Using old ratty flannels and a worn pair of jeans from the closet (thanks to Marie Kondo for making me feel like a hoarder…) I created this one of a kind banner for my fall decor and the cost was practically nothing!
I started with this plain wood banner from the craft store. They typically come packaged with the twine as well. Pretty sure I bought this one clearanced, but even at full price they are fairly inexpensive.
Using a black marker, I traced the outline of the triangular banner on the inside of the flannels and jeans. Inside is important because it will hide your black lines on the finished product.
Grab that Mod Podge! Yes, there’s Mod Podge specifically for fabrics, but I’m a “use what you’ve got” sorta girl and what I had was traditional Matte Mod Podge. Plus, I was still in my PJ’s on this particular fine Saturday morning and my hair was in a not-so-pinterest-approved “messy bun” so I was avoiding a trip to the store at all costs. I mean, seriously. Who wants to get dressed and tame their mane on a Saturday if they don’t have to anyway?!
Using a foam craft brush, I applied a layer of Mod Podge to the wood, placed the cut fabric on top – black lined and cut side down – and applied another layer of Mod Podge over the fabric. Let fully dry. Using a screw driver or hammer and nail, make holes through the fabric that lines up with the preexisting holes in the wood banner.
Hang this cute banner thang with the length of twine anywhere that needs a little touch of flannel-y fall y’all!
I had the privilege of Presenting at the Columbus Country Living Fair last weekend and it was absolutely amazing. I talked about flowers, houseplants and succulents, I met Annie Sloan and ate way too much food. I thought I’d share a bit of my “succy” talk with you peeps today.
Rockin’ my Dollar Tree straw hat! #noshame
Me – On the Main Stage
Annie Sloan!!!!!
First, I want to tell you a story. It’s a story about a girl. We’ll call her “plant killer” for fun. She loved all things green and pretty, but they didn’t love her back. Whether it be slow and agonizing or suddenly quick, the little plant babies died on her. Every.Single.Time. So, the “plant killer” gave up. This girl then had kids. Like, a lot of kids. And while she was shopping at the grocery store one day, she saw a beautiful little rosemary plant. It was aromatically gorgeous. So, on a whim, she bought it. Even her husband breathed a sad sigh of regret for this poor plant when he arrived home that evening – knowing it would most likely be living its last days in their home. But, buuuuuuuut, the plant survived. It thrived even. You see, the “plant killer” decided that day in the grocery store that she was going to try again. After all, if she could keep so many people alive in her home every day, why the heck can’t she keep plants alive? It was time to try again. Only this time, she researched and read and took notes and pushed up her sleeves and got dirty in the dirt. And she learned a couple things. I’m going to share these things with you today (because obviously I’m talking about myself!)
To simplify, there’s 3 key points to keeping plants alive. Water, Sunlight and Temperature. If you take anything away from this post – other than you know my dark past of murdering plants – it’s those 3 things : Water, Sunlight and Temperature (which I forgot mid-sentence during my presentation. Ugh. Why am I so awkward…)
Let’s talk about what we tend to do right with plants: We buy plants for all the right reasons. For the healthy air, calming effects and the aesthetically pleasing atmosphere they provide.
Here’s what we typically do wrong with plants: We tend to be Hover Mothers. Over-watering, over-fertilizing, over-analyzing our plant kids. Or, we go in the opposite direction of care and completely forget we even have plant kids to care for – sound familiar?
One of the most popular indoor plant breeds right now are succulents. They are known to be inexpensive, hardy and totally forgettable. Wait, whaaa? Forgettable?! Yep! You can literally forget them and they thrive. Ever heard of a lil’ plant called aloe? You can buy them practically everywhere. I see them at CVS all the time – they’re a type of succulent! If they can be sold on the top shelf at drug stores, completely forgotten and wrapped in plastic with very little to no natural light, imagine how simple their care and upkeep must be. Plus, you can actually make décor with them. From paper mâché box letters to living wreaths and wall hangings, succulents are one of the few plants that can be planted vertically, without soil and survive. Oh, and bonus! – their fallen leaves can be propagated – but more on that later.
Where to find them – nursery, greenhouse, Home Depot, Lowes, FB Marketplace, Amazon – always check reviews and deliver time before ordering online to make sure they plants will be healthy and the shipping fast. I prefer to buy them at my favorite local greenhouse so I can actually see and touch each plant I’m buying. Plus, the greenhouse is just so good for my soul. But, I’ve also ordered online and from big box stores in the past.
How to care for them – Pay attention to where they are coming from. Most succulents are grown in a greenhouse and kept in a store. Either completely perfect lighting for their growth or little to no lighting at all. So, when we bring them home, putting them in direct, hot sunlight is actually damaging. Slowly introducing them to bright light will prevent dark spots or sunburn. Just like when we walk out of a dark movie theater on a bright afternoon, the sun can be too much. And always read the instructions! Anymore we seem to go to the internet for advice on our lives, but with plants, the key to their survival is written out for you on a tag on the plant. Read the gosh darn thing! If only the hospital stuck a little tag on the baby before we left to go home! I’d have that tag memorized from front to back!
You not only need to review the tag, but you need to read the plant. Just looking at it will tell you how they’re feeling. If they’re wilted and soft, they’re over watered. Only water when the soil is totally dry. Whether that’s one week or 3 weeks, if the soil is moist, walk away. Once the pot of soil is totally dried out, you soak the soil thoroughly to the root and walk away again. I typically water them in the late afternoon/evening when they are in their rest period. The succulents will absorb water and nutrients the most during this period. Another common misconception about succulents is to mist them weekly. Succulents actually do not need misted. It can lead to fungal disease on their leaves. If they’re leggy and long-stemmed, they are reaching toward the sun and therefore not getting proper sunlight where they are located. Morning sunlight is softer and best for succulents with an average room temperature of 50-85 degrees.
