Showing Off Tracie (and Winners!)

Well hello!! I’m back this weekend to show off another fabulous DIY blogger – I know you’ll love her! But first, I need to announce the winners of the Two Broads Design giveaway!

The two lucky ducks are Hope with The Thrifty Queen and Elyssa with I Create Beauty! Ladies, please email twobroadsdesign (at) yahoo (dot) com to get your $40 credits! Have fun with them!

Okey dokey – it’s been waaaay too long since I showed someone off, so I’m excited to brag on another great blogger!

Tracie with Cleverly Inspired always has something fun up her sleeve – whether it be crafty goodness, DIY fun or some YUMMY recipes:

I love her header! Too cute! :)

One of her latest projects was transforming her bathroom vanity – here’s the before:

Of course, there’s the go-to project – painting the cabinets. But then she did the unexpected! (And I love that!)

She used an old window shutter as the new countertop:

Isn’t that lovely? (And yes, you can use wood near a sink – you just need to poly and caulk the heck out of it!)

You can see more about that project here.

We all know spray paint is the bee’s knees, and Tracie proved that once again with this $2 sconce:

She sprayed it a beautiful blue, then added some pretty little crystal gems to glam it up a bit:

Double thump to the chest for the spray paint!! I love how this turned out!

I’m totally, completely jealous of how pretty her garage is! She transformed it from this:

To this:

All with just some paint and fabric! And that cart is a changing table – brillz. ;) I so need a spray paint station like that.

You can see more about that project here.

One of my very favorites is her foyer redo – it was pretty to start with:

But with some paint, trim and a new light, it’s stunning now!:

SWOON!! Love it! What a great first impression!

She’s also a crafty chick (I’m working on some crafty goodness myself this weekend – it’s been way too long!). I love how she used copies of her mother’s recipes to create a super cute recipe box:

I just think that is lovely. :)

And speaking of recipes – here. you. go:

You can click on the photos to get to the recipes. And yes, I totally chose comfort foods on purpose. Tomorrow we’re down to 80 degrees here and that feels positively winter-like compared to this summer! I see that crock pot mac and cheese in our future…yummo!

I hope you’ll give Tracie a visit – I promise you’ll be hooked! And you’ll want to bake something. Trust me. :)

If you are interested in being highlighted, send an email to thriftydecorchick (at) gmail (dot) com and title it SHOW ME OFF! Send a me a few links to your favorite projects and maybe some photos as well. I’ve got a long list of great bloggers to highlight, but I’d love to add a few more!

The September Before and After Party will go up Monday evening – so get those posts ready! Until then, I hope you have are having a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Pops of Green

One of my very favorite things about blogland is that I’ll find inspiration in the weirdest ways sometimes. I’ll see a beautiful room and focus in on the smallest little detail that I MUST find a way to make my own. I love that!

I discovered a beautiful blog a few weeks ago called Maillardville Manor and it had me at hello because of the pretty spaces, but there was an underlying detail that I noticed after browsing a while:

Do you see it? All that GREEN. Live plants people – not faux. I mean, I love me some faux, but there’s something to be said about the real thing. ;)

I don’t have what you would call the greenest thumb, but it’s been so long since we’ve had a plant in the house, I wouldn't really know anymore.

Plants have always been a PAIN with our animals – especially cats. They munch on them – flowers, plants, whatever. Crunch crunch munch…the cats love the green.

And so many plants are toxic to cats, and now that we have the dog, we have to think about him too. It seems like every time I find a plant I like, it’s not fit for animals, so I keep on walking.

I haven’t taken the time to figure out what plants would work…till now. :) This time I was ready -- I stood in Lowe’s with my cell phone and some time, searching each and every house plant I came across. And I finally found a couple that worked. (It took awhile.)

The first, a basic fern…who would’ve thought?:

I love it’s feathery, uhhh…ferns? It’s so delicate and full and pretty.

(This one is Nephrolepsis exaltata (huh?) –  and is non-toxic. I hear some ferns are!)

It’s such a lovely pop of color too – I put this one next to the foyer buffet and it’s just perfect:

I could've used our plant stand (that’s never held a plant) but I like having it nestled in that little corner on the floor.

I also found a cutie little fern I put in the kitchen:

The rattan pot is from IKEA. Plant plus pot was less than $10 – not bad for a breath of fresh air. For reals. :)

The Bub picked out a Venus Flytrap, which I think is pretty darn cool:

I always wanted one of these growing up and now I totally have the kiddo excuse. ;)

Just be careful when you repot it – it may bite.

I kid! I kid!

Or do I?

