budget friendly Archives - Budgeting With Boys

DIY Bathroom Mirror Frame

Our Master Bathroom was built with a generic plain builder grade large mirror. While I love that the mirror is large, I hate how boring and unfinished the mirror is. If I were to replace the current mirror with new mirrors it would cost hundreds of dollars. Before I spent too much money, I decided to try to see if I could frame the mirror out myself. Follow me as I construct and design a DIY Bathroom Mirror Frame!

Lights above Bathroom Mirror!

The bathroom is the entryway to our amazing closet. If you missed my closet makeover, check it out here, Custom IKEA Closet. The current bathroom is boring and lacks character. For the first phase of the bathroom makeover we decided to start with the vanity area.

I found some amazing modern lights for above the mirror from Amazon! Lights are generally easy to install, however I ran into a little bit of a problem installing these lights. In true new build fashion, my builders left a huge hole behind the former lights which meant I had to patch a giant hole in the drywall.

The best part of patching this drywall was I got to try a new technique. After I patched the drywall with spackling and allowed it to dry, instead of sanding it smooth I used a technique called wet sanding. Take a damp cloth and rub the dried wall spackling until you get your desired look. Not only does this wet sanding technique save you time it also eliminates the mess! Definitely a win win and I would highly recommend it for your next project.

The Frame

Trying to find inspiration photographs for the mirror frame idea I had in my head was nearly impossible. When people think framed mirrors, the frames are usually big and bulky. However, I wanted something sleek modern and sexy for my mirror!

First, I went to the hardware store and picked out a thin light weight Polystyrene Baseboard Molding. The molding was 1/2-in x 0.75-in x 8-ft and I purchased two to complete my mirror, total cost for both was $9.96!

While at the store, I grabbed some black paint (I used Tricorn Black) and some clear construction adhesive. In total I spent $50.90.

Once home, I measured and cut the molding. Next, I painted all sides of the molding pieces and allowed them to dry for a day. After the molding was completely dry, I used the clear construction adhesive to glue the molding to the edge of my mirror.

After a little touch up paint the project was complete. This was a super simple inexpensive project and it turned out fabulous!!!!

Board and Batten Bedroom Accent Wall

If you have been following the blog, then you know we are expecting our 3rd child! After an exhausting back and forth we ultimately decided to create a Board and Batten accent wall in the nursery.

Recently, we decided to make over all of the kids bedrooms. For my oldest son’s room we created an amazing Wooden Slat Wall.

For my other son, we created a Shiplap Wall while keeping his Americana themed room decor.

For the babies room, I wanted to do an accent wall as well. I decided on Board and Batten after exhausting several other options. Originally, I thought I would do a wall of symmetrical squares but soon realized it would be lost with the daybed I was planning on putting in the room. Board and Batten was the perfect fit to add a nice accent wall without compromising on style and design.

Materials:

(5) Primed 1x4x12 MDF boards
(1) Primed 1x2x8 MDF Board (Window Trim)
1.5″ brad finishing nails
Nail Gun
Caulk
Wood Filler
Paint
Miter Saw

This entire project cost less than $100 which is amazingly awesome for my budget! I used primed MDF as opposed to real wood because it is cheaper and since we are painting and not staining it, nobody will know the difference!

Creating the Board and Batten Wall

I measured the wall to determined where I would place all of the vertical boards to ensure there was even spacing between them. Once determining the vertical board placement, I cut down 3 of the 12 foot MDF boards to create the edger. I did 45 degree angle cuts on all 3 of the boards so they would line up seamlessly. I attached the boards to the wall using my nail gun and 1.5″ brad nails.

Once, the edger was in place, I cut down 2 of the 12 foot MDF boards and attached them to the wall vertically.

Around the window, I created a small trim piece so it would connect with the board and batten seamlessly. To create the trim, I cut down the 1x2x8 MDF board using a 45 degree angle cut and attached them around the window with the nail gun.

Window Trim with Vertical Boards in Place

Using scrap pieces from the project, I added my last vertical board pieces that bisected the window.

Once all of the vertical board pieces were in place, I determined where I wanted to run my horizontal board. Using scrap pieces from my previous cuts, I added a horizontal board towards the top of the wall in line with the top of the window.

After all of the boards were in place, I caulked all of the board edges. I wood filled all of the holes and seams where the vertical and horizontal boards met. Once everything was dry, I lightly sanded down the wood filler.

