Budget, Crafting, home decor, Thrifting

Easy Updates For Old Photo Mats

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Hey friends!!  Hope everyone is getting to enjoy some warmer weather!!  I wanted to share with you some simple and inexpensive ways to update old photo mats today.


I shared with you that when I was thrifting for my gallery wall frames, one of the things on my list were frames that came with mats.  I didn’t really care what the mats looked like necessarily because I had a plan.  My plan included some very basic tools.


My cutting mat, craft knife, glue stick, gold pain pen, and some scrapbook paper leftover from my DIY letter art project.

The single layer mats simply got covered with paper.  

For this one I just overlapped the paper in the corners a little to give it that Log-Cabin look (quilting reference:)).

For the double-layer mats like this one, I had to do some thinking about how to fix the inside layer. 

Some of them were two pieces and could have been taken apart.  But, I loved the rich look of the layers so…

I pulled out my trusty gold paint pen and started coloring!

Way better!!  The the top layer got covered with more scrapbook paper.

For this one, and a couple of others, I decided to miter the corners.  

It took me less than an hour to do six mats.  Way better than buying new ones, and these are way cuter than most you could buy in the store!! 

I’ll be back tomorrow to show you some ways to update old picture frames as well!!  As always, thanks for stopping by!!

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Budget, Crafting, Decorating, Family, home decor, Kitchen, Painting, Thrifting

Thrifted Gallery Wall

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Spring Break is over and I am ready to get back to some projects!!  Today I am so excited to share with you something that is definitely one of my favorite projects to date.  The last kitchen update I gave you, I mentioned that next I was working on something for this wall


Well, a few thrift stores, paint, glue, paper, ribbon and pictures later…


I was happy to bring a little more color into this space with these thrifted frames.  Here is how they looked before.


I spent $12.50 on these frames!!  My criteria when shopping were simple
1. decent condition – meaning glass intact, frame intact.
2. some with interesting detail
3. mats were a definite bonus
4. various sizes

The large frame in the middle of the gallery is a frame I have had for years, purchased on sale at Hobby Lobby. It was an open frame with no glass.  But, even it got a little update. 🙂


You can see in the corner of this pic a sneak peek of a little something I shared with my Instagram friends.  My hubby is an amazing craigslist shopper.  

I will be back this week to share with you the how-to’s that went into making these thrift store frames look fabulous!!  


I think now that the kids are getting older, and never home, I need pictures of them surrounding more than ever…so I can remember what they look like – Ha!!  Just kidding.  But, really I love having pictures of our family ALL over our home. These pictures were taken by a very talented friend of mine Angela Maze.  If you are in the OKC metro area you should check her out.  She did my sons senior pics too :).

I am off to work on some more spring cleaning, and some other projects on my list!!  See ya soon!!

**Details for how I updated the mats and frames in these posts

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Crafting, Decorating, Family, home decor, Joy

Crafting Some Fun And Colorful DIY Art

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My little craft project is complete and hung and it just makes me so happy!!  After seeing this go up I am super pumped to about the other colorful touches I have planned!!  So, here it is 🙂


Isn’t it fun?!? {Please ignore the bit of mess in the background – that is progress in the making on another project – and yes the ugly brown light box is still there, baby steps folks.}

It was an easy and inexpensive project that has been in my head for years, and again one of those things I wish I hadn’t waited so long to do.  We all need a little more whimsy and fun in our lives amen??

I started here


with chip board letters and some scrapbook paper.  Both of which were bought at Hobby Lobby 1/2 off. 


I laid out my paper and arranged it until I got a look that was pleasing to my eye.

Then I stacked all that back up and did a little prep work on the letters.  

Using some basic acrylic paint from my stash, that was in that same color zone as my papers, I painted all the edges of the letters.  I alternated colors depending on the color of paper that was going on that letter.

Next I glue the paper to the letter – the whole sheet of paper.

After gluing I pulled out my craft knife and my cutting knife {from the days when I used to scrapbook}, and trimmed off the excess paper.

