DIY: Antique Cast Iron Base Tabletop Trees

Antique cast iron lamp bases are recycled to create tabletop trees, perfect for winter and holiday decorating!  Back in the summer, I bid on and won a full crate of  antique cast iron lamp bases .   I came across them while browsing a local online auction catalog. They reminded me of old cast iron Christmas tree stands, and I immediately knew they would make perfect bases for tabletop trees. I prefer to mix styles and use vintage and contemporary decor when decorating for the holidays .  Combining antique cast iron lamp bases with my favorite evergreen trees was the perfect way to blend old and new.  WHERE CAN YOU FIND ANTIQUE CAST IRON LAMP BASES?  Cast iron lamp bases come in various sizes, shapes, and styles.  If you want to find lamp bases quickly, eBay and Etsy are the best sources.  If you have time to hunt, online auctions,  Habitat For Humanity,  architectural salvage shops, and used building supply stores can be more......

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How to Condition and Restore Leather Furniture

Learn how to beautifully clean, condition, and restore old, dry, and damaged leather furniture! Last week, I drove out of state to pick up a pair of leather Restoration Hardware Churchill chairs. It was a long drive and as I tend to do, I bought them solely based on a few online pictures.  Thankfully, the chairs were in wonderful worn vintage condition, but in desperate need of a little cleaning and conditioning.  I did a little research and found the perfect leather conditioner that was affordable, easy to use, and instantly revived the chairs back to life!  SUPPLIES NEEDED TO RESTORE LEATHER FURNITURE - Leather CPR 2-in-1 Leather Cleaner and Conditioner  (free from harsh chemicals!) - Sponge  - Cotton rag - Protective gloves (optional) I held my breath as I stepped out of my truck and into the auction house.  My biggest fear buying something sight unseen is that it smells.  You know the smells I'm talking about.  The ones that are nearly im......

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Dollar Store DIY: Vintage-Inspired Faux Wood Cloche

Learn how to create a real wood look and turn Dollar Tree plastic domes into vintage cloches! How about an affordable vintage-inspired craft project to kick off 2024?  It's been almost two years since I shared a  Dollar Store DIY !  How is that even possible?  I was itching for an affordable craft project , so I headed to Dollar Tree to see what I could find.  I immediately stopped when I saw a shelf full of plastic dome cloches.  They were marketed for floral displays, but I knew I could use a simple paint technique to give them a real wood finish and the perfect vintage makeover. SUPPLIES NEEDED - Dollar Tree floral garden plastic cloche domes - 400grit sandpaper  - Flat white primer spray paint or paint and primer in one - Flat acrylic paint in three shades ( Almond Latte , Pinecone Brown , Bittersweet Chocolate ) - Craft paint brush - Natural bristle stencil brush   - Paper Towels  I  tried to mimic the stain color of  a vi......

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DIY Neutral Christmas Decorating Ideas

Deck your halls this holiday season with these affordable and neutral DIY Christmas decorating ideas!  Christmastime is my favorite time to get crafty.   How about you?  Do you like to craft holiday decor or give DIY holiday gifts ?  Whether you prefer to update affordable thrift store finds or DIY a holiday project, repurposing and crafting is an ideal and budget-friendly way to decorate your home for the holidays.  Keeping with my love of neutrals (tour my  neutral holiday-decorated home ),  I scoured the internet and gathered my favorite neutral DIY holiday craft ideas.   From  easy diamond dust ornaments  to  DIY antique sleigh bells , you can make all your neutral holiday decorating dreams come true with these 20 DIY neutral Christmas decorating ideas.  TIPS FOR CREATING INEXPENSIVE DIY CHRISTMAS CRAFTS AND PROJECTS  1.  Have an open mind while thrifting and hunt for items that can be repurposed or......

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