All of this for $10.72 at CVS :)

I haven't been on my usual couponing kick.
(Why bother, it's almost always out of stock when it comes to deals). However, I was in need of toilet paper, and dryer sheets, and figured since I had two extra bucks (one for $5.99 & one for $2.50) I would figure a scenario to get the most bang for my buck!

CVS emailed me a printable coupon for $5 off the purchase of $25.

Combined with my extrabucks that would be an automatic saving of $13.49 off $25! So I scoured the Sunday sales advertisement to see what I could get for $25 and what else I had coupons for.

I came up with these items:

* Charmin 16 pack on sale for $9.99
(.25 coupon in P&G Sunday paper insert)
* 120 ct. Bounce dryer sheets
(did not clip a coupon)
Now my filler items to get my total to $25 so I could save $5!
* Pantene Pro V Shampoo & Conditioner (2 for $6.97)
($3 off the purchase of 2 from old paper insert).
* Gillette Body Wash On sale for $3 each buy two =$6
(Used buy one get one coupon from previous P&G Sunday paper insert)

Total Before Coupons Applied: $28.95 (not counting sales tax)

$28.95
- $5 off $25 coupon =
$23.95
- $5.99 extra buck =
$17.96
- $2.50 extra buck=
$15.46
- $3 (for bogo Gillette)=
$12.46
- $3 for Pantene Pro V =
$9.46
- .25 for Charmin Toilet Paper =
$9.22 PRE COUPONS
Add Sales Tax and Total Was $10.72 :)

Now because these products are a "spend $30 in select products get a FREE $10 gas card". I spend $22 (pre coupon) worth toward that goal.

I have to spend $7 to get the gas card, so I will go tomorrow and get 2 more Pantene Pro V @ $6.97 and ONE dawn dish soap @ .99
My total will be $7.96
- $3 coupon & -.50 soap coupon
= $4.46 out of pocket to earn my $10 gas card!

So the 10.72+4.46= $15.18 out of pocket EARNING a $10 gas card (which is always needed & I would get anyway) Means I spent $5 for EVERYTHING at CVS and only paid 10 for my own gas;)

You can't even get all of that for so cheap at Wal Mart! :D

I LOOOOOVE YOU CVS!!

Painting the Wooden Trim Work!

Ever since I bought the '65 rancher, I have hated her ugly trim work. I painted the baseboards white 6 years ago, leaving the wooden quarter rounds untouched. I have painted most of the wooden doors and door casings, and some was left in all her hideous glory.

But first; my foyer. I bought a replacement paneled door (not up yet) and finished painting over the remaining hunter green the previous owner's SO LOVED.

So here is a before:




The quarter rounds before:



ANNNND After:


I really do think painting the quarter rounds have added a nicer look to the baseboards :) This makes my heart smile a little. A simple change has made a NICE improvement! I will be sure to update more when I paint and hang the new door.

The next day I tackled the hallway baseboards and door trims.

I had to take the door off its hinges

I think when I eventually get it all done I will take a photo of the entire hallway. I will end up having to replace the old doors with paneled ones (they are under $30). I refuse to spend time sanding them so the paint will stick, I'd rather pay $30 for a new door and use the old hardware and spray paint it. Wish me luck on that endeavor.

Fabric Decoupage (modge podge) to the 70's Craigslist Dresser Redo:)

In my previous blog, (click here) I showed you the 1970's Craigslist dresser redo I did for my daughter. I kindly refer to her previous state as "the beast".
As you know, the beast had some pretty interesting drawers.
Some sort of Independance theme.
Totally cute for the time period the dresser was around - I am sure - but not so fab for a little girl.

I was going to buy new fabric to decoupage the dresser drawers, but funds became extremely tight, and as cheap as it sounds, I just could NOT afford to splurge on fabric. ((It happens))..

About that time I remembered that nearly 6 years ago, MiMi was a few months old, I was toting her on my hip in a local Wal Mart and they were doing away with their fabric section. I had spotted a pink & red funky fabric, & being only a dollar a yard I had the strong impulse to purchase 3 yards of it.

I had no idea what I would do with it, but I liked it enough to buy it.
AND hang onto it for 6 years.

That's when it dawned on me, this would be PERFECT for the dresser drawer liners.

