How to make a Scentsy jar look even more decorative.

Got this idea from my Scentsy consultant. She has about five done this way around her house. Tray was my husband's Grandmother's. The decorative filler from Dollar Tree.

Looks like they still sell this style of warmer, too.  Charity Scentsy Warmer

Baskets in bookcases and built-ins...storage!

Think your built-ins look cluttered? Don't know how to decorate your bookcases? Need storage? I had the same problem, so I filled my built-ins with baskets. Provided much needed storage for crafts, activity accessories, electronics, school supplies, etc.

I found my baskets at World Market years back, but anywhere that has similar baskets in different sizes will work.  I've seen them at Ikea, Container Store, Garden Ridge, Pier 1, TJMaxx, etc.  At first it seemed like an expensive project, but the most expensive one was $15.99 (total under $200 with my coupon of course :).  One piece of furniture would have cost me more and this has been the best project I have ever done in my house to solve a problem!  

For me it also helped lighten up the wall color-wise.

Painting switch or plug plates

This is my first "project from the past" post. I've done so many things around my house already, that I'll be highlighting completed things as well.

This is spray painted plugs and light switches. Tape off around the plate and just spray. The brown plastic at the bottom is before and the textured metal looking one is after. I've had these like this for many years and no chipping. I used the hammered metal spray paint by Rustoleum you can get at Home Depot or Lowes.  The color is either dark bronze or brown.




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After - Plug

After - light switch*

Before

The light switch is an outdoor "cover" plate I picked up at Home Depot.  These plugs are all on my island and there's an odd double switch that controls one overhead light and the garbage disposal in the sink.  For fear that someone might accidentally hit the switch at a bad time, I decided to cover it to prevent it from accidentally happening.  That switch plate was gray before I painted it, so you can see that the hammered metal paint really covers well.

Light switch frames

Well it's time for project #2 for the day :) Light switch frames, also discovered by creative friends and on Pinterest. Completed two today with "as is" frames from Goodwill. Did have to take the velvet backing off of the white frame (just slid a butter knife between the two layers and it came off very easily). Used double sided foam tape to adhere it to the wall. LOVE them both.   They seem to be 3 1/5" x 5 or 4" x 6" frames for a single light.  Many more to come!

Valentine's Day Apothecary Jars

Thanks to Pinterest and creative friends, I decided to take on the Holiday Apothecary Jars project. For those who have seen my pins, you know I've wanted to do this project since December. So I took the leap for Valentines Day. Letters: XOX, Stuffing: (foil confetti)

Other ideas: Three-letter word (LUV), Stuffings (candy hearts, red hots, red garland)

Supplies:

Apothecary jars (to be reused at each holiday...mine are a few years old from kirklands and it looks like they don't have them anymore, but here's a set at amazon for a good price Amazon Apothocary Jars)

One bag of foil shreds (may reuse for Christmas, found at Dollar Tree)

Ribbon (may be able to use at Easter, found at Hobby Lobby)

Wooden Letters (may reuse "o" for joy at Christmas, found at Hobby Lobby...shockingly very inexpensive)

Spray paint (will definitely use silver again, I already had this)

Time to start thinking about what my next holiday redesign will look like : )

Here are the jars I found on Amazon that I think would look great!  Amazon apothocary jars

My first post

Welcome to Dixie of all Trades, my first attempt at blogging. It was Pinterest that inspired me to finally start a blog, and for those of you on it, that will not come as a surprise at all :) This site is highly addictive, and it inspired me to finally start blogging about all of the projects I research and complete every day. I love the creative outlet that a home provides, and I've often thought people might benefit from what I have learned during the numerous projects I have tackled. Good and bad, I know the successes and failures might inspire others to finally start a project they've been putting off, find inspiration to take on something new, or just learn a thing or two about home repair and improvement from a Girl of all Trades named Dixie. And, yes, I'm a master of none :)