Paper Shamrock Bouquet

March 20, 2020 By Linda 7 Comments

If you told me in November that I would be pining for 2019 in mid-March, I would have laughed.

Impossible. I would have said.

That’s crazy. I would have exclaimed.

Never. Ever. Ever. I would have insisted.

And yet …

here I am pining for 2019.

2020 got off to a rocky start. What with dad in rehab in Florida and mom not really able to live on her own (though she would greatly contest that!).

So five weeks of 2020 were spent in Florida. And I missed a big chunk of my daughter’s winter break from her freshman year at college.

Then on March 2 I woke up and knew something was wrong …

very, very wrong.

I went to bed Sunday night feeling fine. Great even.

By Monday morning, I was down for the count.

Coughing.

Exhausted.

Throat on fire. Like I swallowed shards of glass.

And a very heavy chest. Like there was a boulder pressing down on my lungs.

It felt like overnight I developed pneumonia. And strep throat. And bronchitis.

I was wiped out.

The only thing I didn’t have was a fever.

On Wednesday of that week, I started to feel shortness of breath. Like I couldn’t catch my breath.

On Thursday it happened again. And again. So I called my husband and he took me to the hospital.

They ruled out pneumonia. A strep test wasn’t taken. And they determined I had laryngitis.

Laryngitis?

They gave me a one time steroid to help with the swelling in my throat. And sent me home.

There was nothing else they could do. It just needed to run it’s course.

And did it ever run it’s course.

After two weeks, I felt better but not 100%.

It’s now 19 days later and I’m finally feel healthy.

Now I debated sharing this project. I worked on it before I got sick. And thought perhaps of saving it for next year …

and then it hit me. St. Patrick’s Day returns every year. So let’s just say I’m out really far advance for 2021. 😉

P.S. I also figure I could use a little bit of four-leaf-clover luck this year!

How To Make A Paper Shamrock Bouquet

Start with some scrapbook paper.

Fold up bottom edge.

Outline half a heart on the fold. Make sure you don’t trace all the way to the bottom of the heart.

Here’s a link to a couple of shamrock heart templates.

Like so.

Fold the paper in half again along the half heart shape.

Cut out half heart shape.

Unfold.

Add a dab of glue to the good side of the paper.

Attach a second shamrock heart to form the four leaf clover.

Make a flat loop on the end of a strip of green floral wire.

Add a blob of hot glue and attach the wire.

All that’s left is to put your paper shamrock bouquet in a cute vase. I chose a pot of gold!

Let’s hope my luck picks up!

Though end of March isn’t looking too good either. I’ll fill you in next week!

Lavender Soap DIY Recipe

February 27, 2020 By Linda 4 Comments

Lavender Soap DIY Recipe – Easy Homemade Soap Recipe.

Lavender Soap DIY Recipe - How to make soap at home. Easy soap recipe.

Are you a fancy soap person?

Because, honestly, I’m not.

I didn’t grow up in a fancy soap household. And when I did visit a fancy soap household, I didn’t really know if you could/should use the fancy soap.

Are you supposed to use the fancy soap?

And don’t even get me started on the fancy towels. 😉

So why am I making fancy soap today?

Good question. I’m not really sure …

Perhaps I aspire to become a fancy soap person?

Or perhaps I came across some homemade soap projects on Pinterest and thought, “oh, that looks fun. And easy. And great smelling!”

So here I am. Making some fancy-fun-and-easy-great-smelling homemade soap!

Lavender Soap DIY Recipe

Materials*

1 lb Goat’s Milk Melt & Pour Base

1-2 TBSP Dried Lavender

Lavender Oil (I found mine at Michael’s but here are some choices on Amazon)

Silicone Soap Molds

*includes some affiliate links.

How to make soap. How to make lavender soap. DIY soap recipe. Easy soap recipe. Goat's milk soap base.

How to make soap. How to make lavender soap. DIY soap recipe. Easy soap recipe. Lavender for soap making. Lavender scent for soap making.

Cut 1 lb of goat’s milk melt & pour soap mix (1/2 of the 2 lb brick) into squares.

