Perfect Scents

Since I was a little girl I have always taken pride in scent that my mother presented in our home. When I started dating my fiancé, he would constantly comment that my parent's house smelled like Christmas. I knew that once I left apartment life (where some scents are beyond your control) that my home would need to take on a smell all of it's own.

Here are a few of my favorite scent tips to keep your spaces fresh and welcoming!

I purchase drawer and closet sachets (fresh scents) from BedBath&Beyond, Meijer or Target. Shoving them in drawers, sticking them in-between towels and even placing them in the car (good idea, Ryanne) are surefire ways to keep your closed spaces smelling top notch. You can buy them in packs of three or individually. I've found them sold separately on clearance from time to time, but I can usually commit to one scent long enough to buy a package. These little guys last 6 months to a year and I try to keep them from getting on the bottom of a stack of clothes or towels so they can do their job.

Scentsy warmer's may have been a hype for awhile and some may consider them overrated. I don't care if you're using something similar, but I think we all know what product I'm generally referring to here. This warmer has served as one of my favorite methods. Instead of whipping up fresh cookies every time I have guests, I just flip the switch and let the house fill with a warm, luring aroma. I don't purchase the Scentsy refillable wax as I can pick it up from the grocery for much cheaper. When the wax has lost it's scent I use it for my next smelly trick, homemade candles.

Homemade candles are awesome because they're made from recycled wax from the wax warmer. I've alluded to this trick before in DIY Edition: [Jars]. Once the wax burns up from the candle I simply clean the glass and start over!

On my 18th birthday I asked my parents for a cedar chest. They took my request and visited a local Amish woodworker to see what he could put together. This little gem holds nearly every blanket in my possession. After sitting in chest they emerge smelling like a crisp fall day. Hands down, this is my favorite scent staging method.

What are some of your favorite tricks for staging your house with smells? Do you have any tips for getting rid of unwanted smells? Share below!

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock and looking around; do come back!
Cara

Host: Yard Sale

To this day my mother refuses to have another garage sale. Partly because it was so much work and it took up an entire Saturday to conduct. But I enjoy a good purge and jump on the opportunity to unload useless items with the hope of a slight financial return. 95% of the year I donate my unused items to friends, Goodwill, and repurpose via crafting. But this weekend, we had our very first garage sale in our new home. Here are my 2¢ on having one of your very own.

The Prep

I spent a cumulative 5-8 hours organizing my sale. I had friends and family bring over their contributions as well - so I had to take time to unload, organize and price their stuff too. Allocate an evening or two to get all of your items corralled and priced.

Do. Not. Skimp. On. The. Marketing.

People need to know about your sale. Make yard signs and put them out one full week in advance. We live in an area with high church and school traffic so you'd better believe we want every mom in a 10 mile radius to know of our sale and put it on their calendars. Additionally, repetition is key. The more they see the sign the more likely they'll be to remember it.

Here is my Craigslist ad

Then, get your neighbors on board and gain hyperlocal support. The more the merrier! Besides, more sales in your area means more interest. Once you have a band of supporters, divvy up the advertising tasks. Put an ad in your local newspaper, drop an ad on Craigslist(repost it a few times), put a blurb out on the most relevant Facebook group for your area (county garage sale sites) and pass out flyers to other neighborhood mailboxes.

Know How to Haggle

I covered this in How To Haggle a few months ago, but seriously, negotiate. Before your sale even starts there will likely be men who show up early looking to snatch up good tools. Know how to speak their language and make a deal. For instance, when you're receptive to their offer come down another $5-$10. When you're not ready to come down you can move just $1-$2 or stay firm on your asking price.

Don't Be Afraid to Bundle

If someone is picking up lots of items to buy you can bundle their items and give them a better deal. For instance, if someone came up during my sale with $20 worth of Christmas items and $30 worth of clothing I may say: "I can do everything for $40." That way, they feel like they're getting a deal and I'm still making money.

Organize!

