Birds & Blooms Magazine, Creative Garden Ideas

This gallery contains 2 photos.

Hello crafters!  Check out the August/September issue of Birds & Blooms Magazine. In the issue is a feature story titled, 28 Thrifty, Unique and Creative Garden Ideas. My Garden Hose Doormat project is one of the projects….cool! Thank you Birds & Blooms … Continue reading →

Garden Hose Doormat

Are you wondering how to repurpose a leaky old garden hose?  Well wonder no more.  Check out my latest video.  And, don’t forget to visit Organic Gardening Magazine.  They’re fabulous!  Happy Crafting!

Wacky Wreath Wednesday

This holiday season I wanted to create a holiday wreath that was different from all the other wreaths on the neighborhood front doors. So, I wired bunches of radishes on a store-bought boxwood wreath.

I love the way this project turned out and if the weather stays cool, this wreath will easily last through the holiday season.

To create your own:

1. Buy a pre-made wreath then swing by the grocery store to pick up some radishes. I used nine bunches on mine.
2. Using floral wire, which you can buy at any craft store, wire the bunches of radishes to your wreath.
3. Add a ribbon (optional) and you’re done!

Happy crafting and happy holidays!

Advertisement

Men’s Necktie Holiday Tags

 

Making your own holiday gift tags is super easy and fun!  Especially when you use unexpected materials like necktie fabric. This tired old tie, for example, has seen its share of holiday parties and I felt it was time for a refresh and reinvention.  Here’s how you can make holiday gift tags that will stand out from all those store-bought doozies.

You’ll need:

• Men’s neckties
• Shipping tags (4 3/4″ X 2 3/8″)
• Pencil
• Sharp scissor
• Card stock paper
• Spray adhesive
• Iron
• Sewing machine (optional)
• Decorative cord (optional)

If you don’t want to part with your cherished ties, you can find some really cool neckties at your local thrift store. Old flannel shirts would work fine as well. As for the shipping tags, you can pick up a box of 100 at Staples Office Supplies. The rest of the project ingredients you can gather at any craft store.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Draw some holiday silhouettes onto card stock paper. Be sure to keep them appropriately sized so they fit onto the tags. I kept mine simple so I wouldn’t have any intricate cutting to do. If you don’t want to draw the silhouettes free-hand, you can find some great holiday templates on-line.
2. Make card stock templates by cutting out the silhouettes then place them aside.
3. Use scissor to dissect the necktie by separating the fabric from all of the tie liners and backing. Then iron.
4. Spray a fine coat of spray adhesive onto a card stock template and place it onto the back of the tie fabric. Press firmly and let dry.
5. Using the template as your guide, carefully cut the tie fabric around the shape of the template.
6. Spray the back of the shape you just cut out with spay adhesive and affix it onto the tag pressing hard to be sure it is secure.
7. To give your tags a little more character, run the tags through your sewing machine.
8. Add some holiday ribbon or cord and your done!

Note to crafters, this project may seem time-consuming but honestly I completed six tags in about 1/2 hour. Also by affixing the fabric onto the card stock prevents the tie from fraying.

Happy crafting and happy holidays!

Pretty Tea Cup Favors

Happy Sunday! If you’re looking for a unique favor for your next event, why not repurpose some orphaned tea cups. There are a gazillion uses for these lovelies but I think they make the perfect vessels for tiny plants and look so charming. They’re perfect for give-aways at weddings or events!

You’ll need:

• Tea cups – your cupboard, flea markets and antique stores are perfect sources for these lovelies
• Tiny plants like ferns, succulents, violets, and orchids – the selections are endless
• Moss – any craft store will carry this item
• Paper, twigs, and all-purpose glue for a place card pennant (optional of course) – again, craft stores have tons of paper options and your back yard can most likely offer up some twigs

Here’s how ya do it:

1. Simply repot the plant of choice directly into the cup. It’s important to have plenty of soil around the root system of the plant.
2. To conceal the dirt, add moss around the base of the plant.
3. You’re done! OR you can add hand-made place cards like I did. Cut paper to the desired size and shape, write your guest’s name on the card then glue it to a tiny twig. Poke it into the cup and you’re done!

Happy crafting!

