Last Post for the Year

Well, I am so thankful that I even started my blog this year.  I had been thinking about it for a couple of years and was so afraid to even try.  I worried about which site to use, how I wanted it to look, and how difficult would it be.  I finally decided to just go for it and I am so glad I did!  (Now that I've figured out how to do things on here - Thank you "You Tube" and to all those "how to" videos).

I had so much fun sharing our projects with you!  I just need to remember to always have my camera available and take pictures of everything!  That actually seemed to be the most difficult thing.   We would get so involved in our projects that we would forget.  I had to tell my husband to stop several times to get pictures and sometimes, I didn't get them!  So, this year we will be more conscious of that!  Hubby is even getting better at it.

What better way to end the year, than to share my top 5 post with you!  Hope you enjoy them one more time!

My number 5 post was our Bathroom Reveal.  This has to be one of the most extreme makeovers we have done.  You have to look at the before pictures to really appreciate it! This is my daughter's home.  It took us a couple of months to get this done.  For awhile, it seemed like we would never get done, but we did and I think it turned out awesome, so please go check it out!

Number 4 post was How to Get Rid of Mildew Smells.  If you have had problems getting rid of mildew smells on your towels or other laundry, you really need to check this one out.  My wonderful niece, Leslie, gave me this idea.  She had tried everything and nothing worked until this, so go take a look.  You will be surprised how easy it is.


Number 3 post was Bathroom Linen Closet.  Do you have a small bathroom or just nowhere to put all that little stuff that gets lost among the bigger things?  If so, you really need to go check this one out.  This gave us so much more space and the little stuff was much more visible.


Number 2 post was Organizing Stuffed Animals.  Have you tried everything under the sun on where to put all those stuffed animals?  As tempting as it is to just throw them away, you know you would be in trouble for it, so here is the next best thing.  I think it looks awesome and the kids will love it too!


Number 1 post for the year was a gift my daughter made my husband.  Father's Day is coming up soon and I know any dad would love to have this.  So, go take a look at Dad's Gift.  It's also very easy to make.


So, these are my top 5.  I think a couple of my last ones may have given these a run too, if they had had more time.  So, you might want to check out some of them, as well.  Especially, Making a Headboard and Making a Centerpiece.  I have to also add Setting Up House.  We moved a couple of weeks ago.  We had no furniture and no budget.  Check out how we furnished out home.  I will have more to come on this one.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful New Year! I know I'm looking forward to this year being a new beginning for us.  I hope to be able to have so many more post this coming year..  I love creating things and am looking so forward to sharing them with you.

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God bless and Happy New Year!!!
Becky

Making a Headboard

When looking for a headboard for our room, I wanted something different.  I was trying to get a cottage type feel to our room.  We went to Habitat for Humanity and found this screen door.  Because it was missing the hardware, we got it for $15.00.

Here we are checking it out to see how it will look.

We decided we liked it.  I primed it with a spray paint primer and then painted it with a flat paint spray paint.
Hubby drilled holes in it at the bottom and we attached it to the wall.

And here's how it looks:

We were able to make it for less than $25.00.  It would have been even better, if I had found it on the curb!
Our room is the hang out room, as you can see.  My grandson thinks he is playing a game.  Isn't he cute!

Making a Centerpiece

I don't consider myself to be one that is good on flower arrangements.  I've always been a little afraid to even try it. I went shopping at Hobby Lobby the day after Christmas and found these items marked down 66 percent and decided I would at least try.

  I liked this plant because it just looked different and gave it a different texture.  This one was placed in the middle.  I didn't put anything on the bottom of the pail, but just folded the stem to the heigth I wanted it.  It won't stay now, but when the others are added, they will hold this one in place.

Next, I placed the four that were the same into the pail..  Two on each side, one in the front and the other in the back.  Once they were all in, they stayed in place.

 

It need a little more color, so I bought the two red bows and placed one on each side.

And that was that.  It was very simple to do and I think it looks really nice, if I don't say so myself.  The other great thing is, it cost me less than $12.00.

I also bought the Santa and the Snowman from Hobby Lobby for 66% off.  I bought the Eddie Bauer stocking holders for $3.00 at Goodwill.  One was still in the box.  The stocking were from Goodwill too and I paid $2.00 for each of them.

 

I know, I need to remove the price tags.





