DIY Projects

Decor

Thrifted Footstool: Before And After

I told you I legit couldn't stop crafting.

I think it's because I've decided that I don't care whether the end result is especially spectacular. I mean, it's nice if what comes out of an hour or two spent in the company of a paintbrush and some bad reality TV is a beautiful addition to my home, but far more important is having a little fun with it. Because if it's not fun…what's the point? If you just chill out a little bit about the end product and let your freak flag fly, what crafting ends up being is free therapy, and ain't nothing better than that.

OK, so check out this footstool/bench thing that I found at a thrift store on the Saw Mill. Now, that is an ugly piece of furniture. Pukey color, tattered (albeit glittery) seat fabric, et cetera et cetera. But I was really into those curved arms and had a sneaking suspicion that with a little TLC it could be really beautiful, so home with me it came.

Crafts for the Uncrafty

Dipped Thrift-Store Paintings

You know what no one buys at thrift stores?

The artwork. Seriously, no one: in every thrift store that I've ever been to, the corners are piled with stacks of forlorn-looking faded prints of, like, fruit. Maybe some dancing kids, or a vase of flowers. And because nobody buys them, ever, they're usually in the realm of a buck or two each.

I generally take a peek at the stacks of paintings and posters to see if any of them happen to have really good frames that I can repurpose…but then I saw the below photo on Pinterest and was all: OOOH.

DIY Projects

DIY Christmas Cards For Kids

Well, this is an adorable little project.

The problem with crafting generally - and Pinterest crafting, specifically - is that normal people don't have cabinets full of stuff that they can use to effortlessly whip up DIY-ed whatevers. And adding a run to Michael's to a craft transforms it from "fun and affordable alternative to store-bought" to "abject misery."

Anyway, I'm all about the crafts that you don't need to leave your house in order to do. In other words, the actually cheap and actually easy ones that just use stuff you've already got lying around.

DIY Projects

Make Your Own Sparkling Candy Cane Bath Salts

How to handle the I-totally-forgot-to-get-a-gift-for-someone-and-am-seeing-them-tonight faux pas?

Easy DIY gift to the rescue. (These are seriously so easy, and inexpensive to make in bulk…and kind of impressive looking. I think so, anyway.)

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