Moving On

As I mentioned in a recent newsletter, we have just listed our home in Central Texas for a new adventure in Virginia (my husband is headed to seminary). So many of you have been with us since we fist looked at this 1972 fixer upper back in 2015. We've definitely worked to make it into something we love. It will be hard to part with. Our dear friends and realtors generously allowed us to use some of their photos below. Here's a last look at this place (also...we're going from 3,700 square feet to 700...the new DIY stuff will *probably* be about small house living)

See a lot of our spaces in this home below.

Weekend Project: How to Build a Birdhouse

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Ever wondered How to Build a Birdhouse? If you're bird nerds like we are, chances are, you have wondered. I'm providing some simple and easy answers below on how to create your own little bird haven in your backyard. Let's welcome all of the fine feathered friends, shall we? Read on for How to Build a Birdhouse.

Goodness, there are LOADS of tutorials on the interwebs for creating the perfect bird sanctuary. But, as a person who actually has her own aviary of parakeets, I'm here to say, "the simpler the better!". While I tend to my own budgies in my sunroom, I also have worked to create a safe space for all birds in our little courtyard and pergola area. Read below how to make your own DIY Birdhouse for your space!

Cheese Dome Turned Seasonal Cloche

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I took a cheese dome from the thrift store (dust and all) and turned it into a simple cloche that can be used seasonally for decor. With just a little paint, this piece was given a new purpose (and lots of bright spring fun!). See this simple makeover below.

My kitchen was ready for a bit of spring. I love to decorate the middle of our bar area with this mirror, adding seasonal touches on top of it. And my thrift store cheese dome ended up being the perfect Easter cloche for this season. See how simple this project was below.

Using Wallpaper as Artwork

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I've been struggling with this wall in our guest room for a while now. Lo and behold, I had the solution close by the entire time...in an old roll of wallpaper. See how using wallpaper as artwork can be a cost effective way to get a big WOW factor for your walls.

If you need some budget-friendly artwork that packs a big punch, peel and stick wallpaper is a great solution. I used a roll on an old framed canvas I had in the storage shed for some instant art for our guest bedroom. See how I put this piece together below.

Make Your Own Valentine Kitchen Towels

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My oven doors were looking a bit bare after I took down the Christmas towels. I put together these Valentine Kitchen Towels to take their place and they make me smile whenever I see them. They're simple to make (if you can do a straight stitch, you're good!). See the tutorial below.

Anyone else love a good ricrac embellishment? That was my starting point for these new towels. Then I dug in my felt stash and found a square of pink that was destined to be a heart shape. It's a simple little design, but it really makes the perfect seasonal statement piece. See how to create your own Valentine Kitchen Towels below.

Easy Fall Floral Centerpiece

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I'm excited to share this simple and easy Fall floral centerpiece with you today. All it requires is a small bunch of flowers and greenery (fall mums are perfect!), two vases (one smaller than the other), and acorns. See how to put this one together below.

I always enjoy natural elements on Fall tablescapes. While I'm keeping it simple this go round with just one vase of floral fun, I still added lots of natural goodness to it. See how to create this simple Acorn Fall Floral Centerpiece below.

DIY Bulletin Board with Nailhead Trim

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I'm really enjoying this new DIY Bulletin Board I added to my office. My previous ones were a lot smaller and had stuff hanging over the edges. Plus, the fabric on this one really makes me happy and kind of completes this little corner. This new piece was also super budget-friendly. See how to make your own DIY Bulletin Board below.

I'm not sure other adults are as enamored as I am with having a bulletin board, but I've always enjoyed keeping one. While it's probably more of a kid thing, I still love visually seeing special keepsakes, reminders, calendars, and printables on a regular basis. See how I put this new one together below.

11 Uses for a Vintage Creamer Pitcher

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I love displaying ordinary things in unexpected and, well, pretty ways. Even cotton swabs can become a lovely little item when placed in something unique. Today, I'm sharing 11 not-so-common uses for a vintage creamer pitcher that will make you pull yours out of the cupboard and put it on display.

My friend, Emily, recently moved. In the process of packing her old home, she texted me a photo of a cute porcelain creamer and asked if she should keep it or get rid of it...and asked what I'd do with it. I texted back that sweet little creamers are the BEST for organizing the ordinary items! These are the things we often go out and buy plastic organizing systems or containers for. Creamers are perfect to create a pretty little holder for just about anything. That text exchange inspired today's post with 11 uses for a vintage creamer pitcher.

