DIY Painted Chevron Border Rug

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of FrogTape. All opinions are 100% mine.

The mini makeover on my pack patio took another step forward this week.  I painted a rug. Yes, I painted a rug. With the help of FrogTape® Shape Tape™ I took a plain ol' gray rug and added a little interest.

This project has been on my to do list for months. I wanted an outdoor rug for the sitting area in front of our patio fireplace. I didn't want to spend much money on a rug that would get rained on and be subject to hours of direct sunlight.   I spent less than $18 on this 8x10' indoor/outdoor rug.  To 'fancy' it up I added a white chevron border to the edges.

DIY Outdoor Pillows: The 15 Minute Tablecloth and Plastic Bag Method

A few weeks back I shared my ideas for a backyard patio mini makeover.  Well, I'm happy to say they're finally coming along.  I'll be sharing more on the full progress in another post, but today I want to talk about pillows and pops of color.

DIY Monogrammed Burlap Garden Flag and Stake

In case you haven't noticed I've been happily doing outdoor projects recently - ahem, my vinyl window garage door makeover and my patio makeover is coming together...finally.   Today I'm going to share another outdoor project, this one not nearly as involved...or as much of a commitment.  I made this flower pot garden flag using nothing more than a scrap of burlap, a piece of freezer paper, my inkjet printer and some craft paint.

Usually when I want a design on burlap, I just print it onto the burlap...but since I plan to keep this outside I wanted to make sure the ink wouldn't run so I used paint instead of ink.  I did, however, use my printer for the first part of the process.  I started by designing my flag in PicMonkey.  It's a free photo and editing site that is just full of awesomeness. It's easy to use, free and has tons of font and designs to pick from.

Since I have to cut out the design to make it a stencil, I tried to keep it pretty simple.  To make the circle I first made a black circle, then made a smaller white circle, placed the white circle on top and then added the 'V'.  Once the design was ready, I saved it.  I like to bring my designs into PowerPoint to size them since each slide is the size of a piece of printer paper and I can get a better idea of how big my design actually is.

DIY End of the Year Teacher Gifts (Fingerprint Art)

It's that time of year again...the end of the school year. Yes...already!  For my son's pre-school teachers I organized a little craft to give each of them from all of the kids.  It's extra special because it includes each of the children's finger prints.

What you want to do is first print the sentiment out on a piece of cardstock.   I couldn't decide which phrase I liked better so decided I would make them a little different for each teacher so I could use both!

If you're going to make the flower pot picture, use some pretty scrapbook paper to cut out a flower pot.  If you're not the best free-hand cutter (no worries, I am not either!) find a  flower pot printable on google images, cut it out and then trace around it.

Then cut out long strips for the stems in different lengths so that you have enough for each child to make a fingerprint flower.  It's best to stagger the height of the stems if you have a lot of children so you can fit them all.  You can also cut out some leaves.   Another option is to paint these.  Again, I'm not the best painter...

I printed some little tags with info about the class and used a glue stick to mount them on top of the flower pot or on the clouds. Then we had each student dip their finger in craft paint and make 5 fingerprints around to make a flower.

I just used a black pen to label the flowers so the teachers remembered what a great class they had!  Once all the paint and glue was dry I picked up the white 8x10 frames at the craft store and framed them.  The teachers really seemed to like them.

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How to Make DIY 'Vinyl' Decals {Without Any Special Machines}

Just when you thought there was no way to make DIY vinyl-like decals without a Silhouette, Cricut or other die cut machine.  Well, I'm here to tell you there is and it's sooo stinkin' easy!  The secret is this printable, cuttable, removable, repositionable vinyl-like material (but not vinyl) by Square1 Masterpieces.  Be sure to read all the way to the end of the post because I have an exclusive Square1 discount code for Two It Yourself readers!

DIY Mason Jar and Wood Box Flower Center Piece

A few months back I made this wood box using some scrap wood I had lying around.  It was similar to pallet wood.  Just a few even cuts, wood glue, some screws and paint and I had myself a long narrow wood box.  (Read the full tutorial to make the wood box here).

