Coffee Pot Planter

My grandmother is known for her overly huge collection of junk. She will keep things knowing there's no way in heck she will ever use it again. The coffee pot, from the 80's I assume, is no exception. Mamaw had intentions of keeping it, knowing the maker that it went with was not even in existence. So with my crafting abilities, and her love of coffee and plants, I threw together a little ensemble to satisfy both her loves!

what you need:

Spray paint, tape of some sort, and an old coffee pot

*a pencil with an eraser + second color of spray paint if you want polka dots*

Begin by wrapping the brown part of the coffee pot with the tape (Scotch tape)

Shake up your spray paint and add a thing layer of paint, wait for it to dry, then repeat process until pot is evenly covered in paint.

Do not try to apply all the layers needed at once. The paint will drip and leave you in a huge mess. 

Once this is dry, you can apply a clear coat of spray paint for protection and extra shine if you wish. 

Or, you can add polka dots. I grabbed a Styrofoam plate, sprayed some spray paint, dipped my pencil eraser into the paint, and polka-dotted my pot!

Once your dots are done, make sure they are totally dry! After you are sure they are, add a clear coat of spray paint for extra protection and shine!

Then, remove your tape!

My grandmother LOVED the finished product. She then had me to do the same makeover to a small coffee mug to complete her new decoration.

She is going to use the coffee pot to display fresh flowers, and the mug to plant a small flower!

The Intermediate Bow

Last week I shared a very simple bow tutorial that many of y'all loved. Today I am sharing another bow tutorial that requires a little more skill and effort. The final effect is so adorable!

What You Need:

-36 inches of ribbon (thicker the better)

-a pin that will bleed through the ribbon (you will not see these markings)

-a duck bill clip

-needle and thread

-ruler

-also needed is hot glue (not pictured)

Start with 31 inches of your ribbon: at one end, mark off 3.5 inches...

Now begin marking six-inch sections. 

You will end up with a total of five dotted-lines across the ribbon. Both ends should have 3.5 marked off.

Now with your needle and thread, stitch along your dotted line.

As you stitch, make sure your ribbon looks like this...

Once you've stitched along all the dotted lines, gently pull the thread, shaping the ribbon as you pull.

Secure the center of the bow by wrapping thread around the center, and putting a few stitches in as needed.

Now using the remaining five inches of ribbon (remember you only used 31" of your 36") fold it into thirds lengthwise and add a few stitches to secure. Tie a loose knot in the center. 

Now using a dab of hotglue, secure the knot to the center of the bow.

Wrap one end of this ribbon around the backside of the bow and hot-glue to the base of the bow. Pinch open the duckbill clip and hotglue only one side down to the ribbon. Bring the other end of the ribbon through the duckbill clip and hot-glue that down as well.

Now you have a precious bow for under $5!

Make Life Beautiful

Image cut and scanned from a Southern Living Maganize

These are the words that have told my artistic side to surge on. Many do not see art as useful, some thing its a waste of time. But the whole world is art, so make it beautiful.♥

DIY Petal Boxes

Why buy when you can DIY? That is my motto for everything which is why I created a template plus a tutorial for making your own petal-gift boxes! I will include the photo of the template you will need, as well as the print I used so yours can be identical to mine!

To begin making your own petal box, print this template. Do not crop it... save it and print full paged.

I used a Lilly Pulitzer print for my box... here is the exact page I printed. Save it, and print full paged.

What You Need:

Once you have printed the box template, and the print you want... cut out the box template.

Next, trace the template onto the backside of your print.

Now, add the dark lines (which you will cut) and the dotted lines(where you will fold).

Cut along the edge of the template, as well as the four dark lines illustrated.

Next you will fold on the dotted lines.

After you have folded and cut, for a more polished look, erase the dotted-lines and any other stray marks that are left over from cutting.

Now using your glue stick, glue the little flaps to the inside of the box walls.

Repeat that process three more times until your box is constructed.

Now fill your box with goodies, fold flaps closed, and garnish with a bow!

Everyone needs a little Lilly love!

How To: Girly-Bows

Bows are such a cute accessory. I am learning that they are not only for little girls, but for older ones as well... which totally floats my boat!

Here is my best found method of how to create the best bows on your own!

What you'll need:

Ribbon (longer, the bigger the bow), a smaller strip of ribbon with a simple knot in the center, scissors, a lighter, and yarn & a hot glue gun (not pictured)

First, "heat seal" your ends with the lighter. This will prevent the ends of your ribbon from fraying. To heat-seal them, hold the lit lighter about an inch from the end of your ribbon. You will soon realize that the heat is melting the ends...which "heat-seals" them!

 Next, lie your ribbon out flat, then fold it in half. At the fold, apply pressure to create a crease.

Now, lie your ribbon out flat once more. Then bring each end of the ribbon to the crease, making a figure eight.

Now is a good opportunity to use a little hot glue to secure the figure-eight formation. Hot glue is not necessary; however, it does make things easier in the end.

Now you bring the loops to the center...

You will see the bow starting to take shape.

Next is the trickiest part. With a strip of yarn, about four inches long, begin wrapping it around the center of the bow (where your fingers have been securing the shape) The yarn will take the place of your fingers.

Adjust the yarn, hot glue it a little on the back-side of the bow, and snip away extras.

You can most defiantly leave it like this. Or, you can give it a more polished look using the knotted strip of ribbon mentioned in the beginning.

Add a tiny dot of hot-glue on top of the yarn, and immediately press the knot on top of the glue.

Now you will wrap the tail-ends of the ribbon around to the backside. When you figure out how much you'll need to cover the back, cut the ends of the ribbon and "heat-seal" them as well. 

This is also the point where you would add a clip or hair bow. You would glue one end down, add glue to the clip/hair bow, glue that on top of the glued-down end, then glue the other end down, crossing the clip/hair bow while doing so.

This is the type of DIY that takes time and practice. In the beginning, it is easier to start on wider ribbon. You will find that the use of hot-glue is very minimal. Also, ribbon that has a texture works well too... the ribbon in this tutorial was silk, so it has a tendency to slip. Practice does make perfect in this case!

These sorts of bows also happen to be what I am "Loving Lately!"

Loving Lately is a great link-up hosted by some awesome ladies! Stop by either Lipgloss and Crayons, The Wright Stuff, Glossy Blonde, or Lala Lists to link up your "Loving Lately"!!