5 Ways to Display Free Printables

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I'm sure it's pretty obvious, but I love free printables. I love creating them, displaying them, you name it. I just love 'em. Today, I'm sharing some unique ideas to display all the pretties you download from the interwebs. Each idea is budget friendly and can make a lovely statement in your home. I've got lots of links to many of my free printables below, as well. 

I know I'm not alone in having a computer file stuffed with free printables that I plan to use "one day". Well, today's the day, y'all. Make sure your ink cartridge is full...you'll be ready to print and display alllllll the free printables you can get your hands on! I've found some nifty display items, plus used items from around my house for these Five Ways to Display Free Printables below.

DIY Potted Hyacinth Bulbs

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I love fresh flowers year round. One way to beat the spring growth season is to create a potted hyacinth (or other bulb) indoors. You can start enjoying fragrant blooms long before they're available for harvesting outside. These potted hyacinth arrangements were created the easy way...no forcing required. 

It's also Thrifty Style Team day, so there is quite a bit of lovely spring inspiration below for you to enjoy. 

If you've never smelled a hyacinth in full bloom, you've got to rectify that immediately. They are truly heavenly, y'all. And since I've had these particular potted Hyacinth bulbs around the past few weeks, their fragrance has basically filled our home with the scent of spring. See how easy these were to put together below.

How to Make Hand-Poured Candles

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I've tried my hand at homemade candles in the past, but these new fall versions of hand-poured candles may just be my favorites...because of how easy they were to create and how lovely they smell. If you've never made hand-poured candles, they're not nearly as intimidating as you may think. Nor are they very messy. See my simple tutorial below.

I tend to utilize candles more in the cooler months...they provide that warmth and glow that is perfect this time of the year. But, I use them so much that my candle budget has started shaking its finger at me. I always try to purchase them when White Barn (the Bath and Body Works candle store) has them on sale, but I truly go through them a bit too fast to even justify that. So, learning to make my own hand-poured candles has been a game-changer in this area. I can create these for a dollar or so apiece and have a more customized scent. See how simple these are to create below.

How to Clean a Stovetop

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Today, I'm sharing an easy method for how to clean a stovetop. If you have a glass or ceramic stovetop, then this is totally for you. For the past 13 years, I've had this style of cooktop and have learned a couple of easy tricks along the way to keep it looking pristine. Check out my tutorial for How to Clean a Stovetop below.

You may already have all of the ingredients you'll need for this simple cleaner in your cupboard or refrigerator.  This stovetop cleaning process is super easy and only requires gentle scrubbing (that's a win-win for me). I usually sit down to eat with the family while the stovetop cools. Once dinner is done, the stove is cooled and ready for cleaning. My steps for How to Clean a Stovetop are listed out below.

DIY Polka Dot No-Sew Curtains

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These DIY Polka Dot No-Sew Curtains can add a splash of whimsy to any space in your home. I created ours for the guest room, but they're so versatile and can really go anywhere. See how I made these simple no-sew curtains below.

I've been working on our guest room and it's beginning to take shape. This used to be my dad's bedroom. Emotionally, I kind of needed it to look different. My son wanted my dad's headboard, so we put his previous twin beds in here. That was just the motivation I needed to get going on the space. The latest pieces to go in are the polka dot no-sew curtains I made for the room. You can see how simple these were to create below.

Ethan Allen Console Table Makeover

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In honor of Mother's Day this weekend, I gave my mother's 1980's Ethan Allen Console Table a little makeover. I remember going to the showroom to select this table with her when I was a little kid. It brings me a lot of joy to have it back out and being used again. See how I made it over, as well as restyled it, below.

Oh, and it's Thrifty Style Team Day! This Ethan Allen Console makeover is just one of several fun and thrifty ideas listed out below.

While my mom would probably think my hot pink direction for this table is a bit questionable, at best, I do think she'd love the fact that we're using it again. Honestly, in the end, she always did enjoy my "wild ideas", even if they were a bit out of her comfort zone. See how this table started out, below.

Use What You Have Decor

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Today, I've got some fun "Use What You Have Decor". I completely made over our TV room using mostly items from around the house, as well as a couple of orders online, and some thrift store items I had "waiting in the wings". I'm honestly so happy with how this room came together with very little money spent. When you really get creative and think outside the box, being able to use what you have on hand proves to be a great solution.

