good morning from colorado springs! wow- is it beautiful here! the weather is perfect (as i’ve heard it usually is) and the scenery is simply to die for. we arrived without a hitch, though we flew in on two small planes. i don’t love flying as it is, so i’m hoping for bigger planes on the return flight! our hotel is just across from the city’s historical downtown, so we’re a quick walk to cute shops and yummy restaurants. hopefully i’ll have pics to share soon!

most recently added to my wish list is meg mateo ilasco’s latest book, crafting a meaningful home. featuring 27 projects that tell personal stories and celebrate heritage, the projects are all budget conscience and beginner friendly. as i am always trying to make my home a handmade haven, i can’t wait to get my hands on this book!

wrap up: {book} {diy} {home decor} {inspiration} {projects}

good morning! i was pleasantly surprised to wake up and find one of amy karol’s tutorials on making snack bags over on poppytalk! after perusing around a bit, i decided to share another one of her tutorials with you. :)

this tutorial is amy karol’s take on making homemade envelopes- lazy style!  author of angry chicken and accomplished book writer (one of my favorites- bend the rules sewing!), her world can keep you busy for hours.  i absolutely love her video tutorials- her voice is so soothing and her sense of humor will keep you laughing the whole way through.  she’s definitely my kind of gal, not following the rules, using what you got and getting it done! i hope you enjoy this, and don’t miss her tutorial on making easy snack bags with no velcro for back to school- they are cute, practical and easy!

amy karol elsewhere :: {shop} {blog} {site}

(note: once you click play, you’ll have to then click ‘watch on youtube’)

wrap up: {amy karol} {craft} {diy} {envelopes} {snack bag} {the angry chicken}

even though coffee seems to be my default, there’s something really special about a hot cup of tea.  i’m not sure if it’s the endless flavor options or the way i feel relaxed as i sip out of a teacup, but tea to me means special times.  my mister just discovered tea (as well as baking) and though he seems to be obsessed with yerba mate, i’m excited to introduce to him all the different varieties.

when i saw this diy for tea bag envelopes, i knew i wanted to share it with you!  it comes from a print a day and though this downloadable paper comes in a pack, she offers lots of fun prints for free on her website. perfect for place settings, gifts, wedding favors or gift cards, you can  skip on over to a print a day for the full (easy) tutorial and instructions.

wrap up: {bag} {diy} {envelope} {project} {tea}

Hello!  I hope you are all doing well!  How is your veggie garden harvest going?  I’m overwhelmed with zucchini right now, but the rest of my veggies are taking their sweet time!  I’m not too worried though….I know once those tomatoes get going I’ll be more that satiated!

This week I thought I would show you guys some neat trellis ideas.  I’m planning my garden beds for next year and plan on making a couple of easy to build trellises for my climbing veggies.  This year I used pretty basic trellis, and although it did the trick, it was not ideal.  I mostly had problems with my tomato trellising  and next year I am planning to grow my tomatoes up this trellis:

photos Robbie Caponetto, from Cottage Living

The trellis looks very simple to make, and even easier to take apart at the end of the season.  I do not have lots of winter storage space, so being able to disassemble the trellis is a major plus for me.  The instructions are at myhomeideas.com

I’ve mentioned DigginFood as one of my favorite blogs….and it’s no wonder – I found many lovely trellis ideas that Willi had created or shared.

Pea trellis at This Old House via DigginFood

These tomato trellises are great for containers. I’m planning to use more containers in my vegetable gardening next year.  I had problems with invasive quackgrass in my garden beds, and I’m sure this damaging weed is responsible for some of the lack of production in the vegetable garden

Tomato trellis at The Gardener Chef

And just for a bit of whimsy in the garden…. how cute is this tepee hideaway trellis idea from Sunset Magazine!!!  I’m absolutely going to try this out next year…along with the bamboo stake trellis…so lovely!

Are you already beginning to think about next year’s garden?  Or are you practicing living in the moment!  I have so much going on my life right now that I’m taking simple pleasure in designing a garden for myself…it’s one of my ways to relax and tap into my creativity. Do you enjoy garden design or are you more spontaneous in your gardening? Although this may not be the best time of year to plant, I’m seeing some really great sales in the garden centers.  If you do decide to take advantage of the savings, make sure to water your plants very well for the rest of the growing season.

Caroline Finnegan owns Ladybug Landscaping, a full service organic landscaping company. based in CT. She is a NOFA accredited landcare professional and when not designing gardens can be found rearranging her furniture or out at a flea market finding new goodies. She almost always has dirt under her nails.

wrap up: {diy} {organic gardening} {trellis}

{valentine’s plate}

you know i always talk about my next creative endeavor? well, i can assure you, this will be it!  welcome to the world of porcelain paint pens, friends!

