Featuring Pinstrosity!

This past week was Spring Break, and at the end of the week, me and my kids headed to Montana to visit my niece for her birthday. We had a great time, but our trip ended in a sort of crazy adventure that involved a broken down car, a ride with a complete stranger, a lot of laughing and whining too, a crazy old man who screamed at us and flipped us off at a motel in this CREEPY little town(think backwoods Montana!) and a rescue by my husband just in the nick of time. Made it back home safe and sound, but phew, that little detour wore me out! I did not have time to edit and write my usual post, so instead I opted to highlight another blog that is sure to put a smile on your face!

Pinstrosity!( http://pinstrosity.blogspot.com ) It is this fabulous blog about attempted Pins, and it ain't pretty! But that's the whole purpose and why I love it so! (Secretly, I hope to have a major fail so I can be on there! Ha!) The writing is witty and fun, and the attributed photos will put a smile on your face. Note: you are laughing with them, not at them. They are posting with a sense of humor! I love it!

Here is a fun example! The Original Pin...cute bunny rolls!


The Pinstrosity! Um....bunny..er, cat rolls?


I admit that I was going to make these with Easter dinner, but didn't have time. It did cross my mind how they'd turn out. I have no doubt I'd have ended up the "cat lady" so to speak. Ha! The brilliant part of this blog is that they analyze their attempts to see where they went wrong and how it might have gone differently. And not every attempt is a fail. Either way they are a fun read! Visit Pinstrosity and have your day brightened!

Happy Pinning!

DIY Entertainment Console(from a dresser!)

Next to Pinterest and blog stalking, I LOVE Craigslist! I think I have mentioned before that we just moved. I sold several pieces of furniture on there and one of them was our entertainment center. Made a little money off the stuff we didn't need(or want to lift. ha!)! No, really, Cha Ching!

For a while now, I have had a plan to find a dresser and fix it up real cute to go in the living room and hold all our DVD's and Wii games. Moving was the perfect excuse! As soon as we moved, I went on the hunt. I found myself an awesome deal(where else? Craigslist!) and now have another great piece of furniture. Without further ado... my new entertainment console!

The original Pin that was my color scheme inspiration! Love the dark with lighter, high-end look. I also love the argyle detail, but my dresser wasn't really the right shape. Sigh*

http://diycozyhome.com/diy-desk-makeover-instructions/

I think Craigslist is a great place to find all sorts of goods! Kinda like one big awesome garage sale from the comfort of your couch. There's that saying, "one man's garbage is another man's treasure." Its not that its actual garbage, but like this dresser, it is no longer serving its purpose. It was originally used in a little girls room with matching mirror and headboard, but alas she grew. The dresser caught my attention when I saw it. Its got this ridge of detail under the top drawers and I just new that a coat of new paint and some distressing could make it sing a new tune! I almost painted it yellow or mint, but I saw the color of the desk on Pinterest and LOVED it! I almost bought a similar dresser at an antiques store, but it was twice the price, and I thought, "I could do that myself." So I did of course. :)

Here's what to do!

Supplies:
1) Primer! If you want your piece to last and not have to sand, use a primer. I used Bullseye 123 from Walmart. Its approx $8 for a quart. Shouldn't need more than that for two coats on a project this size.
2) Your choice of paint. I used Better Homes and Garden's colors Mink Brown for the top and drawer knobs, and Early Blossom for the body, both in Semi Gloss. I however, used Colorplace paint because its cheaper. I only purchased a quart of each($10ea) and had plenty left over.
3) I used a roller and brush to coat all the pieces.(already had these!)
4) Sandpaper or block if you want to distress.
5) Top coat if you desire extra protection. Minwax Polycrylic is my favorite. It is water based and is the only one I know of that dries crystal clear. About $8-10 a quart.

How to:
1) Take all the knobs and pulls off and take the drawers out.

2) Wipe down all the surfaces and let them dry so the primer will adhere.
3) Coat the entire dresser top, sides, and drawer fronts with the primer. Let dry sufficiently in between coats. I did two.

4) When the primer is dry, paint desired color. Again, I used two different colors, so I did the darker top first and the areas I wanted to distress. It looked a bit messy at this point with dark brown paint smudged all over edges and areas. When that was dry, I painted the lighter body and over those brown areas(they show up later!). I did 3 coats of each. (I forgot to stop and photograph this step!)
5) Paint drawer knobs and allow them to dry. Don't attach til everything is dry! Or you can upgrade to new knobs from your local hardware store for some extra fun!

6) When all the pieces have dried, sand desired area for a distressed look. This is where I lightly sanded away the whiter color to reveal the darker color I had painted underneath in areas on the drawers, edges, and that detail below the top drawers. (Hopefully I explained this well!)

7)  Wipe clean any paint dust.
8)  Top coat if desired!
9)  Re-attach all the hardware.

Total cost of this project: $35 for the dresser, $20 for the paint, and $8 for the primer= just under $70! Can't beat that even at Walmart. Ha!