Gather Best Practices

Before my sale I grilled my friends on their garage sale experiences. The best advice I received was the coding for a multi-person sale. Instead of trying to remember what items belonged to who, the price tags were color coded for easy identification. Additionally, we pulled tags off as items sold and put them onto a giant notepad to tally up later. Talk about easy!

Market

One of my favorite product marketers is Target. That company could sell a box of toothpicks for $10 because of the way they present the product. Be sure that your sale is organized well and things look neat, clean, and are easy to find. For instance, I had sections for Christmas decor, tools, clothing, furniture, games, kitchen items, and formal wear. When someone approaches your sale and sees organization, they know that you know what you have. They also know that they better be prepared to haggle hard because you probably know what it's worth too.

Remember: market! 

Answer Only What You're Asked

NEVER tell the seller why you're getting rid of an item. We had some rocking chairs at our sale. The selling party told the interested buyer that the vintage rockers weren't conducive to over weight guests and they didn't rock well on a porch with wooden boards. Do you think the buyer left with the chairs? She certainly didn't. When you wait all day for the perfect person to show interest in an item so specific, you don't want to let them get away!

The End Result

This year we was the most profitable yet and I hardly have anything left to take to Goodwill. One of our shoppers also told us about a phenomenal group at our local high school that collects dresses for students with disabilities. Did I forget to mention it's a great way to get to know those in your community, have unique conversations, and learn what buyers are looking for? Invaluable information for the next sale!

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock and looking around; do come back!

Cara

DIY Edition: Recipe Cards

Recently I went shopping for some good ol' fashioned recipe cards.

Now I know that you can get these online through easy and print your cards at home. I also know that you can head over to your Grandma's house and dig around for some extras, circa 1952. But I can promise you that after hitting two Hobby Lobby stores, two Jo Ann Fabric locations, Wal-Mart, Target, and the Dollar Tree that there were only two sets of cards I was able to find. They were not only ugly, but drastically overpriced at $11 for 20 cards.

My fix: hit Jo Ann Fabrics when they're having their annual paper sale and use their scrapbook paper to make my own cards. At seven sheets for $1 you can't really go wrong, now can you?

I chose two patterns that were within the same color scheme and then a textured backing for my recipe to reside. I strayed away from white since many of my cooking experiences have left books and cards covered in meal remnants.

Jo Ann Fabric offered great selection for this DIY!

These 12x12 sheets provided six 4x6 cards. I bought seven flowered sheets, seven chevron sheets and fourteen tan sheets. That equates to (14x6) 84 cards.

It would be unfair to tell you how quick this option is. I spent a good afternoon just measuring and cutting. But think about it - these will be in your kitchen for the remainder of your cooking career. Do you really want to cut corners? Maybe you do and if so, I recommend checking out those etsy options. I just didn't want to spend even more money adding ink to my printer and buying a whole pack of paper. That gets pricey.

I splurged on a stamp for the back (by splurged, I spent $2.99 - full price!) and drew the instruction lines with a ruler. I dolled up the back with a strip of glitter tape from Meijer (this came from a large roll that I cut down for my needs) and called it a day.

Total cost for these beauties was $5.99 and a little DIY time. And now, I'll be cooking in style!

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock and looking around; do come back!

Cara

P.S. - How could these recipe cards be even better?

DIY Edition: Jars

Do you like to burn candles? How about those scented waxes that you heat up in warmers? I have used both for some time and was frustrated when it came time to pitch all of that excess wax. So, I stopped by my local craft store, picked up a small box of candle wicks and now I'm reusing wax to make new candles.

It's easy - let me walk you through it.

Steps for candles:

• Once candle is burnt up, remove the excess wax with a butter knife. Sometimes you can cut it into small sections to remove it from the jar. You can also freeze it for a short time and the wax should pop right out. Once the wax is out, pry off the old wick base if you plan to reuse the jar.
• Prep the new candle jar by pouring a drop of oil into the bottom for the wick to set on. This makes them easier to remove when your new candle burns up.
• Place the wick in the bottom of the jar and steady the top of the wick to keep it centered during the wax pouring process. I use popsicle sticks, forks, or any other worthy utensil laying around.
• Heat the old wax on a candle warmer [in an appropriate jar or bowl] or a wax warmer. Once melted, pour into the new candle jar.

