Second Place & A Cricut

My leopard office set made from throwaway boxes came in second in my office's Trash to Treasure contest.  Woo-hoo!  Now I have a $25 Wal-Mart gift card burning a whole in my purse.  I'm thinking about putting it towards a Cricut Expression.  What do you think?  Is the Cricut Expression worth the splurge?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Thrifty Thursday & A Maid Marian Transformation

At work we are having a Trash to Treasure contest in honor of Earth Day.  The object of the contest is to create a piece of artwork or something functional from items that would normally be throw into the trash.  Since I am on a home decorating kick, I decided to create something functional.  I started with an empty stick butter box and cereal box.  See here mid-project.

I trimmed the lid off the butter box. Spray painted the interior of the box with American Accents in Black (semi-gloss).  Then I wrapped the box in a leopard print fabric scrap using Spray Mount and my trusty hot glue gun.  The fabric was left over from a bench re-upholstery job a couple of years ago.  I used a scrap of black grosgrain ribbon, twine and buttons from the junk drawer to make the decorative accents.

With the cereal box, I removed the top of the box and cut the widest sides of the box on the diagonal to create a magazine holder.  Just like the butter box, I painted the interior of the box and wrapped it in the same leopard print fabric and ribbon. So for an investment of just my time, I have the beginnings of a nice office set.

I'm linking up at:

 

Winter to Spring Master Bedroom Update

This year I decided to update the look of our master bedroom with the season.  As you can see in the before photo, the color palette of our bedroom is chocolate and blue.  The paint color is Mythological Sea by Martin Seymour Paints.  It is my all-time favorite paint color.  I love it, love it, love it!  The curtains are chocolate faux silk from Target.  They were purchased since my husband works nights and they have great blackout liners.  The comforter set is from Dillards (on sale).  The shams and a matching quilt are from TJ Maxx.  The throw pillows are from TJ Maxx and Stein Mart.  The lamps are from Kirklands (on clearance). 

I didn't want to go wild and crazy with a total redo.  I decided just to update the linens and add the silhouette plaques I made a couple of weeks ago.  Our new quilt and shams came from SmartBargains.com for less than $50.  And I spent less than ten bucks on the plaques.  So for less than $60 bucks, I have updated our master bedroom from its winter wardrobe to a spring one.  What do you think?

I have a few more things that I want to do but one thing at a time.  Stay tuned.

I've Been Featured!!!

I'm so excited!  I've been featured, my first, on Under the Table and Dreaming for my littlest football fan birthday party that I threw for my son Asher's first birthday.  Thank you, Stephanie Lynn!  I'm so honored you picked me. 

Check out the other wonderful party ideas for boys that Stephanie chose.  I've gotten wonderful ideas for some future parties.

Made - Spring Has Sprung and So Has My Creativity

Spring has definitely sprung here in the South.  Yellow pollen is EVERYWHERE.  Not that I'm complaining because I love this time of year because of God's beautiful works...flowers.  Here are some daffodils and Bradford pear blossoms I found in our neighborhood.

Usually with spring, I find myself rejuvenated and more creative.  Here is just a few of many projects I have been working on. 

Maid Marian Made Transformation #1:

I found these cute styrofoam eggs at the dollar store, Dollar Tree to be exact. 

And painted them with some robin's egg blue paint I had lying around. 

Then I flecked them with some chocolate brown paint.  After which, I hot glued them into some adorable birds nest I found at Hobby Lobby for $1.99 for a two nest package. 

This project came under five dollars for four nests.  Pretty cool!

Maid Marian Made Transformation #2 & #3:

Another project that I've completed recently is my new dining room table floral arrangement.  I spray painted an old tin bucket with American Accents Heirloom White. Then I added a bunch of silk peonies in varying shades of cream and pink.  I accented the bouquet with some pink and green berries.  Tres chic. 

The floral arrangement is accompanied by two sweet bird votives I picked up from the Dollar Tree.  They were originally brown.  I also painted them Heirloom White and then antiqued them with a chocolate antique glaze.  Aren't they adorable?

Maid Marian Made Transformation #4:
And last but not least, I baked some cupcakes for my son's Easter party at daycare.  I created these cupcake toppers with some artwork I found on the Internet.  I'm sorry I can't remember where I found them.  I think they were on Scribd.  Too ca-ute.  The cupcakes were delicious, if I don't say so myself.