Easy projects inspired by dollar store items.

Since we have been moving in and unpacking I have acquired a lot of little items that I want to repurpose, decorate with, or finish working on. I've also been to my local dollar tree and 99 cent stores looking for cheap things we needed... And I swear every time I go in for one or two things I leave with $25 worth of stuff. But honestly- it's because I needed stuff and had no idea those stores carried them!! 

So I'm going to be sharing some of those dollar tree inspired projects and easy DIY ideas. Literally so easy that anyone can do them.

So first up is this vase set I bought at Michaels a month or so ago. I didn't know WHAT I was going to do with it, it just was on a really great sale and I pretty much just had to have it.

I kind of looked around my house and decided that the bathroom window sill was its new home. I've been trying to figure out how to decorate in this room because it is so narrow and kind of dark- so I really feel this actually kind of livens the room up. Next in this room is going to be art. Gotta figure out what style first though.

So I was headed to the dollar tree and figured I would see if there were any cute faux flowers. And there was! I was trying to decide if I wanted Spanish moss or some pebbles/ rocks... But decided it might look cluttered if I did that. 

It only took a few minutes to put this together and i love it. I helped the bathroom have some character and cleaned up my dining room a bit as well. I have another of these vases (different style) that I am most likely going to do the same with but use it in my laundry room.

Do you have any dead spaces that this could work for? All in all I probably spent $15 total on this including the vase set. But it gives me enough faux flowers to fill my other vase and probably one more. So this really was a more affordable project for me.

And honestly, at least I won't forget to water REAL flowers! 😂 I'm still working on my green thumb.

DIY Banners for the nursery.

"Scout Opal"

 *sorry for the poor lighting of these last minute photos*

 I've been working on little projects for Opal and Oliver's nursery this week before my move. I saw something similar on Pinterest, and even noted them here on this blog post. I didn't want to be a total copy cat, so I made this my own.

I also did notttttt want them to look like I personally made them. (insert how crazy for detail I can be about things being straight/ even) So, because of this preference for a handmade look I free hand cut the letters out and let it be.

We are going with a cabin theme for their room, so I loved the idea of calling them "scouts". Especially because we hope they will want to go to summer camps and maybe even cub/ girl scouts in the future.

"Scout Oli"

I plan to hang these over their bed/ crib. I'm excited to see them on the walls of the new apartment. I really hope that we can pull the whole "woodsy" look in their room. I don't want it to be too many brown tones though, that is why I used some bright pops of colors. I plan to use turquoise and apricot a lot in their room.

I actually already bought the fabric for their custom quilts that will be put together by my wonderful mom. I am just so darn excited for this. I love being a mom because I get to plan and execute things like this. Growing up, I never really got to decorate my room, so that's something I plan to always do with these 2. I want them to express themselves freely, for sure.

close up of Opal's banner.

 Materials needed:

• printed fabric of choice
• felt in one or more colors
• one large piece of felt (can be purchased at Michael's in individual packaged pieces)
• scissors
• hot glue gun
• dowel rod
• yarn, string, ribbon, or whatever you choose for hanging purposes.

close up of Oli's banner.

Directions:

1. Cut your banner out of the large prepackaged piece of felt. 
2. At the top, glue your dowel rod to the back. Best to roll the fabric over it so that it is hidden.
3. Next, cut your background shape/ image out of your patterned fabric. (I chose a heart)
4. Hot glue your shape down to the fabric.
5. Cut out your letters for whatever phrase, saying, name etc.. that you chose.
6. Lay the pieces down to make sure they fit. 
7. Glue them to the proper places you want.
8. Lastly, glue the yarn with an appropriate amount of slack to hang.

These are two other banners that I did in hopes they will look like a younger child made them. I didn't use any patterns or anything, kind of just rolled with it. I hope my bear and bunny actually look like a bear and bunny!! (haha!) I plan to use these over their dresser with a collage of framed photos, art pieces and maybe a shelf with some special treasures on it.

I hope this gives you inspiration to make a banner of your own. I think I am going to make something for my bedroom and living room next. A little less handmade-by-a-child though. Maybe some nice family or marriage quotes? hmmm! Now to plan my next project!

xoxo,

 Chelsea

Flamingo Party- planning PT 2 - CENTERPIECES

Hey guys! So, I am only days away from my party now, and have so much to do still! 

I decided last night to start putting my centerpieces together and then individually bag 

them so that on the day of the party I can save some time, and only have to take 'em

out of a bag and set them on the table!

I want to share some really easy centerpieces, that literally cost me LESS than $5!!

Also, I will share where you can *hopefully* find the same items, or similar ones.

First off, I'll share the cup and utensils holders that I bought at Target.

The holder itself is designed by Poppytalk in their Poppytalk for Target party line!

This line is currently on clearance, so now is the time to go snag it really cheap!

I also found these cute cups at Target, they're also Poppytalk's.

The picnic napkins were from Michaels Craft Store and the spoons/forks were from Walmart

I really wanted them to have a picnic feeling, so I wrapped the utensils in the

napkins and tied a little piece of thin yarn around them.

Now for my centerpieces!!!!

For these, I really didn't spend a whole lot on them!

I bought the tin chalk bucket at Target, it was found in the $1 bins!

They currently have a cartwheel offer for 20% off this section of the store!

Which would make them .80 cents!

The chalk pen, I bought in April for my sister's car windows after her wedding,

so I didn't spend anything on it. But- they run for around $5 at Joann's.

Obviously you can use regular chalk and not have to spend a lot at the dollar tree.

I only used the pen because I am putting it into the bags and didn't want it to smear.

Next, you'll need the foam. I also already had this, but you don't need a lot 

and can find this really cheap at Walmart for under a couple dollars!

You'll also need flowers! I opted out of the real deal to keep in

 my budget! I found these at the dollar tree, and because my party 

is in the evening, nobody will notice that they're super cheap! 

Especially if you take the not so cute leaves off of them!

These pinwheel picks are from Michael's, they're the brand "Celebrate It!"

I believe they were on clearance for around $1.

If you use wire cutters and trim the flowers to be just high enough to poke

out of the bucket, it'll look great and nobody will see inside!