DIY Statement Framed Photos

My husband is the sentimental one in our relationship, and he’s always asking for more pictures around our house. So I’ve been trying to make an intentional point to add more framed photos and albums throughout the house. Over the past year and a half, we’ve been working on transforming our unfinished basement into a fun place for the family to gather and watch movies, and play games together. It’s a pretty large room, which means when you’re implementing decor and things, you have to be very intentional that it’s to scale. You can’t add small or medium-sized frames to a large wall.

Since we just had new family photos taken, I thought it could be a nice touch to add a large photo of each of our girls behind the sofa. I knew something like this could easily escalate in price quickly, so I did a bit of research and found a great way to DIY some large-scale family photos.

These are the black frames I purchased for our basement. They also have this white framed option that’s nice. Or this gold one that I purchased for a friend, which is beautiful, and an aged gray. They each come in a few different sizes, which is helpful for finding the right one for your space. I did some measuring and determined that the 20 x 28 inch frame would be the right size for our basement, costing me $13 each.

After I selected my frame, I went to Walmart online and ordered my photos. When you order a photo this large, it is printed on a type of poster paper. I was still able to get my photos the same day which was awesome. I selected the 12 x 18 size poster print, which cost about $10 a piece. The people at the Walmart photo center were so helpful. I had no idea I could order a photo this large so easily and at such a great price.  

Once I had both my frame and my photos, I took them to Hobby Lobby to pick up mats. You could opt not to put mats in your frames, but they ended up being the least expensive part of this DIY, and I think they are the reason the photos turned out so good! The mats are what fool you into thinking that these frames cost more than they actually do. You may be able to find pre-cut frames to fit your frame size. I’ve had good luck with that in the past. But for this project, they didn’t have the right size. 

So I went to the framing department at Hobby Lobby and selected a white mat I liked. Hobby Lobby has over three hundred mat boards to choose from, including colored, textured, and fabric. (I used one of their fabric mat boards on another project I’ll share with you later.) They cut them to order for me that day while I waited. They just needed to measure my frame and my picture size, easy as that. I will note here that I wish they had cut the inside of my mats a little smaller. When I went to assemble them, there was very minimal overhang where my mat lay over my photo, so it was a little tricky. But I got them assembled without any issue, and you can’t even tell. The total cost at Hobby Lobby was about $5 per mat, which I thought was a great deal. 

As I mentioned, I did all the assembling of these pictures myself. You can opt to have Hobby Lobby assemble them for you, but that will be an extra cost, and I was looking to make this project as minimal cost as possible. So my finished project ended up costing a total of $28 a piece! I did a little research, and if I had opted for a wood frame, this could have cost me closer to $65 per frame! That still doesn’t include the mat and photo. I couldn’t be happier with how this turned out. And based on the tears in my husband’s eyes, I’d say he’s happy with the result as well. 

Because I was hanging these on concrete walls, I felt like I had to get a little creative with how I was going to hang them. Drilling into the walls was an option, but not one I was interested in. Command strips were another option I considered, but I felt a bit hesitant. So I searched and ended up finding this double-sided tape that was really thick. I had to cut it into pieces that were the size of the back of the frame. I put five pieces along the top and five pieces down each side. This was a great option because our concrete walls aren’t level everywhere. This tape is nice and thick and helps me to make sure it’s sticking in most places. 

Do you think this is a DIY that you could incorporate into your home? Tell me which room? I feel like the possibilities are endless. 

Have You Jumped On This Trend Yet?

Well, this may not be a trend as people begin to come out of the woodwork, sharing their love for thrifting. I know that thrifting might not be for everyone, but I have to say, I’m here for it! As a lifelong thrifter, my husband is the first to admit that I’m a bit on the stingy side. But the truth is, I just can’t pass up a good deal! And as someone who has some slight hoarder tendencies (I would call myself a collector of treasures), I can extend my dollar and my collections when I shop second-hand!

I get it. Shuffling through piles of one man's junk to find your treasure isn’t for everyone. But now there are many ways to shop second-hand. And with second-hand stores that fund local schools and churches, you know your dollar is also going to a good cause. Here are a few tips if you're a thrift store newbie. They may seem basic or obvious, but there really is no scientific method to thrifting.  

