Last minute DIY Gift Ideas

In the amount of time it would take for you to drive to the mall, you can create these last minute DIY gift ideas. Personal, creative, and fabulously frugal - check them out here.

Easy Home Decorating Idea

Slowly, very slowly, I'm frugally decorating my girls' room.
Picking up a dresser here, an end table there, along with lamps, pictures etc. has been a patient pursuit of hidden treasures.
Ironically, the girls' room will eventually be the school room. The boys' room will be the girls' new room, and the boys will move to the hidden alcoves of "the attic."
Did you follow all that? You may need to read it again. :)
I've been slow to finish their room since I was anticipating a move, but how sad that I kept waiting for "the next day."
That "next day" may be awhile, so I'm sprucing things up for the time being.

The girls eyed these Dollar Store decals and were so ecstatic when I mentioned they could put them where ever they wanted. (Don't you just love being the hero for $1?)
I decided to work off that theme with some of my beautiful papers.
Seriously, am I the only one who has an entire used scrapbook store in their closet?
And I am not exaggerating. If only I had put that time into my blog..sigh, but I digress.

With one free wall left, I decided to use some of the papers and my circle punch for a little experiment.
Digging around in "the attic" I found an ugly yard sale painting.
Honestly, ugly paintings with a quality canvas is a great find. It's a bonus if there's a solid wood frame with it. Frames are very inexpensive at yard sales, where as they are costly when purchased brand new.
Remember to think outside the box, and "shop your home".
Frames can be painted any color to create a cohesive look.
Collecting ten various wooden frames is one of my "treasure hunts" these days.
I plan on redoing my family photo area that is showcased up our staircase.

I painted over the ugly painting (sorry, Barbara ? from 1998) with a light green paint that was in "the attic." (Are you seeing a theme...there's a treasure cove up there).

I cut out a variety of circles and played around with the positioning.
This is a wonderful DIY for the kids as well.
I simply glued the circles on with rubber cement, and voila...finished masterpiece.


Previously, I had painted this wood frame and knew it would be a "perfect fit" for my creation.
Doesn't it accent the girls' green walls wonderfully?
Well, it wasn't...a perfect fit, that is, but that's why this blog is Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.
So, I am off to "the attic" to find a 12x16 size.
I know I have one up there somewhere.
The beauty of this project is not just the ease, speed and versatility, but the cost...for me...nothing.

My attempt was just an experiment.
I wanted to see how much I liked the finished project, so I did a smaller version of what I originally saw (which was around 2'x3').

Last year, this idea was stirred by Heidi from Mt. Hope Chronicles, it just took me awhile to implement. Now, I'm looking around my walls for a spot that is calling for the larger version to come out and play.

Posted at: We are that family
Rhoda's

Creative party decorations on a budget

Browsing around blog land, I often "oohh and ahhh" at the amazing party decorations that are showcased. Often filled with inspiration, I quickly determine that they will either take too much time or money to replicate, so I just think....someday, it will be my season.

Well, not so with this 'easy to make and even easier on the budget' example of fun and fabulous decor that even my two daughters could help make.

My sweet friend, Cynthia from An Accomplished Woman, shared what she did for her daughter's birthday and I squealed with delight. This was something that I could do, and better yet...I wouldn't even have to shoo away my little girlies.


I found tissue paper at Target, but then scored some more at the Dollar Store for 1/3 of the price. :)
Seriously, this whole project could be done for just two dollars. :)
Gotta love that!!
Here are the 'more than simple steps' to mastery.
Take eight sheets of paper, line them up and fold them accordion style.

Once folded, wrap a rubber band in the middle, but not too tightly. Thinking this would be a fool proof craft, I put my rubber band on too tight the first time and my pom pom ended up looking a bit like a dumbbell weight. :)
Once finished, round the ends to make a softer flower look (not pictured :).
Save the ends and use them later for additional decor.
Begin to separate the layers, and carefully pull each sheet out one at a time.
It was easy to have the girls help with this step as we sat on the floor together...bonding. ;)
As I completed one side and went to take the picture, I realized this would be an adorable centerpiece just like this. It makes a fairly large pompom, and the size can be altered based on the size of your tissue paper.
Take any kind of ribbon or raffia and tuck it into your rubber band as the hanger.

