How would you like to be able to redecorate for each holiday or season without spending a fortune? I know I love to change things around in my own house, but I don’t want to spend a lot of money on something that will only be there for a short time and then taken down until the next year.

I have some old pillows that have definitely seen better days and were needing to be refreshed. I just couldn’t stand throwing them out and not being able to reuse at least the stuffing inside that was still in great condition.

I knew I also wanted to be able to reuse these pillows in case I ever wanted to change the pillow cover. I wouldn’t be able to do so if I sewed the covers on either which is what led me to make them a NO SEW cover.

Now all I have to do is just remove the fabric and replace it with something different the next time a holiday comes or my décor changes. You may recall some Christmas present pillows that I made using these same pillows and idea.

I wanted some new pillows outside on my porch to “livin” it up a bit. I am actually redoing my front porch for summer and can’t wait to show y’all when it is all finished. I love decorating with bright colors.

I bought the fabric at Joann craft store which was on sale, and I also had a coupon to use on top of that which was even a better deal. You may be thinking you can buy your own outdoor pillows, but when the fabric is on sale I love to be able to buy it instead because I can pick any pattern I want. Sometimes it is hard to find pillows to match exactly like I want.

I am using 1 ½ yards of fabric per pillow. Having extra fabric makes it easier when you are folding rather than not having enough.

Lay the fabric with the pattern side facing down on a table. Then lay the pillow on top of the fabric in the middle.

Fold the fabric over the pillow from the top and also the bottom.

Then on each side of the fabric, fold the sides in to form a triangle like wrapping a present.

Then fold each side over again about 1″.

Fold each end over on top of the pillow and wrap the 2 tips over each other.

Then using safety pins, secure the fabric down so that it doesn’t unwrap itself.

And you now have a pillow that you can change whenever you like.

*See the picture below for more detailed instructions.

What I love the most is that these pillow covers are for everyone because they are NO SEW too. You can easily remove the fabric and change them out for any occasion.

You can even turn them around if you want a more clean look without the fold.

Grab some old pillows that you thought about throwing out and reuse them to save you some money while still finding a new look to decorate with.

Enjoy your pillows and the little things in life like a simple upcycle project. It always makes me happy.

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So you have an awesome piece of furniture that you just love and can’t part with, but you would like to do something a little different to it to give it a makeover perhaps? But then there is always this budget and money thing in the back of your mind that has kept you from doing anything to it at all.

That little money voice in the back of your head is about to be evicted for good, because you can still keep your beautiful furniture, give it a new look, and NOT break the bank at the same time? That sounds like a plan to me.

All you need to use is some chalk paint! If you have been cruising through blogland for any period of time, then this probably isn’t the first time you have heard of it. But if you haven’t then you may be wondering what this rage is all about.

Chalk paint is basically paint that gives a dry, matte appearance or finish. It has actually been around for over 20 years but seems to have gotten more popular in more recent years. I actually had a friend that thought I was talking about chalkboard paint which is something completely different.

One of my favorite things too is that using chalk paint doesn’t require a lot of prep work with sanding and priming for the furniture. You can just get right to painting. It also can be used indoors and outdoors too which makes me pretty excited about a piece of furniture I am wanting to redo on my front porch that I can’t wait to share with y’all soon.

Now if you start searching the stores for chalk paint, you are going to find that it can be quite pricey especially depending on how much you are going to need and how large your piece of furniture is. So why not just make your own? You’re thinking, “You can really do that?” Why yes you can!

Recipe: You only need 2 parts of latex paint and 1 part baking soda.

How easy and inexpensive is that? Almost everybody already has baking soda. I know we always do in our fridge and baking soda is so cheap. Plus you can usually find latex paint on sale when you check the clearance section where someone mixed up the wrong color.

Once you paint your furniture, run over parts that would get worn easily with a piece of sand paper to give an antique finish. And that’s all you have to do.

One of my dear friends Dawn from the blog By Dawn Nicole has done some amazing things with chalk paint and is such an inspiration to me. (By the way, I will also be contributing to her blog this year so stay tuned for that too.)

Dawn ran up on a steal of a deal on Craig’s list with a dining room table and chair and bench set for an incredible deal. The only problem was the appearance of the wood. But being as creative as she is, she saw past the present to what it could be and worked hard to transform it into a stunning dining experience.

She used chalk paint in different colors that complimented each other wonderfully. I love the matte, dry look of the paint too. Because the paint can give an antique finish when you sand it in certain places, you don’t have to worry about your furniture getting beat up by kiddos. That natural wear and tear will only make it look even better.

Next time you just don’t know what to do with a great yard sale find, just think chalk paint. Mix up your own with your favorite latex paint and baking soda and you will be set. You no longer have to wonder what the rage is all about when you hear chalk paint being mentioned. You can now join in on the conversation and show off your furniture makeovers too.

Enjoy a beautiful weekend and perhaps even throw in a weekend project with chalk paint too.

I have noticed one thing about myself within the last few months. And that is that whenever I find something new that I like, I truly do commit to it and sometimes I’ll admit that I can go overboard too. One thing that I have found myself absolutely loving lately are the different styles of lanterns.

