because i love to craft.

ok, so at the risk of sounding really cheesy, i'm going to try out a new series? segment? i 'm really not sure what to call it, but awhile ago my bff suggested i do something like this & so i'm taking her advice. she and i had a craft weekend a couple of months ago & naturally, as i'm sure is true for the vast majority of the crafting world, our projects were pinterest-inspired.  she thought since i have this wonderful little blog here that i should feature some of the projects that i complete {since lately projects are on my almost daily to-do list}.  maybe it will provide some "pinspiration" {yeah, i really did just say that} for you to complete that project that's been taking up space on your "DIY/craft/someday i'll get to it board".  

so here's where the cheesy part comes in: i came up with a name for this little venture. are you ready for this? 

it's kind of like a stamp of approval.

i'd love to show you something "pintastic" than land here.
oh my! have you seen these? hilarious!!

i have a few projects waiting in the wings, but since valentine's day is closing in on us, i thought i would kick off this post with a valentine's day project. 

i feel like these days you can make just about anything with a toilet paper roll, and with the amount of toilet paper we use in this house, i thought a project that would allow me to put some of those rolls to use might be good! 

i saw this project here and here. 

here's my version.

 if you know me, you know that i strongly, strongly dislike the color pink.

you might be thinking it must make picking things out for valentine's day really hard,

 however, i'm really good at it by now!

i'm really digging the red/robin's egg combo, so that's what i chose for this year.

 now, i'll be honest, i didn't read any tutorials before doing this, just looked at the pics.

{i totally missed the part where michelle suggests taping the tube and think this would have been a really good idea!}

i had some blank cards already that i had gotten at a.c. moore several years ago.
of course, cardstock would totally work too.

i didn't have a plan for my stamping, i just went with it.

 i personally liked that the hearts were imperfect. 

after the blue dried, i added some red. 

here's another design.

and another.

i'll be working on a few more, and maybe, maybe i'll let eli do one too. we'll see. the last time we tried painting, he just wanted to touch the wet paint & i had to force him to put the paintbrush on the paper.

*sigh*

someday we will paint together. 

anyway, i'd love to check out your "pintastic" projects.

what are you working on?

just call me thrifty.

lately you will find me scouring blogs out there like the following:

life as a thrifter

all things thrifty

thrifty decor chick

a night owl

plus others that i find via pinterest but forget to bookmark.

{and kick myself for later}

i've had the itch to redecorate for awhile now.

{anyone remember this post?}
 well, the time has come & i'm really excited about what's about to go down in our house!
i've taken a lot of mental notes,
i've taken a lot of mental pics,
and a vision has been born.

one of the things i've learned is how to shop at goodwill & other thrift stores to find treasures among the items that someone no longer wanted.
it's become my new favorite thing to do.
i go looking for items that i can do "projects" with.
i'm all about the homemade, diy, & thrifty projects i will be able to use to
decorate our "new" living room.
my husband just shakes his head at me because he'd probably call me addicted,
but i've always had the bug for making it my mission to get the best deal i possibly can.
{i once bought a brand new purse for 52 cents}

so for my birthday i requested a day spent antiquing & thrifting
& i'd love to share my wares with you!

{from top going clockwise}

~this crate was $1. yes, that's right.  i know, i was excited too! i'm not quite sure what i will use it for yet, but for a dollar, i will find a use!
~these vintage books were 25 cents a piece.  i love the idea of decorating with vintage books because 1) i love books & 2) they are always such great colors!

and real quick, can i give you a close up of the red one:

a vintage "my utmost for his highest" by oswald chambers.
probably one of the best devotionals i've ever read.
the inscription on the inside cover was a birthday message, so i felt like i was meant to have it.

ok back to the pics:
~this wooden structure { for lack of a better term} might appear to be quite ugly, but imagine with me a coat of spray paint, perhaps white or cream & now i have a cool new way to store my jewelry.
~i admit i do have a slight obsession with mason jars. and the blue ones are just so pretty!
~then there's this array of odds & ends like the orange candlestick {loved the color}, milk glass vase, glass jar, tin planters & a silver tray. 

all of this for less than $20.

i've got a few other "treasures" that i've already begun turning into little beauties that i will be posting about in the near future.
i hope that you'll join me on my newest journey & tell my husband it will all be worth it in the end when i've saved us tons of money with my crazy visions and daily projects!

 anyone else out there love to go thrifting?
ever created something awesome?
i'd love to see it!