Melt in microwave for 30 seconds. Remove & stir and keep microwaving for 10 second intervals until full melted.

Add 15 drops of lavender to melted goat’s milk.

Add a tablespoon of lavender to melted goat’s milk.

Add a second tablespoon to goat’s milk mix (optional).

Ladle into silicon soap form.

Let it set up overnight.

And that’s it! Now you too can be a fancy soap person.

Though I’m still unsure if I should/could use it? 😉

Pin It!

You Might Also Like:

Tissue Paper Flowers

How to Make New Crate Look Vintage

Embroidery Hoop Winter Wreath

February 20, 2020 By Linda 5 Comments

Embroidery Hoop Winter Wreath – Wreath Ideas with Embroidery Hoops.

I’m not sure what I should talk about today. Because I have two things on my mind that are completely and totally unrelated.

One is my new obsession with embroidery hoop wreaths.

I think this may need to be the last embroidery hoop wreath I make for a while. Because it feels like I make one every other month …

though, honestly, this is only the second one I’ve share.

I think all those other ones “I made” were just ideas. And inspiration pinned to my Pinterest boards. Ideas and inspirations that never became creations.

The other thing on my mind today is my parents.

Because, honestly, they’ve been on my mind daily since my father fell and his hospital stay and his rehab stay. Etc., etc.

But today the training wheels are off.

Today is the first day my parents are 100% on their own …

since that fall/hospital stay/rehab/etc.

They are on their own in Florida. Their children (my brother and sister and I) all live hundreds of miles away.

So today — and the day after and the day after and on and on — I await the call from Life Alert (yes, we installed the “help I’ve fallen and can’t get up” service in their home).

It’s not even an “if” the call comes. But more of a “when.”

With the big question being: What happens next?

Was it simply an assist from a fall?

Will there be a hospital stay?

A rehab stint?

So many unknowns.

So in the meanwhile — while I await the inevitable call — I distract myself with embroidery hoop wreaths.

How To Make Embroidery Hoop Winter Wreath

Materials*

Embroidery Hoop

Faux Evergreen Sprigs

Faux Eucalyptus

Painted Pine Cones

Wire Cutters

Floral Wire

Floral Tape

*includes some affiliate links.

Start with faux evergreen sprigs.

Remove the festive red beads. This is a winter wreath. Not a Christmas wreath.

Give those little faux pine cones a splash of white paint. To make them look snowy. For winter.

Use thin wire to attach faux eucalyptus to hoop.

Remember that you have green floral wire and use that to attach the faux evergreen sprigs.

Cover all that wire with green floral tape.

Wrap floral wire around end of painted pine cone.

Attach to wreath.

Add two more painted pine cones.

Finish with a jute bow. And hang.

And while I wait on that inevitable Life Alert call, I’ll be plotting out what my spring embroidery hoop wreath will look like …

😉

Pin It!

You Might Also Like:

How To Paint Pine Cones

Embroidery Hoop Wreath

Valentine’s Day Wrapping Paper DIY

January 30, 2020 By Linda 10 Comments

Valentine’s Day Wrapping Paper DIY – Easy Homemade Wrapping Paper Tutorial.

Valentine Day Wrapping Paper DIY - Homemade Wrapping Paper Tutorial for Valentine - Heart Wrapping Paper Made with Heart Stamps.

I like to wrap.

I know, I know. That sounds crazy.

And it’s wrap with a “w.” Not an “r” … 😉

But I really do enjoy it. And when I say it, I mean the whole process …

… the picking out the paper (or, in this case, the designing of the paper). The picking out of bows and ribbons and tags (or, in this case, improvising with baker’s twine and a heart cookie cutter).

There was a time (long ago when we were still a two-income family) when the neighbor’s children sold wrapping paper for a school fundraiser. And I would pour over that catalog.

For hours.

And I would place a big, fat, expensive order. Each and every year.

I may even have a few wrapping remnants from those big, fat, expensive orders somewhere in my basement! Ha!

