Thrifty to Nifty


TIS THE SEASON NIFTY THRIFTY GIFTS

     Tis the Season to find creative ways to give gifts to friends and family that are well made with love of course and useful. In this economic time we are all looking for ways for our gift budget to stretch as far as we can but we still want a thoughtful gift. Last week I went to the Dollar Store to see what I could find for my gift giving project this year. I have to say the thought crossed my mind to use one of the many cost effective gift ideas I have seen on the other blogs, Pinterest, Facebook, Google+ but , I wanted an original idea.
   I shopped around and found silver, metal, mesh, pencil holders. Ahh! This would be my container for the gift. Then what would I put in the holders along, with adding a my creative design, to make this a special gift?
 I spotted the butterfly type paper clips 8 count in the large size and 10 count in the smaller size.
The last few items I need for this gift I already have in my stash at home. Yippie! I have a plan, a nice gift to give, with a little of my creative love thrown into a pencil cup holder.
Can you guess what the gift is yet? Hmmmm. By the way the last few items are scrapbook paper, glue, twine, and I will need to purchase some tulle to use for wrapping because I think it will add a nice touch. I will show you that later on another day.
 Yard Sticks have Character
 Now I need to measure the large and smaller clip, to figure out how much paper I will need, for each size clip.* Disclaimer your paper clips will need to be measured because sizes will vary.
Here are the measurements for the two size clips I bought at the Dollar Store. The Large is 1 5/8" wide, the smaller one is 1 1/4" wide. Now I need to measure the length of the paper I need for each, after some trial and a lot of error. I found that cutting a strip the width of the paper, wrapping it around the clip, making a indent with my finger nail by pressing the paper tight into the top of the clip. This gave me a good place to start. Then I cut the paper a few times until I found just the right measurement, 2" for Large, and 1 5/8" for the small. Out of one 2" strip of paper in 7 different color I was able to make 35 clips. Out of the 1 5/8" strip of paper also using 7 different colors I made 49 clips.

I bought this at Micheal's on Sale
I used my paper cutter to cut out the sizes needed. You can use scissors but it is a lot of cutting. I thought about using my Silhouette paper cutting machine and might in the future now that I have the measurements calculated. I plan on cutting all of my paper out mixing the colors and patterns. I used 7 smaller patterns because large patterns would be lost on this size project. I choose paper not card stock, because it would be to thick to work with folding around the clips. Below is an example of the papers I used. I thought the patterns and colors would be a bright spot on a desk or in a craft room.


Bright and Cheerful Colors

My next step is covering the black clip with the scrapbook paper. I uses E6000 glue on the Large clips, because the paper did not fit in my Xyron. Bummer, I should have bought the bigger Sticker maker. Christmas present for me???  I did use the Xyron permanent sticker for the small clips. It took less time, was less mess, and turned out nicer, in my opinion. This picture shows the paper cut ready to be glued to the clips.

How do you like the finished Clips?
Now I filled the pencil holder with 10 small plus 4 large Fancy clips. Add some Colorful twine to the container. I will wrap with the tulle, twine and a gift tag later.  Here is the final product. Would you like to use these on your desk? Some people even use these for clips to close open bags of snacks,, or chips too. Then I would keep the container in my kitchen, near my Ziploc Bags, Foil, Wax Paper.                                                                                         
A view from the top

Front and Center
    When ever I start  project the ideas still bounce around in my head. I am going to make a few variations of this project in the near future. Do you have any suggestions? I already know I am skipping the E6000 glue on this next time. Great product but not the right one for this application. I also tried Washi Tape on this one and that was not the best for this project either. I am thinking of attaching magnets so you can use the clip to hang something. What do you think of that idea? Share your thoughts on these ideas or any suggestions. I look forward to seeing your comments.
I am Blessed my family is at home.  My cousin, with his family will be here tomorrow.
I am a happy girl!!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is a list of items used and where I purchased them:
Dollar Store
 1 package Butterfly paper clips Small 10 count  $ 1.00
 1 package Butterfly paper clips Large 8 count    $ 1.00
 1 Pencil Cup Holder ( Wire Mesh Silver)           $ 1.00
 Michael's
 I used Xyron Permanent Sticker
 Scrapbook Paper
 E6000 glue
 Steals.com
 Twine
http://wonderfulathome.blogspot.com/2013/12/wonderful-wednesdays-15.html?showComment=1386202147418#c2527398334266671696




THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT


   We had been searching for a entertainment center for our great room at the lake house. I found the perfect one, except for the $$$$. It had white framing with the top, drawer, cabinet fronts, and legs in different stains of wood, with mismatched hardware. I scoured the Internet to find a deal or a substitute, but it wasn't comparable in structure or materials even though I met one goal of lowering the price.
  At a local antique store I scored this marked down buffet. It  was the answer to my entertainment center quest within my budget. It had a few blemishes but seeing past the issues was my vision of our entertainment center.
Before

