Thrifting Twin Cities Style

I'm heading to Minneapolis in a couple of weeks.  I would love to do some off-the-beaten-path shopping while I'm there.  Does anyone know of any great antique or thrift stores in the Twin Cities area?  Please let me know.  I would so, so appreciate it!

Birds, Birds, Everywhere

It's official.  I am obsessed with birds.  Bird, birds, everywhere!  Here is another project featuring, you guessed it...BIRDS!  I found this bird orb at Kirklands for just under eight bucks. 

I didn't like the paint job so I got out my handy dandy American Accents in Heirloom White and painted it.  Once it was dry, I gave it a glaze of antique brown.  It my version of a Pottery Barn knockoff.  Whatcha think?

Made ~ Bunny Artwork

Remember the cute bird cut-out I found at Michael's?  Well, I also found some cute bunny cut-outs as well. 

I took the bunnies and their super springy colors and gave them a coat of American Accents in Heirloom White. 

Then I took an 8 x 10 canvas and painted it with Krylon's Blue Ocean Breeze. 

It's too glossy for my taste but with the bunnies in a matte finish...it turned out to be a great compliment.  I glued the bunnies onto the canvas and here I have a cute piece of springtime artwork for around a couple of bucks.  I can't wait until next Easter to display my creation. 

Westin's Make A Green Choice

I travel a lot as part of my job and I have stayed at A LOT of different hotels.  Typically, I stay at the Hilton family of hotels but every now and then a conference or meeting is booked at another hotel brand.  This week I am staying at a Westin.  Very nice, I might add. 

I am environmentally conscious.  I recycle.  I take energy-efficient measures.  I love the planet I live on but I'm not your overzealous tree hugger mind you.  I will have to say that I am impressed by Westin's "Make A Green Choice" in room campaign.  By opting to decline housekeeping service for the day, Westin will give you a $5 gift card to use at participating food and beverage outlets with their hotel.  You can also choose to receive 500 SPG(R) Starpoints(R) in lieu of the gift card.  All you have to do is hang a specially marked card on your door before a certain time to decline the housekeeping service. What a simple and nearly effortless way to help conserve natural resources and receive something in return.  I like it!

I chose to participate.  Why not?  I mean at home I do exactly the same thing.  I use my bath towel more than once just so I don't have to do that much more laundry.  Come on people!  You are CLEAN when you use a bath towel.  Am I right?  Thanks, Westin, for the chance to be environmentally conscious and for the free $5 towards food or drink at your hotel.  Cool!



P.S.  I also heart the bars of soap in my room.  They are shaped like leaves and smell so good!  White tea and aloe, I think.

Made ~ Yellow Bird, Yellow Bird

I've been busy with several little projects around the house but have been a slacker in the blogging department.  My apologies, ya'll!  Anyway, here is one of my most recent projects.  I found these cute little wooden cutout birdies at Michael's after Easter.  I paid a whopping 25 cents each for them.  Too cute and too cheap-cheap to pass up!

I took a piece of scrap wood about a foot long and six inches or so wide, painted it with some Krylon Chalkboard paint.  Then I glued the yellow bird cut-out to the board using Gorilla Glue. 

I attached a hanger to the back and voila!  The cutest chalkboard on the block.  I love it!  What do you think?  Tres cute!

 










    

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: