Average But Inspired

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July 11, 2018 by Bre

How to Build a Backyard Fire Pit

One of the most rewarding DIY projects my husband and I have completed is building a fire pit in our family’s tiny backyard.  Spending time together relaxing, roasting marshmallows, and eating way too many s’mores is the perfect way to enjoy the yard.  It was not a difficult project, and I can’t wait to show you how to build a backyard fire pit of your own!

Learn how to build a beautiful custom backyard fire pit for any size yard! Make memories with bonfires, s'mores, roasted marshmallows and more. This tutorial teaches you how to build your own fire pit!

Supplies Needed to Build a Backyard Fire Pit

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Fire Pit Supplies:

  • 36″ Galvanized Metal Fire Ring
  • Landscape bricks (we used approximately 65 3″ x 8.2″ Mini Flagstone Wall bricks from Lowes)
  • DAP DynaGrip Adhesive
  • Caulk Gun
  • Paver base
  • Paver sand
  • Pea gravel

Tools:

  • Tamper
  • Level (long length)
  • Hammer
  • Mallet
  • Chalk
  • Knife

Optional:

  • Landscape Weed Barrier Fabric
  • Netting Staples

How to Build a Fire Pit in Your Backyard

Before Building a Backyard Fire Pit – Things to Consider

Before you build a fire pit in your backyard, there are a few things to take into consideration.  The first is whether there are any buried cables in the area that you need to be careful of when digging. 

The second is if your city, town, village, whatever has any codes or regulations that will impact your project. 

And the third is whether your fire pit will negatively impact any neighbors (smoke sensitivities, etc.).  Think about all of this before beginning work to ensure a happy fire pit experience!

Phase One: Clear the Land

Once you have those things figured out, the first step in all of this is to clear out the area where you’re placing the fire pit.  As you can see from this picture, we had a lot of plants (namely, giant hosta, which are difficult to remove), to clear.  

Learn how to build a beautiful custom backyard fire pit for any size yard! Make memories with bonfires, s'mores, roasted marshmallows and more. This tutorial teaches you how to build your own fire pit!

Once the plants were removed, we got to work raking up the area and getting the ground level.  The kids got involved in this part of the project, which was fun!  

Learn how to build a beautiful custom backyard fire pit for any size yard! Make memories with bonfires, s'mores, roasted marshmallows and more. This tutorial teaches you how to build your own fire pit!

We used our level to make sure we got the ground as flat and as even as we could, and then we laid down the landscape weed barrier fabric to prevent vegetation (like those darn hosta), from growing up around our eventual fire pit.  

Learn how to build a beautiful custom backyard fire pit for any size yard! Make memories with bonfires, s'mores, roasted marshmallows and more. This tutorial teaches you how to build your own fire pit!

Next, we figured out where we wanted the fire pit, and used chalk to make a circle several inches wider than the galvanized fire ring.  Then we cut that circle out of the landscape barrier.  

Learn how to build a beautiful custom backyard fire pit for any size yard! Make memories with bonfires, s'mores, roasted marshmallows and more. This tutorial teaches you how to build your own fire pit!

You might be wondering why we used a galvanized fire ring in our fire pit construction, when many other fire pit tutorials do not use one.  The main reason is that we wanted our fire pit to be extra durable, and also for the landscape bricks not to get charred by the flames. 

One other benefit of using the fire ring is that you can purchase accessories, like grill grates and fire pit screens, that fit perfectly over the fire ring. 

Finally, we also thought it made it easier to create a perfect circle with the landscape bricks.  While this added a little extra cost to the construction, it was worth it in our minds.

Learn how to build a beautiful custom backyard fire pit for any size yard! Make memories with bonfires, s'mores, roasted marshmallows and more. This tutorial teaches you how to build your own fire pit!

Phase Two: Preparing the Ground for Landscape Bricks

The next step was to fill in the circle with paver base.  Once that was poured, my husband got to work with the tamper, pounding it down and getting a level surface that was slightly lower than the surrounding ground.

Learn how to build a beautiful custom backyard fire pit for any size yard! Make memories with bonfires, s'mores, roasted marshmallows and more. This tutorial teaches you how to build your own fire pit!

Next, we poured paver sand around the perimeter of the circle – so where the galvanized fire ring and the landscape bricks would sit.  We again used the tamper to make that paver sand flat.

Then we placed the galvanized fire ring into the paver sand, using a mallet to pound it into the paver sand, paver base, and ground ever so slightly, and we laid our first row of landscape bricks around the fire ring. 

NOTE: it’s important to leave a space of about 2.5″ between the fire ring and the landscape bricks because if you place the landscape bricks right against the ring, by the time you get to the top row of landscape bricks, they will be too close to the fire ring and will be jutting out farther than your base row of bricks.  You will have to disassemble and start over. 

