Centerpieces

For our centerpieces on the tables at the reception I wanted something not on Pinterest. Not that Pinterest is bad, I just didn't want to have the same reception as everyone else. Then I was stuck. It's kind of hard to think of these things on your own. Jordan had beta fish in cool vases. Jaime had cornocopias of flowers (she got married right around Thanksgiving). Brooke (who also got married right after Christmas) had ornaments. The bar had been set! I thought of something but I Googled it just to see what it would look like. There weren't many options on Google but it looked like it could work. So it was settled. We would have books as centerpieces.

I wanted thick, hardback books that had red covers. In order to save money we went to every thrift store around us. We nearly cleaned out all the red covered hardback books! But we found some pretty good finds. Plus, if you're like me and love the smell of old books it was great. It took us some time to do this but we bought about 4 or 5 books for each table.

Now came for the set up. We placed 2 table runners on the table over a white tablecloth. One was wider and was red. The other went on top of the red and was the gold color. We found square and circle mirrors at the dollar store and also battery powered candles (off-white and darker red.) We placed the candles wrapped with a band of ribbon on the mirrors and gave each table two candle and mirror combos. We then sorted the books in size order so it was easy to put them on the tables in nice stacks. We then plopped a Harry Potter book or Lord of the Rings book in the pile because these are our favorites! Now, our centerpieces were personalized.

To top it all off, we put 4 framed (gold frames from Target, Wal-Mart and the dollar store, not too hard to find them) pictures of us on each table. Three of the pictures were from when we were little and one of the both of us. And voila, beautiful centerpieces!

When deciding centerpieces think of the theme your wedding has or stick with the wedding colors. Pictures are always and easy go to and they're also fun. There are a lot of things you can do with pictures. Pinterest is a pretty good place to look for ideas of things to do with pictures or anything else, really. Think of something that fits both your personalities even if it's subtle.  If your venue allows candles, those create a wonderful glow to the room and can be more pleasing than regular lights. Battery powered candles work great too. Flowers are also a simple and elegant option. Flowers are especially welcome at spring and summer weddings. Centerpieces should enhance the overall feel of the reception hall and the wedding itself.

Upcycled Thrift Store Lantern

I found this lovely lantern around Christmas time at the thrift store for $3.

Okay so it was not lovely at all but it had potential! 

Camouflage? 

I disassembled all the pieces. The garland was held on with little wires. I used snips to get those all off. I cleaned the whole thing including the plexiglass inserts. I then spray painted the metal parts with matte black spray paint (left over from our front door). For the sides I made stencils using contact paper and my Cricut. Peeling those thin pieces off the backing was hard! I stuck and restuck them until they were on there even and we used frosting spray paint to frost the glass. Now it is a great piece!

 Found anything lately to upcycle?

Modest makeover: 50¢ shirred maxi dress!

I seldom get up early enough to go yard saling, but a few weeks ago, our church and our school were holding yard sales just a couple blocks apart, so our family made an effort to hit them both. One of the things we picked up was a cute shirred-top dress. The back tag was ripped out, but I suspect it's not really supposed to be a little girl's maxi dress (probably a medium girl's knee-length dress?).

It was a little big for my daughter (and I wouldn't let her wear a strapless dress to church)(especially not one that would fall down!), so I wanted to add sleeves to help it fit her better.

Matching the fabric wasn't an issue: the tiered skirt also had another layer of the same fabric underneath.

I had my daughter try on the dress, and I measured from the side seam to what seemed like a good point in the front to get the width, about 4 inches. I made sure that width would cover her shoulders, too. Using a rotary cutter, I cut 4 inches off the bottom part of the underlayer of the skirt. The fabric is a gauzy-type cotton weave, so I did a fake overlock stitch (a zigzag stitch along the edge) to minimize fraying.

I took my extra fabric and cut it in four pieces. Then I failed to pin right sides together and totally messed up sewing those pieces together. (Hooray! Wayward! As if breaking yet another needle wasn't wayward enough!) I wanted to make a double-wide fabric so I could gather it to help match the dress, and I would use the presewn rolled hems instead of having to sew my own. But I wasn't careful about which way the hems were facing, and three of them ended up facing out. (Seriously?!)