To make my life easier, I decided to paint the board and batten wall the same color as the existing wall. This not only saved me on cost it also saved me a lot of time!

While we are still awaiting the arrival of the crib for the nursery, we have been decorating the remainder of the room in preparation!

Room Decor

I purchased the Taylor and Olive Contemporary Fabric Daybed with Trundle in Beige from Overstock on sale for $285.77. A daybed was placed in the nursery for functionality. The master bedroom is downstairs in our house, so if I need to be near the baby’s room for an extended period of time I wanted a place to rest! It doubles as a bed for the baby as he gets older, so its a win win!

The mattress was purchased from Home Depot! I found a great deal on the Zinus Green Tea 8 inch Memory Foam Mattress through Home Depot for $146.24 with free delivery. I only purchased one mattress, we will be using the trundle section of the bed as extra storage for now.

The bedding was a set from Target and it included the blanket and accent pillows.

The accent/storage table is a Hearth and Hand Bookcase I purchased on sale from Target for $109.99. Oddly enough, the art work we used was already in the bedroom from when it was our guest bedroom. We received the art work for free from one of our neighbors!

The olive tree was also purchased on sale at Target for $75, it is the 75″ Artificial Sparse Olive Tree in Pot by Studio Mcgee.

Always keep your eyes open for great deals through Target. Target often has discounts on some of my favorite brands such as Hearth and Hand, Studio McGee and Opal House.

Finally, I located an adorable wicker accent table with removable top at Goodwill! I will find a lamp that fits in with the room to place on top of it. Always check Goodwill for cute, cheap, vintage finds!

I hope you love the baby’s room as much as we do. We will continue to fill his room as we anxiously await his arrival!

Pantry Renovation and Reorganization on a Budget

Completed Pantry renovation and reorganization!

I have been bitten by the Spring cleaning bug! Every time I enter my pantry the food clutter overwhelms me. The organization I had in place was not working and my pantry definitely needed a facelift. I decided to tackle a Pantry Renovation and Reorganization on a budget.

Pantry Before the Renovation and Reorganization.

I not only wanted an astetically pleasing space but a space where I could clearly see all of my food items to make meal planning and preparation easier.

Picking the Perfect Peel and Stick Wallpaper

I have tackled peel and stick tile and have been longing to test out peel and stick wallpaper. Because my pantry was lacking character I knew peel and stick wallpaper would be perfect for this space.

Peel and stick wallpaper is sold at a variety of online stores; however, Target offers a wide variety of peel and stick wallpaper in store. Occasionally, you can even find a good selection of peel and stick wall paper in the sale aisle at Target. If you cannot find any peel and stick wallpaper in the sale aisle don’t worry because this product is relatively inexpensive and you can always use your Target Redcard for an extra 5 percent off!

After checking out all of the peel and stick wallpaper Target offered, I decided to go with a black and white buffalo plaid pattern because it fit with my modern farmhouse style.

I measured the pantry wall I would be applying the wallpaper to. After calculating the square feet, I determined I needed to buy three rolls of wallpaper.

Applying the Peel and Stick Wallpaper

Materials:

Peel and Stick Wallpaper
Credit card or wallpaper smoothing tool
X-acto knife
Measuring Tape
Level or yard stick

First, measure the length of the wall you will be applying your first section of wallpaper with your measuring tape.

Second, unroll your wallpaper roll and mark your first cut. Lay a yard stick or level across the wallpaper and use an X-acto knife to cut the wallpaper evenly.

Measure wallpaper and cut using X-acto knife and yardstick!

Third, remove the wallpaper from the paper backing. Line the wallpaper up at the top of the wall and work your way down. If the wallpaper is not lining up properly simply remove it from the wall and realign it. The best thing about this product is it can be removed and reapplied to the wall without causing damage. Use a credit card or wallpaper smoothing tool to remove all of the bubbles from the wallpaper.

Repeat the process above until the entire area is covered. Be aware if you are using a pattern you have to line up your pattern appropriately for a cohesive look. Keep your pattern in mind while you are cutting your wallpaper sections.

I like to come in and clean up the edges of my wallpaper with the X-acto knife.

Pantry Storage

I decided to put all of our snacks in easy to access pourable storage containers because I have toddlers and snack accessibility is key to not losing your mind.

I found great budget friendly BPA free plastic pourable storage containers at Walmart. The large Mainstays storage containers come in a 2 pack for $9.98. The smaller Mainstays storage containers are sold individually for $3.98.

