Top 10 DIYs of 2013

I am so grateful for each and every one of you who stop by to read my blog and see what crafty project I've been up to. I love creating things- it's such a big part of my life.

I thought I'd show you the top ten most viewed DIY projects this year.

Photo Covered Letter

Valentine's Day Crafts

Clothespins Necklaces

Trash to Treasure Chairs

Fall Leaf Mobile

Cabinet Doors Turned Photo Display

Small Envelope Album

Simple Pillow Project

Fabric Covered Vintage Suitcase

Mini Album Made From Page Protectors

If you'd like to see the top 10 DIY projects from 2012, you can go here.

If you don't already, I'd love it if you'd follow me through Google Friend Connect and Facebook.

Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God

Psalm 143:10

This post is linked to Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk, and My Repurposed Life.

Thrifty Thursday #92

Today I've got both yard sale scores and thrift store treasures to share.

 

I stopped at a yard sale last weekend at the sweetest little old lady's house. I got something uberly manly and something delicately feminine.

 

 

The first item is this beautiful teacup and saucer set.

I'm used to thrift store prices, so when the lady told me she wanted $2, I thought it was too much and almost declined. Then I took another look at this set. It's so pretty and delicate, I just had to get it.

 

The only other thing I found that I wanted was this wheelbarrow.

I got it for $2 for my hubby.

It does need a new tire, but I figured it that cost too much, he could plant something in it.

He was pleased with his inexpensive surprise.

 

 

Then I made a quick trip to my favorite two thrift stores.

I got this letter Z for my collection. It was only fifty cents.

I cannot wait to have the whole alphabet.

I know just where I'm going to hang it in my living room!

 

I got two sets of this pretty beaded garland- one for fifty cents the other for $1.25.

I can use these in almost any holiday decorating.

I think I'll take them to church when I help decorate for the annual Christmas banquet. 

 

 

Look at this- it was a hand mirror.

Soon it will be a picture frame.

It was only fifty cents. Won't it look so cute with a vintage photo in it?

 

You know me and old patterns- if they're old and cheap, I'm going to buy them.

 Got this one for ten cents. It's from 1968.

 

I have a Christmas project in mind that requires old book covers. I've been on the lookout for books that have titles that will work- I got these three for a quarter each.

 

The last thing I picked up was this hardcover book. I love the clockwork on the cover. This will become the cover of an old scrapbook soon.

 

That's all folks! I wish you luck with your secondhand shopping endeavors!

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Happy is the man who is always reverent,

but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Proverbs 28:14

 

This post is linked to Too Much Time On My Hands, Junkin' Joe and Embracing Change. 

Thrifty Thursday #85

     The other day, my boys and I had finished our P.E. at the Y, and I felt a little "thrifting" coming on. I figured since we just had a little fun for them, we could have a little fun for me:)
    I promised them a quick stop. They patiently followed me around as I picked up these treasures.

 

There were four boxes full of doll clothes patterns. I picked up a few.

This one is my absolute favorite!

Copyright 1956- it's for a Betsy McCall rag doll and clothes.

 

 

The one on the left has a copyright date of 1986; the one on the left says 1968.

Aren't they amazing?!

 

Can you believe these were only a quarter each?

I only wish that the thrift store personnel hadn't written on them in marker.

 

Copyrights 1956 and 1954.

I love the little nurse costume!

 

 

I got this leather belt for fifty cents. I've got just the project in mind for this guy.

 

I love these old patches. They were ten cents apiece.

Not for sure what I'm going to do with them yet.

 

The last thing I found was this paperback.

I love James Patterson; his books are such a quick read.

I started reading this yesterday, and so far I'm not impressed. I think he just lent his name for the cover. That's disappointing. Good thing it only cost me a quarter!

 

I kept my promise to my boys- it was a quick stop. I couldn't even squeeze in one more store because I used all my cash at this one. . . I didn't have as much money in my wallet as I thought!

 

Best of luck to you with your secondhand shopping this week!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

 

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

Psalm 105:4

 

 This post is linked to Shabby Creek Cottage, My Repurposed Life, and Junkin' Joe.

Thrifty Thursday #82

     It's that time again. . . for me to show you how one gal's trash becomes my treasure! I don't know if I should be embarrassed to tell you how much I look forward to going to thrift stores. When I'm making a list for my errand running, and I get to write "Stop at thrift stores," I get excited! I know that there are times that I won't find anything good. I know that sometimes those stores don't smell the best. I know that what I'm looking through is stuff that somebody else decided they didn't want anymore. But that doesn't matter to me. . . maybe it's because I've always been a fan of the underdog or because I've always loved old things or because I love the challenge of taking something old and making it new again. . . I don't really know.
     Anyway, wanna see what I found?