Teacher Appreciation Week: Watering Can Flower Pot Gift (Free Printable)

Did you know that this week is Teacher Appreciation Week?  Totally is..and you're not too late to celebrate your child's teacher.   (And hint, hint Mother's Day and the end of the school year are just around the corner, too.) This is a really quick, easy, and inexpensive teacher gift..plus I'm making it easier since I'm including some free printables. Plus, I asked my cousin - who's a teacher - what one of the best gifts she ever received from a student was and she told me a potted plant with a sign reading: "Thanks for helping me grow."  So there you have it...this is a total win!

Door Mat Wall Art {Pottery Barn Knockoff}

A few weeks ago I shared this tutorial as a guest blogger over on Free Cheap or Fun blog. Today I'm re-sharing this Pottery Barn knockoff here for all of my readers to enjoy.

I love PB's classic and timeline style and decor, but the prices are a huge turn off for me.  I can't justify spending $399 on a lattice wood panel to hang on my wall when I could be buying two week's worth of groceries for my family for that price.  I do love Pottery Barn's new Lattice Panel Wall Art though and so I figured out a way to knockoff it off for less than $20.

Washi Tape Storage

So a few weeks back I majorly scored on Pick Your Plum...I got 10 rolls of Washi Tape for something like $13.  Totally cleaned up, right?!   Of course, now I have a Washi Tape storage problem.  That's a fine problem to have, if you ask me.   

DIY Coasters with Mod Podge and Napkins {And a Giveaway}

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and All You Magazine, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #lifeforless http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV.

Can you ever have too many coasters? They make great, inexpensive gifts and even if you keep them for yourself they're a great way to add a little color and personality to a room - while being totally functional.  During a recent trick to Dollar General I picked up the April issue of All You Magazine (totally scored using this $1 off coupon - get it while supplies last). 

How to Make a Peeps Topiary for Easter

I'm not a huge fan of eating Peeps, but decorating with them...why, yes, I will do that!  I love how this little peeps topiary came out and it wasn't too difficult aside from a few minor top-heavy issues.

So what you'll need...four boxes of chick peeps, spray paint, a basket or pot for the base, a stick or dowel no less than .75" in diameter, a cross stitch hoop, floral foam and Easter grass.

Start by spray painting your dowel or stick.  You pick the color, I went with green because I had it on hand.    Put the floral foam into the basket or pot.  It's a good idea to add some newspaper to the sides if it's not snug against the side.

Now, the original project, in Women's Day Magazine, suggest hot gluing the dow to the hoop right at the screw first and then hot gluing the peeps (keep them in attached sections of five).  Well, I got news for you people, I'm impatient. I didn't want to wait for the stick to dry so I glued the peeps to the hoop, as it laid flat, before I attached the dowel (you will need a lot of hot glue!).

Wood Chair Makeover with Spray Paint (Before & After)

A few months back I was driving down the road and I see this guy putting a bunch of 'stuff' out by the curb with a big sign that said 'FREE!'  The luck!

I quickly pulled over and snagged this wood chair.  The chair - just as it was when I threw it in my trunk - sat on my front porch all winter.  that is until I took some spray paint and vinyl to it!  To read the full post including seeing the 'after' head over to my sister site Silhouette School.

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Spring Coffee Table Vignette

If you follow me on Instagram you got a little sneak peek of this 'project' earlier this week.  It's not even really a project as much as it is an experiment.  I'm experimenting to see - for the first time in five years - if I can successfully keep coffee table decor in tact for more than five minutes.   My kiddos have kept hands-off so far and we're working on day four here!

Every time I flip through Pottery Barn or West Elm or Ballards I notice how nice their coffee tables look. I wanted something to add a little pop to my living room and this did the trick.  I gathered some items I already had pulling from various rooms, holiday decorations, storage boxes, and the bookshelf. 