But now that we’re a one(ish) family income I look for much more frugal ways to wrap and present my gifts. And using what I have (brown packing paper, heart stickers, baker’s twine and acrylic paint) I decided to make my own for Valentine’s Day …

How To Make Valentine’s Day Wrapping Paper DIY

Materials*

Brown Packing Paper

Foam Heart Stickers

Wine Cork

Matte Acrylic Paint (I used Red, White, Pink, Gray)

Gold Paint Pen

Baker’s Twine (optional)

*some affiliate links included.

Start with brown packing paper, foam heart stickers and a wine cork.

Make a heart stamp using two foam hearts and wine cork.

Dip homemade stamp in paint. Dab/stamp off excess. Apply to brown packing paper.

Outline some hearts with gold paint pen.

Add an arrow.

Use a heart cookie cutter to outline a piece of your homemade wrap. Cut out heart, punch hole and use as gift tag.

Wrap with baker’s twine or ribbon. You’re choice!

And that, my friends, is what you would call a wrap! 🙂

Wasn’t that fun?

Have I turned you into a wrapping — and wrapping paper — fan like me?

Pin It!

You Might Also Like:

Yarn-Wrapped Hearts

Valentine Kid Craft - thumbprint Heart Jars

Thumbprint Heart Mason Jars

Valentine’s Craft Ideas

Tissue Paper Flowers DIY

October 24, 2019 By Linda 7 Comments

Tissue Paper Flowers DIY – How To Make Tissue Paper Flowers – Script Tissue Paper Flower.

Tissue Paper Flowers DIY - How to Make Tissue Paper Flowers - Script Tissue Paper in Gray, Off White

I was in college when I first discovered that I have absolutely no business taking care of living plants.

My mother dropped me off in State College, PA my freshman year complete with all my new-for-college clothes, my favorite stuffed animals, a collection of pictures from high school to post on my bulletin board, some posters to decorate the walls, a brand new pastel striped comforter and bedding …

and a plant.

A real, live, living plant. She thought it would add some life (literally) to the room.

Bwahahahahahahaha. How little did she — and me! — know then. 😉

I really didn’t give it a second thought. I mean, it’s a just a plant after all. We had plants around the house and all of them seemed fine (note: my mom took care of those plants at home).

Well, the problems started when I would forget to water it.

And then I would overcompensate for the forgetting to water it and over water it. Okay, more like drown it in water!

Rinse. Repeat.

That freshman year plant tried really hard … you could say it gave it the hold college try … to stay alive.

Though, to be honest, unlike me it did not gain that freshmen 10. It looked more like it had developed a very serious eating disorder.

And when I brought said plant home for summer break, my mother confiscated it.

She would tease that she could hear it gasping for water 230 miles away.

I didn’t tell her about all the times I waterboarded that poor plant!

Over the years, I would try and try again …

wouldn’t it be great to have an indoor herb garden …

surely I could manage to care for a succulent next to the sink …

but it always ended with the same sad, miserable, dusty, dead plant results.

So, for now, I’m back to faux and paper fauna and foliage:

How To Make Tissue Paper Flowers DIY

Materials

Tissue Paper (I think I found my paper at this link)

Scissors

Stapler

Start with five sheets of tissue paper.

Cut off excess length to make sheets 10″ x 14″

Accordion fold.

Staple in the center. I added a second staple to make sure the sheets were secure.

Trim edges so they’re slightly rounded at ends.

Begin peeling back tissue paper sheets, one at a time.

Keep peeling …

and peeling. You may even need to do a little fluffing too.

Until you’re done!

No watering needed! 🙂

Pin It!

You Might Also Like:

**Decorating with Faux Eucalyptus Year-Round**

Jute Wrapped Mason Jar Craft - Easy Fall Mason Jar Craft - Easy Jute Twine Craft Ideas — **Twine Wrapped Mason Jar**

No Carve Jeweled Pumpkins

October 10, 2019 By Linda 9 Comments

No Carve Jeweled Pumpkins – Glam Pumpkin Craft Idea.

No Carve Jeweled Pumpkins - Rhinestones on Pumpkins - Bling Pumpkins - Glam Pumpkins - Painted Pumpkins.

My front porch is sad. And empty.

It’s naked.

