I Found Some More Free Projects To Do!
My friend Whit is pretty cool. We’ve been friends since I was 10 and I think she is smart. She left a comment on a previous post giving me some ideas for projects I could do in my home that were free! So thanks Whit for helping me brainstorm and not give up on my 31 Projects in 31 Days goal!
Here’s a picture of Whit and I, just for fun.
Whit suggested I organize my recipes. I did do that recently, but it got me thinking about my coupon system. I decided to re-do my coupon system! I changed it from being alphabetical– Cheerios behind the letter “C,” to category based– Cheerios behind “Cereal.”
I feel so much better about my system. I feel like I know where everything is now!
Whit also suggested I ask other people if they need help with projects. We just happened to have friends who are moving! Nathan and I helped them and will go back to help some more tomorrow!
I also went through my “To-Do” box for an organization project and knocked out all the stuff in my to-do box– thank you notes, clip coupons, RSVP to events, fix a book page Molly tore, that kind of stuff.
So I have now officially knocked out three more projects!!
That leaves me with four projects to get done, I have until the end of tomorrow night to get there! Wish me luck!
A “Finishing” Project…
How many crafters out there have a million unfinished projects hiding around your house? Can you hear them crying out to you?
“Finish me! Finish me!”
I heard one of my projects today.
I’ve been looking for ways to get some projects done without spending any money, I’ve got 7 more to do to make my goal of 31 in just a few short days!
I was looking through a box of craft stuff and came across a folder with stuff in it that was meant to go in my graduation scrapbook from high school! I never finished it way back then but kept the stuff in hopes that someday, I would. And guess what? I finished it today! (8 years later!!)
My scrapbook style is very different now, and I didn’t want my current style to distract from the fluid-ness of the scrapbook. Here’s an example of a scrapbook layout I did as an 18 year old:
Cute huh? And yes, my school colors were orange and black! My style was home made and cutesie and as always, simple.
I added the last four pages trying hard to match the style:
And here is the closing page announcing my plans for my future:
That’s it! Its done and I loved taking a step back in time to finish it!
Do you have a project you should go answer??
A Card From Scraps…
When I make cards, I go first to my tub o’ scraps and look at what I have. I let the scraps provide me with the inspiration I need for a design. That way, I’m using up those smaller scraps and not letting them go to waste, I’m not cutting up a larger piece of paper that could be used for a scrapbook page, and I’m literally forcing my creative juices to flow!
I made one today using my scrap pile inspiration method. Its for a couple getting married in June:
The music paper is actually a piece of antique sheet music! The bride and groom are both musicians and lovers of all things vintage, so I liked how the card captures that aspect of them. The music even has a smudge from old tape on the side that I couldn’t bare to cut off because it brings in such a cool texture! {Plus I love raw edges on cards, its unexpected.}
Its simple and pretty. I like it. I think they will too!
My goal for May was to get 31 projects done in 31 days, this makes Project 24 for me. I’m not sure I’ll make it, but I’m going to try!
I’m linking up to the weekend wrap up party at Tatertots and Jello!
I’m a Little Sad…
I really don’t think I am going to be able to reach my goal of 31 Projects in 31 Days. I’ve pretty much run out of projects I can do without spending money. {sigh.} What to do now?? I literally had to think of things to do today while Molly was napping!! Oh well. I’ll keep trying to think of something and I’ll keep you all posted on what I come up with.
Hubbie Update!
Thank you all for your prayers! Nathan is doing really well. We met with the doctor and he was baffled. Nathan is so stinkin’ healthy and shows no sign of infection. His ultrasound showed an inflamed gallbladder with stones, but his blood tests and all other examinations came back normal. They think he passed a stone and his gallbladder became inflamed in the process. We still have an appointment with a surgeon to get another opinion and see if/when we should start talking surgery.
The doctor prescribed some antibiotics to calm down the inflammation or any infection that may be there. He told us they are pricey and we were nervous about purchasing them. Nathan went to the Wal-Mart pharmacy and as much as I hate Wal-Mart, I am so grateful for this– his prescription was $4! Praise God! We felt that God was reassuring us that He will provide!
Thanks for all your prayers! He is healthy and surgery free right now and we are so grateful!
A Bridal Shower Project…
So as I’m sitting here with Nathan waiting to go back in to the doctors, I figured I could posts pictures of a project I did for a bridal shower.
If you are Jackie and reading this, please avert your eyes! Close the tab now! No peeking!!
The shower is a “personal shower” and I had planned on purchasing a little something for the bride, but life happened and now I am looking for ways to not spend more moolah. I’m super happy with how this little gift turned out! First, I grabbed a frame from my decor stash that I never could find a way to use in my home that I enjoyed. Now I know why, because it wasn’t meant to be a part of my house– it supposed to be in Jackie’s! I framed their wedding invitation in it and it fits perfectly. I can’t show the picture of this because I don’t know how to blur out the info. It looks nice, you can trust me on that.
Then later I was checking out ideas online and I stumbled upon a tutorial for sugar scrub… which I can’t seem to locate at the moment. I whipped some up– yay for having all the ingredients already and put it in a baby food jar! I used cute scrapbook paper to make a label and spray painted the lid black.
