Succulents are awesome. I don't have the best luck with keeping indoor plants healthy (or alive), but succulents seem to always have my back. They're hardy, they don't mind if you forget to water them for a few days, and they don't require a ton of maintenance. Plus they are just adorable. Additionally, they are also easy to fill your home with for almost no extra cost. All it takes is a little propagation; as in, you can regrow succulents from existing leaves (magic, right?).
I received my first flower press when I turned nine years old - maybe eight? The point is it was forever ago. I got it as a birthday gift from my best friend. The flower press came with a small instructional booklet on how to collect and preserve colorful wildflowers. On the front of the press was an illustration of Anne of Green Gables, happily picking florals and putting them into a giant basket. I still have that flower press, all these years later, with flowers wedged between the pages that are as old as the press itself. It was a fantastic gift that had me hunting for leaves and petals to collect and keep forever. Whether you're making one as a gift for a kid who loves getting outside, or you want to give yourself an excuse to explore the outdoors, a DIY flower press is a quick and easy project to make.
Have you ever struggled to find the perfect pattern for something? Then you see it...but it's the wrong product? That happened to me when I was searching for an outdoor rug, so actually decided I used an IKEA shower curtain to recover an outdoor rug, making a simple statement rug that was exactly what I wanted! Because shower curtains are already waterproof, you can makeover any rug with the pattern from a simple shower curtain.
Coming from a family of women who know how to garden well, the pressure is on! This year, I tried my hand at creating a garden in my home home, and, well... so far, it's not going as I hoped. Gardening takes time, patience and a lot of practice. Until then, it needs a little help. So I decided to create some DIY modern stepping stones that can do wonders in the meantime!
Urban jungle fever is still going strong in the design world, and I don't mind one bit!
From hanging air plants in every way imaginable, to covering a room with plants of all sizes, this decorating trend has us all "bringing the outdoors in" in ever-inspiring ways.
To pay tribute to the uncontested queen of stunning indoor plants, the monstera deliciosa, also known as the split-leaf philodendron, I created this embroidered monstera leaf art print.
Our basement family room was recently given a much needed makeover! The space was totally out of date, dark and uninviting. I started with giving the walls a fresh coat of white paint and brought in some new pieces for the room. Still, the space was asking for something a little more modern and one-of-a-kind. Since I love plants SO much and I try to have one in every room possible, I created a fun this super simple plant wall to show off my little green collection and add some serious life to the space!
It's that time of year again! The season to start thinking about our outdoor gardens and spaces! When we first moved into our home three years ago, the outdoor living space was...decent. But it wasn't quite our taste, and that made it a bit challenging to get over what we inherited and visualize an outdoor space that was meaningful to us.
But this year, we decided to take our first baby steps towards a more modern and clean outdoor space...
It's officially fall. Can you believe it? Saying good-bye to the hot sunny days and cocktails on the patio is enough to make anyone a bit bummed. So, why not treat yourself to a bunch of flowers to create some lovely bouquets to brighten the mood, all the while using the same materials! The best part is, you don't have to be a professional florist or even have a lot of experience in flower arranging. It's about exploring and discovering new avenues of creativity step by step, while having fun of course!
My dog Charlie loves to sit outside just as much as I do, but he's a bit too big to lay comfortably on a chair or ottoman. So, I thought it would be fun to make an outdoor daybed for him. Click through to find out how to make an upholstered bed for your own furry friend!
Begin by staining your wood. Put on a pair of protective rubber gloves and wipe the stain and sealer across all of the wood pieces with a rag. Be sure to do this in a well ventilated area, and protect your work surface because the stain will do just that – stain!
Once the stain dries, take some measurements for the leg placement. Find the center of the diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner on the largest piece of wood. Flip it over and find the center point in the same manner on the back side.
Glue one of the legs on that center point, and place the other four in the outer corners. Make sure to place those four half an inch in from the edges.
While those are drying, begin cutting your fabric. Cut two pieces of outdoor fabric to 20 x 8, one that is 30 x 8 and one that is 32 x 22. Cut the exact same size pieces from the clear vinyl fabric.
Lay the 20 x 8 piece of outdoor fabric right side down on the 20 x 8 wood, and lay the clear fabric on top of that. Staple across the top edge, 3/8 inch from the edge. Place a staple every two inches, stopping half an inch from each end.
Pull the fabric taut over the stuffing and staple it down as close to the edge as possible. Staple every two inches, and staple the sides down as well so there are no spots for the stuffing to escape.
