Category: Crafts


Jun
2020

Fun with Dollar Tree Pots

categories: Crafts

I sure hope you all are happy and healthy.

Before the shutdown, I bought these pots at my local Dollar Tree store.

They were perfectly fine the way they were, loved the designs, but I saw color.

So I bought 9 of them!

I painted them the colors I use in my home, using my craft paint and a sponge brush.

I left the inside of the pots the clay color, and I painted the rest.

Pots take paint well, only a couple of coats were needed.

So, here’s a little photo show of what I did with my pots.

Of course, I potted plants in some.

I painted and added some pot saucers which I already had on hand.

You can use one or many on your porch or patio to hold a candle during the evening hours. A must for me at night sitting outside.

My favorite look was putting a saucer on a pot turned upside down to hold a candle for my living room.

Love the butter yellow color.

The design in the pot really shows up when painted.

Taking two saucers, one small, one large, along with one of the pots, turned upside down, makes a great serving piece.

You can glue together with E6000 glue, but it is not necessary.

Using the same set up, you could make a jewelry holder for your dresser.

The pots work great as containers on a table to hold silverware. So cute for an outdoor gathering.

I plan to place one on my husband’s dresser to hold his loose change, just not happy when it is all over the place!

A pretty shade of blue pot was placed on a nightstand to hold those things I use before bed. Glasses for reading, pens for writing in my journal, and the cream I use every night.

The pots can easily be stacked and stored until needed.

I like to store several on my kitchen shelf, the colors of my kitchen.

Cute!

Well, what do you all think?

I think I got a lot for my $9!

What fun, there are endless uses for pots.

You can do the same with regular clay pots and craft paint.

A fun project during these times in our lives to keep busy.

Hope you all are staying safe during all the trouble in our world.

Being creative with my simple projects helps me.

With love and good thoughts, until next time.


May
2019

Red, White, and Blue Projects

categories: Crafts, DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting

As Memorial Day quickly approaches, we all become patriotic.

We celebrate displaying our flags, and bits of red, white, and blue.

Memorial Day is a time to honor and recognize the sacrifices of those who have given their lives for our freedom. It is crucial that we always remember these heroes.

This week I completed some red, white, and blue projects I would like to share today.

Using a chunky porch piece I found at the flea market and gathering up some other wood pieces, that can be found at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby, I made some simple flag holders.

Painted the pieces red, white, and blue, and glued them together to form the holders, large and small.

To finish up, I drilled holes in the pieces to hold the flags.

This large piece is perfect as a picnic table centerpiece.

So patriotic, holding nine flags.

Here are the two smaller ones.

A really fun project, ready to be used on the 4th of July too!

The second project was easy, just paint!

I purchased this yucky yellow colored basket some time ago just waiting for the right time to transform it into something wonderful.

I loved the shape of the basket, but not the color.

Take a look at the basket now!

Painted white and filled with a large pot of deep red geraniums.

Beautiful!

The last touch was adding a flag.

Now the perfect Memorial Day centerpiece.

Our family is patriotic and many have served our country over the years.

So very proud of all of them!

God bless all of you, and God bless our country.

Celebrate and remember this Memorial Day weekend.


Apr
2019

Happy Easter

categories: Crafts, DIY, Easter

Before this day ends, let me express my hope that you and your family had a blessed Easter.

Our Lord has risen as He said He would.

Our Easter was quiet and peaceful.

Gone are the days of hiding my son’s Easter basket, egg hunts, and choosing just the cutest stuffed bunny I could find for him.

Miss those days so very much, but thankful my little family was together again this year.

I still color eggs and decorate my home a bit for this holiday.

Bunnies everywhere!

A garland of bunnies made with colorful cardstock paper and pom-poms for tails.

Two old wood bunnies, made new again.

This one just needing a new ribbon and a new sign.

This one simply made with a piece of scrapbook paper decoupaged to a wood bunny cutout with Mod Podge. So simple, so lovely!

Jars filled with my son and husband’s favorite treats.

Made with jars from the $1 store and Easter figurines spray painted and glued to the lids with E6000 glue.

Cards were made for my dear sister and brother using old Easter photos. I love them, they are so precious.

I suppose those old Easter days are gone, but my love of creating and decorating for the holidays will always be with me, packed up each year to use again and again.

As we lowered our heads before our dinner, we spoke of realizing our lives have meaning because of our Lord’s Resurrection, we have hope, the hope of eternal life.

