I found this easy to follow video series on a website I was looking through. I have had the chance to watch the videos and think they are so great! Such a great resource for those starting to sew! I really recommend taking the time to watch the short videos. I even learned a few new things! These videos are made by Thread Magazine.
Here is the link:
My entry table is still a work in progress. I am trying to be as frugal as possible so I haven’t really done much with it but here is a picture of it. I played around with two different vases and I think I am currently liking the second one. I guess we will just see what else I can find really cheap.
Here are the two pictures:
#1 #2
Still searching for the right hardware… I by still searching I really mean I haven’t really looked! Oops!
I really do love the Dollar Store. It is possibly the best store ever! You can create so many useful things from items bought from there. Well after reading through about 4 or 5 blogs that had the same idea of hot glue-ing a couple of crystal pieces together to create some really neat decor items, I decided to try and make my own!
The first thing I made was a potpourri holder. I found some really pretty potpourri at Ross for $2.99. I bought a candlestick holder from the dollar store and I had a glass bowl leftover from the wedding. So I decided to get the hot glue gun out and get started.
This is what I used: 
The directions are pretty simple. Hot glue the candlestick holder to the bottom of the glass bowl. Pour potpourri into the bowl. Place decor item in desired place around the house. =)
And here it is my half bath: 
The other thing that I created was a large candle. I created it using these items: 
The directions are pretty much the same as the other item. Hot glue the candle (found in the candle section of the dollar store near the other religious candles) inside the glass hurricane. Hot glue the candlestick holder to the bottom of the glass hurricane. Place completed item in a special place around your home. To add a decorative flair, you can add leaves, twine, or other decorative foliage in between the candle and hurricane.
Here is the completed candle in my half bath: 
I plan to make one more of these and add it to my entry table or on my mantel. I just haven’t made and haven’t decided exactly where I want it. I will post pics when I complete it.
Cost Breakdown:
Glue gun and glue sticks --- I had already. --- $0
2 Candlestick holders ---- 1 I already had at home. --- $1
1 glass bowl --- I had already at home. ---$0
1 glass hurricane --- I had already at home --- $0
1 package of potpourri --- $2.99
1 tall candle in glass holder --- $1
For a total of roughly ----- $5 What a steal!
As you can see this a very inexpensive project. Something else that you can do that is unique is spray paint the glass, that will give it a very unique look as well.
So a couple of days ago I told you about my weekend project of repainting and redoing my downstairs half bath. I had gotten and picked out the paint awhile ago and I finally got my butt in gear to do it. It took hubby and I one night to really do almost everything. We took the next day to do some touch ups and clean up the bathroom. It was a pretty inexpensive facelift. I have yet to replace the faucet but I definitely will do that sometime in the future. I replaced the light fixture, replaced the jumbo mirror (who wants to look at themselves while they use the bathroom?? –not me!), and painted the walls. I will also (sometime down the road) refinish the vanity. That will most likely be a longer project so I decided to forgo that for now.
And now for your viewing pleasure, before and after pictures of the half bath.
Before: 
After: 
You can really see the paint color in the last two pictures.
I love how light and ‘fresh’ it feels.
Here is a rough cost break down:
Paint - Glidden Canyon Echo and supplies: $30
Lighting: $79.99
Mirror: $39.99
Most of the decor I had already or I made from supplies found at the Dollar Store. I will post about those later.
So overall it was about a $150 facelift. I can’t complain because it came out just as I had hoped!
My buffet is complete and I am so happy how it turned out! I am in love with it! I am also quite impressed with myself; I saw an inspiration picture and was able to replicate it.
Here is how it turned out: 
And for reference here is the inspiration picture next to my completed picture: 
So I never really got around to finding the hardware for my entry table. I instead, devoted my weekend to finally painting my half bath that is down stairs. I had gotten a small can of paint from the Glidden Promo that they did this summer and just never got around to painting it. This weekend the hubs and I painted the bathroom, replaced the lighting, and took out the (huge) mirror. It came out lovely. The only thing left to do is find a mirror. I would like a smaller mirror with a frame to put in there. I also later on would like to replace the faucet but I didn’t do that yet. I really think it turn out great. I will post some pictures of the finished product once I find a mirror to put in there.
Here are some BEFORE pictures:
As you can see they are not the best pictures, but you can see the basic decor. The walls were painted Glidden Canyon Echo. I bought the two flower pictures from Garden Ridge and the shelf above the toilet used to be white and I spray painted it the metallic charcoal color. The three pictures in the picture frames at the bottom of the shelf are actually just scrapbook papers. I also spray painted an old trash can to match.
Completed pics to come soon!
My entry table is here! I got so excited when I heard the FedEx truck coming down the road. I knew immediately that it had to be for me!
I was eating lunch at the time so I finished eating and then decided not to wait for Hubby to come home and put it together. I took on the adventure of putting it together myself. It only took me about an hour and a half, maybe two hours to complete it. I was also watching a DVRed episode of Nip/Tuck so I going back and forth from that and the assembly directions. I set it in it’s place and it fits great! I had a 40 in. space to work with and I it was somewhat hard finding something to fit that space without being too small. It looks great!
I have yet to decorate it or add the hardware to the drawers (I should go buy those this weekend).