Trim off the excess. Repeat steps 4 through 8 on the other 20 x 8 piece as well. Do the same for the 28.5 x 8 piece too, but staple the fabric all the way to the edges on this one.
Now that your legs should be securely glued to the wooden base, reinforce the legs with screws. This is why you made that mark on both sides of the base. Screw through that middle mark from the top side, and it should go directly through the wooden leg below. Do the same for the four corner legs, placing the screw one inch from the edges so they go right through the center of the legs below.
Place the edge of the large remaining piece of fabric face down as shown above, with the matching clear piece on top. Make sure it is face down so that when you flip it up, you won't see the staples on this front edge where they would be most noticeable. Staple every two inches, 3/8 inch from the edge.
Place stuffing on the whole surface of the base and then stretch the fabric across the top and staple all the way around, an inch from the edge. Cut off the excess fabric... this should leave 3/4 of an inch open for you to glue the three side pieces down. Once the glue has dried thoroughly, reinforce them with screws in the back corners.
I would recommend bringing it inside when not in use so it lasts longer, but it will stand up to the elements thanks to the durable fabric and Thompson's WaterSeal.
When you only have a small budget for outdoor furniture, finding the right pieces can be a bit dissapointing at times. If you don't feel like waiting for those end-of-summer deals, try exploring your local thrift store. With some good scouting and creative imagination, you might find the perfect piece for your patio.
It's that time of year when everybody wants to be outside during the day, and then everyone comes running inside in the evening once the mosquitos come out. But it doesn't have to be like that! Click through to check out 15 clever mosquito control ideas to get rid of those pesky bugs this summer.
What do you do when you run out of horizontal space for houseplants? Go up! A vertical garden made of wall-mounted plants is easier to put together than you might think, and we have a step-by-step tutorial to show you how to make your own.
Gardening can be a rewarding experience that produces beautiful flowers and delicious vegetables, but it can get expensive if you're not careful. There are ways to cut back on spending though, and today we're sharing 15 of our favorites. Keep reading to check out lots of clever tips that will keep your green thumb and your wallet happy.
1. Share with a friend. Go to the local nursery with a buddy and split seeds, 6-packs, etc. with them so that you have a nice variety for half the price. Check out The Garden Glove for lots more great ideas.
2. Ask a neighbor if you can split their hostas with them. Once hostas are large enough, they can be dug up, split, and then replanted.
3. Regrow vegetables from scraps. Many vegetables, such as celery and scallions, will regrow by placing the bottoms of the stalks in water and then planting them in the ground once they grow roots.
4. Choose things that spread. Mint is a great example of a plant that spreads like crazy, so give it a try for areas that you'd like to quickly fill with greenery.
5. Focus on perennials. Perennials will come back every year, making them a more budget savvy choice. Sure you'll make a larger investment the first year, but very little every year after.
6. Trade yard waste for compost. Some towns will take your yard waste in exchange for compost that they cycle through each year. Or you could start your own compost pile! Learn more at the Veggie Gardener.
7. Make a rain barrel. To save money on your water bill, collect rainwater in a rain barrel and use it to water the garden.
8. Grow from seeds. This requires more patience than the instant gratification of buying seedlings or plants, but it will ultimately save you tons of money. Get more tips over at Country Living.
9. Buy pots and other supplies at Goodwill. Thrift stores usually have planters and other tools at deeply reduced prices. It's worth a try!
10. Use existing natural elements to your advantage. Have rocky soil? Collect those rocks and make a border for your garden out of them. Or chop up that fallen tree and turn it into the sides for a raised vegetable garden.
11. Go organic. Skip the pesticides and chemicals... it'll save you money and keep you healthier. Check out more handy tips at Mother Earth News.
12. Grow plants that seed themselves. Some annuals will drop their seeds after they've bloomed, and those seeds will germinate in the spring. Some examples include poppies, cosmos and black eyed susans.
13. Check out Craigslist. Scroll through the Farm and Garden section for tools and materials, and take a look at the Free section too. You never know what you might find!
14. Scour your area for sales and coupons. Local plant sales will often have great deals, and you can sometimes find coupons for your nursery in the paper. Find more helpful tips over at My Stay At Home Adventures.
15. Set a budget when you go to the nursery. Be sure to set a specific budget for your trip to the nursery. It's easy to go crazy and buy every pretty plant you see, but your wallet won't be happy. Create a plan before you go, and stick to it.
