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diy

Crap I've Made

Lace Doily Candle Bowls

This post was sponsored by Aleene’s. All opinions are my own.

I adore candles in my home and decor. Real, battery operated, tapered or tealight, I love ‘em all! These DIY Doily Bowls are a shabby-chic simple way to provide a gorgeous base for the candle of your choice. The warmer days have got me itching to visit the beach, and the beautifully trimmed lace doily filled with cool, white sand just screams “Boho Summer” to me. Aleen e ’s Premium Decoupage glue makes creating the look a breeze!

Gather your supplies:

Aleene’s Premium Decoupage

Small Craft Paint Brush or Foam Brush

Latex Balloons (one per bowl – any color)

Doily (paper or fabric)

Twine

Step 1: Inflate balloon.

Keep in mind the size of your doily (mine are approx. 12” round) combined with the size of your balloon will dictate the size of your bowl. Tie your balloon closed and place it – tie side down – into a container to hold it steadily while you work.

Step 2: First glue layer.

After deciding on your preferred finish (I used glossy for the paper doilies and matte for the fabric), apply a thin layer of glue onto your balloon with your brush making sure to place glue everywhere the doily will lay.

Step 3: Place doily.

Center the middle of the doily to the top of the glue-covered balloon and gently apply.

Step 4: Final Coat.

Add another coat of glue on the doily. This is a slow and steady process. You don’t want to add too much at a time as it could drip over your workspace and possibly rip if you are using paper.

* But don’t fret! This glue cleans up easily with soap and water and is very forgiving with mistakes! If you find that you’ve ripped your paper doily, push it gently back into place with your finger and add a thin layer of glue. Adding multiple thin coats will be more beneficial than one thick coat.

Step 5: Allow to fully dry.

Many factors come into play here – from humidity to glue thickness – you want to ensure they are completely dry before moving on!

Step 6: Pop the balloon!

You could always untie the knot too, but that’s no fun! Warning – sometimes when the balloon deflates, it deflates the doily along with it!

* But don’t fret! If the glue is still tacky, it may cause the balloon to stick to the inside of the doily bowl. When the balloon deflates, the doily folds into itself too! Don’t panic! Simply remove the balloon pieces from the inside and reshape your bowl. You’ll be surprised how easily you can reshape it! You may want to let it sit a bit longer at this point just to make sure it really is fully dry before adding your filler.

Step 7: Add bow (optional).

I just love the rustic feel of twine with the delicate look of the doily!

Step 8: Add filler.

I used white craft sand to complete the soft, romantic, beachy look. But you can fill them with colored sand, small pebbles, coffee beans – whatever tickles your fancy! If you didn’t quite get as much of an even coat of glue as you thought, you may notice there’s a few small openings that the filler may get through. If you choose to not use filler, place a glass dish at the bottom of the bowl to keep the wax from dripping straight onto your doily.

*But don’t fret! A small piece of paper towel or even paper cut to size to fit in the bottom of the bowl will prevent leaking!

Step 9: Add candle.

If you’re worried about the hazards of a real flame, or you are using them at a venue with candle regulations, a battery operated light would be just as stunning!

Crap I've Made

DIY Postcards

Fun Fact: did you know Girl Scout Cookie boxes make perfect postcards? As long as the card height is between 3.5″ & 4.25″ & the length between 5″ & 6″, you are following USPS postcard regulations AND the box also meets regulations for thickness!!!! Say whaaa? Glue on a colorful piece of paper to the front (or plain white printer paper; cut accordingly to match the cardboard) & have your kids draw a fun picture or design.
Use a black marker to separate the message & address sections on the back (I added the address lines). Fill ’em out & mail ’em out or deliver to neighbor’s doors – if you really love them, I suppose you could maybe consider sharing your cookies, too. But that’s just a maybe… ♥️

Crap I've Made

DIY Snowman Cocoa Jars

This DIY Snowman Cocoa Jar makes an adorable and totally unique gift! Seriously, a super awesome Christmas present! Bonus – it’s crazy easy to make and a perfect addition to a festive holiday kitchen ❤️

Gather your supplies, warm up your hot glue gun and buckle up because you’re about to make the sweetest hot cocoa display evah!

Using 3 different sized glass jars (candy jars, terrarium/air plant jars, etc) black buttons, a strip of cute ribbon and all the hot cocoa fixins, I created this adorably cute Cocoa Snowman in under 30 minutes!

Crap I've Made

Woodland Apple Wreath

I love projects that are inexpensive to make and help feed our wildlife, too.

