Thrifty Little Things: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Projects + Budget DIY Furniture Makeovers: Thrifty Little Tips

Showing posts with label Thrifty Little Tips. Show all posts

KNOBS + PULLS FOR MAKEOVERS: DO THEY REALLY MATTER?

DISCLOSURE: ThriftyLittleThings.com is a personal blog written and edited by Wendy Kohn. The majority of what I post is based on my own ideas, thoughts and projects, for the sole purpose of sharing my passion. However, there are times that I do accept various forms of compensations such as cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions and/or products, coupons and other forms of compensation and incentives from companies and organizations that I feel compliment the blog, and offer value to my readers. Compensation will never influence the content or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network. As the owner of this blog, I am sometimes compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though I may receive compensation for posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own and will NEVER be influenced by any form of compensation.

P.S. Don't miss another Thrifty Little Thing! Get deals, coupons, furniture makeover and thrifty living tips directly to your Inbox by subscribing FREE HERE

4 MONEY SAVING BROWSER EXTENSIONS & APPS YOU SHOULD INSTALL NOW

As I glanced at the icons on my chrome browser and on the homepage of my smartphone, I realized how many apps and browser extensions I use on a daily basis that play a major role in either saving money or making money.

Back in 2009 when I was a coupon and frugal living blogger, it took a lot of work and planning to maximize savings and generate extra income. These days as technology continues to advance, it is literally all right at our fingertips. Very little effort is required to take advantage of the extra savings offered on purchases you are making anyways and earning cash rebates from those purchases without having to jump through hoops!

So, I decided to compile a list for you. If you're not already taking advantage of these, here are my TOP 4 money saving browser extensions and apps, you should definately install now!

EBATES BROWSER EXTENSION & APP
*Get a FREE $10 Gift Card just for signing up ON THE SITE HERE, then download the app after creating your account online!

I've said it many times before. I get paid for buying things I was buying anyway but I take it a step further than most. Say I need to grab some things at Walmart, even household necessities, or just like this past week I needed to get several bags of mulch at Lowes. Yes, I get paid even for those things I'm buying in the store. I simply login through my app or browser extension to the stores website and place my order with IN STORE PICKUP. I then head to the store, pay for my order and head home as usual. The difference with me? I then get a BIG FAT CHECK from Ebates! You don't have to use this for just major purchases, it could be school supplies, household necessities, you name it! Why not get that extra money back from all that you can!

SAVINGSTAR APP FOR ANDROID OR IPHONE

Whether you use Savingstar through your browser or take advantage of the APP, this is the easiest, no effort way to coupon or get cash back from grocery shopping and more! You simply register your store savings cards through your app or on their site, login once a week and save the coupons or deals you want and then cash out whenever you like!

IBOTTA COUPON & REWARDS APP

Simply Download the Ibotta app, available on iOS and Android. The app is required to submit a receipt. Next, Unlock Rebates. Before you go shopping, unlock your cash rewards on the products you plan to buy. Once you have gone shopping at any of the 183 supported stores, all you do is verify your purchases. To verify, you simply scan your product barcodes, then submit a photo of your receipt. This will be reviewed and then Cash will then be deposited to your account! 100% of your Ibotta earnings can be transferred directly into PayPal or Venmo as soon as you’ve earned $20. If you’d rather convert your earnings into a gift card, you can do that, too.... Amazon, BestBuy, Starbucks, you name it! The list to choose from is HUGE!

RETALE WEEKLY ADS & COUPON APP

The RETALE App goes a step further than just providing money saving coupons! You also get the weekly circulars, local deals, and in-store sales with the Retale weekly ads and coupon app for all of your favorite grocery & retail stores.

So there you have it! My Top 4 Money Saving Browser Extensions & Apps! If you haven't already, you should install now and I challenge you to give it 30 days and see how much you save & make with minimal effort!

