Category: DIY


Mar
2019

Tick-Tock

categories: DIY

Yesterday, I made a small clock for my desk.

It was a crazy fun project.

Made with a can and a jar lid.

How cute was the outcome!

The only cost was the price of the clock’s working parts.

With my 40% off coupon at Michael’s, only $4.00.

Cleaned the can thoroughly, and drilled a hole for the clock hands.

Spray painted the can with several coats of white.

The jar lid was used as the base. I spray painted the lid with my favorite gold to match the color of the clock hands.

The last step was the assembly. So easy!

I really wanted a unique little clock to place in this area of my home, a place where I love to sit and write, surrounded by favorite things of mine.

It is a lovely spot, with lots of light, and three windows facing my backyard.

I love the tick-tock, tick-tock sound, especially in the mornings, when it is quiet before others are up and about.

Hope you enjoyed this crazy fun project.

Have a crazy fun day!

Love to all!


Feb
2019

DIY Snow Covered Pine Cones

categories: DIY

Yes, it has been a while!

Months have passed, not even a single post during Christmas.

My life had been turned upside down.

Needles, bruised arms, tests, and waiting. Waiting for results.

Life slowed down, avoiding stress, no heavy lifting, and no exercise!

Life was all about faith, and hope, and love.

Things are better now, tests came back good, my life has settled.

During this time, I fell back on one of the things that always calms me, being creative.

Today I want to share a very simple DIY to add some winter magic to you home.

These DIY snow covered pine cones are a wonderful winter decor idea.

Just a few supplies are needed, pine cones, a brush, Mod Podge, and Morton’s coarse Kosher salt.

Simply brush or dab the Mod Podge on the pine cones, and sprinkle with the salt, allow to dry, that’s it!

After the pine cones have dried, shake off all the excess salt.

So simple.

Add some greenery, place in your favorite container, mine is a large wood bowl I keep on my kitchen table.

I added a pine cone with a bit of greenery and ribbon to a lantern, for another way to use during winter.

Plenty of wintertime left, time to display these pine cones in your home until we see signs of spring.

Spring sounds wonderful, sun, and warmth, and flowers once again!

Thanks for stopping by, love to all today, until next time.



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!

 

 


Aug
2018

Making Candle Holders

categories: DIY, My Simple Home

For such a long time I have been wanting a set of wood candle holders, but the cost for three different sizes, just too pricey for me!

So you all know what I did, I made my own!

From this…

A basket full of various wood pieces and chunky chair legs.

To this….

Creating and gluing the wood pieces together.

To this…Love them!

After deciding on the placement of the different wood pieces, and gluing them together, I painted all with white chalk paint, distressed a bit by sanding, and sealed all with clear wax.

Topped with battery operated candles to finish.

So simple.

In the end, I was able to make all three for a little over the cost of buying just a small one.

The wood pieces I purchased at Michael’s and Hobby Lobby, using my 40% off weekly coupons.

I purchased the wood chair leg pieces at Home Depot, under $4.00 each.

They will be so festive for the upcoming fall and Thanksgiving season, surrounded by pumpkins and leaves.

When surrounded by evergreens and red berries at Christmas, they will make a lovely, amazing centerpiece.

Candle holders can be used so many places in a home, tables, dressers, buffets, side tables, and painted many colors.

So fun, so simple, and so pleased with the results, and the money I saved by making my own.

Also, so pleased and thankful, that God has given me a bit of creativity.

Creativity to fill my days with projects that give me so much joy in my heart, and add lots of enjoyment to my everyday life.

So blessed!

With love, until my next project!

 

 

 


Jun
2018

Tin Can Herb Garden

categories: DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting

I have never grown herbs!

The reason, I suppose, is that I am not a great cook, although I am trying to improve in that area.

But…I have been looking at my so-called “bucket list” and growing herbs is on it!

Most folks might have wonderful, amazing trips, and daring adventures on their lists, but not me.

My wants are simple ones!

Cookie tins purchased at the thrift store for 25 cents each, was the start of my herb growing project.

I spray painted the tins with a black matte paint.

Punched holes in the tins for drainage, and placed several stones in the bottom of each tin, before planting my herbs.

I purchased three herbs at my garden store to start, basil, oregano, and cilantro.

Made some cute tags to finish up, tied on each tin with black and white twine.

There are many free herb printables on Pinterest, or simple wood sticks would also work if you wanted markers.

My plants will stay out on my back porch for now, but will be moved inside later.

I have a large garden window in my kitchen which will allow plenty of light for growing in the winter.

My sweet kitty loves to sit in the window.

Isn’t she so beautiful?

We love her so!

Crossed off my “bucket list”, herb garden!

This was a fun, simple, one day project, and I am so very pleased with the way it turned out!

Love them!

Thanks for letting me share today, it has been awhile!

Life brings highs and lows to our daily lives, interruping our everyday routines, doesn’t it?

Hope your day is filled with nothing but beautiful, wonderful highs today!

