Feather Wreath

First of all my apologies for being behind!!!

#1 - my Camera cord is broken at the moment and i'm going to have to get it replaced after ordering a new one from Fugi (which will take a while *sigh!*).

#2 - I am going to be taking items that cost us more money than they should, that we love, that we want in our homes, and finding cheaper ways to make them. Be watching for ideas on how to copy merchandise from manufacturers such as Pottery Barn, Pier One, and many others!!

This particular project is a Pottery Barn creation. We will be finding a way to create this look for less! Check out this $49 feather wreath, great for winter!


To start you will need a wreath base that you can pick up at any craft store for under $5 in either foam or grapevine. I prefer grapevine for this project because of its strength and the ability to wrap wire around the twigs. Secondly, as I mentioned, you will need wire. You can use any thin florists wire. You can find this for about $1 at craft stores in small quantities. Lastly you will need 3-4 faux feather boas. You can use white as it shows in this photo or you can use multi-colored to match your decor and various holidays (think pastels for easter, orange and black for halloween, red white and blue for patriotic holidays, etc). I like to buy my boas at the dollar store in the childrens costume section but you can also find them in craft stores generally for $1-2 each. The total cost for this project: max of $14 (compare to the Pottery Barn price of $49!!)

Once you have all your supplies together you will want to wrap wire around the end of the boa, and then "tie" it to the back of the wreath. Wrap the boa around the wreath, through the hole and around the outside continually, completely covering the wreath. Occassionally "tie" the boa to the back of the wreath around one of the twigs and the boa itself. Because this is the back of the wreath it wont matter if some of the wire shows, though chances are it will be hidden from view by all the feathers.

Once you have completely covered the wreath, tie off the end with wire onto one of the twigs on the back of the wreath. Create a "hanger" for the wreath by fashioning a large "v" out of wire and attaching the ends to twigs in the wreath. Hang and enjoy!

This "little thing" is easy and fun to make, and is approximately 25% of the retail cost if buying from one of the pricier more trendy stores.

Decorative gift tags

This is a fairly simple idea with innumerable interpretations and variations!

I created these tags a while back out of some of my favorite paper made in africa by a community that supports itself by making and selling this paper. I incorportated stickers, some patterned papers, leather accents, and even staples and ribbon. You dont have to be as elaborate with your designs, and can make tags out of anything you have laying around, including wrapping paper, decorative napkins, paper plates, chipboard, book pages or newsprint, magazine clippings, or even photographs. Let your imagination go wild, and simply attach to your gift with a ribbon, and write your "To: / From: " on the back of the tag for a unique gift card.

Your gift will have the prettiest "little things" of the season!

Matchbook Organizer

I created this organizer with 20 matchboxes - a cost of about $1.50 at walmart. I also used one of my favorite items: chipboard (which again you can get from anywhere... cut up mailing boxes or cereal boxes even so that you can essentially get this item for "free!") I covered the individual boxes with a total of 2 sheets of patterned paper. I glued the boxes together - 4 sets of 5 boxes 1 on top of another. Then I punched holes in the front of the part of the box that slides out. I tied ribbon in a knot through the holes (you can get a skien of ribbon for 50-cents or buy by the yard - you will need only one yard for this project). Then I matched the back of the boxes at a 90* angle with the front of another set of boxes. Repeat this until you have a square. I used a fast setting white glue like elmers to attach the boxes easily and permanently. I cut the chipboard to size on the top and on the bottom, and then covered it with patterned paper. After I glued on the top my box was ready to go with 20 small drawers for jewelery or small craft supplies! It makes a wonderful desktop gift or a sweet present for a female who has a lot of jewelry :)

I love how this orgnaizer helps me keep track of my "little things" :)

Chore Box Cleaning System

This is my home cleaning system! This was inspired by some of my friends from a message board I post on :) Thanks girls! It works by setting up a card system with all of the chores I have to do for the day. I have set it up to divvy out chores for everyday, then individual ones for Monday through the weekend, and then chores that only need to be done several times a year. This makes it easy for me to keep track of what I have left to do and what has been done! It has helped significantly to make cleaning easier for me, and this cleaning box almost makes it fun!!

I started this project by using a recipe box that I picked up at the dollar store for $1. I covered the box with one sheet of my favorite patterned paper (again check out www.rememberthemoments.com for an awesome inexpensive selection or go look in your local craft store!) I used an ink pad I had on hand to distress the edges a bit by simply rubbing the inkpad along the sides.

To make the dividers I used chipboard and cut them 3x4 1/2" “ and added a tab to be able to label the sections for easy access to the file I need. You can find chipboard in all kinds of places. You can buy it from your local office supply store, or you can cut up cereal or baking boxes and use that for your chipboard as well. I left mine “raw” but you can also paint it or cover it in your favorite papers.

