The Alchemist's Halloween Banner

 I was at the library and found this cute book with pretty projects.  I don't really like Halloween for all the cheesy, cheap decorations.  I do however love holidays and make the most of making my own decorations.  Either I am too picky about what I like, or I just want to make it so I don't have to spend the money on high priced, cheaply make decor.

source

Anyways, they have this cute garland idea, with the pictures to printout in the back.  I added a few of my own as well. 

I found an old book around my house and tore out a few pages to put through my copier/printer.  It took no time at all.  I had string and tape on hand, and that's all this project took.  So easy, and I think it's super cute, with a side of spook!

This bat was a favourite printout.

Right now it is hung in my office, but I may move it to the fireplace mantel.  Who knows.  

I hope you have a little but of inspiration to make simple Halloween decor.  It took no time at all to put together, which is a bonus!  

Have you made anything for Halloween?

Easy Thrift Store Chalkboard

At Christmas (I know, this is a little late!) we exchange names among my siblings for gifts. I drew my sisters name, and we both have a passion for all things Jane Austen!  So I was searching up ideas, and came across this book which I never got to read but I heard from her that it's a fun book:

The Jane Austen Guide to Life: Thoughtful Lessons for the Modern Woman

See, she just moved out on her own, so who couldn't use a little Jane Austen advice on life?!  

I also thought I wanted to make her a chalkboard (there, I finally got around to my point!) for her new place.  Who doesn't need a chalkboard.  They have cute ones out there on sale, but I was on a budget for this Christmas gift so I had to work magic to stay within that budget.  

I searched the thrift store and came across this old calendar box for $3.99!

Have you ever had one of these calendar boxes in your house?  Or do you still??

I picked out a pretty blue acrylic paint that I already had on hand, and coated the entire board except in the middle where I was going to put the chalkboard paint.

Next I found this recipe to make chalkboard paint on pinterest:

I cup of acrylic paint + 2 Tbsp grout.

I cut this recipe in half for my project and had lots!

Did you know that you can buy chalkboard paint in the store. $8 for a tiny can, or you can make it with a few supplies on hand!

After painting the chalkboard paint on I waited for it to dry, and rubbed chalk all over it to break it in.

Here it is:

I did my best at making fancy chalk letters.  Not as easy as others make it look!

Does this quote make anyone else smile?!  

I think it is such a funny line especially the way Tom Hollander says it!

What a cheap project to make:

Calendar Board: $3.99 (thrift store)

Acrylic Paint: Free (on hand small craft paint tube)

Grout: Free (on hand)

TOTAL = $3.99

So, will chalkboards go out of style soon?  It seems like they are everywhere!

And yet, I still don't have one in my house...

Reuse & Renew

I rarely ever spend full price for something, and Christmas is no different.  This year I bought most of my kids gifts second hand.  I know some people like that, and some would be repulsed, but honestly... I would not buy my son a $250 ipod touch, when I could get a almost new one on kijiji (second hand selling site), for $80!  He didn't care, and it does everything a new one would, so where's the problem.  I am GOING GREEN!  ...as they say.

So, my daughter was asking for a handheld game, and I found one second hand, and when I brought it home, it was in rougher shape than I thought.  Still didn't stop me from fixing it up!

Here is the before:

Ya, I told you it was pretty rough!  I scrubbed that sticker spot off, and here is what I did with the rest if it:

I used:

-nail polish

-permanent marker

-rub on stickers

The nail polish is my daughter's and the rub on stickers were from the dollar store that I already had in my scrapbook kit.

Here is what I did with them:

The "P" and the "star" are the rub ons, and the rest are just doodles.

I even did the side:

My daughter actually thought it was super cool that it was so funky!  

And, can I just say that after 5 months, all of the polish and stickers have not been damaged, scratched or worn off any bit.

So next time it's present time, think Reuse and Renew!!

Circle Skirt

I found this sewing pattern awhile ago, and saved it, knowing it was SO easy, even I could do it!  I know... me use a pattern?!!

I was at the Dollar Store getting a few things when for some random reason I looked down the aisle with the pillowcases, and found the cutest pattern.  So I bought it for the skirt I have been wanting to make for awhile now.

