Another piece of the storage puzzle

It truly does pay to frequent Goodwills and thrift stores in your area.  I scored again and only spent $34.00 on 2 major pieces that I have been needing. Here it the first one.

She is a little flimsy but for $14.50 she will hold my daughter's undies and t-shirts just fine.

I scrubbed her up well and gave her a coat of white paint.

Oh, I also painted the handles chrome.

I have been seeing this technique of applying decals to furniture and I thought I would give it a try.

First you start out with an image. I found most of mine at
The Graphics Fairy
She has a great selection.
Make sure if you have writing on the image that you mirror it. 

I had a heck of a time with that since my printer doesn't have a mirror setting but I figured it out with the copier at school.

Here is where I messed up on this one. See the big glops of glue that I left.  I was thinking the old adage that the more the merrier would work here but it doesn't...

Make sure you have a thin layer of Mod Pog and make sure it is smooth, no big glops.

You then want to apply it to your furniture piece.  you will need wait until it dries.  This is usually overnight, but make sure it it fully dry. Then comes the fun part...

You wet the paper with a damp rag and go to town rubbing the paper off.

This is how it looks now.

Not sure how I am feeling about it but my daughter loves it and that's all that matter!

And we are one step closer to organization in the Painted Palace.

Stay tuned to see the other piece of furniture I bought the same day for only $19.50 and the cool idea I have for it...

As Always,

Karie

Linking to:
The Graphic Fairy

New Kitchen table

I have finished my $3.70 kitchen table that I scored a while back.

I love the way it turned out.  I now just need to finish the chairs.  I have found my sewing machine in our storage shed so I now have no excuse not to get them done.

cute little detail on the edge.

Love the legs.  Reminds me of the Eiffel tower.

Well now I need to be off and do those chairs. (been saying that for 3 months now)

As Always, Karie



Chalk paint give away.

She is at it again! Robyn at Robyn Story Designs and Boutique is giving away more chalk paint.  I have not used this yet but I so want to!  It sounds like a GREAT paint for furniture. 
Check her out and sign up to win.

Oh my luck!

Have you ever had one of these days, weeks, years... where you are feeling a bit down on your luck?  I have been lately.  I know the pieces I want in my new house and I either can't find them or they are more than I want to spend.  I have been getting REALLY frustrated about the lack of storage and the fact that my old furniture doesn't fit in our new little cottage. Some would be excited to start new but I have a problem with that. 

1. I am poor

2. I am cheap.

I guess those kind of go hand in hand.  We are trying to decorate this house on a budget and I am trying to stick to that budget.  Did I mention, I am not a budget type of gal? The word itself makes me cringe and I envy anyone who can make and stick to one.  I was not programmed to even know how to do it.
It is in no way, shape or form in my DNA. 

 I also know that there are bargains out there because all over blog land I see them every day.  These people finding wonderful treasures and then making then even more fabulous.  Well all summer long, I have been searching for a table to fit in my kitchen.  This table can't be too big or too small,  It needs to be round and have a cool base.  See I wasn't asking for that much...
Well today the girl and I set out for a girls trip to the Big City.  (that would be Omaha and yes it is the closest city we have and it is big enough) Since the main road to the City is closed still due to the flood we took a side trip through the small towns. While in the City we stopped at a few Goodwill's looking for a table but nothing, nada, zip, zilch.
Well on our way home we stopped at a Thrift store in one of the small towns.  Not the best store I have ever been in and I was holding no hope for finding my table today. (we were holding our noses though, not the best smelling store either)
Out of the corner of my eye I spotted it.  At first glance she was not that pretty, but once you get to looking closer she just might be a keeper.  What was that the clerk said,  all furniture is half price today.  Oh I may be breaking out into a sweat now.  I may have found "the one" She has good bones, she is round and had a very interesting base.  I think I am in love and the price you ask... (wait for it)... $3.70.  yes folks I just found my new kitchen table for under $5.  I will have to invest another few dollars in spray primer but it will well be worth it in the end.
Would you like to see what she looks like before her makeover?

Ok, so she is not what you would call a natural beauty, but just wait.  I can see her potential.