P.S. Don't miss another Thrifty Little Thing! Get them directly to your Inbox by subscribing to our FREE newsletter HERE

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MAKE OVER YOUR MORNINGS & REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR WHOLE DAY

Have you ever had one of those days? You know the kind I’m talking about. Where you’re literally scrambling from the minute one of your kids wakes you up in the morning -- until the time you fall in bed that night.

You know you’ve worked hard and taken care of needs nonstop throughout the entire day, but it seems like there is very little to show for it.

Well, I am excited to introduce you to a course that will liberate you from that hamster wheel of exhaustion!

Many of you know that before the big couponing boom really took hold, I was a coupon/frugal blogger and grew that blog for 2 years and then sold it to continue my passion of DIY and furniture painting as I am now. Well, one of the original coupon/frugal/lifestyle bloggers during my time was and still is Crystal Paine of MoneySavingMom.com. If you are not familiar with her blog, you'll have to check it out! She shares a wealth of frugal lifestyle tips and has such a genuine heart. I just love her!

She has created the Make Over Your Mornings course to help you revolutionize your productivity, streamline your days, eliminate decision fatigue, cultivate your soul, and MORE!

Some of the topics covered in the 14-day course include:

Discovering why a well-planned morning revolutionizes your whole day

Establishing bedtime routines

Designing a morning routine centered on your biggest priorities

Goal-setting

Setting up a task management system

Prioritizing exercise and healthy breakfasts

Creating internal and external motivators

Establishing accountability

Battling lies

Building stamina when things get tough

Crystal has created this AMAZING 14-day course that takes a unique three-fold approach: a chapter to read, a video to watch, and a project to complete – all of which will take no more than 15 minutes of your time.

We all have time for that!

A tiny investment -- just 15 minutes of your day – can yield potentially amazing results for yourself and your family.

I have just started this course because my days seem hectic on end trying to manage the store, home, my kids and my grandbabies and never seem to have any down time or even breathe time! It's already been eye opening so I had to share it with you and if you feel like I do, I hope you will join me and share your results with me as I will with you all!

Head on over to MakeOverYourMornings and check out this fabulous course today!

ThriftyLittleThings.com is a personal blog written and edited by Wendy Kohn. The majority of what I post is based on my own ideas, thoughts and projects, for the sole purpose of sharing my passion. However, as a full time Blogger, there are times that I do selectively accept various forms of compensations such as cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions and/or products and other forms of compensation and incentives from companies and organizations that I feel compliment the blog, and offer value to my readers. Compensation will never influence the content or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network. As the owner of this blog, I am sometimes compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though I may receive compensation for posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own and will NEVER be influenced by any form of compensation.

BEST BRUSHES FOR CHALK PAINT, MINERAL OR CLAY BASED PAINTS

One of the biggest mistakes people make when painting with Chalk Paint, Mineral or Clay based paints is choosing the wrong type of brush, or more accurately, thinking that the type of brush you use does not matter.

I'm here to tell you, after doing it the wrong way for many years and thinking that using cheap chip brushes to save money, IT MATTERS!

Not only does the finished result pale in comparison and durability over time, it actually ends up COSTING YOU MORE to use cheaper brushes and take up more of your time (costing you money if it's your business, like mine!).

The best brushes for chalk paint have all natural, sculpted bristles that hold more paint and provide a smoother finish. By holding more paint, you spend less time dipping into paint and going back to your piece and can go further with each stroke of your brush for a more uniform finish.

When I switched from chip brushes to a premium chalk paint brush, I was amazed at how much less paint was used and how much faster I was able to finish even large dressers. Instead of stopping mid-stroke to dip back into my paint, I could work on an entire area versus a partial stroke. The finished look and the time difference absolutely amazed me. I had been doing it for so many years with dollar brushes and no clue!

I thought I was saving money by not spending the extra bucks on a better brush. I upgraded to a specialty brush and with proper care & cleaning (which I will post tips on soon!) I average using one chalk paint brush for more than 6 months, over which I'm sure I would have used just as many dollars worth of cheap brushes, wasted paint and time.