Linking up to these awesome parties:
Tueseday - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday, Take a Look Tuesday, Homemade Tuesdays, One Project At a Time

Setting Up House

Six months ago, we had to move in with one of our daughters, Cassie, because of some unfortunate events.  We sold almost everything we had.  We just moved into a rental home and had hardly anything to put in it.   It just happened to be at the same time the city was having bulk pick up in our area.  Here are some of the things I was able to pick up on the side of the street.

We found this end table.  It needs to be sanded and painted.

We found this awesome chair that is in perfect condition!

 And yes, we found the matching ottoman!

The couch looks new, except for a small hole in the back.  The plan is to cover it.  It has a bed too.  (It looks just like the first couch my husband and I bought, 30 years ago!).  I also found the pillows, which are the colors we are wanting to put in here, so I may keep them.

This piece is perfect for my sewing room!

The dresser is definitely messed up, but with a little loving care, I think it can look great.  This will definitely be one of our first projects!

The chair needs a new cover on it, which I can do.  My grandson, Cooper, loves to sit in this.

We found this beautiful table on the side of the road.  My dearest friend, Judy, and her husband gave us the chairs.  We are planning on painting the table.

The table was a little wobbly, so hubby put screws in it to make it sturdy.

I found this rug and 2 other ones.  I may sell them all and get the one I really want for this room.

So, these are just the items we picked up for the livingroom and sewing room.  Now see how nice these rooms have turned out.  Remember, we would have had nothing for these rooms, except for a few things in the sewing room.

 And the Christmas tree was given to us by my friend, Judy and her husband, too. 

Here's the hubby watching t.v. You can see my beautiful sewing room.

This is the best sewing room I have ever had!  

I love my board and pics, which I made. Maybe I should do a tutorial on those.  I also covered cardboard boxes with contact paper and keep my scraps in them, on top of the shelves.

Windows really need curtains, but it will have to wait a little while. I already have the fabric for them.

Here is my view from my sewing desk.  Once the tree is gone, the t.v. will be moved to the left more.  I have to have a t.v. when I'm sewing.  I can't stand it quiet!  I am also really glad to have it in the diningroom area, where I am not shut away in a room by myself.

So, these are two rooms we have finished.  Working on office, kitchen, utility room, bedroom, and bathroom.  I will be so glad to have them all done!

How To Get Rid of Mildew Smells

Have you had towels or clothing that have had that horrible mildew smell and you just couldn't get rid of it, no matter how many times you washed them? I know I'm not the only who is guilty of leaving their clothes in the washing machine overnight. Well, I know my niece, Leslie, is anyways. She has been trying for months to get rid of that horrible sour smell in her towels.  She's tried every remedy on pinterest and none of them worked, including vinegar and baking soda!  She was complaining about it (for the hundredth time) to a coworker and the coworker had something else to try. Leslie went home and tried it and has finally gotten rid of the smell! It's simple and now you too can get rid it! So, are you ready to hear what it is?!


Pine Sol. That's right, I said Pine Sol.  Too simple and works great!

 How to:

 Simply add a cap full of Pine Sol to your wash. Let it soak for about an hour and your stinky smells will be gone!  I know some people have complained about that mildew odor in the washing machine as well. I bet if you put some in the washer it would do the same thing.  Give it a try and let me know how it works for you. You could be saving others lives.

Smells be gone!!!

Dining Room Makeover

Here's another room in Cassie's house.  The dining room. It had wallpaper in it and Cassie had removed it.  The walls needed major repair and the room was very dark with all the paneling and wood.

We first applied Spackling Paste to all the areas that needed it.  We used a trowel to smooth it out and let it dry.  Once it was dry, we lightly sanded it down. 

 

 

Once the walls were dry, we had to prime them.  We applied spackling again to areas that still didn't look right and repeated the same process again.

The blinds had to go!!

Don't the white ones look better?

Once the walls were all done, we painted them a light pinkish mauve.

The paneling and dark doors were what made this room look so dark and closed in, so we wanted to brighten it up by painting them.  We had to sand them all down first.  We used a shop vac to help with keeping the dust down.  It helped quit a bit, since there was so much to sand.

 

Here is what it looked like after we primed all the wood.

The door and cabinet doors were a dark brown also, so we had to sand them down and prime them too.

We painted the panelling and doors in a white satin.

Here's the final room.

It looks so much bigger and brighter.

This is our next project.  Can't wait to open this space up more and brighten the family room up too.