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BEST BRUSHES FOR CHALK PAINT, MINERAL OR CLAY BASED PAINTS

BEST BRUSHES FOR CHALK PAINT, MINERAL OR CLAY BASED PAINTS One of the biggest mistakes people make when painting with Chalk Paint , Minera...

THRIFT STORE LAMP MAKEOVER: CHALKPAINT + METAL GLAZE


I'm so excited to finally reveal my AFTER of this weeks
Thrift Store
Lamp Makeover! I posted the BEFORE pic on our Facebook page the other day and I have been finishing up tiny details and it's finally done and ready to take it's place on my nightstand!

I don't dare show you it's intended spot in my master bedroom as it's my work-in-progress room and unfortunately seems to be the last room I'll ever get finished. However, the one thing I'm sure of in the room is my color scheme, which is a blend of flat and charcoal gray's with a bold splash of what I call "plum" - a purple hue that I'm in love with.

I loved the shape of this lamp, but the antique gold just wouldn't do at all for this room. So I had to put my thinking cap on....

I gave it a full coat of
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Graphite as you see here.



I then dry brushed Valspar Metal and Patina Glaze in Silver onto the detailed areas I wanted to bring out. The result reminds me of pewter and I adore the intricate crevices and detail.



Then to break up the monotony of the grays, I mixed up my own combination (I do this when I'm too impatient to go buy a color) of black
latex paint I had on hand with some lilac and plum acrylic paints that I had and came up with a beautiful color that I think blends well with my color scheme in the room.

Once I had all the painting done, I let it dry for 24 hours and then sprayed the painted area (originally milk glass) very well with Bullseye Clear Satin to seal it.

The comforter I have on our bed is gray and plum with a bold white design and so I went with a white lamp shade to top it off.



What do you think? I love the transformation and now it totally fits with the decor of our master bedroom.(Which I'll share at a much later date when it's worthy :D )


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KRYLON OIL RUBBED BRONZE TEST: QUICK CEILING FAN MAKEOVER

Ok, so I'd been reading and seeing all the buzz about Krylon Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint and I decided to test it out for myself and for any of you that have seen it and wondered about it.

Walmart stocks it for just $3.27 and Amazon has it starting around $3.34, making it perfect to use for a Thrifty Little project :D

I hunted the house for something to use it on and decided to do a quick ceiling fan makeover that was long overdue...please tell me I'm not the only person that has ignored an ugly ceiling fan in their home. I should have replaced it long ago and it's been one of those things I kept saying I would do "soon"...

The BIG PLUS ? I bet these things haven't been this clean since they day they were hung... :D
So, my ugly, extremely out of date, abnormally shiny white ceiling fan got a $3.27 makeover.
Well, it's a partial makeover - as I was just testing out the paint, so I only took the blades off and sprayed them (2 coats) to make sure I liked the color and effect for a ceiling fan. Next I'll take the whole fan down and spray the remainder of it's out of date white and gold to bring it into 2013.
What do you think?
I really like the Krylon Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint and see lots of Thrifty Little projects with it coming soon!

Have you used Krylon Oil Rubbed Bronze yet? I'd love to hear what you've used it on with a comment below!



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ALTERNATIVE USES FOR DENTURE CLEANER: THRIFTY LITTLE TIPS



ALTERNATIVE USES FOR DENTURE CLEANER
One item that I can usually score super cheap to Free with Coupons and a store sale scenario is Denture Cleaner.

It's fizzy and "cleans" without abrasives.

I wondered what else I might be able to use it for, especially since household cleaners have become quite costly and don't last very long around my house. I did some online research and some "in-house" tests of my own and came up with several alternative uses for denture cleaner.

ALTERNATIVE USES FOR DENTURE CLEANER #1:
-You can use Denture cleaner to unclog stubborn or slow moving drains. Just drop 2 tablets down the drain, followed by 1-2 cups of vinegar. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and then flush it with hot water.

ALTERNATIVE USES FOR DENTURE CLEANER #2:
- How about the Tea stained tupperware pitcher or Coffee stained glass coffee pot? I tried it for that also and it worked! I filled them with water, dropped a couple tablets in and let them soak overnight. Voila !

ALTERNATIVE USES FOR DENTURE CLEANER #3:
- Drop a few tablets in your toilet bowl along with a little vinegar and then allow to "fizz" for at least 10 minutes. It won't be as hard to scrub and should be shiny and clean when you're done!

ALTERNATIVE USES FOR DENTURE CLEANER #4:
- Another handy alternative use for denture cleaner is removing baked on food and stains on cookware. Fill your sink with warm water, along with 3 tablets. Allow the cookware soak for at least 1 hour and then it should be very easily removed.

BONUS BENEFITS:
Denture Cleaner is better for the environment because it is non-toxic. Since it is in tablet form, it is also very convenient to use.

THINGS TO CONSIDER:
Although denture cleaners can do the same cleaning job as many household chemical products, sometimes they do take a bit longer. For example, instead of scrubbing the toilet immediately, it is best to allow it to "fizz" for at least 10-20 minutes before you scrub.

Note that a mixture of vinegar, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can also achieve the same effect as denture cleaner and because you can always purchase those items in bulk very cheaply, I recommend using denture cleaner as an option if you run out of cleaners and are in a pinch or if you are able to snag it for FREE to super low (under $1) priced with a coupon and a sale.