How to propagate them – Just like my house plants, I place my succulents outside in the summer. The sun, temperature and rain water are just perfect for them here in Ohio. They always seem to thrive and grow huge. By the end of summer, I have plants ready to be brought back inside and ready for propagation! If there’s anything I’m really good at, it’s makin’ babies! And with succulents, it’s easier than you think!
1) remove leaves. Cutting them off is a bit trickier as the cut portion has a difficult time establishing a callous where leaves that were popped off or naturally fall off produce quick callouses.
2) place leaves on a paper towel in the sun. No water. No fertilizer. Just put them someplace in indirect sun they can hang for a while. Eventually, after a week or 2 or 3 you’ll begin to notice little roots emerging from the calloused end of the leaf.
3) place rooted leaves on top of a pot of cactus soil. Soil Matters! Cactus soil is a thing and it is a necessity. The leaves will take root in the soil on their own. Following the rule of succulent soil – wet until completely dry, eventually the leaves will wrinkle and wilt and start to disintegrate into the soil to be replaced by the new, baby succulent growing from the roots. Keeping newly rooted succulents misted is the only time it’s okay to mist a succulent with water.
Depending on how you are repotting them, succulents can be moved into soil or moss. Sphagnum moss serves as not only a flower bed but also a sturdy surface that allows the succulents to be placed vertically. The soil would just spill out, whereas the sphagnum moss stays put.
You can make your own sphagnum moss wreath. But, unless you already have some of the supplies – floral wire, moss or garden netting – it may be cheaper to buy a premade living wreath. Especially if you are only planning on making only one. Plus, the store-bought moss wreaths typically come with a heavy-duty chain hanger already attached which is nice and handy since these tend to be heavy.
I attached my sphagnum wreath to a grapevine wreath using floral wire and I love the rustic feel it gives!
First thing you want to do is soak your sphagnum wreath. Place in a bucket or container of water for 15 minutes or so. While you’re waiting for it to soak, this is the perfect time to place your succulents in a circular shape similar in size to your wreath to figure out placing. Keep in mind spacing. Allow room for your plant to grow and spread.
Once your wreath is wet through, let it drip off a bit before moving it otherwise you’ll be working in a pool of water (squeezing a bit works too)
Using a super fancy tool (just kidding. A pencil will do just fine) make holes in your wreath large enough to fit the root of your succulent. No soil needed! Pull your succulent out of the pot and brush/pull off the soil gently. You literally only need to push the root into the hole you’ve created in the sphagnum moss. Taking a floral pin (or a paper clip if you’ve forgotten floral pins on your supply list) and push the pin through one of the bottom leaves and into the sphagnum.
Once your wreath is fully planted – DON’T HANG IT! That’s right – don’t hang it! You need to leave it flat for a few weeks to allow the roots to establish. Once you’ve given it that time, it will hang beautifully and be a centerpiece to your wall or door.
FYI – plastic plant pot saucers are perfect for succulent wreaths similar to the one found here . They are an inexpensive but sure-fire way to make sure your wreath is watered properly. Every week or so, place your wreath in the water-filled form and allow it soak through. Rehang and walk away!
This all butter pie crust is simply perfection. I mean, the main ingredient is butter soooo…..
I know the example picture looks more like cut-out cookies, but how fun is a picture of a ball of pie dough? Not very fun. So, I took a picture of the pie dough in the process of cutting out shapes for the top of the slab. Have you tried my slab fruit pies yet? Ya need to. My Perfectly Perfect Apple Pie Slab and Peach Pie Slab are the bomb diggity of pies, my friends.
Butter Pie Crust
Made with butter and a few other not-near-as-important ingredients.
2metal pie pansWhy metal pans? Because this is an all butter crust, it needs to be frozen before baking to keep the pie shape. The extreme temp change from freezer to oven could cause glass to shatter.
Instructions
In a stand mixer, or by hand with a pastry cutter if you're old school like that, blend the dry ingredients together.
Add butter. Mix until the butter chunks are no bigger than blueberries.
Add 1/2 cup of ice water and mix until a dough ball forms.
Remove ball and cut in half. Flatten into 2 large pancake dough discs.
Flour counter and roll out dough half a few inches larger than the pie pan you are using.
Line the buttered pan with the pie dough, tuck under the edges evenly and beautify -AKA- "crimp" the edges. Poke holes throughout the bottom of the crust using a fork.
Place the crimped pie shells into the freezer for at least an hour before baking but preferably overnight.
When you are ready to bake your pie, fill the frozen crust and bake immediately. Do not thaw the crust.
Preheat oven to 400. After 15 minutes, reduce oven to 375 and bake according to your recipe. Starting out with a very hot oven helps keep the shape of your crimping.
Notes
This recipe makes 2 regular sized pie crusts (top and bottom). But, if you are making a slab pie, this recipe will make 1 slab pie crust.
6cupspeeled and sliced applesapprox. 4 large apples
1/2cupsugar
1/4cupbrown sugar
1tbspcornstarch
1/2tsp ground cinnamon
1/4tspground nutmeg
1 tbsplemon juice
Instructions
Coat peeled and sliced apples with lemon juice.
Toss lemon covered apples with sugars, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg
Notes
This recipe freezes really well – if you pick a bunch of fresh apples in the fall, make a few containers to freeze and have throughout the long winter!