Look at those legs!  I can't wait to get started on her.
And no I did not have a soft filter on my camera lens, it was so hot out that my camera was fogging over.  Yuk to the Heat.  Ok, I said it.  After living in Minnesota for 12 years, I said that I would never complain about the heat but I did. Now it is out there and I will own it.  People, it is HOT, melt the makeup off your face the minute you step out the door HOT.
Ok I am over it now and will not say another word about the HEAT,
Can't wait to show you pictures of my new table when she is finished.
As Always, Karie

Almost done

With the kitchen, that is.

We have been unpacking and sorting through our stuff and I think we about have the kitchen where we want it.  there are a few things missing but those will come in time (and when I can find them on my budget)

let's revisit a before picture

Now the after

I am kind of digging my open shelving.  I can now get my pretty dishes out and they can be on display.

Some may say that my refrigerator needs to be cleaned off but I just can't live that way.  If it is not right in front of me, I won't remember.

Still need to find a table, paint my chairs and reupholster them.  All in good time.

Still searching for an island, as well.  We are in definite need of more counter space.

These little beauties need to be installed as well.  Ok, so my list is a little longer that I lead you to believe but at some point it will get done. WE will have a P.A.R.T.Y. when that happens.

As always, Karie

Awesome giveaway!

Check out this awesome giveaway!

Oh what I would do with that chalk paint.  I have been reading about it and it sounds like a miracle paint!

 

Check out this giveaway! since I am having a hard time posting her button I will also send you her way by this link for Robyn Story Design and Boutique

Try that and if you win you can share with me LOL.

As Always, Karie

What a month!

It has been a while since I have had a chance to sit down and write.  We have had a busy July.  The first weekend was, of course, a holiday. One of my favorites, by the way.  My sister and her family came up and we celebrated Logan style.  Street dance, carnival, parade and fireworks.  Our little town sure knows how to party on the 4th!

The next weekend found us traveling by by-way and highway to Kansas City for my niece's birthday

Miss Lauren at her 8th birthday party!

My sister planned a party at a horse stable with riding and fun.

How can you go wrong with Sm'ores on a stick?

The 3rd weekend in July, we ventured back up to our house in Minnesota to get the rest of our "stuff".  I am still trying to block that trip out of my mind.  I was dreading it from the beginning and I wasn't far off on the dread.  Our tire blew up when we go there and that set us back a few hours. I still send up prayers to God in thanks that it blew at the gas station and not on the road.  He was looking out for us that day! 

 The weather was horrible, as well.  110 degrees is not an ideal temperature to be loading and  unloading a 26' Uhaul. It was not fun and tempers were flaring. Even though that part was terrible, we did get to spend some wonderful time with our friends and we got to meet their new baby.  We always have such an awesome time at Camp Schieffer!  What is not to like about good food, fun, friends and FIREWORKS!  My son was in heaven when he got to personally choose the display we would be witnessing.  He and his Godfather are very much alike in their love of fireworks and many other things.

The look on Baby Aspen's face tells the story.  These kids are CRAZY!

Our month has died down a little with the last weekend and this weekend being spent unpacking and figuring out what the heck to do with all our stuff that use to fit in our big house but will in no way shape or form fit in to our little house.

Next weekend will be spent having a garage sale in our town park.  I will be participating in the

Lincoln Highway Buy-Way  5 state yard sale.  I have already started my sale pile.  I have yet to tackle the storage shed for more treasures...

Hopefully I will be able to sell some of my treasures next weekend.  I just have no room and my house is looking like an episode of Hoarders. Wish me luck and if you are in the area stop by the park.

As Always, Karie

Project for the day

I have shown you my pile of feed sacks I have been collecting

Well I decided to put one to good use. I chose an Alfalfa sack.  It even had some seeds left and now they are all over my floor.

It turned out great.  It lined up so well on the chair.

Here is the before

(we keep the kitty bowl under this chair so that the dogs can't get to her food)

After

Love the stamp on the front of the chair, too.

That's about as creative as I got today, but it was a fun little project.

As Always, Karie

Linking to: Debbiedoos Newbie party

Just a note and an invite.

It's almost scary how much I got done today.  I am a bit nervous.  We are getting the rest of our stuff from Minnesota this weekend and there is no way it will all fit in our new house.  I had to go clean our the storage shed today so that we have room.  It is going to be GREAT to actually sleep in a bed again.  The little mat on the floor is not cutting it. There is so much to do that the anticipation may just get the best of me.

Wish us luck!

