IKEA ALERT!!!!!

This is a great big FYI for anyone who likes to scrapbook and who lives anywhere near an IKEA.  My daughter was visiting from Tucson on Saturday so we decided to do some shopping at IKEA in Tempe, AZ.  I really didn't need anything and she was mainly looking for decorating ideas so we leisurely strolled the aisles.  I saw a packet of scrapbook papers in an odd location so I didn't pick it up.  Just as we approached the elevators on the second floor, I noticed a whole bunch of stuff for .99!!!!!  I walked over to the shelves and spotted the scrapbook packet again.  I picked it up and popped it into the shopping cart completely convinced that it wasn't going to ring up at .99!

Lo and behold, it did.  So if anyone is interested in parts or all of the packet I've photographed for this post, head over to IKEA and grab one.

CLICK ON EACH PHOTO TO ENLARGE FOR BETTER CLARITY

In this first photo, you can see the ribbons and some embellishments.  

Frames

Stickers and more embellishments

Journaling and accent pieces

Five different 12 x 12 papers (I hid the duplicates underneath each piece)

Needless to say, I was pleased with my purchase.

"Easter Parade" of sales

Once again I ventured into the glorious world of yard/estate sales and I'm glad that I did.

This first photo is of a pretty red rose in bloom in my backyard.  It has nothing to do with yard/estate sales, but I thought it was nice to look at anyway!

I found these three darling, puffy "Bunnies by the Bay" at a yard sale of a mother and daughter.  I struck up a conversation with them and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit.  I was taken with their friendly smiles and easy, delightful conversation.  Merlie, the mother, and Amanda, the daughter, were selling a variety of things including Vera Bradley handbags, Coach and Dooney.  They also had so many wonderful books...decorating, doll, and cooking...as well as some furniture and wonderful home decor items.  Merlie has a real eye for decorating and I wish I could have bought the vignette in her living room (the sale was both inside the house and outside in the yard and garage).  I even went back the next day to visit and buy stuff!!!  It was so nice to meet such gracious people.

 The red bunny in the middle was $2.00 and the white ones were $1.00 each...all from Hallmark.


This three-tiered serving stand was crooked and stuffed into a plastic bag.  For some reason I liked it and instantly came up with a proper use for it.  So I straightened it out and............

 put some of my miniature dolls on it along with an old tea set.  I'm still not finished with it but at least I now have a purpose for buying the serving stand.

 The two little Victorian dolls on the top tier and the two dolls in front (pink and blue) are from an estate sale. You really should click on the photo to enlarge it so you can really see the detail. They are Maud Humphrey Bogart pieces and I spent a whopping $8.00 on all four!

The mini frames below are from Merlie and Amanda's sale.  I don't think that I've seen frames quite as tiny as some of these.  I like the rose pictures in the frames, however, I think I'll switch some out for photos of my grandchildren.

A close-up of the frames

Picture Perfect!

I recently found this double frame at a yard sale and   walked right by it to look at other things. For some reason I went back to the frame and decided to buy it even though I have a bazillion frames at home!

I didn't know what I was going to do with the frame until I thought about the gigantic roll of wrapping paper I bought at Hobby Lobby several months ago.

Here is the frame in its original state.

                                               

Here is the frame with the harlequin wrapping paper I bought at Hobby Lobby.

       

And here is the frame on the wall along with two corners I bought at a yard sale today!



I don't like how I put the corners up, so I'm going to move them closer to the frame.  My husband is going to love the extra set of nail holes in the wall, and he will  probably threaten to put up his favorite jumper cables if I continue to pound holes in the wall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The entire project cost about $5.00 excluding the wrapping paper and the photo of my mom both of which I already had.

Yard Sales and Treasure Hunts

Every Saturday morning I visit yard sales and/or estate sales in my area.  I go alone (except I sometimes take our Labrador, Bear) because I have a system and I don't want to wait while a companion leisurely browses all the goodies for sale.  I quickly look over the merchandise and I make split second decisions.  Time is of the essence and I move on if nothing catches my eye.  Bear sits in the back seat with his head out the window and 95% of the time people ask me if they can pet him.  I always say "yes" because Bear is very friendly and loves people.  Little kids get a kick out of Bear as he slobbers kisses on them!! 

Bear is such a baby that he won't even look at the camera because he is afraid of the light that comes on when I'm ready to take a picture!!!!!!!!!!

Every single thing in this photo is from a yard sale except the two pictures of my grandchildren!  The frames, the corbel and the cute illustration of a baby gown with a precious inscription, were all purchased for next to nothing over the past few months.

 I've blogged about this entry table before but not about the things on it.  I found the birdcage and the pear at a yard sale, and the finial at an estate sale.    

Here is a close-up of the finial and the pear.

Easter goodies

                                                                        

The cloche is from an estate sale, the ribbon is from a yard sale, the hanging eggs and the pink rabbit in front are from yard sales, the letter "F" is from Hobby Lobby, the black egg was free and the pear is from a yard sale.

The "Recipe for Friendship" was purchased from Cracker Barrel while the pink vase was recently purchased from a neighbor's yard sale.

For some reason I was drawn to this as I've never seen a pink hob-nail like this.

Darling rabbits from a yard sale.

This little writing desk was given to me because I did a favor for a friend.  I'm still not sure what I should do with it or where I should put it!

These two rabbits were rescued from a box of discarded Easter stuff!!!  One man's trash......

Cute little rabbit ready for Easter.  She came home with me from a yard sale.

This darling table, the finial and the oval frame were purchased at an estate sale.  The pink bunny is from a yard sale.

A close-up of the table and the other goodies.

This whole yard sale/estate sale thing has become an addiction but I love it.  I can't explain the "thrill of the hunt" mentality; I just know that I thoroughly enjoy it!

Please link to Jenny Matlock's blog to read more "Y" posts from other participants.