Lanterns seem to be very popular lately when I am shopping in so many stores. I love seeing different styles and colors. I bought one here and there, was given one for Christmas, etc. and didn’t realize until just recently how many I really have collected.

I wanted to share them with y’all and the different ways you can use them to decorate not only your front porch as many people would think but also inside. I also have a couple that I found either on clearance or at Goodwill that just needed a little TLC. Now they are gorgeous again and practically like brand new.

One quick reminder: Never think you have to spend a fortune for something you are looking for to decorate with. There are great ways to get the same results for only a fraction of the price.

The lantern below is my largest and probably one of my most favorite I have found. I found it on clearance at Target for $8 and originally $29.99, but the rope on this one had come out of the handle on top.

I knew that I could glue it back together very easily. They even gave me an additional discount because it was damaged. Now you can’t even tell there was ever anything wrong with it.

This black lantern is one that is gorgeous not only outside but also inside. It was given to me by my sister-in-law at Christmas and I love it! The cool thing about it is that it has a timer to set daily to come on at a certain time.

This red lantern has a solar powered light making it so easy to not have to ever change batteries or candles. I got it at Ikea with my sister as well, and it was so inexpensive.

I found the lantern hook at Target during Christmas and couldn’t resist putting it next to my front porch steps. Since it isn’t actually Christmas decoration, I am sure you could still find one now.

The milk glasses above with the money tree plants are actually a décor piece I made. You can check it out here too.

Even though it seems like I have a lot of them in this picture, I also forgot to include another one that I got at Goodwill for almost nothing. I can’t have enough because they are perfect to decorate so many different places inside and outside my house.

By this time of year, we all start getting the itch for warm weather and spring. These lanterns remind me that it won’t be too much longer. For now I will the look of them and try to enjoy the cold before it’s all gone.

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I have absolutely fell in love with glass milk bottles and knew I just had to do something with them which is why I painted them and made a vase. Mason jars are so popular, and I still adore them too. But glass milk bottles are becoming a new love for me as I think of different ways to use them.

I first got the idea to turn them into a vase after having cuts of my Paw Paw’s money tree still sitting around the house trying to figure out where I wanted to put them and what I wanted to do with them. The money tree is so beautiful with the iridescent and pearl colored leaves. Their beauty is very different from just any ordinary plant and love the different look of it.

I placed mine on one of my desk for a little extra something and love looking at it when I’m working. All the memories of my Paw Paw come flooding my mind with every glimpse of it. He is now in Heaven with our Savior, and I am looking forward to that day when I can see him again. The box in the picture below is one that I found at Target on clearance several years ago. I have loved keeping sentimental notes, cards, etc. in it from my lovely husband. Also love the quote on top.

This craft is also something that is simple to make and inexpensive. I literally made it in one afternoon in less than an hour. If you are looking for a simple and quick gift, then this is perfect. Maybe you just want something fun to make and do, then you have come to the right place.

Before we get started, I want to say one more quick thing about these glass milk bottles compared to the mason jar. Because my money tree branches are dainty and not a full plant, I would need many more cuts of the money tree to really fill up a mason jar and make it look full and not sparse. The glass milk bottles are taller and skinnier and worked great for this type of plant.

Supplies:

Glass milk bottles

Jute– I like to call it “burlap twine.”

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Acrylic paint

Foam paintbrushes

Paint tray

Scissors

Flowers for decoration

First start with your hot glue gun being heated and ready to go. Place a small dot of glue on the back side or the rim of the glass bottle. You do not want the glue to possibly show if placing it on the front. Place the end of the jute in the glue and allow to harden.

Start wrapping the jute around the rim of the glass bottle until completely covered.

Cut the end of the jute at the back side of the bottle again in order to keep the glue from showing. Place a dot of glue on the back side and glue the end of the jute down.

I chose to do three vase to add a little more to my desk. If just using one then it will still turn out perfect. But if you are using multiples, I suggest using an odd number if grouping them together. Be sure to glue the jute on the rest of your glass milk bottles as well.

Now start painting your glass bottles. One of my desk is in my bedroom which is decorated with gray and turquoise which is why I chose those colors. I also did varying heights of color but other designs with polka dots or stripes for example would be cute too.

Use a foam paintbrush to paint the bottles. You will see some of the actual glass bottle showing through at first with streaks but just keep going. Let that coat dry completely and paint any additional coats after that.

 

The gray covered better and only needed 2 coats. I ended up doing 3 coats with the turquoise to cover it completely. I also tried using the foam brushes with the round flat bottom but did not like the sponge look of the paint on the bottle.

The picture below shows the paint after the second coat. 

 

The picture below is after the third coat.

Once the paint has completely dried, place your flowers how you would like and then display somewhere in a beautiful place in your home.

I do want to show this money tree before its beautiful leaves are exposed. First there is a brown and dirty “coating” that covers what is hidden below and appears quite ugly at first.

All I had to do is rub that coating off gently which was very easy and small flat seeds would fall out and leave this beautiful pearl-like leaf. If you know anyone with a money tree, it is definitely worth getting some. They are so different than anything I have ever seen or bought. Plus they last for a long time. Not like your typical store bought bouquets. And they are also much cheaper.