(Prior to gluing our bricks together, we stacked all four rows to see how this would work, and it didn’t!  That’s how we knew to put that space between the fire ring and the landscape bricks at the bottom.)

Learn how to build a beautiful custom backyard fire pit for any size yard! Make memories with bonfires, s'mores, roasted marshmallows and more. This tutorial teaches you how to build your own fire pit!

Once the first row of landscape bricks was laid, it was time to move onto the next row.  We used DAP DynaGrip adhesive to hold our bricks together.  We simply applied it to the stones and pressed them down, making sure to stagger them rather than laying them directly one on top of the other.  

Learn how to build a beautiful custom backyard fire pit for any size yard! Make memories with bonfires, s'mores, roasted marshmallows and more. This tutorial teaches you how to build your own fire pit!

We repeated this process two more times, making our fire pit four rows of landscape bricks high.  Note that once the landscaping went in, the first row of bricks was essentially “underground.”  

Learn how to build a beautiful custom backyard fire pit for any size yard! Make memories with bonfires, s'mores, roasted marshmallows and more. This tutorial teaches you how to build your own fire pit!

We added inexpensive pea gravel inside the fire pit, and with that, our backyard fire pit was complete!

Over the following weeks, I spent time landscaping around the area to make it look nicer. 

Learn how to build a beautiful custom backyard fire pit for any size yard! Make memories with bonfires, s'mores, roasted marshmallows and more. This tutorial teaches you how to build your own fire pit!

This project took us about 8 hours to complete, and that included ripping out all the pre-existing landscape and running to Home Depot a few times for extra supplies. 

At the end of the day I can honestly say that if you’ve ever thought about adding a fire pit to your backyard, you should go for it!  It brings a huge element of fun to your outdoor space and is a wonderful memory maker for your family and friends.  

Learn how to build a beautiful custom backyard fire pit for any size yard! Make memories with bonfires, s'mores, roasted marshmallows and more. This tutorial teaches you how to build your own fire pit!

I’d appreciate it if you’d pin this post to help others find out how to build a backyard fire pit!  

Learn how to build a backyard fire pit for any size yard! Make memories with bonfires, s'mores, roasted marshmallows and more. This tutorial teaches you how to build your own fire pit! #backyardfirepit #firepit #diyfirepit #budgetfirepit

Once you’ve done that, come over and roast a marshmallow with me!  🙂

-Bre

January 3, 2017 by Bre

How to Organize Digital Photos Using Amazon Photos

Digital photo clutter is real, and the thought of organizing thousands of digital photos on multiple devices is pretty overwhelming.  I, like many others, have let this task go for too long and absolutely have to get my digital photos organized and under control!  As an Amazon Prime member, I have come up with a system for how to organize digital photos using Amazon Photos – Amazon’s online photo storage program – and guys . . . it is pretty quick, simple, and inexpensive!  

This system works, so if you’re in the same boat as me and feeling overwhelmed by your digital photo collection, think about giving this a try.  Organizing thousands of family photos can be overwhelming! But this post teaches you how to organize digital photos with Amazon Photos!  It's a service that you're probably already paying for, so why not learn to use it?

How to Organize Digital Photos Using Amazon Photos

First things first . . . this post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no added cost to you if you purchase through them.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Step One: Sign Up for Amazon Prime (if you Don’t Already Have an Account)

Okay, so I am pretty sure that everyone I know has Amazon Prime.  If you do, you can skip this step of the process – you’re already good to go.  (If you don’t know about the Amazon Photos benefit of your Prime Membership, however, you might want to read this anyway.)

If you don’t already have Amazon Prime, how are you still alive?!?  No, but seriously, I couldn’t live without it.  For $119 a year, you get free (super speedy 2-day) shipping on Amazon purchases, free instant streaming movies and TV, free book downloads, free streaming music, AND, important to this post, free access to Amazon Photos.

Amazon Photos gives you UNLIMITED full-resolution photo storage with your Prime membership.  You can download the full-resolution photos back to your devices at any time.  Many other online photo storage systems (including Google – (unless you pay extra)) downgrade the quality of your photos, and many do not allow you to re-download photos to your devices once you’ve uploaded them.

That means that you can store all of your photos off of your computer, phone, external hard drive, etc., and save all kinds of space and speed on those devices.  

I downloaded the Amazon Photos app on my phone and now have my iPhone photos automatically syncing with my Amazon Photos account, which means I know they’re safely stored off of my phone and I can delete them without worrying and without constantly running out of space on my phone.  

Plus, my husband downloaded the app, synced his phone with our family photo account, and has his iPhone photos going in there, too.

So, if you don’t have Amazon Prime already, you should strongly consider getting it.  It is life-changing!  You can get a free 30-day trial by clicking this graphic and registering at this link:

 

You probably won’t want to begin uploading your photos to Amazon during your free trial, but definitely take advantage of the free shipping and other features to see if you like it.  Then, if you do, get that photo organization going!

Step Two: Gather All of Your Photo Sources

These days most of us have photos on many sources: computers, tablets, phones, cameras, thumb drives, external hard drives, and more.  If you’re going to be organizing many years’ worth of photos, you’ll need to think really hard about where all of your photos are located.  Remember that you might have some old devices (like that defunct laptop you used ten years ago), that contain family photos.

Get all of those devices into one place so you have convenient access to everything.  Once you’re in the groove, you’ll be glad you won’t have to stop to go device hunting!  

Organizing thousands of family photos can be overwhelming! But this post teaches you how to use Amazon to organize digital family photos in a quick and inexpensive way. Get tips on organizing and printing years' worth of family photos without getting overwhelmed.

Step Three: Do Some Weeding

At this point, begin to think about how you want to tackle your photo organization process: do you want to do everything all at once or do you need to break this task up into more manageable chunks?

For me, working year-by-year seems to make the most sense,  You could broaden out from there, or take smaller chunks of time, like months, for example.

Once you’ve settled on your initial timeframe, get your first device and start looking through the photos in the decided-upon timeframe.  You’ll need to do some eliminating here, so look for photos to delete, such as blurry photos, duplicates, near-duplicates, irrelevant or not meaningful photos, etc.  

Repeat this weeding process for each device on which you have photos.  Doing this initial sweep will cut down on your photo uploading time, so it’s a good idea to do this step.  

Organizing thousands of family photos can be overwhelming! But this post teaches you how to use Amazon to organize digital family photos in a quick and inexpensive way. Get tips on organizing and printing years' worth of family photos without getting overwhelmed.

Step Four: Upload Photos to Amazon Photos and Group Them

Once you’ve done the initial pass through on your photos, it’s time to start uploading them to Amazon Photos.  I uploaded photos for the year from multiple devices – one device at a time.  I used the Amazon Photos app on my phone to upload my phone’s photos wirelessly.

Once everything was uploaded, I sorted the photos by “date taken” and then added all of the pictures taken in 2016 (for example) to an album for that year.  You could choose to group your photos differently – any meaningful way that works for you will be great!

The great thing is that within the year of photos, a little timeline appears on the righthand side of the screen, which breaks the photos down by month.  This way I can quickly navigate to a particular set of photos if I want to.  Organizing thousands of family photos can be overwhelming! But this post teaches you how to use Amazon to organize digital family photos in a quick and inexpensive way. Get tips on organizing and printing years' worth of family photos without getting overwhelmed.

A sorting feature also appears on the lefthand side, without having to do anything.  Photos are automatically given tags, like “Food,” “Beach,” and “Bridge,” people in photos are automatically recognized with facial recognition software (so you can quickly find photos of one particular person in that grouping), and photos are tagged by location (if they were taken on a device with geotagging turned on – like a mobile device).  

Organizing thousands of family photos can be overwhelming! But this post teaches you how to use Amazon to organize digital family photos in a quick and inexpensive way. Get tips on organizing and printing years' worth of family photos without getting overwhelmed.

Step Five: Do a Second Pass Through to Weed Out “the Uglies”

Even though you did some photo removing in Step Three, I guarantee you there will be photos that slipped through the cracks and were uploaded to your Amazon Photos account.  Take some time to go back through the photos you’ve uploaded and scan for duplicates (or near duplicates), blurry photos, and photos that are just plain ugly and not worthy of keeping.

Remember that you don’t NEED three variations of every single event in your life.  That is photo clutter.  Let’s cut the clutter, people!  One photo of a meaningful event will probably suffice!

So do some editing of your photo collection and weed out the uglies.

Step Six: Decide How To Preserve Your Photos

At this point, you have made it SO far in your photo organization quest.  It’s actually really exciting to feel like you have a handle on your digital photos.  Even just knowing where they all are and that they’re safe and accessible to you is a fantastic feeling!

But you’ll probably want to do something with them other than keep them on the Amazon cloud somewhere.  I decided to do a few things with the first year of photos I have uploaded: (1) print a hardcover photo book of a special family vacation; (2) print a hardcover photo book of the highlights of my family’s year (a family yearbook of sorts); (3) print a copy of each picture from the year to store in archival photo boxes (like these awesome ones and maybe some of these for a decorative touch); and (4) leave all of the photos on Amazon Photos since I get unlimited storage.

I was able to do all of my photo printing through Amazon, and at a much lower price than I was getting even with my Costco membership (.9 per print at Amazon vs. .17 per print at Costco!).  The Amazon Photos books start at $19.99, but when I ordered mine, they had a 75% off coupon, so I got them for $5 a piece.  Yes, $5!  That is insane!

