Faux Succulent Nesting Box

Natural + neutral.

Supply List:

Container - I used a small wood crate

Floral styrofoam to fit & fill container

A mix of 2 mosses - I chose a mix of a bleached/light & a natural color

Faux Succulents - I found these at Michael's

Assorted Faux Eggs

Simply fill your container with a styrofoam, the soft green or brown works best & is easily hidden under the bed of moss.  Mound the styrofoam-filled container with a thick bed of dried moss.  Place your succulents in the moss, working from the center, out.  I made a grouping of three.  Create small pockets (or nests) in the moss & fill with eggs.  You can use small drops of hot glue to keep the eggs in place.  I then added a light moss afterwards for a little extra contrast & texture.

Voila!

Chandelier Makeover

We bought this chandelier a few years ago at Menard's for less than $50.  I loved something about the color, shape & style; it reminded me of something you'd see in a farmhouse.  I was so excited about this purchase, as it was the first change we made to our first home together.  It moved with us, from house to house.  Though I'm ready for a change & need a little more sparkle, I find myself emotionally attached to this plain Jane chandelier.  I've been thinking of ways to dress it up and the other day, while browsing a local thrift store, I found these [pictured below] pretty glass shades - $1.00 each.   

 

I had a couple of these pretty glass shades stored [from when I used them as candle holders at June's Junk Gypsy birthday party] but didn't have enough to finish this chandelier.  I was ecstatic when I saw 4 more of these beauts sitting on that store shelf.  Seriously, what are the odds?!  I think it was meant to be...
 

 & I love how they sparkle when lit up.

 

Cupcake Stands

 

I made these mini cake stands by bonding an upside-down cup to a small saucer with 100% clear silicone caulk.  Once they are put together with the silicone, leave them untouched for 24 hours!  They are dishwasher safe.   

 

 How cute would this be on top of a dresser for jewelry?  Or a sink-side dish for soap & sponges?

Watch for these on our Coonskin June Etsy Shop [Coming Soon!]  I'll keep everyone posted on our grand opening!

Rough & Ready Dining Chair

I tried the same technique I used on my belt buckle display for this simple chair I bought for $3.  This was just your average wood chair, found at most thrift stores & garage sales. 

The technique was simple:
I wiped down the chair {so it was free of dust & dirt.}
I sprayed it with red paint, covering it completely.
I let the paint dry & harden overnight.
Then sanded it with a rough sand paper until I achieved this look.
I finished it by lightly sanding the transitions where the wood & paint meet -with a super fine sand paper
& coating it entirely with a spray polyurethane {I almost always use a satin finish.} 

The plan is to eventually collect & "rough-up" enough of these to surround my dining room table!

 

 

Belt Buckle Display

I found this cup/saucer shelving at a garage sale... it was a dark brown finish & very plain.  $5.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it, but I wanted it & knew I could put it to use somehow.

& there ya go... A belt buckle display case.  

First I spray painted the entire thing red.  {It came without the backing.}  Then, using a pretty rough sand paper, I sanded it down to this distressed look.  I had Ryan cut a piece of old tin to fit the back of the shelving, then attach it.  

I am very happy with the results!

This project was so simple.  & I love how the rugged look of this really makes those buckles shine.  

 

 

 

 

   

 

They are just so pretty.  Why not display them?   

Lace Dream Catcher

Here's a little something I threw together for June's room.  I have yet to really focus on one theme for her always-changing bedroom decor... but it goes something like this: shabby cowgirl gypsy chic. 

I used:
a wooden embroidery hoop -painted with craft paint
feathers -ends dipped in craft paint
lace fabric
embroidery thread

The simple steps:

• Wrap & tie the ends of the feathers with embroidery thread.  
• Attach the opposite end of that thread to the smaller {inside} loop by wrapping & tying.
• Place your lace fabric over that same smaller loop.
• Then place the larger, adjustable loop over the fabric & on the smaller loop & tighten. {Making sure to keep the lace fabric tight.}
• Trim the fabric off of the back of the loop.  

Hang & admire. 

