craft swap

I participated in a craft swap on one of the mums forums I'm a member of and now that they have been received i can post pics without spoiling the surprise. :)

I had a mass of issues in the process.....

I started doing canvas name plaques then maddie "helped"
then i stared making pj pants but made a tester first for maddie and for some reason they kept tearing next to the seams.
Then i started a turps transfer canvas of an elephant, that didn't work either.
I had so many issues with the paint on the frames, and there are still a few faults......stupid rain!

So I went with an upcycle theme. The buttons are all from a fabric opshop (BLISS!!) The bucket is op shop. the frames were op shop. but the fabric was from a beautiful fabric store near me.

cheers

Cie

Creating space- Freezer

I have been having a bit of an OCD day....but directed at my fridge and freezer....

After doing all the usual, washing, wiping and throwing away all the things growing new eco-systems in the fridge i moved onto the freezer.

My freezer was full of half empty boxes taking up twice as much space as they should be.

So I pulled out my handy zip lock bags and scissors.
I cut the front label from the boxes and the cooking instructions and slipped them in the zip lock bags, so no more mystery items floating around in the freezer forever (or until i have another fussy fridge day!)

so i went from taking up this much space.....

to taking up this much space

Heaps more space!

Share your handy space saving idea :)

Cie
xox

Flea market Finds

Hello again! I cant believe its been a week since the last flea market finds.....The chair I posted last week got a makeover on Monday (see here)

I had a busy week of thrifty finds

On Wednesday I ducked into my local Vinnies at west pennant hills and picked up these goodies

a set of cute copper tins for $15

And this wooden box $10, which now houses my husband medals and awards from work.

And then today I headed off to the North rocks market (without child again....I love having hubby home) And got more goodies.

These are for my mum and dad, a cane fishing basket and a wooden box/basket that I think was designed for transporting small pets/animals (basket was $15 and box was $25)

and this for me!

This was $25 and is getting a makeover this week.....so keep an eye out for an update!


Cie
xox

Furniture makeover- parlour stools

I got these chairs weekend at the North Rocks trash and treasure market for $10 each.
I spent today giving them a makeover

Before...

and........After!!

Ok so they aren't 100% finished in this picture...there were a couple of finishing touches added.....but it was getting dark and If i didn't take the photo right then I would have to wait.
So I will put it up in an update tomorrow :)

******************************


So here's how I did it

Scrubbed, Sanded, sugar-soaped and spray painting started.

The new cushion covers....a skirt from the West Pennant Hills Vinnies for $7.

All painted and drying

So the total break down.
Chairs x2 =$20
Skirt for cushion covers =$7
Black gloss spray paint =$6 for two cans
Rubber stoppers for the bottom of legs =$6 (for 16 stoppers)

Total cost= $39


Cie
xox


Shared on- Blue Cricket Design, Reinvented

Making every day things a little nicer- dishwashing liquid

This may seem like a completely useless post to most people but for someone like me who is a stay at home mum, little things that are ugly....just annoy me!

Take dish washing liquid.

The plastic bottles they come in are not the nicest things to look at and at my house they are always on the bench or window-sill in full view for easy access.

SO I came up with an alternative

BEFORE

Ugly right!


AFTER
Much better!
(although I think my window needs a quick clean)

The new containers are glass vinegar and oil bottles that I picked up from Vinnies in North Pennant Hills for $2

I think I'm going to ditch the holder that they are in as the white rubber handle at the top has some marks on it. So I can separate them and put one in the laundry and leave the other in the kitchen.

Good idea no?


Cie
xox

Flea market Finds

Sophie at Her Library Adventures should feel privileged! My first blog post (excluding the welcome) is joining in on her weekly flea market finds meme.....see here for the other goodies from this week.

This weekend I headed out early (child free!!) to the North Rocks trash and treasure market (held every Sunday)

I picked up some bargains!




This little beauty was $12 and going to take pride of place on my sewing table holding bits, bobs and buttons....You cant see very well in the picture but it actually has legs that raise it up off the table top....

And these little beauties!

They aren't so pretty right now....I'm not a floral kinda girl...But these will be getting a makeover soon! The cost for the two of these ... $20!

Hope your long weekend was great!

Cie
xox

Welcome!

Hi I'm Cie
I'm a 24 year old mum of one cheeky girl, Madeline, who turns two in less than two weeks
Married To Richard who is away ALOT with work so I have to keep myself and maddie busy by doing lots of things around the house.

A bit of an outline of what you can expect to see in this blog.

• I LOVE op-shopping (thrifting) and finding bargains in unusual places, I have noticed there are lots of details of op shopping in Melbourne and Canberra but not so many op-shop blogs in Sydney. So this will be the new living cheap in Sydney blog to read!

• I am always working on new recipe ideas so I will post info on here about yummy things you can make for your family.

• I am attempting to get more creative again, things fell to the way-side after having a bubba and now I'm trying to get back into it all

• As a young family our house if full of "mongrel" furniture that has come from generous family and friends. I love the function of the things we have BUT none of them match or aren't our "style" so I have a lot of projects in the pipe line to re-vamp and show "before and after" photos.

So that's a brief overview of what to expect at this stage.... things may change, I'm a bit fickle like that. :)

So WELCOME!!!

Cie
xox