Blessed Adventures: Frugal

Showing posts with label Frugal. Show all posts

Friday, August 26, 2011

Frugal Makeover Book-Nook & Living Area~

I am so excited to finally be able to share this with you. The area you see above was originally used for our hall closet. As much as I enjoyed having a catch all space in our home, it really did not do us much good. While browsing online {My new favorite place to visit online is Pinterest} I came across closets made into book-nooks. We loved this idea. If you have been here long you know the many temporary book-nooks we have created here and there. The closet book-nook would be a permanent cozy area for all of us to enjoy and a place to house the many books I keep holding on to.

{BTW, Children's book are one of the few things I can not bag up and throw out}

What did it take to create the nook?

Wood we already owed, just sitting in the shed. {$0}
Expanding the entrance. {$0}
Our ceder chest. {$0}
Two king size pillows we were not using {$0}
Fabric {$2.00 per yard. We purchased two yards {$4 plus tax}
Clearance paint {$7.00}

To answer what it took to create the nook would be time, creativity and 11 or 12 dollars.
I say we did good!

Not only do I want to share our book nook, but also our updated living area. {Note: A few post ago I told you all about selling our sectional. In doing this I added space and peace of mind.

Our friends that bought our sectional had planned on donating their sofa. Instead we just took it off their hands until we find what we are looking for. I bought a sofa cover and added a few comforters to soften things up while we wait. Considering the money spent on paint, the fabric and the sofa cover, we did pretty good with our frugal makeover.

Thanking the Lord for our small, but Blessed Home!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Want to know my Wardrobe Secrets?

How we do what we do!

How do we afford to buy clothes

for our ever growing children?

Where do we go?

What do we pay?
Want to know my wardrobe secrets?

I almost never pay full price for an item. If I do it is around the holidays. When purchasing a holiday outfit, I search for casual. Casual being something they can wear all year. I look for unique comfortable Pieces. Pieces that can be used with several outfits. Brand, size and season are not much of an issue. If it fits great. If it is a tad big, that's great. We will make use of it longer. If we are in athe season of winter and we have a shirt that is sleeveless, we layer with undershirts. Always making it work.

I'm a lover of hand me downs, resale, homemade and good deals.

I can not pay a large amount for clothing. Not because I'm cheap. I just do not see clothing as an important item in our life. It is made to cover our bodies. It's a materialistic item that can not love or most importantly can not serve our Lord. It is non-living.

Even with the simplicity in my thoughts of clothing and wardrobe, I DO Love To Dress My Children.

YES, I do. It's fun.

BUT, I love to dress them on a budget. Budgeting for my family makes me very happy. It's one of the ways I serve our family.

Here are a few examples~

Monday, February 21, 2011

NEW bedrooms!!!

We have been very busy. What do you think?
Last minute to-dos will be adding baseboard and rugs.

The Girl's Room

Me being the not so girly girl loved the idea of little critters as their decor.

We lined the nature in PINK~

They asked for a tree in their room and they got it. The tree turned out just OK. I gave it my best and had fun doing it. Book nooks are a must around here. I fit one at the end of their bed with stools, pillows and a small bookshelf filled with their favorite books. Allen built their bed and corner desk. I'm not crazy about the tall bookshelf next to the dresser. I enjoy space. We are thinking of a bookshelf on the wall? Until then we will do this. Oh and I love the idea of no closet doors. Fabric is much more spacious.

COST
Paint-$20 (Sale)
Curtains-$35 (I know I could of saved if I would have made them on my own. Having sewing machine issues)

Bedding-$15 ( Both girls bedding. What a deal, Second hand store)

Desk-$0 (Wood we had in the shed.)

Bed-$80 ( Purchased the wood. Allen built it about two years ago)

Dresser-$35 (Second hand furniture store. Solid wood. Purchased it about a year ago)

Wall decor-$8 ( four frames)

$12 on the stickers ( Got tired of painting. Saw the critters and loved them.)

Previously own the other.

Just over $200.

Recent cost- around $100

Not too bad.

Little Man's Room ( long overdue.)

I have always wanted more space for him. The tiny room he has been sleeping in is really just too small. It was perfect as a nursery, but the boy is now ten. Our answer....... a loft bed.

Allen created it and it's wonderful. Little Man even has space for his instruments, a book nook, a chest for all his farming toys and an art corner. Allen built an armoire into the bed. He has all he needs in one piece of furniture.

Even better with Little Man not needing his closet we enclosed it and made us a hallway closet.

We all LOVE it. It makes me happy to see him with his own space.
COST

Paint $10 (Sale)

Beanbag $20

Frame $8

Two Lamps $20 (both)

Bed $0 ( previously owed wood in the shed. Allen built.)

Armoire $0 ( hand me down)

Around $60... Now that was awesome.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Recycle crayons into Valentine crafts~

Recycle all of those small crayon stubs left at the bottom of the can instead of throwing them away. Here is a quick and fun project suitable for all ages. The kids loved watching our new crayons develop. We decided to use a heart shaped mold for Valentines.

Materials Needed

~Crayon bits

~Cupcake tins

Instructions

Heat the oven to 250 degrees.
Bake crayons for 10 to 15 minutes.
Allow to cool completely before removing from molds.
The tray can be put into the freezer for long as needed to cool. This makes removal easier.
Once the crayons have cooled they can be popped out of the mold.
Have FUN

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