Gardening on a budget

Nothing I enjoy better than working in the garden and sitting on the porch enjoying the breeze, but it can cost a lot of money. If you're thrifty though, like I am, you can save lots and still enjoy the flowers.  Come  join me on a garden tour and I'll show you how to save.
First my front porch:

 All the furniture was saved from the trash - 0$. Don't be afraid to pick something up. I'm always amazed at what people will just throw away. Please at least donate it! Pillows I made myself and I always get fabric from the thrift store - I search for extra large sheets, usually only $2.

 Also, search the thrift store for crocheted throws and baby blankets. I went with yellow, white and green.

 Yard sales and rummage sales are also good places to find planters and knick knacks. I couldn't resist this piggy for .25 he just makes me smile and the boots were only$1.

 Bring indoor items out - side table painted yellow filled with plants, magazines and decor all from the thrift store and yard sales

 Silk floral arrangements and wreath I made myself

 keep your eyes open for animals you enjoy. I look for bunnies,birds and roosters

and birdhouses

Now, when it comes to plants here are some ways to save.

I always check craigslist free section and free cycle, there are always people wanting to thin out their perennials or people re-doing their landscape. Also, check your local library for perennial exchanges. And don't forget to buy perennials that spread and grow. I have divided up my hostas many times.

If you can, invest in a grow light and start seeds indoors, they are very low in cost and are easy to grow. Most annuals can be started from seed, and if you grow annuals let some go to seed in the fall and save the seeds in a paper bag to plant next year.

Some perennials reseed themselves so know your plants

Get to know your neighbors and friends that have gardens, most gardeners are more than happy to share their plants.

I have been lucky to have woods on my property in my backyard and have dug up some ferns that grow in the wild, but don't ever dig up plants from the parks.

and then finally save up some money through the year or ask your kids for gift cards from your favorite garden center

and then sit back and enjoy all your hard work because gardening is hard work but if you enjoy it it's not work, right?

Bedspring Snowman

We recently threw away an old bed spring , but before we did, I had my husband cut off a bunch of the springs. I knew I would get around to using them soooner or later.



Meet my Bedspring Snowmen...

Here's what I did....

gather supplies..   old bed springs,

styrofoam balls, soft white fabric, scrap fabric for scarf, black seed beads, bells, Christmas greenery, orange wood noses, hot glue, needle and thread, sticks, floral tape and wire.

First, I covered the ball with the white fabric and then I made a hat out of the sleeve cut from a child's shirt - they are very inexpensive from the thrift store and just the right size. Tie the top with yarn or ribbon and add a bell and some greens. The eyes are beads glued on and the noses I bought years ago  from the craft store- wooden cones I painted orange.

 Glue the head to the spring and cut scrap fabric to form a scarf and tie it around the neck, glue in place.

 I had to wire on the buttons and stick arms or they would have just popped off the metal. I covered the wire with brown floral tape.

 I added  more greens and I made a sign out of cork board and paper,
stamped  "Merry Christmas" and hung with red wire.

 Loooove these guys.......... What do you think?

T-Shirt Change

I really don't like t-shirts. Yes they are comfortable and yes sometimes they have really cool designs or messages on them but it's not those things that bother me -  it's the neckline. I think most women look better with a lower cut neckline than what is usually on t-shirts, I know for sure that I do. Some
t-shirts do have lower necklines but not the case with this one.

Like many moms, when our kids are in different activities we like to support them and sometimes we get the t-shirts for the activity they are in.  My son is in a teen choir called IMPACT. It is a wonderful ministry that our church facilitates. Teens from all over north east Ohio gather once a month to worship at different Nazarene Churches in the area. It's a great way for them to build friendships, use their talents and most importantly to draw closer to God. I love the back message on the shirt:

Let me show you how I changed the neckline.

First I put it on and drew a line where I wanted the neckline to be. This shirt was also too long so I made a mark to shorten it. Don't guess! T-shirts stretch and fit different when put on.

Cut the shirt where you made the mark. The cut doesn't have to be purfect

because it will be covered up.