Anyway, I know I still have a lot of work ahead of me.  I have THOUSANDS of pictures to get through.  But all in all, this method of storing and organizing digital family photos is manageable and effective, and it’s one that’s going to work for me and my family.  In the future I will be better about keeping up with current family photos so that I don’t have to play this catch up game.  At least I have a plan in place and a great solution to my family photo organization dilemma!

I hope this post helps you get your family photos organized, too!  Please let me know if it does, and let me know if you have any tips of your own to add.

Amazon Photos Frequently Asked Questions

In the time since I’ve written this blog post, I’ve gotten lots of questions about Amazon Photos, so I thought it would be helpful to answer some of them here!

1. Is Amazon Photos free?

Amazon Photos is free for anyone with an Amazon account!  Read number two below about the storage differences with a paid Amazon Prime account versus a regular Amazon account.

2.  Is Amazon Photos storage really unlimited?

If you have Amazon Prime, yes it is!  Photo storage is truly unlimited, and video storage is up to 5 gigabytes of video.  You can add extra video storage for a fee.

Non-Prime members can store 5 gigabytes of photos for free.

3.  How do I access my pictures on Amazon Photos?

On a laptop or a desktop, you can go to the Amazon Photos website and sign in to view and manage your photos.  On a mobile device, download the Amazon Photos app to store and manage your photos.

4.  Is Amazon Photos for personal use only?

Yes, according to Amazon’s terms and conditions, use of Amazon Photos is for personal photography only.  Professional photographers and commercial uses are not permitted.

5.  Which is better – Google photos or Amazon Photos?

Well, I think that’s a matter of personal preference!  However, in the Amazon Photos vs. Google Photos debate, I will say Amazon Photos because, as I mentioned above, Amazon Photos doesn’t downgrade the quality of the image in any way, and you get unlimited storage as a Prime member!  Google photos only gives you 15 gigabytes of storage and it downgrades your photo quality.

6.  What happens to my photos if I need to cancel my Amazon Prime account?

Before canceling your Prime account, you can download all of your photos from Amazon Photos to an external hard drive.  Then you will have everything saved in the original, high-resolution format and all of your pictures will be safe and sound.

Organizing thousands of family photos can be overwhelming! But this post teaches you how to use Amazon to organize digital family photos in a quick and inexpensive way. Get tips on organizing and printing years' worth of family photos without getting overwhelmed.

Happy organizing!

-Bre

September 6, 2016 by Bre

How to Create a Faux Antique Brass Finish with Paint

I’ve been plugging along on my playroom to office makeover!  Over the weekend I crossed a big project for that space off of my list: restoring the original 1920’s light fixture to an authentic look with a faux antique brass finish.  And you guys, I can’t wait to show you how to paint any surface with this faux brass painting technique!

An old light fixture from the 1920's was restored with paint! Learn how to create a faux antique brass finish with this tutorial. Click through for a full supply list and instructions.

Getting this faux antique brass finish required some trial and error, but in the end it was totally worth it and pretty easy to achieve!  

This paint technique can be replicated on so many items: furniture hardware, lamps, light fixtures, decorative accessories and more!  

Also, you can use this technique to create a brass finish on metal, a brass finish on wood, or really a brass finish on any surface.

Supplies Needed to Create a Faux Antique Brass Finish

Some of these links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no added cost to you if you purchase through the links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

  • Rustoleum Bright Coat Metallic Finish Spray Paint in Dark Bronze
  • Rustoleum American Accents Satin Metallics in Classic Bronze
  • Briwax in Dark Brown
  • Rub n Buff in Antique Gold
  • Small stencil brush
  • Small paint brush
  • Clean, lint-free cloth

    You only need a few inexpensive supplies to create a gorgeous faux antique brass finish that's perfect for hardware, light fixtures, and more!

 

How to Create a Faux Antique Brass Finish With Paint

So, you guys, look at this light fixture that was hanging in the abandoned playroom.  HEINOUS!  At some point in time, a previous owner of the house spray painted it white.  WHY?  I don’t know.  

It removed all of the character and charm from the fixture and left it plain and ugly.  (Note: see how neglected this room was?  We didn’t even care enough to put matching light bulbs in this fixture!)  

This 1920's light fixture had been given a terrible spray paint makeover at some point in its life. See the gorgeous after photos in this post!

Because my husband and I want to keep as much of the original character in the house as we can, I decided that I had to try to restore this light fixture to some of its former glory.  Thankfully my husband was on board, and he took the fixture down for me.

Step One: Clean the Item to be Painted

Once it was safely removed from the ceiling, I brushed off the loose paint with a wire brush.  Some shiny gold started to peek through.  Because it was SO shiny, I don’t think that was the original color; the underneath side of the fixture was a much more muted brass.

