Congratulations To....

...The Vintage Bricoleur for winning this months We Can Do It Cheaper Recreation/Copy Party!

If you have yet to visit their blog then be sure to stop by and see all the neat stuff they do and sell. (If you live in California then you need to see where they will be next!)

She has won the $10 gift certificate to The Snootie Pig!(Have fun picking something out!)

Thanks for all the entries and thank you to The Snootie Pig for sponsoring!

In other news, I am taking a short (or long) leave of absence in preparation for the arrival of our new little one. Have no worry though, I will be back to let you know what, when and how with just a few pictures I'm sure;-)

My Top 5 We Can Do It Cheaper Copy Picks - Pick Your Favorite!

I love seeing other bloggers recreations! It inspires me to try stuff that I wouldn't normally try.
We didn't have too many linkers this time, but we do have some good ones. Here is my top five in no particular order. Leave a comment with your number 1 pick!

1. I couldn't find another picture to show her "copy" but it really does look like it jumped right out of a Pottery Barn catalog! A Creative Beginning submitted this very pretty spring mantle.

2. Inspired by Restoration Hardware, but not ready to put out the big bucks, Harbour Breeze came up with a much cheaper version using her imagination and the help of her local RESTORE.

3. A long time follower and a very sweet and creative woman submitted this look alike inspired by Pottery Barn. Click on over to Thrifty Parsonage Living to see more of what she's done!

4. Not An Empty Room linked up this clever copy of a Pottery Barn desk. This is a perfect We Can Do It Cheaper project for anyone!

5. The Vintage Bricoleur decided that $45 was out of the question and came up with her own beautiful copy of a Restoration Hardware pillow.

Voting will be open till next Friday so be sure to let me know which one is your top pick!

The winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to a great Etsy store, The Snootie Pig. Be sure to check it out!

Introducing... The Snootie Pig!

I have boys, two boys and one husband to be exact. I am not a fluffy, lacy kind of girl but every now and then... you fall for something fluffy and lacy.

This months We Can Do It Cheaper Sponsor is not only the talent behind The Snootie Pig, she's also a stay at home mom of two little ones and a sweet friend of mine. (did I mention she has a husband too? I would say nice things about him, but I know him;-)

Her shop has been a smashing success and is bursting with cute, elegant and pretty things for you or your little one.

Her specialty is adorable little girls hair decor. (I have no idea if "Hair Decor" is the proper word, but it fits here.)

You have a chance at winning a $10 gift certificate to her store just by linking up your knock-off/copy/recreation project to this months We Can Do It Cheaper. I'll be choosing my top five the end of this week and then YOU choose the winner.You have until Thursday to link up, so get busy! If you have just a little bit of extra time then be sure and stop by The Snootie Pig to see what kind of cute stuff she has for you!


PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ONLY COPIES, KNOCK-OFFS, RECREATIONS OF STUFF WILL QUALIFY YOU FOR AN ENTRY!

We Can Do It Cheaper - Monthly "Copy" Link Party!!

<center><a href="http://www.thevirginiahouse.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz360/jvc80/newlogowecan.jpg" /></a></center>
I decided to jump back in time for my own project for this months We Can Do It Cheaper.
If you want to see the original post then you can look here, or just read it all as it was...


This weeks project was spur of the moment and turned out to be my favorite one to date!

I saw these chippy looking peg boards on Pottery Barn and fell in love. With the price tag of $49 and $149 then I knew I could only dream of owning one.

Aren't they wonderful!


I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up a pre-made peg board and some crackle finish that works with acrylics.

My 3 year old even got to help me on this one. We put a base coat of a weathered gray color then some random spots of pure black. (all acrylics)

I then applied the crackle finish randomly as well and let it get tacky. I mixed up my own color of white by adding a bit of brown and started painting over the whole thing. As the paint became a little dry then I scratched, rubbed, sawed (with a plastic knife) and poked at it to get the right look.

The whole project took maybe an hour and my total investment was $6.50! I can't wait to hang this up in the pool house someday soon.
*Update Picture*

We use it every day! Don't know what I would do without it. (yes it was cleared of all its garish swim trunks for this photo;-)

So that was then, this is now...
Ready to link up? Here are the rules/suggestions:
1. Item needs to be a recreation/copy of something that you have seen on the internet/magazine/catalog.
2. Take my button with you to show where you're linking.
3. Wow me!
This months winner will once again be chosen by you! They will win a $10 gift certificate towards any item from the wonderful shop of The Snootie Pig.  I'll be proudly introducing her to you next week, but in the meantime, stop by and see what treasure you would use your $10 on!