Steps for warmers:

• When the wax is no longer scented [or you tire of it] simply begin by heating it up and preparing it for your new candle.
• Prep the new candle jar by pouring a drop of oil into the bottom for the wick to set on. This makes them easier to remove when your new candle burns up.
• Place the wick in the bottom of the jar and steady the top of the wick to keep it centered during the wax pouring process. I use popsicle sticks, forks, or any other worthy utensil laying around.
• Once the wax is ready, pour into the new candle jar.

The not-so-obvious perks to these gems are:

• Multiple scents throughout the candle's burn
• Color coordination with your decor
• Great little gifts to give alongside gift cards 

On the topic of jars, I found this transition quite natural. Below is a jar that once contained a single serving of jam. Albeit cute, the lid was a bit tacky for re-gifting or exposed use throughout my house. A little roughing up with sandpaper did the trick and now they're ready for re-use!

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock and looking around; do come back!

Cara

P.S. - Comment below with blog posts that you'd like to see!

DIY Edition: Recycled Canvas Art

A few summers ago I took an oil painting class. Needless to say, I was no Claude Monet and after a reasonable amount of time had passed I was stuck with five ugly canvases and no desire to pick up a paint brush again. Painting, like many hobbies, is expensive. I wasn't about to throw away $50+ of canvases.
Earlier in the summer I’d hit the crafter’s jackpot while helping my Grandma clean out her breezeway. She gave me a large paper shopping bag full of retro fabrics. I dug through it until I found something a bit tame on the eyes, and began measuring it for my latest craft; fabric wrapped canvases.

I laid the canvas on top of the fabric and cut it so that there was about an inch remaining along the parameter of the canvas. The fabric I chose had a pattern, so I had to be careful to line it up well before cutting. I then laundered the fabric, ironed it, and began to hot glue it to the wooden frame. Working slowly, I did the longer side first and then moved to the opposite side.  This kept the pull even and made sure that the fabric was equal on all sides.

This is what the finished product should look like.

 For the corners, I folded the fabric neatly and glued with each crease. That way there wouldn't be a bulkiness against the wall in case I ever decided to hang them with a nail. Taking time on this step was pertinent to making sure it looked clean and smooth.

Take your time on those corners!

Once complete, I placed the new "canvas” on my mantle and accessorize with other decor. When I tire of it I can simply choose a new fabric to wrap it in, add a monogrammed letter, or show off my terrible painting :/.

Here's the final product with some other decor.

If I’d have bought the materials for this project it would have cost about $10-$12. If you’d like alternative variations of this project comment below and I’d be happy to brainstorm! For more decor ideas check out my other posts on DIY Edition: [Home Decor] and Kitchen Whisks Worth Taking.

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock and looking around; do come back!

Cara

How to Haggle

In my January 2014 post, Vintage Finds, I alluded to haggling and bundling to get items at antique stores for less than tag price. I wanted to dedicate this post to understanding the art of haggling.

Here are the basics:

• When a price tag does not say 'firm' then you know that you have some negotiating room. If in an antique store booth, look around for any hanging signage to validate your inkling.
• If a price tag does say 'firm' you know that the seller is offering their bottom dollar on the item. Don't negotiate. If it's too pricey for your taste, just walk away.
• When an item is old it's probably got some wear and tear. Understand the condition of the item before you negotiate. The pricing could reflect that item in fair, good, or excellent condition. Just because it's old doesn't mean it's worth anything.
• If you really love it, don't walk away. Items in these places go fast. Don't hope that it'll be around the next time you're in the area.

I collect vintage Brownie Cameras from the 1920's - 1960's. When I find one that I would like to add to my collection I need to have a thorough understanding of the condition, age, and overall value. Some sellers don't know what they have and just slap a price on an item because "it looks old and must be worth some money." Not the case - if you're starting a collection get up to speed on the average values and conditions before you get ripped off. Don't fret about learning it over night, some things are learned over time.