If you're planning to paint more than 1 piece with chalk paint, it is definately worth the money to purchase the best brushes for chalk paint, mineral or clay based paints. Here are a few of my favorites that I've found to cost less online than in specialty stores:

Chalk Pro Products Large Paint & Wax Brush (The one I use most!)

Chalk Pro Medium Paint & Wax Brush

***Huge list of Chalk Paint Brushes***

I'll be uploading some videos soon to show the difference in these brushes and also the best way to clean & preserve your brushes to make them last longer!

HOMEMADE WEED KILLERS: THRIFTY ALTERNATIVE TO CHEMICALS + STORE PRODUCTS

HOMEMADE WEED KILLERS:
THRIFTY ALTERNATIVE TO CHEMICALS + STORE PRODUCTS

It's that time of year here again in North Carolina! Grass is greening up, spring flowers are blooming and when we can avoid the rain, everywhere you look you see families out in the yard, sprucing up for the season! It's my favorite time of year!

One of my least favorite thing about working in the yard, especially after planting and making a once plain or overgrown spot into a cozy landscaped or fully planted space, is what comes next....WEEDS! EEK!

I'm starting on some fresh landscape areas this year...or rather I should say, never planted before, so I've got quite a bit of overgrowth and other NOT SO PRETTY spots that I need to quickly rid of what is unwanted and am so excited to plant. Some of these spaces are very large and aside from my feelings about spraying chemicals throughout my yard (especially with small children & pets) it would be very pricey to go the commercial
weed killer route.

So, here are a few ideas - that you probably don't even need to leave the house for that I have found to work really well over the years!

Boiling Water: Pour boiling water wherever you want to kill weeds – be careful not to reach your plants! Boiling water basically “cooks” whatever it comes in contact with – down to the roots and is very effective for killing weeds and large areas of vegetation. We love this option because it is completely non-toxic and you don’t need to go to the store to get it!

Vinegar: Simply fill a spray bottle with White Distilled Vinegar and spray liberally to the desired weeds/area. Be careful not to spray your plants! The acetic acid in vinegar works to kill the leaves on the plant, but not the root. Vinegar will kill back (kill the leaves but not the root) any plant, but works best on younger plants because they do not have enough energy stored in their roots to regrow leaves. If vinegar is applied to more established weeds enough times, the plant will eventually deplete its stored energy reserves and die.

Salt: Will kill plants but CAN make the ground unsuitable for future plants. On a small scale, drop a small pinch of table salt at the base of the undesirable plants. It will kill the plant, but will will be diluted to a harmless level over the next few rainfalls. On a larger scale, you can cover your gravel driveway and nothing will grow there for months.

Rubbing Alcohol: – this household staple draws water out and helps to evaporate it quickly. This is another effective thrifty alternative to chemical weed killer that is also non-selective – it will kill any vegetation it comes contact with, so use carefully.

If you're laying new
landscape beds that you will thickly cover with topsoil or mulch, another great tip is to drown them out by not allowing sunlight by laying down cardboard. It breaks down over time so it's eco-friendly and even enriches your soil, but will remain long enough to starve the vegetation underneath.

Do you have a great homemade recipe for weed killers? Be sure to leave a comment below and let us know!

For even more Thrifty Little Tips, see my posts HERE

CHALK PAINT TIPS & TRICKS FOR BEGINNERS

Chalk Paint Tips & Tricks for Beginners

I've been teaching paint classes for quite a while now and pass out a FAQ sheet that includes tips & tricks that everyone seems to love so that they can reference once they are home and working on their own. It can be hard to remember some of the little things if you are a beginner! I thought I'd share them here on the blog as well.

Painting with chalk, mineral and clay based paints is extremely different than latex, acrylic and other paints - if you've taken my class or tried on your own, you know!

My tips tend to come to me as I'm working or as questions get asked in my classes, so I'll add to this list as they arise!

Order of steps:
Paint
Sand
Wax

Remember that you are not loading up a brush and putting on a thick layer of paint as most do with latex. Start with smaller amounts and push your paint into the piece, spreading until there is no more left to spread. I think of it like the natural ingredients of the paint are actually becoming a part of the piece. Start with less and then go back and touch up where you need. Thick layers are not needed!

