Category: Spring

Making a Decorative Bee Skep

I have always been drawn to any vintage garden item, and one of those is a bee skep.

If you have never heard of a bee skep, it is an old man-made bee hive created by using an upside down basket with an entry hole near the bottom. The bees would make their honeycomb inside.

These skeps were beekeepers go to hives for years, but because of the difficulty getting the honey out without injuring the bees, and as new hives came about, these skeps became obsolete.

People still love the skeps today but as a popular feature in gardens and home decor.

I have always wanted one for my garden area, so I made my own.

If you love garden inspired decor, as I do, let me show you how to make these easy DIY bee skeps.

I simply used an old plastic flower pot as my form, a glue gun, and several packs of jute from the $ store.

Using the hot glue gun, I attached the jute around the entire pot.

Apply a stream of glue and press the jute to it until the pot is covered.

When I reached the top I made a loop and secured it with more glue.

Since this is a decorative piece I made a circle of jute and glued it on the front as an opening, and painted the inside with black paint.

Oh my goodness, I love it!

It is so darn cute.

Hope all you garden lovers try this project.

It is still summer to me even though the stores are full of pumpkins and fall decor.

I realize it is almost September, but can’t we give each season it’s time.

I want more days to enjoy my bee skep.

Love to all you sweet folks, until next time.

DIY Lantern Using Photo Frames

First of all, you all know just how much I love a really good DIY project.

That is exactly what I will be sharing with you today.

A lantern made from Dollar Tree photo frames, and some inexpensive wood plaques, from Hobby Lobby.

These frames, with the little detail around the edges, did prompt me to try this project.

To start, I removed the backing and glass from the frames, and painted them.

Although they were already white, I used white chalk paint so I would have a uniform finish on all pieces of this project.

When dry, using E6000 glue, I glued the frames together, one by one, making a box.

After an hour or so, when I knew the frames were secured, I replaced the glass using a bit of E6000 glue along the inside of the frames.

Paint all the wood plaques after sanding any rough spots.

Play with the sizes of plagues you use to get the look you want.

I used two plagues on the top, one smaller than the other, and one for the base.

To finish, I glued the two plaques for the top together, and screwed on a gold handle before gluing to the frames.

I love a little gold on my white pieces.

You will notice on the bottom, I placed a plague but did not glue it to the base, so I will have access to the inside of the lantern.

I love the simple look of using a white candle, but there are so many ways to decorate a lantern, especially for each season.

Be sure that you always use battery operated candles in this lantern.

My lantern is clean, bright, and simple.

It’s beautiful!

Lanterns can be used in so many ways, in almost every room, painted in the colors you love.

If you are looking for a DIY project for spring, this would be a good one.

Gather up some frames, have some fun!

Blessings!

Spring Brings Hope

“Wait. Be Patient.

The storm will pass.

The spring will come.”

-Robert Shuller

It has been a tough five months, but we have made it through all the tests and doctor appointments, CT scans, and my husband’s three surgeries.

The outcome is positive and we are very hopeful.

Taking one day at a time, we survived the dark winter days.

Today, I know spring is on the way.

Just as the crocus come through the snow, our lives are showing signs of spring.

Yes, spring is coming.

Saturday we sat outside together on our crooked back porch.

The weather was 73 and beautiful.

Hopefully, just the beginning of warm days.

I also spent some time working on bringing a bit of spring into my home.

Using frames I already had, I simply printed out copies of spring flowers I found on Pinterest, beautiful cherry blossoms.

My sweet brother was the inspiration for this project.

When he texts me he attaches photos of flowers, all kinds, all colors.

It took very little time to finish this project, and now I have added spring colors and brightness to my living room.

Artwork is pricey, this is an inexpensive way to change art in your home.

Folks, we made it through five months of living in fear, but it is over.

Spring is coming and bringing with it hope.

Love to all for your prayers.

Until next time.

For The Birds

This post is not only for the birds, but also for my husband.

As I have written before, he suffers from Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

He has deteriorated this past year.

Walking is impossible without some assistance from a walking stick, and now a rolling walker.

He never complains, but his activities are very limited.

Now that the weather has improved, our back porch is his sanctuary.

He reads, listens to music, puts his feet up for many afternoon naps, and loves to watch the birds in our backyard.

His binoculars are always around his neck when he steps onto the porch.