I really, really want to decorate it. I really, really want to put my terracotta pumpkins out there. I really, really want to purchase some unique pumpkins in various colors, sizes and shapes from Trader Joe’s. Along with some mums.

But I’ve been holding out.

And now the neighbors are showing me up. Big time. They’ve pulled out their A game this year …

You see, I decided early in the summer that this is the year I’d give my porch a refreshing coat of paint.

It’s chipping. And looking pretty run down.

But as the summer progressed, I progressively came up with excuse after excuse of why I need to wait until next week to paint it.

It was too hot.

It was too rainy.

It was too close to our vacation and I didn’t want to potentially leave the project half finished.

It was too close to taking Molly to college and I was distracted with all that entailed.

It was too expensive so I’ll just wait for a Sherwin Williams sale/coupon.

And next week turned into months …

… and eventually a whole new season!

All too soon my next week excuses will include a) it’s too cold and; b) it’s snowing!

But I’m going to be totally serious here: NEXT WEEK I’ll be painting that front porch.

And when it’s dry, I’ll be decorating the bejeezes out of it!

Watch out neighbors.

In the meanwhile, I’ve been having some no carve pumpkin fun. Remember those little orange pumpkins I used for my orange, black and white table setting (see here). I decided to dress them up with some crystals, pearls and roses …

How to Make No Carve Jeweled Pumpkins

Materials*

Pumpkins (found mine at the grocery store)

Paint – White, Off White/Cream, Gray – I used Rustoleum Chalked Paint

Stick-on Rhinestones

Stick-on Pearls

Mini Ribbon Satin Bows

Small White Beads

Glue Gun

Tweezers

*includes some affiliate links.

Tape stems and give your pumpkins two coats of paint. I used chalk paint because a) I like the matte finish and; b) it dries quickly!

Remove tape. At this point I was going to spray them with matte sealant but I forgot. Ah well. Since these pumpkins are real, they’ll be tossed soon!

Grab your stick-on rhinestones …

and start sticking on! I just eyeballed spacing.

The Jersey in my is loving the glam!

Now grab those stick-on pearls …

and start sticking on!

Reminds me of my pearl necklace!

Which reminds me, when is that cardigan and pearls style trend coming back? I think it’s time for a revival!

Next up are the silk mini roses and pearls. I used to sew these onto the collars of onesies for my nieces to dress them up!

You need a hot glue to apply these.

For the little pearls, I used hot glue and tweezers to affix them.

I then I need to do a little paint touch up!

So cute!

If only these were waterproof, I could put them on the soon-to-be-painted-next-week-pinky-swear front porch and really razzle dazzle my neighbors!

🙂

Pin It!

You Might Also Like:

Fabric Stuffed Pumpkins

Jute Twine Mini Pumpkins

Fall Table Setting in Gray, White, Neutral, Jute

Jute Twine Pumpkins

September 26, 2019 By Linda 4 Comments

Jute Twine Pumpkins – No Carve Pumpkin Craft Ideas.

Jute Twine Pumpkins - No Carve Pumpkin Ideas - Fall Craft Ideas Using Jute - Fall Craft Ideas for Pumpkins

Not that I’m counting — I’m soooo 1000% counting! — but this is my sixth craft project using what I already have at home.

I’m so amazed at myself!

And, yes, I’m 1000% patting myself on the back!

I seriously didn’t think I could keep this up. That after a project or two I would ultimately give in and dash off to the craft store. But no. I’m really pulling this off.

And, yes, I’m 1000% humble bragging!

Total aside, I’m seriously saving so much in gas money too!

But aren’t these little jute twine pumpkins just glorious?

And when was the last time I ever used the word glorious on this blog? I’m thinking 1000% never.

I’ve been watching some YouTube videos (and when I say watching, I mean binging) of a travel Vlog from a couple who live in Wales. And they generously use the word glorious.

And lush.

And posh.

And delightful.

And I 1000% love all those words and need to incorporate them into my vocabulary. Stat.

In the meanwhile, I’ll just share how you can make your very own delightful, glorious, lush and posh jute twine pumpkins.

And they’re 1000% easy to make!