This 1920's light fixture got a makeover with a faux antique brass finish. Click through to see the gorgeous results!

Step Two: Paint with Dark Bronze Spray Paint

Next, I spray painted it with a coat of the dark bronze spray paint.  

This 1920's light fixture got a makeover with a faux antique brass finish. Click through to see the gorgeous results!

Step Three: Paint with Classic Bronze Spray Paint

After it dried, I sprayed a coat of the classic bronze spray paint over the entire piece.  I stood farther away so that I wouldn’t be spraying such a concentrated amount onto the fixture.  

This 1920's light fixture got a makeover with a faux antique brass finish. Click through to see the gorgeous results!

Step Four: Apply Briwax Dark Brown Wax

Once the paint dried, I took the fixture inside for round two.  At this point, the paint finish looked VERY spray painted.  It was pretty much a solid color all over, though there were some spots where the dark bronze paint was visible underneath the shiny bronze.  The finish did not look authentic at this point, however.  

This 1920's light fixture got a makeover with a faux antique brass finish. Click through to see the gorgeous results!

I got out my trusty Briwax, which I love for furniture refinishing projects, and applied it all over with a small stencil brush.  This instantly darkened the finish and added some variation in tone to the entire piece.  (Please ignore my son’s half-eaten sandwich in the background of this photo.  He is the world’s slowest eater and I could not wait for him to finish lunch to work on this!)

This 1920's light fixture got a makeover with a faux antique brass finish. Click through to see the gorgeous results!

I let the Briwax sit for about 20 minutes and then gently buffed off the excess with a clean cloth.  

Step Five: Add Rub ‘n Buff in Antique Gold

Next, I grabbed the Rub n Buff and applied some to the raised portions of the light fixture.  

This 1920's light fixture got a makeover with a faux antique brass finish. Click through to see the gorgeous results!

This added some awesome highlights to the fixture, and really helped give it an authentic look!  Can you believe this was white just a short time ago?

Creating a faux antique brass finish is really easy! Learn which products you'll need to create an antique brass look on hardware, light fixtures, decor accents, and more! Click through for the full tutorial.

Once everything was dry, it was time to hang up my new, old light fixture!  My husband was ready to get it installed when he decided that the old cloth wiring was definitely a fire hazard.  

A 1920's light fixture gets a makeover.

I thought that meant all of my work was for nothing, but then he surprised me with secret master electrician skills, and he re-wired the entire thing in no time!  I was shocked (but not really, since I didn’t touch the wires – ha (get it?)), and I have no idea where he learned this from.  He’s been holding out on me, I tell ya!

A 1920's light fixture gets rewired.

Anyway, once he worked his magic, he hung the light fixture with its faux antique brass finish in the office-in-progress, and I did a dance of happiness (and popped some cool new Edison bulbs in there)!  

A 1920's light fixture was restored with a faux antique brass finish. Learn which products you'll need to create an antique brass look on hardware, light fixtures, decor accents, and more! Click through for the full tutorial.

I mean, seriously, can you even believe this is the same light fixture I showed you above?!?  

A 1920's light fixture was restored with a faux antique brass finish. Learn which products you'll need to create an antique brass look on hardware, light fixtures, decor accents, and more! Click through for the full tutorial.

It looks good – doesn’t it?  

A 1920's light fixture was restored with a faux antique brass finish. Learn which products you'll need to create an antique brass look on hardware, light fixtures, decor accents, and more! Click through for the full tutorial.

This faux antique brass finish turned out so much more realistic than I expected, and I am so grateful for that!  I love that I was able to save a piece of my home’s history, and keep this fixture that had been mangled and unsightly for so long.  

I think Nicole Curtis will want to be my friend because of this project.  (She never called me after I refinished my front door instead of painting it, but I think this project might put me on her radar.  ðŸ˜‰ )

I’m assuming that most of you don’t have an ugly 1920’s light fixture in need of restoration, so tell me what you would use a faux antique brass finish on instead?  (And please ‘pin’ this graphic if you enjoyed this post!)

A 1920's light fixture was restored with a faux antique brass finish. Learn which products you'll need to create an antique brass look on hardware, light fixtures, decor accents, and more! Click through for the full tutorial.

Bre

February 16, 2016 by Bre

7 Tips for Hosting a Party on a Budget

If you’ve ever hosted a party then you know that a lot of work goes into it, and it can be stressful!  Part of the stress can be paying for the party – it is NOT cheap to host a party!  Thankfully I’ve compiled 7 awesome tips for hosting a party on a budget to help you out!

These tips are great and will save you so much money if you're planning a big party anytime soon! Click through to find out how to plan effectively and throw a party that people won't know didn't cost a fortune to host!

