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Public Speaking

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!

Public Speaking

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!

Public Speaking

Herb Drying Ring

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.

Public Speaking

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

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!

Public Speaking

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!

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

Public Speaking

Shabby Chic Burlap & Twine Planter

This shabby chic burlap planter idea is a wonderful (and frugal) addition to any front porch or patio. It is simple, extremely inexpensive and absolutely adorable!

All you need is your plants, a few old buckets, twine and a roll of garden burlap from the hardware store or garden center!

Make sure your buckets are larger than your plant that you are potting. New buckets are not necessary as long as they are clean and free of any chemicals that may be harmful to your plant.

*Be sure to follow any specific repotting suggestions per your plant’s instruction tag*

Drill holes into the bottom of your buckets for proper drainage.

No drill? No problem!

A hammer and a large nail could also be used here!

Wrap your garden burlap around your bucket and cut it to size. Because one bucket that I was using was blue (and garden burlap is a bit see through), I folded my burlap in half to cover the color. Tuck in any additional burlap up and over into the bucket.

I was a tad overzealous with the soil and began adding it a bit too soon. It is best to add the soil AFTER you have wrapped and tucked your burlap fabric around your bucket.

Wrap your twine along the top of your bucket a few times. There’s really no wrong way to do this. Once it has the thickness and width you like, cut your twine and tie a bow (it’s really that simple!)

Finally, add your potting soil and your plant!

I chose to add a bit of Spanish Moss as well to keep the soil moist and clean.

These planters are just too perfect! They are so easy. Anyone can do them and they are extremely versatile in decor!

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License Plate Beverage Carrier

Like this:

Tic Tac Gnome

Like this:

Herb Drying Ring

By now, I think it’s pretty darn obvious that I have a love affair with herbs and flowers.

Like this:

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.

Gather your supplies and cover your work area.

Like this:

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!

Like this:

Drink Canister Repurpose – Trash to Treasure Style

#1

#2

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Indoor Plant Rack

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Pickle Jar Repurposing Trifecta

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Succulent Letter

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Shabby Chic Burlap & Twine Planter

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By now, I think it’s pretty darn obvious that I have a love affair with herbs and flowers.

Share!

Like this:

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.

Share!

Like this:

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!

Share!

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