Can't wait to see whatcha got!

Fake or Real & A Winner!

Would you take a guess at something?
Do you think these are fake or real?

I'm sorely tempted to order myself one. Ya know why? Cause they are fake as can be and that's what my brown thumb handles best.
Check out The Foundary for more greatness.

In other news...
Congratulations to Stephanie from The Cozy Old Farmhouse! She was voted number 1 with her Edison Lamp copy.

She wins a hat of her choice from the Etsy store HaleyAbigail!

Thanks to all who entered and voted! Remember, if you have an Etsy store and would like to sponsor a We Can Do It Cheaper party, then just send me an email (jvc80@yahoo.com).

We Can Do It Cheaper - My Top 5 Picks - Now You Pick!

Welcome to another month of copies and recreations from the land of We Can Do It Cheaper!
I have chosen my top 5 out of the links. I have to be honest, there weren't that many qualified entries since this does need to be a copy of something you have seen. I do appreciate all of the ones that did link that were qualified though and it is always difficult to pick out the ones I like best!

Without further mess and nonsense though.. (in no particular order)

No. 1) From Brassy Apple comes her recreation of Pottery Barns Egg-A-Labra.

No. 2) Lisa from Fern Creek Cottage linked up her copy of Pottery Barn lamps.

No. 3) Richmond Thrifter (Yeehaw for my home town!) made her own version of a cute little Anthropoligie table.

No. 4) This amazing West Elm headboard copy was linked up by Budget Wise Home.

No. 5) Last but not least, The Cozy Old Farmhouse made her own copy of this old fashioned lamp.

I also have one honorary mention because her kitchen has turned out so beautiful! The only reason I didn't pick it was that I didn't feel it was exactly a "copy" of something (though she did show her wonderful inspiration books). I love it though!!

So... Honorary Mention: Sara from All Things Vintage linked up her brand new redone kitchen.

So there you have it! Now it's your turn to leave a comment with your number 1 pick!
The winner will be announced next Thursday and will win a hat of their choice to the lovely HaleyAbigail Etsy Store!

Good luck to all!

Feature - Sponsor Of The Month, HaleyAbigail

Last month I sent out the invitation for all of you Etsy store owners to be a sponsor of We Can Do It Cheaper. I was so excited to get an email from Britta, the amazing creator of HaleyAbigail.

I fell in love with each and every hat and headband that she has in her shop.

Be sure to stop by her shop and have a look around. These would be so perfect as baby gifts for any lucky baby!

The best part is that you can win one of these just by linking up to my latest We Can Do It Cheaper Recreation Party. One winner will be chosen by YOU from out of my top five. You still have a few days to link up so get busy;-)

(Please remember that ONLY items that are recreations (copies) of other items will be qualified to be entered into the contest.)

If you want to be a sponsor for my monthly We Can Do It Cheaper party then just email me at jvc80@yahoo dot com

We Can Do It Cheaper - Monthly Link Party

<center><a href="http://www.thevirginiahouse.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz360/jvc80/newlogowecan.jpg" /></a></center>Hey all, welcome to the party!

As usual I tried to get my own recreation project together to hopefully inspire you and all that stuff.

Lands End

This was my inspiration. One of my friends showed me this sign from Lands End and as a birthday gift (late) I made it for them.

I have yet to actually give it to them, but I was fairly pleased with how it turned out.

What about you? It's your turn to start linking up your recent (or not so recent projects).

The rules you ask???
1. Your link must be something you have seen somewhere and copied. (please don't link up other items since I will have to be a mean link witch and delete it;-) Otherwise link as many projects as you would like!
2. There needs to be a photo or link somewhere in your post of whatever your inspiration was.
3. Please link the URL to your post and not to your blog address.
4. Take my button with you from the top or sidebar to let everyone know where you're linking!

Now the fun stuff...

I will once more pick the top five projects from all the links. Then YOU will pick the winner! The winner wins a hat of their choice from the adorable Haley Abigail Etsy store.

I know that even if you don't have a munchkin of your own to crown with one of these, you must have a friend,niece/nephew, grandchild or random neighbor kid that would love to own one.

You can link up until next Thursday, the 14th of April.

Can't wait to see what you have for me!