Tip #13 Make A Bridal Shower Gift

It's Summer. It's wedding season. If you have a lot of friends getting hitched in the same year this can get a bit pricey which is why it can be lovely to make your own gift.

A talented Etsy Seller

Step 1) Find some inspiration! I rarely resort to Pintrest. Mainly because I already have a million projects stewing in my head and I don’t need anymore. But for my friend's bridal shower I needed something NOT so cheap and dirty.

Step 2) Grab some wooden spoons at T.J. Max. I ended borrowing a wood burner from a  friend. Money Saved.

Step 3) Burn these in an afternoon. You can sketch with pencil before or just free hand. 

Step 4) Buy a bright colored mixing bowl and fill with boxed brownies and breads. Wrap in clear plastic and pretty bow.

Step 5) Be super happy for that sweet bride in you life!

Tip #12 Upcycle Dirt - For Father's Day

I have the unique privilege of being the spawn of two former art teachers. Since this week is Father's Day I'll share the impact my poppy has had on the circus that is up cycling. 

This is my Poppy and I on my wedding day dancing to Heartland's "I loved her first." A song, we had decided on when I was sweet sixteen. 

First of all, my dad is one heck of a thrifter! This past Black Friday my dad and I did not bother with the big name stores, Instead we went to a resale shop and got 1/2 off some already tiny prices. We rummage, we thrift, we estate shop, we garage sale. My dad knows his stuff and despite most of a childhood of not loving his penny pinching ways, I now emulate them.  

Secondly, My dad is a great teacher. I struggle with wanting to be perfect at something the first time I try it. My father, seeing my frustration would tell me I had to make ten mistakes before I'd be good. So when I'd mess up and want to cry or yell, he'd calmly say, "Okay, that's one, you have nine more." It probably takes more than ten mistakes to be good at anything but by mishap number six I'd start to see improvement and be having fun. I just needed to see the mistakes as stepping stones, not as failures.

I have so many memories of doing art projects with my dad. We made pinjatas from scratch, plaster masks of our faces, and he even tought me to draw the human nose. No one ever knows how to draw a nose! One of the coolest things he taught me was working with pottery and throwing on the wheel.

My dad probably first brought clay home for me to sculpt and glaze around the age of four. I give you exhibit A. Twenty-oneish years later, I give you exhibit B. There maybe a slight improvement.

A

B

I can't think working with clay (or dirt) without thinking of the ultimate in upcycling. God. As a Christian I know that God took simple dirt from the earth and spoke life into it to create the beauty and life that is Adam. Though my words are not that life bringing, my hands can in a small shadow of a way create beauty. I'm so amazingly blessed to have an artist as an earthly father. But it's so much sweeter to look to my Heavenly Father as the most awe-inspiring artist. He can even "Upcycle Dirt."

Happy Father's Day Dad! Thanks for teaching me about art, life, mistakes, and eternity.

Tip #11 Try Something Super Quick and Easy

I have a habit of sometimes taking on very long and challenging projects. My wonderful husband and I are in the middle of a (not so wonderful) first time home purchase. So since that has taken up a lot of my time and emotional energy I decided to do a super quick and easy graphic tee project.



I actually don't have very many graphic tees and am always always always looking for a way to bring more navy, white, and neon pink into my life. I did this top one evening and it was dry the next day.



First, I remembered a plain white t-shirt in my closet and cut off the collar and sleeve stitching.





Secondly, I free-handed a makeshift stencil and cut it out. I'd seen a "birdie" shirt earlier that day at Target which gave me the inspiration...but mine ended up being totally different.




I then traced the stencil onto the shirt with colored pencils.



Lastly, I painted in the lines with acrylic paint I had. It's super important to place something between the two layers of the t-shirt or the color will bleed through onto the back of the shirt.

I ended up spending a grand total of no moneys. Which was perfect because I'm trying to buy a condo. It's nice to have something in my life that is super quick and easy...and cheap!

Tip # 10 You Can Always Resell or Gift It

I've come by some very cool things in all my days of shopping, cheap and dirty style.

No, I'm not a tiny person. This is a giant backpack! One of thee coolest items I've laid eyes on.

But some of them haven't been exactly "me" or didn't quite fit right. Sadly, I did resell a perfect pair of polka dot J.Crew shorts and an amazing vintage clutch. But not so sadly, I made back my money and could continue my adventures. Also, there is certain joy to finding something not-for-you and gifting it!

These grey jeans were gifted to moi after Jacqui (friend and genius blogger) found them at a thrift store AND wore them a while. For penny pinchers this is the circle of life at it's finest. And yeah this outfit is head to toe second hand. Please take a moment to enjoy the owls on the undershirt, freakin’ owls, amIright?!

I did mention Jacqui was a genius blogger. I'm currently reading the last book she reviewed (and you should too). It's funny, when people ask if I have a favorite genre of books it's hard not to say, "The one's Jacqui recommends."

Tip #9 Ask Me What I Can Do With This Pile of Old Sheets.

Wash them! That is what I can do with a pile of old dirty sheets. Wash them is boiling lava-hot water.

*Seriously, wash anything you get second hand.

 And then….make-a-super-cute-circle-skirt-with-polka-dot-ribbon-on-the-hem-and- SPINNNNNNNN! 

This was my first attempt at a circle skirt! And as you can see there is a pile of sheets (from the thrift store that were about two bucks a pop.) So, I have a feeling you may be seeing some more skirts in future tips.

Bah! How freakin' cute is this polka dot ribbon?!

Tip # 8 You Can Always Alter

I wish you could have seen this Frump-tastic ankle-length dress in all of her bleach spotted glory. I swear I’ll start taking "before" pics. Instead I chopped her at the knees and added a simple sash. Happy Endings are not just for fairy tales, this is real life people. 

I'm pretty proud of the ribbon that goes around the waist. I don't know how to sew button holes (yet) so I improvised by sewing on snaps and hiding them with buttons.

And after a day of eating deep fried rodeo food I'm so thankful I made it adjustable.

Tip #7 Never Throw Away Your Favorite Old T-Shirt

Because you may have bought it the summer you lived in Germany, taking care of kids on an army base, whose parents were away at war. And it may have been one of the most challenging experiences you ever had, but you grew as a person, grew in your faith because you actually had to rely on God, and grew in your love of adventure and traveling. That may have happened to you. So even when that shirt is faded and gets holes beyond repair, you shouldn’t throw it away.

I was about to crop this pic so you could see past me in the shirt but I realized the man in the background is my now amazing husband! This picture was taken years before I would have even considered him a friend.

You should cut it out. Iron it to some interfacing. And sew it to the back of a cozy zip up hoodie so you can still wear it 8 years later. 

Also, what kind of thrifter would I be if I didn’t tell you we even got the dog second hand, or “rescued” as some people say.