Low Cost Train Table.

When my four year old son asked for a train table this Christmas I thought surely I could find a suitable set for an affordable cost even if I had to buy a plastic one from Walmart. Then, I began shopping and let's just say I had no idea the cost of a train table these days! So, you guessed it...I decided to make one.
Here's where it all began...a $6.00 thrift store end table! I painted it black (paint I already had) and cut the legs and castors off to lower the heighth. Then (with my dads help) I took an old used round table with a laminate top on it (great for cleaning) and cut it into a square. My dad then cut trim to fit and nailed it in. Then I began to work out a layout for the track using existing pieces I had at home and some my dad picked up at a thrift store for $3.00. Once I had the layout arranged where I wanted it we (my dad and I) mounted the table top to the end table with screws.

Here is the finished product. I painted all the tracks and some of the pieces black as well because I didn't love how the wood looked against the tan laminate and I felt a colored track might be too busy (even for my little boys). Then I painted the trim a bright blue and glued (epoxy) it all in place...I know that most train tables come with tracks unattached but I didn't want to be picking up pieces all of the time and since this gift was for a 1 year old and a four year old to use together I thought it would be best to keep it all in one place.

Notice the built in drawer for added storage. I took the old hardware off and tied a red rope at both ends for easy accessability.

Well, that's it. Not fancy, I know but I think my boys will just love playing with this table and track set. Can't wait to see their faces in the morning! Oh, I almost forgot...total cost for this project was $30.00! Can't beat that :)!

Snowed in?

I just love the simplicity of creating your own paper snowflakes. It's so magical to me that something as simple as a piece of white paper and a pair of scissors can create something so whimsical and delicate, so uniquely individual in design. The suspense that builds while opening each one becomes almost addictive and I find it hard to stop once I begin. Either way it's a great way to release some creativity on a cold winter day :)

Slowly...very slowly, but surely!

Bold you say? I was thinking the very same thing :)

Remember these? After much deliberation I have decided to paint the chairs black...the chairs which happen to be sitting in a garage 2 hours away from me and a BIG THANKS goes out to my in-laws for storing them until I can get them here! Two seat covers down...and four more to go! I am mixing up the fabric patterns a bit so keep checking back to see what the others end up like! Can't wait to see the red/orange color and pattern pop against the black in my kitchen!

Felt Wreathe.

I wish I could take credit for this idea but I actually copied it from a tutorial given on http://designspongeonline.com/ which happens to be one of my favorite design websites...check out their before and after link. LOVE it! Anyway, back to the wreathe. The styrofoam cost me $6.00 from Michaels and then I just bought 1 yard of white felt (you could use any color of course, I think a hot pink wreathe would look gorgeous in a girls bedroom) and cut a bazillion 3" round circles. Sorry I didn't count them! Then fold them in half and then in half again and stick a straight pin through the bottom corner and into the styrofoam. Yes, it is that easy and I think I may keep it up all year round...I am loving how it looks hanging on my door. I also pinned some burlap ribbon to hang it from but if you want a cleaner look just skip the ribbon and hang right on the nail.

A few of my favorite things...and on a budget too!

Here's the finished tree in all its glory (hehe)! Interesting tree topper, I know, but I totally LOVE it on my tree! Since I am fairly new to the whole decor bloggin world I have just been discovering some other great blogs to check out. While doing so I found some "tree party's" where you can upload photos of your decorated Christmas tree for others to see and in turn check out others...what a great idea, huh? Well, you guessed it...I uploaded this baby on http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/ and on http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com So what are you waiting for...go get yours uploaded and check out all the great ideas and inspiration out there :)!

As I mentioned before, I was desperate this year to change up our tree decor but with a very limited budget had to be very creative in doing so. I chose to use a black and white scheme and used picture frames as ornaments to hang on the tree. I started hunting the thrift stores in late October for the frames and luckily for me there were plenty to choose from ranging in price from 10 cents to one dollar. I used black and white spray paint as well as acryllic paint to coordinate them all. I just love how they all turned out and that EVERYTHING on my tree is refurbished in one way or another! Oh, and I almost forgot...the tree also came from a thrift store this year ($25.00, lights included)!