This was way easier and much more precise then tracing and cutting before gluing.  The end result:


Fast forward ten more letters and we are ready for step two.  Mod Podge.

Again, I suppose you could have adhered the paper withe Mod Podge but it’s really messy {or maybe that’s just me}.  So, I laid out my now cute letters and gave each one two light coats{including the edges but not including the back}.

Just so maybe you won’t freak out like I did, the paper did bubble and buckle a bit when I put on the Mod Podge, but after it was dry all of that mostly smoothed out on its own.  

I knew I didn’t need much to hang these, since they weren’t very heavy.  I found these at Hobby Lobby.

They are peel and stick people.  It doesn’t get any easier. Luckily I was not concerned about the letters hanging straight.  I actually wanted them to be like this – less stress on me about getting them level – ain’t nobody got time fo dat!!  If you want them to be straight you will have to use two hangers on most of the letters.


If you are wondering the saying is not original.  It came from one of my kiddos kindergarten teacher.  She cooked with them every Friday {awesome I know}, and this saying was at the bottom of every recipe sheet she would send home with the kids, along with a big smiley face.  ðŸ™‚  Hey!  Maybe I need to add that!!  HA!!

I’ll be back tomorrow for Family Friday to share about that thing in the corner of that shot above – that thing I use to try to keep our family organized – TRY!!
Blessings friends!!  



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Buccellati, home, home decor, Inspiration, interior, interior decorating, interior design, interiors, Kaiser, Kitchen, Lawrence Frames, Mimosa, Moooi, polyvore, Purva Designs, Umbra

Bringing In The Color

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I was really hoping to share with you today one of my first projects to bring color into the kitchen. But, sadly, I can’t get to what I need to hang it because my hubby has taken over the garage. So, instead I thought I would let you inside my brain for a second – scary I know.

Now that the kitchen is neutralized, I see it as a blank slate.  I know the colors that I want to bring in, and I am going to take my time incorporating them.  I have seen these inspiration boards created at Polyvore in lots of places, so today, I thought I would try it out.

Here is an idea of what I have in my head for color in the kitchen. 


Kitchen Inspiration

Most of these things I will DIY and do on the cheap as much as possible.  This is more a color board of sorts.  I’m excited to watch it come alive.  Bit by bit the picture in my head will be a reality!!

Blessings and Happy Dreaming My Friends!

Linking up with Tuesday’s Treasure’s / Take-A-Look Tuesday / One Project at a Time / Show Me What Ya Got / Tutorials & Tips Link Party / Hit Me With Your Best Shot  / Works For Me Wednesday / Create It Thursday / All Things Thursday Blog Hop / Thrifty Thursday / Fridays Unfolded / Design It Friday / Frugal Friday / Creativity Unleashed / Link Party Palooza / Share Your Creativity

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home decor

Springified Mantel

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Well, all the chicks have returned to the nest and we are back in our routine.  The weather here has been like a yo-yo.  One day in the 70s next day in the 30s.  Since I can’t dig in the dirt yet I decided to springify the mantel.  

 

I showed you last week my chevron backdrop project,

 

 

and showed you my burlap wreath here.

 

 

The rest of the things on the mantel I already had.  
 
You’ll see something different with the wreath – the accessory.  The cross was cute, but something about it was bugging me, so it found a new home.  

 

I just added it to the heart wreath that I keep on my door year around.  I can never get the color on the front door to photograph well, but it’s the same as the inside here.
 
I was at Hobby Lobby looking for something to put in its place and the feather just spoke to me ;).  

 

Most of the time when I have a weird idea I tend to avoid it, but this time I went for it and I really like the look, it brings softness to it all.  

 

 

 Here it is all together again.

 

Simple enough that it will most likely stay like that for a while!!  Very excited about the chevron backdrop and the potential.  The command hook works perfectly to hold up the wreath – and I’m already thinking of other things I could hang on there when I get tired of the wreath!!
 
Blessings to you this week!  Take time and prepare your hearts for the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord!!
The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!”
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