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CREATIVE IDEAS ON A BUDGET

You’ve finally gotten settled into your new home, but what home is really a home without some of your own personal touches added to it?  Often, this is the last thing a person does, and is also about the time you may be running out of that “extra money” you had saved for the move.  Instead of running to the nearest department store to look for a “deal” on something, that about creating that something by making it yourself.

Browsing through your local craft store can often turn up unique ideas that, added with your special touch, can become a one of a kind item.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to choose a few silk flowers to highlight the main colors of your house.  Add a little greenery and a unique vase and you have yourself a flower arrangement you can be proud of without spending a lot of money.  Craft stores today carry many do-it-yourself kits that are complete with step by step directions and only take a couple of hours to achieve a finished product.  While you’re in the craft store looking for ideas, don’t forget to take a look at the craft books and magazines.  Many of these have hundreds of non-expensive ideas, plus instructions and a material list of what to get.  This is also a good way to spur other ideas into action.

Looking to spruce up a few walls?  How about some self-stick border paper which can be obtained from any store that sells wallpaper for about half the price of the real thing and you can adjust it before it becomes permanent to make sure it is straight.  They usually come in packages that have about fifteen feed of border and are available in a variety of designs and colors.  This is great if you are trying to fix up that spare bedroom into a nursery as there are many youth designs to choose from plus other decals to add to your walls once the border is in place.  Self-stick border also comes with directions and ideas on the package.  The only thing you have to do is measure approximately how much you will need.  It is a good idea to get what you need plus a little extra all at once to ensure that all the color match up.  You can always return the unused package for a refund when the project is complete.

Sponge painting your walls is another inexpensive way to spruce up the bathroom or child’s room.  There is a liarge variety of pre-cut sponge forms available or you can cut your own design out, team with your favorite color paint and it makes a little go a long way.  Make it a family affair and let the kids help do the sponging.  This is also a good way to cover imperfections in your walls.  Make a mistake?  If it doesn’t look so bad, incorporate it into a pattern and no one will be the wiser.

Taking a stroll through your local discount or dollar store can often turn up finds such as unique candle holders that look just like and just as nice as the ones for fifty dollars in the department store window.  You can also find many unusual or unique items by hitting those yard sales.  Who says you have to tell where you got it from?  If it’s something you like and have been looking for there is no need to share your secrets!

Kathleen M. Lindback.