I am such a big fan of the Target $1 section (is that what it’s still called even though they have $2.50 objects?).
This last Christmas I found the perfect wooden manger to add to my existing nativity for only $2.50, and I’ve also scored several vases that I have upcycled with a little spraypaint for only $1. We live on a tight budget and buying home décor is usually last on the list, so when I can take these little shortcuts, I get a little overexcited – just ask my husband.
I’ve had these on my to-do list for a loooong time, but since I have some leftover PUL fabric from making cloth diaper covers, I think it’s finally time to whip some out. This tutorial from Just Another Day in Paradise uses vinyl tablecloths, but either fabric would work. I prefer PUL because I can throw the bags in the wash machine for a quick cleanup when they get really messy. A quick handwash with soap and water will work too.
I’ve been so busy with life lately that I haven’t had time to craft or sew. I have a laundry list of projects I want to work on, at the top of which is a stash of cloth diapers… but that isn’t really fun, so I have been putting it off for obvious reasons.
But I’ve come across so many adorable sewing projects on the web lately, that I’m itching to sit down at my machine and create something fun.
Here are some of my favorite tutorials as of late:
How was your 4th of July? We had a lot of fun celebrating at our friend’s house; we ate, lit fireworks, watched the kids play on the Slip & Slide, relaxed, ate some more…
Before we went, I made sure to brush up on how to photograph fireworks so I could get some awesome shot. I found this great tutorial from www.merakoh.com that explains what settings to use for fireworks and sparklers. For these photos, I had my camera on manual mode, set to 200 iso, 4 second shutter speed, and F11 aperture:
So after reading the MoneySavingMom.com’s book on budgeting (I would totally recommend this if you are living on a budget and trying to save money), I recently decided to put aside my credit card for the next few months and try to only use the cash envelope system.
I thought I was done with the nursery, but then I ran across a map-covered lampshade on Pinterest and just had to do it for the nursery. I already had some pieces of leftover map from when I made the paper airplanes for the mobile, and a boring lamp with a fading lampshade – so how could I pass that up?
I was totally inspired last week when I ran across this tutorial on Make It and Love It for transforming a purse into a camera bag. I have probably the ugliest camera bag around… and it’s not big enough to hold extra lenses. We purchased it quickly because we needed it and didn’t really worry too much about the design. But as I’ve acquired more lenses and started carrying my camera around more, I realized it’s really impractical (did I mention ugly?).
Since cute camera bags cost an arm and a leg (upwards of $100), I think I’ll probably end up following a tutorial like this one to transform an affordable bag into a camera bag. I love that Ashley on Make It and Love It also uses the compartments to hold things like keys, diapers, toys, and snacks; I usually carry my camera around when I have a diaper bag full of stuff for my daughter anyway, so why not combine the two?
I am loving some of the bags at Forever21 right now, like this striped canvas bag (left, $27.80). But I’m also thinking that a faux leather messenger bag (right, $19.50) might be a good option so that I can convince my husband to carry it sometimes too!
Since my son’s nursery has a bit of an industrial feel to it, I really wanted to get one of those zinc letters from Anthropologie to hang on his wall. But since they run about $18 per letter, I decided to take the cheaper route and make a faux one.
Seeing as to how I’ve got a little man on the way (whom will be making an appearance in just a couple of months), I couldn’t help but “awww” over these adorable DIY shoes from Shwin & Shwin. She offers a free pattern and tutorial for making them, along with matching bow-tie onesies. ADORABLE!