I gathered the ends of the sleeves and sewed them along the top edge of the front, then had another fitting with my daughter to get them the right length before sewing them in the back. (I mean, I wish I'd done it that way. I really kept it all pinned during the fitting and it was a big hassle.)

My daughter is happy with the result (but she wasn't happy I interrupted her during her favorite show to take pictures!). When I wash it, the gathers will take on the same wrinkly appearance as the rest of the dress. I love that they totally look like they belong, and it was WAY easier than cutting out a real sleeve pattern and all that entails.

Best of all, total bill for the project: $0.50!


What are your weekend thrifting finds?

Jaime's Tips for Thrifting

This year my entire Easter outfit came from the thrift store.

Top and hair flowers: '80s classic, Skirt: Banana Republic, Shoes: Guess(see below), Necklace: ME

I have found some real treasures at my local thrift stores. I've talked about a few of them before. Here are my tips for successful thrifting:

1. Shop with something in mind. Sorting through racks and racks of clothing just trying to find something "cute" may be overwhelming, at least it would be for me. Before I go, I have a game plan of different things I'm looking for. There are some things I'm always looking for, like skirts, but other times I have something specific in mind, like white, cotton pants to dye:

2. Keep your options and eyes open. If you are handy with a needle or dye, think outside the box: sizes that are too big or even menswear! Make sure to check in different areas. My local thrift store divides clothes into knits, sweaters, tees and blouses. If I'm looking for something in a particular color, I check all of the sections. The blouse from my Easter outfit was totally '80s--I removed the shoulder pads and took it in a touch on the sides. Bonus: I used the fabric from the shoulder pads to make the flowers on my hair accessory.

 

3. Give yourself enough time. I'm pretty bad about this one, I like to go thrifting during lunch. If you are focused, you can do this. I usually am looking for just one item and can be in and out quickly. But as to not feel pressures give yourself enough time to look through the racks. I did find my chair during my lunch hour though!

4. Shop out of season. I got my Easter skirt in the fall. I snagged the shoes right after Christmas. Another bonus: Savers runs sales at the end of the winter season on long sleeved items, coats, etc.

 

So this is love? do do do do 

5. Know your store. Savers is my store. I know about the Super Savers card, and about the color system and I get emails about the sales they are having. Other stores in my area get overstock-like merchandise from Target on Tuesdays. Goodwill has a discount store in my area where everything is priced by the pound.  I know Salvation Army has sale days. Try asking the employees at your local store. Another great thing about Savers: they give you coupons or card punches for every bag you donate! Love it!

6. Shop for craft, decorating and organizational items. Goodwill has TONS of baskets, I would never buy one full price after having seen all the different kinds they have. I've gotten an awesome shoe organizer and hanging closet organizer as well as tons of decor items like these:

Picture frame, glitter vase, fake apothecary jar and tray all came from the thrift store

My biggest tip: Have fun! I love thrifting! Oh, and be sure to bring your hand sanitizer! 

My Fall Décor on a Budget

I’ve been busy this weekend getting ready for two guest spots on Monday. First, I was at the Artsy Girl Connection (Thanks for having me, Marilyn!). Then I was at Craft Junkie Too (Thanks for having me, Tracy!).  Both crafts I used on my dining room table fall display, since I don’t have a mantle.  I decorate for fall, so this transitions well into Thanksgiving décor.

So here’s a breakdown of how much this cost me.
Tray: $2.99, Goodwill
Candle: Tutorial here, made from two candles from Dollar Tree and leaves from Dollar Tree. Cost about $2.20
Frame: $0.99, Goodwill, photo by Kristen Duke Photography—one of her Friday Freebies
Pumpkin: Ok, this one I’m not sure about. I got it at Robert’s when I used to live in Utah. I know I got it for 40% off though. I’d guess at most I paid $6
Basket: Target, $2.50
Apples: My fridge =)
Glitter vase: Tutorial here, vase was $0.99. Glitter, I probably used about $0.50 worth
Leaf sticks: Sticks, outside. Leaves, Dollar Tree. There are 50 in a pack, so it cost about $0.16
Homemade apothecary jar: Jar, $1.99, Goodwill. Candlestick holder (you can’t see it), $1, Dollar Tree. Mini gourds, $1, Dollar Tree

Total cost:  $20.32! Not bad!!