Shabby Chic

Here are some of my favorite finds. Everything here came from a yard sale or flea market. I found it and painted some of them added decorations to the others. I decorated my whole house in the Shabby Chic type decor. Now this worked for me cause the more beat up and old it was the more I wanted it. My husband loved it cause it meant cheap. My kids could not mess it up cause it was already banged up. But, I get bored I gotta change something up so I have started to sell off all my shabby for the primitive country. Now that will last all of a year long enough for me to change the house and I will change again. I will say I am having fun and that is what life is all about. I have made friends with a lot of local mom and pop shops here in town and they always call me when they have a find they know I will like. That is the best way to get the deals get your name out there I'm here to make money first and decorate second. Whats your decorating style or a cool tip you can offer the ever changing decorator?

Candles

Candles are an easy and effective way to change any space. They come in all different sizes and scents. I use them in every room of my house you can change the mood of your home with what you burn. One of my favorites is Gold Canyon Clean Sheets I know shameless plug but hey when I want people to think I have been cleaning all day I burn this. Why? Simple it smells just like Downy fabric softener so people think I have been cleaning and doing laundry all day. The same goes for cooking burn a Oatmeal Raisin Cookie candle and people think I have been cooking all day. Now that one tends to come back and bite me in the end cause they are always looking for the cookies. So OK maybe that one not such a good faker candle but I love it anyway.

Make it your own

One of my favorite quick and easy ways to change a room. I found this saying at Kohl's on sale it's as easy as can be to put on. Just pin it on the wall and smooth it down with the tool they give you. The best part it comes off completely which is great if you rent. The picture I found at Goodwill on one of my many trips. I have found the best time to go is the beginning of the month and right at the end. Why you ask? That's when most people move so you go at the end of the month and get the stuff people don't want to pack up. Go at the beginning of the month to get the stuff they don't have room for. That picture that originally came from Pier One still had the sticker on it for $45 I picked it up for $10. My favorite thing the less I spend the more I get to buy I refuse to pay full price for anything.

Time to go shopping

Now you say how is that on a budget and I will tell you yard sales and flea markets. Some say gross I say woohoo cause that is where I find the best deals. Last year I found this horrible end table that had definitely seen it's better days. I picked it up for $10 and I covered it with a few coats of paint and distressed it for my favorite primitive country look. Now you could easily make this shabby chic by painting it black or white and distress it. Now I dress it up with my favorite candle Gold Canyon that smells the best ever and I have this in my living room now. I decided to keep this table and it cost me under $20 to put together but I could easily sell it for $40 and make double. So always keep your eye out for the ugly stuff that is what can make you the money!

easy centerpiece for your table

This primitive country centerpiece is not only affordable but it's easy to put together. The total amount I spent for this centerpiece was less then 20 bucks. I found the old tool carrier at a flea market for $5 it needed a little elbow grease to clean it and I had some paint left over from another project I had done so I used that to paint it. I thinned the paint out with water to make it more like a stain then paint then I sanded it in spots to make it look old and weathered. I filled with a primitive berry vine I got this vine on clearance last year at Michael's craft store you can then put anything in there you want right now I have the tin stars. But I change it for all seasons I even put signs with different sayings in it. The toolbox can be used for anything i've even used it in the bathroom I roll a set of towels and add the soap and lotion and it makes a great presentation for your guests.

Hi Guys...

Let me start of my introducing myself I'm the candle lady. I love to decorate but I have a budget like many others. So I have decided to share my tips and stories and some of the trash that I have turned into decorating treasures. In the coming posts I will share tips, decorating ideas, craft projects and my favorite products. I want to share and learn new tips so please share your thoughts lets make our house a home together and as always we will do it on a budget but only we will know that......