Red Solo Cups

Just in case you think I collect white vases willy-nilly, I do actually use them.



I bought some live pussy willows yesterday at the grocery store and put them in my latest acquisition.



I used to rub these on my face when I was a kid. They feel like rabbit feet. Or cat's feet, I guess (hence the name). But who would rub a cat's foot on their face! Sounds unhygienic with the whole cat litter issue and all.

Cheap tip of the day - do you ever buy a vintage vase and you're not sure if the pottery is still watertight? I just slide one of those red solo cups (not just for beer) into the vase and fill that with water. You can actually use your vase as a vase without the worry of the water leaking out. A win-win all around.



I dare you not to hum Red Solo Cup the rest of the day.

Red solo cup

I fill you up

    Let's have a party . . .

   

Thrifting At The Anitque Store

Since I have been striking out at the thrift stores, I have been checking out the antique malls a little more closely, looking for some deals.

This McCoy vase was a deal at $5.00. It's fairly large and will be added to my white vase collection. In my opinion, you can never have too many white vases, so I pick them up whenever they are a good price!



I found two oil cans (or are they oilers?) to add to my son's collection. Love the chippy, rusty red look to the one on the left.

Peat Pots Take Three

Last week was a doozy around here. Husband had that respiratory crud that was going around. Son had some wacky stomach virus. I tried to not get either. Knock on wood, I think I escaped unscathed.

But this girl is exhausted, so enjoy a replay of a post from 2011 to get you in a happy, springy, crafty mood.

FOR PEAT'S SAKE - SPRING 2011


While perusing one of my favorite vintage/crafty blogs, Musings From Kim K., I ran across a post that showed how to turn peat pots into little Easter decorative baskets.

Don't Let The Door Hit You On the Way Out

One thing I've learned since I started blogging is that the seasons vary greatly across the country (most people probably learn that in Kindergarten).

This time of year the differences in the regions seems especially apparent though.

Instant Collection

While I was at the antique store today I found these three little cuties.



They were $5 each. Not exactly yard sale prices, but pretty darn close.

Instant collection.

If it's anything like my camera collection it won't end there.



Linking with Knick Of Time Tuesday, Nifty Thrifty Tuesday, Tweak It Tuesday, Wow Us Wednesday

   

The Not So Pretty Post

Occasionally in the comment section, I have been accused of having a clean house. The nerve of some people!

OK, it wasn't as much accusatory as complementary, but still it made me think. I don't want anyone to feel bad about not having a neat as a pin house themselves based on me and my white lies.

You see, it's all smoke and mirrors, people.

I normally clean up the area directly connected to where I'm taking photos and throw all the clutter to the side where you can't see it in the shot. Pretty vignette in front of the camera, hoarder's garbage heap behind the camera.

So in the interest of full disclosure, this is what my living room looked like when I was taking last Tuesday's photos of the printer's box.

Vintage Valentines

My son's school was called off today, except we never got the phone call.



So at 6:45 AM (like as in really freaking early in the morning) we were waiting outside the house in the cold and snow.

A Printer's Drawer Makes A Comeback

I finally got tired of my subway art sign being predominant in my living room, so I decided to get all wild and crazy and really shake things up around here.

Sort of.

BEFORE - with subway art sign and stoneware jar on the top shelf (I know you are all jealous of my return air vent smack dab in the middle of my wall).

February Paperwhites

When you are thrifty and will only buy paperwhites AFTER Christmas when they are on clearance, you get to enjoy the blooms around Valentine's Day.

One of the many benefits of being a cheapskate.

You'll notice that I have done a little tweaking on my blog over the last few days. Just moving some things around and getting a little more color up in my header. Loved the typewriter chalk drawing, but thought it looked a bit stark for the dead of winter. This girl is craving spring and some color right about now.



Linking with Sunny Simple Sundays, Tweak It Tuesday, Nifty Thrfty Tuesday

   

Cardinals And Camellia

I know you're all saying "Another darn bird post, Pam?"

Well, quit squawking. I like my feathered friends.

I bought this vintage looking bird and botanical print for a song at Goodwill the other day. I think people normally used two or three of these types of prints grouped together, so I kept searching around for its missing mates at that store, but, if they were ever there, they had long since flown the coop.

After I got home, I had second thoughts about buying yet another bird thing though.

Back in the 80's, I started to get a reputation for liking cows. And pretty soon my kitchen was full of cows. Not bought by me though, people bought them for me as gifts.

Cow figurines. Cow prints. Cow salt and pepper shakers. Cow cookie jars. Cows, cows, cows.

Now it seems to be birds, but this time the problem is being created by myself. I must stop this before it goes too far!

See those brown stains on the top of the print? Turns out they were on the underside of the glass, so I have since taken the print out of the frame and gave the glass a good Windexing and it looks all shiny and sparkly now.

The walnut and gold tone of the frame was looking a little Brady Bunch-ish to me, so I slapped a coat of white paint on it and gave it a whole new look.

Not bad for $1.99 and some paint I already had on hand.

Plus this is the first halfway decent thrift store find I have had in a long time. Maybe the thrifting tides are turning!



Linking with Feathered Nest Friday, Be Inspired, Home Sweet Home, Fabulously Creative Friday, Frugal Friday, Saturday Night Special, Tweak It Tuesday, Nifty Thrifty, Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

   

It's Snowing Hearts

Another super duper quick Valentine's Day decoration.

Take a jar. Put a bag of cinnamon hearts in the bottom. Plop in a copy of a vintage Valentine postcard. Instant red hot romance.

OK, that might be going a bit far. Instant vignette, at least.

I was going to put Valentine M&M's in it, but my butt's big enough. You gotta use a candy that you don't love more than life itself or you're just asking for it to be refilled constantly.

It's the same jar I used in December for a snowy scene.

I'm already searching for pint sized leprechauns for St. Patty's Day.



Linking with Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits, Be Inspired, Saturday Night Special

   

Thrifty And Super Easy Valentine's Day Garland

Emphasis on the EASY part.

I have no claims that this is super creative craft project, I'll leave that kind of craft to all you artsy fartsy types. You know who you are.

You see, I learned long ago that I am good at recreating projects that other people think of. Thinking of them myself, not so much.

And I gravitate toward crafts that can be made in an hour or two. Much longer than that and it will sit unfinished until I finally throw it away two years later. Really. I'm just about to give up on a sheet music wreath that I started prior to Christmas in 2011.

So this a a project for all of us creatively challenged people that still want to feel a tad bit crafty.

I printed out some Valentine images that I found on The Graphic Fairie's site. Love that girl!

And I used mini clothespins that I bought at Walmart to attach them to my hand crocheted string. You can just use a plain piece of string, but I wanted it a little thicker, so hence the crocheted chain.