Butter Pie Crust
Made with butter and a few other not-near-as-important ingredients.
2metal pie pansWhy metal pans? Because this is an all butter crust, it needs to be frozen before baking to keep the pie shape. The extreme temp change from freezer to oven could cause glass to shatter.
Instructions
In a stand mixer, or by hand with a pastry cutter if you're old school like that, blend the dry ingredients together.
Add butter. Mix until the butter chunks are no bigger than blueberries.
Add 1/2 cup of ice water and mix until a dough ball forms.
Remove ball and cut in half. Flatten into 2 large pancake dough discs.
Flour counter and roll out dough half a few inches larger than the pie pan you are using.
Line the buttered pan with the pie dough, tuck under the edges evenly and beautify -AKA- "crimp" the edges. Poke holes throughout the bottom of the crust using a fork.
Place the crimped pie shells into the freezer for at least an hour before baking but preferably overnight.
When you are ready to bake your pie, fill the frozen crust and bake immediately. Do not thaw the crust.
Preheat oven to 400. After 15 minutes, reduce oven to 375 and bake according to your recipe. Starting out with a very hot oven helps keep the shape of your crimping.
Notes
This recipe makes 2 regular sized pie crusts (top and bottom). But, if you are making a slab pie, this recipe will make 1 slab pie crust.
Place a layer of frozen ravioli along bottom of dish
Add spoonfuls of spaghetti sauce on top
Sprinkle sauce covered ravioli generously with mozzarella cheese
Repeat this process until the dish is full
Add a layer of frozen meatballs to the top and sprinkle with grated parm
Cover with aluminum foil and bake until hot and bubbly – 45 minutes to an hour.
Notes
This “Lasagna” is perfect for those busy school nights where running around to gymnastics, soccer games and after school clubs have left you tired and worn out.Now you can still make your fam a hot home-cooked meal in a flash.
They are called Celebration Chocolate Chip Cookies because there’s a major part-ay in your mouth with every bite of these delicious things.
Also, because they are perfect for any celebration. Birthdays, Back to School, Snow Days, Holidays, Trips to the Dentist, A Successful Day of Cleaning Your House, whatevs….
And we’ve all seen loads of recipes that claim to be “The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever”, but those guys need to just sit down right this minute because these chocolate chip cookies?
2bagschocolate chipsWe prefer milk chocolate, but semi-sweet works too
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°
Cream butter, shortening, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla.
Stir in eggs.
Slowly add flour to avoid splash-over. Beat until thoroughly mixed.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Drop by rolled teaspoonfuls on baking sheet covered in parchment paper.
Bake 10-12 minutes.
Notes
This recipe is also perfect for Cookie Bars. Simply follow directions and spread cookie dough into a greased sheet pan. Press dough until evenly spread. Bake 350 for about 20 minutes.
This pie slab is perfect for ridiculously large families (like mine…) or for parties, banquets and celebrations.
Go on ahead – just try to have only one slice.
The heart-shaped pie crust cut-out additions on the top not only make it absolutely adorable, they also make it easy to cut even slices – a piece of your heart for everyone!
In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, ginger and salt. Toss in peaches and lemon juice.
Make sure peaches are thoroughly coated with the deliciousness listed above.
Add peach filling into prepared and 9×13 crust covered sheet pan. Spread filling evenly.
You can either A) place a second rectangular shaped pie crust on top, pinch the edges of the top and bottom crust together to seal, tuck under any additional crust along the edges and use a knife cut slits for venting OR B) if you're feeling really Martha Stewart-ish (or if you were really crabby all day to your kiddos and feel bad like I did) you can cut out pie dough heart shapes – or any other shape – with a cookie cutter.
NOTE:My Give Me ALLLL The Butter Pie Crust (below) makes enough dough for both the full bottom and the heart shapes on top of the Peach Pie Slab.
Bake 35-40 minutes, until bubbly and golden. Let cool and EAT!
Can we be real? Let’s be real.
Sometimes life is hectic and wild and crazy and Mama just doesn’t have time to make a pie crust from scratch. So, I buy some store-bought refrigerated bad boys and bake those babies right up. And you know what? No one around here cares! They eat it anyway…
But, sometimes, sooooooometimes, I feel a bit more June Cleaver-ish than usual and I want to make my family food that’s been prepared with my blood, sweat and tears. Just Kidding. Sort of…
But, this pie crust is super simple and so gosh darn good. I use it for dessert pies, dinner pies and biscuits. The ingredients are typical kitchen staples so I never have to worry about not having what I need. I hope you love it as much as my thighs I do!
Butter Pie Crust
Made with butter and a few other not-near-as-important ingredients.
2metal pie pansWhy metal pans? Because this is an all butter crust, it needs to be frozen before baking to keep the pie shape. The extreme temp change from freezer to oven could cause glass to shatter.
Instructions
In a stand mixer, or by hand with a pastry cutter if you're old school like that, blend the dry ingredients together.
Add butter. Mix until the butter chunks are no bigger than blueberries.
Add 1/2 cup of ice water and mix until a dough ball forms.
Remove ball and cut in half. Flatten into 2 large pancake dough discs.
Flour counter and roll out dough half a few inches larger than the pie pan you are using.
Line the buttered pan with the pie dough, tuck under the edges evenly and beautify -AKA- "crimp" the edges. Poke holes throughout the bottom of the crust using a fork.
Place the crimped pie shells into the freezer for at least an hour before baking but preferably overnight.
When you are ready to bake your pie, fill the frozen crust and bake immediately. Do not thaw the crust.
