Some projects I have done recently....

I have been trying to get some way-too-long-unfinished projects done.  I have posted some of these on Facebook but since I am trying to get better about blogging and journaling, I thought I would post them here.

I finally broke out my Cricut Expression today and made these plates for Valentine's Day (plates bought at Dollar Tree for 50 cents each on sale!!):

Next is my chalkboard wood shelf.  I found this at DI for $4 in this condition:

Dirty, nasty mirror, ugly oak color, and the squares on the sides were originally for photos I think.  I had no idea what I was going to do with this but I couldn't pass it up.  After much too long of thinking about it, here is what I came up with:

I painted the frame with some leftover Behr Swiss Coffee Satin paint that I had, sprayed the middle with some chalkboard spray paint, cut some squares of scrapbook paper for the holes (didn't even glue them in), and cut the vinyl words with my Cricut.  I am planning to write some awesome inspirational messages for my kids on it (LOL!!!)).

Next are my shelves.  I found a couple of blogs with some very cool, wide shelves on them.  I found my inspiration at House of Smiths and Crafty Sisters.  They are made out of MDF, molding, and corbels.  I followed the measurements on Crafty Sisters - WOW - these shelves turned out HUMONGOUS!!  I made three shelves and was going to put them all in the family room but they were waaay too big.  So two are in the family room, one is in the living room.  I honestly love them!  I don't have a lot of table space to display things so these are a great option for me!

These are the shelves all decorated for Valentine's Day.  And almost everything on here was put together for such little money!!!  You really can decorate with cute things that don't cost a lot.  Here is the breakdown:

• Key Picture.  Frame at a yard sale - $1, keys - $0.75 each at DI, $0.25 for two sheets of scrapbook paper.
• Topiary.  Bag of moss at Dollar Tree - $1, styrofoam ball, dowel - $0.75 at Home Depot, bucket - $1 at Dollar Tree.
• Framed Valentine's words - free printable I found online (printed out on my printer), frame - $1 at Dollar Tree - painted black.
• Apothecary jars.  I got everything at Dollar Tree - $8 total.  And I have some rose petals and little red ball things left over.
• Red felt ball.  Felt - $1 at Wal-Mart, styrofoam ball.  Candlestick - $1 at Dollar Tree - spraypainted white.
• Be Mine Banner. I found this online for free. Printed and cut it out, mounted to paper I already had.  Strung with ribbon - $1 at Michael's.
• Wolf Family frame - my mom gave to me a couple of years ago for Christmas.

I love, love, love free printables.  They are all over the web.  Print them out and stick them in a DI or Dollar Tree frame - cheap decor that looks awesome!!

This is just the shelf and top of my armoire.  Wanted to point out the candleholder on the shelf - $2 at DI, red candles - $1 each at Dollar Tree.  Again, another printable on the top that I found for free on the internet.  And my baskets - the one on the left holds remotes and coasters.  One on the right holds diapers and wipes.

This is the shelf in the living room.  I am completely not finished with this.  Pictures and stuff are just randomly stuck up there.

Remember - decorating does not have to be expensive nor totally time consuming.  I absolutely do not claim to be a decorating guru but I enjoy making things look cute (and remember - I am totally cheap!!!).