Go often – See, it seems obvious. Thrift stores are constantly adding new items throughout the day, every day. You could go in the morning and see completely different things if you went again in the evening. Most retail stores spend after-hours cleaning up their store and restocking, but that’s not how thrift stores work. They restock throughout the day. So the more often you go, the better chance you will have of finding what you’re looking for.

Take a second lap – I’ve heard many avid thrifters who say they always walk through a thrift store twice. The first time through is a pretty quick trip to see if there is anything really obvious and to grab it before it’s gone. But on your second time around, go to the area of the things you're looking for and really take your time to dig around. Say you’re looking for a new sheet set for a kid's room. Take the time to really get in there. My favorite thrift store separates sheets by size, but in this case, I would take the time to look through all the sizes to make sure some didn’t get placed in the wrong size. Lots of times, people just shove things where they don’t belong if they decide they don’t want them. I’ve even seen women’s size small shirts in the girls' small section because someone didn’t realize it was an adult item. Take the time to go slow; you will likely find a gem someone overlooked. 

Be kind to your fellow shoppers – I think it goes without saying not to fight over items. But I would even take that a step further, if you see someone who has some great items in their cart, tell them! If they have the same style or seem to be collecting the same items you do, compliment them on their good finds. Sometimes people put items in their cart while they are still deciding if they want them. I’ve been in a few situations where, after offering a kind word, that person has decided they don’t want the item, and they offer it to me instead of putting it back on the shelf, and I’ve done the same for others. Plus, it’s pretty fun when others get excited about what we’ve found; it’s like we’re all on a scavenger hunt together. 

BYOB – Bring your own Bag or Box. This is something I’ve been starting to do lately. Especially if you buy heavy or breakable items, or if you’re shopping specifically at Goodwill. Some thrift stores use donated plastic bags to bag your items. Sometimes the bags have holes in them, and quite honestly, sometimes the bags just aren’t strong enough. I’ve definitely seen a bag or two get overpacked and cringed out of fear that it might rip with my breakables inside. Goodwill (at least in my area) no longer offers bags. If you want a bag, you need to purchase one of their reusable bags for $1.49. I’ve walked out of there a time or two with an armful of items because I’m just not spending that much money on bags. I’m actually ordering myself some new bags specifically for my thrift trips. I found these ones on Amazon, and I really like that they have 4 smaller pockets. I think they will be perfect for stopping things from shuffling around too much. 

Pack your items yourself – I heard this tip the other day and thought it was a great idea. Someone was sharing how she just hates holding up the line at checkout, especially when she has a lot of breakable items that need to be wrapped. So she keeps a few bags, boxes, and newspapers in the back of her vehicle. When she checks out, she puts everything right back in her cart and walks out to her car. There she can take her time packing up her items to ensure they are safe, but also take her time and know she’s not holding up the line. I LOVE this idea and will be doing this on my next thrift trip! I do keep this tote in the back of my truck. It’s large and works great for ensuring that nothing rolls around in the truck and bags don’t tip over. It really has been invaluable. 

I have enough tips that I think I should save some for a part 2. But I want to leave you with a bit of encouragement. I realize thrifting isn’t for everyone; it takes time and patience. But when you’re trying to be frugal or work within a small budget, you really can curate a beautiful, cozy home for your family through thrifting. I would say that 95% or more of my home is thrifted or pre-owned items, and I believe it is a beautiful reflection of our style and family mission. 

What’s Inspiring Me To Decorate For Winter

I’m feeling ready to kick out the red and green, but I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to all the coziness that Christmas decor brings. So I’ve been scrolling for inspiration for simple, cozy winter decor as we step into winter. I say step in because here in Michigan, we’ve hardly seen any stow this year, so it’s feeling a bit drab, and really not at all cheery.

