~Basement Challenge #2 - Footstool~

Well, I'm continuing the challenge to clean out my basement by bringing up one piece at a time.

This was an old footstool from our previous home.

I gave it a coat of stick-to-anything primer.

A coat of paint.

And then, because I wanted it to be poof-y, and plush-y, and posh-y, I added a pillow to the top.

Then I covered it with quilt batting to hold it in place and smooth the edges.

And do you remember my "Faux French Linen"? You can see how I made it here.  I used the extra fabric and the same painting technique to make the slipcover.

So for zero dollars, I have a "new" footstool.

Tea anyone?

I'm going on a trip for a few days, so I haven't decided on challenge #3 yet. 

I'll be sharing at:

Show Off Your Cottage Monday
Metamorphosis Monday
DIY Day


Janet

~Basement Challenge #1 - Metal Shelf~

A few weeks ago I began cleaning out my pantry.  I had waay too much stuff in there. I kept buying things I already had just because I could not see it.  So when I made the menu for the next couple of weeks, I used at least one thing in the pantry for each meal and before I knew it, the pantry was very empty. 

So what does this have to do with my basement?  My basement is overflowing with "stuff".  Good stuff - architectural pieces, furniture bits and pieces, shelves, etc.  So to clean it out, I decided to bring up one piece at a time and challenge myself to put it somewhere, make something out of it, or get rid of it.  I was going to give myself a time limit, but that was just too much pressure.  So I'm going to try to do it in about a week.

So this is my challenge piece.

It's a cute shelf, and the color is ok too, but it just seemed a little more shabby than chic.  So I sprayed it with Rustoleum American Heirloom white and hung it in my powder room.

More chic than shabby?

So now I have decoration on a bare wall and a little extra storage for the cost of a can of spray paint.

Basement Challenge #2 - worn out footstool.  Let's see what I can do with this.

I'll be joining some parties~

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous

Rescue Crew Review at LaurieAnna's Vintage Home

Frugal Friday  at The Shabby Nest

 

Janet

~Friday Thrifting~

I don't get to do a lot of yardsale-ing because I work a lot of weekends, but I did manage to hit the thrift stores on Friday after work.  I think I hit the jackpot this time.

I found some great pieces to add to my kitchen shelves.

These cute glass dishes.

A few pieces of red and white dinnerware.

And this colorful planter.

I added them to my shelves right away.  I displayed two of the plates on the top shelf.

The pictures don't show it well, but the color of the glass is a perfect match to the plates.

And I added the planter underneath to hold extra towels.

And these sweet birds are new from Pier 1.  Only $3.00.

A freshened up look with some thrifty finds.


Parties I'll be joining...

Todays Thrifty Treasures
Show Off Your Cottage Monday
Metamorphosis Monday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays


Janet

~Love At First Sight~

You see something from a distance. A little gasp - oh!  You move in a little closer.  Your heart goes pitter-pat. Yep, you're in love - with a hat.

I never know when true love will strike, or why.

Is it the perfect shade of natural "tea-staining"?

Is it the beautifully tattered roses?

Or is it simply the remembrance of times past?

Whatever the reason, the hat came home with me.

I will be joining 2nd Time Around Tuesday and Vintage Thingies Thursday. I hope you do, too.

Janet

~Thrifty Finds Find A Home~

Well, I have been very busy trying to catch up on cleaning and yard work, so I have no big project to share.  Of course, while I was cleaning, I had to re-arrange and do a little fluffing. Some of my thrifty finds from the last few weeks were just sitting around looking messy, so they had to find homes.

I found this cheerful tablecloth for five dollars.

See the sweet birds?

I topped it with a white pitcher filled with branches from the flowering trees in my yard.

Sweet, sweet Spring!

The tea cart in my dining room got a new look, too.

Of course I had to have this tea cart with what else? Roses.

Anyway, the chippy drawer was also found for five dollars.  I used it for more plate storage.

On the bottom of the cart I placed a floral tray that belonged to my Grandmother and a bowl of cups.

The silver also belonged to my Grandmother.

And finally, I found these aprons for just a couple of dollars each.  I was hooked- apron collection now in progress.

To display them, I decided to use a simple peg rack for three (or four?) dollars from Hobby Lobby and painted it green.

So there you have it.  A little bit of this, and a little bit of that, that turned out to be a whole lotta of fun.

Janet

Oh! I can't forget the parties this week-

Metamorphosis Monday

Make It For Monday

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Todays Thrifty Treasures

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays

Table Top Tuesday

~Color Me Happy~

I really do love color.  It just makes me happy.

This was my foyer before.  I liked it, but it did not feel fresh or Spring-y.

I've had a love/hate thing with this table for a while.  I love its curves and the price was right, but the paint treatment was just not doing it for me.  I had it next to my bed and the shape was just too awkward for the space.

And then an idea come to me.  It was as clear as if I had seen it on the cover of a magazine!  The table needed color.

So I painted it Emerald green by Valspar.

Lots of sanding for age.

And Ralph Lauren Tobacco glaze to show off all the details.

And I finally brought some Spring into the house with this simple arrangement. A cute springtime bunny (I'm not calling it an Easter bunny because I just put it out and I want to leave it for a while).

A bird's nest ...

And a cloche with a little creamer.

Now the hate part of the relationship is gone.

Janet

I will be sharing this at:

Make it 4 Monday

Metamorphosis Monday

Make your Monday

Table Top Tuesday