Heard Around Pinehurst

***

 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?

For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 

why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

www.b3hd.blogspot.com

Love to see you there.

Carry on as you were.

***  

In the midst of all this here crafting and collecting 

and (ahem, shopping)

I hear a lot of random things.

Here is where I'll collect up the most random of all.

I'll always add the most recent to the top of the list.

Scrap Room Wall of Inspiration

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Like my wall of inspiration,

these words inspire me.

"What are you going to do 

with that bow and arrow 

that I keep tripping over 

in the bathroom?"

"That dog hair on the duvet

is not part of the design?

I thought it was part of

the Ashley Collection."

"Ohhh...mommy brought the

puppy rock buffet indoors."

i collect vol. 2: rocks

***

 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?

For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 

why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

www.b3hd.blogspot.com

Love to see you there.

Carry on as you were.

***  

This might seem odd...

but I promise

there is a method to this madness

Very Partial Rock Collection

Photo (c) b3home designs

Later this weekend

I'll show you the method

For now, the madness

i collect vol. 1 : vintage cameras

***

 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?

For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 

why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

www.b3hd.blogspot.com

Love to see you there.

Carry on as you were.

***  

There isn't much I won't collect

some would say...

...I like to shop

But really

I like to hunt

Part of Vintage Camera Collection

Photo (c) b3 home designs

What is your favorite collection?

Second Hand | Bright Idea: Pottery Barn Cloche Hack

***

 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?

For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 

why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

www.b3hd.blogspot.com

Love to see you there.

Carry on as you were.

***  

Cloches are all the rage right?

But $70 rage?

Get outta here.

They are awesome though so I've thought up my own take on them.
There's this one that I got at Goodwill Burien for $1.99

$1.99 Goodwill Hurricane turned Cloche

Photo (c) b3 home designs

It is actually a hurricane. 
Which is kinda awesome in and of itself.
But I do have a puppy. 
And the hurricane is somewhat thin.
So I didn't want to purch it up on that smallish base and make it all top heavy.
Honestly, it was by accident that I flipped it around like that there.
Okay.  No it wasn't.  Because that was my bright idea.
From the moment I saw it on the shelf.
And saw the price.

I did already have the glass cake stand (I know, I hate when folks say that too).
But it was a wedding gift from Bed, Bath and Beyond.
$20 for the full set and $1.99 for a hurricane at Goodwill, I'm sure you can work it out.

Before I bought that hurricane, though, I was at the Habitat ReStore.
Yes, this was the infamous "We don't sell chalkboard paint" visit.
I saw these light fixture covers.
And couldn't get imaginative with them, then.
They were $5 each and I was convinced I wanted to have 2 or 3.  At least.
And I also knew I had a stupidly self imposed limit of about $10
Because really...I was just there for paint. 
And I had already picked up more than I was there for.
But I had to go back.
Alas, the cloches that could have been were gone.

Sniff.

I'll keep my eyeballs peeled.

I've Been Framed | $16 art binge

***

 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?

For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 

why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

www.b3hd.blogspot.com

Love to see you there.

Carry on as you were.

***  

So you're making your first trip to a Second Hand store (aka, thrift store) and you have no idea what you should be looking for in the piles (and PILES) of stuff.

Mistake #1:
NEVER go without at least a general idea of what you're looking for

You know you have a limited amount of time and money to spend. 
Say 30 minutes and $10.

If you stopped into a mega thrift store, you should ask the first kind soul where all the picture frames are.
They will point you to some dim, dusty place in the back of the joint.
There, you will find that 30 minutes and $10 will take you far.
But remember Mistake #1?

Mistake #2:
Heading to a frame aisle and not having a specific project in mind OR
a general theme to go off of.

Easy enough to remedy.
For a specific project, rather then trying to match everything in your house up,
tackle a room (or even a corner of a room or a specific wall) at a time

For a general theme, remember that you can always break out the paint to create a theme
and everything does NOT have to match perfectly.

Case in point, this DIY Easy Frame project.

Frame 3.99 from Value Village | "Found Letter Art" free from Flicker

Photo (c) b3 home designs

I just started collecting.
Anytime I saw a silverish looking frame with this thin mount edge

Thrifting collection of thin mount edge silver frames

Photo (c) b3 home designs

I snapped it up.