After checking my supplies, I made a list of items I didn't have in my stash from other projects. I drove to our nearby Lowe's, which is a good resource for gaining knowledge, and bought my supplies. I began the process of  removing the knobs and hinges, taking  care to mark them because the wrong one may not fit properly. 
Next I sanded the top, doors, and center drawer front until all the paint was removed, and then the remainder of the buffet enough to rough up the surface to paint . We measured the opening for each shelf. My husband cut two shelves from oak plywood with his table saw, then drilled a hole through the back of the buffet between the two shelves for the cords. I used my new iron for the first time to iron on the oak facing to the shelves. Then I used Ebony stain(top), walnut stain(doors)and drawer front. Tape off the edges to insure clean lines to paint the frame, shelves, interior and legs with Linen paint.
After  I was able to use this piece of furniture to blend the colors of wood
in my other furnishing throughout the space and
compliment the white painted trim in our home.  

Now That's Beautiful Entertainment!

Supplies                                                         @ Home Stash
Veneer facing Roll                                          Paint brushes
Black & Decker Orbital Sander                      Minwax Stain and Sealer
Sandpaper 80, 120 & 220                               Oak Veneer Plywood
Sanding Sponge Blocks fine grade                  Painters Tape
Latex gloves 
1 Quart Linen Paint                                                                                                                                                                          
These purchases proved to be such a mess, I switched to the sander
disposing of all these products;
Chip Paint Brushes, Rubber Gloves, Scrapper, Metal Bucket,
 Natural Paint Stripper

I look forward to your comments, please share your ideas too.



50 % to 80% Off now that is a DEAL!

 Holidays Sales may be winding down but this sale rocked the scales with some huge savings. I am currently creating my First Creative Space!!!!! Can you tell I am excited? I bought a rug about 2 years ago on sale, to start the space, but some little bumps in the road, and challenges changed my path. Well I am back on track, saving,creating and filled with the joy of anticipation, to see how I develop My Space. Luckily since I broke my Elbow, my trusty Prince Charming is helping me assemble, lift, arrange my space too. All the while he is looking more handsome than ever, holding down the fort, and helping take care of me. He is truly the one who can bring home the bacon, and fry it up in a pan, never letting me me forget he is my Man. Tee-Hee. OH Lord I am dating myself!
   On a -13 degree day my son needed to go back to College. The short version of this story is on the way home he insisted he wanted to get +WeatherTech liners for my new car. I thought we should go home but, went along because he was right. Yes Ladies I said he was right! This post is turning out to make him look AWESOME! His timing could not have been better, we were already near the Outlet, and it happened to be two miles from the school we dropped our son off at to work, and ride home with the Basketball Teams of his College. We walked in and were the only costumers in the store. That took about twenty minutes for us to decide how the product they have would work best for us, he want outside to put them in the car. I was not going out in that frigid weather, nor did I want to hurt my elbow. We waited a few minutes for Prince Charming to warm up at the complimentary food and beverage counter. Yummy!
   Now we are on the road again, and as we are driving, I am in awe of the beauty of the snow painting each limb, snapping pictures with my cellphone. Why did I not bring my good camera? Well to be honest I forgot but, the extreme cold would not be good for it anyway. My cellphone fits in my pocket and was warm.
 Next Stop home one
 would think, but wait +Michaels Crafts is already right next us us on the corner, and they are having a Huge Sale. Well my Prince, said let's go and I have to admit I hesitated. Yes I have my head held down in Craft Shame.
  About an hour later after filling two carts I am in Craft Heaven.
1/2 price frames + an extra 15% off .........Check
1/2 Storage from +Recollections...............Check
80% off Christmas.................Singing Fa La La  Stock up for next year.................Check
1/2 Bulk Paper......Score for the Auction I am running in a couple weeks................Check

   Alright I know you want to see what I bought but one more thing happened.Our son working at another store calls my husband. My car won't start I need a jump. So when we arrived home he picked up the jumper cables. Left my car loaded and went to store to help our son. Our son arrived home safely my husband went to a wake picked up dinner and then unloaded the car. I think I am going to nominate him for Sainthood. I have to go take pictures now.
So here are the pictures of my Sale Loot!!!!!

            Here is a little Sneak Peek!  You did not think I would show you it ALL?


 Yes he even already put them all together for me. Pinch me I am feeling Tingles.


    

I have so much to share with you in the coming weeks. I have been working on some new projects,  while stretching my blogging wings toward some new adventures.              
                Until Next time Stay warm and share your Creativity!

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