DIY Christmas Gift Ideas Under $10

It's almost here! Christmas is only a week away!

And I still have some gifts to find. 
Okay fine, all of them. I have to find all of them.

Somehow every year my to-do list grows like a freaky beanstalk housing a hungry giant, and I'm always left scrambling last minute for tissue paper and gift cards and some weird Nerf contraption for my little brother. 

20+ DIY Christmas Ornament Wreath Ideas

You guys. Never have I ever been so amazed and surprised by something. After sharing this year's ornament wreath on the blog, tons of you emailed me photos of wreaths you had created inspired by that post. 

In just two weeks, I had an inbox bursting at the seams with pictures of ornament wreaths.
Imagine my inbox as Chris Farley in a little coat. And don't EVEN act like you don't know and love Tommy Boy.

How To Make a NO-SEW Christmas Tree Skirt

A couple days ago, when I shared this year's Christmas Tree, the tree skirt totally stole the spotlight. I'm not mad at it though, because it's totally my favorite part of the tree, too.  So, as promised, here is the full tutorial about how I made it. It was super easy to make and required absolutely zero sewing. 
You KNOW how I feel about sewing. 

How To Paint Furniture: why it's easier than you think!

Last year some friends gave us a set of old dressers before they moved to the beach. The dressers were in decent shape, but definitely needed a little work.
I just knew I was the girl for the job.

And so do all my friends, which is why I've never been able to park in our garage. Not once.
You win some, you lose some.

The Tree Reveal and My Favorite Project EVER!

It's officially that time of year.
You know, the time of year where I no longer seem like a crazy person for doing nonstop Christmas projects in November. 
And I couldn't be more excited.
Virginia and December are like peas and carrots.
For lack of a better analogy.

It's also that time of year when I finally get to share our Christmas tree with you (and one of my favorite projects ever)! 

10 Christmas DIY Ideas

Hey ya'll! This is the one week of the year that I actually cook stuff, and since me + the kitchen = awkward, I'm already feeling kinda sweaty. I can paint your house for you, but don't ask me to bake something edible.
My family knows this and usually just assigns me to bring the rolls...from the freezer aisle. 

I've decided to conquer my kitchen demons and actually attempt to bake things this year, but it could get scary fast, so wish me luck.

DIY Christmas Ornament Ideas

Hey ya'll! So, I've spent this entire week fumbling my way around getting our Christmas tree up. And by fumbling I mean that Jesse assembled my thrift store tree in about 10 minutes (and then went back to doing manly things), and then I spent the next 4 days hotglueing and glittering my way to exhaustion. 
Oh, to be a man that can wash his hair with dishsoap and exist on nothing but meaty burritos. What a sweet gig.

How To Make A Christmas Ornament Wreath

The ornament wreath I created last year was one of my all time favorite projects.

It seemed to be one of yours, too, and so many of you sent me amazing pictures of wreaths you created using the tutorial. 

Unfortunately, Tootie and Cheese felt differently and Ornament Wreath Version 1.0 didn't survive the winter. 

How To Make a DIY Christmas Leaf Wreath (with Rub n Buff)

Hey guys! I thought I would share my latest Christmas wreath creation with you today. I've been wanting to make a wreath like this for awhile, and I love the way it turned out. 


So, here's a quick and easy tutorial for how to make your own diy leaf wreath using some faux leaves, rub n buff, and a styrofoam wreath form. Enjoy!

All you need to make this wreath are a few simple supplies.

I used a styrofoam wreath form, hot glue, a few fake leaf and flower stems, gold buttons, ribbon, and silver Rub n Buff (affiliate link).

 I removed the leaves from the stem and applied Rub n Buff to each leaf.

I used my hot glue to attach the leaves all the way around the back of the foam wreath form.

Then I glued more leaves to the front of the wreath.

Next, I hot glued small gold leaf stems and small green leaf stems and over the top of those, I attached white orchid petals. This covered any styrofoam still showing on the wreath form.

I used red velvet ribbon to hang the wreath, and attached little gold buttons. You can add anything you want.

The world is your oyster, girl.

To cover the styrofoam on the inside of the wreath, I attached some white ribbon. 

Here's the final product. Not too shabby for a few bucks and an hour of my life.

That's all for today! Thanks for stopping by, y'all.

For more holiday posts, you can check out the following:

how to make a Christmas ornament wreath

'Til next time!!