You can set whatever kind of rules for your collection as you want.
Because I'm married to an Aaron's Brother's Frames photographer junky
I know big frames are expensive

So I generally look for 11x14 or larger.
And "heavyish"
And I flip them over and see if they have the screw slot corners
Because that there is a good frame.

I don't really care about the condition of the glass because really, sometimes, glassless frames are good
I don't have a hard a fast "nothing over $5 rule" in this realm.
I don't buy smaller than 11x14
I usually buy at least two, if not three at a time.
I tend to shy away from giant poster sized frames at this time (because prints that size are PRICEY)
I almost always use these types of frames to actually frame something.

My favorite source of all times for "stuff to frame" on the cheap is:

The Internets.  Of course.
If you have never been to Vintage Printables you must RUN and get your free on.
They have all sorts of great images, most of which, at the time of press run, you cannot see.
Because they are, evidently, technophobes and can't figure out how to run their blog.
But they are working on it.

And I downloaded all sorts of awesome from there.
Like for instance
these jazz posters:

Jazz Posters downloaded from Vintage Printables

Printed at Costco

Framed with Thrifted collection of frames

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Which, of course, I used some of my collected frames to...well...frame.

These 16 x 20 frames cost me $1.99 each
Prints were $6 each at Costco
$16  for a wall of awesome.
Pricier than most of my DIY projects which is one reason why this is DIY Medium
I'm also handy with the Photoshop (so I could prep them for optimal Costco sizing/cropping printing
It took half a minute to find stuff I liked at Vintage Printables because, well, I liked it all.

If you need frames that match identically, you can easily bump this to a DIY Hard
lugging around your one frame as you search the region for it's twin is a bit much

or

If you loath photo editing and can't figure out how to crop right at Costco, that could start to be hard

But for general, cheap, DIYers, this should hit medium.
Only because you often need patience
or a handful of cash to amass a decent collection

Hall of Flags

***

 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?

For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 

why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

www.b3hd.blogspot.com

Love to see you there.

Carry on as you were.

***  

I have been looking for marine flags forever.

Well, for AFFORDABLE marine flags.

I even contemplated making them.

Especially when I came across this set on Pottery Barn:

Photo from Pottery Barn Catalog

I was going to look them up again and go to paint funky town.
But then I remember that I had a Pottery Barn GC.  OR two.
Well technically, a merchandize credit. And a gift certificate.

I typed in the balance checker for the first one.  $6.01
Ouch. 
That wouldn't work.
Fingers crossed for the Merch Credit card.
$31.96
SCORE!

On clearance (with free shipping - free shipping is the ONLY thing that gets me to buy at PB.com)
they were 19.99
For a set of 11
Which I will totally rip apart.
And frame individually
For that one long wall downstairs

Downstairs MIL - Flag Hall In Progress

Photo (c) b3home designs

Then I flipped to the next page. And I saw the oars.
flippity flippets.
Guess I'll have to keep looking for those in the antique shops. 
Or get creative about where I'm looking
I mean my hubby is on the board of a wooden boat org.
Certainly they know where I can get some oars right?
Vintage ones at that.
They are the ones (with their poster print) that started the whole "wooden boat" theme anyhow.

All said.  These flags come to just a bit over $1 each. Before framing.
Way cheaper than what I could make them for when you factor in my pricey time.
Just saying.

Oh, and if I get half a moment,
I will totally make them into these cuties
from Land of Nod

Photo from Land of Nod website

LOVE the toggles
Love the more naturale string

We'll see about this hack.
And I'll also hack a sign like this

Photo from Spicher and Company website

Oh that downstairs level is really coming into shape.

Awesome.

Just in time for the Classic.

This is a DIY "Medium" because of cost 

($20 for flags, $10 for frames is getting up there)

Second Hand: Pottery Barn Sand Dollar Vase Filler Hack

***

 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?

For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 

why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

www.b3hd.blogspot.com

Love to see you there.

Carry on as you were.

***  

Yes, yes, yes.

We all know that Pottery Barn vase fillers are ridiculously priced.

