Felt flowers

I've been so busy lately but I thought I would share something I was just working on - felt flowers. I know they're everywhere, but they are so fun to make and so easy & inexpensive - especially if you have a lot of odds and ends from different projects like I do. I bought the cheap felt it's only 25 cents but you can get some with more colors and designs for less than a dollar.

They were all so easy to make - you can find directions on the net - just google felt flowers. I added beads, feathers, lace, jute and sequins. I think the black one is my favorite. I pinned it to a black leather purse I have and it looks great!

Painted Concrete Floor

I wish I would have taken a before picture! Well - it was just a plain concrete floor. My craft area in the basement is small but painting the little section of floor took a lot of work. The area is only about 6x10. First I painted the floor white, after I cleaned it well of course. Then I drew my lines using a cardboard square as a guide. The hard part was painting the black. Since my floor wasn't very smooth I chose not to tape off the squares , which would have made it a lot easier. I painted each square by hand and then had to go back over each one where the black didn't cover completely. I let it dry for a day. Then I put 2 coats of varnish over it, drying a day between coats. I love the way it turned out. It was worth all the work. Before I put the table and chairs back, I made sure to put felt protectors on the bottom so not to scratch the floor. All my craft supplies are hidden behind curtains - maybe someday I'll show it to you!

 

Front Garden/Porch Tour

I'm really enjoying sitting on my front porch lately. I updated all the cushions, painted the furniture and added some fun new touches since spring - like a chandelier. But it's really nice because it's covered so I never have to move cushions in when it rains , which it's been doing a lot of lately, and it's right off the living room so I can step outside anytime I like. Let me give you a little tour...

First , this is on the tree lawn around a new tree the city planted after our giant oak died and had to be taken down,   Hostas and impatiens...

This is the view from the sidewalk. We have a very small front yard. I added yellow this year which I'm loving and my sum and substance hosta is doing great...

This is to the side by the driveway. Hostas, ferns, astilbe, begonias and impatiens

Let's go on the porch. I put a planter right by the mailbox - sweet potatoe vine, begonia, petunia, impatien, vinca vine and spikes.

 It's hard to believe that all the furniture was found in the trash! I can't believe what people will throw away. A little paint and fixing up and it looks great!

I really love my new chandelier , the crystals sparkle in the morning sun.

 Birds and bunnies are my favorites...

This year I added yellow to my wreath.

Oh, and our city Garden Club gave me a little award for my garden

Hope you enjoyed the visit.

Porch side table

Found this old side table in the trash - nothing wrong with it just needed some sprucing up. I painted it yellow and now it sits on my porch. 

Recycled light cover

I found this beautiful light cover at my local thrift store for only $2.00 but I didn't know what to do with it - until I  thought upside down it would make a great birdbath!

 

It had a hole in the center where it would attach to the light so I just filled it with silicone. I set it on top of an old base I had which matched in color. I wish I took more pictures but here's the finished product. :)

 

 

Porch candlelier

I wanted a small chandelier for my front porch but since I couldn't find an old used one I decided to make one myself.

First I bought a candle holder at my local craft store.Then I gathered some things I already had - white spray paint, pearls and clear beads and gorgeous crystals I bought at a yard sale and 3 candle holders.

I spary painted the candle holder white and drilled 3 small holes on each side.

Then came the fun part . I strong a bunch of beads and added the crystals -

I used some chain I had and also made a cover out of fabric to coordinate with my porch furniture. I hung it right above the coffee table. What do you think? I LOVE it and the whole thing only cost about $7.00

 

Valentine Decorations

Valentine's Day Decorations

I usually don't put things up for Valentine's Day but this year I wanted to do something fun. And besides, it really looks bare after all the Christmas stuff comes down. So I went to my local thrift store and dollar store and bought a few things - very inexpensive - but I think it turned out cute!

Insted of taking down the Christmas decorations on the front porch, I left them up and added a bunch of hearts! I think it looks so much better than a bare porch and the pink and red go great with my pink poinsettia Christmas stuff!