There is something about a furniture make-over that is so fun to do!  Don't be afraid... Do it!

Happy Pinning!

DIY Painted Mason Jars!

Who loves mason jars? I do! And who loves a super inexpensive mason jar craft? Me! I have had these jars just sitting around over the past 6 months or so. I got a few from a friend who brought me homemade juice and my mom who brought me homemade jams and berries last fall. I had all sorts of ideas of what to do with them. I honestly should have a Pinterest board solely dedicated to mason jars(wait, that's a good idea! ha!). So many great ways to use them, and I am just getting started!

This project cost me a whopping total of $12. Had the jars, as many of us do, but I went on the suggestion of the original Pin and used Martha Stewart craft paint instead of paint I already had on hand.  If you already have paint, then this is getting cheaper for you by the minute! I got the Martha Stewart paint at Michael's in 5 colors, all satin finish: Cloud, Beach Glass, Wild Salmon, Ballet Slipper, and Couscous. They were $1.99 each and I also bought a fresh new sponge brush(.99). That is it! Four items total... Jars, paint, paint brush, and sandpaper or block.

The original Pin:

http://jenniferciani.blogspot.com/2012/07/diy-painted-mason-jars.html

Jennifer's blog is one of the wonderful sites I have stumbled across through Pinterest. Its so fun and creative, and I highly recommend you visit! You can also find her link on my page "Blogs I Love." I am still going through some of her projects that I really want to try. I know, I know, I am a total blog stalker. You don't have to tell me. Ha! But really, visit her blog!

Here's the super duper easy how to!

1) Clean off the jars and make sure they are dry.

2) With the sponge brush, paint the jar. (Repeat this for about 3 coats. Wait 20-30 min in between coats.)

3) Using sandpaper or a sanding block, distress the words and areas that would seem to get naturally scuffed.

4) Enjoy the satisfaction that it was that easy. Ha!

This can be done in one afternoon.You could seal them with a top coat if you wanted to, but I didn't. These aren't items that will be touched or moved a lot. Now where to put them?

Stay tuned! Next week is another fun furniture redo that I am excited about! Happy Pinning!

DIY Mickey Mouse Invitations and party!

My son is Mickey Mouse's #1 fan! He LOVES anything to do with Mickey from the show, to his shoes, to fruit snacks. He calls him "hehe house." He's only two so work with me. Ha! Since he is obviously a nut for Mickey, it was easy to choose his birthday theme. I redid his big boy room(see previous post) and threw a Mickey party in honor of the birthday boy.  We just moved and given a bit more time it could have been even better, but I still think he had a splendid time and that's all that matters!

1) The invitations: For those of you with a cricut, this is a cinch!(My friend Brooke used hers to cut the ears for me.) But you don't have to have one to create these cute Mickey invites. Just use a compass or even a glass to outline the ears and inserts and then cut with scissors. A bit of glue and some buttons adds some fun character. I added a bit of yellow to my insert for some additional color. Hot Diggity dog!

The original Pin:

http://embellishinglifeeveryday.blogspot.com/2010/12/mickey-birthday-invitations.html

2) The Balloons: Sounds easy enough, right? I saw 2 different ideas and combined them. Harder than it looks to get them to stay up there! I got the polka dot balloons at Hobby Lobby and the rest at the dollar store. Just blew them up ourselves. Added some streamers and ta da! Yes Mickey balloons. Well, sort of. Ha!

The original Pins:

 http://www.juxtapost.com/site/permlink/3a60f5b0-9e73-11e1-ba67-2131d41988b0/postsimilar/mickey_mouse_amp_kurosuke_inspired_nail_art/

http://hunterandkristenlunsford.blogspot.com/

3) Make your own banner! I just used scrapbook paper, black yarn, and sticker letters to create this banner to hang with some balloons on the mantle.

I was going to buy a fabric banner for his room from etsy, but I ran out of time. So this sufficed.

4) More decor: I bought a red table cloth, yellow plates, and black napkins with white polka dots at Walmart. I then bought black cups and embellished them with some red paper and white buttons I had left over from the invites. I also borrowed some Mickey serving bowls and plates from my friend who threw her kids a big Mickey party last year. Its starting to feel like a Mickey party!

No original Pin on this one. I kinda just winged it! :)

5) The food: What is it Mickey loves to say? "Hot Diggity Dog!" So of course it was hot dogs and bratwurst served with potato salad, bbq baked beans, fruit, and chips. We are willing spring to return here, so what better than a picnic theme!

6) Mickey cupcakes! This is such a cheat! I did nothing special. Made the cupcakes with white cake and frosting. Embellished with a bit of red sugar and Mickey stickers on tooth picks that I got at Michael's. Yep, stickers. The 3D kind in the Disney section. So many options you can do right there! They already had a sticky backing and adhered right to the toothpick. No glue or tape needed. And the cupcake wrappers were also from Michael's. They have a pretty neat selection in their baking isle. :)

No original Pin. It was more of an etsy inspiration. You can buy all sorts of cupcake toppers and printables on there!