For the cards, I used some of the white cardstock that I had on hand and cut to size (in this case 3.x4 1/2 ), though you could juts as easily use index cards that you can pick up in the office supply sections for under $1. I inked the edges of the cards with an inkpad and stamped the chores that I need to do on the cards and filed them appropriately. You can print them off on your computer or write them by hand as well for a personal touch!

I loved how this “little thing” helped me keep my house looking much nicer and more put together every day.

Sock Snowman Gift

My friend LeAnn made this beautiful example. Whether you're loving this little guy to give to friends, or to make a cluster of them for a decorative snowman family for your own holiday decorations, this snowman is a piece of cake to make and the price is sweet too!

To make, she used an old tube sock that had lost its mate to the dryer monster (you know the one... he eats all the pairs to your socks and leaves you with just one of every pair you own!). She flipped the sock inside out and stuffed about half full of stuffing (you can buy a large bag for about $1.99 at Walmart or simliar stores and save the extra for later projects!!). She used fabric scraps she had on hand to fashion a scarf for her snowman and tied it loosely around the "neck" area. She then painted a screw an orange color, and pushed it through for the nose of the snowman. She simply embroidered on the eyes by sewing black thread through the sock several times. Then she stuffed a ball shaped piece of stuffing into the sock, and tied it off just above it using a rubberband. Now she had the head and the body of the snowman with a cute scarf, nose and eyes! She flipped the rest of the sock over to make the hat, and tied the very top of the hat with some raffia. Simply cut out a few patches or hearts from scrap fabric and attach at various places on the snowman and vuah-lah!

I thought this "little thing" was far too cute not to share! :)

"Stuff," "Things," "Junque" - Jars

I made this project using products I had on hand, though if you had to gather the products from scratch it would not have cost more than approximately $1-$2 to create this project at most.





The jars that I created these decorative, functional storage containers from, came from formula jars that I got free from the hospital when my daughter was born. You can use any size jar that you have on hand- peanut butter, jelly, salsa, or pasta sauce jars! Use your imagination. If you would like to use the jars I have pictured here, visit your local mother/child unit at your local hospital and ask them if they can save out the used empty jars for you since they normally just throw them away or recycle them.

To decorate, I didnt even have to remove the label. I simply covered up the label with a patterned paper that suited my decorating style (you can use various types of multi-purpose adhesives such as elmers for something inexpensive... just whatever you have on hand!). There are a great deal of variations in paper patterns out there if you're looking for something specific. One of my favorite scrapbook supply stores http://www.rememberthemoments.com/ carries an amazing selection at very reasonable prices, or you can find a local supply at most craft stores for around 50 cents a sheet (one sheet is more than enough for this project).

To make this project without having to buy any paper, consider using paper grocery bags instead of patterned paper for the shabby chic look that is so "in" right now.

The tags with the titles on them were made by cutting shapes out of chipboard. You can buy chipboard but you can also find it by cutting up a cereal box or a baking mix box. These tags were tied onto the jars using basic satin ribbon that you can find at most craft stores by the yard for just a few cents a yard. One yard will be plenty for this project. You can also use string, yarn, embroidery thread or even fabric strips! Whatever you have on hand will be fine and will offer a variation to make it personal for YOU.

You can use these storage jars a multitude of ways from office supplies to sewing notions to spices in the kitchen to scrapbook embellishments. You can also use them to hold bath beads or salts, or even baking mixes to give as gifts or keep your kitchen looking more tailored and modern. The possibilities are endless!

Enjoy making and using this "Little Thing!!" :)

Its the Little Things....

Have you ever heard that phrase?

"Its the little things in life that make the difference."

I'm a firm believer. I look around my home and I find that it *is* the little things that make me feel at home and that express my sense of style.

I'm also a big fan of an amazing deal. My friends will tell you that I will go to great lengths to save money, to find the diamond in the ruff, or even to create something out of the proverbial nothing. Many of these same friends are those who inspire me to do so, and many of them laugh along with me at how fun (and funny) it can be to search out the best deal.

I've long watched the do-it-yourself'er shows on HGTV and DIY, read craft magazines, checked out crafty message boards, decorating sites and shows, and read books and magazines until my eyes hurt. I find myself often looking at the ideas and finding new ways to do them even less expensively in ways that could still be highly trendy and provide unique, individual decorations for the home.

I'm compiling this blog to be able to keep track of my ideas and also share them with others. So, keep your eyes peeled and you'll see lots of "little things" (on a budget!) popping up around here.

Thanks for popping by!

~Kristin