Thrifty Thursday - Decorating with Open Books...

Here's a simple and thrifty decor idea for you... 

If you saw my post from yesterday on my china closet turned

 display case... you'll remember this little gem.  Sometimes it

 pays to open an old book and see what treasure awaits inside.

When I opened this old little school booklet I was struck 

by the pretty type fonts and chose to display it open.

How easy is that?

Same could go for any number of books.  Check out this 

pretty page on the inside of this old recipe book

Recipe booklet available here in my Etsy shop

Old school books are easy to come by.  Open to an illustrated page - 

add a few treasures and you're good to go.  

A wooden ruler would have worked well here too - maybe even some dried flowers... 

just something to draw the eye.

And my favorite open book to display - how about an old bible.  

And while I'm partial to old books - new books would also work.

  How about a charmingly illustrated children's book for in a nursery?

So pull out a book and get creative!

Stay thrifty my friends  ~Joyce 

China Cabinet As Display Case Clear Out...

Last week I shared with you that it was high time to get my 

china closet cleared out. I prefer to use it as a display case 

for family mementos...

I have cleared out the pink transferware for a 

cleaner look. ('Before' on the left; 'after' on the right)

I'm enjoying my treasures all over again...

and uncovered some hidden gems.  

Like this penmanship award for my mother-in-law...

I have a few advertising collectibles from where my father 

used to work (A business which no longer exists)...

And a few collectibles that represent my father-in-law...

Every little completed clean-out project feels so good!

 

Many of the 'before' pink transferware pieces have landed 

in my Etsy shop.  Including this English Abbey plate.

It's all reason for a Happy Dance!  ~Joyce

Cute, Current & Modest Upcycled Clothing...

I love fabrics... always have (it's my mother's fault) :).  

And I have a fascination for upcycled clothing.  Allow me to share

 some sweet inspiration with you today...

This one is my favorite - a skirt and shirt are combined 

to make this lovely long country or prairie dress...

Available here

Love the coloring of this sweater upcycle.  A little short as a dress

 for my taste - but would look cute with jeans underneath.  

No longer available - but check out the shop here for similar styles.

 Can someone say feminine cowgirl?  So, so sweet!  

Available here

And I do believe I own this very same sweater.  

So here's a great upcycle idea when I get tired of it! 

No longer available - but visit shop here for similar items.

Interestingly - I own this Gap skirt as well.  

Aren't the 'improvements' adorable? 

Available here

And here we have a patchwork sweater tunic.  

How cozy for these winter evenings!

Available here

This dress had a neckline and sleeve overhaul.  This is the 'before'...

and this is the 'after'...

Available here

And lastly, at an art show this summer I found this gal 

walking around in a dress of her own design.

Ubber love!

 Do these inspire you to try your own hand at a refashion?  

Let me know if you do!

Or better yet - perhaps you already have.  Send me a picture!

  ~Joyce

Saturday Sightings - Foggy Day...

Here in my little world - it's been a drizzly, moody and foggy day.

And this evening I'm happy to curl up inside 

with hot tea and a magazine. (Sorry - no photo.)

What's it like where you live? ~Joyce

Thrifty Thursday - Clear Out and Sell...

My post today is a no-brainer... but sharing anyway.  None of us are the 

same people we were 10 years ago... or 20... or (you get the idea).

  So there's a good chance we have stuff in our collections that

 aren't really 'us' anywhere.  Case in point...

No - not the china cupboard - I'm keeping that (inherited from my parents).

  But inside - it is loaded with treasures that have become a mess...

...and some collectibles that don't really go with my mostly 

'neutrals' room anymore.

See what I mean?  See all the 'pink' transferware dishes?

I'm not collecting these anymore and not really doing 'pink'.  

It's time to clear out and see if maybe I can even sell some of these.

So stay tuned for a hopefully revised and cleared out 'china cupboard'.   

And the first transferware piece has been added to my Etsy shop.

And while I'd love to paint my china cupboard... I'm pretty sure my

 family would be deeply offended.  So guess I'll keep it as is. 

(And it does add a little color to my living room.)

Clear out the old and donate or sell it.  

That's my Thrifty Tip for today.   ~Joyce
Linking to Home Sweet Home
and Talk of the Town

Snail Mail Love...

I'm no artist - but I made an attempt to pretty up my snail mail today...

I figure the person receiving knows I'm no artist - 

so my feeble attempts will at least bring a smile.

