Portrait Canvasses {DIY Art}

This is one of my favorite projects ever. I'm thrilled with how these canvasses turned out, and for super-cheap! It's not a new project and it's certainly not the only how-to out there, but I wanted to share it because I still puffy-heart love it. So here's my original post from a year and a half ago!

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I love the look of canvas portraits, don't you? 

Sometimes you can find pretty good deals, but even those good deals times three kids can really add up! I decided to find out a way to do it cheaper. 

$2.50 each, in fact! 

Here's how.

I started by taking a jump drive to Staples and asking for 8 1/2 x 11" color copies of my high resolution images on card stock for 98 cents each.

Then I went to Michael's and bought a 10-pack of 8 x 10 canvasses for $25 on sale for $20 plus my 20% off coupon which means I really paid $16. $1.60 each isn't bad!

Next I painted the canvasses with white paint to act as glue. Mod podge would be better, but I didn't have any. I knew the paint would work as glue because of this project. 

I had already trimmed the white edges off the pictures--don't bother! Just try to center the picture on the canvas because you'll have to trim it down and you don't want to cut off too much of your kiddo's head!

Press and smooth out the back side of the canvas.

I was worried about the card stock wrinkling, so I weighed it down with books in the middle and left it overnight. 

The next day I trimmed the edges off the card stock with a razor--I'm fancy like that! I'm sure an exacto knife would do the trick.

Then I went over the edges with a fine-grit sandpaper. You could paint the edges of your canvas if you want, but I like the white with the bright colors.

To really protect your canvasses, you could paint on another layer of mod podge over the top, or polycrylic. I haven't done that yet, but I plan to! 

Here you can see that it did wrinkle a little, but it's only noticeable from a certain angle.

I love my new canvas portraits, and coming in at $2.50 each, I made a copy for the grandparents too!

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Just in time for the holidays! Break out those cameras and get some shots of your kids in the pretty leaves, then make some portrait canvasses for the grandparents!

This is Day 17! Come back for another two weeks of awesome DIY art ideas!

Cost Plus | World Market

Since we first met over 10 years ago, Cost Plus | World Market and I have been like _this_. Well, at least I have. I can't say that it's mutual; World Market doesn't know I exist. But I've wandered the aisles, squandered hours and paychecks and even have a few relics (currently in storage) as proof of my love. 

Sadly, there wasn't a World Market close to where we lived in Iowa, and I didn't have much cash on hand during our time in California when Gary was in school. But I got a gift card for Christmas (thanks Mom!) and took the opportunity to go to World Market while I was visiting my nephew last week. Oh, and his parents. 

I couldn't help but take some awful cell phone pictures while I was there. I wanted to buy the whole store but ended up with a few trinkets for myself and souvenirs for Gary and the boys. 

Here's what else caught my eye.

-Industrial shelving with metal storage cubbies? Yes please!
-A side table in the perfect shade of gray-blue.
-A step ladder with a rustic flair. I can see this one in a library.

-I wanted to make one of these bulletin boards with a thrift store frame and pretty wrapping paper.
-This chair could make a living room. Or bedroom. Especially with that blue side table we just saw. Love the accent pillow too!
-This stenciled gray chest was Lisa's favorite. I think it would be great in an entry with a mirror, a lamp and a tray for keys.
-I adored these little shelves made to look like crates! Imagine them as bedside tables! Yum! (They were on rollers too!)

 -This leather chesterfield style chair wasn't very wide or tall, perfect for a small living room. Place it in front of a window and you wouldn't lose any light!
-Another cute display board. Seriously, I need to make one of these.
-Anyone into bird cages? This one would be pretty with an ivy inside, and it's narrow enough to fit on many a mantle.
-Love these pretty blue knobs! Great way to personalize a boring dresser or bathroom vanity.

