Crowded Garden

I planted my own garden several years ago....

Using my tiller (a birthday present) and rocks from the ground around our property I created this flower bed.

Coming from the West...I couldn't believe all the foliage that grew wild here in Connecticut.

Daylillies were growing near the road in our own front yard. I dug them up and replanted them in my flower beds.

This is a photo from just before the lillies are ready to bloom.

I ordered several perennials from an on-line nursery to plant along with my Day Lillies. I also planted Shasta Daisies and Echinacea from seed indoors until they were big enough to be planted outside.
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Here are some of my favorite perennials:

Shasta Daisies

Stella Dior Daylillies

Echinachea

Astible Bridal Veil

Black Eyed Susan

Lupine

Cluster a set of 5 close together for a lovely crowded garden.

In a couple of weeks my garden will be bursting with blooms.

Adding a stone pathway creates an inviting walk through the garden and brings in
a little "cottage style" charm.

Create large curved gardens lined with stones for a welcoming entrance to your front door.

Lovely Gardens Bring Happiness

to see an interesting way I display another area of my garden CLICK HERE

$1 Chalk~Cork Board...

A fast, easy and cheap message board....

A $1 cork board (with a bad print} from Ocean State Job Lot.

Scrap burlap.

Chalk Board paint.

Paint brush.

apply a saw tooth hanger on back

To add a little interest to the plain cork, chalk board....I will hang it from an iron hook and burlap.

Here's how:

Hang the board the height you want it with a small nail.

Remove the board.

Right above the small nail - about 6 inches - screw in the iron hook.

Drape ribbon over the hook and tape each end to the wall about 6 inches below the small nail.

This way the chalk board will "look" like it is hanging from ribbon and the iron hook .

Place the Cork-Chalk Board back up on the small nail.

Write a message...

Pin up notes and photos.

Useful, easy and cute.

Let it be....TV Tray

We use our TV trays a lot at our house.

They are so convenient to pull up as a desk for homework or a snack while watching a favorite movie.

I don't want to keep them hidden in a closet anymore so I made one that fits in with our home decor.

These natural pine TV trays came in a set of four.

I painted this one white...

I didn't even sand it first. I used Bin primer - lots of it. Then my 2X cover spray paint.

Once it all dried...

I used my Cricut to print out a saying.

(I would use stencils here but I can not find them anywhere since I started packing for my move)

Since I wanted this piece to look really old and look as if it has had a few layers of paint that have worn, I took a sponge roller with some wall touch up color and lightly rolled it all around the tray.

Then I scraped it while wet and once it dries - sand it a lot!

It's OK if my words come up - they are there so I can trace where they were once I remove them.

Then I sand more...

Apply some Dark Walnut stain to the wood areas that come through the paint and rub quickly with a towel or T-shirt. This is a good time to have baby oil on hand to help it blend but....I can't find mine.

So I used...

Murphy Oil Soap...it worked OK. It took more paint off than I wanted it to but -

it looks fine.

I retraced where the words were with my permanent black paint pen.

Once it was dry - I sanded it too.

And....

There it is...

Let it be..

This saying is one of my amazing friend's favorite quote.

When I pull out this tray and read that I will think of her.

See another makeover of a TV Tray HERE.

to see how I distress wood with a razor blade Click Here
view more about building your own benches or tables here
Linking with:
Ginger Snap Crafts
Savvy Southern Style

Primitive and Proper
Common Ground

Natural {Tiny} Tree Table

Bringing a little bit of nature indoors is a beautiful way to add texture and character to any style of decor.

Today I made a little tree table.

We had a whole bunch of trees taken down a couple of years ago. This stump has been in my garage to dry out so it could be used inside.

Here is my simple and easy steps to how I created this natural tiny table...

During the drying time the tree had been seeping out all it's juices....

So it created a sort of white "film" where the tree had been cut.

I used some mineral spirits and a 5-in-1 tool to scrape it clean.

Then I scraped off some of the bark but not all of it.  I love the texture of the bark and a more natural state for the tree - not too "polished".

Then sand it down with about a 120 grit paper.  Be sure to wear full coverage safety goggles to protect your eyes from all the little chips that fly off while sanding.

With my Cricut I printed out a No. 6 on natural color card stock.

I applied the No. 6 with Matte Mod Podge to the top side.

(the No. 6 doesn't have a special meaning but for those who think it should...there are 6 kids in my family)

While the mod podge dries I wrap a rope around the center and use tiny nails and a hammer to secure it in place.

Not every room calls for a coffee table. That is where I love to use stools and plant stands. They are useful and beautiful and way more versatile than a larger table. A perfect size platform for a drink or book near a comfortable seat.

I can even use this outside...

A Natural {Tiny} Tree Table