After you’ve read these tips, be sure to let me know if you have any others to add!

Tips for Hosting a Party on a Budget

Some of the links included in this post are affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Party Budget Tip 1:  Save Money on Invitations

Invitations are a necessity for any party.  In addition to notifying your guests of the pertinent details, they set the tone of the event right off the bat.  The good thing is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to make a good first impression!

Paper Invitations

If you are old school like me and enjoy sending printed invitations, check out Etsy for gorgeous, custom invitations that you can have printed at your local print shop.  

I ordered the invitations for my mom’s Kate Spade-themed birthday party from this shop on Etsy and paid just $9 for a fully customized file!  

I printed the invitations on cardstock at Kinko’s for around $15, and bought a 50-pack of envelopes at Michaels for around $3.  They were beautiful invitations and I didn’t have to spend a fortune on them!  

This post has great tips on how to plan a party on a budget! It even tells you how to score great deals on invitations.

Electronic Invitations

Of course the old standby evite is an option for e-mailing invitations, but there are some really beautiful electronic invitations with added bells and whistles that you can pay a small fee to send.  

I personally LOVE Greenvelope for electronic invitations because their designs are gorgeous, the tracking and reminder features are SO helpful, and it is a flat fee to send out as many invitations as you want.  It’s a great way to send a pretty invitation via e-mail while saving some money.

Budget Party Tip 2:  Get a Headcount

I don’t know what it is with people these days, but getting them to RSVP to anything is like mission impossible.  (That’s a rant I’ll save for another day though.)  

Anyway, when you’re hosting a party and concerned about costs, it is SUPER important to know exactly how many people will be there (or darn near close to exactly how many).  Having a reliable headcount will help you not overbuy (or underbuy, for that matter), and consequently, may save you a lot of cash.

Keep careful track of RSVP’s, and if people aren’t responding to your invitation, don’t be afraid to reach out to them (probably by phone), and ask if they plan to attend (in a friendly way, of course)! 

Stay extra organized throughout the entire planning process with my printable party planner, which also includes a Guest List Tracker!

Party Planner Pro is a digital download of 13 essential party planning sheets!

Party Budget Tip 3:  Use a Food and Beverage Calculator

Once you have a close to accurate headcount of party guests, use a food and beverage calculator to figure out exactly how much food and drink you should have at your event.  This will save you so much money because you won’t be overbuying expensive food and especially alcohol!

I used this great reference from Chickabug in planning my mom’s party, and it was so helpful in helping me determine how much of each thing I needed to buy.

Party Budget Tip 4:  Buy in Bulk

If ever there were a time to use that Sam’s Club or Costco membership, this is it.  I can assure you that from the research I did for my mom’s party, the prices on frozen and fresh appetizers, drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), snacks, and meat (if you’re cooking for a dinner party), are cheaper than if you buy at your local grocery store.

Plus, buying in bulk and at once place saves you time and energy; both things that you need a lot of when planning a party.

As part of my planning process, I went to Costco one day and snapped pictures of all of the things I thought I might want to buy for my mom’s party.  Then when I planned the menu I had exact prices and a good reminder of the foods and drinks that were available at Costco.  It made the actual purchasing trip so much easier and efficient!

Budget Party Tip 5:  Stock the Bar with the Basics

If you’re serving alcohol at your party, I recommend stocking the bar with the basics: beer, red wine and white wine.  

Then, plan a specialty cocktail of the night to have premixed and available for those guests who prefer a hard alcohol beverage to beer or wine.  It will be a fun addition to the bar and allow you to forego purchasing many bottles of liquor that may or may not be consumed.

Photo courtesy of ProFlowers (www.proflowers.com)

Photo used with permission from ProFlowers (www.proflowers.com)

Budget Party Planning Tip 6:  Borrow What You Don’t Have (or Thrift It)

Instead of buying things for a party like serving platters or bowls, table linens, extra seating, or glassware, why not see if your friends and/or family will lend you theirs?  Chances are you’ll be able to round up enough of what you need without having to spend a cent.

And if you just can’t find someone to lend you something you need, check out your local thrift shop.  You might be surprised at what you’ll find there at a bargain price!

Party Budget Tip 7:  Search for Free Printables Online

There are TONS of free printable party decor packs available online.  If you run a search in Pinterest for a particular party theme, you are almost guaranteed to come across pins that will lead you to free printable decorations (like banners, cake toppers, party signs, etc.), or accessories (like photo booth props, water bottle labels, etc.)  I even have a good selection on my Pinterest Printables board.  

Printing some of these at home or at the print shop is a quick and inexpensive way to add some fun decor to any party!