What a perfect wreath to use on the front door in the autumn. Especially if you’re hosting a fall or Thanksgiving dinner. It would be adorable in the kitchen, too. Plus, this is a great use (other than baking) for those bruised apples you don’t want to just throw out but don’t know what the heck to do with!

Apple picking is such a fun fall family activity. But sometimes those cute little hands of those cute little people put apples in the basket that haven’t been inspected and aren’t so “cute”. Here’s a simple use for them that isn’t baking – not that there’s anything wrong with baking. My thighs and I can both assure you that we love to bake. This is just a unique and different idea. And for me, the only cost here was the apples. Everything else I had in the workshop.

Using an inexpensive metal wreath form, line the interior with fabric. I used burlap ribbon because it was already the perfect width, but any fabric would work really. (You could also skip this step totally if you are omitting the moss. The fabric adds a base for the moss to lay on.)

I used green floral wire to attach the burlap ribbon to the wreath form.

Hot glue the moss in clumps onto the fabric. It doesn’t have to be hot glued all over. Just enough to hold it in place. The apples on top will help stabilize the moss as well.

Taking heavy duty wire, push the wire straight through the apples at different angles so the apples lay imperfectly.

Once all the apples are on the wire, twist tie the wire to the back of the wreath. The reason we’re using such heavy wire, is because once it’s outside, this will ensure it stays together as long as possible.

I strategically wrapped grapevine twigs and wired burlap rope around the exposed metal wire to conceal it in the front of the wreath. I used green floral wire to hold the twigs in place.

Once the apples start to turn and bruise, take your wreath outside! Place it somewhere near a window so you can watch all the creatures enjoy it!

And make sure to save your wire wreath form once the apples are gone. You can always reuse it!

Crap I've Made

Upcycled Fall Flannel Decor

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!

Crap I've Made

Patio Makeover on a Dime

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.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Foss-Ribbed-Taupe-6-ft-x-8-ft-Indoor-Outdoor-Area-Rug-CP45N40PJ1H1/202042697

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).

If you need me.

I’ll be here.

Crap I've Made

Veggie Stand

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!

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License Plate Beverage Carrier

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.
2 license plates
metal bottle cap opener
wood screws
Nail gun or Staple gun
Drill
4 Leather Strips approx. 24″ in length each (I had some left over from the Cleveland Indians Door Hanger you can see here)
17″ long 1″ Dowel Rod
2 Eye Hooks

I opted to paint and distress the wood pieces and stain the dowel rod.

Using a staple gun, nail the plate to each side piece
Drill the bottom piece to underside of side pieces
Drill 2 – 1/2″ holes into both sides (before attaching plates & bottom piece)
Taking 2 strips of leather, knot them outside of first hole.
Run strips through eye hooks
And back through second hole. Knot to secure.

Add a bottle opener on the side to complete the functionality of the carrier.

Pretty darn cool.

And off he goes with his beer in tow!

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Tic Tac Gnome

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.

Time to play!

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Floral Canvas Tennies

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’

Crap I've Made

English Garden Easter Tablescape

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.

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Perfectly Plantable Daffodil Centerpiece

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.

Crap I've Made

Cleveland Indians Baseball Door Hanger

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.
Mini Bat – I purchased mine here
Wood Piece – Approx. 12×6 in size. here is the one I used. This plaque was already stained.
3×10 Decal – I found mine in store at Walmart. Similar to this one
Galvanized Wire-approx 40″ – found at most craft and hardware stores
Pliers
Cordless Drill
1/4″ Drill Bit

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.

This is most definitely a Home Run!

GO INDIANS!

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Drink Canister Repurpose – Trash to Treasure Style

Instead of tossing it, quickly craft your empty drink mix canister into a beautiful farmhouse-chic storage solution for your home!

All it takes is a hot glue gun, some twine or a roll of sisal rope and maybe a bit of fabric. Seriously. It’s that easy!

This project most definitely falls into my Fave Rule of 3 F’s. Fast, Frugal and Freakin’ Awesome! I honestly think I spent more time waiting for the hot glue gun to heat up than it actually took me to make these babies.

Make sure your canisters are wiped out and completely dry. These are a cardboard product, so keep that in mind when deciding what you will choose to store in them. Dry goods, utensils and decor are most definitely the better option here.

#1

For the first canister, I chose inexpensive twine. The very first wrapped layer and the very last wrapped layer of your twine should be hot glued all the way around the canister to ensure it won’t unravel. The middle layers can be held with a dab of hot glue along the side you will consider the “back” of the storage container.

