Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Cheap and Easy....Cheasy?

I love a bargain.  I bought an embroidered jean skirt at the thrift store 2 weeks ago (and have since worn three times, so it's already paid for itself!) and every time I wear it somebody compliments it.  I should say, "Thank you!" but instead I cheerfully state, "It only cost $5.00 second hand!"  My need to be a savvy shopper, apparently, is worth far more than my dignity.  But, if you care that I bought some clothes at the thrift, you're probably not the kind of person I'd be worrying about impressing anyway, so we'll call it a draw.

All that to say, I bought some wooden candlesticks at Casey's Wood, and they cost all of $2.50 each.  They are solid and cute and six inches tall, but they were also unfinished.  I just bought a couple pairs, since I didn't know what I'd actually do with them (a box full of cheap but unused items moves from 'frugal!' to 'stupid!' in a flash...I'm speaking from experience *cough*) so I didn't want a gross on hand to remind me of my impulse purchase.
 I painted them red (two coats, actually) using some paint pots gifted to me by a teaching friend.  I couldn't even tell you what kind of paint it is!  When both coats dried, I wanted to add some easy embellishments.  I'm nobody's tole painter, but the one trick I know is that if you want to make 'dots', you don't use the brush end...just dip the tip of the handle into the paint, and use that.  It forms perfect, smear free dots, so knock yourself out!  These have a blue center dot surrounded by yellow dots to form a simple folk art-inspired flower.  I made a ring of them around the candlestick.
 I felt it needed more, but my limited talents were already completely stretched.  Necessity being the inspiration of so many crafty ideas, it occurred to me after just a few minutes that I could make a ring of yellow dots around the top detailing.  The urge to keep adding on was strong indeed, but when you are working more on will than skill, it's best to go the 'less is more' path.
From unfinished but charming to "oh man, why didn't I buy more of these now I want about a dozen" in less than 15 minutes (not tallying dry time, of course!).

6 comments:

  1. I love the finished product. Nice work! La

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  2. So cute! I love that shade of red! I am the same way about things I got a good deal on. I'm always like "I got it on sale for $8.00" or "It was a score at Goodwill"!! :D

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  3. Love it! I have a friend at work who is always dressed so nicely... every time I complement her she says something along the lines of "I got this for 50 cents at a garage sale!" or "two dollars at the thrift store!". She kills me. I wanna see your jean skirt. :)

    P.S. I love the candlesticks!

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  4. http://www.progressivepioneer.com/progressive-pioneer/2010/10/new-traditions-1.html

    do you know this blog? anyway i thought you might like this post form a couple weeks ago.
    xo

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  5. @ La ~ Thanks! Of course, I'll have to consider painting them "white like snowballs". LOL

    @ Schell and Nancy ~ Ha! Good to know there's a bunch of us out there!

    @ Michelle ~ I've never seen that blog, but right away I noticed she posted with a link to No Plastics, which makes me love her a lot, because that's where I got my super-rad stainless steel straws!!! Thanks for the tip on the new blog to read. :) You know, it feels like, this year, I'm ahead of the game enough to really start thinking about these things too...a week of candlelight probably won't cut it with the boys (um....mostly my husband!) but a night or two here and there sounds like an adventure!

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