Preheat oven to 400. After 15 minutes, reduce oven to 375 and bake according to your recipe. Starting out with a very hot oven helps keep the shape of your crimping.
Notes
This recipe makes 2 regular sized pie crusts (top and bottom). But, if you are making a slab pie, this recipe will make 1 slab pie crust.
I know. I know. You’re wondering “why in the ever-lovin’ world did she name this cake Dr.?” Trust me, it’s aptly named. See, it’s been doctored up so much from the original box whence it came, it’s basically got a doctorate in the technical field of Homemade-ish.
Sounds legit, right?!
Do we really eat cake like this? Why yes, yes we do.
Mom’s Any Flavor Dr. Cake
This cake is totally choose-your-own adventure style. You like vanilla cake? Use vanilla flavor box cake with vanilla flavor pudding. Chocolate? Go ALL in with the chocolate! You could even use Chocolate extract in place of the Vanilla. How about a touch of lemon? Start with a vanilla cake and use lemon flavored pudding. Or vice versa. You simply can't go wrong!
1cupSour CreamGreek Yogurt works too. If you're hard core and goin' all Milli Vanilli (I typically do), you can even use Vanilla Greek Yogurt.
3Eggs
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325. Grease and flour pans.
Mix all of the dry ingredients thoroughly.
Add wet ingredients.
Pour batter into greased and floured prepared pans filling a bit over halfway full.
Bake until cake is firm. Baking time varies based on pan size. Follow box directions.
Notes
Keep in mind that the additional ingredients will increase the amount of batter you are making. I can easily fill (3) 6 inch round cake pans. Or one huge sheet pan. Or (2) 9 inch pans….you get the idea. You get a lot of cake with this recipe! You *may* find that you need to increase your baking time depending on how full your pan is. 325 is a good temperature as it allows your cake to bake thoroughly throughout without the worry of burning the top. The lower temp and additional bake time allows for a more even bake.
But wait, there’s more!
This frosting will leave people thinking you are some sort of winning contestant on the Great American Baking Show. Own it. You don’t ever have to tell them you used a can of frosting for the base…
1boxCream Cheeseoptional (adding this makes a killer cream cheese frosting for sugar cookies fyi)
2-3dropsExtract of choiceI prefer 2 drops of Vanilla & 1 drop of Almond
3-4tbspConfectioners Sugar*you may continue adding 1 tbsp at a time until you have reached desired consistency*
Instructions
*I like to use my KitchenAid mixer for this particular recipe using the paddle attachment. That way I can walk away for a few seconds (or 15 minutes because I get side-tracked and forget I'm even making cake). But, a hand mixer will do just fine.*Empty your tub of frosting into a bowl, slowly mix in your extract 1 drop at a time and lastly add the sugar. This frosting leaves a delicate crust around your cake. Enough to hold it in place, but soft enough to taste super fresh.
Notes
Add too much powdered sugar? No problem – simply add milk, 1 tbsp at a time, until it thins the frosting to your liking.
Our back deck was beginning to look a little sad. It had worn, sun-bleached chairs, no outdoor rug (they are SO stinking expensive!) and no table for books, drinks, sippy cups, swim goggles or “special” rocks my kiddos found in the backyard.
It needed a makeover, but we didn’t have a lot to spend.
So, I got creative.
It took about a day and was worth every second!
We started with these. They were dirty, cracked in spots and overall very “BLAH”. The deck gets really hot in the summer (especially for all the tiny feet – both human and furry – that walk on it). We needed a fix for that, too.
And Mama likes an ice cold wine cooler while on lifeguard duty – we needed a fix for that too!
This stuff?
Awesome.
Seriously.
If you are hesitant to draw the scallop design on your own, this is your BTFF ( Best Tape Friend Forever) You can find it here.
If you do want to draw the scallop on your own, I used a sharpie. Above is the link to the plain, cheapo rug I found at Home Depot.
At only $18 it’s a steal!
Using a quart of outdoor black paint I filled in my sharpie scribbles.
The dots were made with a little circular sponge made for stenciling.
Here’s a better view of the upper part of the sun shade frame. I used metal pipes on the outside of the frame, but for the inside, I went with PVC pipe due to the light weight.
The height of the pipes are 7′. The width is approx 5′. The PVC pipes are 7′.
You will need:
(4) 1/2″ 7′ plumbing pipes
(4) 1/2″ 2-3 ft. plumbing pipes
(4) 1/2″ plumbing corners
(2) 1/2″ plumbing connectors
(4) 1/2″ plumbing flanges
(2) 7′ PVC pipes
I found these cheapo plastic hooks at Home Depot in the aisle with closet and shelving. They are screwed into the PVC with bolts and washers.
The shade cloth I used I found on Amazon.
It’s really nice fabric. Sturdy and totally worth the $18.
Oh, and can we give a shout-out to Zip Ties puhleeeze?!
Easy, inexpensive and totally works for holding the shade fabric exactly where you want it!
The table was constructed in a similar way to the support buckets under the canopy frame.
Each metal paint bucket was spray painted a copper color, an approx. 6 in. block of wood was placed inside the bucket, quick dry concrete was poured around the wood, and once dried, a 1/2″ pipe flange screwed into the wood to hold the pipe. The canopy buckets can be filled with garden rocks, dirt and flowers or just filled to the top with concrete if you prefer.
The top was a finished pine circle from Home Depot. I simply bought it, stained it and top coated it.
There is an approx. 3 ft plumbing pipe attached to the bucket flange as well as a plumbing flange on the underside of the tabletop.
I lined this particular bucket with plastic and filled it up with ice.
Because.
Wine Coolers.