I found it fairly easy to just wrap the twine around the canister a handful of times and then pull the layers down into place. If you look closely at the third picture above, you can see I chose to glue along the seam of the label and used this as the “back” of my project. Hot gluing each group of twine layers I pulled down.

The first pic is what the canister looks like twine-covered up to the rim. It’s not horrible, but you can definitely still see the silver rim popping up. To fix that, I just glued a few extra layers of twine wrapped along the inside rim. A quick final touch to give it a more “finished” look.

Come on now, how cute is this?! For utensils, for straws, for chopsticks, whatevs. Anything and everything would just look cuter stored in this. It’s so farmhouse-y.

#2

Using the sisal rope, starting the next canister the same way I began with the twine, glue the entire first wrapped layer. Sisal rope is much thicker and requires a little bit more coercing to get it to go in the direction you want, but it’s certainly not hard to work with.

Unlike the twine, each layer will need to be individually wrapped tightly and glued into place along your chosen “back” side.

Once you have fully wrapped your sisal rope along the canister (and another layer along the top rim to finish it off), you can clap your hands and squeal with delight that you are already finished and it’s adorable.

OR …

you can do this easy peasy next step that takes your sisal-covered canister from “awww” to “ABSOLUTELY STINKING ADORABLE“!

All you need is a bit of fabric. Any fabric you like will do. I often pick up these super inexpensive pre-cut quarters from Walmart or JoAnn Fabrics. If I see one in a sweet pattern that’s on sale or clearanced off, you better believe I will swoop it up and store it in my fabric dresser until I have an epiphany of an idea for it!

Cut the fabric into an approx. 4 inch strip. Using hot glue, slowly begin adhering the fabric, printed side out, tightly along the inside of the canister. Leaving a 2 inch “skirt” to hang out around the outside of the canister, overlap the 2 ends, cutting off any additional fabric and glue them together.

I am so, so, so in luuuurve with this thing! It’s a perfect tissue holder and an even more perfect example of how anything, a.ny.thing, can be taken from trash to treasure! It would even be a wonderful utensil companion to the twine canister!

What are you waiting for? Go dig through your trash and start making your next DIY!

Public Speaking

Indoor Plant Rack

If counter space is a concern for you, but you still want to have plants in your kitchen windows … just hang ’em!

If you have been following along with me and my crazy house projects, you already know I have a thing for plants. Fresh and faux. I can’t get enough! I have so many plants, I was finding it hard to place them all properly in front of the windows. That’s when I decided to construct a Plant Rack. Using a sturdy brass curtain rod I saved from a neighbor’s trash pile, I made a place for my sweet lil’ kitchen plants to hang unobtrusively.

I love using fresh herbs while preparing meals. And I love to look at fresh herbs. And smell them. They are simply lovely in food and decor. Most especially in the Spring in Ohio when it snows on your perfectly fine spring vibes and you are craving GREEN!

I have tried a few methods for the actually hanging of the pots on the rod over the years and the one I found best was using large garden S-Hooks (pried open to fit around the width of the curtain rod) and simple twine macrame plant hanging pieces. If making your own macrame hangers isn’t for you, you can order similar twine hangers here. I used the large rings and S-Hooks pictured above the first spring after the rack was constructed, and it worked, but was hard to not spill the dirt a bit while watering due to the plants hanging. The twine hanging method ensures the plants are straight and makes it a little less messy. And of course, I believe adding a sign to any decor really seals the deal on cuteness. Plus, maybe if I ask nicely, they will live for a really long time?! (A girl can dream, right?) Never underestimate the power of politeness, people!

PS – do you like my indoor window awning? It was also a super simple and super inexpensive DIY you can read all about here. I think my windows look like a spot in a flower market!

If you like this project, follow along with me on IG @perfectlydestressed

I am always up to something!

Crap I've Made

The Bug Hotel

When March comes along, we seem to find ourselves itching for sunshine, warmer weather and just being outside. So, this Spring Break, we made it a point to get out of the house (even if it was a bit chilly at times) and get out in nature.

I have been seeing these Bug Houses all over the place lately. They are readily available at almost any store, but considering what they’re for, I felt they were a tad bit pricey. So, of course, I came up with a way to make our own for FREE!

All you need is an old birdhouse (I had a few lying around in the shed) and whatever supplies you can scrounge up from Mother Nature.

