DIY: Message Flower Pots

Hello friends! Today I will show you how I updated my clay pots to give them a

fresh new look for summer.  The idea is to set the mood for a bright,

clean and crisp feel to the back patio area and prepare it for entertaining family and friends.

I just needed to give my old flowerpots a new look, so I did what any girl would do, 

I painted them.  I have turned old clay pots into beautiful message flowerpots to give a 

wonderful impression to those who view them.  

I am so thankful that my flowerpot made it to the Craft it Now book where many 

will view it and learn how to spruce up their pots too.  

Remember the Flower Pot Makeover I did here?  Well for today's project I decided to
use a simple semi-sheen white spray paint.

Materials you need for these two projects:

*Clay pot any size

*Spray paint (white semi-sheen)
*Old newspapers or other sheets of paper to protect your work area from the paint.

*Chalkboard label or chalkboard paint
*Pencil
*Sharpie marker

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Make sure that your clay pot is clean and dry.
2. Cover your work area with newspapers to protect it from paint.
3. Place your pot upside down with open rim in the bottom and using the can of paint,
spray pot evenly, do not over saturate otherwise your paint will run causing streaks.
4. You may have to give it two coats depending on your paint.  After each paint session,
Set it to dry for about an hour or so.
5. Once your pot is dry, you may add a chalkboard vinyl label OR 
chalkboard paint to your pot.  Make sure it is the size you need for your pot.
6. Now your pot is ready for your gardening messages.  You may write your message
with chalk or liquid chalk marker.  Make it fun!

To create the Handwritten Message Pot below:
After step 4- Use a pencil to write your handwritten message on your pot.
Make sure it's nice and straight.  Using a pencil first helps avoid making permanent mistakes.
When you have achieved the handwriting and look with the pencil,
trace over it with the sharpie to give it it's finished look.

Tip/ Ideas: You may want to use a different color sharpie for a fun look,
or a different color for the pot to give it flare.

Do you love it?
I sure do!
Great for gift giving.
Hope that you enjoy!
Happy Crafting!

DIY: Wall Storage Baskets

Baskets are such an attractive alternative to the usual 

storage options. These lovelies are the best excuse for 

collecting one's favorite magazines or catalogs.

The great thing about it is that you can place them anywhere

for any purpose; towels, toys, mail, and office supplies...

the list is endless.

Once I saw these at the store, 

I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them.

What you need is a hammer, nails and hooks, baskets, 
pencil and measuring tape.
All I did was measure the distance between each
nail with the measuring tape.  I measured the distance between
the baskets in order to have room for magazines
etc... and marked it with a pencil.
I hammered in two picture hanging hooks for each basket,
I hung the baskets on them and that was it!
How easy is that?

It's just like hanging a picture frame.
There you have it, Wall Storage Baskets, gotta love them!

Flower Pot Makeover

This year I decided to plant lavender in a clay pot, but did not want the 

typical brick looking clay planter for the interior of the house.

So I dressed it up.  Here is what I did.

Supplies:

clay planter 

craft paint 

paint brush

spray paint

lace ribbon

and Mod Podge

I primed the clay pot with craft paint even though it didn't need it.

Then I painted the pot with a hammered affect spray paint, this gives it a sheen and hammered metal look.

After it dried, I brushed on Mod-Podge to stick two layers of lace ribbon on the planter.

I brushed the lace over the pot and brushed more Mod Podge.

When the glue was dry, I sprayed the entire planter to unify the look.

 Here is how it turned out, I love it!
This was super easy and may I add fast, not to mention all for only $8, can't beat that.

I added the lavender by filling the pot with gardening soil

and topping it with a sprinkle of organic bone meal.

Now it sits by a very sunny window.
See my other flower pot ideas here.

Do you have favorite plants you wish to bring indoors?

Inspired by Lavender

flowersandgarden.net

Here is a color that you don't see often.
I have collected a few ideas here,
with the color lavender to inspire you.
You may work on a craft or simply use the color as an accent in the home...

via

...or as refreshment.

via

decor 8

via

melyssar.tumblr

via

via

Hope that you enjoy!

Festive Week

Hurrah!  It's been a blessed week for us here, we have come to the end of the school year,

and I cannot believe that my little boy is off to the first grade next season.

My mom is in town and we feel so blessed to have her here for little L's 

kindergarten graduation.  

