Decorating on a Budget: Wall Art

When I decorate my house, I don't have alot of money to work with.  I buy alot of my decor at thrift stores or garage sales, or make it myself.  But there is one thing I have noticed that is hard to find for a bargain....large pictures or paintings (that I like :P).  Most of the pictures you find at thrift stores are outdated and faded.  And if they are quality paintings, they usually still want alot of money for them!  Sometimes you do get lucky though, so don't stop looking!  I found this 2 ft by 3 ft Michael Humphries canvas for $10!  (I had to take the photo at such an odd agle to prevent flash glare, sorry!)

But when you have a particular idea in mind, it is often hard to find what you are looking for at a price you can afford!  So here is my cheap trick to get large and impressive art on your wall!  When I was decorating our bedroom, I had a blank white wall above our bed, and I wanted a large picture there.  I knew I couldn't afford to buy framed artwork, so I simply nailed this $15 large fleece throw to the wall! 

I know not everybody wants a bear over their heads when they sleep. :)  But there are so many different fleece blankets, or tapestry throws to choose from!  My mother made a frame out of 1in x 2in strips of wood, and stretched a western tapestry over it, stapling the edges to the back.  And just like that she had a big picture that makes a big impression!

Tapestry blankets typically run from $15 to $60.  You can also take tapestry pillows, take the stuffing out, and nail them to the wall like a picture!

Hopefully this has given you some ideas!  Have fun and save some money decorating!

Coffee Bean Candle Holders

Howdy!  It seems like lately I am always apologizing about not posting on here.  Our life has been incredibly hectic and erratic around here the past couple weeks, including doctor visits for me, and an unexpected hospital stay for my husband.  But the good news is that everybody is alright now!  So today I am going to share with you a fun and easy decorating tip for the holidays!

I am not much of a coffee drinker.  I like it, but I don't feel like I need it every day. You might say I am a social drinker. :)  But the smell of coffee is one of my all time favorite scents.  Often in the grocery store I walk down the tea and coffee aisle even if I don't need anything there just to smell the coffee beans!  This project will make your house smell that good without even brewing any coffee!

All you need is some whole coffee beans of your choice (I used french vanilla), decorative glass containers or trays, and some candles.  Make sure your containers are clean and dry.  Pour a small amount of whole coffee beans into them.   Next, position your candles where you want them.  Pour a little more of the coffee beans around them so it comes up the sides a little and supports the candles.  Now if you want, you can also add pine cones and pine sprigs to add color and cheer!

This is a great looking centerpiece that makes your home smell warm and inviting for the holidays!  Have fun with it, and enjoy the wonderful aroma!

Decorating On a Budget - Cutout Silhouettes

Alot of my inspiration for decorating my house comes from my mom.  She's very creative and artistic, and has alot of fun making new projects.

Both of us like the western metal cutouts, but they can be a little expensive!  Mom came up with a way to have cutouts that didn't cost much.  Plus, you can make whatever silhouette you want!

For these, she used the mat board like what is used to frame photos.  You can either find silhouettes or pictures to trace, or you can draw it out yourself if you are artistic!  Trace the picture you want onto the mat board, then use an exacto knife to cut it out.   

Lay the cutout on some old newspapers.  Mix the color paint you want.  Mom used a kind of rusty colored brown.  To get the rusty metal look, add a little bit of fine clean sand to your paint.  Dab the paint on the cutout, thicker in some places than others.  Cover the whole cutout in paint, and then let dry.

The cutouts don't have to be the western variety, either!  I had a couple pictures that my husband and I took on the wall of our bathroom.  The wall still looked a bit bare and boring, so I drew out some cattails and a pond with some ducks.

For this look I just used glossy white poster board, and metallic antique bronze paint.  I wanted it to look more like brushed metal.  I used a wide brush to paint all in one direction.  It turned out looking really cool, but you can't really tell in the picture.  ( I had a hard time getting a good picture with the lighting in the bathroom. Sorry! )  Since this was going to be in a damp area, I also sprayed the front and back with a craft sealant.  Then I put them up on the wall using poster putty.

I made these trees just to add a little something behind the clock in our bedroom.  It adds color and more dimension.

Something so simple and cheap to do, but it really dresses up the room!  Like I said, you can make any silhouette you want, and any color.  The possibilities are endless!  Have fun!