I’ve been loving the idea of keeping some greenery around. It’s simple, but I love this basket of logs and greenery Karin put together. The hints of life can really lift your mood when it’s feeling so blah outside. 

karinuliving

I love the idea of incorporating natural elements into my decor. Not a lot of color, but it brings a lot of texture, which makes your space feel cozy. 

rockyhedgefarm

Give me all the candles! The smell, the flicker, I love everything about candles. Candles just have a way of creating a cozy ambience in your home. 

blesserhouse

I will always like decorating with scarves. Hang them over a chair, hang them up on a peg rail, or, like here, on a bench. I’m always on the look out for scarves when I’m out thrifting, they’re so inexpensive and can be found in a variety of colors and patterns. You can easily switch out scarves for fall, Christmas, and winter decor. 

makingitinthemountains

Brass is a beautiful way to add some texture and coziness to your home. I love how you can incorporate metal candlesticks, trays, bells, and bowls into any room of your home. 

nadinestay

Tips For Post-Christmas Clean-up

Organizing after Christmas is not my strong suit. Each year, when we pull out our Christmas decor, I frustratedly swear to myself that I’m going to invest some time and money into putting away our decor in a more organized manner that year. The girls are typically so excited to get decorating the tree, but they fight over who gets to put on the “good” ornaments. If it’s just a colored bulb, which is much too boring. But they can’t seem to wait for me to dig down to the bottom of the tote that was haphazardly put away the year before to find the ornament they are looking for.

So this year I finally did it. I really took the time to think through what would be the most helpful and what system I thought we would stick with. I gave myself a budget of about $100, and I think what I purchased will help a lot with controlling the clutter of our Christmas decor… and more!

First off, I bought an upright Christmas tree bag. I purchased a 5-foot flocked Christmas tree this year and was concerned about how much of the flocking I would lose over time if I kept packing and unpacking it. I knew I had space to store it if I left it assembled, so I decided to buy a storage bag for it. I haven’t taken it down quite yet, but I’m thinking I might leave the lights on it also. So all I’ll have to do is remove the ornaments, place the bag over it, and that’s done! Sounds like a win to me.

I snagged some Christmas light storage because, obviously, storing Christmas lights is annoying. This year, I put three strands of lights on the tree that didn’t fully work because I couldn’t find my working lights. What was I thinking last year!? I’m still not sure why I decided to keep the lights that weren’t working properly. 24 hours later, I found 5 strands of lights that all worked. Again, what the world!?

Ok the next few items are the ones I’m most excited about!! I’ll start by saying that I really wanted to find some storage containers that weren’t green and red. This was surprisingly hard to find! I knew there would be plenty of red and green totes, but I expected to find some clear ones as well, and I really didn’t find a lot of options. 

I really love these clear totes with gold trim that I found. The plastic seems durable, and I like that I can see through them enough to get an idea of what’s in them, but they aren’t fully transparent. I bought two different sets. I bought 2 large totes with 8 trays that hold 128 bulbs each and 2 small totes that have 4 trays each and hold 64 bulbs each. I like that I can use the large totes for my solid bulbs and the small ones for our special ornaments. I think this will be really helpful for next year when the girls are chomping at the bit to find the ornaments that they are the most excited to put on the tree. 

I plan to use one of the small totes for my vintage and glass ornaments, also. Which is great because I think I may have misplaced some of my vintage ornaments, because I didn’t want to store them with my other ornaments. 

The last item I purchased was a set of QR code stickers. I definitely got hit with an ad for these, and I fell for it. I did a bit of research, and these stickers look so helpful, and I could use them for so many things around our house. The way these work is you place the QR sticker on a tote or storage tub, you download the free app, then you add photos and list the contents of the tote. (Note, there are other brands for stickers like these. But after doing some research, these had some of the largest sales, best ratings, and the app is always free.) 

Now, when I’m pulling out our Christmas decor, if I’m looking for specific items, I can go into the app and type the name of those items in the search. You give the sticker a name, note where you are storing it, then list all the contents and include pictures of all the items. So I’m able to note that I have green bulb ornaments in a particular tote. Then, when I’m looking for those specific ornaments, I can type in the app search “green bulbs,” and it will tell me what tote number and where it’s located. I can also go right to the tote, scan the QR code, and see all the contents of the tote. 

I’m so excited to be able to use these stickers for other things, like our camping and hunting supplies. Things we don’t use often, but when we need a particular thing, it can be challenging to figure out what storage tote it’s in. Type the name of that item in the search.

2023 Home Trends I Hope Stick Around

Each year, all around the interweb, designers (and other highly opinionated people) drop their predictions for the top design trends of the year. While you know I try to avoid trends and instead encourage you to discover your personal design style, I thought it would be fun to go through this year's trends and decide which ones are worth sticking around.