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How To Build a Mantel

The mantel tutorial I've been promising is finally here! Ya'll know I don't do too much wood working on this blog, and the real story is that Jesse built this mantel, while I watched and learned, and then I did what I do best: I painted it. However, I learned so much while watching helping Jesse, that it totally made me want to build stuff. That's the thing about stuff that scares you...once you try it, you realize it isn't that scary after all.

DIY Snowflake Books

Jesse and I just got back from a mini vacation visiting his sweet parents this week. It was a much needed few days of relaxation and I returned home in total Christmas-mode. I don't even know how it happened. I swear I was waving to trick or treaters on my way out of town. But resistance is futile. My Christmas wheels have been set in motion.

Faux Stacked Log Fireplace Tutorial

Ya'll, it's done. I'm so excited to finally get to share what I've been working on with you guys. I started my faux stacked log fireplace over a month and a half ago, and at times I thought I would never reach the finish line. So, saying I'm excited is a ridiculous understatement. 
Basically, all month long I've felt like a 5 year old waiting for Christmas morning.

How To Use Watercolor Pencils (aka my favorite new way to make art!)

Hey ya'll! Jesse left town for a few days for work and I spent my evenings in sweatpants, surrounded by sleepy animals, watching 90's sitcom reruns, and playing with craft supplies. Because my life is wildly fascinating.
If you were a fly on my wall, you would fly away. Because you would be bored.
Anyways, from all that excitement came one really awesome discovery...watercolor pencils! They are quite possibly my new favorite thing.

10 Budget Decorating Tips

As ya'll know, I've been working on our living room lately. Today, I thought I would show you some of the changes I've made and share some of my budget decorating tips I use when trying to max out my little budget.

I'm the first to admit that I make a lot of decorating mistakes, but one thing I am good at is stretching a dollar.
I will make that dollar do the SPLITS.

DIY Gold Leaf Art

Even though my silver leaf desk still haunts me in my dreams almost a month later, I decided to try gold leafing one more time. I'm not easily deterred, and was determined to conquer this elusive little leaf creature. This time, I thought it would be best to choose something smaller than a desk, and opted for art.
Good news. Turns out gold leafing isn't all that hard. 
As long as you gold leaf something the size of a pepperoni.

10 Painting Tips & Tricks You Never Knew (Part Three)

It's that time again! Welcome to 10 Paint Secrets Part Three! 
You can catch up on Part One and Part Two if you missed them earlier this year.

For part three, I'm sharing a few of my own trusty paint tips as well as a few new tips that were sent to me by readers (that I eventually tested and out loved). Enjoy!

How To Make Pillows With Glue (and A Living Room Sneak Peek)

I've been boycotting our living room since May 2012. If you ever saw this post, you know how many ridiculous mistakes I have made with this room, and they continued long after that post. Letmetellyouwhat.
So, it's been 1.5 years, and I've finally decided to work on this room again. I still have several big projects to finish, but I thought it might be fun to share a sneak peek and do some pillow-talking.

10 Thrift Store Furniture Makeovers

I'm not the best decorator, designer, or photographer, my socks have probably only matched twice in my life, and my cats are rather plump. I'm far from perfect, but one area I'm getting pretty good at is paint. Jesse has definitely witnessed several 'I JUST RUINED IT!!!!' mini-breakdowns after one of my furniture makeovers has gone awry, but my goal has always been progress over perfection.

How To Make A Bow In 5 Easy Steps

I love gift wrapping. I always have. Growing up, I remember asking my mom to let me wrap the gifts for every occasion. For me, it's fun to have an excuse to make something and be able to give it to someone I love. 

Plus, it's a great skill to have as a wife, as Jesse's method of gift wrap for family and friends usually involves a grocery bag. Although, I kinda think that's just as cute. :)

DIY Thrift Store Desk Makeover (Using Silver Leaf!)

You guys. I finally did something I've been wanting to do for years now. I silver leafed a piece of thrift store furniture! I'm absolutely smitten with the way it turned out, but I have to be honest. This table nearly ate me alive 14 times over the past 2 days. I still have silver flakes in my hair. But it was worth it.

DIY Herringbone Dresser

We recently decided to mount our TV on our fireplace, and while Jesse works on that situation, I decided to have a little fun with the thrift store dresser that we've been using as our media console for the past two years.

Using just a little bit of paint and some painter's tape, I created my own little version of a herringbone dresser.

Entryway Makeover & A Giveaway!

We still have so much work left to do on our house, but sometimes it just isn't feasible to tackle a big project yet. In the meantime, I try to focus on the little things that I can change, and work towards the big picture. 

