Adding Pops of Spring Color on the Cheap
This year I had planned on doing an Easter mantel... I started to fix it all up and then realized that Easter decor and my big black framed mirror just don't jive. In fact, it looked plain awful.
My mantel everyday decor looks like this...
For those of you that will think the obvious... (move the big black mirror, dummy) it's not that easy. My big black framed mirror appears to be just sitting on my mantel leaning on the wall but it is actually really heavy and wired to a screw in the wall at the top for safety, it ain't comin' down.
So, I gave up on the Easter mantel and decided to go for a spring theme instead. It had to be spring-ish and go with black, black is not springs best color. Hmmmm.
How about green and black?? I like it.
Since green is a spring-ish color and I love how it looks with black I thought I'd go with it. I started by adding my green candles and black candleholders. This set the tone.
I then added an apothecary jar filled with green apples for some more spring green.
I also added 2 little birds I got at Hobby Lobby for 80% off a while back. I thought they kind of looked like victims of an oil spill but I liked them despite their oil-slicked look. Plus, they are birds and birds are spring-ish looking (even if they look like oil spill victims.)
I put up my favorite little greenery wreath on the mirror and then added some green leafy looking branches to give a punch of color to my "decorative sticks".
And WAA-LAA! A Spring Mantel is born!
I think I like it better than my everyday mantel...
To pull out some more green I added my green leafy pillows (leaves count as spring-ish too!) to the couch.
and topped it off with my wheat grass as a coffee table centerpiece. More spring green!
It feels much springy-er (spell check is going to love me today) around here with the touches of green and birds and I didn't buy anything new.
You can do this too, even if you don't have a stash of extra decorations laying around like I do.
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating Tip: How to add a splash of Spring on the cheap...
First, choose a pop of spring-ish color that will work with your existing decor (think bright yellow or salmon pink) and just add little splashes of it through the room.
If you really have nothing you currently own to work with you can do it on the cheap.
Buy a can of spray paint in the pop color you chose (you may need a can of primer too depending on what materials you end up spray painting) Then, shop your local thrift store. Pick up a few picture frames and a candle holder, maybe a plate or a basket.
If you sew you can make an inexpensive throw pillow made of cloth napkins in your theme color. If you don't sew (like me) you can get a plain colored throw pillow for around $10 at Wal-Mart... maybe you splurge on one of those while you're buying your cheap spray paint.
A picture frame, throw pillow, candle, colorful decorative plate on a plate stand in the same or coordinating colors added throughout a room can add that touch of spring to your room that you are longing for (especially if you live in a colder climate!)
So.... have any of you added some pops of spring color? What is your color of choice this year??
Linking: Somewhat Simple, Fireflies & Jellybeans, Under the Table & Dreaming, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Thrifty Decor Chick, The Lettered Cottage
My mantel everyday decor looks like this...
 |
| Wow, this is a bad picture, and I'm missing candles on my candle holders but you get the idea. :) |
So, I gave up on the Easter mantel and decided to go for a spring theme instead. It had to be spring-ish and go with black, black is not springs best color. Hmmmm.
How about green and black?? I like it.
Since green is a spring-ish color and I love how it looks with black I thought I'd go with it. I started by adding my green candles and black candleholders. This set the tone.
I then added an apothecary jar filled with green apples for some more spring green.
I also added 2 little birds I got at Hobby Lobby for 80% off a while back. I thought they kind of looked like victims of an oil spill but I liked them despite their oil-slicked look. Plus, they are birds and birds are spring-ish looking (even if they look like oil spill victims.)
I put up my favorite little greenery wreath on the mirror and then added some green leafy looking branches to give a punch of color to my "decorative sticks".
And WAA-LAA! A Spring Mantel is born!
I think I like it better than my everyday mantel...
To pull out some more green I added my green leafy pillows (leaves count as spring-ish too!) to the couch.
and topped it off with my wheat grass as a coffee table centerpiece. More spring green!
It feels much springy-er (spell check is going to love me today) around here with the touches of green and birds and I didn't buy anything new.
You can do this too, even if you don't have a stash of extra decorations laying around like I do.
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating Tip: How to add a splash of Spring on the cheap...
First, choose a pop of spring-ish color that will work with your existing decor (think bright yellow or salmon pink) and just add little splashes of it through the room.
