Keep your eyes out for these fold up hampers in stores as they are clearancing back to college stuff~I've seen them at JoAnn Fabric, Walmart, Target, etc.


They are great for having laundry hampers in all bedrooom closets, then you can just take it into the laundry room when you're ready to wash. They're great for organizing balls and sports equipment in the garage, I also keep one by the back door to fill with stuff to go to the Goodwill. When it's full, just throw it in the back of the car and off you go...

There's more :)....

I ventured out to a few sales on Friday morning~ we had a huge thunderstorm, but it cleared and my boys and I headed out a little later in the morning~here are my finds:

cool vintage airplane prints for my boys' room, $1 each:

Today is your day to show us your stuff. If you've made something you think would make a great gift, link up and tell us how you would use it. It can be a new post or an old post, or a link to someone else's if it's okay with them. :)

In other news, I am so sad to say that colorcharts is gone! I talked about it here~it is one of my favorite paint resources and it just went poof one day a couple of weeks ago. I've been following a thread about it on the gardenweb and some people say that their system was hacked and it's costing too much to keep up. If you find it anywhere or know anything about it, let me know. Until then, I'm mourning the loss of one of my top bookmarks.

I can't wait to see what y'all have~I think we may have to do some more gift ideas features. Thanks for a fun week~you've amazed me with your creativity and talent. Have a great weekend!

More gift ideas! Today we're talking display boards/ inspiration boards/ bulletin board goodness:

This is one that I made using a yard sale frame~

The Nester used real corks!

adorable cork boards with beadboard from Karla at It's the Little Things...

Here is Amy's board, complete with matching star!

Allison from VAMH made this mesh jewelry organizer:

Christina at As Time Goes By used burlap and old music:

A board in her new office from Cheryl at Tidymom :

Inspired?
Have some more board inspiration~please link it up below! We'd love to see:
ETA: for some reason, yesterday's mr. linky showed up, so I'm editing out the ones from yesterday~sorry 'bout that!

Tomorrow is an open linky party~I would love to see any ideas you have or have done in the past for gift giving!
Until then~

Can you imagine what blogland would be without chalkboard paint??

Today, we're going to look at chalkboard paint through a gift givers eye. Look at these beauties and see if they don't getyour wheels turning about what you can turn castaways lurking on thrift store shelves and yard sales (maybe even your cupboards) into for your friends/co-workers/family/you get the picture.

First up, here are some silver trays turned to chalkboards:

Jen from Balancing Beauty and Bedlam welcomes her family home with this one:

Shannon at Bless Our Nest has made over a lot of trays. I love 'em all!

Here is one on Jen's( from Tatertots and Jello) door:

Wendy at The Shabby Nest and her cute dollar store tray:

(Wendy, I copied this picture but I would never steal your whole blog :) The nerve!)

Frames are fab finds as well~look what these were turned into:

Darlene at Our Creative Life turned an old picture into this beauty:

I adore this one from Holly Mathis Interiors:

Look at this long and lush one by Amanda at Imperfectly Beautiful:

I could go on and on, but I'm going to stop and let you link up your chalkboard projects that could be great gifts~I know there are a hundred jillion more ideas out there and the possibilities are endless. Show us what you've got up your creative chalkboard painting sleeve!

First of all, Happy September! Did you say rabbit? Always say rabbit on the first day of the month and you'll have good luck for the whole month (from my 8th grade English teacher, Mrs. Lees~does anyone else do this??)

Thanks to everyone that shared their tray makeovers yesterday!
Welcome to day 2 of gift ideas!
This one is sooo simple, involves fabric (but no sewing), and can be done in less than 10 minutes~ right up my alley! I first saw it on my friend Amanda's blog, and she directed us to this tutorial from Tory at Funky & Delightful.

photo from Funky & Delightful

She gives great directions and gave me a great way to use the cork squares I found at a yard sale over the summer. I've also seen the cork squares at Hob Lob and at Target in their back to college section. You could also cover an existing mouse pad, like Amanda did:
photo by Amanda

Look at what the always fabulous
Kate@Centsational Girl did with hers (she also gives a fab tutorial):
photo by Centsational Girl

Here's the one I did and am planning to do lots more---soooo easy:

Wouldn't these be cute to give with the trays from yesterday? These would be great for co-workers, teachers, secretaries, friends...keep your eyes open for cork or spare mousepads and cute fabric. You don't need much fabric at all~an old shirt or dress cut up would work perfectly.

If you've dressed up a mouse pad or seen others, go ahead and link them up so we can see:



Happy Tuesday~

We're talking about gifts this week! Things to be on the lookout for now amidst your thrifting to make the holiday gift giving a little less expensive and hectic.

Today, we're talking trays!

Keep your eyes open for these at yard sales and thrift stores. They are pretty inexpensive at craft stores as well~usually between $3-$5 with coupons. Here is one of the trays I found at a yard sale a while ago for 50 cents that I want to makeover:


I spray painted the top part in Rustoleum's Heirloom White, then hot glued the knobs to the bottom:
I spray painted a piece of the paintable beadboard wallpaper cut to size a bluish greenish color called Glacier Blue. It was on clearance at Walmart and I may just have to run back to see if there is any left~I love this color!
Here's how it turned out:
Need some more tray inspiration?

I love this one that Kimm made for her bathroom counter:

Here is one Crafty Nest made from an old cabinet door:
And one that Lindsay re-purposed for her lovely vignette:

Joy has some fabulous trays ideas as well that you need to see:


I know there are many more tray ideas out there in blogland. If you have one, or know of one, feel free to link it up below so we can see!


I'm also joining Rhoda's Thrifty Treasures Monday:


Have a great day!