Saturated Paint Colors

This is one I can definitely get on board with! I’ve always been a big fan of deep, moody colors. Heavily saturated colors help make a room feel more cozy, inviting, and bring more energy to the room. If you’ve been considering bringing a bolder POP of color to a room, a kids' bedroom, TV room, powder bath, or dining room would be a great place to start. A blue bedroom will encourage you to feel calmer and relaxed, while an eggplant dining room with get you feeling more energized! I think this trend should be here to stay!

Listening Rooms

Never heard of a listening room? Vinyl is having its moment again, so people are dedicating full rooms to listening to music. Here’s another trend I could get on board with. If you’ve been around here a while, you might know that I’m not a fan of TVs in the main living room, and if you know me personally, you know that we ALWAYS have music on in the house. Music can change the entire mood of your home. What if, instead of TV being the heart of the home, inspiring, uplifting music was?

Muted Tones

Have you ever watched one of the earlier seasons of Hometown? They end the intro with Erin Napier saying, “I like a little dinge.” I couldn’t agree more. Colors that are deeper and less vibrant look like they’ve been around for decades. Muted tones bring a calmness to your home, versus the bright colors that bring high energy and maybe even an obtrusive feel. In my season of life, my children bring enough energy into our home. Home is meant to be a place of rest and to refresh. How can you incorporate color to accomplish that?

No More Open Concept

People are asking for their walls back! This might be one of the greatest debates, as much as people are passionate and love their open floor plans, there are equally passionate people who want their living, dining, and kitchen separated. I’m in support of this one because I think we should have a choice. It seems like the majority of new build homes are built to this preference. But I would definitely be in support of leaning back toward some divided spaces. Separate rooms help foster more intimate conversations.

LizMarieBlog

Statement Lamps

I’m very excited about this one. I’ve been obsessed with some of the lamps I’ve found lately. They have so much personality and bring art and texture into your space. For too long, lamps have seemed boring and dull. Maybe it’s time to get out of our comfort zone and get a lovely lady leg lamp for our living room (or not), but there are really a lot of beautiful options out there.

southernhospitalityblog

Nostalgic Design

Also being coined as granny-chic. think less kitschy and more sophisticated. Nostalgic design gives a nod to the beauty and elegance that our grandparents and great-grandparents loved so well.

StyleBlueprint

Warm Woods

Natural woods finished only with a clear gloss finish bring warmth and coziness to a room. My favorite way this is incorporated into a space is through furniture, like an accent table or dining room chairs.

MyVintagePorch

Gold

Gold is back! But make sure you're getting it right. Gold can come in many finishes. It might be a matte gold or an aged gold, whatever you do, be consistent with the gold selection you decided to go with.

TheCottageMarket

High Gloss Finish

Why high-gloss? High-gloss elevated a space and helps accent detailed trim-work. This makes the biggest pop in powder rooms and dinning areas. We choose to implement in in our basement game room.

ChrisLovesJulia

Glam/Whimsical Laundry Room

The hardest working room in the house, and also sometimes the most dreaded family chore. Brighten your day by stepping into a dreamy laundry room to lighten your mood while folding and washing clothes.

AmericanFarmhouseStyle

Did You Hear The News?

I opened a vintage shop! This is something I’ve secretly been wanting to do for a while, but I couldn’t figure out how to make it work practically. The idea of adding another thing to my plate wasn’t something I could wrap my mind around. But also having a shop somewhere that I would have to go set up and maintain was just out of the question. I’ve realized I need to prioritize being home as much as possible. I still have three girls home that I’m homeschooling, and that is first in this season. Everything else needs to fit around that.

Then one day, I learned that Etsy was not only a place to sell handmade goods, but also vintage items! I almost burst when I discovered this! This might be the solution I’ve been looking for. I opened my shop within the week and have been sourcing and listing new items each week. 

The majority of what you’ll find in the shop is cottage-inspired decor and housewares. I’ve found some of the most beautiful stoneware dishes. It’s been fun finding things that I could imagine styled in my own home, but being able to share them with others. 

If you want to keep up with my latest listings and sales, you can favorite my shop on Etsy and be notified of anything new. You can also subscribe to my email list for top-secret coupon codes and to hear about products before they drop! Go ahead and drop your email in the box below, and I’ll add you to the list. I’m going to include a thank-you gift just for signing up. 