{I have a few more finished with additional details, I'll get those pictures up as soon as I can!} 

Faux Ironstone

 

'Tis the season for yard & garage sales.  Keep an eye open for those uniquely shaped, yet ugly-colored glass & ceramic vases, pitchers, etc.  Spray paint can turn the ugliest little pitcher into a pretty ironstone-esque decor piece for your home.

I am in love with old Ironstone pitchers.  I don't have the funds or time to come up with a large Ironstone collection like my mom's.  So until the day she decides to pass those down... ;) ... I'll just continue to re-create the look with paint.   

When spray painting glass & ceramic, make sure it is done in light coats, allowing it to dry to the touch between coats.  {It's really only minutes between coats.}  I use an ivory/cream spray paint to achieve the look of Ironstone.  All of my mom's Ironstone pitchers have a high-sheen finish, so a gloss spray paint would probably work best.  However, I used a satin finish paint here & love how it turned out.   

& what would one of my posts be without a mason jar?  It's getting ridiculous... I know.

 

This little pitcher was littered with an outdated floral pattern until I salvaged the poor thing. 

Happy Thrifting!

Summer Porch Lights

 

DIY Garden Lights..

 

  

 Grater Lanterns {vintage graters placed over tea-lights.}

 

  

Vintage insulators placed over battery-operated tea-lights.

 

 

My firefly lights {featured on LaurenConrad.com} & my simple how-to!

These are just a few pretty ways to bring a little light to your outdoor living.

Simple Garden Lights

These garden lights are a variation of my glass garden ornaments.  The difference is that I use cups, deep bowls, or shallow vases instead of the candlestick holders as the top piece.  Then I just add a candle.

This particular garden light is made with vintage milk glass.  I love the way the candle light shines through so softly!  Use these instructions to start creating your own!  Good luck!

 

Kitchen Utensil Centerpiece

This is the casual centerpiece I made for Sunday {Mama's Day}!

I used:

• An old flour-sifter as the container for these beautiful coral spray roses, I'm-no floral designer, so I like to keep it simple. 
• Two vintage graters as my table lanterns {candles placed inside - makes beautiful light in the evening!}
• A candle holder elevates the grater on the backside of the centerpiece.  {I thought it would be neat to try old cookbooks instead.}
• Mason jars; the only drinking glasses we use in our home!  I love them!
• & for a water pitcher, I used an "old" measuring glass.

I went a little crazy with the pictures.. so here they are!

The measuring glass as a water pitcher.

No editing... the light was heavenly today.

A flower-sifter?

It might look the same as one of the other photos... but it's closer.  I swear ;)

So my cast-iron pan serves as a beverage tray too.

Happy Mother's Day!




  

Patina Porch Rocker

This rocking chair was the ugliest little thing {rough in all the wrong ways} when I bought it at a yard sale for $4.00!

I started the makeover by aggressively sanding some of the original finish off the rocker.  I left over half of the original finish on, as these are the sections that will not readily absorb the new colored stain.  It's really difficult to mess up... I just think of it as speed weathering... sanding the places I imagine will wear over time.  Once you get going, it becomes easier to imagine, I promise.

Then I lightly-sanded entire chair with a finer sandpaper & coated the chair in the new stain using a sponge brush.  I used Behr Premium Weatherproofing Solid Color Wood Stain {in Mountain Spruce}.  I just bought a sample... & I could cover 20 more chairs. 

After the stain dried, I lightly sanded the chair again until I nailed the weathered look I was aiming for.  Again, sanding in the places I imagined would wear over time.

I coated the chair with a spray polyurethane {satin finish} to protect my newly antiqued & weathered look.

*If your re-done furniture sometimes feels a little rough from the spray-poly- a quick, light sanding with a very fine sandpaper should take care of any little bumps & bubbles in the finish!

*For different looks & varied "wear & tear," try using different textures of sandpaper.  I used very rough sandpaper on parts of this chair, followed by fine-  and on other parts, only fine textured.

A few details:

 

 

   & the before picture: {I had to use my cell phone... sorry for the terrible quality!}