Love to all.


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!


May
2018

A Last Minute Gift Idea

categories: DIY, Mother's Day

Sharing a sweet, thoughtful, simple, gift idea with everyone today.

A gift with meaning, to give for almost any occasion, even a last minute Mother’s Day gift!

Taking photos is a big part of all of our lives today, so for this gift, simply choose a favorite photo, a double frame, a quote, saying, poem, or in one of my examples, song lyrics.

Choose words related to the photo, or words that have sentimental value to the recipient.

Since tomorrow is Mother’s Day, I made this one for myself.

My favorite photo of my son, very small, framed with a beautiful thought on having a son.

It sits in my bedroom, next to a photo of me and my husband, on our wedding day, the three of us, many years ago, my family.

Oh my, love it!

You can see the simplicity of this gift idea.

Here’s one I made for my sister and brother-in-law, for their anniversary.

Such a silly photo taken on a family vacation.

We all had to make tin foil hats as part of a game. So many laughs!

I paired the photo with song lyrics that captured the photo, song lyrics, that have special meaning to my sister.

Selected a whimsy font when I typed the lyrics, whimsy and fun like the photo.

It’s so cute!

My last example, a birthday gift, expressing love for a special little boy, a sweet boy, my nieces love so much.

The little boy, the son of one of their best friends, has been in their lives since he was born.

Again, I hope that you all can see how simple, and easy.

Print the photo, the words, and frame, that’s it!

What I really love about giving this as a gift, is that hopefully, the recipient sees the thoughtfulness, and love, that went into putting it together.

It’s a keepsake!

Love, family, friends, that’s what this idea is about!

Please don’t forget your Moms tomorrow, and those ladies in your life who are special.

So much love in my heart for all today!

 

 


Jan
2018

DIY Buffalo Check Tray

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

Oh my gosh, I am so finished with winter.

We have gone through snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, lasting for weeks.

Brrrr…………!

This weather has been horrible, a birthday spoiler, a cabin fever maker, a junk food eating enabler!

I did manage to pull myself away from our warm fire to work on a few projects, and also to have a bit of much needed alone time.  Love my husband bunches, but being together all day, everyday, for weeks, is difficult at times!

It only took one simple completed project, to get me feeling so much better.

You all know I love trays, and another favorite of mine is buffalo check things, especially black and white.

Using, of course, a thrift store frame, a small piece of leftover wrapping paper, and some Hobby Lobby handles, all that I needed to create and complete.

The first step was taking the frame apart and giving it a thorough cleaning, inside and out.  It was in new condition, so I did not need to paint the frame.

I did sand the edges, all around, so it did not seem so perfect, and added a bit of stain to my sanding.

The buffalo check paper was cut to the size of the inside mat, and a bit of glue added to secure.

Added the galvanized handles with some shallow screws from the inside, reassembled, and my project was complete!

Love the way it turned out, it really is as “farmhouse chic” as any tray I have seen in stores and online.

I really love the farmhouse look, so popular now, wish I lived in a small farmhouse home somewhere wonderful!

Trays can be used in so many ways, love it on my wicker chest at the foot of our bed.

Less than $5 to complete.

One step, one project, I feel better now, ready to move on to other fun creative things!

It is really true, that just taking that first step, can be the beginning of changing any part of our lives needing a push of encouragement.

Now maybe I can use my own words to encourage myself to get on that much needed treadmill!

The sun just came out, around 49 degrees today, “Oh Happy Day”!

Love you all!

 

 


Oct
2017

DIY Light Fixture Makeover

categories: DIY, Home Projects

On my post today I am going to share an idea I found on Pinterest.

A DIY project of turning an inexpensive, galvanized outdoor light fixture, into a really beautiful bathroom fixture.

I have been working on a refresh of my upstairs bathroom for months. The bath is at the top of our steps and can be seen from my entry hall.

When you glance upstairs from the hall, the old, tired looking, light fixture was the first thing you would see.  An updated fixture was needed.

The galvanized fixture I used for this project can be purchased at Lowe’s for $29.00.

To complete this DIY project I only used three cans of spray paint.

RUST-OLEUM, Painter’s Touch 2x, gloss white, and flat black, and also RUST-OLEUM, Specialty Metallic, gold.

I taped off and covered each section as I sprayed on each color.

The completed project looks so nice in the bathroom.  It is simple and clean, but with an updated classy look you see today.

Added a new larger, round light bulb to the fixture.

I think you can see that this is a really dramatic DIY makeover.

The fixture is the farmhouse style I love and is so popular today.

The one tip I would like to stress is the importance of letting each color dry thoroughly before applying the next.  I waited a day between colors.  Patience is a lesson learned when using spray paint!

Hopefully, I can share the rest of my bathroom refresh with all of you soon.

Do you have a project you are working on?  Hope so!

Completing a DIY project gives you the most satisfying feeling.

I try to remember, I am never too old to learn, or to do something new!  Everyday!

Love to all.