All I would need to do was try and cut it to size, slap on some mod podge and call it a day.

I always say this, but I will say it again:
Isn't it funny how EVERYTHING seems meant to be.
Simple things like this fabric I have held onto for so many years as my 6 year old was a small baby and here I am using it on something for her now.

It makes my heart smile a little :)
Yes, I am a nerd and have no social life, obviously).

I have finished the first process:
cutting, mod podging the drawers and laying the fabric in.

Tomorrow I will put the Mod Podge on top once it cures and call it a done deal. I love it so far, and my daughter does as well.

(click images to enlarge)

Fabric, meet old drawer design.

(click images to enlarge

Mod Podge added to drawer.

(click images to enlarge)

Pretty, Pretty!

(click images to enlarge)

Before & After.

(click images to enlarge)

The beast, all I can say is, You've come a long way baby!

Link Party:

70's Craigslist Dresser ReVamp!

First let me show you the beauty that is the 70's Craigslist Dresser ReVamp!

I am proud of how far she has come:

She started off as an ugly duckling. A very ugly girl, with all of her ugly attachments:

Her previous owner said she was solid wood and in good condition.
When we picked her up I laughed. Her only solid wood features were her drawers and fronts. The sides and top were VERY much cardboard veneer.

Her top came with a huge gash, plenty of stains, etc.

She only cost $35 bucks.
When I started to disassemble her the next day to sand down and clean, I nearly wanted to give up on this refurbish. You see, I love a Craigslist re do just as much as the next, but she came with TONS of live spiders, dead roaches and roach casings, and even rodent poo.
YES, EW:

She had interesting drawer liners (true to the 70's). No nostalgic love from me ;)

First we removed the long veneer liners. As much as they could of been cleaned, the fact they harbored roaches and rodent poo was just not going to fly for something that would house my daughter's clothing, so we took those out.

Then the drawers and dresser began the sanding process (outdoors):

Then I wood putty & sanded the old drawer knob pulls

Then she sat for a few weeks.

Eventually I decided to paint her. Because I was lazy I waited a week or more before I finished. The end process was 4 coats of semi gloss, white olympic paint:
I took my time applying the paint nicely and evenly with a big painters brush. No clumps on my projects!:)

I splurged and purchased these pink acrylic knobs from Target for $14 a package. I bought 3 in total (I had 2 packages already so I technically only bought one)

I had Doug drill the new knobs for me and I screwed them in place:

MUCH, MUCH PRETTIER!! This is what the "beasts" drawer looked like before:

mm-hmm, much better :)

The 1970's UGLY craigslist dresser is NOW a beautiful white dresser with pretty pink glass like knobs. AMAZZZZING how something so ugly and filthy that could have been trashed can be saved on the cheap:)

Here is a cost break down:
70's Craigslist dresser - $35
Paint - FREE, had it from bed project
Knobs- $14 x 3= $42 (these are much pricier else where).
New wood slab top from Lowes - $30
_________________________________________________________
Total: $107

I am going to decoupage in some new drawer liners soon & then it will be totally complete!

Figuring you can't touch a dresser this size that is NOW solid wood for under $400 bucks, I say the $107 (including dresser cost) and some elbow grease is well worth the hardwork.

Even if she DID come with some NASTY surprises courtesy of the previous owner.
*update* - New Mod Podge Drawer Liners Here: Mod Podge Fabric Drawer Liners

70's Craigs List Dresser Refurbish - Sneak Peak

I bought a dresser off Craigs List last month. She was a beast. I will share the extreme before and after photos in my next blog. And by extreme - I mean roach casings, spiders, rat poo, the whole sha bang (yes she was a filthy beast). However, I have sanded her, replaced her top, took out the middle sheets that seperated the drawer areas (because they had rodent poo etc I wasn't even going to clean them. That's filthy to me and no telling what diseases it harbors). I have painted her, replaced the knobs and loved her. I am re doing the inner drawer liners next, and then she shall be ready for the big reveal. This is for my daughter's room.

But for now, just a sneaky peaky of my 70's UGLY Craigs List Dresser Refurbish:

Drawer Before:

Drawer After:

Lots of sanding & 4 coats of paint using a medium sized painter's brush, taking my time so the paint doesn't clump, and she looks brand new!!

Hopefully I can reveal her this weekend!