I picked up this old wooden frame for a $1.00 and spray painted it black. It is a gorgeous frame and I have a feeling I will be using it year round. Also, above the frame is a little glass ornament. I picked up a bag of these at Michaels a couple of years ago for around $5.00 and have been using them on the tree and elsewhere ever since. They came in various sizes and shapes which I also love. Oh...I almost forgot the rag garland...don't you just love it on the tree? I must admit that was a bit tedious to make but I am so glad I did!

Here is one of my favorite new creations...I tore strips of cotton fabric (an old sheet will do) and fastened them over the outside of some old ornaments then glued down a tack on top with some string for hanging. I love the "old" feel these give as well as how they tie in with the rag garland wrapped around the tree. I also ended up using some torn sheet strips as garland around the tree.

I hope this gives you all a little inspiration in decorating your tree this year...it's nice to know that you can still have something pretty in your home and not have to spend much! Happy decorating!

More homemade Christmas gifts...

I know, I know you're sick of the blocks already but unfortunately for you I am not :) I just can't get over how easy these are and fun at the same time. Thanksgiving is such a great time to gather together with those we hold most dear...our families. Each year as part of our gifts to our parents and grandparents my husband and I try to include a recent portrait of our family and our children. I thought this would go along great with the prints this year. Hope they like them! Oh yes, and wrapping or embellishing with ribbon is another treat for me! Happy Thanksgiving everyone and check back to see my finished tree in a few days...the frames (ornaments) are almost finished!

Notice anything different?

Remember this headboard I bought for $20.00 at a consignment store? You might also remember how I recovered it in a nice simple off white fabric shown below. Now...do you notice anything different about it?

That is the question I asked my husband when he came home today. His answer, "No"! I admit it was a subtle difference I made but had a huge impact on the look in our bedroom. If you still haven't figured it out I changed the buttons on the headboard from white to brown. After I completed the chair (left corner) and placed it in the room it's bold fabric and dark colors sucked all the attention away from the rest of the room. After creating some interest in color by adding a high contrasting color to the tufted buttons I brought some balance back into the space. Love the result...now I just want to drape a light colored throw over one half of the chair, and maybe a small pillow...then some sort of artwork above the chair...okay I'll stop now :) I'm linking this post up to http://thriftydecorchick for her before and after party...check it out...loads of inspiration!

I finished!

All finished!

Here's the fabric I intended on using to recover the chair...right up until I found my 4 year old cutting it up! Actually he didn't cut very much but just enough to prevent me from using it. I'm sure I can find another use for it but it was a maddening experience at the time :)

The new and improved chair with a fabric much more my style and only $4.00 a yard! I really didn't think I would be able to finish this for a while but it took alot less time to recover than I thought it would...I was able to start and finish the whole recovering in the time my 1 year old was napping today (2 hours 10 min)! It doesn't get any better than that! Hope you like!

Coming soon...

Perhaps this "before" image does not inspire you...I am hoping my "after" will. I was really hoping to have this finished by now but due to other circumstances that I will not take the time to go into I'm afraid it won't be finished until sometime this week...or next :) Anyway, just thought I would post this as a teaser until the big reveal. I paid $8 for this old thing and once completed I think it will be a perfect addition to my bedroom. Stay tuned ;)

It's all about presentation...isn't it?

My sister has a friend who recently did this and I loved the idea so I picked up some random plates at the good old D.I. and some candle holders. I spray painted some of the bases because they were silver or gold to begin with and then with a little epoxy glue created unique pedestal stands to serve Christmas goodies on this holiday season...it's hard to believe something so cute could cost less than those ugly plastic trays from Walmart! I can't wait to see some homemade fudge resting on these plates!