What I Know--{Design, Dining + Diapers}

I am so happy it's Friday!  

And I can't wait to share this lovely lady with you all--

Hello Southern Lovely readers! I am so excited to be part of Lindsay's "What I know" series. It is a huge honor to be here!

In case we've never met, I'm Taryn from Design, Dining + Diapers. A place where I share a little bit of everything but mainly craft tutorials, DIY home decor, and allergy friendly recipes! I live in the Pacific Northwest with my hubby, 15 month old Baby Girl and our spunky Golden Retriever! I love the outdoors, coffee, baking, spending time with friends and family and watching The Bachelorette!

If you know me at all, it's no secret that I am always trying to design on a dime. I'm always trying to use supplies I already have on hand or spend as little money as possible to complete a project. So today I'm sharing What I Know About Decorating and Crafting on a Budget!

When my husband and I got married and started decorating our first home together I would swoon over Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Restoration Hardware and die a little inside when I would look at the price tags. How was I ever going to be able to decorate our house? For a while we would set aside a monthly decorating allowance and I would sometimes save for months just to buy one piece. But today, it's all different. I still swoon over those catalogs but instead of paying those prices I come up with my own inexpensive alternatives.

So here is what I know about how to achieve chic and classy decor for a fraction of the cost.

1. Look In Your Recycle Bins

Let's start with the basics. There is no better way to decorate than for FREE! So before you even head to the store, head to your recycle bin. Instead of throwing out jars, bottles, cardboard, paper etc, stop and think what you could make with them.

Example: Here are basic food jars that I rescued out of our recycle. With just a little bit of ribbon and burlap scraps I turned them into this:

I used these as a centerpiece for my daughter's 1st birthday party and now they currently live on the windowsill in my kitchen. They would also work on a mantle or at an outdoor party.

2. Save Your Scraps

If you don't save your scraps from previous projects, start now because you never know when they will come in handy. Wood, fabric, beads, paper, ribbon...save it all (and yes, this is the beginning stages of becoming a craft hoarder).

Example: 100% of this DIY Deer Wall Art was made from scraps. The wood was left over from my Board and Batten, the paint was from painting my molding and the wood stain was purchased for a different project. That means, this project was 100 % FREE. Not too shabby.

3. Upcycle Old Decor

I'll admit, I part of my crafting space is filled with dated home decor that I don't use anymore. It takes up a ton of space but I can't bare to throw something out that I know I can use again. Just remember ANYTHING can be painted!

Example: I recently took an old canvas painting that no longer fit into our home decor and upcycled it into this DIY Eye Chart that now fits into the style of our home. I used leftover paint and a black sharpie and I got a new piece of wall art for nothing!

4. Find Your Nearest Dollar Store

Let me start out by warning you that not all dollar stores are the same. Some are better than others. I am a loyal customer to my local Dollar Tree. I find that they have the biggest selection and highest quality products in their stores. Every time I walk into the Dollar Tree I am filled with inspiration and guess what.. everyone cost $1!

Example: I made this shabby chic Tea-Stained Coffee Wreath using coffee filters and ribbon from the Dollar Tree (the embellishments were from my vintage jewelry collection). In general, before I head to the craft store for supplies I check the dollar store first to see what I can buy there. Hot glue, tape, paint brushes, seasonal items and paper can all be found at a dollar store!

5. Go Thrifting

Second hand finds are one of my favorites for a few reasons. 1) Old pieces have so much character and history to them 2) you will be amazed at what people discard as trash! I have found several great home decor pieces that are practically brand new or are still in great shape and only cost pennies. Check out your local Goodwill, search Craigslist for garage sales or even check their FREE section and shop antique stores.

Take these chairs as a prime example.

Example 1: I picked these chairs up at the Goodwill for $1.30! Yes, for both chairs. They were on an extra discount that day and I hit a major score! With just a little bit of paint and new upholstery I turned them into new chairs for my family room. That's less than your daily latte!

Well, I hope you learned something new today or were motivated to get a jump-start on some new projects. Just remember, the amount of time it takes you to shop online for your newest home decor accessory, you could have been making something completely custom just for you and for 1/4 the price!

To view more projects, or if you just wanted to say hi, you can find me on my blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Google + and Twitter!

A huge thanks to Lindsay for having me over today and it was so great to 'meet' all of you!

I could definitely use these tips!  And hasn't Taryn been able to rock those budget projects?!  Amazing & inspiring.  Thanks Taryn!