DIY Lampshade Pendant {Budget Friendly}

 Today is a fun DIY post on how to create custom pendant lighting, using a lamp shade and about $5 worth of items from your local home improvement store. (this post contains affiliate links)

 

This all started when my best friend Heather sent me a picture via text asking me if I wanted these lamp shades for $2.99 (for the set)!   Mustard quarter foil Threshold shades from Target.... wrap them up and put them in the cart!  YES! 

In fact the only reason Goodwill had them was because the shipping tags messed up the bar codes, and at this exact time those same lamp shades sat on the shelf in Target for $24.99 EACH!

I ran to my local Home Depot to look for the plug in bulbs that you can use for the paper lanterns, and was told a little secret on how to create this for much less.

Here is what you need.

 

• Indoor extension cord (the length you need to reach your outlet)
• Bulb socket
• Cord switch

 First you will need to cut off the female end of your Indoor extension cord.  Toss this, you will never need it again.

 

Next, split the end of the cord down the center, about an inch or so long.
 

Your Bulb socket  has a twist off top. Take that off and you will find 2 channels with metal prongs where you cord will go.
 

Place your cord into both channels. There is no right or wrong way to do this step.
 

Twist your cap back on tightly and you are done!  You now have a plug in light bulb for about 1/4 of the price you would have paid elsewhere.
 

But who wants to have to plug in their light every time they want to use it?  Not I, so let's move on!

  See below how to properly assemble the bulb and cord.
 

Now its time to add the Cord switch .  Locate the place that you will want the switch to be, and slit only ONE side of the extension cord.
 

Tear back each side about an inch as shown below.
 

You will then carefully need to strip the plastic from with wires.  It works best to use a wire stripper, but if you do not have one, you can very carefully do this with scissors.
 

Unscrew your switch box, and place your cord and wires in as shown.  The wires will be wrapped around the screws. (there are directions in the package on how to do this)
 

And that's it!  Put the cover back on the switch and you are good to go!
 

Here is one of the lights hung next to the bed.
 

And here is my instagram picture I shared when this was finished!  I LOVE the way it lights up my white plank wall.
 

You can't see the cord, but they run down into the corners, and the switches are at the end table height.  Makes bedside reading and blogging much easier when you don't have to climb out of bed to turn off the light.
 

Thank you to my readers for stopping by today.   Don't forget to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest, and you can find me on Instagram and Periscope @OneThriftyChick.

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Wednesday: Gingersnap Crafts,

Thursday: A Glimpse Inside, The Pin Junkie, The Answer is Chocolate, Imparting Grace, Meadow Lake Road

Friday: Remodelaholic, The Shabby Nest, Serenity Now, The Crafted Sparrow , Tatertots & Jello, Just Us Four, The Pin Junkie, My Turn For Us

Saturday: I heart Naptime,  Flamingo Toes, Sew Many Ways,

  

Vintage Cart Makeover {Flea Market Find}

I am so excited to share a little gem with you all today!

For the last 3 years Krista and I have established some very important girls events, and the one I am going to share today is the Coburg Oregon Antique Fair.

We have been together for the last 3 years, and each time we go earlier and earlier.  This year we left the house at 4:15 am, and decided to get out of the car and embrace the dark cold shopping at 5:30am!  

It was an absolute blast.  Shopping with a flashlight finding fun treasures before everyone else arrives, is sure to be one for the story books!

Here is a photo of some of our treasures from last year

This year we even took the extra step and not only brought our vintage wire shopping carts, but we even made fun liners for them.

Here is a photo of mine. 

And here is a photo of all our fun finds this year! 

There is so much hidden in that photo like the boxes of floral frogs tucked away, and the gobs of Fiestaware that was collected all day!

Also packed in that junky goodness was this amazing rusty rolling cart that I scored for $10!!!!   Part of me wanted to keep it just like this, shining in its junky glory.

However, once I decided where I was going to use this cart, I knew it had to be just the perfect color.  

I chose to go with a light minty green valspar spray paint from Lowes.  This past weekend the weather was gorgeous, and my front yard looked like this.

Don’t I have the best husband ever?  Well the cart took about 3 coats of paint, but turned out absolutely amazing!  Exactly what I was wanting!

She is the newest addition to my Fiestaware collection. I am in love!

For about $17.00 I was able to turn this trash into my own treasure.  Be still my heart!

