Friday, January 1, 2010
Christmas Cookies
You might be saying: Whaaaat??? Re-use cookies? That's right - if you haven't cleaned up all your holiday cookies I recommend freezing 'em. (Plus putting them away helps with the whole eat-less-crap resolution. Cookies tend to keep really well in the freezer (for 3-4 months, I would argue.) But, instead of just throwing them in the freezer, bag your cookies in tasty combinations which you can simply pull out and serve to friends after dinner. Yum. 
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Clever Storage
Any old box will do - shoe/boot boxes, paper boxes, anything with a lid works best. Add a little fabric and some hot glue and you have a very presentable storage box! It's so easy - just wrap the lid and the box like you would a present and... voila.
For this box I used the fabric from an old curtain and a paper box.
The top box in this picture stores our wedding memories (CDs, dried flowers, left over invitations etc.)
So easy, so useful and so re-used!
For this box I used the fabric from an old curtain and a paper box.
The top box in this picture stores our wedding memories (CDs, dried flowers, left over invitations etc.)So easy, so useful and so re-used!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Never Buy New - Christmas STUFF
Oh, my, gosh! There is SOOO much Christmas stuff at the Goodwill and other second-hand stores. Decorations, plates, lights, more decorations, artificial trees, mugs, new cards, cookie tins...everything. The quality of the holiday goodies is especially good - I found tons of items that looked new or very slightly used.
If you don't let yourself get distracted by the masive amounts of stuff you can really find some nice finds to decorate or gift. I found these cookie tins for .99 cents each - they still had the tags on them - super cute.
If you don't let yourself get distracted by the masive amounts of stuff you can really find some nice finds to decorate or gift. I found these cookie tins for .99 cents each - they still had the tags on them - super cute.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Painting a Tree
Feeling creative one day, the hubster and I decided to use some paint the previous owners left us (we think it is the accent color in our bathroom) and put a little nature in our bedroom. What was a boring wall became decorative and functional tree-hook thingy. 
Okay, I am working on a better name. We were pretty excited about how it turned out. We just took the paint and went crazy. The best part about this project is it doesn't take up any space, but really adds a lot to the room. 
Okay, I am working on a better name. We were pretty excited about how it turned out. We just took the paint and went crazy. The best part about this project is it doesn't take up any space, but really adds a lot to the room. 
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Curtain Headboard
This week I want to share one of my favorite re-use-it projects ever. I am calling it the "curtain headboard"...ta da!
When we moved into our house (after 3 rented places in 3 years) we had lots of left over obscure-sized curtains and decorations that didn't seem to fit anywhere in our new home. So, I took this 10ft long curtain rod, two single pained curtains and a wall hanging and made it into a decorative head-board. This solution doesn't replace everything a headboard is good for, but it sure is beautiful and adds a lot of height and texture to our bedroom.
When we moved into our house (after 3 rented places in 3 years) we had lots of left over obscure-sized curtains and decorations that didn't seem to fit anywhere in our new home. So, I took this 10ft long curtain rod, two single pained curtains and a wall hanging and made it into a decorative head-board. This solution doesn't replace everything a headboard is good for, but it sure is beautiful and adds a lot of height and texture to our bedroom.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Pretty and Practicle Glasswear
Hello! Do accept my apologies for the lack of posts - I had a wedding - it took over life. But, I am back, married and full of ideas.
I think part of the reason people avoid second hand stores is that they think it is impossible to find clean and shiny newish items. But alas, it is not true! Your second hand store has lovely items just waiting for you to pick them up, take them home and make them feel like new. After a nice bath in dishwasher (I use the 'sanitize' setting) your friends will think you just spent your paycheck at Pottery Barn. (Then, you can tell them you didn't spend that much money and they can be like: what! and you can be like, I know!)
The first and second pics are of decorative glass bottles with home made raspberry and basil infused vodka (the infused part is homemade, not the vodka.) These bottles were also .99 cents each - they look Pottery Barn-esk...huh. Great gifts!
The third picture is of quart size glass canning jars which were purchased for .99 cents each. You can find plastic screw on lids at any grocery store in the canning aisle. There are almost always many sizes of canning jars at my second hand store.
I think part of the reason people avoid second hand stores is that they think it is impossible to find clean and shiny newish items. But alas, it is not true! Your second hand store has lovely items just waiting for you to pick them up, take them home and make them feel like new. After a nice bath in dishwasher (I use the 'sanitize' setting) your friends will think you just spent your paycheck at Pottery Barn. (Then, you can tell them you didn't spend that much money and they can be like: what! and you can be like, I know!)
The first and second pics are of decorative glass bottles with home made raspberry and basil infused vodka (the infused part is homemade, not the vodka.) These bottles were also .99 cents each - they look Pottery Barn-esk...huh. Great gifts!
The third picture is of quart size glass canning jars which were purchased for .99 cents each. You can find plastic screw on lids at any grocery store in the canning aisle. There are almost always many sizes of canning jars at my second hand store.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Toilet Paper Rolls
I can guarantee you that everyone has left over toilet paper rolls (if don't, you will soon) - and who doesn't have a few pens and pencils to organize? Well, here is your solution.
The rolls will stack nicely as long as they have something to lean on; a small shelf, bookends, a deep drawer. If you are too classy for the naked, brown cardboard look you can easily cover each roll in fabric.
Check out other creative uses for toilet paper rolls on these blogs:
http://frugal.families.com/blog/creative-uses-for-toilet-paper-rolls
http://www.squidoo.com/reusepaperroll
The rolls will stack nicely as long as they have something to lean on; a small shelf, bookends, a deep drawer. If you are too classy for the naked, brown cardboard look you can easily cover each roll in fabric.
Check out other creative uses for toilet paper rolls on these blogs:
http://frugal.families.com/blog/creative-uses-for-toilet-paper-rolls
http://www.squidoo.com/reusepaperroll
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