Blue Bird Box

So I got this box at the thrift store, and I knew it was a good one.  So I bought it for $3.99.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it, but boxes are always easy to find something to do with, it makes cute storage for any item.  Okay, so my sister in law just had a baby.  Yeah!  So I decided I would use this box to make a gift for her little guy.

Ooops, I guess I deleted the before shot, but it looked like this but gray-ish and chipped:

After painting the box an heirloom white, I started with the inside.  

I got a book from the recycle depot and started tearing out the pages (yikes... don't hate me.  I am recycling it!!)

  

Then I used mod podge to glue the torn pages into the inside of the box.

Looks good so far!  Then I picked up this little bird from the dollar store.  

I was wanting him for myself (because he is so cute), but I placed him on the box, and he just had to stay.  I painted him blue.  Who doesn't think a little blue bird is cute!

I painted the top of the box blue, and added scrapbook paper into the glass frames, along withsome personal touches - my nephew's name is Beau.  So cute!  And here is the end result:

I love how it turned out!  Now I just have to find my nephew a cute little outfit to go inside.  I hope you enjoyed!!

A Thrift Store Quick Fix

So again, thrift store hunting (now it may seem like I go a lot, but in fact I just go occasionally and buy a few things each time) and I came across this.  I knew right away what I wanted to do with it.  Give it a chic finish and eventually put some geraniums in it (when I find some for a good price).

Here is the before:

I added some gold craft paint that I had on hand, then added black once the gold was dry.  While adding the black I had a wet rag that I would wipe certain areas with to allow the gold to show through.  I was happy with the result.  I also had some semi-gloss varnish that I applied, but wasn't too happy about using it.  I had to put it on with a brush which wiped more of the black off, and let even more gold show through.  Some unexpected added bubbles to the finish (oh well),  next time I will just use a spray varnish.  

But it all worked out in the end.

It looks great on my fireplace mantle in my bedroom.

Notice the colour of the wall in the background.  That's a sneak peek of my husbands and my effort this weekend towards our bedroom makeover.  More to come later.  We have lots to do to it still.

A peaceful resting spot.  Thanks to my thrift store for providing a new feature in my house, and for $2.49!

Thrift Store Find

I popped by the thrift store in town hoping to find a few big pieces of furniture that I can use in my bedroom that I am redoing.  No luck, I couldn't find anything worthy.  But just peeking around I did find this gem!  And for $2.99!

I darted over and put it in my cart.  What a lovely find!  Well I just thought it was so pretty, and the perfect size for truffles!

So I had a friend coming over for dinner the next day, and guess what I made?

Truffles!

They were delicious!!  Yum.

See, doesn't it look much better with truffles in it!  It will look even better once I find that silver polish I am looking for.

I'm linking up with Southern Hospitality for their thrift store finds party.  Check it out, they have lots of fun treasures!

New Life (times 2)

I got this candle/vase for a wedding gift (almost 10 years years now).  I have had it in random places, but was mostly growing tired of it.  It never had a great spot to shine.

So I was getting all excited about moving things, and recycling old things, and I considered this candle an old thing ready for Good Will, until...  I found some rocks that I have used in various projects around the house, and decided to dump a few in.

Ahhh, new life!  What a change, and it really did look great in my bathroom.  Notice how I used the word DID.  My 22 month old little girl had climbed onto my bathroom countertop, and had (I like to think accidentally) knocked it off the counter, where it came crashing down into my bathtub, and made the loudest noise I've ever heard!!!  (okay that was dramatic, but it was extremely loud!)  With all that glass, and all those rocks, you can imagine.  I ran into the bathroom and saw it's fate.  Hmmm.  While I was tidying up the mess I ended up getting a piece of glass stuck in my foot, that I didn't noticed and walked on it all day, until later that night it was throbbing.  More hmmm.

Sad though all this is, finally at peace with this candle only to have it fall to it's death, I was able to save the candle and give it new life.  Isn't she a beauty in my new lantern??  

Finally a place for her to shine.

What's Hot - Mobiles!

So I have been seeing these cute mobiles everywhere.  Here are some of my top picks that are just so cute!!  I would hang them above my girls bed, in my boys room (the manlier ones anyways), and in their outdoor playhouse.  So many choices, I have to make one soon.

How cute is this woodland one?

found here

Butterflies, made with scrapbook paper (do-able).

found here

Tissue paper pom poms!  So cute!  And I LOVE the colour of these.

found here

This one appeals to me.  Book pages, turned stars.  I'm in love.

found here

Retro pinwheels.

found here

Felt flowers. Felt is all over the place right now.

found here

I love this ribbon one, and how this picture was taken outdoors!  It's gorgeous.

found here

Have a toddler boy?  This is adorable.

found here

See, more felt.  Bright colours... oooh I'm attracted.

found here

Think you want to go make one now?  I do!

What I love about Spring

It has been such nice weather lately that I am so excited to be outside.  Some of the things I love about Spring are:

Strawberries are back and cheap once again!  I love having strawberries in my cereal.

Planting!  I am starting my seedlings indoors.  Hopefully I am not being too eager and they will survive.

All the plants they have at the stores.  I can now buy them, and bring them into my house, and when it's warm enough they will go in my backyard.

When it's warm enough to take the kids on a hike.

And I absolutely love it when things get done around the house!!

Yay for nice weather!  Who's with me?!!

A Pink Vanity

So, I found this mirror in the thrift store, thought it was neat and left.  That night I had a dream about what I could do with it, and by morning I was just hoping it was still there.  I raced over when it was open and bought it.  My daughter was invited to a birthday party, so I decided to make the mirror for her friend.  Here is the before:

I peeled the stickers off that were on it, and wiped it down.  Then I screwed two metal hooks in the sides.  I bought the hooks in a box set at the dollar store.

Then I primed it.

And painted it pink, with some of my daughter's paint she got for Christmas, which I bought at the dollar store (that place is handy!)

I also found these cute tin containers at the dollar store.  3 for $1.  They were already pink.  I had some scrapbook rub ons that I hadn't used, and decided to use these to label the tins.  It went on really well!  Now I have something else I can use them for besides scrapbooking.

Cute!  I bought her a necklace, ring, air clips, and filled one tin with change.

 

I hot glued some scrapbook flowers onto the top of the frame.  The birthday girl's name is Gemma (so cute!), so I also used a rub on to personalize her vanity.

A rundown on cost:

Mirror: $3.49 (thrift store)

3 Tins: $1 (dollarama)

Necklace & ring: $1 (dollarama)

Hair clips: $1 (dollarama)

Change: $1.20 (my purse)

Total: $7.69

  

With so many birthdays my kids get invited to a year, I usually avaerage $10-15 for a gift.  $7.49 sounds pretty good to me!

What do you think? Would your daughter love to get something like this?

I am linking up to the parties on my menu.