I pried the front of the birdhouses off with a mallet and screw driver. It was pretty simple. They were both held on with nails and wood glue, so just be careful. Slow and steady wins the race on this one for sure! One front came off whole, the other broke. But, you don’t need this piece anymore, so it doesn’t really matter.

To make layering the “stuffing” easier and separate the space, we hot glued a few pieces of spare wood along the inside of the birdhouse. This step is totally optional.

The next part is the most fun! We went out in the backyard, we went on a walk and we took a trip to the park to find all of our “stuffing” for the inside. Pine cones, thick fallen sticks, branches and anything else we considered “cool”. When we got home we dumped out our treasures to see what we had. We measured and cut (broke) the sticks to size and I drilled holes in the ends to give a place for the creepy crawly’s to burrow.

The final step was simply placing all of our supplies in the houses. We stuffed them full so there was no room for anything to shift or fall. The plan is to add them around our Frog Pond in a few weeks when it thaws. Hopefully the bugs enjoy their stay at our one-of-a-kind hotel!

Public Speaking

Spring Boot Tray

This is one of those “So crazy easy & so crazy adorable why didn’t I think of this sooner” DIY’s. You know exactly what I’m talking about! I know you do!

Start with Plastic Boot Tray & Artificial Grass – Cool Converse Tennies optional but highly recommended
Flip grass over, outline tray with Sharpie & cut grass to size
Find a good stick & make your sign on a small piece of canvas using a Sharpie. Everything is cuter with a sign.
Duct tape that bad boy on like a professional Repairman

Spring is so amazingly refreshing. It’s also so amazingly MUDDY! My kids love to stomp around in puddles, make mud pie & hang out in the chicken coop in the Spring. And with all of those super fun activities, comes SO.MUCH.DIRT on the front porch, on the back porch, in the garage, in the sunroom…everywhere!

I typically place a few boot trays or cheapo rugs in our main entryways to give the kids (and the husband) a place to kick off their muddy stuff before coming in. It’s a great idea, but the reality is the boots and shoes wind up around the tray, not normally on it. Oh well, a girl can wish.

Maybe though. Just maybe, they might start actually using the tray if it’s adorable?! Probably not, but at least I have something that makes me smile while I am cleaning up after my kids everyday and doing things that do not make me smile…#brightside

If you don’t already have one, the plastic boot trays are under $5 and can be found at practically any big box store. This time of year, you can find the artificial grass practically anywhere as well. I wanted a larger roll (I have a few other DIY’s in mind) so it made sense for me to purchase the larger rug roll (a 6×8 for around $20). I found mine in store at Home Depot. But they come in varying sizes depending on where you look so you don’t necessarily have to go this big. These and a pair of sharp scissors or box cutters and a sharpie are all you will need for this! I did make mine 2 layers of grass to fill up the tray to my liking, but this is totally optional, of course.

The tray was cute as is filled with the grass, but I chose to add a sign to the tray to make it a decor piece as well as a boot tray. I grabbed a small art canvas from my workshop (these are at the Dollar Tree for, you guessed it, a dollar!), found a big stick in the backyard, grabbed a roll of duct tape (nothin’ fancy here) and the black Sharpie from earlier to make my “Keep ON the Grass” sign. Again, easy and quick. The white decorative metal fence piece can be purchased at Home Depot as well in individual pieces. Yup. I’m the weird lady that buys ONE small fence piece for decor.

I love things around the house that serve a purpose but are adorable to look at, don’t you?

Public Speaking

Pickle Jar Repurposing Trifecta

These jar DIY’s are simply DILLightful! (Sorry – I had to!)

#1 – Storage Jars

Seriously, how adorable are these jars? Perfect for storing those little toys the kids insist on lovingly leaving all over the floor for us to step on. Or even in a bathroom with Q-tips and cotton balls? How ’bout filling them with battery operated fairy lights to use as a nightlight?! OOOOOH! What about poking some holes in the lid and using them to hold all those creepy crawly bugs the littles are gonna catch in the backyard soon?! SO.MANY.POSSIBILITIES!

Gather your supplies. In this case, the jars, the hot glue gun & the plastic toys.
Make sure the toys have flat bases to ensure a good hold on the lid.
Hot glue those babies on!
Spray paint the lid & let fully dry!

#2 – Bird Feeder

You have to feed those birdies! Spring is springing (or has it sprung?) and the birdies are busy makin’ babies and like every new Mama, they need to EAT! So, why not make a cute lil’ shabby chic feeder to place right outside your kitchen window and watch those sweet feathered beauties go to work?

