DIY Projects!

I woke up this morning and felt like going thrifting. Despite our new, terrifyingly tight budget, I decided to take advantage of this rare mood and find some things to spruce up our decor a bit. Since it's Sunday, the only place I could find that was open was Goodwill, so there I went.

I found eight small photo frames that were in horrible condition, with disgusting photos inside of them, that I could see had potential. They were only a dollar a piece!

I also found two golden-yellow stars made out of some flimsy metal that were $8 each (more than I would have liked to pay, but they caught my eye).

In addition, I found a small wooden floating shelf still in it's wrapper for only $3! It's probably not well-made enough to hold up anything of significant weight, but it should do in the bathroom over the toilet for some nice candles (as bathrooms often do appreciate lightly scented candles). It needs a coat of paint, though...something I didn't have the time for today. That will have to be saved for another day.

Here are some photos of how it went down!

First, the before and after of the photo frames! I love the chunky one with scrollwork in the corners, and I love the ivory spray paint! When these bad boys are done, they will have pressed flowers behind the glass. Then I will arrange them in a collage pattern somewhere in our apartment.

 Here are the Before and After photos of the metal stars! I hung them over the couch, but decided not to put the finished photo up yet because I'm not sure if I like the pattern of the metalwork over the blue and white stencil pattern of the wall.

I also went to Home Depot today to buy a hanging kit for this mirror we found at Goodwill ages ago! It was old and ugly, but a few fresh coats of red spray paint gave it new life! I also hung the hats my husband and I wore on our wedding day over the flowers I used in our wedding...in a jar I decorated for our wedding. I guess this is our wedding corner! Like the antique record player and cabinet? I do! It's a loaner from my mother-in-law. She's the greatest!

So all in all, I'm happy with what I accomplished today. We finally have one more little piece of our lovely apartment "finished". I absolutely love this corner now (it's right at the base of the staircase on the right...sliding glass door is on the left). Before it felt so drab and boring. Now it looks like some thought went into it!

Thinking about it, I will probably move the stars into the kitchen somewhere and find something else to put over the sofa. Maybe silhouettes of myself and my darling husband? I've seen some other people do it (Christina, for example), and I absolutely love it, but my husband is always complaining that he hates his profile. :)