Prime example.  Sand Dollars. For $10.  On clearance.

But hey!

You get free shipping!

Like everyone else, I got my knock-off Pottery Barn vase filler for about a 10th of what they wanted to charge you.  In my case, not only did I get my baggie of Sand Dollars for $1.50, I actually got a nice assortment of sizes to boot including this gigantic one. 

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Gorgeous huh?

Got mine at Value Village, so file this under "Secondhand" please. 
Awesome.

But it gets better.

I went to the Pacific Galleries Auction House Annual Flea Market
on my way home from work on Saturday
And look what I scored

Value Village AND Pac Gal Annual Flea Sand Dollars

$3.00 for 12

Say what?!?

Pottery Barn wanted $10.00 (on sale - they usually want 19.99!!) for 6,

yes, you read that right

for SIX sand dollars.

Does hell go with no?

Perhaps I'm super lucky to live in the Pacific Northwest 

where these can be found for almost a dime a dozen.

Almost.

But Pottery Barn really.  

Who are you kidding??

Show me what you found while out thrifting lately.

You won't believe the other "authentic" pottery barn find I found

Don't hate. Just recognize.

Mod Podged Bird Plates

***

 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?

For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 

why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

www.b3hd.blogspot.com

Love to see you there.

Carry on as you were.

***  

When I first saw this project on the web 
over at Frugal with a Flourish,
I knew I had to knock them out.

Modged Up Bird Plates

Photo (c) b3 home designs

So I did.

I already had the salad plates from staging the last place we sold.
Check

I already had Mod Podge because, well, I'm a crafter
Check

To get the birds, all you have to do is Google "Images, Bird sillhoutte"
Low and behold the choices are almost endless
Almost.

I picked out about 11 I liked
Then I went into Microsoft Digital Image Suite (pre Photoshop love affair)
And opened a circle the size of my plates (8 inches)
And then sized the birds so that they were pretty similar size for each plate

I printed on regular 8.5 x 11 paper
Then got to snipping and cutting.
Of course, I did this by hand.

Unlike this project gone wild
The snipping and cutting only took me 10 minutes
or so
and no one looked at me like I was crazy.

Once cut, I modge podged them down onto the plate
with a layer of MP on the back of each cutout
Then I ran a layer of MP across the full front
And that dulled down my already not full bleed black ink
So I took my Deco Art Gloss Black Enamel acrylic paint
And a couple of tiny brushes
And filled in the sillhoutes again
Let dry overnight.

Next morning, use Disc Hangers (aka, the BEST plate hanging tool in the world)

Best $12 ever spent in home decor accessories

Disc Hangers

Photo (c) b3 home designs

to make the plates ammendable to hanging
Then I used a cool eyeballing trick for easy, symetrical, photo hanging
Fun times.
I'll blog about that.

Part 2 of eyeballing plate hanger placement

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Don't let the copious supplies, cutting time or successive steps scare you.
This is totally DIY Easy.  Jump in and see.

Dining Room Bird Plates

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Now I just need to determine

what I'm going to do with my highwater curtains

And whether or not I'm going to just do it already

and paint that gold mirror black.

We have NOTHING gold in our house

I felt better about that mirror once I put the curtains back up

But I'm still thinking black is where that has to go.

Gulp.

Typewriter Key Plaques | Ballard Designs Hack

***

 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?

For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 

why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

www.b3hd.blogspot.com

Love to see you there.

Carry on as you were.

***  

In my last Ballard Designs catalog,
I about passed out when I saw the typewriter key plaques.

Or maybe I passed out when I saw how much they cost.

I mean I love font art like the other girl.

Love it enough to go through MONTHS of creativity

to create some of my own.

After staring at the picture for about 8 hours straight

I thought to myself

"self"

(yes, I speak to myself as well)

"self, you can make those."

And I did

I went to my fave Dollar Store in Burien

and bought some more wreaths

But this time

I bought smooth green ones

instead of the fuzzy white ones.

And of course you know I have plenty of black spray paint around.

Supposedly, I only paint things white or black.

Supposedly.

On my way home from work, I stopped by Michaels

to see if they had any letters that were

cool

and cheap

Preferably on clearance.