How To Make Jute Twine Pumpkins

Materials*

Jute Twine

Ruler or Yardstick

Tape

Scissors

*includes some affiliate links.

How To Make Twine Pumpkins - DIY Jute Pumpkins - Fall Craft Ideas with Twine - Fall Craft Ideas with Jute

Cut a length of twine that is slightly larger than 12″

Tape down both ends to ruler.

Tape a new length of twine to ruler (I didn’t cut this piece and just un-spooled as needed from the twine spool).

Wrap twine around the ruler (not too tight or it will be impossible to remove from ruler!).

Continue to wrap until you have a little over 9″

Gently remove from ruler (make sure to first untape all ends and to keep hold of the original 12+ inch length of twine taped to both ends of the ruler.

Like so.

Tie a knot using the two ends of the original length of 12+ inches of twine. Pull tight.

Also tie a knot using the two loose ends of the twine used to wrap the ruler. Don’t pull too tight when knotting to keep the pumpkin “loops” a consistent size.

Use fingers to shape the pumpkin.

Find a stick in your front or back yards and cut a length for the stem.

Hot glue gun in place.

And you’re done!

The finished pumpkin – made using a ruler – measures about 2.75″ to 3″ in length.

I also made some using a yardstick. These little pumpkins measure about 3.5″ to 4″ in length.

I’m 1000% excited to dive into my craft stash to see what else I can make using what I have!

🙂

Pin It!

You Might Also Like These No Carve Pumpkins Ideas:

Fabric Stuffed Pumpkins

Dollar Store Pumpkin Craft with Mod Podge

Fabric Scrap Dollar Store Pumpkins

Bats Flying Across Pumpkins

Embroidery Hoop Wreath

August 15, 2019 By Linda 1 Comment

Embroidery Hoop Wreath DIY – How To Make Embroidery Hoop Wreath With Faux Eucalyptus & White Roses.

For the next four years I’m going to try and spend as little as possible on craft supplies. Let me count the reasons why:

#1 – College. While my first child graduated from college in the spring, my second (and last) child starts her freshman year next week. And with the start of college comes the tuition bill. And this time around the bill is bigger. Gulp. So I’m going to be scrimping, scraping … and praying that nothing big decides to malfunction around the house. Fingers crossed.

#2 – Random Craft Supplies. I have boxes and bins and drawers and shelves filled with various crafting supplies. Things that I thought I wanted to make but never made. Supplies for things I thought I wanted to make, never made … and now can no longer remember what I wanted to make! There’s extra supplies from things I did make. And then there are craft supplies I bought with absolutely nothing in mind; I just thought they were cute.

#3 – Ad Revenues. I’m not sure what’s going on (and it’s probably because I’ve taken a couple of very extended breaks from blogging over the past year … or perhaps things are just slow in the summer and I never noticed before), but my blog ad revenue took a nose dive these past few months.

#4 – College + Ad Revenues. Did I mention college? 🙂 And did I mention ad revenues? Because those ad revenues are what I use to cover that college tuition. And when ad revenues are down … well, my stress levels go up! Fingers crossed (I’m doing a lot of that lately) things will pick up for the upcoming holiday season.

#5 – Recession? I haven’t fulled recovered from the last one and I feel like I’m always looking over my shoulder for signs of the next one …

So I’ve decided I’m going to be much more frugal. I’m going to dig through those boxes and bins and drawers and shelves and (for the most part) craft with what I have. And what I don’t have, I’ll spend as little as possible to acquire.

Take this embroidery hoop wreath craft.

I picked up those hoops years ago. One of those I can’t remember what I wanted to make left over craft supply. The faux eucalyptus leaves were purchased in the spring, long before I started panicking about college tuition! The faux roses are from the dollar store; again picked up years ago. The only ‘new’ craft supply purchased for this project are the faux eucalyptus stems. They were a very frugal $3.19 (link in materials list).

How To Make An Embroidery Hoop Wreath

Materials*

Embroidery Hoop

Faux Eucalyptus Stems

Faux Eucalyptus Leaves

Faux Roses

Florist Wire

Floral Tape

Wire Clippers

Jute or Rope for Hanging

*some affiliate links included.