{BONUS} Budget Party Planning Tip 8:  Buy Party Supplies & Decor at the Right Places

Discount stores, like dollar stores, can be a great source for party essentials like paper products and decorations.  But be careful when purchasing because sometimes these products are not good quality.  Check out my post on The Best Party Supplies to Buy at Dollar Tree (and Which Ones to Skip) for my go-to party supplies from Dollar Tree, and what I’ve found to be a waste of money.

Also, purchasing flowers and greenery at the grocery store adds a fresh touch to party decor and is very budget-friendly!  The 3 for $12 bunches of flowers from the grocery store flower shops are among my favorite party decorations.  I break them up into small arrangements and place them throughout the party.  

This post is filled with party planning tips that will help you save money! You can host a big party on a little budget - it is possible! Click through to read the post and see how to save when hosting your next party. #partybudget #partyplanningtips #partyplanningchecklist

And there you have it – my tips for hosting a big party on a little budget!  I hope these help you with your next big party.  Also, let me know if you have any other suggestions for ways to save cash while throwing a fabulous party!

-Bre

January 18, 2016 by Bre

10 Dollar Tree Craft Supplies You Need

One of my favorite things to do is wander the aisles of Michaels to see what adorable, new craft supplies they have.  It’s like an instant injection of happy for me, and I bet a lot of you feel the same way!  With every trip, my cart ends up with lots of fun finds and I leave with many new project ideas in mind.

But truth be told, there are certain craft supplies that I do not purchase from Michaels because I can get them from Dollar Tree for less (in some cases for a lot less).  Of course people have quality concerns about products from Dollar Tree, but I’ve personally tested all of these products time and again and can vouch for them!  

That’s why I’m spilling my secrets on 10 Dollar Tree Craft Supplies you can’t afford to skip!  (UPDATE: When you finish reading this post, make sure to also read my newest post on 10 MORE MUST-BUY DOLLAR TREE CRAFT SUPPLIES!)  Trust me – this list (and my follow-up post linked right before this), will save you money so you can buy more of those cute supplies at Michaels or Hobby Lobby! 

Save yourself lots of money with this post on the 10 craft supplies you should buy at Dollar Tree! These items are so much cheaper than at craft stores!

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

1.  Glassware (Vases, Mason Jars, Candle holders)

The selection of glassware at Dollar Tree is ah-ma-zing.  There are tons of shapes and sizes of vases, mason jars, candle holders – you name it!  And it’s all a dollar!  Comparable glassware at a craft store  typically costs five times as much.  

This list of ten craft supplies you should be buying at Dollar Tree is great! Hopefully it will save you a lot of money on your next project. Glass vases are a great Dollar Tree craft supply.

I’ve used glassware from Dollar Tree to create my sand art terrariums, etched glass votive holders, funky pilgrim vases, and cozy sweater gift jars, among other things.  I also use all different sizes of their vases and glassware for fresh flowers at parties.

2.  Twine (Jute, Bleached, and Baker’s Twine)

Jute twine adds a perfect rustic touch to any project, while bleached twine and baker’s twine can definitely add a cute and whimsical feel to a craft.  Dollar Tree has every type of twine you could need or want!

Find three packs of twine in the automotive aisle, and multi-packs of colored baker’s twine in the craft aisle.  

This list of ten craft supplies you should be buying at Dollar Tree is great! Hopefully it will save you a lot of money on your next project. Twine is a great Dollar Tree craft supply!

I have used twine from Dollar Tree on my vintage tin tile wall decor,  cozy sweater gift jars, printable glitter glue valentines, and moss bunny topiaries, among other things!  I also recently used Dollar Tree twine in my Facebook Live debut where I showed you how to make three cute holiday gifts with Dollar Tree supplies!

This list of ten craft supplies you should be buying at Dollar Tree is great! Hopefully it will save you a lot of money on your next project.

3.  Dollar Tree Floral Foam

Oh my gosh.  Floral foam is SO expensive when you buy it at the craft store.  And I can’t figure out why.  But at Dollar Tree it’s, yep, a dollar.  And it comes in lots of shapes and sizes, too!

This list of Dollar Tree craft supplies is great! Hopefully it will save you a lot of money on your next project.

Now let me tell you I am not doing a lot of floral arranging over here, but floral foam is really great for building height in projects or stabilizing items within a container.  I have used Dollar Tree’s floral foam in my moss bunny topiaries and patriotic paper straw centerpiece.  It’s great.

4.  Glitter

If you’re a crafter then you probably love glitter (until you have to clean it up).  For something so tiny it can be kind of pricey though, you know?  That’s why I like to purchase it at Dollar Tree.  They typically have a lot of colors in their craft aisle, and they come in packages or containers that have enough to get the project done without leaving me with a ton left over.    

This list of ten craft supplies you should be buying at Dollar Tree is great! Hopefully it will save you a lot of money on your next project.

