I got a little crazy with the upholstery tacks and hammer yesterday. I was at Goodwill over the weekend and hit the jackpot. I walked out with a huge piece of beautiful fabric, a Seven for all Mankind Jeans skirt, a pair of Diesel Jeans shorts, new Stride Rite shoes for Monkey and a couple dresses (for me and her). Spent $29 and was so excited. I loved the fabric but wasn’t sure how far it would go and what I would do with it. I had in mind doing all the windows with mistreated valances in the dining room. Well, there wasn’t enough for all 3 windows for the standard length of a valance, but you know what? I am an unconventional girl and I don’t care if my valances aren’t the “proper” length. I dare anyone that comes visit me to take out a measuring tape and call me on it. Other than any of you. Please don’t. I might cry.
If I hadn’t been totally lazy and actually decided to *gasp* sew the valances, they would’ve been proper. But I am lazy and I am not at all a perfectionist so I grabbed my scissors, my hammer, my upholstery tacks and I got to mistreating. There was no tape, thread, hot glue involved. Just some folding, some tacks and a hammer.
Here is the fabric

And here is my hammer wielding helper

I paid $3 for the fabric and 97 cents for the tacks. And here is the end result


Then I decided while I was going crazy with the hammer and the kids were occupied smearing peanut butter all over the table, I would do something with my windows over my sink. I remembered that The Nester posted recently an idea to use napkins folded as triangles. So I tried that. I didn’t even iron them. I don’t iron. I don’t sew if I can help it. Can you believe I am a housewife?!
So I tacked those napkins up there and voila! 50 cent window treatments. I got the napkins at a yardsale and have an apron to match. Actually, I only used 4 napkins and I bought 6 of them plus the apron for 50 cents so if you carry the 2 and do a little long division you can figure out just how little these cost me. They’re not perfect, but oh, neither am I. We’ll get along quite fabulously, my window mistreatments and I.










Cute helper.
Those napkins look pretty neat!
Mike
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Very creative!
Bravo!
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you are so gonna be arrested for window abuse. Nice work!
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I love it!!! I did the napkin trick in my bedroom several years ago, I found gorgeous organza napkins with sparkles hanging from one side at West Elm. I bought them in purple and draped them across the top of my vanilla shears in my bedroom…they are gorgeous.
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I absolutely LOVE them BOTH. I think they are the perfect length. I love that length infact.
That really made an impact in your kitchen. That pop of red (to match your sauce pans of course.
).
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I love that blue fabric!
They look wonderful, thanks for sharing!
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Very cute fabric!
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Emily, who needs to sew when you have a hammer and nails
They look great!
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I can’t believe it. I love this post. They look absolutely great! What a great idea.
Rosemary
http://her-home-blog.com
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Love them! You did a great job!
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Wow! What a thrifty little mistreater you are! Those look wonderful!
Bonitas last blog post..My Latest Mistreatments
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I love the pineapples! Great job! Screaming Meme
Screaming Memes last blog post..Easy Makeover…
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I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, the napkins…so cute!! I laughed at the iron comment. My hubby had to go to a fancy meeting and we couldn’t even find our iron…that’s pathetic!
Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlams last blog post..Please help the "mistreated"….
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I love both of these~the napkins are a great idea and brighten up the kitchen so much!
Melissas last blog post..Window Mistreatment Party
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Cute treatments! The napkin idea is one of the thrifitest I’ve seen. They add great color to your kitchen! And that valance is super long! You did a great job on it too. It doesn’t look too short from here!
Thanks for sharing!
Annie Hs last blog post..My Mistreatments
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Really cute kitchen mistreatments. And a REALLY good price too. Nice job.
debbies last blog post..the mistreatment club…
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Love those napkins.
susans last blog post..Window Mistreatments
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Wow, what a great Goodwill haul!!
Sarahs last blog post..Mistreatments
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What pretty fabric! Your non-standard valence looks lovely! I didn’t iron my mistreatment either.
Jos last blog post..Family Vacation
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Love the kitchen mistreatments! So bright and cheery.
Oh, and I am a homemaker as well who ABHORS ironing married to a man who LOATHES wrinkled clothing…we get along fabulously! LOL
Mrs. Queridos last blog post..Do We Still Trust In God As A Nation?
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Totally love the napkins!!!
So vibrant & frugal!
You go girly! You go!
Meghans last blog post..Happy Birthday Mr. Man
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I love the windows over your sink!
The napkins are perfect … and they don’t hide that beautiful molding!
new every mornings last blog post..Decorating Oasis
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You did a great job! Love love love the kitchen napkin valance!! OK, I cannot believe you made out so well at Goodwill–what a lucky duck! oh–and I don’t iron either. I even go so far as to scrunch fabric of clothes at the store to see if it wrinkles easily. If is does, then I don’t buy it–haha!
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Super cheery! The colors on those napkins are terrific! Nobody would ever know you scored such a good bargain!
Janes last blog post.."Window " Dressing
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love it, great great fabric and looks fab, what a haul you got for $29, especially with Seven & Diesel in there. Gotta love Goodwill lol!
enjoy the mistreatment party
sarah @ a beach cottages last blog post..just mistreat those nasty windows
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Ha ha! Mine are just tacked up as well. I somehow measured wrong and cut it too short for my original plan, so I just tacked in up in pieces! They look great!
Jessicas last blog post..A Window Mistreatment, or Downright Abuse? (And other happenings…)
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Love, love, love those napkins in the kitchen. It makes it look bright and cheerful.
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