Kam's Kards

My smallest money maker, yet my favorite hobby, is making cards!!  For Christmas and birthdays, not much quite matches my excitement when I open a present and it's full of fun cardstock, scrapbooking skickers, and brads!  Unless of course it's a new pair of boots from my husband.  Then I'm over-the-moon.  I'm obsessed with boots.  Boots are the only positive thing winter has going for it.  Back to cards.  My hubby has a cousin (which has resulted in her being my pal) who sends a birthday card to everyone and their brother.  And their brother's grandma, and aunt, and electrician....  well maybe not their electrician but seriously, she goes through a lot of cards.  It's a super sweet thing to do and it keeps me in business since she orders her cards from me!  Here's the spread from yesterday.  If you'd ever like to order cards, shoot me an email - kamskards@gmail.com.  $1.10 each is what I charge.  I just decided that.  Plus $2 for shipping and handling, if your order requires that.

Purple Polka Dots

While leaving the only town pizza joint one day (which sadly closed it's doors a couple weeks ago), I glanced across the street which resulted in me snatching this up at a garage sale for $1.

So after stashing above end table in my chicken house for about a year, I decide it would look great with polka dots.  Now listen.  Don't go running to the closest craft store and buy a circle stencil if you get the polka dot urge.  After all, one of the ideas of this blog is living on a shoestring!  I searched around the house and found a laminated something-or-other that wasn't the style of my decor any more and cut a circle in it.  Hello, free stencil.

And here it is, about a year after I found it!! Yes, sometimes it takes me that long to get to something!  I love painting furniture fun and girly!  Ironic coming from me, I know!

A polka dot shelf......

A dresser BEFORE, similar to the one below......

And this old wood dresser that once painted, sold faster than I could say "craigslist".

Maran's Window

I'm in Chicago where my super creative friend lives and low and behold, look at what adorns this girl's dining room wall!  So same idea as the last window post, but with a little twist.  I like how she can easily update her photos with the clothespins!  Pretty slick, eh?

You know you're Frugal when....

You go to the Goodwill "AS IS" store and you're bummed to see they've raised their prices on kids clothes from 29 cents to 49 cents, and adults from 79 cents to $1!! 

This is from my trip to the Goodwill As Is store in Charlotte, MI

If you like thrift shopping and have never been to or even heard of a Goodwill as is store (or Goodwill Outlet) well by George this is your lucky day!!  Ohhhh wow are they great.  First of all, you need to have time on your side.  And be prepared to dig.  I'm not talking dig as in sort through rows and rows of clothes, I'm talking tables piled high with clothes, none of which are folded!  You will have a blast laughing at the doozies in there, but also ooo and ahhhh over the things others failed to find first!!  I took home a HUGE stack of clothes, mostly for my baby girl and some for myself and boys.  But also a large mirror, end table which you just wait - will be adorable painted up - and a chair, which will also turn into something beautimous.  Of course odds and ends also made it into my sack like a candle warmer, an awesome soup bowl set, etc.  All of this totaled up to $22.  Thirty three things, furniture included, and it totaled $22.  Woo hoo!!! By the way, ignore the price tags on everything.  There are big signs posted up on the walls that go something like this:
originally: $1.99 and under............now .79
originally:  1.99 - 2.99....................now .99
originally: 2.99-4.99.......................now1.29
I'm just guessing on these prices, it is something like that!!!  I got Tobin's desk there for just 79 cents once! But they've since raised their prices........  Someday I will post a pic of it.

Adding to the stash

While eating Sunday dinner on the patio in the brilliant sunshine with my family a few weeks ago, a vehicle pulls up in my driveway and I scratch my head wondering who would be dropping in on this fine afternoon.  I'm not used to seeing my next door neighbor's jeep in my driveway since we live so close that it would be odd not to just walk over.  She loves to go to auctions.  Hooray!  She has won three desks, including one with a large round mirror, for $5 each!  She has to make two trips to get everything (also some really cool doll-size furniture for $1).  I give her $16 and a huge thank you.  Didn't I tell you once on this blog that my neighbors are better than yours??  Wow, I owe her big-time.  Watch in the next few days for some furniture make overs featuring these pieces!  I was out in the barn with the bats and other nocturnal critters last night until way past my bedtime.  Kind of creepy.  I've always been afraid of the dark.  Hey, they say confession is good for the soul!  But anyways, easier to work with them (critters) than a baby in a bumbo seat and 4 year old who both like to grab things they shouldn't (wet paint brushes for example....) like I did earlier in the day!

It's another old window!

Since everyone knows I'm a junk collector, I get everyone's junk.  No complaints here! Well from me anyway.  The Hubby has made a few grunts of disapproval now and then but he has learned to cope quite well with his hoarding wife.  Send up a prayer for him now and then though, will ya?  So last week I inherited this old window from a man who cannot see potential in things like beautiful old windows.  Then again, he won't even let the word casserole into his home so how would you expect him to see the beauty in an old window? Send up a prayer for casserole-hating, non-appreciating-junk-man's wife while you're at it too, kay?  They really are a lovely couple.  Really.  So Here's where the old window ended up.  Looking at it now, I wish I had done all black and white prints, but I'm too lazy to change it now and so this is how it will stay.  Each photo is attached with double sided tape.  Need an old window?  I have plenty!  If you are within driving distance to Parma and I like you, then send me a request at kammyhayes@hotmail.com. 

