Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Using Ballard Designs as inspiration



I saw these beauties in the latest Ballard catalog the other night and fell. in. love. I wanted a ton of them to place throughout the house...and then I looked at the price and kinda blacked out for a bit.

The cheapest one is $50! The tallest one is up to $189! What WHAT?? (And it's only 18 inches tall!) So I started thinking and realized I could totally make these myself.

My best friend makes so much fun of me when I say this. She'll find the ca-utest something on Pottery Barn or wherever, and I'll go, "OH, I could totally make that for soooo much cheaper!"

She hates when I say that. Really.

But I did. I found these beauteous jars at Goodwill for $2.99 each:
Took some of this (sisal twine) I already had and my clear glue:
Brushed on the glue and wrapped the twine around the jars. These were the result!:
They found a home in our wine cabinet. This is a spot I've been reworking and trying to find wine themed accessories (that I like) is tough. The just look wine-y to me, so they will stay here. I'm going to be on the look out for similar jars to make more. I may even try an empty wine bottle. LOOOOVE them!!

What do you think -- cork or glass topper?

I found a couple other things in the catalog I'm going to try on my own too...cause you know I could make that soooo much cheaper!! (Don't hate!)

84 thrifties said (comment here):

Ashley said...

I like the glass topper the best. They're so pretty!

Xazmin said...

I always say that too, but then I never get around to doing it! You have inspired me though...I've been accomplishing a lot lately! Thanks for the inspiration!!

Christina said...

Love your new bottles. Great idea. I love the glass stopper, but the cork looks nice too. Maybe one of each.

Living with Lindsay said...

Me likey!! I like the cork. The glass topper feels too fancy with the twine, I think.

My last name is Ballard and I write a blog on home decor. You'd think they'd be falling all over themselves to give me a discount, huh? hahahahaha Love that catalog!

The Blue Ridge Gal said...

Love the corked one. Great job!!

Di
The BLue Ridge Gal

philben5 said...

They really are the ca-utest ever!! I plan on trying my own hand at this project tonight. I'll let you know how they turn out. Thanks for sharing.
Blessing
Roxanne

cottonclippings said...

I say the same thing too. Why pay $98 when you can pay $4 (example from a skirt I liked at Anthropologie that I copied for myself since I didn't want to pay nearly $100 for a cotton skirt).

Kathy's Red Door Welcome said...

The cork topper is more casual, the glass top is more unique. It's really toss up. Very clever idea the glue and twine.

Callista said...

you go girl! You are an inspiration to do things for less!

Stephanie O said...

You crack me up! My husband always says that same comment whenever he shops with me. I vote for the glass topper as I like contrast in items...

Julie said...

I like the cork with the twine, but I liked the glass before the twine.

I say that all the time, but at least you DO IT. you have inspired me and when we get out of this rental I'm going to TOWN on decorating, so glad I found your site!!!!! thank you a million times over for sharing your genious ideas!!!

AnNicole @ OurSuburbanCottage said...

Great job!

Darlene - Our Creative Life said...

You sound like me! I always say "I can make that cheaper" too! It turned out great! Looks beachy to me as well. I like the glass top the best.

Shannon said...

I saw those too and loved them! I loved how they turned them into lamps too. Yours turned out just as good!! Cute! I kind of like the cork since you are going for a wine theme.

Jill said...

Excuse me while I faint. Freaking love it! And may I just say, gluing twine on a jar isn't a small task. I once glued yarn on a beach ball to make Juipter... for my son... who was in preschool at the time. I may have over done it. Still, thanks for sharing! Very good!

~Jill

Kimba said...

I love it! I'm always doing the same thing...how can I make that cheaper.

I think I like the cork topper better than the glass.

Kimba

Laura Ingalls Gunn said...

You are such a clever girl!
Depending if you want a more rustic look go with the cork, dressier: then the glass.

Please stop by and enter my giveaway.

Valarie Lea said...

Love them!!! Cork!!!

Jillian said...

Omigosh, you have a great Good Will!

No topper...just like in the catalog.

I love Ballard stuff, too!

Clean and Classic Interiors said...

I love that catalog too but the only thing I have purchased is a door mat and really -- I could have made that for soooo much cheaper! Ha! I say -- cork - just goes with the natural feeling more...

Ashley's New Adventures said...

I like these! Have you thought about no topper?

dangerkittydesigns said...

I like the glass--or none at all.

Sarah said...

Awesome! I love that you can find your searched for items at the thrift store always! I need to be more determined when I go and I bet I can find more stuff! :)

Kasey said...