7) My happy Birthday boy in his Mickey shirt and shoes! 

 No original Pin, he is one of a kind! 

He had a great birthday! He wasn't sure what it was all about, but the food, friends, and Mickey made for one happy little man. Happy Birthday kiddo!

I love DIY ideas! Get inspired to use your imagination and create your own fun birthday party theme. Next year I am hoping to do a Pirate Party for his #3. So many cute ideas! I better calm down. I still have a year. Ha!

If you are looking for a cute site to purchase themed birthday items, you can visit www.partypail.com!

Happy pinning!

Mickey room!

Here is a sneak peek at Owen's Mickey Mouse room! He turned 2 today and it was the day of the big reveal. He loved it!

I am pretty proud of this simple little room. 1) I did this on a budget and came in UNDER, and 2) I kept it simple.

Have you ever noticed that Disney makes Princess bedding,  Mickey bedding, or Buzz light year bedding that is super busy to the eye? Please don't go thinking I'm judging you if you have one of those comforters! I just like a much simpler pallet, and I just couldn't find what I was lookin for. So, I designed a very simple Mickey Mouse room with out too much of a fuss and not too much a dent in the wallet!

There is no original Pin! This is a one of a kind Amanda design. Ha!

Here's what I did:

1) The bed was his crib and we took it down to the toddler bed. I bought 2 red sheets(Twin size) from Walmart for $4.98 each and some batting(Full size that I cut down) from Walmart for $5. I sewed the two sheets together and put the batting inside. Then sewed closed. Kinda like a very large pillow!

2) I bought a twin bed sheet set in yellow from Target($14.99). I cut the flat sheet right down the middle and used that liquid stitch stuff to make a hem on the side and for the rod pocket. No sew!

3) For the art, I bought the large canvas on sale(40% off) at Michael's for $17.99(24x36) and the three 6x6 canvases for $3.99 each from Hobby Lobby. I painted the 3 small ones with standard acrylic paint. I then ordered the Mickey vinyl from Target online for $22. Was a whole pack of all sorts, but I had my eye on the Mickey and then his ear silhouettes. It also came with a chalkboard die cut that I will use on another project...

4) The yellow pillowcase was in the bed set from Target and the Black pillowcase with polka dots was $2 at Walmart.

5) I used a light grey paint on all the walls ($16 a gallon at Walmart) and striped the wall the window is on.

6) One final touch not in the photo is a big Mickey Mouse plush toy($14.99 Target). He hadn't opened it yet. But it will sit on his bed next to the pillows.

Here is a before pic!

My budget was to spend $150 to $200, but I came in at $124! And what was once his nursery, is now a big boy toddler room! I highly recommend using your imagination and tricks you have learned on other projects. Bring your own creativity to the table and create something fun! Owen loves his new room and I am very happy with the way it turned out!

Happy Pinning!

Featured!!!

Pinterest and the Pauper has been featured on the blog Holly Clouse Photography! So excited to be apart of her blog! Go check it out at http://www.hollyclousephotography.com/small-business-friday/small-business-friday-pinterest-and-the-pauper/

Thank you Holly!

Get your Irish on! St. Patty's Day Ideas!

Pinterest and the Pauper is going to be on a small hiatus for the next 2 weeks. I wish I could say I was on vacation somewhere warm and sandy, but its much more boring than that. We are moving and I am busy packing away. So much fun huh? So I can't get my craft on for a bit. So instead, I thought that in honor of March and St Patty's Day, I would post some fun Pinterest Ideas!

1) Dinner! A Traditional Irish meal! Shepard's Pie. It is SO good!!! Visit http://www.landolakes.com/recipe/2631/simple-shepherds-pie for the recipe.

2) What's an Irish meal with out an Irish drink with these adorable labels?!  Kid friendly with Root beer or Cream Soda! http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2011/03/st-patrick.html

3) And what St Patricks Day is complete with out Green? A Shamrock Shake for dessert! http://www.number-2-pencil.com/2013/02/14/copycat-shamrock-shake-recipe/

4) Something free is always nice! A free St Patty's Day Printable! I love word art! http://5mcreations.blogspot.com/2013/02/free-st-patricks-day-printables.html

5) Want to do some fun crafts with the kiddos? These are some adorable ideas! http://crunchyfrugalista.com/17-st-patricks-day-crafts/

6) Need some entertainment? How about the good ol' movie Darby O'Gill and the Little People. Major throw back right? :) What's not to love about Sean Connery and Leprechauns?! (This was my throw in. ha!)

I totally intend to do most of these if time permits! I think they look so fun and totally doable. I'll be back in 2 weeks. Until then...Dye your food green, wear your shamrocks with pride, and enjoy your St. Patricks Day!

Happy Pinning!