Thursday, January 9, 2014

Thrifty Thursday #99

I've made it no secret how much I love secondhand shopping.
So by now we all know by now that I am. . .frugal.
Well, my frugality doesn't stop at thrift stores and yard sales! I have been know to do a little curbside shopping. Let me show you my two most recent roadside finds. . .

 
Look at this chair! Aren't its lines amazing?
 I spotted it when I was buzzing through our neighborhood.
Sure, it needs some wood glue and clamping, but I can't wait to paint it and get a seat on it!
I was so excited to get started on it that I forgot to take a photo of it before I sanded it.
I'm thinking turquoise with a brightly colored fabric seat cover.

 
This one isn't actually my find.
I came out of my house one day and saw this beauty sitting in my driveway. I assumed that my hubby had brought me a gift.
It turns out that my mom and sister saw this and knew that I'd love it. So they loaded it up into the trunk and brought it over while I was at work.
That's love when you pick up junk for somebody else:)
 
With the holidays and cold weather, there hasn't been much for yard sales or estate sales around here. If you're headed to any this weekend, I wish you luck!
 
Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.
 
For if you forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Mat. 6:14
 
This post is linked to 52 Mantles, Junkin' Joe, and Embracing Change.
 

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Layout of the Week #78- Mixing Embellishments on a Layout

I don't go shopping for scrapbooking supplies too often anymore (since I already have so many!), but when I do, I cannot resist cute embellishments! I now have a small wire basket that I keep with my newest and cutest embellishments so they're right at my fingertips when I need a little something for my projects.
Today we're going to use random embellishments all together on one layout. That's right- no rhyme or reason needed! Just grab a handful of lovelies and give this a whirl!

 
Here's the layout we'll be creating.

 
To make it, you'll need:
one piece of 12"x 12" cardstock
pattern paper measuring 8 1/2" x 6 1/4"
journaling card (I used a library card)
lots of small embellishments and stickers (tickets, brads, buttons, etc. )
letter stickers for the title
4 1/2"x 6 1/4" pattern paper for photo mat
two 3" sticker strips (or decorative tape)
one photo
bone folder (or scoring blade)
paper trimmer
adhesive
pen
plate (to trace around)

 
Using a pen, trace around a plate in the center of the cardstock.
Shift the plate slightly and trace it again. Repeat a third time.

 
It should look like this.

 
Now we're going to turn your pattern paper measuring 8 1/2" x 6 1/4" into an envelope.
With the paper lengthwise, mark at 4" and 8" on the top and the bottom.

 
Use those marks to make two score lines.

 
Trim the bottom 1/4" off on either side of the score lines.
Score along the bottom flap that's left.

 
Now fold along the score lines.

 
Adhere along the edges to make an envelope.
 
 
Adhere this envelope on the background close to the bottom of the circle slightly off kilter like this.

 
Mat your photo on the pattern paper measuring 4 1/2" x 6 1/4".
 
 
Place your matted photo overlapping the envelope.

 
Place two sticker strips along the top and the bottom of the photo.
If you'd rather, you could use strips of pattern paper or decorative tape instead.

 
Now get out your embellishments and start placing them around the circle marks.
Start with the larger ones,

 
then start adding the smaller ones.
I used things like a button, several small and large brads, tickets, a tiny playing card, and square button stickers.

 
Using your letter stickers, place the title in the lower right corner of the layout.
Feel free to add more embellishments.
I added stickers in the upper right corner and some embellishments along the top of the photo.

 
Finally, tuck your journaling card into your envelope. There's room to add more photos if you like.
I had my two boys fill out this questionnaire and I placed those inside my envelope with my journaling card paper clipped to them.
My journaling has a list of "Major Events that Happened in the Sexton Household in 2013".
 
See how you can take all sorts of cute items and mix them up on a layout and it still looks good?
Not everything has to be matchy-matchy!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.
 
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Mat 6:21
 
 
This post is linked to My Girlish WhimsBe Different Act Normal, and Ivy and Elephants.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Recipe of the Week #100- Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

 
Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
2 uncooked chicken breasts
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 carrots, diced
2 stalks of celery, diced
6 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups egg noodles
salt and pepper

Cube the chicken and place in Crock Pot. Add veggies and broth. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Thirty minutes before serving, add the noodles and cook until soft.
Add salt and pepper to taste.

We've had colder weather than usual this year which delights me to no end! I am not a big fan of warm winters:) One of the reasons I love cold weather is because it's great soup weather- and I love to make soup!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.
Psalm 145:18

This post is linked to Tatertots and Jello, Cheerios and Lattes, Craft-O-Maniac, and Between Naps on the Porch.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Is it a Door?. . . Is it a Couch?. . . By George, It's a Door Couch!

Sometime ago, I showed my hubby a picture on Pinterest where somebody had turned doors into a couch. Fast forward several months, my hubby started dragging out some of my old doors and proceeded to make me this. . .
 DOOR COUCH!

I was so excited!!!

I absolutely LOVE it!
Would you believe that we actually replaced our old couch with this?
We've had four adults sitting on it and it held up just fine.


My hubby placed a 2x4 across the back for extra support, then covered it with some trim. 
For the most part, he followed this tutorial to make it.

What do you think?

In case you're wondering why I had so many doors sitting around that weren't being used, I was lucky enough to have been given a set of six some time ago. . . for free!
Thanks for stopping by and God bless.
The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works.
Psalm 145:17

Friday, January 3, 2014

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.
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.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Top Five Thrifty Finds of 2013

One of my favorite things to do is secondhand shopping. 
I just love thrift stores . . .
and yard sales . . .
and estate sales.

Today we're going to look back at this past year at some of the my favorite secondhand finds. . .


It was love at first sight when I spotted this beauty at an estate sale. 
Can you believe that I only paid $20 for it?!?
Look at the curve of that mirror!
 
 
I saw this camera with a price of ten dollars. I refused to spend that much on it. 
Then I couldn't stop thinking about it.  Lucky for me, it was still at the estate sale when I went back on the next day and got it for 20% off!
 

Look at this vintage hair dryer. What can I say? It's old, it's beautiful, and it only cost me a dollar!
I haven't decided what I'm going to do with it yet, but it's a treasure for sure!


I'd  been wanting to find a vintage fan. This fella was rusty, but worked, so I snatched it up for five dollars at a garage sale! My hubby cleaned it up and it's sitting in our living room now- it works beautifully!


I love globes and maps. I was giddy when I spotted this fella at a yard sale for only a dollar! 
He, too, is sitting in my living room now. I'm hoping to find him a worldly friend :)

Can you believe people were getting rid of all of these gems?!?
Happy treasure hunting to you all!

Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.

Therefore I will look to the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
My God will hear me.
Micah 7:7
This post is linked to 52 Mantles, Junkin' Joe, and Today's Creative Blog.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Plan to Take More Photos This Year!

First and foremost, I'd like to wish you all a very happy and blessed new year!
As you're making resolutions for the new year, I hope you don't forget to plan to take more photos.
This is such an simple thing and so easy to forget, but so easy to do if you make an effort.
I treasure all the photos I've taken over the years.
Here are two projects I've done in the past to document our year:
one is simple, the other took more work, but both were worth every minute.
Designate a jar to collect memories throughout the year including anything that will fit in the jar- like movie stubs, notes, to-do lists, etc. You can even add little notes about highlights of the year.
You take a few hours and complete an album so that at the end of every month, you can just print and add the photos you've taken that month.

I'm setting up my jar and making my book this weekend.:)
Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.
Blessed are those who do His commandments
Rev. 22:14
This post is linked to Funky Junk and I Heart Naptime.