Clearance smooth foam letters

Basic supplies, Ballard hack Typewriter plaques

Photo (c) b3 home designs

50 cents each. 

And I ONLY had to dig for 10 minutes

to find letters that would actually spell something

Anything

Lucky me

I found P, H, T, O(x2)

Guess what that spells?

After trying to kill everyone in my home

by spray painting in the garage

with the garage outter door closed

but the door to my home open

I realized that I didn't like the dull look of the spray paint.

So I broke out the latex enamel.

Yes, said same enamel that gave me fits on another project

that yet remains to be unblogged for the love of all things

:perfectionist:

whatever.

so the latex enamel

I got it at Big Lots

For $2

so when I run out

I will be really sad

Thank goodness in typical B fashion

I bought two cans

That's thinking ahead.

So.

The latex enamel went on really well

because I had a black spray paint base

But even directly onto the letters

it worked well

latex enamel painting

photos (c) b3 home designs

Then I had to figure out what I would use as a backing

And because I'm a world renown scrapbooker

I know that kraft cardstock is in style

So I would never use my PAID for cardstock

And instead whipped out all the card and kraft packing materials

from my stash of "this would be awesome to scrap on"

Of course they were not big enough to outline the whole circle on

but they were big enough to cover the whole opening

Typewriter plaque backing

photo (c) b3 home designs

phew.

I would have LOST IT

if they had fallen short

Or they would have just gone on the pile of still unfinished projects.

That's more likely

Getting mad just takes up so much energy.

Traced the outside of the circles, onto the cardstock

Cut out the backings

Broke out the trusty glue gun

Burnt my fingers off gluing the foam circles

to the cardstock backing

Then affixed the letters to the centers

Affix letters to center of backing

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Then I broke out the nails

First I was going to pierce the nail through the front

on the cardstock

just under the foam ring

Then I had a duh moment and realized that

if I just poked a hole in the back of the foam circle

I could hang them flush on the wall

and not see the nails

Sheer. Genius.

Photo plaques hung

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Almost as genius as that Patty Murray political ad on my tv.

I mean come on,

you didn't think that was a dirty movie did you?

In the middle of the day??

On second thought, that ad is really dirty. 

filthy

and not in a good way

So I guess it is one in the same.

* the observant ones will note that I also picked up and painted an "s"

I am all about decorating in odds. 
The "s" would have been the 6th plaque.  So I ditched it. *

Ballard Designs wanted $250 plus shipping for a similar set up.
I made mine for

$10.50
Foam wreaths | $5 for 5
Foam letters | $2.50 for 5
Spray paint | .99 for 1 can
latex enamel | $2 for 1 can
carstock backing | free - you have a ton of it too (backs of cereal boxes if necessary)

Have fun with it and show me which ones you make!
If you can only find x's, o's and q's
consider making some x and o plaques
or some "q" for question plaques to style a bookcase with
or some initial plaques if your name is like Quantae or something

man I miss that kid

Linking up to the other Hacks at CSI

How NOT to hang art

***

 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?

For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 

why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

www.b3hd.blogspot.com

Love to see you there.

Carry on as you were.

***  

So I created the art.
The hard way.
You can read about that here.

And then I tried to get it the two pieces off the floor

Travel Themed Subway Art Hanging

Photo (c) b3 home designs

And onto the wall.

And I thought that I could use these

ook Picture hooks

Photo (c) b3 home designs

And as you can see

perhaps by the fact that the art

is still on the ground

ook hooks right before I flung them across the room

Photo (c) b3 home designs

I failed.

Miserably.

Wimpered a little bit about how weak I am

Then had to admit failure

and ask for help

Travel themed Subway Art hung the appropriate way

Photo (c) b3 home designs

He broke out the stud finder
And the bolts
And the tape measure
And his strong shoulder
And his weak wife
And his anxious "What in the world are they up to now??" puppy

And he got it done.
I love him.

Ook hooks are NOT the way to hang up Travel Themed Subway Art gone wild.
I'm just saying.

Unless they have a better product that they could hip me to
I won't be trying that again.
Ook picture hanging hooks.
Ultimate fail.

I so love how those Subway Art pieces came out.
Awesome.