 -The kitchen section has always made me drool. So much cute stuff, like this blue jug with a bird on top. Think sun tea in the summer, lemonade at a birthday party.
-Jugs and jars and bottles, oh my!
-These cute canisters were for compost. We've composted for years but have always used ugly white plastic buckets under the sink. I'd love to have a cute compost bin, but not sure it's practical as it would be full after one meal!
-I'm not sure if these are giant mugs or mixing bowls or what, but they were huge! Probably 12 inches across! Super cute for the morning pancakes.
-I should have gotten an egg crate while I had the chance! Did you know eggs will keep for over a week at room temperature? If they're farm fresh, they'll last several weeks without refrigeration. I'd love to display eggs on the counter in a cute dish like this.
-Super dark pictures, but that's a bottle drying rack, I believe. I'd love to hang a cute collection of mugs on this and keep it on the counter.

-This velvet dining bench is awesome! It's the perfect cross between a bench and a wingback, both of which I like pulled up to a rustic farm style table.
-Speaking of rustic farm style tables, love this one!
-And this steel side table?! Yum! I see stacks of dishes on the shelves with the mesh doors, baskets of linens on the open shelf, and two lamps framing a mirror on top. Perfect for a dining area next to that rustic farm style table and velvet covered dining bench!
-I love the look of round pedestal tables. I think they are great for small spaces, and this one was great with the metal top!
-World Market has the best price on these Tolix-looking chairs!
-This stool was metal on the bottom with a wood top. I'm sure I could find a place for it in my house!

-I've seen these trolly-style coffee tables all over blogland and love the look. You certainly wouldn't have to worry about your kids marking it up with their crayons and toy cars! (The $999.99 sign was for the sectional, not the table!)

-Oh globes, how I love you. If you can't find old ones at thrift stores, World Market can help you!

-Who doesn't love colorful knobs? They look even better by the drawer-full.

-I tried so hard to take some of these colorful scarves home with me, but none of the colors were right in person. The blues were too green and the greens were too yellow... I know, I'm difficult!

 

Funny how I didn't get a picture of anything I did buy. I got some tea and a pretty manly-scented soap for Gary with a wooden soap tray. For the boys I got a magnetic cars and airplanes toy for church, as well as a harmonica, kazoo and a yo-yo. For me I got  a cute green mortar and pestle which I can't find anywhere on the site! Oh well!

Hope you enjoyed our virtual shopping trip to Cost Plus | World Market! Have you been there lately? What did you get, or what did you want to get?

Five Favorite Things

I think I might have done a post or two like this way back when, but I was thinking I should share some of my recent favorite things. Like actual physical things that I use nearly every day--with the exception of the leggings--and didn't cost very much--with the exception of my cell phone. Shoot! Just gave two of them away! By the way, I did the above picture with one of PicMonkey's sample stock photos and a few free Valentine themed add-ons that are free. PicMonkey is definitely still one of my favorite things, but it's gotten harder to use since I refuse to upgrade my account and some of their edits I can no longer use. 

Anyhoo, onto the list! 

*****

Yes, I love my smart phone. I know I say that often, but it's so convenient! Morning devotional, texting/IMing with friends, Instagram, directions, weather, pedometer, shopping lists, Facebook, Pinterest... I use my phone all day long! 

It's a Samsung Galaxy Proclaim ($145 Walmart) with a Straight Talk Prepaid Cell Plan ($45/month). Not super cheap as far as cheap goes, but when we crunched the numbers for a family plan at that place that starts with a V and rhymes with "horizon", we would save around $1500 over the course of a typical 2-year contract. Wait, that was with two phones and two plans, just so we're clear. So far we are happy with the service (live help), coverage and the phone itself, though the battery life is crummy. We also like not being trapped by a contract if our economic status changes or if Gary's employee package includes a phone. You know? It's just good to have an out, even if you don't end up needing it.

 *****

 Ok, seriously, I feel like these Cami Secret clip-on camis ($9.88 Walmart) have changed my life!!! I've been needing these for as long as I care to remember.  They're so much easier than layering with tank tops and stay in place better than I thought they would. I just leave the white one on my white bra and the black on on my black bra and wear them every day. No more accidental cleavage for me, thanks!

*****

Lately because I'm cheap, I came across a new-to-me brand of make up. It's NYC and until I googled some images of it for this blog post, I didn't know it was owned by Maybelline. At first I was attracted by the price (each of the above were under $3 at Walmart), but I'm also happy with the quality. My eyelashes are soft, not clumpy or stiff, and it washes off in the shower--I never wash my face at night. The blush is new but I tried it today and I like it. The only thing I don't like is that the cashier dropped it and while it looked fine, one of the hinges is broken. Gah!

