Pallet for Home

This has to be one of my top favorite projects to date!

It all started when…..

During my trip to NY, my MIL gave me a plant she had setting on her porch after I mentioned  that I liked it.  Funny thing is that she received it as a gift when she mentioned to her friend that she liked it!  Whoever said New Yorkers aren’t nice?!?!

Here is my new plant, a Sago Palm.

Last Friday, the Hubs and I had a date night and one of the things that we both love to do is visit the book store.  We’re not nerds, we just like to kill time at the book store between eating dinner and waiting for the movie to start.  Well, I just had to have this magazine even if it was over-priced!  As you can see from my stickies, I am getting a lot of ideas and inspiration…. like this project! 

I saw not one but three plants potted in the most gorgeous crates.

Low and behold, my father had this pile sitting on one of his work benches the very same weekend.  What luck!!!  He had ordered a new piece of equipment and it was shipped in a crate!  Yes, this project was meant to be!  Wouldn’t you agree?

Okay- so my father opens crates like a two year old opening their presents on Christmas!  But that’s okay because I wanted to customize it and make it the perfect size for my new plant.

I started by cutting all the sides and 4 small pieces that will be used to anchor the corners.  Check to make sure everything lines up.

I wanted to cut out handles on the sides.  With a pencil, I outlined where the handles will be, drilled a hole big enough so that I could get the zig-saw blade in, and cut out the handles.

Next, I routered over the edges of the handle (to take off the hard edge) and sand to a smooth finish.

Glue and nail all the sides together and then lightly sand all over with a fine sand paper.  I used a light touch, trying to leave the rough wood on the crate face.

Applied a light golden color stain all over the crate.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to stencil on the front but I did know that I wanted it to mean something and not just random words that I didn’t know.  I found a site that would translate English words in to Italian and I was able to come up with this design.   It spells out our last name, our city, and  our state in Italian.  With the three kids and their friends, sometimes I do feel like I’m running a hotel or B&B.

Using my Cricut machine to cut the design out on vinyl, I stuck the vinyl down on the crate and used it as a stencil.  The vinyl didn’t stick very well to the rough wood but using a very dry stencil brush it turned out great.  Actually better than what I expected.  I also applied the dark color over the corners, along the edges, and then lightly sanded over the stencil to age the finish.

The crate was made a tad bigger than the potted plant to give it room to grow.  Wouldn’t small cube like crates, filled with herbs, be fantastic?!?!

Have a great holiday weekend!

Linking up to these fun parties – go and check out all the projects!

The new addition to the foyer 

a pair of 

DIY Demi Tables!!

I am so over joyed at the results!   The table/disk  didn’t cost more than $20, however,  the fabric was a bit of a splurge.  Up till now I have managed to keep my foyer decorating cost very low.

I  realize that the flooring that I currently have needs to be replaced.  For now I’ll just have to live with it, but hoping to have it replaced this fall. 

Okay I’m rambling on about all the things I still want to, need to, wish to do in the foyer and what I really need to be talking about is how I made these tables……

I purchased a round disk, measuring 24” across, at Lowes  (Home Depot no longer sells them)  found in the moulding isle.   Then I had my Dad cut in half for me. 

I made a bracket to mount the half round disk to the wall.  My original plan was to mount the disk to the wall using simple metal L brackets but my genius father suggested this type of bracket so if the table on the left side of the front door (at the foot of the stairs) could be removed (when hauling large objects up and down the stairs) with easy.  The wedge in the bracket makes a snug fit and holds it tight but it still can be lifted off.

I found the fabric and trim at Hancock Fabrics.  Actually I found several that I really liked, but this one was still in my budget.  I wanted a fabric that was classic yet with a contemporary flare.  I think this fabric does just that with it’s swirled pattern.

I sewed a simple half skirt and stapled it to the back of the table.  The best thing about the easy accessible brackets is that it will allow me to change out the skirt quickly.  I would love to have several of them for the different seasons and holidays! 

I found the lamps at a bargain discount store (Fred’s) on sale for $7.50 each!  The lamps measure 22”, a bit shorter than what I was hoping to get.  Not to worry, I thinking of a way to solve that problem. 

Here is a lovely potpourri box that my parents made me!

Okay, I don’t want to hear it…. I know the candy dish is empty!  I’m a bad hostess.  Actually, that candy dish is just holding the spot until the silver palmetto (SC state tree) dish that I’ve had my eye on goes on sale!!!

Phewwwww!! 

That’s a lot of photos for one post!

My foyer is taken on quite a traditional style.  I’ve never felt like I would classify my style as one way over another, but rather, I enjoy all styles to some degree.   I’m a bit nervous that this foyer is leaning heavily on traditional.  I am currently in search for a new mirror for the opposite wall.  Will I shake it up and find something totally unexpected? 

Linking up to these fun parties – go and check out all the projects!

CLOSED

I am so delighted to bring you something sparkly today! 

I’d like to introduce you to Shelstring, an online store filled with handmade artisan jewelry.

This lovely boutique is filled with the most colorful and delicate pieces, you’re sure to find something lovely for yourself.  Perhaps one of your  girlfriends has a birthday coming up?  And it’s never to early to think about Christmas!!

Ooooh, the eye~candy!

Be sure to check out the entire collection.

Shelstring is offering one lucky winner a

$25 shop credit!

To Enter:

Simply leave a comment saying    “Sparkle”

Additional Entries

(must leave a separate comment for each entry):

1. Visit Shelstring and get lost among the gorgeous selections.  Pick a favorite piece then name it in a comment.

2. For additional chances to win, link to this giveaway on Facebook and/or on Twitter, then leave a comment telling where you mentioned it!

{That gives you 3 possible entries!!!!  Please leave 3 separate comments.}

Giveaway ends on Tuesday, July  5 at 11:00 EST.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good luck everyone!

Yep, today you don’t get one but TWO patriotic crafts!  They’re both very simple and took me less than the a few hours to complete both. 

First up…..

A very simple Patriotic Wreath.   I actually had an inspiration photo in my files for along time.  Since blogging I try to save the website with the photo so that I can give credit to the source but because I have had this in my files for so long I not sure where to give credit.  Sorry

The wreath is so simple I think that’s why I love it so much.  Plus, my house sits about 800 feet from the road so most wreaths that I hang on my front door just look like dark blobs but not this one!  It just pops out and screams

“I’m Proud to be an American!”

I started with a blank wreath-form bought many years ago, I believe, from the Dollar Store.  About 6 years ago, a Dollar Store opened up in my town.  Less than two years later it closed.  Have you ever know a Dollar Store to close it’s door?  Needless to say, I have not been to a Dollar Store in years.

Next, I cut up one floral foam into several pieces and held it to the frame with floral wire.

I guess I got a little excited working on this project because I forgot to take some photographs.  Here is what I did- I cut 3”x3” squares out of red felt and used hot glue and a crochet hook to poke the center of the felt square into the floral foam.

Added a blue ribbon and white star and called it finished!

The blue ribbon came off a fleece blanket that I purchased years ago!  It had Velcro on the ends making it so easy to make a loop!  Can you tell I try to not let anything go to waste?

I love this wreath!  It didn’t dawn on me until I was actually hanging the wreath that I could use this over again for Christmas and Valentine’s Day! 

Next up…..

Patriotic Vinyl Wooden Blocks

I cut up some left over 1x4 boards into three blocks, routered the edges with a round-over bit, painted the blocks, distressed the edges, and cut some vinyl on the Cricut machine.  I found this font by Googling “Patriotic Fonts”.

I  just love quick and an easy projects!

Linking up to these fun parties – go and check out all the projects!