Gather Supplies: Bird Feed, Chicken Feeder & Jar
Scissors & Sisal Rope, too! (or twine, leather strips, chain, whatever you’ve got!)
Fill your jar with feed
Screw filled jar onto chicken feeder (best to do outside!)
Knot a piece of sisal rope (approx 18″) around the bottom of the jar. Not too tight! Make sure to leave space for a later step.
Cut 3 pieces of sisal rope equal length (mine were about 48″ each)
Place your feeder in the middle
Take each piece of rope, pull them up around the jar & through the knotted sisal at the bottom of the jar
Knot the sisal rope together at the top, run an S-Hook around top knot & hang!

#3 – Pastel Vases

These are crazy easy to make! Wouldn’t they be an adorable Teacher gift? Or gift for Grandma? Or Auntie? Or Neighbor? Or Yourself?

Gather Clean Jars & Acrylic Paint
Side Note: these are 10 for $1 @Dollar Tree & make cleaning the sticker off the outside of the jar a breeze!
Pour paint inside. Attach lid & start rollin’, turnin’ & shakin’.
If you threw away your lids (like me), a piece of papertowel works A-Okay!
Once the jar is fully covered on the inside, turn them over on paper plates to drain. Leave for 30 min & then let air dry rightside up over night.

Public Speaking

Succulent Letter

What is it about succulents that have us all so enthralled? So many varieties. So many textures. I just adore them. Live succulents are easy to care for and are just so gosh darn hard to kill! I mean, faux succulents are even harder to kill…so, either fresh or faux succulents are fantabulous!

Have you visited your local greenhouse lately? It is an amazing place to go when you are feeling those winter blues and need some green in your life. I picked up a bunch of mini succulents on my last trip to the greenhouse. I have a made a few projects with them so far (you can see them here, here and here). This one was seriously so stinking fast to put together. I literally started and finished it (clean up and all) entirely during my little guys nap time.

Here’s what you need: large paper mache box letter, garden clips, sphagnum moss, plastic of some sort (to line inside of the letter), and burlap rope ribbon. You will also need a box cutter, hot glue gun and a pair of scissors.

Take the letter and cut off the top with the box cutter. Try to cut it in one piece. I took the top “G” piece I removed and hot glued it to the bottom for a bit of added support.

You will need plastic to line the inside of your box letter. I had garden plastic left over from my DIY Greenhouse. But, really any plastic will do. Heck, even plastic grocery bags or kitchen trash bags will work! I added hot glue along the inside wall of the “G” to keep the plastic in place.

Now, take your sphagnum moss and put it in a bowl of water. Toss it around a bit until it’s soaking wet. Squeeze out as much water as you can and start stuffing your letter. Pack it in there tight but make sure your plastic doesn’t slide down. You want the bottom and walls lined to keep the moisture from affecting the paper material. Once your letter is stuffed like a turkey, trim off any excess plastic around the top.

Remember that cool burlap rope ribbon? You will use it to cover the surface of your moss. This will help keep your moss from falling out if your letter is vertical. A bit of hot glue will help keep this in place too. Or, if you like livin’ on the edge like I do, just tuck that sucker in along the sides between the moss and the plastic liner and call it a day.

Now’s the fun part! Using your trusty index finger, make a hole through the moss and place your rooted succulent into the hole. *Tap as much dirt off the roots as you can before planting* You will want to secure each succy baby in the moss with a garden clip (or even paper clips bent out of shape a bit will work – use what you’ve got!)

I wanted to leave a little room for growth and a little room to see the moss. I think the exposed moss gives it a real natural and not-so-perfect look (kinda like me).

I would advise against hanging this particular planter. It is designed more as a table centerpiece or propped up like a picture frame. For easy watering, simply spray the succulents using a spray bottle about once a week.

If you try your hand at a Succulent Letter, or any of my other DIY’s, I wanna see! Share your pics with me! perfectlydestressed@yahoo.com

Crap I've Made

Tin Can Moss Planter

This is a super easy one, friends. Grab a clean tin can, a bag of moss sheets, your hot glue gun, a grapevine wreath and a filler (succulents, topiary ball, flowers, etc) and make this cute little baby in a matter of minutes!

Doesn’t this look wonderfully woodsy? Perfect for a fairy garden or gnome home!

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diy

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I love projects that are inexpensive to make and help feed our wildlife, too.

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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!

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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.

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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.

Gather your supplies and cover your work area.

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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.

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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?

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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!

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#1

#2

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Doesn’t this look wonderfully woodsy? Perfect for a fairy garden or gnome home!

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