How To Make Embroidery Hoop Wreath With Faux Eucalyptus & White Roses.

Attach eucalyptus stems to bottom of hoop using florist wire.

Cover wire with floral tape.

Strip the rose stems of the plastic coating. Then remove the wire.

Use florist wire to replace the original faux rose wire.

Make a little loop thing at the end so the wire stays put.

Attach roses to hoop.

Add a jute loop and bow and hang.

Pin It!

You Might Also Like:

Entry Refresh

spring wreath ideas using hydrangeas in greens and blues and whites

Hydrangea Wreath

You can find all my craft projects at this link …

Succulent & Seashell Mason Jar Planter

August 8, 2019 By Linda 2 Comments

Succulent & Seashell Mason Jar Planter – Mason Jar Planter Ideas.

Every few years, I like to try my hand at growing things. Again.

Translation: Every few years I contract a bout of amnesia and forget I do not have a green thumb.

And this year is “every few years.”

I started on my “I Can Grow Things” spree with my front and back yards. My track record of growing grass is not … well … not strong. So this year I decided to try again. For the umpteenth time.

Translation: When I say I’m trying again to grow grass in my front and back yards that means I doled out a ridiculous amount of cash to a landscaper to try and take back my yard from the weeds and plant grass seed in the front, and sod in the back.

The experiment is still in the early stages, but I have to say there is quite a bit of green going on around here!

Translation: There was quite a bit of green going on until (1) the dog peed on the sod out back and; (2) the city of Chicago finally got around to trimming my (technically their) tree out front and left a 6 foot pile high of branches on the newly-seeded-and-growing parkway grass for the weekend.

But before the dog and the city’s Bureau of Forestry decided to test my resolve, I felt empowered … emboldened … to try my very own hand at planting some succulents. In a mason jar. With seashells.

No large sums of money were doled out for this project. 🙂

How To Make A Succulent & Seashell Mason Jar Planter

Materials*

Pint Size (16 oz) Mason Jar

Pea Gravel or Aquarium Gravel

Seashells

Potting Soil

*affiliate links.

Add pea gravel (or aquarium gravel).

Add seashells.

Add potting soil and succulent.

Water.

I also made some using sea glass that I shared on the other blog, Mason Jar Crafts Love …

Pin It!

Easy Distressed Terracotta Pots

July 30, 2019 By Linda 5 Comments

Easy Distressed Terracotta Pots – How To Age Flower Pots Tutorial

Easy distressed terracotta pots - how to age flower paints with paint and sandpaper

Let me set the scene for you:

It’s a gorgeous summer day. Like a day you wish each and every day could be like. Like a day you want to retire to … and a day that has you wondering exactly what city, what state, what country, what island you could you move to that would guarantee you a full year of days just like this day.

Or at least 300 days out of 365 like this day.

It’s sunny (of course). Temperatures are in the mid-70’s. There’s a slight breeze; just enough to rustle a few leaves. Absolutely zero humidity.

Am I right? Did I not just describe the perfect day.

I’m out the back porch working on this easy distressed terracotta pot project, listening to the sounds of the city around me.

Birds are chirping. I can hear the garbage truck working it’s way down the alley. The dogs next door start barking when they see me. Across the alley I hear the little voices kids playing out on the second floor balcony.

In the distance, I hear a drumbeat. And not the tom tom kind. But a full on rock and roll riff.

And as I “paint’ these terracotta pots … and I use the word paint very loosely because I’m basically just dry brushing and cross hatching away … that rock and roll rift picks up speed and volume. So I start dry brushing faster and faster along with the beat.

And the little voices across the alley on the second floor balcony hear the drums too. And they call out for the drummer to stop.

But I’m digging it. It the perfect background music for this particular project. And in no time at all, I’m done.

And the music ends.

But now the little kids with their little voices on the second floor balcony across the way call out, “hello person.”

Are they calling out to me? Perhaps another neighbor is working in their back yard too?

I wave. And they wave back.

So yes, they were calling out to me! The perfect icing on the perfect day.

End of scene.