If you really have nothing you currently own to work with you can do it on the cheap.
Buy a can of spray paint in the pop color you chose (you may need a can of primer too depending on what materials you end up spray painting) Then, shop your local thrift store. Pick up a few picture frames and a candle holder, maybe a plate or a basket.
If you sew you can make an inexpensive throw pillow made of cloth napkins in your theme color. If you don't sew (like me) you can get a plain colored throw pillow for around $10 at Wal-Mart... maybe you splurge on one of those while you're buying your cheap spray paint.
A picture frame, throw pillow, candle, colorful decorative plate on a plate stand in the same or coordinating colors added throughout a room can add that touch of spring to your room that you are longing for (especially if you live in a colder climate!)
So.... have any of you added some pops of spring color? What is your color of choice this year??
Linking: Somewhat Simple, Fireflies & Jellybeans, Under the Table & Dreaming, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Thrifty Decor Chick, The Lettered Cottage
Flaunt it Friday Features
Hello, Hello!! Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. Even with the busy holiday weekend we still had a fabulous party! Thanks for linking up, friends!
Please feel free to grab an "I was featured" button if you were featured this week.
Dining room turned office in 5 minutes by The Yellow Cape Cod. (love that zebra chair!!)
Chic on a shoestring budget spring tablescape by Charmed.
Cute and thrifty DIY "GROW" outdoor sign with storage hooks by Est. 2009
Awesome chair makeover with paint, modge podge and fabric by The V Spot!
Recycled boxes turned magazine storage by Bon Temps Beignet.
A lovely trellis stenciled wall by All Things Beautiful.
Fab DIY headboard by From Gardners to Bergers.
Beautiful roses at Rose Petals & Rust. Soft pink roses are my fave...
DIY big inexpensive cool looking art by Hill Country Homebody.
I think I pick some pink furniture every week... I'm a sucker for pink. Check out these cute pink chairs by Chrissie's Collections.
This heavenly looking cake by Dragon Fly Designs only has 5 ingredients!
Please feel free to grab an "I was featured" button if you were featured this week.
Dining room turned office in 5 minutes by The Yellow Cape Cod. (love that zebra chair!!)
Chic on a shoestring budget spring tablescape by Charmed.
Cute and thrifty DIY "GROW" outdoor sign with storage hooks by Est. 2009
Awesome chair makeover with paint, modge podge and fabric by The V Spot!
Recycled boxes turned magazine storage by Bon Temps Beignet.
A lovely trellis stenciled wall by All Things Beautiful.
Fab DIY headboard by From Gardners to Bergers.
Beautiful roses at Rose Petals & Rust. Soft pink roses are my fave...
DIY big inexpensive cool looking art by Hill Country Homebody.
I think I pick some pink furniture every week... I'm a sucker for pink. Check out these cute pink chairs by Chrissie's Collections.
This heavenly looking cake by Dragon Fly Designs only has 5 ingredients!
Spring Cleaning 2011: Jewelry Organization
Is it too late to start spring cleaning now that May is just days away?
I don't think so... at least I hope not.
After taking care of sick kiddos followed by a 10 day vacation followed by sick kiddos again, I am just now getting around to my spring cleaning, but hey, at least I'm doing it, right?
I started out with a small project that is a HAAUUUGGEEE mess... my jewelry drawer.
I am so thankful to have a jewelry drawer as those little jewelry boxes just don't cut it for a jewelry lover like myself.
Unfortunately, my jewelry drawer had become a jewelry/junk drawer where random items get stuck when trying to do a quick clean up.
Here is an embarassing before picture (my old frienenemy Perfection was not here for this picture ;)
As you can see, most of this drawer was not jewelry, it was junk... cake decorator tips, seriously? My 6 year old stole them from the kitchen thinking they would be interesting bath toys, I took them back but they never made it back to the kitchen, ugh.
I was fed up with this mess and I was so happy to find this cute little earring holder at TJ Maxx for under $10. I had seen these around before but never thought they'd be big enough to hold all of my stuff. I was pleasantly surprised.... I should've bought one of these pretty trays a looooong time ago.
To get started, take an embarassing picture of your messy jewery storage and post it on the web for all the world to see. (ok, you can skip that part I guess).