This next step probably should be the first step. You need more t-shirt fabric. It could be the same color ( buy 2 shirts) or  you could use different colors. I used the fabric I cut off the bottom and some fabric I cut from an old white t-shirt. This is a great way to use up old t-shirts.

Cut lots of circles. I cut about 24 of each color and made them about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. The more you use the fuller it will be.

Lay out the pattern you want to sew on just to make sure you have enough circles. It won't look like this when it's finished. The circles will be gathered and closer together.

Use thread to match the color of fabrics.

This is the tedious part. Start in the center. Layer 2 circles, off center, and sew on t-shirt near the neckline, gathering as you go so the circle puckers. You only need a few stitches.

Place the circles close together - depending on how many you have, the more you add the fuller it will be. When you think you are done, check it for empty spaces. Fill in until you think it's full enough.

 

The nice thing about t-shirt fabric is that it doesn't frey so you don't have to worry about finishing the edges.

Doesn't this look so much better? I think so.

Linking up to What's it Wednesday

 

Purse storage/display

Does anyone else have too many purses?!

 There's just something about a cute purse that I just can't pass up especially if it comes from a yard sale and only costs $1.00. And I do like to match my purse to my outfit. And there are seasonal purses - some I would never use in summer or winter.  Well , where to put them all is the problem. I wish I had a great big (or small for that matter) walk- in closet but I don't.  I did have them in my closet but my closet is soooo tiny  they were piling up. Some were on the top shelf and some on the floor of the closet which made it a pain to get to, so I was thinking that I could hang them on the wall. But where? I really don't have much wall space.

                                                             Behind the door!

 

I was going to use nice hooks but I thought that would cost too much and besides you won't see them anyway so I just used long screws. The purses are light enough so I didn't have to find studs. I started at the bottom, one purse at a time, and just put the screw where I would hang the strap. These are the ones I use the most ( there are still some in the closet) and just my summer ones. I will have to switch it out in the fall. But I do love the way it turned out - easy access and I can see what I have and the door still opens - yes!

 And yes I have too many necklaces! I have them hanging on the back of the door which makes them easy to see and they don't get tangled.

I sure would like to hear how you store your purses.

Strawberry Tea

Nothing like having an outdoor Tea Party with some lady friends and using all the fun things you've collected from garage sales, thrift stores and ebay. Todays theme is STRAWBERRIES!

I set up 4 tables - one rectangle for food and one square  for tea, 2 round for seating:
The large rectangle table was quite wide so I was able to really have some fun with my strawberry collection :
 A picture painted on slate, canisters,a white basket filled with books and vintage fabric,and a strawberry toothpick holder - leaning up against a picnic basket

 

 

A vintage makeup case, a strawberry teapot (missing the lid) filled with flowers, strawberry salt and pepper shakers, red doilies, a strawberry serving dish and a yellow bee hive

 

 

A pillow, a  welcome sign, a tin sign,  more canisters and a potted plant and another picnic basket

I layered a red checked sheet with a vintage table cloth I bought off ebay

 

I used 2 round outdoor tables and pushed them together so we were close, more red checked table cloths with squares of vintage fabric in the center, white plates, white napkins with red holders, vintage avon strawberry dessert plates and green water glasses( though they look blue in the picture)

 

I found 8 red petunias, still fairly nice, at the garden center for only 50 cents and put them in white cups from the dollar store with red checked ribbon and a strawberry tag - they made a nice favor for everyone. The tags read "You're So Berry Sweet!" You can get the picture from the Graphics Fairy

 

 I used some other strawberry finds to decorate the tables - like these potted plants and candle rings and a large red strawberry cookie jar

and of course my strawberry tea cup - I wish I had a set of these but everyone always brings their own tea cup so it was fine

oh - and of course- Strawberry tea:

I wore my newly made apron and put red checked bows on my red shoes - and we're ready...

 

Tea,good food,  the outdoors and fellowship with friends - God is good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Linking up to

 

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/beach-table-setting-in-yellow-and-cobalt-blue/#