I purchased 3 Large 2 pack storage containers and 8 small storage containers.

Walmart had large white storage tubs for $2.98 each. I picked up three white storage tubs for miscellaneous pantry items.

Pantry Renovation and reorganization on a budget! — Pantry Renovation and reorganization on a budget-Storage Containers!

I found 8 cloth storage containers at the Dollar Tree for all of my baking and canned pantry items. While Dollar Tree does have plastic food storage containers, I decided to go with Walmart’s slightly more expensive containers because they are BPA free and larger.

I now have a fabulously beautiful pantry with easy access snacks! This pantry renovation and reorganization is easy on the eyes and the budget!

Two Ingredient Greek Yogurt Bagels

I love recipes that are simple and budget friendly! My last recipe was my delicious and easy three ingredient banana bread. This weeks recipe is even better and dare I say easier! Two Ingredient Greek Yogurt Bagels are delicious, simple to make, and are a healthier bagel option than the bagels you will find in stores.

I stumbled upon two ingredient doughs while on Weight Watchers. Even though I am no longer following a strict Weight Watcher routine, this easy dough is used in my house every week because it is just that good!

Ingredients:

1 Cup Self-Rising Flour
1 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt
Optional Toppings of your choice!

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Lay parchment paper onto a baking sheet
In a mixing bowl mix 1 Cup of Self Rising Flour with 1 Cup of Plain Greek Yogurt until the mixture becomes a sticky dough

Plain Greek yogurt and self-rising flour combined to form a sticky dough.

Split the dough into 4 equal portions
Roll each dough piece into a snake shape with your hands and connect the two ends. If needed you can sprinkle some extra self-rising flour onto the dough to help shape it and make it easier to work with
Place each formed bagel dough onto the parchment lined baking sheet

Optional: This is the point in the process where you will add your toppings if you so choose. My go to topping is Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend. I brush the top of the bagels with egg and sprinkle it with the Everything Bagel Seasoning.

Place the Two Ingredient Greek Yogurt Bagels into a preheated 375 degree oven and bake for 20-22 minutes. Once the bagels are done cooking, switch the oven to broil and bake for an addition 1-2 minutes. Make sure you keep a close eye on your bagels because you do not want them to burn.

Finished Two Ingredient Greek Yogurt Bagel

There you have it, easy and simple Two Ingredient Greek Yogurt Bagels. Eat them warm fresh out of the oven or toast them up and add your favorite spread and enjoy!

Don’t Be Basic:

This bagel is great how it is; however, I love to experiment in the kitchen and try different flavor combinations.

Swap out the Plain Greek Yogurt in this recipe for a Vanilla Greek Yogurt or a Strawberry Greek Yogurt for a sweeter bagel.

Get creative with your toppings! Any bagel you see in a bagel shop can be made with this dough. Jalapeño and cheese, pesto and cheese, Asiago, sesame, and cinnamon sugar are among my favorites.

This dough is very versatile! I regularly use it to make pizza and my kids love it! Simply roll the dough into a pizza shape with a floured rolling pin. Bake the dough for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Take the dough out of the oven and add your sauce, cheese, and toppings. Return the pizza to the oven and cook for approximately 15-20 more minutes.

DIY No Sew Curtain

I recently completed a peel and stick tile accent wall in my laundry room. While I love my tiled wall, I was not thrilled with the exposed pipes and tubes you can see coming from my washing machines. I decided to make a DIY no sew curtain to hide the ugly piping.

Peel and Stick tile wall with ugly exposed pipes!

Materials

Fabric
Stitch Witchery
Foam Mounting Tape
Scissors
Iron

The first and hardest step in the process is deciding on which fabric to use for your DIY no sew curtains. There are several great stores that offer a wide variety of fabric options at great prices. Hobby Lobby , Joann Fabric , and Walmart are some of my go to locations for fabric. However, Hobby Lobby is generally the store I end up in because of all the great products and deals they have.

I knew I wanted a fabric that fit my homes modern country theme. After measuring my space, I made my way down to Hobby Lobby. I found a black and white buffalo plaid fabric that was $6 a yard. Hobby Lobby was running a special and providing 30 % off all fabric so I got my 2 yards of fabric for $8.40. If Hobby Lobby is not running a sale on an item you like don’t panic! Hobby Lobby always has an online coupon for 40% off one item.