My mind started really going then with a cute way to dress up this little gift… make a honeymoon kit!
Here’s what I included in this little kit:
3 tea lights (had in my stash)
1 “protective device” *ahem*
3 love coupons made by me! (They say stuff like– free back massage)
1 Jar of sugar scrub
I wrapped it all up in a little bag that one of Molly’s little hats came in and WALAH! Super fun gift that will make her giggle at the shower!
Let’s see now, that makes 23 projects down!
Surgery…
Looks like my hubbie needs surgery. He has gall stones and an inflamed gallbladder. We are going in this afternoon to meet with the doctor and they are then referring us to a surgeon. Nate’s feeling anxious, and I’m just praying God helps us find a way to pay for this. I’m obviously giving up my 31 projects challenge, though I will continue to post projects as they are completed! I’ve got some good ones in the works!
Thank you all so much for your prayers!!!
Two More On A ZERO Budget!
I’m feeling all green after doing these projects! I think I may have saved the planet a little today! Want to know the best part about living green? It usually goes hand in hand with saving money! Which I love.
I had two empty containers, some scrapbook paper, tape, glue, and a vision.
I really do love the laundry room HERE at House of Smiths. I dream about one day having a lovely place to do laundry. Right now, my laundry room is in my scary basement and UGLY! So, in an attempt to bring some pretty into the ugly and also to meet a need a have in my laundry space– no garbage can— I made a little garbage can for the lint.
Here’s a tip. I used the back side of some scrapbook paper I don’t really care for anymore. I didn’t like the pattern, but the back side is white! Awesome. Great way to stretch your supplies.
The second little project is an empty kleenex box. It was at my mom’s house and was gonna get tossed. I rescued it. Molly’s room is pink and green and I was needing some sort of holder for the grocery bags I use to put her do-dos in. This works perfect. I just threw a little cute label on it and stuffed it with bags.
Now my project total comes to 22 completed projects! Yay! I have nine more to do before the end of the month to reach my goal of 31!
I’m linking to Frugal Friday!
A Trip To the ER! (And A Couple Projects!)
Last night, my hubbie came home complaining of a bad stomach ache. Within an hour, he was in so much pain he could hardly stay conscious. I took him to the ER and they think that he has gall stones. We are getting an ultrasound tomorrow morning to make sure. We’re a bit nervous about the bill… we don’t have health insurance. So, if you think of us, say a little prayer for health and provision. God is good and will meet our needs.
I was working on organizing all my craft bins when that happened. I managed to finish that today! I am purging all this plus a grocery sack full of garbage:
All this is going into my next yard sale! I have a friend who wants to have one with me, and since having mine in April, I have found lots more stuff! (I don’t think I was as ruthless as I could have been the first time around.)
I’m so glad I did this project because now what is left in my bins are the supplies I love and stuff I’m excited to use! Plus, I think I may be able to get $10-15 if I can sell all that’s pictured here! That’s the cool thing. I like being able to have a better functioning life and make money because of it.
AND I also deep cleaned the high chair. Gross. Sorry no pictures of that, trust me, it was yucky. I wonder why?
(Looks like she’s telling me “no no mama!”)
My project total is now 20 projects completed! We are tightening our budget now due to the unforeseen hospital visit, so I’m going to have to get very creative in how I pull off the last 11 projects! You know me, I do love a challenge!
Projects 15-18!
Wow did we bust out the projects this weekend!
First off, I finished my door! I couldn’t get a very good picture because I took it at night, but it looks like the perfect shade of deep red now. I also spray painted the mail slot thingy with Oil Rubbed Bronze to match the knob and lock! It looks LOADS better and really adds to the curb appeal of our house! I LOVE it!
Here is the before– blue and white with brass mail slot:
And After:
Mail Slot!
Front of door:
Project 16, I didn’t really do all of, my dad did the hard part with the assistance of my hubbie! I spray painted my parents old chandelier, I was too busy to take a before, but it was a silver-ish/pewter-ish color that was sort of dull. I took off all the froofy doofy little dangly dealies and called my electrician dad over to help!
Here is the very old lady style ceiling fan that was there before, you can see it hanging there:
Here are the men hard at work:
Here is my cute black chandelier after:
Perfect! Nate wants to put shades on it, I like it nice and bright and exposed… we’ll see.
Number 17 is very unimpressive, but I mended a dress of mine that had been hanging in my closet for a month waiting to be fixed! I fixed it and wore it today!
Number 18 just blesses my socks off. My dad finished the wiring project for our entertainment devices so I no longer have a chord going from my kitchen to the living room and I no longer have devices on the floor in front of my fireplace! They are snug in the credenza my dad built for us! I realize that I didn’t do anything on this project, but I took Molly out of the house so that the project could be done.
Here’s what the fireplace looked like with devices in front of it:
Here it is now, all clean and clear just in time for the Mollinator to start experimenting with walking and grabbing things. (We seem to have skipped crawling. I think this was the Lord’s grace in allowing us to make our home safer before she became mobile!)
13 projects left to reach my goal!! How are you guys doing with your projects?
I am linking up to Sunday Showcase at Under the Table Dreaming!