We also had a town festival during the weekend and we promised  little L 

that we would take him to enjoy in the festivities.  

There was cotton candy, light sabers, rides, ice-cream, lots of lights

and games for the kids.

Little L loved every bit of it, and so did we.

We are looking forward to a wonderful summer with backyard dinners, 

beach trips, road trips, family time, pool dipping, butterfly watching, flower planting, 

lemonade stand, carnival visits, roller coaster rides snow cones, sprinkler course,

bubble blowing, star gazing, bug catching days and nights. 

What are you planning for the summer?

Have a happy week!

At the Zoo

Creating happy childhood memories is a thing I enjoy doing with my son.

I hold dear to my heart the smiles and excitement  that he expresses as we encounter

each animal and exhibition throughout the zoo. 

The best questions are asked by little ones and create fun memories.

L: Mommy will he eat me?

Mommy:  No sweetie, he's behind the cage.

L:  If there was no cage, would he eat me then?

Nothing is more fulfilling than seeing a child smile ear to ear in excitement, 

joy and astonishment while surrounded by hundreds of beautiful little parakeets.

This was his favorite exhibit.

Laughter caused by the tickling mouth of a giraffe...priceless!

We had so much fun feeding the giraffes, they are such magnificent creatures.

Mind you we have been to the zoo several times, we never cease to be amazed by the animals.

Happy times with mommy and son.

Decorate with Cans

 periodliving.co.uk

Cans have many uses in the home.  You may use it for storage, decor and so much more.

Here are a few ideas for inspiration.

cynthiashaffer.typepad.com

bumpsmitten.com

bhg.com

hgtv.com

Countryliving

bhg.com

creativeambitions

poppytalk

itsabrideslife

Nuvia Cafe

Hello, hello friends!  Hope you'll all having a wonderful and blessed day.

Today I want to share with you something that I came across a few weeks ago.

Have you ever heard of Nuvia Coffee?  

No?  

I had never heard of it either, but I came across it by an email that I received a few weeks back.

Nuvia Cafe, wanted me to try their coffee and let them know what I thought about it.  

No compensation, no promotion, nothing.  They just wanted an honest opinion,

so I agreed.  

Nuvia is Sumatran Arabica coffee infused with a trifecta of legendary ingredients; the extracts of 100% certified organic Ganoderma, African Mango Seed and Pomegranate. The Sumatran coffee beans are roasted to perfection yielding a superior flavor that is rustic, yet rich and full bodied.

 I received my coffee in the mail and along with it a newspaper article with testimonials of 

people who had tried it.  As I proceeded to read the the articles, I realized that the testimonials

were all about getting energy back, healed from minor aches and pains and even healed from bigger ailments.

At that point I thought, well this is not just any coffee, it's goodness in a cup with healing properties.

I am always feeling tired, fatigued and nothing seems to help, so I decided to give it a try.
I am about done with the box and I actually feel more energized than I did before, not sure
if it's a coincidence or what.  Now for real coffee drinkers, it does not taste like coffee.
remember, it is made with another kind of bean, so it has a different flavor.

I like their product. I'm feeling better and I will continue to drink it.
If you are interested in trying Nuvia Healthy Gourmet Coffee you may read more about them on
www.nuviacafe.com or www.facebook.com/nuviacafe.

 Enjoy your day!

Turtle Rescue Mission

While I was away for a week, my husband and son conducted a rescue mission 

for their friend Mr. Turtle.  Talk about visitors in the spring!

This little guy, well not so little, was found wondering on front of our house.

My first question to them was, where did it come from?

Apparently there are two lakes in the surrounding neighborhood, so this turtle must've
lost his way and needed a little help finding his way back home.
I am aware that many turtles have home ranges, a territory they consider home,
and when relocated, they will search their way back.

Due to all the present dangers for this creature, help is what the snapping turtle got.
The safest way to get him back to his natural habitat was to drive him there.
Even though the lake was at walking distance,  we have to remember,
it was a "snapping turtle" and who wants to hold on to one for long.
So off they went.

Once they had arrived at a nearby lake, they released the turtle and off he went.
My son was so proud to be part of a rescue mission for this creature.

He is an animal lover.  If it were up to him, I think he would have kept this snapping turtle.
But dad explained to him how animals enjoy their freedom.
Have you ever had a strange visitor from the animal kingdom at your home?
Do tell!