And that would be the goal! 

Any day is a good day to send a 'thinking of you ' card to a friend,

 family member or someone going through a bit of a rough time.

And in keeping with that sweet bird stamp...

Here's a bird photo My Love was able to capture yesterday.

Notice his eyes here are 'open'...

A Downy Woodpecker on a winter day

But as he bangs his head into the wood they're 'closed'.

Makes perfect sense - but we still thought it was cute.

A Downy Woodpecker doing his thing... with eyes closed!

   Be a blessing this day!  ~Joyce

Tissue Flowers For Valentine's Day...

I had one extra tissue flower from my 

recent recycled paper project - 

so I added it to my twig wall heart...

Simple... and maybe a little too sparse... 

but with everything else in the room - works just fine.

Happy Saturday!  ~Joyce

A Fluffy Heart Remembered...

Today I'm remembering a fluffy heart project post from a few years ago.  I'm still loving it!

To make:  

Cut a 7" heart from cardboard.  Then with the occasional dab of 

hot glue - 
started wrapping fluffy or chenille style yarn around it.

  Keep wrapping at your whim and 'wa-la'...

   Hello chenille goodness! 

Unwrapped and recycled from a previous heart...

Anybody else getting ready for Valentine's Day already?

It's winter - it's cold - so why not do something 

easy and fun in the evenings.

Remember to share your heart with those around you... 

Strangers and family alike!  ~Joyce

Linking to Funky Junk's DIY Salvaged Junk Projects
and Monday Funday

Thrifty Thursday - 9 Cans of Beans for $3...

Keep your eyes open when you're out discount grocery shopping. 

 Black beans were on my grocery list.  And as usual - this store

 didn't have any - or so I tho't.  Then I spied this massive can of

 them for $2.99.  Now I use beans - but not that many.

But we do have a freezer in addition to our frig freezer - and you should too.  

There were enough beans to divvy out to 9 freezer containers -

each holding 15 oz.  (like the small cans).

I gave them a masking tape label and they're good to go.

Normally my discount store price for a small can of black beans is $.99.  

So I saved at least 66% - more if you compare to retail store price.

  Yippee Skippee!

Sometimes it pays to look closely, buy in large quantities 

and yep - you need a freezer and freezer containers.

Now I'm wondering why I didn't buy 2 cans? 

Maybe they'll still be there the next time I go...    ~Joyce

How To Come Up With a Unique Idea for a Project, Decor, Anything!...

So how do you get inspiration to do something 'different' or a little unique?  

Here's a plan that works for me...

1.  Consider what theme you're after.  

For the sake of this example/post - I was thinking 'Valentine'.

2. Look around and see what you have in that color scheme.  i.e. 'red'

    I spied these buckles and the red one stood out to me.

3. Play a game with yourself and decide you HAVE to use that item

 (or items) in your 'project'.

  I tho't a ribbon through the buckle might look nice.

4. Find items to make it work that also go with your theme and

 color scheme.

    Brown paper - no matter that it was wrinkled - 

seemed like a good fit.

5.  Something WILL develop - I promise!
I'm liking my little Valentine gift wrapped & staged package!    

Happy Creating!  

Let me know what you come up with.  ~Joyce
Sweet red buckle and more available right here in my Etsy shop.
Linking to Home Sweet Home Linky Party

Winter Recycled Tissue Paper Project & Valentine Mantel...

We had lots of leftover 'used' white tissue paper from Christmas.  

I have a hard time throwing out big sheets of paper... 

so a little recycled project came to the rescue...

Tissue paper pom pom flowers how-to's are everywhere - 

but here are the basics.   Again - my paper was 'used' and not

 smooth and neat.   I determined an approx. size (6" x 8"?) and 

cut enough sheets to make 3-5 flowers of  7-8 layers each.   

My edges weren't all perfectly matched and I even had some tan

 paper mixed in with the white.  Imperfection works for these.

Do a simple accordian fold - tie in the middle and 

leave long string ends for hanging...

Snip the ends into points or round them and then peel up 

each layer carefully to fill out a flower shape.

Thanks to some Pinterest inspiration - I added mine to tree twigs...

They make a nice addition to my Valentine mantel and will also

 work for the remainder of the winter.

What a fun way to spend an hour or so on this 

bitter cold Saturday afternoon!  ~Joyce
Linking to DIY Salvaged Junk Projects