Buwhahahaha…

Our final choice was a Fittonia something-or-other:

I think it’s called a Nerve Plant? I just loved it’s deep green leaves. And the fact that it wouldn’t make our cats puke. :)

Because I never have plants and we had nothing to put these babies in, I picked out some pots – I went with basic white ones that I can use anywhere in the house:

It was fun finding little nooks for the plants – I put this one next to the candlestick table in the family room:

I can’t tell you how giddy I am about these! It’s just silly.

Both only need low light, which I did on purpose so I could move them anywhere around the house without worrying about enough sun:

And get this – the cats haven’t even sniffed at them. Not a second glance – nothin’. You gotta be kidding me. I mean, I don’t want them to snack on them, but I finally have something in the house that wouldn’t hurt them and they don’t. even. care.

So totally cat-like. :)

I found the ASPCA site to be extremely helpful when picking out the house plants. I could search each name on the site and it told me if they were toxic to cats or dogs. You can also just look at a complete list of toxic/non-toxic plants as well.

I’m hooked now – if I can keep these green I’m totally getting more. I know there are many benefits to having plants in the home so they aren’t just pretty. (Check out all the benefits here.)

Any house plant lovahs out there? Know of any more animal-friendly plants I should look into? I hear some clean the air more than others too.

Let’s just see if I can keep these alive and kickin’. Wish me luck. :)

 

Did you miss the DIY trough how-to? If so, click here.

Showing off Kristi

Well hello there! Hope your week is going smashingly. ;)

I’m SO excited because we get our new sectional for the family room in just a couple of days. I am so giddy it’s just ridiculous. You’d think I was about to birth a sofa. ;)

I’ve got a day of moving furniture around (yippee! I mean, really, yippee!!) planned tomorrow, and after a few more changes I hope to show you the space next week.

WHEW HEW!!

Before I show you the fantastic blogger I’m showing off this month, I need to announce the two winners of the Vintage Poster giveaway. The lucky gals are Karen at Pine Oak Ranch (she has a grandbaby due soon!) and Amanda Smith at The Smith Family.

Congrats ladies! Please send me a quick email and I’ll get you hooked up with your gifts. :)

OK, onto the fantastic blogger-o-the-month. You’re going to kinda love me/kinda hate me after reading this post, cause you’ll click over and be at Kristi’s site for a LONG TIME. Consider yourself worthless for the evening.

But you’ll love me because there’s so much good stuff over there. ;)

Kristi at Addicted 2 Decorating is an interior designer in Waco, Texas who loves to DIY.  About a year ago, she made the decision to only take on projects where she can do all of the work herself – meaning no contractors, no painters. She does it all and loves it (like me and so many of you!)

I found Kristi a long time ago when I saw her take on the gumball fish tank:

Our version is usually in the Bub’s room:

But hubby has moved him out to the playroom where it’s “warmer” -- he’s a tropical fish you know. The Squishy fishy and hubs are BFFs. ;)

Her transformations are awesome – this thrift store chair had potential:

And Kristi made it into a beautiful after:

I LOVE what she used on the seats! Go here to see. :)

I think my mouth dropped open when she used art from Nudge Home as inspiration:

And made her own. Get ready for this…

GAH. Can you believe it? To see her process, go here.

Sunburst mirrors are all the rage right now, and there are some in particular I’m really digging. I’m trying my hand at one myself using shims, but then I saw Kristi’s version and hung my head in shame:

Now that is gorgeous!

She also shares the transformations in her client’s homes, and this recent one is just stunning. The upholstered wall was beautiful enough:

But with the addition of some DIY art, I was really swooning:

And I guarantee YOU could do it too – go here to see what she used. I think that is just lovely! (To see more of a how-to on the wall, go here. I’m bookmarking it fo sho.)

And finally, Kristi’s kitchen is just SO fun…I know you’ll love it:

I warned you…you’ll be surfing through her site for awhile. :) Put the kids to bed, grab a drink and prepare to put a dent in the couch.

COUCH! Did I mention ours comes this week???? Oh, I did?  ;)

If you’d like me to show off your blog, send me an email with the subject line “Show Me Off.” Include some links to your favorite projects! I will get to all of you amazingly talented Squeezies someday. :)

Showing off Cassity

Hey all! First of all…WOW! Thank you SO MUCH for all of the sweet comments on our lovely little book nook. You made my week. MONTH! Anyway, thanks again. It thrills me to no end when you tell me I inspire you. :)

I know I promised a how-to on the nook and everything I did inside, but I have to do hold that off till next week. I still need to take a few more pictures and our week has been so crazy, I’ve run out of daylight more than once. And you know how I hate the night time pics. ;)

So tonight, I wanted to show off a blogger I’ve been meaning to tell you about for a while. Cassity’s site is AWESOME.

