Free (or almost free) decorating!

I've put my budget toward big ticket items such as a couch, chair, carpet cleaning, a side board... That left me wanting to save on decorating.  No problem, I thought. I have one project that won't be "cheap" but isn't too costly: a photo wall.  I got tea light wall sconces 4 for $20! Beautiful!   I had a (very) few things from my previous apartments, but it still felt pretty bare.  

On a whim I bought a scrap of screen fabric.  It was only a dollar. I couldn't resist. I also picked up a perfect condition 8x10 wooden frame for $2 in the as-is section. No idea how I'm going to put these together, but I'm thinking I'll wrap the mat in screen fabric for a bit of texture? 

I looked all over (okay, 3 stores) for the right height of sticks to add some height to my mantle.  No luck.  Okay, really?  There was a big ice storm...there's probably a ton lying in the snow around the condo.  I picked up some paint at Fred Meyer for a whopping $1.39 to darken the red on the pot in my kitchen. 

The pot was a success!  Many thanks to my dad who built the shelf! I bought the grass on the same whim from Ikea. 

So now I have most of a bottle of dark red paint left...and twigs all over my kitchen floor... Hmm.... Let's do an experiment... Wax paper, twigs, acrylic paint, and an artist brush...  Yep, this could work! 

It took some playing around to figure out a container for them.  In the mean time I tried a clear vase with rocks -- hmmm...a bit too tall... beans?  Not quite...but I think I'm on to something!  I had red beans in my cupboard.  Add a grocery bag to take up some space so the jar will look full, aaaand add a thrifted ribbon...voila!  Finally, add in a print my sister gave me for my birthday and my AWESOME $2 frame...Mantle complete!! 

Simple and it only cost me $12 (including the sconces!)

Now back to the screen... I had an oversized frame I was planning to return since it didn't work where I thought it would. It was a heck of a deal, though, only $13 for a solid wood, oversized frame... Hmm... Screen fabric....oversized frame that would work well in my bathroom... Bathroom paint... Pinterest obsession?  I'm feeling an art project coming on! 

I'm slightly obsessed with this http://pinterest.com/pin/14777504996911368/ print.  I loooove it! I need the reminder!  

So I decided to take on my own version!  I LOOOOVE IT!  

Then I decided why stop there? I have some left over....and one red branch that didn't work in the vase....hmm....  Yep. Love. Again. I love the imperfection of it! 

So, all in all, it's really coming together!  ON A BUDGET!  I got this awesome voucher from Spotted Fox (like groupon or dealmobs): Pay $49 for $200 worth of merchandise from Mor Furniture. Are you kidding me?  YES, please!  I found the perfect LITTLE chair for my wall...  Bonus: it came with an ottoman, two throw pillows, and a throw, all for $299.  After voucher that comes out to roughly $158 for ALL that! It brings the entire room together! 

Here's pics, per mom's request: 

More free decor (above):  Twigs that fell during the ice storm, spray paint (left over from another project), vase I had on hand, river rock from when I had a goldfish years ago!