I filled my back 2 frame buckets with rocks and the front 2 with flowers.
I clipped a string of lights to those gosh darn amazing zip ties that I used to hold the shade fabric in place.
For additional support (especially if you porch or patio is prone to strong wind) you could directly attach the support buckets to the floor of your space. Or tie down your pipes (similar to a tent).
After a good (and I mean really, really good) scrubbing, I took a tired, old plastic Little Tikes playhouse and transformed it into the sweetest little English Cottage-Style Playhouse you ever did see. Complete with a faux thatched roof! Seriously people – it has a thatched roof!!!
I mean, if this cottage isn’t fit for a “Princess Fairy Goddess Queen”, I sure the heck don’t know what is!
Here’s where we started. This house has been with us for almost 13 years. She has been endlessly played with throughout every single one of those years. Well loved, but she was worse for wear. There *may* have been a previous super crappy previous paint job by a frustrated and tired mother desperate to get her backyard looking decent before a birthday party about 5 years ago, but she definitely needed a facelift. Buying a “New” fancy wood playhouse wasn’t in the budget (let’s be real. Pretty much nothing is ever in the dumb “budget”) So, as always, I got creative.
This step is the least fun. Taking it apart, cleaning and scrubbing the heck out of it and letting it fully dry. Ugh. Not a good time, but totally necessary.
I decided to prime first using a can of primer in my paint sprayer. Was this needed? Heck, I don’t know. I’ve painted plenty of projects going straight for the spray paint and skipping the prime all together and honestly, they’ve been just fine. So, this is really up to your discretion. I can say, without a doubt, to make sure you get spray paint that specifically says it works on plastic. Otherwise, you will have wasted your money. And ain’t nobody got time for that!
The outside was painted white, but I decided to add some pretty green on the bottom half of the inside. Some painters tape and newspaper did the job of separating the colors on the wall.
Now the thatch roof! This was an idea I had floating in my head and had absolutely no idea if it would even work. But, boy oh boy, I’m glad I decided to just do it and see what happened!
I bought an artificial grass rug from Home Depot. But, they have them at most home goods stores in the spring and summer. I measured the roof of the house and added a few inches on each side to allow hangover grass that could be tucked under the roof.
FUN TIP: the best way to measure and mark artificial grass is on the back side using a piece of chalk. The best way to cut? A box cutter!
I simply spray painted the grass with an even coat of brown. I just did one coat, though. I liked the green color through the brown.
As you can see, I didn’t paint the top of the roof. I felt it was a waste of time. I did paint the edges using the same brown I used on the artificial grass so if it was visible, it would still blend.
Using Liquid Nails, I attached the grass to the roof. And using extra garden bricks, I placed them on top to push the grass onto the roof until the glue was dry.
Taking the extra grass that hung off the side, I tucked it underneath the roof and used a staple gun to keep it in place.
FUN TIP:
Flip flops are not good spray painting shoes….
Now, of course, I wanted to make this house adorable with allllll the accessories. I pulled out some extra pieces of scalloped vinyl trim left over from our front porch (’cause we don’t throw anything away. Ever.)
I cut pieces to size that fit right underneath each window.
I then used Dollar Store plastic fencing upside down and attached it on top of the scalloped trim. I honestly just winged this whole thing and got lucky with the way it turned out and that everything fit just like it did in my head. Because, trust me, my life typically does not turn out this way!
I also used a spare piece of vinyl to go around the front window. I wanted to add a bit of thatch covering to this window and knew I needed something that could bend in the shape of the round window top but also be sturdy enough to hold and attach the artificial grass to.
FUN TIP: Even though the house is plastic, I found attaching items with a staple gun and screws really worked well.
I picked up a number “8” from the Habitat for Humanity Restore in town for .50 cents. Why the 8? Oh, I have 8 children.
Yes, I really do.
Yes, they’re all mine.
Yes, I’m crazy.
Yes, my house is a Circus Carnival Zoo.
No, I would not have it any other way.
I distressed the painted doors and shutters after I painted them because these seem to be the parts that wear the most on the house. I figured if I started the game off worn, maybe it would just add to the “look” as it weathered on its own.
The addition of the window box (Dollar Aisle at Target), mailbox and door handle hardware (more Restore finds) and the faux greenery (Dollar General), helped to create a unique, cozy cottage for my girls that you simply cannot buy at a store. Especially not for $50. Am I right?!
In the early years of our marriage, Edward and I would have spats over the amount of “stuff” he’d keep. Most especially after a big home improvement or DIY project. Our garage and shed would be full of spare wood, trim, screws and other leftover supplies. I would be so irritated. A lot of times I would win the argument and he would empty out corners and shelves to free up room for other junk we most likely didn’t need either.
Then I began crafting. My crafting turned to painting, my painting to experimenting with leathers and woods, and I eventually learned my way around our power tools and saws. And you know what? He was right. Those extra supplies are 100% worth saving. What once seemed a nuisance turned to a convenience. What once seemed so pointless now seems to make total sense. Why get rid of good wood? You never know what you might need it for and when you figure it out, you’ll have it right there handy and you won’t have to spend money on something you already had.
And I really do love coming up with an idea, scouring our garage, shed and workshop for pieces and parts and then creating something from a whole big pile of nothing. For example, my Little Black Greenhouse from last summer.
This Veggie Stand project is no exception. Keep in mind, this was built from irregular, old and sometimes bent wood. So, it’s not perfect. I don’t claim to be a master woodworker nor a professional carpenter. But, I make crap from trash and save a ton of junk from entering the landfills. And I happen to have a talent for making said trash crap cute. So, there’s that too.
