It’s over! I did it! I am finally moved into my new condo! After a long week of sweaty manual labor—and being on my feet for 4 days—I treated myself to a pedicure. What made the outting even better was going along with a friend! With the Fourth of July coming up, it was fun to do something patriotic! Hopefully this will inspire you to go out and get your little piggies painted also! Happy Fourth of July!
Every year we struggle with what to get those special men in our lives for Father’s Day. Coming up with something handmade and manly is normally a tricky combination that sometimes requires a lot of thought. I’m lucky that two new baby’s were born into the family in March, so there are an overabundence of cute photos circulating through Facebook and my email account.
For Mother’s Day, I took my favorite photos of the new babies and my two year old nephew and made them into paper beads (click here to see Mother’s Day jewelry blog). This time for Father’s Day, I thought I would use the same technique.
Instead of cutting out each face to make a single bead, I grouped them all close together and wrapped them around a pen. It was so easy and fun. It may take a few tries to get the perfect circumference, but don’t get frustrated.
I added the names of all the babies at the bottom of the photos and stretched them out so that they matched the width of the photos.
Tips: Use the glue sparingly. Too much causes the paper to slide around. I also learned that if you apply it to the entire strip of paper first, it causes the paper to wrinkle and crease as you roll it around the pen. To avoid this, apply glue to the paper that makes contact with the pen, roll it up until it is secure, and then apply glue as you roll it.
After the glue has dried, use a few coats of sealer, like Mod Podge. Even when glaze completey dries, it can be a bit sticky. Add a few coats of varnish or clear nail polish as your final layer. This way, sweaty hands won’t cause the surface of the pen to get sticky.
For more Father’s Day craft ideas, check out what my fellow craft bloggers have been up to! Tip Junkie has found a bunch that you must check out!
Happy crafting and Happy Father’s Day!
I am now in the homestretch before I move into my new place! I’ve found a condo that gets lots of sunlight and backs up to a forest full of chirping birds. It even has a loft that I can transform into my office/art studio. The neighborhood is quiet and safe and surrounded by a dozen walking paths. It is exactly what I’ve been looking for!
Now that I have entered into the stage of packing and purging all the junk I have accumulated within the last six years, my house is in shambles! I’m glad this is temporary. And to elevate my level of excitement, I have been spending lots of time shopping for furniture, either online or in stores.
My goal is to find pieces of furniture with neutral colors and simple lines, so that I can pick out colorful accessories that will accentuate my personal style. Decorating a room with pillows, flowers, candles, picture frames, and glass pieces can be a lot of fun! My only advice would be not to overdo it. Pick out items that speak to you and convey a sense of who you are.
Here are some of my favorite accent pillows to get you started. I searched a broad spectrum of stores, from Crate & Barrel to Target! And I now present to you nine of my favorite finds for under $30.
Top Row
Left: Pier 1 Imports, floral cotton, $25.95
Middle: K-mart, Martha Stewart Collection, $14.99
Right: Pier 1 Imports, blue floral, on sale for $19.46
Middle Row
Left: Overstock.com, set of 2, $29.99
Middle: Target, embroidered leaf berry, $19.99
Right: Bed, Bath & Beyond, Surf Nation, $24.99
Bottom Row
Left: Bombay & Company, Inc., blue daffodil, $29
Middle: Target, floral embroidered, $24.99
Right: Crate & Barrel, Rita pillow, $19.95
Most online purchases have free shipping right now for Fathers Day.
The top photo collage are photos of sellected model apartment homes from Erickson Retirement Communities. Erickson campuses are large-scale communities for people 62-plus. To find out more information about which apartments are available in a community near you, visit the Erickson website and click on the “Our Communities” tab to view photos and floor plans.
My favorite purse designer, Vera Bradley, has been very busy lately! For a limited time, you can save on select collections, AND check out her new summer line on verabradley.com.
She’s not just about purses anymore. You can now buy Vera Bradley beachware, such as flip flops, hats, and towels. You can also buy rugs, sunglasses, ties, stationary, and umbrellas.
You never know what you will find at a second hand store. That’s what makes it so exciting to go! I probably take a stroll through one or two every month, just to see what I will find. I bought this wicker piece for four dollars! If you remember, this past month I did a blog about touching up old wicker furniture with spray paint. I still had half a can left, which was the perfect amount for this piece. It could work as a foot rest or a side table and the lid comes off so I can also use it for storage!
Check out this months low budget home improvement blog series to get tips on how to spray paint outdoor furniture and more helpful money saving projects!
