments
August 16, 2010

Project Updates and a New Twist

I’m switching things up here at Budget Wise Home this week.  Here’s what’s going to happen.  Instead of posting your budget tip of the day, I’m going to post my own home projects all week long and give you a peek into my life and the fun things I’ve been up to.  I will be doing this during the last week of each month instead of the budget tips from now on.

Now I know this is not the last week of August, but I am about 2 weeks away from welcoming baby boy #3 into our home.  Just in case he decides to come a little early, I want to make sure you get to see what I’ve been working on.  It seems the projects are endless and that my life revolves around the phrase “before the baby comes.”  So I have been hard at work trying to finish as many projects as I can “before the baby comes.”  Here is the first of many I will show you this week.

I have been searching for a mirror for our mantel, but didn’t really want to fork out any money for one.  I went on a random thrift store trip with my sister and found this beauty for just $3.00.  I saw some great potential and could not turn it down for that price.

I’m not the biggest fan of the gold.

I covered the mirror with some paper and taped around the edges.

Three coats of white gloss spray paint, a little windex, and she’s good as new.  I wanted the look to be clean and simple.  I’m going for a light and airy look in the living room right now, and this feels perfect.

It’s got some great detail in it.  I think I will put a glaze on it to really make those pop, but that will have to wait.

This room does not have the best light, so the mirror really helps to bring in some of that light in and opens the room up a bit more.

Not too shabby for $3.00.  I really like the look of my new mantel.  It has been in need of a change for some time.

I’ve got many more projects on the way…

Posted at: 4:08 am by Heidi |Filed Under: Heidi's Projects | Leave a Comment
August 13, 2010

Mason Jar Decorating Ideas

Mason Jar Pendant Light

Image via Our Homemade Life

Budget Tip of the Day: Mason Jar Pendant Light

Here is a mason jar decorating idea that is sure to make any spot in your home extra special. Turn an ordinary mason jar into a fabulous pendant light. These sell for about $200 each, but you can make your own for just a few bucks. It’s not too complicated, but I do recommend having an electrician do the final installation.
Here is what you’ll need:

  • Pendant light cords (ikea sells these for about $4 a piece)
  • Mason jar and lid
  • Light bulbs (low wattage)

Drill or cut a hole in your lid just large enough to fit the light cord through. Feed the cord through the hole, attach your bulb, and screw the lid shut. The tension of the cord will keep the light bulb in place. That’s it! Make sure you have a professional install your new light. It’s never a good idea to mess with electrical stuff and always better to be safe. Don’t these look great! And let’s not forget about the awesome price tag.

What are your mason jar decorating ideas? I am obsessed with these jars and am amazed at all the cool things they can be used for.

Mason Jar Pendant Light

Image via Our Homemade Life

Posted at: 12:00 pm by Heidi |Filed Under: Budget Tips | Mason Jar Decor | , 3 Comments
August 12, 2010

Mason Jar Decorating Ideas

Mason Jar CenterpieceBudget Tip of the Day: Mason Jar Centerpiece

If you need to dress up a table in a hurry and on a budget, a mason jar centerpiece is the way to go.  Chances are you’ve already got a few jars on hand, so you can pull this together quickly.  All you need is a mason jar, candles, and sand or stones.  You can find all these items at the dollar store.  Simply fill your jar with sand to your preferred height and nestle a candle into the middle.  That’s it!  Something this simple looks so fabulous.  Try giving these more impact by grouping a few together in varying heights, or line a bunch together to create a beautiful runner down the center of your table.  You can even skip the sand all together and just stick to candles of varying heights in each jar.  This no-fuss mason jar centerpiece will bring a touch of class and elegance to any table without breaking the bank.

Come back tomorrow for more mason jar decorating ideas.

Mason Jar Centerpiece

Mason Jar Centerpiece

Posted at: 12:00 pm by Heidi |Filed Under: Budget Tips | Mason Jar Decor | , 1 Comment
August 11, 2010

Mason Jar Decorating Ideas

Twine Wrapped Mason Jar

Image via Vickie Howell

Budget Tip of the Day: Twine Wrapped Mason Jar

Mason jars make lovely vases and look great as is with any arrangement.  For an extra fun decorating idea, try wrapping one in twine to give it more interest and texture.  Twine is very cheap and can be found in most stores, even the dollar store.  Working in small sections, attach the twine to the base of the jar using a hot glue gun. Slowly work your way around, pressing each layer nice and snug against the one below it.  A simple, cheap, and lovely addition to your decor.

Come back tomorrow for more mason jar decorating ideas.

Twine Wrapped Mason Jar

Posted at: 12:00 pm by Heidi |Filed Under: Budget Tips | Mason Jar Decor | , Leave a Comment
August 10, 2010

Mason Jar Decorating Ideas

Mason Jar Soap Dispenser

Image via Country Living

Budget Tip of the Day: Mason Jar Soap Dispenser

Here is an easy mason jar decorating idea that takes just minutes to make. It’s super easy to turn any jar into a lovely soap dispenser for your kitchen or bathroom. There are many shops that sell these, but you can make it yourself for a lot cheaper. You will need a jar with lid, soap dispenser, and a drill. Drill a hole in the center of the lid about a half inch wide. You want the hole to fit the width of your dispenser, but you want it to be snug so it’s not loosely spinning around. Make sure your pump is long enough to reach the bottom of the jar. If it’s too long, just cut it to size. Fill you mason jar with soap, insert the pump, and enjoy washing your hands. Try using a jar you already have and a dispenser from an old bottle you no longer use. Final cost: FREE!

Come back tomorrow for more mason jar decorating ideas.

Posted at: 12:00 pm by Heidi |Filed Under: Budget Tips | Mason Jar Decor | , Leave a Comment
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