Step 2 (or 1 if you are too ashamed of your jewerly mess), take everything out of your drawer. Then start 3 piles, sell, donate, keep. I try to get rid of anything I haven't worn in a year and I stuck to it this year!
Get yourself a nice little tray like this (or something similiar)
After going through my jewelry drawer I was able to purge several items that I never wear anymore. I filled an old shoebox with all kinds of earrings, bracelets and necklaces that I can sell in my garage sale.
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating Tip: Used jewelry sells great in garage sales (at least mine did). Clean out your drawer and make $money$!
I found out last year at my garage sale that jewelry sells really well. (When I say jewelry I'm refering to costume type stuff from the mall, not diamonds and gold... I would not recommend selling the real stuff in a garage sale. :)
Anywho, I am loving my new organized jewelry drawer!
After purging all the stuff I never wear I had plenty of room! I was even able to put some bracelets in my earring holder.
While I was at it I decided to clean my sterling silver jewelry. I had previously just used one of those silver jewelry polishing cloths, they work ok but not on really tarnished stuff.
I thought this old cuff bracelet was beyond help.
I don't think so... at least I hope not.
After taking care of sick kiddos followed by a 10 day vacation followed by sick kiddos again, I am just now getting around to my spring cleaning, but hey, at least I'm doing it, right?
I started out with a small project that is a HAAUUUGGEEE mess... my jewelry drawer.
I am so thankful to have a jewelry drawer as those little jewelry boxes just don't cut it for a jewelry lover like myself.
Unfortunately, my jewelry drawer had become a jewelry/junk drawer where random items get stuck when trying to do a quick clean up.
Here is an embarassing before picture (my old frienenemy Perfection was not here for this picture ;)
As you can see, most of this drawer was not jewelry, it was junk... cake decorator tips, seriously? My 6 year old stole them from the kitchen thinking they would be interesting bath toys, I took them back but they never made it back to the kitchen, ugh.
I was fed up with this mess and I was so happy to find this cute little earring holder at TJ Maxx for under $10. I had seen these around before but never thought they'd be big enough to hold all of my stuff. I was pleasantly surprised.... I should've bought one of these pretty trays a looooong time ago.
To get started, take an embarassing picture of your messy jewery storage and post it on the web for all the world to see. (ok, you can skip that part I guess).
Step 2 (or 1 if you are too ashamed of your jewerly mess), take everything out of your drawer. Then start 3 piles, sell, donate, keep. I try to get rid of anything I haven't worn in a year and I stuck to it this year!
Get yourself a nice little tray like this (or something similiar)
After going through my jewelry drawer I was able to purge several items that I never wear anymore. I filled an old shoebox with all kinds of earrings, bracelets and necklaces that I can sell in my garage sale.
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating Tip: Used jewelry sells great in garage sales (at least mine did). Clean out your drawer and make $money$!
I found out last year at my garage sale that jewelry sells really well. (When I say jewelry I'm refering to costume type stuff from the mall, not diamonds and gold... I would not recommend selling the real stuff in a garage sale. :)
Anywho, I am loving my new organized jewelry drawer!
After purging all the stuff I never wear I had plenty of room! I was even able to put some bracelets in my earring holder.
While I was at it I decided to clean my sterling silver jewelry. I had previously just used one of those silver jewelry polishing cloths, they work ok but not on really tarnished stuff.
I thought this old cuff bracelet was beyond help.
After one 10 second dip in Connoissuers Silver Jewelry Cleaner it came out like this...
It's like new, I couldn't believe it!
Am I the only one that just started my spring cleaning?? Come on, you can admit it if you haven't... make me feel better about starting so late. ;)
Happy Spring Cleaning!
Linking I heart naptime, Under the Table & Dreaming, CraftOmaniac Monday, The Stories of AtoZ, The Lettered Cottage.
Easter Eye Candy... No Calories!
Hi friends, this is the time of day when I crave something sweet! I know many of you are going to be reading this at different times of the day but that's ok, I pretty much am always craving something sweet! :)
I need to save my calories so I can pig out this weekend on Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs stolen from my boy's Easter baskets (why are they so much better than the regular cups?? am I the only one that thinks this??) So, I'm going to be indulging in some calorie free Easter eye candywhile I eat a handful of pastel M&Ms.
My kitchen table centerpiece... I threw this together last year and really loved it so decided to do it again this year.