Weekly Thrifted Finds

I was out running a few errands the other day and decided to steal a few minutes for myself. There was a sweet little antique store down the street. I’d been there before, but not for a few years, so I wanted to pop in and see how to store may have changed. I found a few items to come home with me, a few for a client I was shopping for, and LOTS of inspiration and beautiful treasures.

I’d been on the lookout for a few small pots for plants for a client and found two winners. One is a cute little terra cotta pot, the other is a white shabby shabby-looking pot with scroll-style handles. They’re just what she was looking for and is eager to get her plants in it.

For myself, I found the most darling salt and pepper shakers. (I’m considering starting a salt and pepper collection, but that’s a conversation for another time.) They are the cutest little blue birds, and Keith said they remind him of something his grandma would have had in her house. I’ll take that as a win.

I also found a hammered copper watering can. I love adding metals to bring some texture and coziness to our very light and bright home.

One item that I picked up that was new, but a good look-a-like for a vintage item, was a decorative lamp chain pull. It has a ceramic toggle with florals on it. It will look perfect on my big brass lamp.

I just can’t seem to pass up a good deal on a vintage item. But remember my rule: don’t buy it if you don’t know how you’re going to use it. If it’s something you feel like you just have to have, brainstorm and think of how you might be able to use it around your home. Are you ready to see a few of the things I found that I loved but didn’t buy??

Vintage Oil Paintings

I’m always on the lookout for vintage oil paintings when I go out thrifting, to antique stores, or estate sales. Oil paints bring such a rich texture to a room and do a lot to create the mood you are trying to convey. Vintage oil paintings usually also come in beautiful, ornate frames. So as a whole, they bring so much character to any room.

I’ve rounded up a few oil paintings that I found online that you can ship straight to your home, if scouring antique and thrift stores isn’t your thing. *Save this post because I’ll be sure to update what I find as they sell out. Because these are not big box items, once they sell, they are gone. So if you see an oil painting you love, I suggest snatching it up quickly. If you do find an oil painting you're drawn to at a thrift store, antique store, or estate sale, grab it! Even if you think you might change your mind, chances are that if you walk away, it may not be there when you return.

How do I incorporate oil paintings around my home?

The thing about a great oil painting is that you can place it in any room of your house. I have one placed under my range hood in my kitchen. A large one in my dining room. A sweet little ballerina one in my daughter's room over her dresser.

Look around your room. You may have a small wall that you can incorporate a small-sized frame to bring a small surprise to an otherwise overlooked wall. You can use paintings in bookcases to add layers and visual interest. The possibilities are literally endless.

Common Oil Paintings That Fit Well In Any Home

Wondering what kind of oil paintings to add to your home? Great question. Fruit and food are always great for the kitchen and dining rooms. Portraits are my favorite in living spaces. Landscapes fit well in any room and are fun to change throughout the seasons. Flowers are another that are easily incorporated into any room.

Well, on that note, I think it’s time to see some oil paintings! Here are some stunners I’ve found on Etsy. Grab them while you can!

Morris & Co. and Ruggable

Have you heard about the collaboration between Morris & Co. and Ruggable? I hadn’t until the other day when I started seeing ads from them multiple times a day on Instagram. And they were wrong, I LOVE these rug patterns! They are a sweet and whimsical style, and choosing a favorite is nearly impossible.

William Morris was a British designer, artist, and poet. This new rug collection is a testament to his work. Bringing you back in time, these rugs have a story to tell and would be the showpiece in any room of your home! If you’ve been loving the bold wallpaper that’s coming back in style but haven’t wanted to make that commitment, these rugs have the same attention to beauty and detail.

Have you ever heard of Ruggable rugs before? Ruggable rugs are high-quality, fully machine-washable rugs for your home. You can put them right into your home washing machine, which makes them perfect for entryways, kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, kids' rooms, and more! And more recently, they’ve come out with Premium Quality rugs. Three times the thickness, you aren’t sacrificing any comfort for the washability of these rugs! Here are a few of my favorites from their collection!

Where I Go To Find Vintage Items

Finding great vintage items can be tricky. I’ve heard many times, “I need to learn how to thrift like you!” I’ll tell you what, it takes time and patience and quite honestly, a love and desire to do it. If you can’t stand the idea of walking into store after store and not finding what you’re looking for, this might not be for you. But I have a couple of solutions if that’s you!