Now back to the DIY: My idea was to have something small but sturdy to hold my little one’s veggie plants this summer. Once the idea was “planted” so-to-speak, off to the shed I went!
Here’s what I found…
After figuring out which pieces would best suit my project, I started cutting.
List of the wood sizes I used for the Veggie Stand:
2 – 2×4’s 36″ long
2 – 2×4’s 23.5″ long
2 – 4×4 post pieces – 12″ long
2 – 1×5’s – 12″ long
1 – 36″ dowel rod
2 – 1.5×1.5 – 10″ long
2 – 2×4’s – 21″ long
Now, please keep in mind a few things while reading these instructions. #1 – it was about to rain at any minute, so I was a bit rushed. #2 – I began the project in a rocky area of our backyard until I realized it was affecting the levelness of the stand (duh!!!) #3 – I absolutely, positively did as little measuring as possible. Why? I don’t know. I guess I didn’t really want to? So, I “eyeballed” every pre-dilled hole. #4 – these are scrap wood pieces left over from other home projects. They may have been previously cut width wise. The measurements I listed above might be a little strange and you may even find that you need to adjust the measurements to fit what you have or what you can find in the store. This instructional is really just to give you a rough guideline of how I built the stand.
Drill starter holes in 1×5 pieces
Attach 1×5’s to centered 12″ post pieces to make the “feet”.
Attach the 1.5×1.5 to the side of each “foot”.
Finished base pieces.
Next add the 36″ 2×4’s to the 1.5 pieces.
Predrill holes into your 23.5″ 2×4’s
Drill them into the side of your standing 2×4’s
Using the 21″ 2×4 pieces, I cut angled supports
Attach the support pieces
At this point, I could have been done. The stand could have been painted and ready to go. But, I decided to add a bit more detail to the piece. Because, why the heck not? Go big or go home!
I added a top piece and decided to add a few planks on the bottom to serve as a base as well as additional plant storage. I also reinforced the 36″ 2×4’s to the bottom post pieces with heavy duty L-Brackets. The base planks helped to cover the L-Brackets.
I hand painted it with a jar of Home Depot’s outdoor “oops” paint ($3!) for a good seal, followed by 2 coats of spray paint (I didn’t have enough spray paint in the color I liked and already had to do the entire project from start to finish. But, with a good coat of that “oops” paint in a similar shade, I needed way less spray paint. I actually still have some left in the can!)
Once again, technically, she was finished. She was ready to go. But, BUUUUT, I decided to fancy her up a bit more.
I found a little wood trim piece and an extra strip of scalloped vinyl trim from our front porch. I cut the vinyl to size with box cutters and stained the wood trim the same color I stained the dowel rod. Using these D-Rings from Tractor Supply, I ran the rod through.
Now this girl was ready for her debut!
I have to admit, I feel a great sense of pride when I see my girls and boys get so excited over something Mommy made “all by herself”! Oh, and PS, don’t tell Edward I said he was right….
I used empty milk jugs for our planters. After simply cutting an opening (and making sure NOT to cut the handle), adding some drainage holes in the bottom and filling with potting soil, we had our own (FREE) hanging pots!
These green cranberry and pistachio things are totally knock-your-socks-off good. I mean, really, really gooooood.
And the best part? You totally start off with a pouch of premade cookie dough mix and a good ol’ box of pudding. I mean, if that’s not the definition of Homemade-ish, I don’t know what the heck is, my friends. Plus, the color makes you feel like you’re eating a lil’ somethin’ healthy – so that’s fun!
1pouch(approx 1 lb) Sugar Cookie mix or 3 small dollar store pouches (’cause you can find anything at the dollar store!)
1boxinstant Pistachio Pudding
1/4cupFlour
2Eggs
1/2cupSalted Butter – melted
1/2cupchopped dried Cranberries
1 cupchopped dry roasted Pistachio Nuts
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 and line your pans with parchment.
Mix together cookie dough pouch, pudding mix and flour.
Stir in melted butter and eggs until a soft dough forms.
Add chopped cranberries and pistachios. Mix well.
Drop rolled dough and slightly flatten with your hand, a glass, a spatula, a hammer, whatevs.
Bake 9-11 minutes
Finally – and most importantly – grab your cookie trays and run. Hide in your closet, pantry, bedroom, or heck, even your bathroom, and eat these delectable things all by your lonesome ’cause as soon as those cherubic monsters in your house smell these sweet babies, they will be G>O>N>E gone!
Like this? Love me this? Please, feel free to share!
Because guys like to have cool things to carry too…
This beverage carrier is perfect for BYOB barbecues, summer get-togethers, baseball watch parties, Father’s Day or any occasion!
Who knew one cedar fence post and 2 old license plates could make such a fun DIY?! I used one Cleveland Indians and one traditional license plate because that’s what Edward had in the garage. I personally kinda like the mis-matched look.
1 cedar fence post cut into: (2) 7″ pieces (one piece will have to be manually dog- eared) and (1) 12″ bottom piece. You can find the fence pickets here.
We love front porch sittin’. It’s what we do best in the summer time. Especially while it rains. This game board was crafted with those specific days and nights in mind. My big fam, a little Tic Tac Gnome, endless jars of iced tea and lots of laughs are what I am looking forward to this summer!
Gather your supplies.
Gnome people and door (mine were found at Dollar General)
Wood stump (I happen to have a ridiculous amount of these in my backyard)
Steel charger/wood plate/plastic plate (mine was at Dollar General)
Black duct tape
X’s & O’s (from wood slices & pebbles)
Artificial grass turf
Artificial tall grass square
Miniature craft wood picket fence
Hot Glue
Drill & screws
Trace your plate shape on the back of your artificial grass piece and cut with a box cutter. Mark your X’s and O’s on your pebbles and wood slices with a permanent marker.