{tea for two and fine}

it always amazes me when i find a new craft, it’s like how did i survive without knowing this? you can purchase porcelain paint pens from any craft store (like michaels or a.c. moore) and get to creating your own pottery in no time. draw on your design, bake it in your conventional oven at 300°f for 30 minutes and you’re done!  (i also read that it’s good practice to place your piece in the oven at room temp, let them preheat together, then cool off together before removing).

{diy painted porcelain}

and the best part is? you don’t even have to be an artist! all you have to do is doodle, write, scribble, or play.  i love projects that allow you to turn thrifted, boring or inexpensive pieces into personalized art- and this one definitely qualifies.

{busybeeson}

{porcelain decoration tutorial}

think about all the possibilities- plates, bowls, mugs, subway tiles, coasters, pitchers… i have a set of plain ‘ol porcelain plates just waiting to be doodled on!

wrap up: {art} {craft} {customize} {diy} {doodle} {paint pen} {porcelain} {project}

when i saw these paint chip leaves on skinny laminx, i definitely had a, “why didn’t i think of that?” moment.  i keep a stack of pretty paint chip cards in my sewing room for inspiration, and they are just asking to be cut up into pretty flowers, leaves and city silhouettes!

so to leave you for the weekend, i’ve compiled a list of some fun paint chip projects.  head to the hardware store and have some fun!

• - make a pendant paint chip banner
• - paint chip art from geninne’s art blog
• - paint chip notepads
• - make a paint chip table
• - paint chip mosaic tutorial
• - paint chip wreath
• - paint chip card holders

have any other diy ideas? hope you have a sunny weekend! love, bonnie

wrap up: {craft} {diy} {paint chips} {project}

just in case you missed it, my diy chalkboard garden pots were featured on design*sponge yesterday!  it’s such an easy peasy, fun project, and it uses the same technique for custom color chalkboard paint that we used for our pantry door. budget friendly and finished in less than an hour, this project is an easy way to pretty up your home, patio or garden!

materials:

- terra cotta gardening pots (unglazed)
-1 cup flat latex paint in your desired color
- 2 tbs unsanded tile grout for each cup of paint (avail. at your local hardware store)
- sponge brush
- tape
- paper
- exacto knife (or scissors)
- chalk
- label template

instructions:

1. download the label template and cut each shape out into rectangles that will fit onto your pot (you can increase or decrease the label size for varying pot sizes).

2. using an exacto knife or scissors, cut the templates out from the inside to create your stencil.  tape the stencil to your garden pot along the outside edges.

3. in a cup or bowl, mix one cup flat latex paint with 2 tbs unsanded tile grout, then stir well until all of the clumps dissolve.

4. dip the sponge brush into your ‘chalkboard’ paint and begin painting inside you stencil using brush strokes from the outside in.  fill in the stencil, being careful not to get paint under the edges of the paper.  let paint dry (about 15 minutes) and apply a second coat.

5. once the second coat is dry (another 15 minutes) remove the tape and stencil to reveal your chalkboard design!

6. once fully cured ’season’ your chalkboard by rubbing the entire area with a piece of chalk and wipe clean with a damp cloth.  now you’re ready to write away!

wrap up: {chalkboard} {craft} {custom color} {diy} {garden} {paint} {patio} {pot} {project}

happy friday dear ones!  today i want to introduce to you one of favorite people around the web, tonia of itty bitty impacts! her blog is about taking care of the environment and how itty bitty things ready do add up and make a huge difference.  she takes such a fun approach to sharing with us how to minimize our impact, you’ll have fun learning as you flip through all the pretty pages of advice, tips and how to’s.

i wanted to share with you this video on how to make your own laundry detergent (isn’t tonia cute?)!  store bought laundry detergent is full of harmful ingredients such as quaternary ammonium sodium carbonate, sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate, sodium silicate, bleach, and some phosphates (just to name a few), and i don’t want to be wearing those or dumping them in the earth.  since ec0-friendly detergent is so expensive, this is an easy, very effective and affordable way to make your own laundry detergent at home that won’t harm your family or the earth.

if you haven’t already, enjoy perusing the pages of itty bitty impact where you’ll find advice on diy facial’s, green weddings, preserving herbs and so much more!

have a lovely weekend, see you here on monday! xo, bonnie

wrap up: {cleaner} {diy} {earth} {eco friendly} {laundry detergent} {simple living} {sustainable}