We’ve all seen those fabulously organized photos on Pinterest of perfectly designed crafty spots, just waiting for someone to get a little crafting inspiration.  I noticed a few more yesterday as I was checking out organizing ideas on Pinterest, and was slightly discouraged looking around my own (*disastrous*) crafting spot.

Now I’m super fortunate, and have some room up in our playroom for all my craft supplies, but it constantly gets destroyed (no matter how often I tidy it. . .) because it tends to be the junk table hidden away out of sight!  But yesterday, after seeing one too many cutely organized pins on Pinterest, I decided I’d had enough.

As I headed into town to hunt down some cute bins, I commiserated about how much I was going to have to spend to get organized. . . until I remembered The Dollar Tree.    (WOOOOHOOO!)  Guess what I found there?  Perfect, adorable, tidy little bins for my shelves, all for (you guessed it!) A DOLLAR!  I bought everything used in this week’s project for a whopping $12 (WOW!)  So, here’s the before & after of my disaster . . .

(~gasp!~ I’m telling you what, I couldnt’ make this stuff up. . .)

Now, obviously I moved things around a bit . . . I’ve been wanting to put the scrapbooks that were still left on those shelves in a plastic bin downstairs (with way too many more of them), in case we ever needed to get them out in a hurry.  (I know, that sounds nuts but I’ve spent some serious hours on those books, so I hated that they were so far upstairs in case we ever had an emergency!)  I also finally took a few minutes to put all of my kids special artwork and pictures away in their Rubbermaid container that has been littering that table for way too long.

I’d love for you to join me over on Pinterest (I love that place!)  If you have a blog and have done a little fluffing in your home, I’d love to see it, so leave your link in the comments section. Also, if there’s a craft you’ve seen on a website that you’re hoping to make, feel free to share that link as well (I’m always looking for new ideas!)

See more previous Friday Fluff Up projects and ideas . . . and Happy Fluffing!

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Do you have plans to paint a room in your home in the near future?  Painting is undoubtedlty the least expensive, easiest way to completely update a room, and there are a few things you can do to penny pinch your paint job while you go.  Here are a few tips:

1)  Visit the bargain bin at your local hardware store.   In our area, both Home Depot and Lowe’s sell mis-matched paint at a fraction of the cost (usually $5 per gallon), and I’ve lucked into some great deals that way.  When I recently updated our laundry room I searched the bargain bins, and found a perfect shade that’s looks fantastic in our laundry room.  (I hated to spend much on such a small room, but am so happy with what I ended up with!)  I’ve also painted my daughter’s bedroom using paint from the bargain bins, and couldn’t have picked a shade that I liked more myself. (It’s perfect!)  Always be sure to take a peek at what’s available if you have a paint project in the works.

(Do remember that mismatched paint can’t be returned or matched, so you need to make sure there’s enough to do an entire room.  For $5 though, it’s usually worth checking out what’s there!)

2)  Remember that ALL paint will be darker when you put it on a wall.  I’ve wasted so much paint by not really thinking about the color ahead of time.  A great way to get a “real” idea of just how dark your paint is, is to hold the color strip next to the white side of a paint chip.  (The back of those chips are always a true white, so you’ll have a better idea of what color you’re really getting.)

So often I look at a color that seems pale on it’s own, however when I compare it to a true white it’s often much darker than I imagined.  If you’re going to purchase full price paint, it’s totally worth spending a few dollars on the sample size paint colors that most paint stores carry.  (Don’t forget you can also pick up a free quart of paint at Ace Hardware on Saturday, which would be a great way to see if your color is right before you pay full price, or use this 30% off paints & stains at Sherwin Williams!)

3) Instead of purchasing plastic liners for your paint trays, use aluminum foil to line your tray and throw it away when you’re done.  (I got this tip from a friend of mine who was a painter . . . so smart!)

4)  If you’re painting a taller room, twist the handle off any plastic broom, and it will twist into the handle of your paint roller.  This makes painting go so much faster, and you don’t have to waste any money on an extra handle for your paint roller!

5) Use a rubberband to stop drips from running down the sides of your paint can. This won’t save you any money, but is such a smart way to make your job easier.  (Check out a few more smart painting tips over HERE.)

Photo Credit

6) It’s probably worth investing in a decent paint brush if you’re going to paint often. I’ve bought more than my fair share of cheap brushes over the years, but have found that having a decent brush to wash and re-use makes the job so much easier, and saves money in the long run.  My favorite paintbrushes are Purdy Brushes (which you can also find at Lowe’s & Home Depot), and I’ve found that the ones with a slanted edge seem to handle corners and ceilings the most effectively.

Do you have any great ways to save when you paint (or just tips to make those paint jobs easier?)  I’d love to hear them, because while painting is never all that exciting, it’s sooooo fun to see the results! 
See more fun decorating ideas over on Pinterest. (I love that place!)  Check out previous Friday Fluff Up projects and ideas . . . and Happy Fluffing!

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I’m so excited about this very simple Friday Fluff Up project! For years I’ve been hoping to have my hubby add dividers in a few large drawers in our kitchen, however it wasn’t a project that was all that high up on his list. (Don’t you hate it when your list and his list don’t exactly match up?)

However, when I saw this smart idea on Pinterest, I decided even I could handle this one (all by myself!) I made a quick run to our brand-spankin’ new Target for the rods (which cost $4.83 each), and spent about ten minutes setting them in place . . . WOOHOO! (I’m betting you could get them even cheaper at Hobby Lobby using this 40% off coupon.)

Here are a few other ideas clever uses for tension rods:

• Spice Cabinet Storage (what a great idea!)
• Pantry Dividers
• Wrapping Paper Organizer
• Organized Pots & Pans

Check out my favorite ideas over on Pinterest (you can follow me under ppennypincher if you’d like to get started . . . you know I love that place!) If you have a blog and have done a little fluffing in your home, I’d love to see it, so leave your link in the comments section. Also, if there’s a craft you’ve seen on a website that you’re hoping to make, feel free to share that link as well (I’m always looking for new ideas!)

Check out previous Friday Fluff Up projects and ideas . . . and Happy Fluffing!

Interact with 7890+ Penny Pinchers on Facebook and Twitter or Subscribe to Passionate Penny Pincher by email to keep up with all the penny pinchin’ deals!