Frugal Decor

Last week, I made my first trip to Goodwill in several weeks. I'm able to drive for short distances again, so that makes it much easier to get around! While I was in there, I found some "trash" that I wanted to turn into "treasure" with paint, scrapbook paper, and mod podge.

Here's the first finished item- a wall hanging. I haven't decided if it will be for my dining room or my bedroom, since both rooms are done (or will be) in the same shades.

Cost Breakdown-

Picture- $.99 at Goodwill
Scrapbook Paper- $.20 on sale at Michaels
Spray Paint- $3.29 for a can, which lasted through 5 projects today, with about half a can left, so... I'm going to say maybe $.85 worth of spray paint
Acrylic Paint- On Hand
Mod Podge- On Hand
Letter "H"- $1.50 on sale at Hob Lob
Hot Glue- On Hand

First, I taped part of the frame work off. The picture is all in one- it looks like a frame, but it's all just 1 piece. I liked the crackle paint, so I wanted some of that to remain, and thus, taped it off. I then sanded the surface down so the paint would adhere better.

I spray painted the very edges and the main picture surface, which I forgot to take a photo of. The design underneath showed through still, but that was all right. It looked nice on the crackle area, too.

After it was painted, I removed the paint tape, and dry brushed black acrylic paint onto the surface where I hadn't painted. I had forgotten to sand this part down, though, so the paint didn't stick real well. I wound up wiping most of it off to give it a more glazed like effect.

I also wound up adding some around the edges that were painted red, which gave it a nice effect.

While this dried, I sprayed the letter H red. While that dried, I cut out the black scrapbook paper I had chosen, and mod podged it to the surface of the picture.

Once the letter was dry, I dry brushed black paint on the surface, again wiping it off for a glazed effect. Once all of this was dry, I glued the letter to the surface. I love it!

It's a large piece, standing probably 16x20, and it cost me $4 to create! This will be the large center piece to whatever wall it goes on, with a pair of candle holders I also painted today going on either side of it. I can't wait to redecorate the rooms so I can add these to one of them!

From Trash To Treasure:

 

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Re-Fashion: Sweater

My darling little almost 8 year old has gotten some very stubborn opinions of late on what her wardrobe should include, and what it most certainly should not include. I recently picked up a cute aqua cardigan at Goodwill for just $.29. Of course, she hates it.

While I was sorting through my sewing desk the other day, I came across some Dollar Tree fake fur boa's I had bought for a project last year. I wound up with several left over, though, and nothing in mind. Today, I pulled them out. They are a lovely purple (though they look blue in the photos I took), and the sweater has a pink and purple argyle pattern around the waist. A match was born!



If there is anything Gilly WILL still wear, it's pink, purple, furry, sparkle laden, and gem encrusted clothing. Very princessy. She's my girl's girl. My oldest outgrew that girly girl stage when she was 4.


It took me a bit of time to figure out just where to start, but once I did, the collar was very easy to add fur to. Originally, I was going to do the cuffs, but I think I like it on just the collar.

I sewed it inside out to the outside of the sweater, then rolled it over the neck line, and sewed it down again. I would recommend a straight stitch. I started with a zig zag without thinking and it showed up- big time. When I was done, I had to go back and add material to cover the zig zag.

What do you think? I was going to save it for her birthday in December, but I love it to much to wait!