Painted Kitchen Counter Tops?!

We're going to go from THIS: The ugly, cheap looking peachy pink cream whatever you want to call them counter tops BEFORE, to....... THIS!

At last.  The painted counter tops.  Usually I'm met with a look of "Kammy, you have totally lost it with your thriftiness if you think painted counter tops are going to look even remotely classy" when I mention the idea.  Well, only time will tell how well these hold up.  But I'm here to tell you, that for now it has worked, looks classy, and I LOVE IT!!!  Here's how it all went down.

We bought Rustoleum Countertop Paint from Lowes.  Didn’t know they made such a thing, did you??  I bought two and had one tinted granite, and the other tinted pewter.  It was $20 each.  I used about half the granite color, and hardly any of the pewter.

Scared to be doing such a scary thing!  NOTE: Must use a FOAM ROLLER to apply.

Beware.  This stuff smells so bad you'd be thankful if a skunk would spray you so you could have a fresher aroma to sniff.

After applying the darker ganite color, I put on a glove and dipped a plastic grocery bag in the pewter color, tapping off the excessive paint on a cool whip lid.  Make sure the bottom coat is almost dry, but still slightly tacky.

Lightly press the crumpled up sack randomly on the counter top.

Wait THREE DAYS before putting anything on it, and then have all the little cousins over to test it's durability!

My big mistake during this project:  I used too much pressure when rolling on the paint and should have rolled in one continuous long motion all the way to the end of the counter.  When the light shines on the countertop the right way, you can see my roller marks!  OOPS!

****Read about my updated paint job - My "big mistake" bothered me enough to redo them and add lots more color - HERE.

Kitchen Makeover - PART THREE

The Eating Area - before and after

Before (this is a long ago "before", but you get the idea)

AFTER - set of 7 black chairs from Goodwill for $20, new curtains sewn by my mother, an old window on the wall free from a friend, my cobalt blue collection in it's new home, and a slight splurge on a new light fixture!

I'm still toying with the idea of painted the bottom of the table black....

Kitchen Makeover Part II: The Faux Tin Backsplash for 25 cents!

The 25 cent back splash!!  Yippeeeee!!

Can't say I've ever had a "back splash" per se, just painted it the same as the walls!  Shall I even go so far as to admit, I never really thought about doing cool things on that space of the wall until a few years ago?  Back splash?  What's a back splash?

I was making a mad dash in to town one Saturday to run 5 errands in 
enough time allotted for about 2 errands.  As I'm coming in to town, there is a big sign spouting "Rummage Sale".   I'm still a recovering garage sale addict, so slips now and then are inevitable.   
  I stop.  Amidst my amazing finds was a huge roll of paintable wallpaper!!!  For a QUARTER!  I was thinking that stuff might make a neat back splash, and I was even willing to pay for a roll at Lowes.     It always pays to stop, no matter how big of a hurry you're in!

Mom measured and cut it down to the size needed, then I took it outside and spray painted it silver.

We used Elmer's Glue mixed with a little water to adhere it to the wall.  Afterall, we're into using what we have on hand, and wallpaper paste is not something I had on hand!

Kitchen Makeover - PART ONE

Before Beauty

I loved my cobalt blue kitchen.  Afterall, blue has always been my favorite color.  (Yes, I love orange too, but blue has been with me through thick and thin and you can't forsake a friend like that!).  But after 7 years, the "change" bug was really biting me.  And leaving quite an itchy spot!!  Those cupboards always bugged me.  Man I wanted to paint them.  But it just seemed so sinful.  But a good friend nudged me in the "go for it" direction, so I went for it, baby!  My white and cobalt blue kitchen is now what my dad calls machine gray.  Sounds pretty, eh?  Cabinets are black on the bottom and white on top, painted with Behr Semi Gloss Enamel.  It was expensive paint at about $35 a gallon, but last I checked, that's a penny in the bucket compared to buying new cabinets!!  We went with that brand because that's what the dude at Lowe's said would be our best bet.  I also took all the hardware (pulls) off and spray painted them silver.  Again, quite a bit cheaper that new. However, if you have to buy new, don't go anywhere until you look at Ebay.  I don't know why, but brand new on ebay is waaaaay cheaper than in the store and there is an amazing variety to choose from.

Money saving tip: mix your own paint.  This can be scary, but just use your brain and remember that blue and yellow make green.  I had some white on hand, some black, some blackish brown, some gray....

We (me and my dear mother who came from Iowa to help me with this overwhelming project) stirred it all together and tested it on the wall until I had something I liked.

Beautimous!!! no??  I'm like a proud parent looking at this here corner of my kitchen. :)

Stay tuned for more of this kitchen makeover such as: painting the countertops, the decor, and much more - on a shoestring of course!!

