Last Minute DIY Hallowen Decor

This is EASY & TEMPORARY!!  I am not into all the big ugly "scary" Halloween decorating.  I like just a few tasteful accent pieces that show you're celebrating!  I also hate spending a lot of money on something that is usually so easily made out of pretty much anything around the house!

Here is I wanted to have a pillow with something Halloween but I didn't want to have it permanently attached to the pillow because I would then have to put it away or change the pillow case.

WHAT I DID.....

1. I went online and found a TEMPLATE (on the Images Google tab) of something I liked and printed it out, then cut the shape out.  I found this one HERE under "witch templates".

TIP:  If you do not have a printer, or ink as it happens to me often, you could just tape the paper to your screen and trace the shape right on your screen!  I do that also when the shape is bigger than my paper, so I move the paper around and trace some parts on difference spaces of the paper and then tape the shape later when I cut it.

2. I then spray painted the shape with black paint I have (I always have black, brown, and white spray paint on hand for projects) from my my local Home Depot...they're about $3.50.

 3. Once dried I sprayed the back with spray adhesive and placed on my pillow! The adhesive I used is tacky enough to stay on but you can then just remove it and trash it!

MORE IDEAS:  If you're a crafter like I am, you most likely have a ton of things you can use to make easy and inexpensive, but creative, decorations for any holiday. You can also just spray things (glass jars/bottles/vases, cans, branches, twigs, rocks, ect) in the colors of your holiday or theme!  

Have fun being a Super Frugal Domestic Diva!! :)

Pink Flower Pillow Case

This DIY pillow case was so fun and easy to make!

I bought a throw blanket at Ross for $5.99 and used part on one side for a SOFT pillow for my granddaughter, Maggie. The BACK was made from an old pillow case I had that had the eyelet trim where I put the pink ribbon bow.

HOW TO:

1. Cut varying size circles of the "flower" fabric then layer them on top of each other

2. You can sew a small (about 1.5 inch) straight stitch and pull the thread from both ends to make a bit of gather look and tie the treads. 

3. Once the flower looks good stitch a button in the center.

4. Stitch the flower to the pillow case by strategically stitching the petals in a way that the flower looks fluffy (sewing UNDER other petal to hide the stitching).

5. Sew a ribbon for the stem and cut out some leaves and attach as well.  Here I also added a pink ribbon to correct my not-so-straight seam line!

As you can see the shapes are not perfect and edges were left raw.

 In my case I had to use another back material in order to make to pillows with a soft side. I had these case with the eyelet with worked great!

 The presentation was so cute, just tied with a coordinating ribbon.

DIY Halloween Wreath

This cheerful Halloween wreath was made from a ripped garment bag I got out of the trash. My stepson had thrown it out weeks ago!  The bow was made out of just material I had lying around. 

I could've purchased a ribbon but I always aim to make things out what I have on hand! It's more fun and the results more unique!

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 I dab of hot glue inside and on one side of the fold is enough to keep the "flower" together and glue it to the wreath. In my case I had a wire one but you can use anything you can find, in any shape.

 I placed the flowers as evenly as I could. I could've used more, for a fuller look, but it's all I had. I think the final product looks so cute and it really stands out on our door!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Great Finds - DRESSER!

Okay, we've all heard of thrift stores, garage sales, and Craigslist, right? 

 Maybe even finding things on the side of the road or by a dumpster...like when I found my current WHITE DRESSER (below) just sitting next to the big dumpster at my old condo complex!

Dresser found at dumpster. Originally in green with white specks.

 I ran back to our unit and asked my daughter (a teenager then), to come out and help me get it inside. Needless to say she couldn't believe I was asking her to do that..."Mom!!??...someone's going to see us"!!  Don't worry, she's now 28 and embraces the concept!

Well, I LOVE finding great bargains I can re-purpose or sometimes resell at no less than 100% profit, or if I need a new piece of furniture it's a thrill to find something a fraction of the cost, and maybe even something with character and history!