*****

I held out on the leggings trend for a long time. As in, I tried my first pair (Danskin brand, $8 Walmart) a couple weeks ago. I thought only skinny people could wear them. I bought them thinking the worst that could happen is that I'd wear them for pajamas. But they felt like air! Like yoga pants only more so! While I've only gotten the nerve to wear them in public once--with a dress and ballet flats--I've worn them around the house several other times with tunic type shirts. Definitely like them. 

*****

It's the new year. I've had some extra time on my hands. I've been doing a lot of reading to try to find something that would work better for me. Unfortunately I've gotten into the habit of eating what easy--namely lots of processed carbs like bread and pasta. Not good. Something clicked when I read about the reasons why people are loving the Paleo/Caveman diet. But as a life-long vegetarian, I could not embrace eating so much meat! I did decide after reading Ana White's post, that Gary and I should do a no grains, no dairy, not even legumes (bloating) and no processed food fast or cleanse or whatever.

So we are! We're in our second week and feeling fantastic. Both of us have felt more stable, more energetic, clearer skin and better sleep. What are we eating? Veggies. Fruit. Nuts and seeds. Eggs (cage-free, natural diet). Occasionally we'll eat fish or chicken when Gary catches the former or when we eat out. We've both lost a couple pounds too! Without exercising! Not that I'm saying you don't have to exercise to be healthy...

Just this week I came across Whole Living.  There's a magazine and a website and it's really helped me out lately. I've tried several of their recipes and pinned more. We're really excited about our new love of veggies and how good we feel. 

Just thought I'd share so you might be helped by it too. 

*****

Ok, then! Now you know five of my favorite things. What are some of yours?

Announcing...

Coming in October...

Many bloggers pick a topic and do a whole series every day for the whole month of October. I'm jumping on the trend this year again and aim to post a new moodboard every day! I've had lots of fun putting a few together already.

I'll take reader suggestions and you can submit "before" pictures or pictures of your current space. I'll put something together using your descriptive words--like blue living room, using existing couch, new rug and lamps, kid friendly, traditional...

At the end of the month I plan to offer design boards for a small fee, but during the month of October they'll be free for readers. Do you have a design dilemma? Are you looking for inspiration on how to make your builder-basic kitchen to something beautiful and unique without breaking the bank?

You can send me your questions via email (beauty4ashes.blog@gmail.com) or in the comment section. Hope to hear from you soon!

Ellie

DIY Canvas Portraits

I love the look of canvas portraits, don't you? 

Sometimes you can find pretty good deals, but even those good deals times three kids can really add up! I decided to find out a way to do it cheaper. 

$2.50 each, in fact! 

Here's how.

I started by taking a jump drive to Staples and asking for 8 1/2 x 11" color copies of my high resolution images on card stock for 98 cents each.

Then I went to Michael's and bought a 10-pack of 8 x 10 canvasses for $25 on sale for $20 plus my 20% off coupon which means I really paid $16. $1.60 each isn't bad!

Next I painted the canvasses with white paint to act as glue. Mod podge would be better, but I didn't have any. I knew the paint would work as glue because of this project. 

I had already trimmed the white edges off the pictures--don't bother! Just try to center the picture on the canvas because you'll have to trim it down and you don't want to cut off too much of your kiddo's head!

Press and smooth out the back side of the canvas.

I was worried about the card stock wrinkling, so I weighed it down with books in the middle and left it overnight. 

The next day I trimmed the edges off the card stock with a razor--I'm fancy like that! I'm sure an exacto knife would do the trick.

Then I went over the edges with a fine-grit sandpaper. You could paint the edges of your canvas if you want, but I like the white with the bright colors.

To really protect your canvasses, you could paint on another layer of mod podge over the top, or polycrylic. I haven't done that yet, but I plan to! 

Here you can see that it did wrinkle a little, but it's only noticeable from a certain angle.