Enjoy your new vase and maybe a special someone will just buy you some flowers to place in it. Enjoy the little things as always!

If you enjoyed the post, you will also enjoy this Ocean View Shadow Box, School Year Memory Jar, and Photo Coasters.

Also if you have not already, please join me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. I would love to hear from you with any comments, suggestions, or ideas you may have.

Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. 

 

 

 

 

When your little ones are all grown up, you will be so happy that you took the time to make this school year memory jar each and every school year to open up and read all the good times. The new school year has just started in my neck of the woods. Make this memory jar to encourage your children to try their hardest each and every day in order to be able to add a new accomplishment. Of course when your children are too young and haven’t quite learned how to read and write, you can ask them about something fun that happened at school that particular day and write it for them.

Another great idea to use this jar is to encourage good behavior at school. Use it as a reward system and if they do good the whole week at school, then they can add a new and fun memory each week. Another great encouragement of using this jar is to remind your kids of all the great things they do. School and growing up can be hard sometimes. When they seem to be struggling or having a hard time with schoolwork, pull out a note from the jar and remind them of the great things they have done in the past and all that they are capable of doing if they will only try their hardest.

At the end of each school year, it would also be fun to pull out all the notes and take turns reading them out loud. This will also boost your child’s confidence by reminding them how far they have come within the last school year and how much smarter they already are.

If you are a teacher, the memory jar would be a fun way to remember each class of students that you teach each year. You could have the students write their name and an accomplishment or memory that is special to them on a notepad throughout the school year and then place it in the jar. These are memories that you would have for many years to come of each of your precious students.

Pictures and videos are great ways to remember important parts of life and record memories. But writing the memories down makes them so much more personalized in their own little handwriting at each grade level. Plus many of the small but meaningful everyday accomplishments are not always taken in a picture or video either. This is a great way to remember those little things in life.

What you will need:

• Clear, glass jar
• Mod podge
• Foam brush
• Cricut
• Cricut Alphabet cartridge
• Cricut tools and accessories
• Scrapbook paper
• Foam mounting dots
• Photo adhesives or adhesive runner
• Round corner punch
• Twine
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Notepad
• Crayons/pencils

First I would like to begin by saying that this is a jar that can be personalized according to your child’s favorite things or style that you choose. Using decorative pieces that your child likes will also be another great memory as you look at how each jar changes in appearance every year. I am going to explain how I choose to make mine though below.

Have your layout and design ready to go before starting with any specific scrapbook paper or stickers you may need.

Use the Cricut to cut out the letters and numbers that you will need depending on your child’s specific school year. I used the Cricut Alphabet cartridge which has a standard but also cute font that worked perfect for this style.

If needing more specific instructions with how to use the Cricut, check out this 80’s sign that was made with the Cricut with step-by-step instructions.

Cut out a rectangle or shape to use to place your letters and numbers on before attaching to the jar. I found a scrapbook paper pad that had the writing tablet paper design and thought it was perfect. I cut my rectangle to be 4”x3”.

Then using the foam brush, brush a light coat of mod podge over the entire rectangle.

While still wet before completely drying, place your letters and numbers on the rectangle. Brush another coat of mod podge over the top of the letters and numbers to help them stick and lay flat. Do not worry if you have never used mod podge before and everything seems to have a white coat of paint over it. You did not ruin it. I promise. It will dry clear.

Let the rectangle dry completely before moving on. Once dry, brush a coat of mod podge over the part of the glass where you want to place the rectangle.

While still wet, place the rectangle on the glass jar and then brush another coat of mod podge on the top of it to help it to adhere to the glass and lay flat.

Add any décor or stickers to the jar at this point. I cut out from a piece of scrapbook paper, a little half-moon shape that said “Notes” to add a little something extra.

I also thought a tag hanging around the mouth of the jar would also be cute. The tag hanging on mine was actually just a plain yellow tag design from the same scrapbook paper pad that I used for this entire project. I cut it out and then also cut out several pencils that were on the same paper and adhered them to the tag using scrapbook adhesive squares. Use foam dots on certain shapes to raise them up and add an extra dimension.

Make a hole through the top of the tag which I found was easiest and cleanest looking using a straight pin until the hole was large enough to place twine through it. Measure your twine by first placing it around the mouth of the jar and then cutting it. Place the twine through the hole of the tag and wrap around the mouth. Tie a knot in the end to keep it from sliding off the top of the jar.

Measure the ribbon in the same way and wrap around the mouth of the jar for a little extra color. Tie the ribbon in a classic bow.

Once you are satisfied with your jar and the décor, now all you need is a notepad and a few crayons or pencils to start taking notes and making memories.

This project is also a fun way to get your kids involved helping you and also using their imaginations to design something that shows off each of their individual personalities.

Help your kids make their own school year memory jar to remember good times for many years to come. This jar is just a great way to incorporate what I truly do believe in. It’s the little things in life that really do matter that we must not forget. Live for the moment and enjoy the little things in life!

Also if you have not already, please join me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. I would love to hear from you with any comments, suggestions, or ideas you may have.