Fabric, Witch Stitchery, and Foam Mounting Tape — Fabric, Stitch Witchery, and Foam Mounting Tape

While at Hobby Lobby, I picked up a 20 yard roll of Stitch Witchery ($3.69) and a roll of Scotch Foam Mounting Tape ($2.40 with the application of the 40% off coupon).

Creating the DIY No Sew Curtain

First, cut your fabric down to the size you want it to be. I left an extra inch of fabric along each end so that I could attach my Stitch Witchery and make a clean edge with my fabric pattern.

Next, preheat your iron to the wool setting. Fold the first end of your fabric under to create a clean line. Cut a piece of Stitch Witchery to fit the length of your first fabric end. Sandwich the piece of Stitch Witchery in-between your folded fabric piece. Place the iron on the outside of the fabric and hold in 10 second increments along the length of the Stitch Witchery. Do not move the iron around, simply press and hold because you do not want the fabric or the Stitch Witchery to shift.

Folded Fabric with Witch Stitchery sandwiched between. — Folded Fabric with Stitch Witchery sandwiched between.

Flip the fabric over and press and hold the iron to the other side of the fabric containing the Stitch Witchery in 10 second increments.

Other side of the fabric edge with the Witch Stitchery sandwiched in-between. — Other side of the fabric edge with the Stitch Witchery sandwiched in-between.

Lastly, make sure the Stitch Witchery has bonded before moving on to your next edge. Repeat the above listed steps for the remaining 3 fabric edges.

That is it! In no time at all your DIY No Sew Curtain is complete. Seriously, this project could not be any simpler.

Hanging the Curtain

No drilling was needed to hang this curtain because I utilized the shelf above my washing machine to hang it. I placed a strip of Scotch Foam Mounting Tape along the edge of my existing shelf.

Foam Mounting Tape adhered along the shelf edge.

I lined up my curtain along the shelf and pressed it into the Scotch Foam Mounting Tape. The curtain adhered to the Foam Mounting Tape easily.

Curtain adhered to the shelf edge with the foam mounting tape. It is complete!

Leftover Fabric?

I had some left over fabric and Stitch Witchery from this project so I decided to use it to make a table runner. Utilizing the same step process as the DIY No Sew Curtain, I completed a table runner that matches my new curtain at no additional cost.

For less than $15 I made a beautiful curtain and a table runner, giving my modern farmhouse the extra character it needed. This is a fun an easy project that will not break the bank.

Easy Dyed Easter Eggs with Shaving Cream

I hate those store bought messy easter Dye packs. After trying several things, I found the solution. Follow me as I guide you through my Easy Dyed Easter Eggs with Shaving Cream.

Materials for Easy Dyed Easter Eggs with Shaving Cream:

Shaving Cream: I used Barbasol because it was the cheapest. However, any brand will do as long as it is not gel.
Food Coloring/Dye: I had generic food coloring in my pantry but if you want a more vibrant color use gel food coloring.
Eggs
Pan
Toothpicks
Rubber Gloves (optional)

Get the perfect Hard Boil on Your Egg

I have tried a variety of different recipes and tricks to get the perfect hard boiled egg. Vinegar, salt, cooking them for 10 minutes at a rapid boil and letting them sit…you name it I have tried it. The best and easiest way I have found to hard boil and egg is with an egg cooker.

While this might seem like an extravagant gadget to have in the kitchen, we use this almost every day and the best part is it is budget friendly! We own a Dash egg cooker, which only set us back $7.00 at TJ MAXX. While I do recommend investing in an egg cooker for your daily morning egg, if you don’t have one simply hard boil your eggs.

Once the eggs have been hard boiled, set

them aside and let them cool. Make sure

the eggs are cooled completely before you head onto the next step.

Dying The Eggs

Pie Dish filled with shaving cream for the start of the Shaving Cream Dyed Eggs

I used a pie dish to Dye the eggs in but any pan would do. I filled my pie dish with shaving cream. Make sure the shaving cream is approximately 1 inch in thickness throughout the dish.

Here is your chance to get creative. Drop in the food coloring in whatever color you choose one drop at a time. Make sure you cover the entire pan with food coloring.

Food Coloring Drops added to the shaving cream for the start of the Easy Shaving Cream Dyed Egg

I used a toothpick to swirl the food coloring around in the shaving cream. Swirling the food coloring through the shaving cream gives the eggs a cool marbling effect.