Oh and one more thing.  On the bottom of my new cart sits my latest thrift store treasure. 

I scored this Enamelware Fiestaware covered pan for $15.   It is amazing, and one of my new favorite pieces in my collection!

Thanks for stopping by today.  

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Vintage Stool Makeover

 Hey Readers!  I've been going through my photos and have found a few fun treasures that I have never shared.

One being these fun Vintage stools that I pick up at a garage sale for $1 each!  I was on cloud 9, but had no clue what I was going to do with them.

But truly, who would pass these up for a whole $1??

Admittedly they did sit for a few weeks and then it dawned on me that I had purchased a bolt of this adorable Dick and Jane oil cloth at our local Goodwill.  It was marked $3.99, but just happened to be 50% off again.  And when I bought that, I also had no clue what I would use it for.  But again, couldn't pass it up.

Guess what?  It was JUST what I wanted for my stools.  I wanted some fun stools for my children to use at their homework stations (to be built).  Bingo!

I don't have step by step photos, but I took apart the original seat covers and literally threw together a pattern and made new ones within 30 minutes.  Don't look closely because they are not perfect.  

I spray painted the frames, and put them back together and they were perfect!

Here is a fun side by side before and after shot!

That's it for today!  Don't forget to head over to Facebook and follow me there and be sure to check out all of the places I like to party all week long by clicking here.

My Lucky Day {A Vintage Treasure}

I have a few posts lined up, but then something happened today, and I am just too excited not to share.  Now you are probably thinking I found some diamond ring, or even a piece of gold, especially if you are a friend on Facebook!  Ha ha.. maybe I overreacted just a tad?

A few months ago I bought a whole bag full of these twiney/string rolls.  I loved the vintage charm, and as you can see I planned on putting them in a cloche on my mantel.

You can by these things by the bag full for only 99 Cents!!  Score!! 

Anyhow, as I was taking each of them out of the bag, I noticed stuff crammed inside of a few of the rolls.  Two of them had mini rolls (I was so excited at this point)  it was like a gift that kept on giving, even though I bought it myself... does that even make any sense? 

OK, moving on.... the third spool had what looked to be lace tucked inside.  I started to pull it out and realized it was really really crammed in there.  One I got it out, this is what I started to see.  Someone had started a project and placed it inside the spool they were using.  It was still attached to the roll!!

OK, so all jokes set aside... I squealed really loud.  I was actually pretty bummed that my 6 and 8 year old were the only ones home, and I knew they would not appreciate the beauty in this.... so where to turn?  Why Facebook of course.  I am sure most of you reading this probably just wanted to see what the hype was about. 

Look at this beauty....  it was 3 pcs all hooked together.  It looks like bunting, which got me instantly thinking.  What shall I do with this?

Aha!  Use it to adorn thy mantel of course....  I LOVE IT!!  (screaming from the rooftops)

It looks amazing next to the very rolls it was created from!!  Here is another close of look at my new love.

OK, so truthfully... did I overreact?  Would you like this find?  Or would you have tossed it out??

Stocking the Playroom {PART TWO}

Welcome to PART TWO of my Playroom addition.  If you missed PART ONE, be sure to check it out!

We left off with a completed  good enough room to entertain our 3 kiddos, and our 7 little guests that arrived that very night!

That next day everyone helped haul all of the toys from the bedrooms up the stairs, while the Daddy's moved the furniture, and the Mommy's did the organizing!  We all knew in the end, it would be worth it!

Here is what we have for now.....

I have collected shelves, and bins from thrift stores over the last couple months.  I really wanted this room to just have an all over fun "clubhouse" feel.  There is not a whole ton of space, and I knew it was going to be a tight fit... these kids have WAY too many toys, and this is not even all of them!!   AHHHH!!

 Do you recognize the white box on the wall?   That is one of the TRONES shoe cabinets from Ikea, like the ones pictured below.

 Ikea TRONES Shoe Cabinet Link

Well i found this white on at the local thrift store for $4.99!!  I had just the right place to use it!

I bring you the new and improved space saving Barbie Storage!!  Hello Lovely!!!  I absolutely love how it works in our space!!

You get the idea now right?

And to be fair, I want to keep it real!  This is where we left off.  No door, temporary rail is still up, and we have not finished the lower part of the garage!!  That is soon to be turned into my husbands "shop"!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out PART TWO of this fun remodel!!

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