Happy Easter my friends.




Apr
2019

Peat Pot Easter Baskets

categories: Crafts, DIY, Easter

Sharing a simple Easter project today using garden peat pots.

To complete this project you will need any craft paint, a sponge brush, Easter napkins or images, and Mod Podge.

The first step is to apply a coat or two of paint to the pots, depending on the look you want.

I personally like a bit of a distressed look, allowing some of the pot to show through.

The next step is cutting out the images for the pots.

I used some Peter Rabbit Easter napkins I found at TJ Maxx for $2.99, and some images I found online and printed out on tissue paper.

For this project thin paper works best.

Cut out your images leaving as little area around each one as possible.

Apply a coat of Mod Podge to the area on the pot that you want to apply an image, and smooth out with your fingers.

When you have finished applying all the images, apply a coat of Mod Podge over each image to seal.



That’s it!

I added grass to the inside of the pots and a piece of wire for the handles.

Simple is best for me, but you can embellish your pots in many ways, such as adding ribbon.

Now the fun begins, filling the baskets with goodies!

How sweet they are sitting around your home, as gifts, or one placed on each plate at the Easter dinner table.

If you are short of time, just a plain peat pot filled with something special would be so cute too!

Are you ready for a blessed Easter with your family?

Hope you all loved this Easter project, it really is the cutest ever!

See you all next time!


Mar
2019

Momma’s Sewing Box Makeover

categories: Crafts, DIY, My Simple Offerings

March 21st, would have been my sweet Momma’s birthday.

She is resting in heaven now, I miss her every single day.

Thoughts of her were all about me on her birthday, looking at things I have of hers, photos, and so many loving memories.

When she passed, I was blessed to acquire something special of hers, her sewing box.

Nothing expensive about it, that was not Momma.

It was precious to her, it was a gift from one of her sisters.

Anyone who ever visited my Momma’s home saw this sewing box sitting next to her favorite chair, where she would sit at night sewing, always sewing.


Over the years, it had faded and showed signs of age, so I thought a loving makeover was needed.

I wanted the sewing box to reflect the beautiful person my Momma was, inside and out.

As I emptied the box to clean, I so enjoyed holding and looking at her things, her scissors, so many different needles, spools of thread, balls of yarn, small sewing projects she left behind, even a pair of her glasses.

I spray painted the box with several coats of Rustoleum, “white linen”, chalk paint.

I added a piece of vintage look paper to the inside lid, and also one of my favorite photos of Momma.

Love the way the sewing box looks now, so bright, so clean, beautiful inside and out, just like my Momma.

Her sewing box sits on my dresser, I enjoy looking at it, opening it to see her lovely young photo, and using it.

I really think Momma would like the makeover. I sure hope so!

Every step was done with love.

Blessings to each of you on this Sunday.


Oct
2018

Junky Pumpkins!

categories: Autumn, Crafts, DIY

My goodness, I cannot believe it is almost November!

I feel as if I blinked and missed September and October.

Today I want to share a fun wood project using various 2 x 4 pieces.

“Junky Pumpkins”.

My son cut the 2 x 4 we had in our garage, I sanded, painted all orange, using a sponge brush and simple craft paint.

Now the fun begins!

I gathered up all the small junk drawer pieces I could find, buttons, tacks, screws, washers, handles, knobs, to create whimsy, quirky, and maybe a bit scary, faces.

Played with all the pieces, moving them from one wood piece to another, until I found just the face I loved.

Simply glue the pieces in place, using wood glue, or in some cases, for the heavier pieces, E6000 glue.

Here they are, my “Junky Pumpkins”!

As I say when sharing most of my projects, “love them”, so much fun to put together!

These two are my favorites.

Just simple!

I used thin wire, curled, a knob, and also a stem from an old plastic pumpkin, on the tops.

Love the smile made by using an old handle.  So cute!

What a great project for older kids on a cold rainy weekend day.

Just a happy simple project!

Have fun with your junk drawer finds!

Love you folks!

 

 


Oct
2018

Painting Faux Pumpkins

categories: Autumn, Crafts, DIY

Just love the simple look of white pumpkins in the fall!

I especially love using the mini ones here and there throughout my home.

My preference is to use faux pumpkins inside, and real ones outside.

Unfortunately, really nice faux white pumpkins can be a bit pricey, so this year I tried painting my own.

Found these foam type mini pumpkins at Walmart for 98 cents each.  Two cents cheaper than the dollar store, and the selection was really good, so many different shapes.  Every penny saved is a good thing!