Drill starter hole into charger
Screw charger into stump
Attach grass to charger with hot glue
Drill starter hole into gnome door
Attach door to stump with a screw
Screw into a spot easily hidden
To decorate the top of the game board, I gathered a few additional supplies. This miniature picket fence and this square of long artificial grass are both common items in most craft stores.
Make your hashtag tic tac toe shape using the black duct tape centered on the grass covered charger. Using hot glue, attach the picket fence around the back half of the circle and also to attach small pieces of the tall grass randomly around the edge. I decided to glue the gnome guys down too just to ensure they didn’t fall off, get pushed off, get lost, etc.
By now, I think it’s pretty darn obvious that I have a love affair with herbs and flowers.
I’ve shown you how I grow herbs and how I display herbs (here). But we’ve not yet discussed methods for drying them. Which is rather important if you’re trying to be a Plant Lady but you’re not a Plant Lady and you tend to send your plants to the grave like a Plant Killer and you don’t want your herbs (and money) to go to waste – just sayin’…
This is a simple solution that allows your herbs a place to air dry while adding a touch of shabby chic to your space.
Using a metal hoop wreath, some twine (of course!), a handful of small S-hooks and your fresh herbs cut, rinsed and patted dry gently with a paper towel, you have all you need to make this 5 minute craft.
Begin by knotting 3 pieces of twine approximately 18 inches in length to the hoop wreath.
Now knot the 3 pieces of twine together at the top.
To make hanging even simpler, I used the extra twine above the top knot to create a hook by wrapping it around itself. I then wrapped and knotted an additional piece of twine around the makeshift hoop to keep it secure and tight. The herbs will be light in weight, so I was confident this method would hold the plants.
I cut the extra lengths of twine from under the top knot and used those pieces to tie the herbs to the S-hooks. Waste not, want not!
That’s it! So easy, simple and cute!
You can use the herbs directly from the ring as they dry, or once fully dried, crush them and store them in an air tight container.
The Dollar Tree is chalk-full of SO many amazing supplies for the DIY’er. Their craft aisle is totally awesome and every few months, they fill up the 4 front aisles with new seasonal holiday goodness that makes me excited to explore their rows of dollar dreams.
Recently on my bi-weekly Dollar Store trip, I found these stinking adorable paper napkins. There were also matching plates and cups. I think they are so beautiful. I picked them up knowing they would be perfect for something. I just wasn’t quite sure what yet.
I used a few of them for my English Garden Easter Tablescape you can see here, but I still had a bunch of napkins left.
A few days later at Walmart, I found white canvas shoes for $5 and the light bulb went off, my friends.
I decided to fancy up my plain white shoes using Mod Podge and those gorgeous paper napkins.
The result? FAST, FRUGAL AND FREAKING AWESOME FLORAL GOODNESS! And I’mma show you how I made them!
Gather your supplies and cover your work area.
White Canvas Shoes (mine were found at Walmart, but I have seen similar at Target, KMart and even the Dollar General!)
2 Foam Brushes
Paper Napkins (or tissue paper, comic book paper, newspaper, wrapping paper, craft paper, scrap-booking paper…)
Mod Podge
Clear Acrylic Spray
Sharp Scissors
Utility Knife
Painters Tape (optional step)
If you are going to use the painters tape to cover the rubber bottom, now is the time to apply it.
*note* I made one pair with painters tape and one pair of shoes without. Honestly, I didn’t notice enough difference to make it seem useful enough to do it again. I don’t mind things not “perfect”. That’s why this step is optional.
I left the manufacturers paper stuffing in the shoes because I liked how it pushed out the fabric while I worked on it. I also added some paper to the exposed insert to prevent spilling any Mod Podge inside the shoe.
The next step is to place the paper on top of the shoes in the area you want to cover. I wanted the front and back to be covered in the pretty napkins, using the existing stitch lines of the shoes, so I made a rough outline of where to cut with a pencil.
*note* this step is probably the trickiest part. But, don’t be discouraged if you mess up. Worst case scenario you start again with a new napkin until you get it right. No biggie!
Once your napkin pieces are cut, you are ready to apply. Using a foam brush, cover the area of the shoe with Mod Podge. A nice, even layer. Place your cut piece on top, even it out across the area with your fingers and add a layer of Mod Podge on top of the paper.
*note* Go easy here. It’s paper so it still rips when wet. Make sure your swipes are quick, even and that the coat of Mod Podge is light. You will want to do 2-3 coats, so light coats are best here. Also, the more you swipe across the paper, the higher the chances of the color bleeding. Another reason why light coats are your friend. If it does tear or move, manipulate the paper with your fingers gently until it is in the desired location on the shoe.
When wet, the mod podge will look “milky”. Don’t be worried about the foggy appearance. The Mod Podge will dry clear. That is how you know you are ready for the next layer.
Once your shoes have completely dried, you will want to spray them with a clear acrylic sealer to protect them. I chose a spray with a glossy finish, but if you prefer Matte or Satin, make sure you pay attention to the label.
*note* Even though we have top coated these, it’s probably best to not wear them out in a heavy rain storm. Just Sayin’
Using those sweet Daffodil Planters I talked about here, some amazing finds from the Dollar Tree and a bit of DIY, I made this English Garden Tablescape for Easter that will give you all of the Peter Rabbit feels.