We have a birdbath, which draws many birds, so I thought I would add a bird feeder to hopefully welcome more to our yard for Jim to watch and enjoy.

I gathered some items that I had, a wood piece, an old tin pie pan, and a wood candle holder.

Cleaned and spray painted all with black paint.

Used screws to assemble, added a hook to the top of the wood piece, and jute to hang on a branch in our large backyard Maple tree.

I added seed, and the birds are gathering.

Pleased with it, especially that I just used items in my junk stash.

I found this $2.00 unfinished wood bird house at the thrift store.

It was in good condition except for a bad spot on the front.

Cleaned, sanded, and painted the house.

To cover up the bad spot I added a decorative knob.

You all know I love to use vintage looking knobs and handles to add a final touch to many of my projects.

Just a beautiful way to finish and complete an item.

Hobby Lobby has a very large selection, 50% off every other week.

I hope to find a special place nestled in a tree that some special little birds might love.

Hope to see some sweet little birds hop on the knob and into their new home.

Two simple, inexpensive projects, completed in just a day, that will hopefully give some joy to my husband, and our backyard birds he loves to watch.

Hope you all are enjoying the beautiful days of spring.

Broken Pot Wind Chime

On my last post I showed some thrift store items that I was able to restore, items someone tossed away.

Well, today I am sharing one of my almost thrown away items, one that I was able to reuse, to make something pretty wonderful.

I have always loved this pot.

Loved the distressed look.

Unfortunately, as I did with my birdbath, I left it out all winter and the bottom cracked and came off.

As I was about to pitch it, I thought again.

Is there any way I could reuse it?

I thought of a wind chime I saw at Hobby Lobby that used an upside down ceramic pot. I loved it, but not for $39.99.

Using a $2.00 round wood piece and some silicone, I attached the wood to the bottom of the pot.

Applied the silicone generously, inside and out.

Attached a hook to the top of the wood, and also a hook on the inside.

Found an inexpensive bell chime that I planned to hang from the inside hook.

Painted the bells and beads turquoise, and I also painted and added some extra beads to the top.

Used some fishing line to hang the wind chime.

Finished.

It is really nice.

Whatcha think?

Love the soft sound of the bells when the wind blows.

Perfect hanging on our back porch

Think before you throw away items.

Look for the potential in everything you think you don’t need anymore, have some creative fun reusing.

Until next time, blessings.

Flowering Spring Bulb Centerpiece

My local store had shelves of flowering spring bulbs on display as you entered the front door, daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths, in a variety of colors.

Needless to say, I brought home a couple of each.

Once I was home, I gathered different size clay pots from my potting area, and some potting soil, to transfer the plants from the plastic containers they came in.

I planted some together, others alone in smaller pots.

Gave the bulbs a good watering, and cleaned off the pots before I placed some of them on a basket tray.

Added a white bunny, and some of my decoupaged eggs, for a beautiful spring centerpiece.

The tray is in my living room now, but I plan on using the pots on my Easter Sunday dinner table.

I decided to top each pot with some moss for a more finished look.

The bulbs will continue to flower, and by Easter, they should provide lots of color to my table.

This is the first time I have done this, but I think it will be something I do every spring.

It is just so easy.

Together, it all feels like spring, and looks like Easter.

Once the bulbs have finished blooming, they can be planted outside for next year’s blooms.

I am sure your local store has a similar display out front.

Pick up a couple pots to bring some spring to your home.

The pots are easy to care for, watering every 3 days, and give them lots of sunshine.

So that’s it, an easy and simple way to create a beautiful spring centerpiece.

Hope you all were inspired, and are enjoying the beginning of spring.

Thoughts of Spring

Well, it isn’t spring quite yet, but temperatures are warming.

Yesterday it was 60, with lots of sunshine.

Last week I cleaned off our porch and we actually sat out for a bit.

Just the thought of spring makes me so happy!

It’s time to put away the pine cones and winter greenery for some bright and airy spring branches and flowers.

So, I double masked myself, and took a little trip to Target and Michaels.

Spring cherry blossoms came home with me.

They were 40% off at Michaels.

They look so nice in my balloon vase.

So “springy”.

I really enjoyed looking at all the spring and Easter decorations that are out now!

At Target I found this oh so cute ceramic bunny basket for $3.00.

How cute, with the little bunny cutouts all around.

It is a good size too, with a gold handle.

I still find it hard to believe it was only $3.00.