Now that many buyers have the ability to use their phones to quickly reference selling prices of vintage items, there is less likelihood of geting taken on a deal. Exhaust all resources before you buy.

When you are preparing to haggle:

• Consider this: most of the objects in an antique store have been sitting around awhile and are hard to sell. If a seller sees you're interested they are more likely to deal with your offer because it's hard telling how long it will take for another buyer to walk through the door. This is specifically true for random items and not collectibles or trendy pieces. 
• The more you show interest in an item, the more leverage the seller has. If you want to 'feel out' the seller before negotiating on an item you really want, grab another item from their booth and use it as a 'tester'. Say I want this stunning Brownie Camera. I may grab another camera from the same booth and take both to the check-out counter. I'd start with the second camera and see how far the seller would be willing to budge before proceeding to the Brownie. If they have unrealistic prices I know that the deal isn't worth it for me.
• Sometimes you can walk away. If you have seen half the store and have an item you like, try haggling before looking through the rest of the store. That way, if you can't come to terms, the seller will have some time to mull over your offer. This is a great tool for big-ticket items such as furniture.
• In antique shops especially, there are many booths. If you want to haggle you usually do it over the phone since the booth owner isn't on-site. Don't expect the person at the register to be the one that you haggle with every time.
• Bundling is a sure-fire way to get a great deal on multiple items from the same seller. Did you find five camera's at one booth that you want to buy? Get the seller on the phone and make a deal for all of them at once. In this situation, I'd weigh the total value of all camera's combined and subtract the value of one full camera. Sort of like a buy one, get one scenario.

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock and looking around; do come back! 

Cara

DIY Edition: Home Decor

Home décor has really taken a fancy to big, bold letters and phrases. Trends have encouraged us to decorate our dwellings with large vintage metal letters, monograms, and artistic photo montages spelling out our last names. My caveat with this trend is the repetitiveness of certain phrases and words, such as ‘live, laugh, love’ and ‘home sweet home.’ Understand that this is entirely my personal preference and by no means do I detest those who display said inspiration in their homes. As the Brits would say, "It's not my cup of tea, dearie."

I had all but removed myself from this trend when my roommate gave me a letter ‘H’ that she had randomly acquired. Being that my last name begins with an ‘H’ I accepted her gift and pondered what I’d do with it. Doing a monogram seemed a bit cheesy and truth be told, my last name is about to change. How silly would an obsolete monogram be at that? So I decided I’d hop on the bandwagon and create a 3-d word montage and display it as home décor.

Here are the materials I used and the approximate price of each:

• Leftover craft paint + brushes = $0
• Three 8" paper mache letters from Hobby Lobby = $3.99
• White floating wall shelf = gift [follow the link below to buy your own]
• Ceramic birds = $5.00 at a craft fair
• TOTAL COST: $8.99

With that, I challenge you to do it for less by using odds and ends from your house!

After swinging by the local Hobby Lobby and grabbing three more letters of 8" paper mache for $1.33 each after coupons and specials, I jetted home to paint them. [Remember to use the App from the post Deal or No Deal called Coupon Sherpa.] Although Pinterest would likely have provided a quick design idea for this endeavor, I forced myself to come up with a design independently. Stripes have been catching my eye lately and it just so happens that the letter ‘E’ is a perfect letter for three big stripes. With that, I free handed the stripes on two of the letters.

After glazing the letter 'M' with some dull golden paint, I knew that my décor was complete. I threw the letters up on a shelf that I received for Christmas from Wayfair and added some little ceramic birds from a local craft fair and ‘VIOLA!,’ a completed 3-d word montage was born. By the way, the shelf referenced above is hands down, the best floating shelf I've come across. SUPER easy to hang, very sturdy, and matches the molding throughout our house. I'm smitten with it :)

And here you have it, the finished product. 

Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock and looking around; do come back! 

Cara