I found 3 large plastic “nesting” Easter eggs at Walmart recently. I loved their size (and their price) but I wasn’t in love with their look. So, taking the same napkins I used from the decoupage project here, I applied the technique to the eggs to give them a more charming appearance with Mod Podge, a foam brush and paper napkins!
I desired a table full of flowers, but it’s still early in Ohio for a wide selection of fresh plants, so I opted to go faux. And Hobby Lobby was having 50% off their florals! I also found terra cotta pots at Hobby Lobby in the clearance aisle because they were chipped and cracked. Ummm, chipped and cracked is sorta my thang, so for .50 cents/pot, I was a happy mama!
After a quick trip to Walmart (for chocolate bunnies and a bag of flaked coconut) and the Dollar Tree (picking up some floral foam, beautiful floral paper plates, matching floral square napkins, 12″ paper doilies and 6″ willow wreaths), I had everything I needed.
I created the wood crate from scrap wood in my workshop that I painted off-white, but a few baskets from Goodwill, or even the terra cotta pots sitting exposed would have looked equally gorgeous.
Placing the floral foam inside the clay pots, I began putting together my centerpiece. It was pretty simple to do as a true English Garden is a bit whimsy and wildly charming. There was no “wrong” place for each stem. Just wherever I felt they looked best.
Next it was time for the place settings. The unfinished willow wreaths, sitting on top of 12″ paper doilies, were a perfect cradle for the beautiful garden plates.
Tinting the bag of coconut green with food coloring, I used it as a “nest” for the chocolate bunnies placed on the square napkins. I kept the bunnies wrapped because I thought the foil wrap was just too cute, but if you prefer, they can be unwrapped and placed on the coconut nest in all of their naked bunny chocolate glory.
The final touch of adding the fresh daffodils on top of the plates is probably my favorite part.
This tablescape was simple and extremely inexpensive. Some of the projects (the decoupaged eggs and peat pots) take 24 hours advance prep and dry time, but the rest are simple and fast to piece together.
This Daffodil Centerpiece is the perfect addition to any colorful table. Plus, you can give one to each of your guests. And they can literally be planted pot and all – I mean, does it get any better than that?
These beauties look stunning in an Easter tablescape. And they are such a cinch to make, too!
I found Daffodils at Walmart for $1/pot <—- what a steal! You will also need:
Peat Pots
Paper Doilies – 6 inch
Mod Podge
I watered down my Mod Podge just a bit to make it easier to apply. I thought dipping the paper doilies seemed a bit simpler than using a foam brush. Taking each doily and working individually, you will want to dip it into your mod podge solution quickly, making sure it doesn’t fold in on itself too much. Quickly is key. You don’t want it too saturated as the paper will tear easily when applied to the pot.
Place all of your peat pots upside down on a covered surface. Gently wrap your soaked doily around the pot. You don’t want to pull and adjust too much as this will also cause tearing. The goal is to set it down in place the first time and push in/gather the sides a bit.
This was my solution for drying (which takes approx. 24 hours). I needed the pots to remain upside down, but for the doily to not touch anything. My extra spray paint cans were the perfect solution!
Once the doilies are fully dry, transfer the plants over from their plastic store pots. These peat pots are just a smidge smaller than the original daffodil pots, but I wasn’t too concerned as I knew the daffodil babies would only be “living” in these pots a short time before they were buried in the garden, pretty doily and all.
I just adore these gorgeous yellow flowers. They are perfect on the table and bring so much brightness to the setting.
Take me out to the ball game! It’s time for Cracker Jacks, Peanuts and Footlong Hotdogs, my friends! Oh, and of course, BASEBALL! If you are a Cleveland Indians fan, then this Makeover Monday Edition is for you!
*I suppose if you are another MLB Team Fan (BLAH!) you could make this wreath as well by adding your own team decal*
This DIY craft is a bit more detailed than my past projects and requires a little more time. But, don’t fret! It’s still Fast, Frugal and Freaking Awesome! And I have made a very detailed tutorial for you to follow along with, so anyone can make it!
Here We Go! Batter Up!
First, collect all the supplies:
Leather strips (most craft stores have bags of leather strip/remnant pieces – similar to this)
8 baseballs – you can find them here if you don’t already have used balls lying around.
We will start with the Indians sign for the top. Adhere the decal to the wood and slowly peel the top layer off. Slow and steady wins the race here, friends. While removing the peel, I did find some of the letters ripped slightly, but they were small tears and barely visible once the project was finished. I also removed the piece of twine that was attached to the back of the pallet sign when it was purchased as I knew I would be using the leather instead.
*NOTE: If you are planning on keeping your finished door hanger inside or out of the weather, you are finished with this step. But, if it will be exposed to the elements, I highly suggest a layer of Mod Podge as well as a coat of polyurethane spray. *Note: the mod podge will leave a “milky” appearance while wet. Don’t panic, it will dry clear!
Using the 1/4″ drill bit, drill a hole in each corner of your wood sign (about 1″ in).
Again using the 1/4″ drill bit, drill a hole clear through each baseball.
Run your wire through each baseball until you’ve made a half circle with the balls back to back. Cut off the extra wire with the pliers, leaving approx. 3 extra inches of wire on each end.
Using the pliers again, twist each end into a loop and secure by wrapping the end around the base of the loop.
Cut 20″ strip of leather and run each end through the top drilled holes of the sign. Knot them in place. This will serve as your “hanger”.
Taking 2 pieces of leather strip each about 7 inches long, attach the wire loops to the bottom drilled holes of the sign. Cut additional leather strap.
Lastly, take 2 10″ leather strip pieces and attach the mini bat by knotting the leather around the bat and wire.