TA DAA!! I couldn't believe how fabulously they turned out. My hubby came down in the morning and commented, "Wow, this looks very professional."
Due to time constraints, I only did three large pompoms and hung them from our great room door opening.

Our ceiling is almost ten feet tall, so this gives you an idea of how large they were when finished.
I attempted to get a wide angle shot of all three, but I couldn't fit them all in.
They are still hanging up and I just don't want to take them down. They just make me happy. :)
If I had more time, I would have alternated and made some smaller ones as well to hang in between for a really dramatic flair.

I can't wait to use this for so many differing party occasions.

Look what I did with the left overs from the rounded edges? My daughters had fun sprinkling them all over (and I mean..ALL) over and I experimented with a tiny pom pom...such fun. :)

Enjoy these creative party ideas on a budget - I sure did.

*********************************************************************
Has anyone else made these pom poms? Send me a pic and I'll add them to our "gallery."

Julie just sent me this picture from her friend's wedding. I had mentioned that I thought an "all white" theme for a bridal shower would be gorgeous.
They did a creative, casual twist by hanging the pom poms from a tree.
Look how fabulous this looks. :)


Stephanie showed me the adorable accents in her daughter's room. Check it out!


Kendra sent me this picture of the pompoms that she made for her daughter's birthday. I apologize for the quality. I couldn't get it uploaded correctly, but you get the idea of how cute they were. :)

And since I don't follow Martha Stewart nearly as much as I should, I totally missed this.

Thanks, readers, for letting me know. :)

See Martha's tutorial (but don't make it more difficult than it is)

Posted at Real Life Sarah

Kimba's DIY , Shabby Chic Cottage

Creative Concealment - Hutch Redo

Do you know how often I make a small change within my home and then think, "Why in the world did I not do that sooner?"
Well, this is definitely one of those moments. It's not something original or extraordinary, but quite often it's "the little things that are the big things," yet we don't take the time to make it happen.

A few years ago, I bought this beautiful hutch. Well, honestly, it wasn't too beautiful when I bought it and that's why I only paid $5 for it. But I could see the gorgeous carvings and spindled legs and knew with a quick coat of paint, it would be a perfect trash to treasure TV stand.
The nasty brown, dirty wood had not been shown any lovin' for a long time, so I brought it home, cleaned it up, painted it a yummy yellow and then white washed over the color til it was the perfect accent color against my green walls. (Can you tell I rushed the post and took the pictures at 11:45 tonight? It just doesn't capture the subtle shade at all, but I have no patience to wait til tomorrow. )

The door was slightly warped, yet it had such dynamic character that I could barely stand to take it off. But I finally did.
It needed to be put down, poor thing...may it rest in peace in our burn pile...

and so I added this $0.25 tension rod that I bought at a yard sale. Draping this free yard sale swatch of fabric across the rod, created the perfect hiding space for our stereo. No sewing, no fussing...just do it. :)

Isn't this just the yummiest fabric ever? I just want to roll around in it or eat it for breakfast, I love it so much.
But it's one of those fabrics that I could never in good conscience invest in since a few yard would cost more than my entire wardrobe for a year. :) So I gaze at this fabric and appreciate the fact that this wonderfully sweet, rich lady gave me all her samples at a yard sale when she redecorated her home. :) You'll be seeing more of these fabrics.

In minutes, my stereo was creatively concealed, and I think, "Why in the world did I not do that sooner?" It was a virtually free redo that took merely minutes.
Is there something in your house that you have been putting off that would just take a few minutes but make a huge difference? You can do it.