Use only Natural Bristle Brushes – Chip Brushes (cheap ones as used in class), Chalk Paint Pro or other branded specialty brushes & Artist brushes

Chalk Paint will be dry within 2 hours for you to sand & wax. It will be completely cured within 24 hours. Buffing 24 hours after waxing will give you more of a shine. The more you buff, the more shine.

Most brush strokes and mistakes will disappear once you sand. Brush strokes will give you more texture, especially if glazing or using dark wax, to give the time worn or aged look.

While you don’t need to sand or prime before you paint, you should clean and then allow to dry. Wipe an item down with low odor mineral spirits if very dirty.

Always pour your paint into a small bowl or other item to paint. NEVER dip directly into your original container as you transfer any dirt and bacteria from your piece that will then grow once you close your lid and spoil your paint.

Use SHELLAC (spray) before painting a piece that is mahogany or red wood to avoid color bleed. You can also use to seal out any stains that may come back up after painting. This is especially true if painting with the lighter colors.

Shellac is also a great way to get rid of the mildew or old smell in furniture. Spray thoroughly and then wait 24 hours before you paint.

Using Dark Wax is scary to most, but remember that it is easily wiped off with clear wax. Dark wax produces the aged patina and texture but you must ALWAYS clear wax before you apply the dark wax with exception only to darker colors. Otherwise, the dark wax will just change the color of your paint.

Wax can be completely removed from a piece by wiping off with TSP or Mineral Spirits. Or you can just paint over it! (With Chalk Paint only, of course!)

You can use
Polyurethane OVER wax, but you CANNOT use wax over poly, as it has nothing to adhere to.

If painting a piece that will be outside exposed to weather elements, you can leave as is if you want to allow more natural distressing or seal it with poly.
Furniture Wax melts in the heat of the sun and is not recommended.

If your finished piece (after waxing) looks "tacky" you have most likely used too much wax. Remember that a little goes a long way. One coat, allow 24 hours and then buff to desired shine(or not).

Most of all just paint and have fun! You will develop your own style the more you paint!

HOW TO DIVIDE BULBS AND PERENNIALS TO DOUBLE YOUR PLANTS YEARLY FOR FREE!

UPDATE: This one pulled from the archives by request! You can also do this in the fall
I'm so excited that the warm weather is coming and it's time to get outside and start landscaping! This is the first spring in our new home, so I'm starting from bare bones with nothing started, or even worse, grass and weeds growing all the way up to the house. It's gonna be quite a task to transform my new yard, but I can already envision it and am so excited and ready to get it started!

Flower gardening is something that just always came naturally to me and is one of my major passions in life! I started getting serious about it about 15 years ago, when my kids were babies. As soon as they went down for a nap, it was my time!And I rushed outdoors to work in my yard. There is just something peaceful about playing in the dirt!

During those years as I planted using the "trial and error" method, I learned so much! Like most passions in my life, the more knowledge I got, the more I wanted and I bet I read every book about perennials, bulbs and anything to do with DIY flower gardening projects.My bookshelves are overflowing!

When I first moved back to my hometown, after my 12 year marriage/divorce, I needed to go back to work. I had closed my salon/spa and sold off all the equipment to stay afloat, so I was easing into the transition. Aside from that business, I'd been home with my kids and had not worked for anyone else for most of those 12 years. So it was a major change! I decided to make it easier on myself by starting on a part time basis doing something I enjoyed. So I took a job at Lowe's and quickly became a Live Nursery Specialist, which was soooo me ! I spent my days taking care of all the flowers and plants! And of course helping customers decide what to plant where and why, etc. etc. I really loved that job!

I learned very quickly that come springtime, the majority of people just run out and buy what they think looks pretty and then don't understand when they get it home and it dies or doesn't flower or whatever the case is.

