Instagram Challenge #1

@aliceintheeve - I love this simple vignette made from a vintage garden chair,watering can and jar. Inspired!

Today is the day! It is the first official blog entry for our instagram challenge: #livingthriftyaustralia !
This week we have had a great and inspiring responce from people all around the globe and it has truely touched me to see that there are so many environmentally concious and style savvy people out there. So without further adeu, the pictures in this post are my favourite from this past week (in no particular order) and there were a few more then five that stood out, so here are my 7 favourite, I hope you like them as much as I do!

@sheiiybeiiy - I love this thrifted office setting, simple and stylish. (Drooling over that old kitchen hutch!)

@fawnandfiligree - I love this use for old crates, such rustic charm!

@aliceintheeve - I am inlove with the idea of using old corigated iron as a splash back in your kitchen!

@birdiebirdie_ - I am looking forward to seeing the finished resto project!

@treehouse_girl - Love the look of thrifted plates all clustered together!

 

@mariessmak - This retro side board is to die for!

DIY Decoupage Tray

Todays DIY is a super easy one, all you need is a blank tray (mine I have previously spray painted white), various coloured tissue paper and a decoupage finish (I used Royal Coat). For my tray I decided to attempt an 'ombre' effect with pink/orange but you could do practically anything.

Step 1: Ensure surface is clean and dust free

Step 2: Using a flat brush, spread small amount of decoupage finish on suface of tray

Step 3: Cut circles of tissue paper and press firmly down to ensure they have stuck, with no air bubbles

Step 4: Paint layer of decoupage finish on top of paper

Step 5: Repeat until finished.

'Ombre' effect

My tray is now in its new home on my studio desk, holding all my jars willed with paint brushes and pens. Where will yours live? This project took me only an hour so if youre looking for something quick and effective to do, then this is it! (Time excludes painting the tray)

Instagram!

ELCdesigns

Today I am posting a little feature on my art/design business ELCdesigns.
My main objective is to create beautiful homewares and fashion pieces by using pre loved items to be as earth friendly as possible. My best sellers are dishes in the 'Triangle Holiday' range, they are teak platters in different shapes circa 1970 that I have painted to give a new lease on life and bring a pop of colour to any room. I also sell jewellery made from beads I find in thrift stores and hand made polymer clay beads and I am currently working on a range of tote bags and cushions usig my signature pineapple fabric and pre-loved bed linen.

Forgive my absence!

Hey Thrifters!
Yesterday I had my wisdom teeth removed, and in order to properly take care of myself I will be absent from blogging for a few days. But never fear, your regular fix of thrifty goodness will be back soon!
Emma of LT x

Today We Are Loving:

Today we are loving these awesome sofas by designer Adrian Johnson. Two guesses what they are made from?! 
Well the first answer is obviously car seats but what is the second? Do you give up? FRIDGES! 
These totally quirky sofas known as the 'Fridge Couch' are the meaning of upcycling! Priced from $5000-$7000, every couch is unique. See more here.

Chair-tastic

 

Todays post is full of fabulous ideas about what to do with a thrifted chair. If a chair took your fancy in your local thrift store, or you found one calling out to be saved in the local hard-rubbish you're probably wondering how you can jazz it up a little. I am a bit of a chair collector and have spent many hours  trying to decide which move to take in updating my chairs. Today I am sharing my research with you in the hopes that I can make something wonderful happen. 

Giving a chair a new look can be as simple as giving it a new coat of paint, 'dipping' it in the paint (a current trend) or trying your hand at some simple re-upholstering. If you feel like a challenge then there are many options for you; distressing your chair, decoupaging your chair with fabric or your choice of paper (comics, maps, wrapping paper, etc), removing the legs and making it into an out door swing, putting two or more chairs together to create a bench (by removing existing seats and replacing with longer wood/metal to stetch accross all seats), hand painting delicate patterns or even yarn bombing your chair!

Truely, the possibilities for this project are endless so let your creativity run wild and show me your finished project!

http://www.mrkate.com

http://diyremodelingpins.com

http://100percentdelicate.blogspot.com.au

http://www.kokokids.co.uk/

http://www.ravelry.com

Unknown