Paint Sample Easter Egg Wreath (Kid-Friendly)

If you can't find the paint sample cards at your local hardware store, don't blame me..the Easter Bunny made me do it!   Isn't this little Easter Egg Wreath just too cute?  On a side note..do not send bad vibes my way for posting Easter crafts too early...I do it for you, I tell you, I do it for you.  I want you to have time to be creative and enjoy your crafts before it's onto the next holiday/season.

It's a fun and easy activity for kids as young as preschool.  All you need are some paint sample cards, a paper plate (or card board), glue, and ribbon.  If you have an oval paper cutter that makes it easier, but if not you can just use scissors.

Faux Terrarium in a Yankee Candle Jar

I'm so excited...I found another use for my empty Yankee Candle jars!  Nothing like a pretty FREE glass jar...and some dollar store supplies.

I am working on spring-ifying (yup, so went there) our house and this little guy was among my first projects.  I am calling it a faux terrarium because I don't know what else to call it and basically because 'paper flower with moss in a dollar store mini clay pot in a glass jar' is too long.

I am new to terrariums, but I'm liking them.  If you're not familiar, according to Dictionary.com a terrarium is "a glass container, chiefly or wholly enclosed, for growing and displaying plants." In other words I think I'm justified in calling this a faux terrarium.  No?

Okay onwards my friends.  I started by putting some filler (aka balled up tissues) in the bottom of my mini pots.  These mini terracotta pots come in a three pack at Dollar Tree. Can't beat .33 a piece! 

Framed Burlap and Paper Flower Spring Sign

A few weeks back I shared a fun Pottery Barn knockoff using some picture frame mats.  I've finally gotten around to using the actual frames.  This is a really easy project and I love what it does for my mantel as we head into spring.

How to Make New Wood Look Old

Earlier this week I shared a 15 minute DIY towel hook.   Now I can let you in on my little secret....about 14 minutes of that project was spent getting the new wood to actually look old and distressed. 

The scrap wood I used to hang the hooks on wasn't actually 'new' wood from the lumber yard.  It was wood I had in the garage, but it looked relatively new aside from a few splotches of paint.   The surface was smooth, there were no splinters or dings or nail holes.  I didn't want the wood to look this new though, I wanted it to look old, worn, distressed, loved...

DIY Towel Hooks from Old Curtain Tie Backs (15 Minute Project)

 

So last week my daughter pulled the towel bar - wall anchors and all - straight out of the wall in our master bathroom.   She left a pair of golf ball-size holes in the wall and gave me a perfect excuse to make a new towel hook.  

For months, I had been holding onto this idea of using some old curtain tie backs, that we no longer use, as some kind of hooks.  Oh when the stars align...

DIY Mini Burlap Spring Banner (No Sew)

Polar Vortex who? I'm thinking spring...I have to or I might slip into a deep depression after the winter that just.won't.quit!  My Valentine's Day decor is down, and since I don't decorate for St. Patty's Day, my house is looking a little nakey nakey.  It may be the second day of Lent, but I just can't justify pulling out the Easter decoration yet.  But there's no reason I can't make a few spring decorations and hoard them in my craft room until the first day of Spring later this month, right?

I am really into banners (I've got a whole Pinterest board of them) and I'm really into burlap so I made this fun and really easy mini burlap spring banner.  I just used a piece of scrap burlap and cut it using my secret no-fray way. 

I cut the paper flower out of cardstock on my Silhouette.  It's pretty detailed so if you don't have a Silhouette or another die cut machine, I would recommend a less detailed design or your X-acto knife may start to despise you. (The actual design was created easily using PicMonkey.)

DIY Dollar Store 'Industrial' Light Fixture

My laundry room makeover is in full swing.  Nothing is safe (just ask my drying rack).   Not even the ol' bulb and chain.  The laundry closet light is literally a light socket with a bulb in the ceiling.   There she glows...

I know it's just a laundry closet, but I did want to spice up the light a little and I didn't want to spend much money.   A $2 DIY light fixture did the trick.