I've been chatting about this space on my Instagram account for a bit now. This was previously my dad's den (as he named it). Since he passed away, it's been a place we kind of avoided. But, I was ready to inject a bit of life and color back into it, so we could make it a happy space once more. I think my dad would have gotten a big kick out of it, too.

I shopped my house for this one...plus a couple of items online, as well. See all of the details below.

How to Use Upholstery Paint without Fabric Medium

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If you've never used upholstery paint, or you've used it with a fabric medium, this new tutorial I'm sharing today is totally up your alley. I scored a couple of thrift store chairs earlier this year and I've finally had the time to try a new and unique style of upholstery paint on them. The results have been good, but I've got lots of "learning tidbits" to share, as well. Plus, today is also Thrifty Style Team day, so you're getting LOADS of great thrifty ideas from all of my friends, too. 

Eight years ago, I posted another tutorial on Painting Upholstered Furniture. I had worked with my bestie to give her nursery chair a makeover. We had great results, but man, it was a lot of work, a lot of steps and a lot of mixing. When I stumbled onto these thrift store chairs recently, I started researching different ways to paint them (without all of the extra steps and ingredients that my previous method required). I found a paint online that worked well for this. There are definitely some pros and cons to both methods, but overall, this is the one I would use again. See how I used this upholstery paint below.

Lavender Spray for Linens

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Today, I'm sharing my secret for the thriftiest luxury I take advantage of on the regular: my recipe for French Lavender Spray for Linens (applied to freshly ironed sheets). It is truly luxurious for just a couple of bucks. Not only do I use this aromatherapy spray on bedding, I actually use it on towels, upholstered furniture, and draperies, too. It smells heavenly and is one of my favorite DIY concoctions to create every week. 

Not only are we in the middle of lovely lavender week here on I Should Be Mopping the Floor, today is also Thrifty Style Team day. And I'm sharing my favorite thrifty luxury around...a well made bed that smells straight out of heaven (better than any fancy perfume!). This recipe will make you feel like you're sleeping in the poshest of five star hotels with crisp, clean, fantastic smelling (and feeling) sheets. It can also be used as a lovely aromatherapy room spray.

How to Make a No-Sew Pom Pom Pillow

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I love a good throw pillow...add leopard print and some pom poms and I'm truly smitten. This pom pom pillow is of the no-sew variety. And I made it so the pom poms can be changed out seasonally. See how simple it is to put together a No-Sew Pom Pom Pillow of your own below.

If you saw my big master bedroom reveal last month, you know we're walking a balancing act with the colors in this space. We've got a light spa-green-like color on the walls, but little splashes of coral here and there. The thing that we broke the rules on? We did a completely different color on the walls in the newly renovated master bathroom. The walls are actually the coral in there. So, I keep trying to amp up my coral pops over in the bedroom area. This pom pom pillow with its bright coral pom poms was the perfect little accessory for our bed. And It breaks up all the white and neutral tones of our bedding perfectly. Check out my no-sew pom pom pillow tutorial below.

7 Patio Decorating Ideas on a Budget

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This post for 7 Patio Decorating Ideas on a Budget has several of my most popular upcycled patio projects all in one place. It's definitely possible to have a great-looking outdoor space on a shoestring tight-budget. It just requires a few clever DIY projects, upcycles, and thrifted goodness (and, if I'm being honest, a bit of elbow grease and heavy lifting). See all of these patio decorating ideas on a budget listed out below for you.

We've now lived here for three years. The entire first year we lived here, we worked on the inside of the house, and barely made any progress on the exterior. But the first gathering we hosted, everyone somehow found their way to our back patio. We knew we needed to get a move on putting a nice area together, since the space itself is already pretty inviting. We did this patio on a budget, cutting costs by creating most of the pieces ourselves. See our top 7 Patio Decorating Ideas on a Budget below.

Master Bath Makeover

This Master Bath Makeover is sponsored by Lowe's. 

All opinions and ideas are mine.

Our master bath makeover is finished. And we couldn't be more smitten with our bright and happy new space. We went from the 1970s to, well...a vintage version of a modern master bath. Check out all of the photos of the new space below.

We broke all the rules with our master bath remodel. Plates hanging in a bathroom? Sure, why not? Floor to ceiling drapes on a tiny window? Absolutely. Funky layout to remain intact? Of course. But, honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. We truly now have a master bath that reflects our tastes and personalities. See all of this fun below.