 

I love this old pattern for girls' costumes.

Too cool for only a quarter.

 

 

I have been loving all the alphabet walls that I've seen on Pinterest. I've been slowly collecting letters, but wasn't too sure where I'd be able to hang them. Well, I figured it out this week (Yay!), and now I'm anxious to complete my collection. I got each of these for a dollar. They have a label on them from Pottery Barn.

I love the shiny sleekness of them.

 

This pearl bracelet was only $.75.

The beads are in good shape and they will make an awesome part of a "new" piece of jewelry.

 

Aren't these a fun childhood flashback?

I've noticed a trend in scrapbooking using these View master reels. I got these for a dime apiece and they will be featured on an upcoming Layout of the Week tutorial.

 

I've been on a Nicholas Sparks jazz lately, so I was excited to pick up this for fifty cents. I thought that I had already read it, but it turns out that I hadn't!

Is it just me, or does he make you cry at some point in every story he writes?

 

That's all my treasures for this week. Did you notice that I have plans for everything I bought? That's such a good feeling. I try not to buy something if I don't think I'm going to use it in the near future.

 

 If you enjoyed this post, stop back next Thursday for another rendition of thrift store purchases. :)

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to You.

Psalm 102:1

 

 This post is linked to Junkin' Joe, Be Different Act Normal, and 52 Mantles.

Vintage Pattern Bracelet

     I love bangle bracelets. I love vintage patterns. Today I combined the two . . .

 

and covered a wooden bangle bracelet with vintage pattern pieces.

 

I recently found the bracelet on one of my thrift store runs and got it for a bargain. I have quite a collection of vintage patterns as I pick them up every time I find them cheap.

 

If you'd like to recover a bracelet, you just need:

 a bangle bracelet (you can buy wooden bangles here)

Mod Podge

a foam brush 

 old pattern pieces

scissors or paper trimmer

 

Trim the paper into strips. They should be 1/4" wide- any wider than that, and they're too wide to lay flat. Lengthwise, they need to be long enough to cover the front and fold down around the inside of the bracelet. I suggest you cut one and measure it by wrapping it around your bracelet. (There's not one set measurement as it depends on how wide your bracelet is.)

You'll want to cut quite a few strips. Then you can start to adhere them by using your foam brush to paint Mod Podge all along the back of the strips. Carefully flatten each strip against the bracelet making sure you wrap both sides of the strip around the inside of the bracelet.

I went around my bracelet one time with vertical strips. Once those dried, I took some more strips and placed them diagonally here and there so there was a lot of the pattern markings visible.

Allow these to fully air dry. Once dry, paint a coat of Mod Podge along the outside and inside of your bracelet to seal it.

 

There you have it- a one-of-a-kind bracelet.

 

What do you think? Would you wear one of these?

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge.

Proverbs 23:12

 

 This post is linked to Today's Creative Blog, Skip to My Lou, Craft-O-Maniac, Between Naps on the Porch, and The Dedicated House.

 

Thrifty Thursday #73

     My, oh my, do I have a big haul to show you this week! It was a good day to stop into the thrift store!

 

I found this contraption and fell in love- it's a necklace hanger mounted to a china plate.

I've been wanting to make one of these, but I don't know how to drill through glass. This fella was only fifty cents!

 

I love quirky notepads.

They make cute pages for mini albums or great cards for journaling on scrapbook pages. Even though this pad was half gone, what was left was in good shape. It was worth the quarter:)

 

This plant hanger was only a quarter, too. I got it for my brother who loves plants. He has enough that he could open a nursery! He just keeps buying them and buying them. It takes him two hours to water them all. I told him that sounds more like work than a hobby!

 

Look at this darling pattern. How cute is it?

All patterns were only a quarter, so I picked up several. . .

 

like this one for doll dresses. Too cute!

 

 I thought this one for choir gowns was pretty unique.  

 

I've told you before that I never pass up embroidery hoops - especially at a quarter apiece. You just never know when one will come in handy, so I try to keep some on hand.

There's a darling project I've been wanting to make with them. Hopefully I'll be able to get to it within the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned:)

 

I found this large beautiful China platter for a dollar.

I got it for my friend who's wanting some cute platters.

 

This set of metal plates was only fifty cents. I'm not for sure what I'm going to do with them, but I couldn't pass them up. I think they might make cute key rings.

 

There was a box of free stuff out in front of the thrift store. I got this double album set.

 

That's quite a load for a stop at one thrift store- and it didn't even cost me four dollars! I hope you have such bountiful luck with your secondhand shopping this week.

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.  

 

Blessed are those who put their trust in Him.

Psalm 2:12

 

 This post is linked to Apron Thrift Girl.