Marie's master piece

I have this friend.  I think she would give Martha Stuart a run for her money.  Then again, maybe Martha has already run with the money.  Anyways, this was a plain Jane metal table that my good pal Marie did that I just had to share with you.  The way she explained how she got this look?  Painted it white, then set flower shaped plates around on the table top and free handed this black design around each plate.  I don't know about you, but I'm impressed.  And the chairs are spray painted red.  This woman can be dangerous with a can of spray paint.  (Just ask her husband.)

when in doubt, paint the chair red

Isn't an old red chair just a charming little greeting on a front porch?  I happen to think so.  And the good thing about it is, you can paint an old wood chair rather haphazardly since it's supposed to have that weathered look, and you have a quick and cute sittin' spot.  Or better yet, put a big pot of flowers on the seat for a chic country look.  Me and potted flowers don't go well together since you actually have to water them.  Every day.

This barstool took a few coats of spray paint.  Man I have such a love/hate relationship with spray paint.  The part of me that lives by "waste not, want not" has a really hard time with all the over spray.  The slightest breeze and nooooooo come back here paint  - and it it disappears into thin air.

One day I pull into a friend's house and at the end of the driveway with a free sign is the chair on the left.  Way cool!  I grab it and paint it red.  I'm in the "Goodwill As Is" store not even a week later and what do you know, but a matching one for 79 cents!!!  And it even rocks!  I gave that a coat of red too.  Then the squirrels took a liking to it and I can no longer sit in my darling, more-comfy-than-it-looks chair. :(  But Tim got a BB gun and now I think it's safe to fix the seat....   just kidding....

Tori's lamp

Not sure why, but this odd little lamp just jumped out at me a few years ago while garage saling.  I even paid more than usual for it because well, it was so unique!  It looked a little oddly out of place in Tori's room so today we took care of that.  I love how one simple addition turned it into such a darling little light in her room!

I pulled apart some yellow gerber daisies and spray painted them teal.  Using a hot glue gun I glued three flower layers to the shade and put a big brown button in the middle.

Tidy Keepers

So.  I did the unthinkable.  Miss Frugal here actually paid to have my house cleaned.  You see, it actually started when I got a gift certificate as a birthday gift from my mother-in-law for an hour and a half of cleaning.  Whoa, wait a minute here, how does your mother-in-law get away with a gift like that?!  Gee thanks, she must think my house is a disaster!  No actually, I didn't take offense at all because number one, I despise cleaning and number two, my husband told her to do it.  I was 8 months preggo at the time and really couldn't do much of anything.  (Think humongous and then triple that thought).  So when they called to make their appointment, I could just tell by her voice that she was awesome at what she did.  No, seriously.  You really could tell.  First they came and went through my house with a pen and paper, writing down what I wanted them to focus on, like the 5 month old sticky spots on my kitchen floor.  Then the day they came to do the actualy cleaning, wow.  These ladies GO TO TOWN.  Fast, professional, they know how to GET THINGS DONE.  They are paid by the hour, and let me tell you, they pack more into that time allotment than.... searching my head for a good analogy here.... the socks I stuff in my sock drawer.  (Lame, but I don't want burned supper so I'm typing furiously!)  So lately I've just been too busy to think about cleaning.  (Like busy spray painting everything in sight, searching for little boy's lost blankies, and blogging of course.)  So I get a follow up call from Dana, and before I know it I'm agreeing for them to come for three hours.  They moved in with vacuum cleaners, supplies, and now that they've left, I'm afraid to do anything for fear of undoing my marvelously clean house!  "Pee outside, boys!  I don't want to mess up the bathroom!"  So if you're from the Parma area, you get your phone right now and give these women a call - you won't be sorry!  And, I promise they didn't pay me for this little promotion.  But Irene did buy three wood chairs from my barn!  Woot woot!  Oh and, you know they gotta be alright - I noticed a Harley Davidson sticker on the car.  Always a plus when considering a cleaning lady.

Ladybug shelves

These wooden lady bugs you can buy at JoAnn's for 59 cents.  Already painted!  I hot glued them on to the shelf after painting it white.  Had this ribbon stashed away in my tangled up, disorganized ribbon box and glued that on, and then added the antique buttons, also applied with hot glue.

I have no place in my house that a ladybug shelf would not look ridiculously out of place.  My apologizes for the double negative.  But they are just so fun to make!  And they sell fast too, another reason I like to make them! :)  Take an ordinary shelf, paint it white and turn it into something cute - obviously you don't have to use ladybugs!  Sometimes I wish I had another girl so I could decorate with things other than footballs, basketballs, tractors, cars, airplanes, baseballs, you get the point.

More ladybugs from JoAnn's and more buttons from my antique button jar!

Laboring on labor Day

I was getting tired of looking at this ugly potato bin in the barn.  It wasn't taking up much space, but it was getting harmful to my eyes.  Time to whip out the black and white paint!

Now tell me, don't you just want to go put a bag of spuds in this cute bin now??  And no, sorry to disappoint you, but I did not free hand that!