DIY Floor - cheap, clean and fairly earth friendly

If I knew I was going to be doing this project ahead of time then I would have saved paper bags so I could have a "recycled" floor. I am more of a "I am going to do it right now kinda gal" so I had to buy brown paper. Luckily, I was able to buy brown paper rolls (I found them in the paint isle I guess they were used for protecting borders and carpet while you paint). They were less than five bucks a roll and I needed one and a half rolls. I will use the rest for gift wrap. I also bought a huge bottle of Elmer's glue and figured whatever I don't use I can use for arts and crafts.

The best part of this floor is the fact that you don't need a saw. When we laid laminate wood floors in our old house we were constantly cutting pieces to fit around the corners and it was very time consuming.  Another benefit was the fact that I didn't have to prep the concrete. I basically swept it.  No mopping or anything.  The spots that had paint on them (because I let my four year old daughter play Pollock while I was finishing the ceiling and walls) were easily covered up by putting extra paper down.

So far it has cost me 26 bucks.  The biggest cost will be buying the polyurethane to seal it.  I like the light color so I decided not to experiment with stain. I might however put a few notes that my husband and I have written to one another and a few pieces of art down before I polyurethane.  I figured it would make it kinda quirky and cool. 

Step one bucket with 1/2 glue and 1/2 water.  I did all the edges first.

the paper made edges easy since it had a straight edge to begin with

 Place torn pieces on top of one another to add texture

Some area's are still wet making a drastic color difference. It blends better once dried.

Thrift Store Stools

For three dollars I bought two stools from the local thrift store.

They are similar to these that I found online for 70 dollars each.

Spray paint and polyurethane

sanding and stencil

a high gloss finish

Come, sit and stay awhile

Carpet, Flooring, Dye - Oh My!

We need new flooring in one of our rooms which is currently just concrete. I cannot decide what to do. I have painted a concrete floor before which turned out great but I was in Houston and could easily rent a floor sander (buffer). Daron and I have laid laminate flooring before and I have considered carpet tiles - the cheap ones not the pricey ones. I would like to try the vinyl "wood planks" and have found them at a good price. I know eco friendly is bamboo and sometimes vinyl but cha ching, cha ching, cha ching!!! What to do?

Getting back to it

Well once winter came I quit writing for Sage What.  We moved and are now settled. I am planning to start up again with the blog.  I will have plenty to write about with the new house, new yard and new garden. 

Made in the USA mostly...

I have been looking for years for a nice chest of drawers and side table for Addy's room. I have looked at stores, thrift shops, garage sales you name it. It was coming down to sheer desperation.  Addy was getting ready to go to preschool and we had clothes piled in baskets which inevitably ended up on the floor.  I took advantage of the fact that Daron was with us on this shopping trip and  showed him the set that was on sale at Stout's Furniture in Hurricane, UT.  It was a deep blue color but the headboard was made for a twin bed and we recently purchased Addy a nice full size mattress. I was happy to see that the decision wasn't any easier for Daron than it was for me.  We were just about to throw in the towel and forget the whole thing when Daron spotted a blue leather recliner in Addy's size.  "Hey Addy come here."  Now picture me running in slow motion hurdling couches, end tables and recliners as I yell "Nooooo."  I was too late.  Daron was already twirling her around in it saying "Isn't this neat, you could watch football..."  Needless to say the brilliant salesman said Daron could get the chair and foot stool (of course) for 125 dollars (as opposed to the 300 original price tag that was conveniently misplaced - I would say it would have made a difference if Daron had seen the price but probably not!) if he purchased the chest and side table. I was thrilled that the furniture was Made In The USA except of course the recliner. In my mind I figured they canceled each other out. 

I was so happy to find furniture Made in the USA

I love this furniture and felt good about our purchase

Not made in the USA which was a total bummer but Addy and Elmo are happy.

Carrying My Own Bags

I know that there are more people out there who keep buying reusable grocery bags and leaving them at home! It drives me nuts.  The reusable bags are great especially when carrying heavy cans. You can also carry a lot more stuff in fewer bags which means less trips to and from the car once you get home! Whoo Hooo!  I have started storing the bags in my car which has helped immensely unfortunately I sometimes forget to put them back in the car. I will use my reusable bags every time if I have to write it on a sticky note and place it on my steering wheel.  I seem to remember to take a reusable bag if I am walking to the store or riding my bike.  I guess it is a necessity then because a plastic bag wouldn't make the walk home and if I am riding my bike I have to use my backpack.  If I try to use any other bag on my bike it swings around to the front of my body and almost topples me over.  It has been a good thirty two years since I fell of my bike and scrapped my knees (I am knocking on wood) and I would like to keep it that way.

We all know that making plastic bags uses huge amounts of oil and that they kill marine animals who mistake them for food but there are many more reasons not to use them.  One of the things that irritates me most about plastic bags is that they are everywhere they are not meant to be. There are two high up in the tree tops outside my front door.  I saw one today on my walk home from the auto shop that was hanging in a bush.  I noticed it because it looked just like a longhorn skull.


I am even worse when it comes to the produce bags!  I have bought lingerie bags to use for produce but I am embarrassed to say that I haven't actually used them yet. I do however try to use less of those plastic produce bags.  For example, I have put two kinds of peppers in one bag or cilantro and parsley in the same bag. I make sure to tell the person checking me out that there is a variety in there and that I am not trying to rip them off just save the world one less bag at a time.  I am not sure if they are recyclable like the plastic grocery bags but do admit to shoving the plastic produce bags into the middle of the plastic grocery bags that I recycle.  With my luck doing this ruins the whole batch and I am someone speeding up global warming.

One day I proudly toted my recycled grocery bag into the store (I was cheering to myself  "I remembered I remembered!") but my self promotion soon fizzled when I realized I forgot my lingerie err "produce" bags. It wasn't until I was home and unpacked my groceries when I realized the "produce" bags were in the recycled grocery bag the whole time. One day I WILL get it right!!!

Recycled Crafts

Our homemade mouse from one of my old T-shirts and leftover curtain fabric.

When I was a kid I would find things I wanted to create in my favorite book - The Everything Book.
I would immediately pick an activity or project and ask my mom if we had this or that. My mom would tell me to make a list of supplies I needed and on our next trip to the store we would pick them up. In theory it sounded good but I wanted to make something NOW! I didn't want to wait or plan.   Back then  I had to get creative and look through drawers and closets for things that I could use.  I had to improvise and think outside the box. I am happy to say that after more than a few decades things haven't changed a bit! This is extremely beneficial since we live 75 miles from the nearest art supply store or big box store! Addyson and I have really enjoyed walking through town and visiting the local thrift store. It is a great place to buy arts and craft supplies as well as office supplies.  It supports our local hospital, saves us money and reuses things that would otherwise end up in landfills.

Addy stuffing a toy cow we made from left over fabric.

Addy and I have painted and repainted this canvas many many times.

Sea creatures and cat (I guess) made from a skirt and a shirt that I was going to take to the thrift store. The skirt had six big blue buttons (octopus eyes) that I am keeping for other projects. Now I look at old clothes with a whole new eye.