Have you heard of Remodelaholic? If not, you’re in for a treat. Cassity and her hubby are a force to be reckoned with. I am in awe of their ideas…and their follow-through. And I love how they are able to reuse basic items to make something beautiful.

Case in point – this gorgeous headboard is made from…wait for it…kitchen cabinet doors:

Isn’t it lovely?? And you won’t believe the cost! Really. It was only $15. Cassity’s instructions are detailed and easy to follow – go here to see more of this project.

I absolutely loved how they transformed a builder basic bathroom cabinet from this:

To THIS:

Ack. I LOVE the added character! Go here to see the post on that project. 

I also love this next bathroom vanity, and it would be PERFECT in our bathroom. Because I’m like, 15 feet tall, our master bath vanity is SO stinkin’ low. It drives me mad.

I’ve been thinking about a new vanity, and the potential options…and I think this one is going to win out:

And with Cassity’s graphics, I feel like I could totally do it! (With the help of my Dad, of course.) I can’t WAIT to try this!!

I adore her version of this Pottery Barn mosaic art:

She did it on her own, in a beautiful blue color:

But those aren’t tiles peeps. ;) Go here to see how she did this for way cheap.

Remodelaholic also showcases some amazing projects out there in blogland. I find so much inspiration there.

As soon as I saw this one the other day, I emailed it to hubby immediately and begged him to bring home a music stand:

I mean, if anyone has access to those, my band director hubby does. ;) Isn’t that fantastic?

Head over to Remodelaholic (love that name!) and check out all the inspiration. But make sure you’ve got some time…you’ll be looking around for awhile. And then your hubby will tell you to JUST CALM DOWN – he’s bringing the music stand home already!! ;) Sheesh.

I’ll be back this weekend with a fantastic giveaway!

**If you’d like me to show off YOUR blog, send me a quick email with pics, links and a brief description of your favorite projects! Put SHOW ME OFF in the subject line.

Showing off Allison (and winners!)

Well HELLO Squeezies!! Are you ready for some WEEKEND?? :) I am! I have so many projects I want to complete (or at least start) it’s not even funny.

First, I need to announce the winners of the Oriental Furniture giveaway! The FIVE winners of $50 gift cards are:

1. Nikki from Kreative Knack 
2. Julie from Fresh Perspectives
3. Carly from Simon Family Says
4. Connie from Truly Connie’s World
5. Jenny from Make it and Love it (she’s got a precious new cutie!)

Wow, that’s awesome! Winners, please shoot me an email at thriftydecorchick(at)gmail(dot)com and I’ll get you connected.

You know I love blogs, I love fun projects and I love finding blogs with fun projects. Every once and a while, I like to highlight these fun blogs and share the luuuurve.

Today I’m super excited to show off a total sweetheart – Allison from House of Hepworths:

She is an absolute DOLL. And she’s hilarious. I laugh out loud every time I read her blog. I had the pleasure of meeting her at Blissdom:

(That’s Beth, me, and Allison.)

She is just so fun and sweet, and I love checking out her projects. I think you’ll love them too!

I shamelessly copied her last year by recreating her cheese dome turned cloche project:

She did the oil-rubbed bronze version, mine is the Heirloom White one. :)

This girl is trick-ay trick-ay with her ORB spray paint – would you believe she turned this:

Into this?:

Yes. she. did. Uhhh…brilliant. You can find out more about that project here.

Another stroke of brilliance is how she made this decor ball:

You’ll have to go here to see the two materials she used. Crafty one, that Allison. Crafty indeed. ;)

I saw these ice cream cone cupcakes and just about passed out from the cuteness:

Oh my goodness gracious, they are adorable. I am SO DOING these for the Bub’s next school party.

I loved her Skeleton Art project too:

So lovely. I have all of the parts to do this project and haven’t started it yet. When I do, I’m using her paper bag idea for the background.

I think my favorite part of Allison’s site is her tutorials. First of all, did I mention she’s funny? She is.

And secondly, she does such a great job at showing the process along the way. Like this post on how to get perfectly painted lines:

The myth is true my friends – you can get a clean line on textured walls!

She takes the time to write the steps in the pictures as she goes (and they make me laugh too).

Here’s the before of her dining room:

Schnikeys. It looks so much better now, even though it’s not done. Check it out here.

Isn’t she awesome? Love me some HOH (House of Hepworths). :)

There you go, some weekend bloggy reading.

If you’d like to me to highlight your blog – send me an email with the subject “Show Me Off.” Include a few links to your favorite projects and a bit of info about your site and yourself.

It’s going to take a while, but someday I’ll get you ALL showed off. :)

Have a great weekend!

Check out this month’s Before and After Party if you haven’t yet – so close to 500 links!! (The linky will close Monday evening.)