I did splurge for a larger one at $1.98!

Using my favorite paint for the look I love, Rust-Oleum, Linen White, chalk paint, I simply removed the stems and painted each with several coats, using a foam brush.

Replaced the stems, after painting each one with a dark brown craft paint, to finish this simple project.

Love them!

Quite a difference, don’t you think?

So lovely in a wood bowl with a bit of greenery.

Also love the farmhouse look in my thrift store wire basket.

White pumpkins can be mixed with others, like these grapevine ones, surrounded by traditional fall leaves.

Love that I can just pack up my painted pumpkins and use again next year.

So many ways to display this time of the year, and into Thanksgiving.

Cute to place one on each plate at Thanksgiving.

Just a fun, simple, project!

My pumpkins may be faux, but the joy I received from putting this project together was real!

So thankful for you folks!

 

 


May
2018

Whimsy Flower Boxes

categories: Crafts, DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting, Home Projects, Spring

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!


Feb
2018

“Love” Filled Sunday Project

categories: Celebrate, Crafts

Sunday afternoon I went back years, experiencing one of the joys I remembered as a little girl.

Enjoyed those little girl feelings, felt from so long ago!

I loved paperdolls, always taking pride in cutting them out, as best I could.  Carefully turning my scissors, trying to be perfect with every cut.

With Valentine’s Day upon us, I worked on a sweet “love” filled project, making a wreath from vintage valentines.

Some years back, I saw this idea at Williams-Sonoma, loved it, but too pricey for my budget.

Never forgot how cute it was, so I searched Pinterest, found some adorable old valentines, printed them out, and started to make my own wreath.

Used a styrofoam ring as my base, a cutout cardboard base would work too!

I glued some red paper heart doilies all around the base, placing them here and there.

What fun I had selecting from my valentine collection, deciding which ones to place around the heart filled base.

I used glue dots to attach the valentines to the doilies. These dots have glue on both sides, and also helped raise the valentines up a bit.

Added red ribbon to hang, that was all needed to complete.

Some craft folks use glitter and other embellishments, but I love simple, just the old valentines.

“Love” it!

Oh my gosh, it is so cute!

Loved looking at all the old sweet valentines!

A simple fun project with such a memory.  You all know I love memories!

After Valentine’s Day has passed, I will carefully pack up my wreath for next year, just as I packed up my precious paperdolls, in a shoebox, as a child.

Love, XO

 

 


Aug
2017

Learning Something New Everyday

categories: Crafts, DIY, Home Projects

When I stopped working I made a list of a few things I hoped I could do everyday.

  • Have some fun.
  • Be thankful and grateful for all that I have.
  • Be creative.
  • Learn something new everyday.
  • Love and help those around me.
  • Get up early, to enjoy the gift of a day.
  • Smile, and put a smile on someone’s face.

So today I am sharing a “something new” for me, painting using gesso.

Gesso is a chalky finish that is used by artists to prepare canvas for painting.

I found a beautiful blog on Pinterest by Rosemary Villabarnes, (Villabarnes.com). Rosemary shared her technique of “slathering” flower pots with gesso.  I am so very pleased with my first time results.

My pots are so lovely with that vintage look I love.

I “slathered” a few pots of different sizes and shapes, and I also tried my hand at applying to a picture frame from the thrift store.

You will need to buy a jar of gesso, sold in the art supply section at Hobby Lobby or Michael’s, don’t forget to use your weekly 40% off coupon, and also some cheap plastic beads.  I had a bunch from a 50 cent thrift store find, but you can find them at the dollar store.

The pots were easy to complete, give the pots a coat of gesso, allow to dry, hot glue beads to rim, allow to dry completely, and then paint with as many coats of gesso as needed to cover beads, until you have the look you want.

Not a quick project, I completed mine in two days.

I love white dishes, the beaded look on dishes is currently so popular.

My pots have found a place in my dining room hutch for now, but I have many ideas for using and displaying them in my home.

Do you learn something new everyday?

A recipe, the meaning of a word, some new tech thing, or a new creative project like me!

Pinterest is a great place for new ideas.

This blog was a huge learning “something new” for me!  I struggle with it everyday, but I won’t give up!

Living is doing, learning, loving!

Hope my little blog puts a smile on your face!

Love you all.

Here’s Rosemary’s link for the flower pots.

http://www.villabarnes.com/2012/08/fab-flower-pot.html.