Hello!!! Sorry for the prolonged absence. Traveling and the lack of wireless internet will do that to a girl. Did you guys miss me? I had a fantastic time away with family and Christmas was a blast!
But now that I am back – I wanted to get in on Rhoda’s Top Projects of 2010 party and do a nice recap on the best posts from this past year. These posts were either my most popular or my proudest moments! I hope you enjoy the trip down memory lane!
January started us out with me on an organizing kick, so I wrote my post on how to be successful at organizing. I don’t know about you but the New Year always makes me want to clean out and organize!
Photo via Martha Stewart
February had me thinking about Valentine’s Day … my hubby is the romantic sweet one. I am the girl that buys a card with a talking cat. So this year I decided to do something cute and created an apartment friendly art installation with the words to some of the key songs from our wedding on some basic card stock. I love this project and I love what it means too!
March brought me one of my best ideas of the year. When Lindsay from Living with Lindsay had her annual $5 Challenge party – it really got me thinking. What could I do that would give me big impact but not cost anymore than $5 from the Dollar Store? What I came up with was my Bird Silhouette plates. These cost me just $5 and I used black card stock and a little Mod Podge to pull it off! Oh and I won the contest!! That was a pretty big deal for me! 
April had us all moved into our new place and out of the tiny one bedroom apartment. It also brought me to my first big furniture make over project when I revamped the free dinette set I got from a friend.
Inspired by so many of your handy skills and fueled on by a new garage workspace – I took on my biggest project yet in May. I transformed my “world’s smallest patio ever” into my new patio book nook! Complete with lattice planter boxes that I built from scratch myself! I love how these came out and I am so proud that I nailed and sawed and screwed these all together myself!
June (well the very day before June so close enough) I revamped this shelf that I got for $1 at a yard sale. A dollar!! I love this thing! Goes perfect with my revamped sewing desk too!
July brought on more yard sale hopping and transformations. I can’t wait to start all over again this spring! One of the biggest questions I get from friends and family is “How can you look at that and see something more?” Personally – I think that all just comes from getting to see all the great ideas that all of you people have! But to illustrate how you can look at one thing and find several projects I did my Six Ways to Transform a Yard Sale Mirror post. What would you turn this steal into? Check out my post for some great ideas.
August brought more black and white into my craft area with a redo of a spice rack into some snazzy bead storage! For $3 – I thought it was a perfect addition and provides some much needed storage!
September made me yearn for crisper weather (what was I thinking – I want the warmth back now!) and also brought me the idea for my shimmery fall wreath! I loved this project. Spray painting silks is my new favorite idea!
In October, I wrote one of my most popular posts ever – 10 Ways to Use Mason Jars in Your Home. It was a great collection of different ideas and inspirations! I still have a ton of these that I want to do! Like make one of these oil lamps for next summer!
Photo via Raised in Cotton
At the beginning of November – I was inspired by Beckie @ Infarrantly Creative and made these decorative wall panels! Just me and my Dremel tools! If you are afraid of working with power tools – make your New Year’s resolution to overcome that in 2011. You are just keeping yourself from cool projects like this one!
And then as the year came to a close – I made this adorable Pottery Barn knockoff Word Art Project. Wow! The response to this was overwhelming and I really love how you guys loved it! You truly knocked me on my rear.
So that was 2010 in a nutshell – a great year and a ton of fun! I tell you what – blogging takes up a lot of my time, but it also makes me so creative and it helps me get things done! I have so enjoyed spending this year with you guys and hope to have more fun and make more friends next year too!
So what about you? Have a favorite? Or was there another project you loved? I would love to hear it! And don’t forget to link up your 2010 Top Projects with Rhoda too!
29 frugal friends said ...
I missed you!
I remember your patio update well; that was the post that turned me on to your blog.
So many fabulous projects Jess! I'm looking forward to what you come up with this year.
Ha! I knew those were your cute little plates Jess. Great projects as always.
Happy new year!
-Rene
Hi, Jess! Loved your birdie silhouette plates, and the chair redo is fabulous as well. It's fun to look back over the year, isn't it? :) I'm visiting from Rhoda's party today. Hope you'll stop by my blog to say hi. :)
I definitely missed reading your posts. Glad you're back :o)
Love all your projects. I came in late in the year so many are new to me. Can't wait to see what your new year brings, Hugs, Ginger
your patio revamp is what first brought me over to your blog. i still love that, and can't wait to see what 2011 brings.
Jess, what fun you had this year! So many cool projects. I totally love the plates you came up with & the spice bottles turned crafty is just too cute. You have some wonderful ideas, so glad we got to hang out at Blissdom & hope to see you again.
Hi Jess! Welcome back :-) How fun to see all your projects, and you always give us ideas for doing more! Now I'm off to read about revamping those mirrors!
awesome recaps...of great projects. Love those canning jar oil lamps!
www.northerncottage.blogspot.com
Hi Jess, It was so good to go month-by-month and take a look at all of the projects. You have a gift for transforming your thrifty finds.
You have been busy! Your little bird plates are so sweet!
I love all this sharing & reminiscing. You had some fabulous projects. I love the NOEL the best.
Stopping by from the party....I'm so impressed with those planters you made! Love them! I've always wanted one to put in front of my AC unit. Fabulous projects!
Manuela
Always miss those bloggers who are so creative and inspirational... Glad your back and love the frames..
Good idea to start thinking now...
Karryann
What a great set of projects - thanks for the recap, isn't it fun to look back over the year's successes? :)
Hope you and your family had a lovely Christmas, and all the best for the new year!
You've got a lot of great ideas. I love that you do it in a budget. It's nice to find your blog. Lisa~
Wow! You had a great year. Love all your projects- you accomplished so much this year. I would love to know what your grand total $ wise was for the year was!
This was a great recap since I joined your blog halfway through the year. You seriously do have a knack for seeing potential in garage sale finds!
Hi, I just started reading your blog and I absolutely LOVE it! You have such wonderful ideas! I love the spice rack/bead station idea! Fantastic! I am a new fan now!!! Thank you for sharing!
There you are! You were missed. I still love your bird plates, hands down, my favorite of all your projects this year. (But the "Noel" is a close second!)
Happy New Year!
What a great list of ideas! Those bird plates have such an impact... I love B&W, too. (and thrify projects)
My mom had a shelf just like your black and white one when I was a kid, only it didn't look that nice :). I wonder if she still has it, I may have to good look for it. LOVE how you've give it a new look. :)
Thank you for some great inspiration!
I am loving the Bird plates and now on the lookout for similar plates so that I can do some for my friends new house! :) :)
Happy New Year!
Reginia from theNotsomodernfamily.blogspot.com
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