Their glitter glue is also awesome for projects for adults and kids alike!  I have used Dollar Tree glitter or glitter glue on my glitter glue valentines and a guest post I did on another blog (that you’ll see later this year).

5.  Contact Paper

Most of you probably don’t think of contact paper as a craft supply, but it is awesome for making stencils on an electronic cutting machine (like a Cricut – check out my Dollar Tree DIY Gift Baskets Using  Cricut!), or even by hand!  And it is half the price at Dollar Tree than at the hardware store or a big box store!  

This list of ten craft supplies you should be buying at Dollar Tree is great! Hopefully it will save you a lot of money on your next project.

I have used Dollar Tree contact paper on projects like my DIY Modern Desk (that I BUILT myself!), child’s rocking chair, friendly stool makeover, and etched glass votive holders.

6.  Clothespins

Clothespins are another product that might seem like a strange craft supply, but you see them ALL over the craft stores.  And they are really versatile for crafting – from hanging banner pieces to making clips for signs or frames – they can be used in many ways.  At Dollar Tree you get a pack of 36 for $1, and you can find them in the home improvement aisle.  

This list of ten craft supplies you should be buying at Dollar Tree is great! Hopefully it will save you a lot of money on your next project.

I have used Dollar Tree clothespins on my DIY Christmas card holder and my magnetic chip clip holder.  And of course I have some of them on my drying rack in the laundry room.

7.  Foam Board

If you have kids of school age then you know that foam board can be kind of expensive for what you’re getting.  Hello, it’s a glorified poster board!  That’s why it’s so great to purchase it at Dollar Tree.  You will pay at least three times more at another store.  

This list of ten craft supplies you should be buying at Dollar Tree is great! Hopefully it will save you a lot of money on your next project.

I have used Dollar Tree foam board in my Mr. and Mrs. moss bunny topiaries, as well as other projects I have not blogged here.  If you want to check out the queen of foam board projects, you need to visit 3 Little Greenwoods because Ashley can turn a foam board into just about anything.  Search her site and you’ll see what I mean.

8.  Tissue Paper

Of course tissue paper is great for wrapping gifts, but it’s also a good product for crafting.  Dollar Tree sells 40 pieces of white tissue for $1, and smaller packs of colored tissue for the same price.  It’s the same quality as tissue paper I’ve purchased elsewhere and is not overly flimsy.

I have used tissue paper on my Tissue Paper Coffee Mugs, and think it would work great on home decor crafts, too!

9.  Popsicle Sticks

I know that popsicle sticks are generally more of a kids craft item, but I ALWAYS use them as paint stirrer sticks in my smaller chalky paint containers or as glue applicators. 

This list of ten craft supplies you should be buying at Dollar Tree is great! Hopefully it will save you a lot of money on your next project.

I keep them on hand at all times! I also used them in this “LOVE” popsicle stick craft that my daughter made a couple of years ago (pardon the photography; this was when I was still using my phone to shoot blog photos.).  They’re dirt cheap at Dollar Tree and a smart thing to have on hand!  

10.  Decorative Tape (Washi Tape, Duct Tape)

Finally, decorative tapes like washi tape and patterned duct tape are a great thing to buy at Dollar Tree!  $1 is so much less than you pay at the craft store!

I don’t have any blogged projects that use washi tape or duct tape, but I have purchased these items from Dollar Tree and can attest that they work just as well as others that I’ve purchased elsewhere.

11.  BONUS UPDATE – Paint Brushes

{UPDATE as of September 2017):  I was so pumped to find 8 packs of foam brushes and synthetic bristle paint brushes at Dollar Tree this week!  The prices on these brushes is so much lower than you pay at the craft store or home improvement store!  Get some!  A reader also gave me a tip that the $1 makeup brushes at Dollar Tree work great for decoupage.  Keep that in mind as well!

This list of ten craft supplies you should be buying at Dollar Tree is great! Hopefully it will save you a lot of money on your next project. Foam Brushes in 8 pack sizes are now available at Dollar Tree!

I hope you found this post helpful!  If you did, I’d really appreciate if you’d share this image on Pinterest or share the post on Facebook or somewhere else!

Save yourself lots of money with this post on the 10 craft supplies you should buy at Dollar Tree! These items are so much cheaper than at craft stores!

Well now that you’ve seen my list of craft supplies that you should be buying at Dollar Tree, what do you think?  Do you have any others to add?  Comment below, and don’t forget to check out the newest post on Dollar Tree Craft Supplies, which has TEN MORE CRAFT SUPPLIES YOU MUST BUY AT DOLLAR TREE!

-Bre

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Hi, I'm Bre! I believe in working with what you've got to create a home you love. I hope to inspire you to do the same!

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