Also, join me for the before and after party over at

Thrifty Decorator Chick



As Always, Karie

My $5 desk

So I told you how I am hooked on auctions and my recent purchase of a desk for $5.

It is great now but I didn't get any before pictures so you will have to take my word that it

was in pretty bad shape.  I didn't know what color I wanted to paint it and searched through my boxes and boxes of paint.  Red kept speaking to me so I thought, What the heck...

Let's go red!

Ok, so I have to still work on my cord routing...

but I was in a hurry to show you how cute this turned out.

Here is a close up of the glazing that I did.  I also spray painted the handles a brown.

Ignore the wires... just look at the cuteness.

I even put one of my flower frogs to good use holding pictures and coupons. I love the picture of the kids because it shows me that they really do (or did) love each other.  Some days I have my doubts.

There may still be hope that they will like each other again :-)

As Always, Karie

Sharing with Thrifty Decorator Chick before and after

My 1st Auction

Two weeks ago I went to my first auction.  I have to say, I am addicted...

I didn't bid on much and the one thing I really wanted was up

for bid the minute my son decided to have a meltdown so I miss out on that one.  Lesson learned there,

leave the kids at home!

I did end up getting a few things and only spent $9 plus I had a great time.

First item

Ok, so I didn't get a before picture but we will call this the in-between picture.

I scored the vanity/desk for $5. Woo-Hoo!

Next up

This cool crate and all it's contents was $1.  I have been collecting the feed sacks so I just threw them on top of my cool crate because it hides a little secret.

It's perfect for storing our pop or soda, depending on what part of the country you are from.

Inside the crate were these cuties.

Love these flower frogs and the planter works in my bathroom to hold soap

See, perfect.  Trader Joe's has 2 bars of smell good soap for $1.99.

Yet another perfect thing!

I have yet to figure out what I am going to do with the flower frogs.

I also bought a small TV for $3.

So total, I spent $9 and got some great stuff!

I am off to cruise the paper for my next sale

As Always, Karie

Upstairs room

Our upstairs room is almost done and I am OVER THE MOON excited! This is where the kids will be and all of their crap  stuff will live.  That is the plan anyway.  It is a pretty big room and they will have to share for now.  Sharing a room builds character, at least that is what I have been told...

before

another before

Here is the before. I know you are all digging the carpet.  It was cool (in the 70's) but we are not carpet people.  With kids and animals I prefer wood floors and there happen to be some under this pretty blue stuff.

and the after

Ignore the dots on the picture, guess my lens needs a cleaning.

I did a border of white paint all the way around because there were some imperfections around the edges of part of the floor and I have learned floor paint hides a ton of imperfections.  I stained the middle Ebony from Min Wax.  My daughter chose the color and I think it looks great.

We had one problem though...

I ran out of stain.  I was trying with all my might to stretch what little I had left but I just couldn't pull it off.  It was 10:00 at night and I was a little stressed.  There is 40 miles and flood waters between me and my next can of stain.  I am still adjusting to moving to a rural area and now it's a real journey to get to the city with all the water around us.  Guess I will have to wait until Sunday to get more stain.

Here are the steps going up.  They had the same beautiful carpet on them and were just a basic plywood so we filled the holes and painted them white.  We found these cute little carpet treads at the HD.  LOVE THEM!  And you can't beat the price of $9.99 for 13.  What a deal!

We will be moving the kids up there tomorrow and we are all excited!!!

As Always, Karie

A little more of the bathroom

I am revealing the bathroom bit by bit because that is how it is coming together.  I have the major pieces in place now and just need to add the finishing touches.

Here is the newest addition.

Of course, no before pictures but she was pretty rough.  I found her at my dad's house and she was being underused and I just happen to think I could give her a better home.

Found the cute little basket at Hobby Lobby cuz you have to have someplace cute to put your extra toilet paper, blow dryer and brushes.

She is pretty well wore but that adds to her character.  I painted it a yellow that I came up with after mixing a few yellows I had left over.  Actually a few of my new rooms are paints that I just came up with... hope I don't need extra since they are a one of a kind.

Now I have to sort through all my pretties to see what pictures I will use and then come up with an idea for curtains in this room.  Slowly it will come together (I hope)

I like this picture because it shows all my painting projects for this room. Walls, door, mirror, wall storage, and table.  Wow, that's a lot of work and this is just one room I have been working on :-)

As, Always, Karie