I love my new canvas portraits, and coming in at $2.50 each, I'll be giving a set to the boys' grandpa for Father's Day!

Have a great day!
 

Budget Grocery Shopping

Do you like grocery shopping? How about menu planning? Do you end up eating out a lot? Or turning to convenience foods because there's "nothing to eat" in the house?

While I do enjoy grocery shopping (I don't get out much otherwise!), menu planning is not my thing. I tend to tackle that issue by keeping my cupboards stocked with basics and loading up on fresh fruit and veggies when they're in season. That means I usually have on hand several meals I *could* make, some fast and some .... not. I try to think about a few things I want to make during the week so I can be sure to pick up a key ingredient. For instance, coconut milk is in the curry recipe I shared a few weeks ago, so I make sure to get some when I want to make that. 

I haven't perfected grocery shopping on a budget. It gets confusing sometimes when I buy craft supplies or diapers or pet food that throw off the budget but really aren't part of the grocery budget. I guess we need to work on that! But let's focus on what I have figured out, not on my failures, mmmkay?

So. Here is how I feed our family of 5 on $80 a week.

Ok, not quite that fast--a few qualifiers first:

• our children are 1, 3 and 5, not hungry teenagers
• we're mostly vegan but do eat (certain) eggs - no meat, milk or cheese which can be expensive. We also don't drink coffee or alcohol and try to avoid boxed meals, and highly processed foods like pastries, desserts, even store-bought breads. Here's a post with 7 typical suppers in our house.
• we eat at home most meals. I'd say we eat out about once a week.
• only my husband packs a lunch (no kiddos in school), and he gets leftovers.
• I order $75-100 worth of bulk foods about once every 2-3 months. This is where I get flours, cereals, dates and raisins, nuts and dried herbs.

Keeping that all in mind, on town day I usually hit up two stores. The first is ALDI which has great prices on veggies and fruit, but be careful with this. I've had bad experiences with avocados that don't ripen and apples that are very bruised. After shopping there for several years, I know what I can usually count on to be good quality. For instance, the package of 'stoplight' peppers is over $4 at Walmart but is less than $2 at ALDI. ALDI's juice concentrate is under a dollar and Walmart's is about $1.30.

Next we go to Walmart. Now I know some people prefer to not shop there for whatever reason, but the store in our town is a nice quality, clean store. The people are entertaining, for sure, but it's where I feel I can get the best deal for my money. 

At Walmart I get specialty items like tofu (not pictured), eggs, coconut milk, molasses, some dry goods, pantry supplies as well as personal hygiene items.  

If you're wondering why I don't clip coupons it's because it's not worth my time. Most items we buy aren't the typical ones that you find coupons for anyway. Besides that, it temps me to try new things and make purchases I don't typically have on my list. Once in a while it's fun to try something new, but tell me: If you took an hour of your time to find coupons, then "only" spent $10 to buy $20 of items you don't normally get, who just benefited? The store! Instead, I'll typically find something yummy on an end aisle when it's on sale anyway and limit myself to one or maybe two things per shopping trip. We're still trying new things or getting a treat but not excessively, and I didn't waste an hour looking for coupons! 

Maybe that's just me.

I didn't intend for this post to be a rant against coupons--if you're a couponer, good for you! I'm glad you've found a system that works for your family! 

Just so you know, I realize that not all areas have the above mentioned stores. When I lived in Nevada I shopped at Trader Joe's and Vons. When I lived in Northern California I shopped at Target and Safeway. The point is to try different stores until you find the one or two or three that seem to give you the most for your money! For example, my friend who lives here in Iowa prefers to shop at Target for groceries but uses her Target card so she gets 5% off her purchases. She feels it evens out the possible savings that she might receive by shopping at Walmart or elsewhere. 

One more idea before I get on with my shopping today: give the dollar store a try! I've found great deals on things like soy milk. Who knew? It's also a great resource for party supplies, small toys for prizes (think potty training!), and snack foods like chips, crackers and drinks. 

So what works for you? Did you find anything here helpful? Are you completely confused by some of the dietary choices our family makes? Let me know! I love your comments and questions and appreciate your time spent reading my blog and commenting!

Good luck on your next shopping trip!