Cute hey!  I know, you surprise me all the time Dollarama!

I bought the elastic band at the dollar store as well, and that's pretty much all you need besides a few pieces of paper to make your pattern, and your sewing machine.

This was what it looked like all cut.

Now, I did not do a full tutorial because Dana over at Made, did the most perfect tutorial I didn't even want to try, so I thought I would just send you over there for her circle skirt tutorial!

And I would just like to say that her daughter Lucy's measurements were the same as my daughter so it made it super easy to just copy what she did.  

Okay, here it is...

Cute and flouncy!

Remember the hairbands I made for my girls here.

"My, what a nice pillowcase you have on dear!"

The perfect amount of SWING.

You can find fabric in the most surprising places.  I am always willing to take something old and make it new.  Especially when the price is amazing!

Cost:

Pillowcases = 2 for $2

Elastic = $1

Total =$3

(* but I have just enough leftovers to make her another!!*)

25 Cent Skirt Redo

So I officially started my garage saleing this last weekend, and I will start by showing you this skirt that I picked up for 25 cents!! 

 I thought it was a cute colour combination and didn't even hesitate about the size of it.  I just bought it.  

I did try it on, and the colours were just not me, but they were perfect for my daughter.

So I put it around my daughter and cut the extra fabric off.

Then I took the extra fabric and made sleeves with it.

I am skipping all the steps because you could probably figure it out it's so easy, rather than going through a boring sewing tutorial with me!

Here is the back:

And a few shots of the front:

I am glad I was able to make a dress for my daughter because she is growing out of everything and this was VERY THRIFTY!!

Also today my sisters and I made some ties for our boys for my brothers upcoming wedding.  They were so easy I had to share them with you, and the link of where to find them to make your own:

Cute, easy fast ties...

(sister in law Meg, sister Chelsea, sister Angela, Me!)

And hey, I know I have been away lately, but I have been up to my ears in projects!  I can't wait to show you!!

Flower Hairpieces Galore

I was so excited about the flower I made with my last project, that... with the leftover scraps from the dress I cut up more flowers!  How many did I make, well let me show you!!

It started out with the cute flower I made for this book, and it turned into all of these!

I got these hairbands from the dollar store...

I burnt all these flowers ( I am SO in love with silk),  it's so fun to burn!

And, don't forget the zebra print that I had leftovers of from this dress.

These are the different kinds of hairpieces I ended up making:

I was trying to incorporate blue, so as not to have too many pink, so I ripped up a stained shirt of my daughters.

This one is my favourite hairband. I love the pearl!

I got plain barrettes at the dollar store too, and glued these flowers on them.

And these.... are all the extra flowers that I didn't have a clip or band for, and who knows may just be for something else entirely!

Seriously, that is what I call up-cycle!  This dress went so far!

And I cut up a dollar store pearl necklace and hair elastic to get all my beads, and look how many I have left for future projects!

Love it!

My niece is having a birthday, and guess what she is getting...?!

Have you made any of these?  So easy and fun!

Cost:

Hairbands: $3

Beads: $2

Total: $5

(11 hairbands, 4 barrettes, 22 extra flowers!)

Best Playdough Recipe Ever

My nephew had a birthday this weekend, and I wanted to make him something again.  Last year I painted him a picture of a car with his name on the bumper (he is obsessed with cars!)

I can't believe a year has gone by already.  This year I wanted to make him something again, but not as time consuming.

So I made him playdough!

When I first moved into this neighbourhood, one of the neighbours came over and gave us some homemade playdough, and the recipe to go along with it.  I LOVE this recipe!  Especially the fact that it involves Kool-aid, and makes it smell so good!

Here is what you need:

1 cup white flour

1/4 cup salt

2 tsp cream of tarter

1 cup water

1 tbsp oil

1pkg Kool-aid

1.  First mix four, salt, cream of tarter, and kool-aid in a medium pot.

2.  Add water and oil.

3.  Turn on medium heat.

4.  Cook and stir, until mixture forms a ball.

5.  Take out and knead dough on lightly floured surface.

6.  Store in (CUTE) airtight containers.

DONE!

p.s.  Smell the playdough, it is wonderful!!!  So good that I had to save a little and make myself a glass!

ENJOY!