Doesn't it feel good to make something yourself and save so much money? I like both the cork and the glass tops.

PlowgianPage said...

Fun Bottles. I like the cork. I think the the twine looks more rustic and cork suits it.

Alison said...

Great idea! I love the cork; it's a good match for the wine cabinet!

Jenn said...

Cork. The glass one looks out of place to me.

Debilou said...

Those look great,, I say that alot too but then never get around to doing any of it,, i do have empty wine bottles though ,, I might have to try that.. Thanks

Laretha said...

FAB!!!!!

bj said...

These are so cute I just can't stand it. Oh, I do love 'em. I love the texture they will give a room, too. YOU DID GOOD!
xo bj

Lorie said...

I actually vote no tops!

C Maisy said...

seriously girl...you need to just knock that off.
those turned out amazing. I like both the tops. it just depends of the feel you are going for.
the cork seems more organic/natural to me.
thanks for sharing!!

Linda said...

Yeah for you! Way to go! We are in the age of thrift and it is time to use our brains and creativity - which you have totally done - amazing! Linda

Elizabeth (blue clear sky) said...

Love the sisal bottles! What a great way to save money and still have a trendy style piece.You are very creative. Wondering if burlap (or an old feed sack) would give you the 'feel' of the bottles in the top photo. Maybe you could stencil on top of the burlap, a number or letter, like Layla at Theletteredcottage or Melaine at mysweetsavannah does. Just an idea :)

marty39 said...

Great job, and great find at GW. I love GW, it's become my favorite place and you find the best things. I think the twins looks fabulous and I like the glass stopper, it gives it more umph. (is that a word) Anyway, thanks for the inspiration, and I do think a wine bottle would look great also maybe wrapped in raffia. That would look great. Hugs, Marty

Amber said...

Ha! I do the same thing!! Hmmm, actually getting AROUND to doing it, is another thing.

They look great!! I like the glass topper.

Jill -Forever and Ever House said...

Great idea!! I love the cork topper.

Tammy said...

Awesome job on the bottles. I love them! I like the glass topper the best. You go, girl, work that Ballard catalog.

Melly said...

no hating going on here just admiration...you go girl!!
And thank you for inspiring me :)

Melissa Miller said...

Loooove them!

Glass... ;)

Kimm at Reinvented said...

LOVE. THEM. I vote for the cork.

There's somethin about Tawny.... said...

LOL @ you ending with "Don't hate". :)

They look great...I swear I love your creativity!!

Oh and the glass topper...definitely.

Cherry's Jubilee said...

I by passed a authentic french wine bottle with the sisal whatch ma callit around it at a Goodwill over a year ago...now kicking myself. Yours are smokkkkkkkkkkin girlie. cherry

Jodi said...

VERY COOL. You did a great job, I like the cork.

Kristens Creations said...

Awesome!! I'm liking the glass topper, but the cork looks good too.

momof3girls said...

You did a great job!! I love the bottles! You are like the Loreal commercial, "don't hate me because I am beautiful" You can say "don't hate me because I am beautiful & thrifty! I am just smart!"
I love your blog! I love the out of the box thinking to decorating!

groovie mom said...

I say no topper.

Teresa Jane said...

For the wine cabinet I would go with the cork. I've noticed that a real cork is starting to become rare. I see more plastic corks and I've even seen a screw top on some wine (yikes!).

Great idea here!

Lori King (aka nelsoneroni) said...

You are so stinkin' creative that I am once again utterly speechless. When oh when are you going to have an HGTV show? You really should.

I vote for the glass topper, as it's bigger and seems to fit the size of the bottle the best.

Lori
parkinglotmamas.blogspot.com

Lori from British Columbia, Canada said...

Great work ... Inspiring actually. Cork or Glass? Cork for a more rustic, mascquline room, glass for the girly girly yet refined look.

Staci said...

Very cool! Amazing what a little creativity and imagination can do.

Hey, I mentioned you in my latest blog and created a link to your blog. I give you "props for your mad skills"!! Come check it out!

Missy said...

Don't ya just love Ballard! I get so excited when it arrives in the mail!!!

Love your creations!! I like the cork but the glass topper looks cool too!

A Touch of Country said...

I'd say cork it! lol....

what about doing a set of jars in burlap with a stencil?

angela said...

no hating about it!! more like, inspiration!! good job!!

angela said...

"I can make that!" Is how I got into different beading and jewelry projects, crocheting, and furniture redoing. It drives my husband crazy, but I always think that when I see something WAAAY over priced. It's usually doable too!