Swirl the Food Coloring with a Toothpick to create an Easy Shaving Cream Dyed Easter Egg

Once the food coloring has been swirled, I put on my rubber gloves. While I prefer to use rubber gloves while dying eggs it is not necessary. The food coloring washes off pretty easily nonetheless I still like to wear gloves to limit the mess as much as possible.

Next, Drop your eggs in the food coloring one at a time and roll them around until they are completely covered in the shaving cream mixture. Leave each covered egg inside of the pan for at least 30 minutes.

Easy Dyed Easter Eggs in Shaving Cream resting for 30 minutes.

Once the eggs have had a chance to sit, rinse the shaving cream and dye off each egg under cool water. Gently pat the eggs dry.

Finished Product: Easy Dyed Easter Eggs with Shaving Cream

The Project is Complete!

There you have it! In no time at all you have a perfectly dyed Easter egg with hardly any stress or mess. This project is great for kids of any age; however, I know for a fact it is a hit with the two toddlers in my house. Shaving cream is right up there with play dough and slime in our house. If you need more great Easter Ideas check out my blog post on a cute Easter Porch Sign.

DIY Peel and Stick Subway Tile

My laundry room is small and pretty one note design wise….boring! I spent several hours searching Pinterest for laundry room ideas and decided I wanted to do a subway tile accent wall behind the washer and dryer. Then came the real problem: 1. I don’t know how to lay tile 2. The cost of the tile, materials, and labor would end up being way out of my budget.

There are great peel and stick wall paper options these days so I turned my online search focus towards that thinking I could still do an accent wall behind the washer and dryer. While searching for a great peel and stick wall paper product, I came across DIY peel and stick subway tile. DIY Peel and stick subway tile? This must be too good to be true. I read countless reviews on the peel and stick tile and decided to order the product and give it a go. Worse case scenario, I would remove the tile and paint the wall.

Picking the Right Tile

There are several brands of peel and stick tile on the market with various tile options. I knew I wanted to do a white subway tile with grey grout. I found a DIY peel and stick subway tile I loved from Tic Tac Tiles on Amazon; for $33.97 you get 10 12×12 tile sheets. After measuring the space above my washer and dryer I determined I needed 3 packages of tile.

Shop around and find the best deal. While you can order direct from the manufacturer, I am an Amazon Prime member so the price and the shipping options were better for me through Amazon.

Prepping Your Space

DIY Peel and stick tile can be used in a variety of places including the kitchen. The peel and stick tile can be placed over existing outdated kitchen backsplash, this is a great option if you want to update your kitchen but aren’t able to afford to fully redesign the space. This product is not recommended for bathrooms due to the water and condensation.

The surface you place your tile on must be given a good wipe down and allowed to dry prior to installation. The area/room you are placing your tile cannot be too cold or too hot during installation or the product will not adhere correctly. Make sure the temperature is around 70 degrees if possible to avoid any adhesive issues.

This was my wall before I began the tiling process

Laying the DIY Peel and Stick Tile

Laying the peel and stick tile is simple and can be done by one person. The directions in the package are pretty straight forward and helpful.

Like most walls, my wall was very uneven. I decided to start my project from the most level location, the bottom, and work my way up. Make sure the first row of tiles are placed in a level line, or as level as possible. To ensure the tiles are level, use a large level to guide your progress for the first row of tiles. After the first row of tile is in place you simply piece the remaining sheets together like a puzzle.

You might have to cut your tile down in places to make it fit and look proper on the wall. Oddly enough, scissors were the easiest tool for me to use to make my cuts. I tried a box cutter but it was a lot harder for me to use. Make sure you measure and mark your tile prior to cutting them down to ensure you do not cut off too much of the material.

I smoothed down my tile as I adhered it to the wall with a wall paper smoothing tool. Make sure you press all of the bubbles and creases out of the tile as you go.

Finishing the Design

It took me approximately 3 hours to complete the tiling process in my laundry room. I found a cute affordable laundry room sign for the tile wall at Michaels. The Wash/Dry sign was on sale for $30 and I got an additional 20 percent off by using a promo code. Michaels always has great discounts, promo codes, and coupons; make sure you check all of their deals online before buying!

I hung the Wash/Dry sign after the tile had been adhered to the wall for approximately 2 weeks. I placed the picture hanger through the peel and stick tile with no issues or damage to the tile itself.

All in all I am very happy with the way my project turned out. The total cost of this project was $101.91. If you want the look of tile without the cost and hassle, definitely consider trying peel and stick tile you will not be disappointed.

Tag: budget friendly