I love the tulips and daffodils from our yard... if they would only bloom all summer long.
The bunnies...
The coffee table gets some Easter flair too...
I need to save my calories so I can pig out this weekend on Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs stolen from my boy's Easter baskets (why are they so much better than the regular cups?? am I the only one that thinks this??) So, I'm going to be indulging in some calorie free Easter eye candy
My kitchen table centerpiece... I threw this together last year and really loved it so decided to do it again this year.
A new item this year is the egg wreath below. I scored it last year after Easter for 90% off, paid a whopping $3.... LOVE it!
Birds on candleholders, it just makes sense. Click here to see how I made their floral nests.
Click here to see how I arrange faux forsythia and pussywillow branches, it's pretty much fool proof.
The other new addition to my spring decor (only 2 things this year!) is this lovely wooden tray on clearance at TJ Maxx for $3, yes $3, really.
I love the tulips and daffodils from our yard... if they would only bloom all summer long.
The bunnies...
The kitchen Easter vignette...
The coffee table gets some Easter flair too...
And, finally...
Hope you enjoyed my zero calorie eye candy. If not, go get yourself a Peep, I won't tell.
xoxo
Flaunt it Friday Features
Another week of lovely link ups!
Don't forget... today is the last day to sign-up for the Tupperware Chop 'N Prep giveaway by my wonderful sponsor Chris from Today's Organized Kitchen.
Here are the Flaunt it Friday Features...
Please feel free to grab a button if you were featured.
A little tour of a beautiful home done a budget by Hello Lovely, Inc.
Bathroom closet turns into dressing room with the cutest vanity by Liz Marie!
Napkins turned cute pillow and tote by DIY by Design.
Super cute pastel Easter cupcakes by Running with Glitter.
Lovely Pottery Barn coastal inspired thrifty room makeover by Adventures in Decorating.
Cute & Thrifty Anthropologie inspired wire basket pendant light by Three Pixie Lane.
A fabulous dresser makeover by Recaptured Charm.
A cute DIY applique pillow by Turning a House into a Home.
Don't forget... today is the last day to sign-up for the Tupperware Chop 'N Prep giveaway by my wonderful sponsor Chris from Today's Organized Kitchen.
Here are the Flaunt it Friday Features...
Please feel free to grab a button if you were featured.
A little tour of a beautiful home done a budget by Hello Lovely, Inc.
Beautiful mirror makeover by Blue Roof Cabin.
Bathroom closet turns into dressing room with the cutest vanity by Liz Marie!
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An awesome makeover by The Frosted Gardener.  |
Super cute pastel Easter cupcakes by Running with Glitter.
Lovely Pottery Barn coastal inspired thrifty room makeover by Adventures in Decorating.
Cute & Thrifty Anthropologie inspired wire basket pendant light by Three Pixie Lane.
A fabulous dresser makeover by Recaptured Charm.
A cute DIY applique pillow by Turning a House into a Home.
 |
Flaunt it Friday #53
Hi friends! It's already time for Flaunt it Friday again!
But first, in case you missed it...I'm offering a special for any new sponsors that would like to place an ad on Chic on a Shoestring Decorating... $10 for 30 days!! This is 50% off my normal ad fee!
This will get you a 125x125 square ad in a prime location at the top of my middle sidebar.
This is a great inexpensive way to get your ad viewed by thousands of people for just over a quarter a day!! Last month I had just under 50,000 pageviews according to Google stats.
Act fast... this offer is good through Sunday, April 17. Please contact me for more details!
Meet my newest sponsors...
Now time to party!
PS: Don't forget to sign up HERE for the Tupperware Chop 'N Prep giveaway ending Sunday, 4/18!
But first, in case you missed it...I'm offering a special for any new sponsors that would like to place an ad on Chic on a Shoestring Decorating... $10 for 30 days!! This is 50% off my normal ad fee!
This will get you a 125x125 square ad in a prime location at the top of my middle sidebar.
This is a great inexpensive way to get your ad viewed by thousands of people for just over a quarter a day!! Last month I had just under 50,000 pageviews according to Google stats.
Act fast... this offer is good through Sunday, April 17. Please contact me for more details!
Meet my newest sponsors...
Now time to party!
PS: Don't forget to sign up HERE for the Tupperware Chop 'N Prep giveaway ending Sunday, 4/18!
My faves...