P.S. I add a little drum riff tune to the video tutorial to help set the mood for you too!

Easy Distressed Terracotta Pots Tutorial

Materials*

Terracotta Pots & Saucers

White Chalk Paint

Chip Brush

80 Grit Sandpaper

*includes some affiliate links

Start with paint. I prefer chalk paint because it’s easy to work with and dries incredible fast. But you can use an acrylic paint too. Just use a matte finish.

Using a chip brush, dry brush on pot in cross hatch pattern. Don’t worry, you can’t make a mistake.

Keep painting until you get your desired look. I went a little heavier on the paint, but made sure some terracotta color still shows through.

Don’t forget to paint the saucer too!

Optional: Distress with 80 grit sandpaper. I just hit a few of the edges around the top rim and bottom.

Easy distressed terracotta flower pots - age flower pots with chalk paint and sandpaper

Just add plants to finish them off!

Now back to finding the perfect city/state/country/island where I can find the perfect day, day after day …

I’d also like someplace that I can enjoy the sounds of the city in the background …

and little voices calling out “hello person.”

Rock and roll drum riff optional.

🙂

Pin It!

Easy Distressed Terracotta Pots - How To Age Flower Pots with Chalk Paint - DIY Aged Terracotta Flower Pots

You Might Also Like:

Succulent Place Card Holders

How To Paint & Distress Mason Jars

Cabana Gray & White Stripe Envelope Pillow Tutorial

Cabana Stripe Envelope Pillow Tutorial

Succulent Place Card Holders

July 23, 2019 By Linda 10 Comments

Succulent Place Card Holders – Gold Dipped Terra Cotta Pot Planters

I created a video!

I know, I know. No big deal, right?

Nothing to jump up and down about, right?

Nothing to phone home about, right?

I mean, let’s get real here: people have been making videos for decades. Just look at the success of YouTube. Not to mention all the videos flooding Instagram and Facebook feeds.

People have actually gained fame … and fortune … for their video creations.

As the saying goes, you can’t swing a dead cat online without hitting a video!

So my little video is really not a big deal. But then again (for me) it feels like a pretty big deal.

You see, I noticed some blogs started featuring “My Latest Video” videos as part of their blog posts. And I wanted to get in on the action. Only problem?

Where to start!

What I did know: I didn’t want to actually shoot video footage. Instead, I wanted to use still images from my blog posts and turn them into a video slide show with music and text.

Now, many years ago, I recall working with Windows Movie Maker with the kids on school projects. But, alas, Windows Movie Maker is no more.

After much Googling and watching many, many how to make a video tutorials, I settled on the Microsoft Photo app (which I used on my laptop, not phone). There are limitations when it comes to fonts and font size and font placement. And you need to find your own free music sources …

perhaps one day I’ll offer my own video tutorial on how to turn a blog post into a video slide show using Microsoft Photo app …

but at the end of the day. I’m pleased.

For the most part.

And if anyone has a better program or app I should look into, please let me know! Preferable something free that offers more flexibility with fonts and font placement!

For my first video, I turned my how to make a succulent place card holder tutorial (below) into a slide show with music and text (above) …

How To Make A Succulent Place Card Holder

Materials*

Potting Soil

Painter’s Tape

Alphabet Rubber Stamps & Ink Pad

*includes affiliate links

Succulent Place Card Holders - Gold Dipped Terracotta Pots Table Setting

Step 1: How To Make Gold Dipped Terracotta Pots

Use Washi tape (which is more flexible than painter’s tape on these mini pots) to tape off area to be gold “dipped” (which means spray painted).

How to Make Succulent Place Card Holders with Mini Terracotta Pots Gold Dipped

Use painter’s tape to tape off the top of the terracotta pot.

Spray with gold spray paint. Remove tape when dry.

How to Make Succulent Place Card Holder Table Setting

Step 2: Plant Succulents

Add a little bit of potting soil to bottom of mini terracotta pots.

Add succulent. Water lightly.

Using Craft Wire to Make Place Card Holder Succulent

Step 3: How To Make Custom Place Cards & Place Card Holder

Wrap light gauge craft wire around end of pencil three times.