I know all you truly nosy people are wondering why I an not showing the whole hutch, right? Well, then I would have to show you my bedlam moment when I shoved all the phonics and math games in the corner behind the coach/hutch so that my visitor would not see them when they walked in unexpectedly. Looking straight on, they're completely hidden from view.
Yep, another form of creative concealment that I am not too proud of. I'll put it away tomorrow. :)
Did you know that clutter is a sign that your life is out of control?
Yep, I heard it on HGTV from where all real wisdom stems.
I jest, but I am really working on that (everything has a place, and all that jazz).
So until I find a place for those games, I'll just stare a few more minutes at my happy colors.
This swatch forms the basis for the color palette in my great room and kitchen. It's been yellow and green with all white accents for a long time.
Inspired by this, I will slowly be adding in hints of light blue/turquoise as well. I can't wait to share the surprises as I find them on my treasure hunts.

Posted at : The Shabby Nest

Looking beyond the junk...

Do you remember the childhood classics, The Velveteen Rabbit or Corduroy?
I often compare the moral of those stories with how I feel about yard sales.
Taking someone else's once loved items, now deemed trash, and pouring new life into them until they are treasures, brings out a creative side that I just love.
So when I passed this huge bunch of bad fake flowers at a yard sale, I immediately thought, "Wow, those are ugly, huge and way too long." (The stems were about 2-3 feet.) You see, I have spent the last six months purging my home of those kind of fakes. This yard sale had junk...all of it was junk, and since my goal is to hit at least ten sales in an hour, when I see junk, I don't waste my time.
But as I said, "thank you" to the woman and walked to my car empty handed, Corduroy reminded me that maybe even these ugly things needed a home. Maybe a small portion of my heart could extend hospitality and see beyond the junk.
Would it be possible? At $0.50 for the whole bunch, I decided the four blue blooms had potential. So I went home, had my son cut off the 2 foot green wire stems, and began to brainstorm the possibilities.
Perhaps, it could find a home under my large cloche?

Or on my beautiful tiered tray?
How about on the stand that I just bought at GoodWill?
Could its destiny be to top the milk glass tower that I bought at a yard sale or...


perhaps to accent this vase that I picked at the Nester's swap (the one that she bought at a yard sale, and passed on in the process.)
Please note, sometimes the "work with what you have" mentality is very literal. I needed to add height to the blue blooms, so I just stuffed my son's socks underneath in the blue vase...it worked. :)

I still haven't found the perfect place to use these blooms, but I will. Since my kitchen/great room are accented in yellow, green and blues, I will accessorize with them some how.
And to think, I almost passed up the junk for just $0.50.

Shop your house. "Corduroy" may be whispering that he too just needs a little extra loving, and someone to look outside the box to see the trash to treasure potential.
It may be a matter of sewing that button back on, and it will be just perfect. :)

Creative DIY ideas for a wedding - cupcake stand

One of the growing new trends in weddings is the elimination of the traditional wedding cake. By going a bit trendy, a bit more thrifty and pouring forth a lot of creative DIY juices, you can make a spectacular statement with a cupcake tower.
I am proud to say that my brother tackled the Do it Yourself (DIY) project of the decade last weekend.
As my niece browsed cake ideas on-line, my brother's "I can do this even better, and save money" juices kicked into full gear.
Yes, my friends, he saw, he sawed, he sewed....he conquered. ;)

Capturing the height, depth and class of this stand wasn't possible with my camera, but it made a beautiful statement.

Thinking ahead on the specific details made it possible to slide the decorative 2x4's in and out to switch out the fabric for a variety of uses.

Yes, the gorgeous bridesmaid dresses were a deep brown to match the cupcake stand fabric.
Yet how wonderful to know that next summer's anniversary party might be accented in greens, and all this hard work can easily accommodate that change. You can bet all the other nieces were clapping in glee when he mentioned that this was built for everyone to use.
But don't even ask, he'll say "no." ;)
We already tried to get him to sell these...

