A repurposed sauerkraut jar! DIY

Here is another repurposed jar, this one a sauerkraut jar.  It now holds tealights!   The knob was on clearance at Anthropolgy. I sanded the lid, but not completely. Then I used Ranger's alcohol ink to age it.  I made the label using my collage maker and a vintage image from The Graphic's Fairy.  This one is going to my daughter-in-law for her birthday.  This could be used for an inexpensive hostess gift so save those jars!

Dollar Tree wall arrangement idea!

I try to steer clear of dollar store plastic junk that will just add to land fills, but this wall arrangement will last for years to come. The frames came from the Dollar Tree and they are made of wood. I used various photos and snapshots of family and changed them to black and white prints, a look I really love because it's clean and crisp. I need to tweak the arrangement a little, but I am thrilled with the general appearance. The photos are a warm reminder of how blessed I am so have so many loved ones in my life. I used cold pressed water color paper as a background behind the photos. I used double sided tape (also a Dollar Tree item) to mount the photos on the water color paper. Glue, even acid free, tends to make the photo curl slightly. The tape works much better. I'm showing views going up and down the staircase.

Don't forget to check out my new goth sculpt in the previous post!

Inspired by Restoration Hardware!

Here is one of my inexpensive decorating ideas. I was inspired by the very expensive ones that I saw in the Restoration Hardware catalog,framed prints of antique English music. For my project, I used Dollar Tree frames (but they are wooden!), cold pressed water color paper, and French music prints taken from the graphics fairy site. All of her prints are public domain, so you are not infringing on copyright when you use them. I used the water color paper as a background. It gives a bit of texture. Then, I laid the printed music on top, making sure all sides were even.

I love old paper and these print off so well that they look like the real thing! I have them hanging in my family room on the opposite wall where I have two of my dad's old violins hanging. Restoration Hardware's prints go the other direction, longways, while mine are sideways, but they still look great and for a few pennies I can have the look!

Off topic~ penny pinching tips

Occasionally, I like to pass on one of my lifestyle tips to you, so I hope you don't mind my going off topic every now and then.

I go through a lot of paper towels when I work at my sculpting desk. We also use a lot in the kitchen because we cook nearly all of our meals at home, so there are always spills on the counter or on the floor. Without thought, I would rip off a paper towel. We get our paper towels at CostCo and they are a much better value than at the grocery except for one thing, the sheets are way too big! So, I have started cutting them in two as soon as I open a roll. I can cut through several layers at a time. I set the stack on the kitchen counter and we are literally cutting our paper towel purchases in half!

Another tip:
We like the "homemade" bread at a local grocer because it has no preservatives in it. The bread gets stale within two days so I was always pitching bread! Now, I freeze 2 slices in a ziplock bag and freeze them for individual use. No, I'm not using a lot of bags because I stash them back in the freezer to reuse the next time I buy bread!

As an artist, I compare the cost of daily use products to the amount I get from my little sculptures. I spend hours on one piece, a piece of work that will last for years to come. Bread, paper towels, etc. are gone in a flash. I have become much more frugal about where I spend that money. Good for me and good for the environment!

Sculpting on hold for home redecorating...on a shoestring!

I had to take some time out to work on my house and do some updating. I love to decorate on a shoestring! So, let me explain. I painted my kitchen table and chairs black as well as my vanity in the upstairs bathroom. Thank you Martha Stewart for the wonderful paint in the color "Silouette!" I got it at Home Depot and it goes on smoothly and with very little odor. The paint totally transformed some things in my house that I really didn't like!
Now I have to tell you about the hutch? It was nearly brand new, but my son pulled it from a dumpster at his apartment building!!! It was free. Can you believe that? It sits on a white dresser that I got at the local thrift store for $29. It's a nearly perfect match.
You really don't have to go out and spend a lot of money to make your house look charming and inviting. You can do so much with paint and a brush! Beat the system and spend your money on other things that you enjoy. I want to travel, not sink my money into a household items that will just become dated in 5 years or so.
I hope you are inspired by my work and ideas.
See the three pictures? I made them from scrapbook paper, torn water color paper, and inexpensive frames that I painted white. My dad made the shelf for me many years ago. I painted it white to match the other pieces in the room.
So, this house is mine....not an interior decorator's. I put myself into and, better yet, I did it spending very little money!