So, next time you need a new piece of furniture, don't forget to look for a bargain first before running to buy something new....and KEEP YOUR MONEY IN THE BANK!!!

Garden from Cuttings

I think it's safe to say that everyone loves a beautiful lush garden, right?

Below a purple Butterfly Bush started from a little branch stuck in ground two homes ago, still thrives.

This is not the best picture but you get the gist. It was planted here to hopefully cover the part of the fence that doesn't look so great. And it eventually did!

Purple Butterfly Bush grown from cutting/clippings

I know for me, gardening is a cure-all medicine.  And growing a garden is not very hard (for little or no money!), provided you have some space. 

The cutting here is on its way to blooming soon

THE STARTED PATCH:  Here my helper grandson  (isn't he the cutest!!?? I love being his "gama"!), waters what I call my 'tarter patch'.  I find a spot where the sun/shade combo is good to get plants started, then I transplant them to a permanent spot.

You never want to start plants where they get too much or not enough sun/shade.

 

If you see here, to my "gardening assistant's" left, the Butterfly Bush is starting to touch the fence

NO SPACE?  NO PROBLEM!  If you don't have ground space, try hanging baskets or potted plants near a sunny window. These tiny wonders can bring life to any space! Like this cute pot, which was stated from...clippings!

 EVERY thing below is the result of splitting, taken from another garden spot, or cuttings.

From left to right: Berries & Cream roses I got as cuttings from my mom's yard. Below that roses is Sweet William that came from seeds scattered by shaking old plants from another area of the garden. In the middle it's Garlic Chives that were split off another area where a bird actually dropped a seed I guess (not taking credit for that, other than I did not pull it out when I first saw it), and last on the right is Mexican Primrose transplanted from the front yard. They didn't always look this good, but once they took - there was no stopping them!

BERRIES & CREAM: Rose bush started by sticking a cutting in the  ground

 Next time you get together with your mom, sister, or friend - exchange cuttings, split plants or share seeds! My friends and family know that I am constantly growing things and will share my bounty with them, or they can share with me! I hope you are enjoying your garden...in or outdoors!

CHEERS TO ALL US SUPER FRUGAL DOMESTIC DIVAS!!!! 

The Miracle of Seeds

Here you see a  lemon baby plant I've started by saving the seeds from a lemon I got from the store.  I plan to transplant to our garden in only a few months.  So exciting!!

Lemon tree from seed

You can do the same thing with other fruits, such as apples, peaches, apricots, pomegranates, ect. In fact I have some pomegranate trees to feature soon.

There is no reason why you have to run to the store and pay $25+ for a tree when you can just start one of your own with seeds from fruit you eat. You pay good money for that fruit...make last!  I've done this before many times (in a pre-blogging era) with great success.  

So, go ahead an save your seeds and get them started on container near a sunny window.  When they're several inches tall, transplant them to the spot when you would want them permanently.  You should consider how much sunlight the tree will need and select a location that will provide the right sunlight for the best production of fruit.  Happy planting!!!

An Old T-shirt's New Life!

Getting rid of tired old t-shirts?? Well, you can give them a new life as AMAZING new tops and flowers!!

The scarf "straps" can be switched out. The small flower is so cute too!

Or if you have little girls around, they could be dresses for them!

 All you need to do is cut around the sleeves, leaving about 1/2 inch to fold back in the seam. Then fold the tops and sew in place in about an inch fold. 

Then just thread anything through...a scarf, like shown here, or a ribbon would be great.

And PRESTO!!! You have a fantastic new top!!

 

After cutting around the leaves and folding the top, thread the "scarf" through with a safety pin attached to one end.

 Thank adjust to fit evenly across wearer's shoulders and tie a bow.

 In the event you decide to use the SCRAPS to make a flower, just glue pin backing with hot glue or needle & thread, and secure to top.

Enjoy changing the "straps" to match any bottom or handbag you have!