 

Repurposed Vintage Spigot Handles

My friend Kate and I found these cool vintage spigot handles at our local antique store. The shapes are so unique that I had to have them — they were inexpensive and the sale was made.

With E-6000 adhesive, I reinvented them as magnets by simply gluing round hardware store magnets on the back of the spigot.

And voila’!

Happy crafting!

‘The Art of Patron’ Contest Submission

The Art of Patron challenge … check! I submitted my creation, Snow Globe, Patron Style, by contest deadline but let me tell ya crafters, it wasn’t without some disasters and minor meltdowns, some involving cussing. Yes I like to do that occasionally and it feels good – sorry mom!  Anywho there were hot messes far too many to yammer on about. But the best was AFTER I inserted the trees, glitter, liquid, and sealed the cork I stepped back to admire my work … there it was, floating gently around the bottle with glitter swirling around its lifeless body, a tequila loving spider…&#%!@?!!!! Fast forward to a moment of silence for Mr Spider, more cussing, and a project do-over, I finished my creations. Phew!

After I simmer down, I’ll share the ‘how-to’ for making YOUR own spider-free snow globe. All conflama aside, it was a fun challenge and thank you Patron for the opportunity to participate!

Happy &#%!@?! crafting 🙂

 

“The Art of Patron”

A few weeks back, I was invited by the communications group for Patrón tequila to take a shot at being creative by entering “The Art of Patrón” contest.

From now until April 30th, Patrón is hosting “The Art of Patrón,” a contest that recognizes handmade visual and functional pieces of art that contain, are made from, or depict any Patrón bottle or component thereof. Those who are 21 and older, are invited to submit original designs for a chance to win a cash prize and national exposure!

I’m going to take a whirl at this challenge and I hope you will too!  Simply follow this link for all of the details:  www.artofpatron.com.

Not only will I enjoy this challenge, I’ll enjoy emptying the bottle too….oh boy.  Cheers and happy crafting!

 

Chalkboard Flower Pot Easter Gifts

Chalkboard paint is so much fun to work with and it allows you countless ways to produce unique and functional pieces like this project, Birch Log Table Numbers.

I have a giant pile of unused terra-cotta flower pots so putting them to good use, I cracked open a can of chalkboard paint and created these simple gifts for the upcoming Easter holiday.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Terra Cotta containers (any paintable container will do)
• Chalkboard paint
• Foam paint brush
• Chalk
• Small plant or flower of your choosing (I used Baby’s Tears)
• Egg (optional)

You can find all of the project ingredients, including terra-cotta pots, at any craft store. Oh, with the exception of live plants and real eggs but you could substitute with artificial. For live plants, visit your local nursery and for eggs, visit your fridge.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Clean the surface of the container and paint away!
2. After the paint dries completely, with chalk write or draw anything you want on the surface.
3. Insert plant or flower.
4. Your done!

For an added surprise, I placed a simple brown egg that I blew out then glued twine into the hole to hang.

Here’s how you blow-out an egg:

1. Using a long stick pin, poke a hole in the top and bottom of the egg and move the pin around to break op the yolk. Make one of the holes a little larger than the other. That’s the hole you’ll insert and glue twine.
2. Holding the egg in one hand, force the egg contents out by gently blowing into the smaller hole in the egg. The egg insides will come out the other side. Note to crafters – save the insides and make a scrambled egg for yourself – no waste!
3. After the insides are empty, insert the egg in warm soapy water to clean the inside of the egg. Rinse and let dry on a paper towel.
4. When dry, insert twine into the larger hole, glue in place and your done!

Happy Crafting and Happy Easter!

 

Moss Gift Tags

Happy first day of spring! Wanna know how to transform an ordinary shipping tag into something extraordinary?  Stick with me…

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Shipping tags – I found a great selection at Staples
• A roll of peel-&-stick moss – Michaels
  
• Twine
• Scissors
• Hole punch

Here’s how ya do it:

1. Cut a piece of the peel-&-stick moss slightly larger than a shipping tag.
2. Remove the paper on the back of the moss to reveal its tacky side then place firmly on the tag.
3. Punch a hole in the top of the tag and insert twine.
4. Your done!

Okay, how easy is that AND you have a really cool and creative gift tag to adorn your Easter gifts!  Happy crafting!