Squash the rings together (yes, my very technical “squash” term is used here!

Use card stock paper and mini stamps to make place cards.

Slip into craft wire holder.

Add to succulents.

And that’s it!

And it feels like (to me) that I made two projects in one!

Pin It!

Succulent Place Card Holders - Gold Dipped Mini Terracotta Pots Place Card Holders - How to Make Simple Place Card Holders for Summer Table Setting

You Might Also Like:

Summer Nautical Place Setting & Party Ideas with Paper

Fabric Wrapped Cork Board DIY

January 31, 2019 By Linda 14 Comments

Fabric Wrapped Cork Board DIY – How To Make Cork Board with Fabric.

In case you were wondering ….

yes, it really was that cold in Chicago yesterday.

When I woke up my Weather App told me the air temperature was a brisk -21 degrees.

-21 degrees!

Yeah, that’s normal. Not. Just like the Chicago river filled with blocks of ice is normal. Not.

I supposed I shouldn’t complain. Great Forks, North Dakota supposedly reached -38 degrees last night.

I honestly had zero expectations of actually experiencing the cold yesterday. I honestly had zero expectations that I would set foot out the front … or back … doors. I honestly had zero expectations of even getting within a few feet of said doors (especially the front door which is super drafty!).

And in preparation for honestly not experiencing the cold yesterday, on Tuesday I did a big shop. Five-filled-to-the-brim-shopping-bags-and-a-12-pack-of-diet-Coke big shop …

but then …

karma kicked us in the butt.

Though, is it really karma when all I did was prepare to not go outside in polar vortex sub-zero temperatures? I always thought karma was some kind of cosmic payback for doing something … well … bad?

So what happened, you’re probably asking (or, perhaps pleading?) me to tell you instead of rambling on about what karma is or is not.

Well …

the furnace died.

Dead. Nada. Nothing. We flipped the switch and …

silence.

No humming motor sound of the furnace turning on. No booming metal sound as the furnace kicked in and started blowing warm air out.

So here we all are … Mike home from work; Molly home from school; Ernie the beagle home because, well, he’s a dog and he’s always home … shivering in our home.

Now, on the plus side-ish: We have two furnaces. And the one that decided to kick the bucket heats the new addition. So the bedrooms upstairs are still warm.

But the main first floor living spaces — living and dining rooms and kitchen — can’t get above 60 degrees. Not exactly cold enough to drive us out of our home to a warming station. But just cold enough to be uncomfortable.

Luckily the heating guy showed up relatively quickly. And luckily it wasn’t a full furnace replacement (phew).

But why does this always happen on the coldest day of the year? Or, at least happen to us on the coldest day of the year? The last time we had to replace the furnace (the one that heats the main living spaces and bedrooms) happened on …

you guessed it …

the coldest day of that year!

So now I’m trying to figure out what horrible things I may have done to inflict this cold karma on me and my family! 🙂

So today, in honor of sub-zero temperatures, I thought I’d share a project worthy of a polar vortex kind of day …

How To Make Fabric Wrapped Cork Board DIY

Materials

Cork Board (I used 12 x 12 cork tiles)

Fabric (I used this gray/beige/white paisley fabric, purchased from an Etsy shop)

Glue Gun

Scissors

Cut the fabric, leaving a 1-2 inch border around all sides.

Add a dot of glue at the corner.

Fold down the corner piece onto hot glue. Hold for a few seconds until dry.

Add a bead of glue along one length of the cork board.

Press fabric down and hold for a few seconds until dry.

Add an extra dot of glue at corner. Fold over and hold until dry.

Okay, now I’m suppose to show you more pictures of how I folded over the other edge of fabric to finish off the corner … but I must’ve gotten distracted or something. Because I simply cannot find any more photos.

So instead I’ll just leave you with the finished fabric wrapped cork board diy project …

Oh, and in case you were wondering, it really is that cold in Chicago again today. Woke up to be greeted with a -16 on my phone’s weather app …

brrrrrrr …

but at least the heat is working today! 🙂

I’ll just leave you with a shot of the Chicago polar vortex from @online.chicago on Instagram …