Moi said...

I also drooled over those a bit when I got the new catalog...yours are fab!

Phillips Phamily Mama said...

Glass topper!

I say, "I can make that" too often! Ha!

Love Ballards and I'm so spoiled because we've got two outlets here in ATL. We've gotten some great deals on some fabulous finds there!

red.neck chic said...

Love the bottles!!! Ballards catalog ALWAYS gets me re-decorating!!! Go with glass - that would be a neat contradiction to the twine! Great Job!!!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Love your copycat version, Sarah! Ballards is one of my favorite catalogs to browse. Always see some great things, but you're right, the prices are a bit steep. I like the glass topper too.

Infarrantly Creative said...

Fantabulous Sarah! I say that all the time too. Everyone rolls their eyes at me. I find it CRAZY TOWN that people actually don't stop to think and drop $50 like that. I could go a long way with $50 at Goodwill or a yard sale. LOL!

Becky said...

Absolutely love it. You have the right kind of friend b/c if you were mine I would bust out my pottery barn catalog and put you to work :)

Inspired Kara said...

Glass topper for sure!!!!

MAYBE you could cut a sliver of the cork off..like 1/2 ince and glue it to the top of the glass topper. To look like it is corked...to add a little wino detail.

OR you could do a really distressed stamping across the front that reads "malbec" or "merlot" or "vino"

Amanda@Imperfectly Beautiful said...

Glass stopper.

those turned out great. ANd I am totaly jealous of your rockin Goodwill. NOT.FAIR.

Debra said...

Cork

Esther said...

Gees! I can never just find things at my goodwill when I need them. It's more a case of storing the idea away at the back of my mind and trawling the stores and one day it will finally turn up. But that's the beauty of it. I know one day that what I need WILL turn up for cheap - I just need to be patient.

I like the glass topper, by the way.

Bella Casa said...

OMG, I made bottles like these in 3rd grade! Forgot all about them until I saw your post! Very cool!

Girly Stuff said...

Cork topper.

They look great!

If you go to Cote de Texas she has a previous post about Ballards. Pretty informative.

Puva said...

Cork topper, definitely! You're very inspiring and motivating (:

This simple Life said...

I think either the cork topper or no topper. Let the bottle be the attraction. GREAT idea by the way! And I am so like you, I always say I could make that so much cheaper.

kerri said...

Love this. I need to follow your example. I usually just long for the too-expensive catalogue item until it is discontinued but never finish decorating the space it was longed to fill.
I can't decide which topper I like better... I think I'd need to see the rest of the space.

The Faridoni Fam said...

I too think cork or nothing. I think that wrapping a fishing net or something like that around a bottle would look cool too. Thanks for the inspiration! You rock!

Sandra Evertson said...

Genius!
Sandra

Dee said...

good job, I just never think that way, and I guess I need too. I just think I would never buy that, and don't lol
So now if there is something I really like I should say how can I make that.

CORK

Paisley & Polka Dot Patterns said...

I would say cork, unless you want to use a pretty accessory to put around the glass top, like the wine bling for the bottom of glasses, or maybe something you create. Like so many other things, I'm going to take a whack at this! lol. I just love it, you are awesome girl! Keep on with these ideas! :)

Jen r. said...

I love Ballards and get a ton of inspirations! I just sewed a little burlap pillow and it was super easy and so cheap! Jen

PamperingBeki said...

Those are super cute!!

Great job Sarah!

Lori said...

I always say the same thing about doing things myself! And I love seeing just how much $$$ I can save! When you have a chance, I would love to get your vote on my last post-I am wanting to change my range hood in my kitchen. I love pretty much everything you do, so I would really value your opnion!

Down Comforter said...

You did such a good job! I think I like the glass stopper better - it breaks up the tan color.

Michelle Bebe said...

i am sure you already decided this...i was just going through old posts...i say cork because it is in with the wine...

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Christina said...

I did this yesterday. Thanks for the idea!

design_aholic said...

glass toppers for sure! Cork is too tiny :)

Sweetg956 said...

I LOVE this website and I have been using a lot of your ideas. My favorite one is the vase with the rope on it and since lilacs are blooming now I went outside and put fresh lilacs in the vase and it is amazing. Makes a great piece in the living room. Thank You!!

Robyn@EverydayAlaMode.com said...

Thank you for continued inspiration! Love, love, love! It inspired me to make some with a new changes. I mentioned and linked you in my latest post.
Thanks!