There are lots of places you can go for thrifted and vintage items. They might be vintage (20 years old or older), and they might not be. But I’ll break down where you can shop and what you can expect to find.

Antique Store/ Antique Mall

Antique stores are one of my favorite places to find vintage items. If you’re not familiar with Antique Malls, the way they work a lot of the time is that there is individual booth space that people set up shop and pay a monthly booth fee to sell there. This means you could walk into one store and find a huge variety of items. Each shop owner usually has specific items, styles, or time periods that they specialize in. I went to one of the other days and they had a huge collection of salt and pepper shakers, another booth was full of dishware, and another was filled with linens.

Because these dealers have an area that they specialize in and the store specifically sells antiques, they charge fair market value. This means you will find a wide range of prices depending on how rare items are, but each booth owner is able to set their own prices.

Thrift Store

Thrift stores are a great place to find vintage items at a lower price point. Some thrift stores have separate cabinets or shelves for vintage items, while others incorporate vintage wares into the rest of the items they’re selling. Either way, both of these are usually sold at a lower price point than at antique stores. My biggest suggestion here is to find 1-3 stores that consistently seem to have vintage items and stop in frequently. In my experience, chain thrift stores like Goodwill are not a place where I have a good time finding vintage items. Old, yes; vintage no.

Estate Sale

Estate sales are a great place to find unique vintage pieces. If you can read the description for the sale, it will give you some indication of the type of items you should find there. An estate sale just means they are selling the contents of the house. This is everything from clothing to dishes, tools to cleaning supplies. You will find anything and everything at an estate sale, which can be good for a laugh and also for finding treasures. Another thing to know about estate sales is that a lot of times, if there are a lot of antique items, it's common for the family to hire an estate sale company to either price or run the sale. Which means the prices are set to fair market value (and sometimes higher), but everything is negotiable, and on the last day of the sale, everything is typically marked down to half price, and nearing the last hours of the sale, any reasonable offer will be considered.

Grandma’s House

Your grandma probably has treasures hidden in her basement and attic that you’re not even aware of. Let her know that you love vintage treasures, and if she’s ever getting rid of anything to keep you in mind. Also, if she has an item around her house that makes you feel nostalgic and gives you all the grandma vibes, let her know. Maybe Uncle Bob already “claimed” that item, but if not, she’ll be aware that that item means something to you, and she might make mention to other family members that she wants that item to go to you. We have items that belonged to our grandparents, and my dad simply expresses our interest in that item. If you have grandparents who have said they need to work through cleaning out their home, offer to come over and help. You might go home with treasures that would have otherwise ended up in the trash or at a thrift store.

Etsy

Etsy isn’t just for buying handmade items. Sellers are also able to list items that are 20 years old or older. A few bonuses about Etsy are that there are thousands of sellers, so unlike a thrift store that can be hit or miss, you are likely to find exactly what you're looking for relatively quickly. Another great thing is that you will likely find multiples of the same items, and they will range in price. So you can find the item and the price that fits your budget.

If shopping on Etsy is something that interests you, check out my Etsy Vintage shop. I stock new items weekly. You’ll find lots of vintage decor and dishware.

Ebay

Here’s another great option for buying vintage online. While I’d go to Etsy as my first choice, with eBay, you have the option to buy or bid on most items. I’ve noticed that prices can really vary on eBay, so make sure you’re shopping around to be sure you're paying a fair price.

Facebook Marketplace

You will find junk and treasures alike on FB Marketplace. One perk of Marketplace is that sometimes people have no idea what they’re selling, so you can get garage sale prices and some gems. But you have to be looking often, and you have to move fast. If you see something you like, don’t think twice, message that you’re interested and tell them exactly when you can be there to pick it up. I’ve even heard of people offering above asking to jump the line to get the prize.

My recommendation if you’re just getting started try to find vintage and antique items would be to choose 1-3 of these suggestions to get started with. For example, if you picked a thrift store, you might be playing a slow game to find what you’re looking for. But if you try Etsy along with it, you should have more success, which would give you a quick win! If you want to learn more about thrift shopping, decorating your home, and great deals on things for your home, subscribe to my email for the best information first!