Did we miss another great Alternative Use for Denture Cleaner? Let me know with comment below!

For more Thrifty Little Tips, be sure to see my posts HERE



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THRIFTY LITTLE COUPONS: 24 HOUR LIST OF PRINTABLE COUPONS RELEASED



Below you'll find a summary of all of today's newest printable coupons.

Print yours before they're gone!




$0.50 off one Softsoap Body Wash

$6.00 off two (2) Prevacid24HR 28ct or 42ct


$3.00 off any bag of Rachel Ray Food for Dogs

$1.00 off one SheaMoisture Hair or Body product

$0.50 off any ONE Lea & Perrins 10 oz. or larger

$3.00 off ONE (1) AVEENO Eczema Therapy Care Kit

$1.00 off any ONE bag of Meow Mix dry cat food

$1.00 off any Life Choice™ 5-count box

$1.00 off Scotchgard™ Oxy Carpet Stain Remover

$1.00 off Scotchgard Fabric & Upholstery Protector

$0.50 off any 3 Campbell's Chunky™ soup or chili

$1.00 off one Sparkle Towel 6 big rolls or larger



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BLURB COUPON CODE: 25% OFF ALL BLURB PHOTO BOOKS THRU 2/25


As my children have gotten older, I realize more than ever how important it is to have something tangible to reflect on good times. I also obviously LOVE doing creative projects, especially when they add meaning and joy to our home.

I am totally in love with making Blurb books for just about every occasion, whether it be a wedding book, a birthday album, a cookbook with your family recipes & photos or family trip pictures.... even an Instagram account can be converted into a Blurb book!

I have been meaning to make a new book for a while and as if Blurb read my mind, they are offering 25% off purchases from 2/22-2/25 with a new Coupon Code!

Head over to Blurb now and tap into your creative side!

More Blurb Ideas...

If you would like some more ideas about what to use Blurb for, here are a few other perfect products Blurb allows you to create:

-Facebook books that include photos, comments, and captions.
-Planners with beautifully designed templates and your favorite photos.
-Notebooks that are filled with photos, can be lined or unlined, and full of plenty of white space for you to add notes, stories or sketches.
-Plus, you can turn your printed book or magazine into an ebook! This is a great way to share your creation with others online or even via cell phone.


Don't forget to use the newest BLURB COUPON CODE: FLASH25OFF to get 25% OFF before 2/25!



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THRIFTY LITTLE COUPONS: 24 HOUR COUPON ROUNDUP



Below you'll find a summary of all today's new printable coupons that were published over at my coupon blog during the last 24 hours.

If you didn't see them when first posted, make sure to print yours now before they're gone!



$0.75 off any ONE (1) Wrigley's Gum Car Cup

$1.50 off two M&M'S Brand Chocolate Candies

$1.00 off 14-oz. Spot Shot carpet stain remover

$1.00 off one Sparkle Towel 6 big rolls or larger

More of my Favorite Printable Coupon Resources:

  • Coupons.com
  • Coupon Network
  • CoolSavings
  • RedPlum
  • SmartSource




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  • HOMEMADE ANT SPRAY: THRIFTY ALTERNATIVE TO INSECTICIDE



    HOMEMADE ANT SPRAY: THRIFTY ALTERNATIVE TO INSECTICIDE
    Depending on where you're at in the world, it's getting close to springtime. Or, if you're like me here in North Carolina, you might at least already be having a few warmer days mixing in right now where you want to open the windows and air the house out. That's one of my favorite things to do after the house has been closed up all winter, but it can have it's down side.

    Although they are harmless, opening those windows and warmer weather in general can mean ANTS. I absolutely cringe when I see an ant in the house - most notedly in my kitchen! Not in the same way I cringe over a spider or other unwanted visiter, but because I know that where there is one ant...there can very shortly be an entire army! EEK !!

    Ants are also very difficult to get rid of once they've set their site on a spot in your house - namely again, the kitchen. The kitchen is also the place that I really do not want to spray anything toxic.

    Every year between spring & summer it seems an army makes its way into my kitchen. Not from a window or a door - I have no idea where they come from! I settled on the idea that since I can't find a source, they must be coming FROM THE SINK DRAIN - yes, seriously. Did you know that ants can survive for up to 2 weeks in water?

    I would spray when I saw them and then wake up the next morning to more ants around my sink and trailing onto the countertops. Finally fed up, last year, I decided to try a Homemade Ant Spray, that way I could obsessively spray as much as I wanted on the counters and in the sink without any worries :D

    To my surprise - it worked!

    Here's how to make your own Homemade Ant Spray - a safe and thrifty alternative to insecticide.

  • Mix a solution of 1/2 distilled white vinegar and 1/2 water in any spray bottle.

  • Spray the areas you see ants and coat well - especially at the source, if you can find it.

  • If you have reoccurring issues ( like I did!) coat the countertops and sinks, including the drain portion of the sink, very well before you go to bed at night.

    You should wake up to an ant free kitchen and no worries about any contact of harmful insecticides!

    Do you have a great homemade recipe or Safe
    Alternative to insecticide
    ? Be sure to leave a comment below and let us know!

    For even more Thrifty Little Tips, see my posts HERE


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