So I've compiled a few tips for you and then of course, my biggest (and favorite!) on how to double and triple your flowers every year for FREE!

1. Know firsthand exactly where you plan to plant the flower. Does this location get morning sun? Afternoon sun, All day sun or is it shady? Figure this out before you go to the store! Most garden centers (like Lowe's) arrange plants based on these 3 things - Full Sun, Partial Sun or Shade.(Also arranged based on whether they are annual or perennial) Now, let's say you have a shady yard, but all those flowers sitting outside near the entrance are so pretty! You just have to have them! You get them home and within no time at all, they will stop flowering. Because FULL SUN plants have to have that sun to flower! And vice-versa, you buy that beautiful Hosta and put it in a spot that gets Full Sun..the leaves burn and it withers. It has to be in the shade! So many people overlook this, so I hope you'll save yourself the $ and time on your next flower purchase! KNOW where you will plant it and make sure it is made for that spots particulars!

2)The next most overlooked issue I observed watching people spending hundreds of dollars every year to plant flowers! And they have no clue that they have a choice. If you want your hard to grow more beautiful each year AND you want to save money, it is wiser to purchase Perennials or Bulbs. They will come back every year and even better than that, they multiply themselves every year! So, think about that for a second. If you spend, on average, only a couple dollars more this year on perennials than you would have spent on annuals, then next year, you can shop in your own yard for FREE ! How you ask? That's next!

3) Ever noticed a large group of "Stalks" or foliage that sprouts every year, but only a few or no flowers? (Iris's are the most common/recognized for this) This is because those plants grow from "bulbs" that duplicate themselves massively every year. If left to do so, they become overcrowded and can't get enough oxygen and other nutrients they need in order to flower. So what do you do? Divide them! Most all bulbs need to be divided each year. So you dig up one, and separate it into 2,3 or countless numbers of individual bulbs again. THIS IS HOW TO KEEP FILLING UP YOUR FLOWER BEDS EVERY YEAR FOR FREE!

The process of dividing bulbs (and also most perennials) is very simple.

You want to dig down (perferably with a straight ended shovel) well below where the bulb roots are(3-4inches). Dig all the way around the area until you can pull out the center mound of soil that will likely be very compacted and full of the bulbs and roots. For perennials. All you need to do is take a straight knife and cut it in half or however many ways you need to get the new plant size you want.For bulbs, you want to loosen the dirt enough to see the bulbs, separate as you like and then replant at the same depth you dug it up from.

I hope this info helps you to shop more wisely as you head out with the idea of sprucing up your yard this spring! Buy the right flowers and decide if you want to do it all again next year, or go with bulbs & perennials to make it an investment that will pay you back for years to come!

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ALTERNATIVE USES FOR DENTURE CLEANER: THRIFTY LITTLE TIPS

ALTERNATIVE USES FOR DENTURE CLEANEROne 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

P.S. Don't miss another Thrifty Little Thing! Get them directly to your Inbox by subscribing to our FREE newsletter HERE

P.S.S. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to SHARE & Follow Us on Facebook and Twitter, plus PIN IT on Pinterest!

Featured Post

BEST BRUSHES FOR CHALK PAINT, MINERAL OR CLAY BASED PAINTS

KNOBS + PULLS FOR MAKEOVERS: DO THEY REALLY MATTER?

4 MONEY SAVING BROWSER EXTENSIONS & APPS YOU SHOULD INSTALL NOW

MAKE OVER YOUR MORNINGS & REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR WHOLE DAY

BEST BRUSHES FOR CHALK PAINT, MINERAL OR CLAY BASED PAINTS

HOMEMADE WEED KILLERS: THRIFTY ALTERNATIVE TO CHEMICALS + STORE PRODUCTS

CHALK PAINT TIPS & TRICKS FOR BEGINNERS

HOW TO DIVIDE BULBS AND PERENNIALS TO DOUBLE YOUR PLANTS YEARLY FOR FREE!

ALTERNATIVE USES FOR DENTURE CLEANER: THRIFTY LITTLE TIPS

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