Now if cupcakes aren't your thing, please brainstorm with me for a minute.
I think there could be tons of unique ways to use this...mini dessert plates set around the tiers, flowers, appetizers...what else?

Photo from MarthaStewart.com

All I can say is, "Martha Stewart, move on over..."
Now this, my dear eldest brother, is a very GOOD thing. :)

Posted at: kimbas

Sensational Saturday Swap at the Nester's place

Some of my very favorite people gathered together in designer bliss for this first ever sensational Saturday Swap hosted by the Nester.
Supposedly, the reason we gathered was to bring in some household items that we no longer used and swap them out for someone else's improved treasures.
But let's be honest. That was strictly a cover story.
Being among the first to view the new nest of our hostess was the prize.
To say "eye candy delight" is a complete understatement.

Remember my last post about creating a tablescape? This table in her office covered every element I addressed. I can guarantee that she didn't learn it from my post. :)

These pictures do not capture the essence of coziness that oozes from every corner of this home. So follow along at the Nesting Place as she reveals her new home space.
It will be the frosting on the cake of this teaser post. :)
As we began the swap, everyone drew numbers and went in groups of five to make their first choice. Somehow I got designated to be the "role call" person, so we just kept it flowing until most things were gone. There were SO many fun items from which to pick. The worst part about the day was making a decision. Everyone was gracious.
No cat fights broke out over the Nester's tassels, and high end bribery was solicited only outside on the driveway. :)

(The Nester and Emily's mom pondering her next pick.)

(The sitting room before all the treasures messed up her tablescape. Check out the new shutters she just painted. Amazing!)

After seeing this awesome bird cage, I mourned that fact that I passed up a standing wooden cage at a yard sale early that same morning. What was I thinking?
The french doors leading into the Nester's office are framed with fabric adding such an elegant touch. Entering those french doors, you are greeted by these fabulous apothecary jars and sweet Emily, as she sneaked a peek at her sister's computer.

We all have junk drawers, but mine are filled with...junk...garbage...things that should be in the trash. The Nester's "junk" is gorgeous and comes in the form of diamond thingies that make my flash act funny, beautiful drawer pulls, window treatment hooks and items to fill decorative glass jars.
We've adored the toile sofa since her blogging start. Go RIGHT now to the launch of our (IN)COURAGE site and see the story behind that sofa, as well as her desire that it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.

We all know that wreaths aren't just for Christmas, don't we? Don't we? HA!

What ever happened to that messy craft room? The only mess presented was in the form of new tassels for (in)courage. We gawked at the crafting stash under her desk. agreeing we could all let our creative juices flow in this room.
(I can't wait to get my hands on someone's picture of the group smooshed in this room. I'll put it up when someone shares it with me, and let you know who was all here.)
Kimba made the drive from PA, and we weren't going to miss our chance to go to the rich people's GoodWill in Charlotte after the swap was finished. :)

Kimba, the Nester, Emily, Me, and Leigh Ann (a sweet new friend I just met)

One of the greatest joys this year has been connecting with such a wonderful group of women. The Lord has a unique way of bringing people together (or back together).
Before blogging was even an idea in our minds, the Nester and I knew each other from attending the same church. We were friends from Sunday School, but it wasn't until she moved away and I found her blog that we reconnected. Just as the Nester moved away, her sweet sister joined our church since her hubby is our youth pastor. This year has been the start of a blossoming friendship with Emily, and the odd thing is...so much of it is through our blogs. When we see each other at church, we are already caught up. We don't always have to fill in the little details because we've already read about them (along with a ton of other people).
It's a privilege to be writing on the (in)courage team with both of them. And it launches TODAY, Monday, August 10th.

Kimba is a friend that when you meet her in real life, there's a forever connection.
My time with this precious "sister" was much too short.

I highly encourage you to grab some friends and organize a swap. It will be SO worth it.
Beautifying our homes represented the "portrait" of our Saturday swap, but forging friendships framed the picture.