This weekend, we made a few small changes in our entryway, and I'm so happy with our little mini makeover!

My 10 Thrift Store Shopping Tips: How To Decorate on a Budget

By now, most of you reading my blog know that I love thrift stores.
My thrifting began out of necessity, but over the course of the past few years, it's truly become something I do for fun. I realize I'm kinda weird, and I'm cool with that.

Thrifting is basically a beautiful synergy of my two favorite things: decorating and treasure hunting.

DIY Mod Podge Hangers

Before today, I had never decoupaged anything in my life. I bought a small thing of Mod Podge last December, but pretty much just stared at it longingly for the past 8 months, waiting for it to speak to me and tell me what to do. Because I had no idea.

And then I did my $50 closet makeover and my little jar of Mod Podge spoke up and said 'Pssst. Hey girl. It's time.' 

The $50 Closet Makeover

Have you ever predicted that a project will take you an hour and be a total walk in the park?

And then 3 weeks later you emerge from the cubicle-size space that has eaten you alive, covered in dust and sweat, and maybe even find a rogue meatball stuck to your sock?

This is the story of our closet makeover.

Decorating Mistakes & Lessons: 1 Bedroom, 10 Ways

When we first bought this house a few years ago, I envisioned that I would somehow have tons of money and would just go to all the stores and buy all the stuff. 



Obviously, that didn't happen.

10 Craigslist Tips & Tricks

If you're willing to do a little extra work, secondhand items are a great way to create a really unique home on a small budget. And you know I mean it! One of my favorite sources of great secondhand items is Craigslist. And since you've asked, today I thought I'd share a few of my favorite tips. So, here they are...my 10 Craigslist Tips!

The Wednesday 6: View Along The Way

Welcome to this week's Wednesday 6! I'm so excited to have Kelly from View Along The Way as our guest today! Kelly is so talented, and her creativity never ceases to amaze me! Today I've picked my fave six projects to share with ya'll, and they are absolutely amazing! So, let's get started!

The Kitchen-To-Do-List: Progress Report!

This past week, we knocked two whole things off the kitchen-to-do-list! 

While I would prefer to be the speedy hare who rebuilds his entire kitchen on his lunch break, I have to settle for being the tortoise who makes teeny tiny steps towards the finish line. 

Instagram Faves & Bathroom Makeovers

Happy Wednesday! 

I'm interrupting our Wednesday 6 schedule to bring you a LiveLoveDIY update, some Instagram favorites, and a little DIY inspiration. We'll pick back up next week, and I can't wait to show you the two gals I have scheduled for this month!

So, let's get started with the updates first!

10 Spray Paint Tips: What You Never Knew About Spray Paint

Spray paint is my favorite way to stretch my decorating budget, and over the years I've used it on just about everything (like it's getting ridiculous). 

So, today I've compiled a list of my top 10 ways that you can use spray paint to transform items in your home.

Enjoy!

Best of the Month: June 2013

Summer is my favorite time of the year. I'm fairly certain I danced out of the womb on June 13th, 1983 with a paintbrush in my hand and said 'I'm obsessed with summer, Ma.' Or something like that. I can't quite explain why summer does such magical things for me, but it probably has something to do with flip flops, slushies, pools, and beach vacations. 

How To Paint Laminate Furniture in 3 Easy Steps!

When we moved into our house a few years back, we had two hot pink couches and a mattress on the floor. That's about the time I began finding old thrift store furniture and painting it...and out of necessity, a hobby was born. 

Now three years later, I've painted and repurposed tons of furniture, and my entire house is furnished with my finds. 

This aqua blue dresser is one of my favorites. Enjoy!

The Wednesday 6: High Style Design & Flea Market Finds with Design Eur Life

 I am so excited today because I get to introduce you to one of my favorite bloggers, Ashley, from Design Eur Life. I met Ashley last year when she emailed me to introduce herself and tell me that we had tons in common. When I visited her blog for the first time, I had to pick my jaw up off the ground. And after seeing her luxurious style, I giggled to myself thinking, "She does know I shop at thrift stores, right? Did she email the wrong blogger?!"

How To Choose Paint Colors: 5 Tips To Help You Decide

Picking the right paint color is no easy task. Every house is different. Your decor is different than that picture you pinned on Pinterest, your windows face a different way than the room you saw in that magazine, and your bff's perfect gray made your living room look like a depressed seagull. I get it...I've been there. However, there are a few things you can do to make the process a little easier.