How sweet it would be filled with colorful Easter eggs, or what a cute Easter basket filled with lots of fun things for someone you love.

Target has a spot in the front of the store with items from $1.00 to $5.00.

There are always nice seasonal items.

I also found these burlap carrots for $1.00 each.

A small basket filled with these carrots would be a simple Easter touch.

At these prices you can afford a bit of spring decorating in you home.

My little shopping trip was enough for now, letting me know spring is just around the corner.

It’s coming.

Spring is coming.

You can already feel it, can’t you!

I hear birds outside my window as I write this!

It brings hope, hope that our lives might return to some kind of normal.

With love and prayers that you all are staying safe.

Think hopeful, spring thoughts!

Whimsy Flower Boxes

Just loving the weather we are having!

I remember, in the cold of winter, looking out my kitchen window, longing for the warmth, the green, the colors, the sounds, of this glorious time of the year.

It’s here, I am so pleased and thankful!

Love to add whimsy things to my porch and yard, simple fun things.

Found this plain wood box at the thrift store some time back, stashed it away, I knew I would find a way to use it eventually.

I also found this old flower box in my garage, from years ago, when I displayed at craft fairs.

It was a popular item I made and sold some 20 years ago!

Both boxes just needed a bit of sanding, some paint, and little time to turn into two whimsy flower boxes.

Take a look at my old boxes now!

Love them!

The addition of a knob from Hobby Lobby gave the plain box, now painted white, that little extra it needed to be special.

The picket fence box didn’t need much, I still loved the primitive look from so many years ago.  Just repaired the mini birdhouse on the fence, sanded and cleaned.

Adding flowers was the final touch.

Oh my gosh, to me, they are so beautiful!

Do fun, whimsy things today!

Giggle and love today!

See ya!

It’s Finally Here – Springtime!

According to the calendar, today is the first day of spring.

Unfortunately, the teasing continues.

Two days of warm temperatures, and then, as is today, cold, rainy, and snow.

This was a photo taken from my front door just a few days ago!

Hibernating is about over!

I guess it is about time to give up my flannel sheets.

Our woodpile is low.

Fires in our wood burning fireplace are coming to an end.

We will miss our fires, they were the center of our home during the cold winter months, drawing us to the glow and warmth.

The change is near with Easter in only two weeks.

My magnolia tree is budding, the daffodils are up, and there are so many robins in our yard, giving my sweet kitty someone to chatter with!

Yesterday, I gathered my spring and Easter items, and I also changed my front door wreath.

It will be nice to be able to sit outside once again.

Longer and warmer days ahead.

Projects will be changing from inside ones, to outside.

Today I will clean a bit, and find just the right places for all of my bunnies and chicks!

Hoping you find some sunshine in your life today.

Happy Spring!

My Refreshing Time of the Year

At last, it is Spring!

Although the past week brought nights of freeze warnings and some snow, the calendar tells us it is Spring.

Crabapple TreeMy flowering crabapple tree is in bloom and temperatures are finally going to be warm in my area for the next week.

After my family’s emotionally hard winter we are all ready for a refresh!

No matter how long the winter,

spring is sure to follow.

—Proverb

When growing up my Momma always did her “spring cleaning”, going so far as to wash down walls!  We had so little, but she wanted to keep what we had, neat and clean.

Just like Momma, but not as extreme as washing walls, I try to give my home a spring refresh.  I give everything a good dusting, eliminate clutter that has piled up over the winter months, and cleaning a few windows, letting in the spring sunshine.

I want my home to be clean, simple, and uncluttered. Seriously, having clutter in a home is horrible. Never being able to find anything is so stressful, it weighs so heavy on your overall life.  If eliminating clutter is the only thing you have time for this spring, do it!

My spring decorating is no frills, just simple.

Found some white dishes in a thrift store and added to each side of my dining room hutch.

White Plates in the DiningSpent $3 on some dogwood sprigs at Hobby Lobby for the table, and added some sweet yellow birds here and there.

Dogwod in the DiningYellow BirdsSpring is also a good time to refresh other areas of our lives, our emotions, our hearts.

I have spent some quiet time focusing on my life, my faith, forgiveness, letting go, the important things, love, tell them!

Refresh!  Take care of those areas in your life that are weighing you down.

Go outside today, breathe the sweet spring air, feel the warm spring sunshine, and refresh!

Lovely thoughts to all of you!