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Outdoor Winter Birch Planters

How to make Outdoor Winter Planters with these step-by-step tutorial from Darling Darleen — outdoor winter birch planters

Outdoor Winter Birch Planters

Outdoor Winter Birch Planters seem to be available everywhere here in the Northeast, and are a traditional style of front porch decoration. You don’t see this style of winter planters in the South, so I was excited to make up these outdoor winter birch planters from the clippings of my Christmas tree. Birch branches are difficult to find in the South, but they are available at most stores in the North and priced well. These outdoor winter birch planters are easy to make and add a gorgeous statement to your winter outdoor decorating!

Supplies for making an Outdoor Winter Birch planters can be clippings from your Christmas tree, clippings from evergreen plants in your yard or greenery branches from your local flower shop. Like I said, these planters are very popular in the Northeast mostly because the many of the greenery can be found right in your backyard. But if you don’t leave in the Northeast, all of these clippings can be at your local flower shop.

Supplies:

Urn or large planter (filled with dirt)

Birch branches (cut down with varying heights)

Fir clippings

White Pine clippings

Seeded Eucalyptus

Juniper spray with berries

Boxwood Evergreen (could be found in your yard)

Curly branches

Pine cones (get the scented one for a new welcoming scent to your guests)

I picked up a couple of tiny fir trees for my other urns, but if you can’t find birch branches, then fir trees can be used as your center for the outdoor winter planters or anything that creates height.

Take three birch branches that are varying heights and poke them in the center of the pot, pushing them down into the soil.

Take your fir branch clipping and stick them around the birch branches. Place your juniper berry clipping on top of the fir.

Easy to Make Outdoor Winter Planters with these step-by-step tutorial from Darling Darleen

Seeded eucalyptus branches are floppy, and great to fill in under the fir branches that have open spots. They also are a different color of green and add a good variation of the planters and bring out the tiny blue berries on the juniper branches.

Take the boxwood clippings and continue to fill in empty spaces to make your outdoor winter planter full.

Finish it off with your curly branches placed in the middle of the planter. Then take your scented pine cones and scatter a few around the branches of your planters.

How to make Outdoor Winter Birch Planters with clippings from your tree via Darling Darleen

Enjoy your holiday porch with your new outdoor winter birch planters!

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DIY Pom Pom Shirt

DIY Pom Pom Shirt

Pom poms are everywhere, and I just want to keep this trending going. The round colorful fluffy embellishment is so fun and playful for summer time. We thought it would be fun to make DIY pom pom shirt so the girl cousins could match for the 4th of July, and we could all be pom pom’d out! After making DIY pom pom sandals and beach bag, this was an easy project and one that the girls could tackle themselves. This DIY pom pom shirt project works for just about any shirt you choose. Once all the materials are gathered, it takes less than 15 minutes to complete. Very easy DIY project and fun for the 4th of July!

The girls picked out which shirts they wanted and we kept the t-shirts under $10. I bought a yard of pom pom trim per shirt so the entire project per shirt was less than $15. If you plan to add pom pom around all the edges of the shirt, than plan to buy more than a yard of pom pom trim. We just added trim around the sleeves or the bottom, not both.

DIY Pom Pom Shirt

T-shirt (we bought $8 t-shirts)

Pom pom trim

Sewing machine

pins

Scissors

Instructions:

Take your shirt and turn it inside out. Take your pom pom trim and start at the seam and pin it along the edge all the way around. Sew it straight stitch. Or if you don’t know how to sew, use fabric glue to secure it to your top. After, turn your shirt right side out! Simple and completely changes the style of the shirt.

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Mother’s Day Mini Flower Bouquet

Mother’s Day Mini Flower Bouquet

Fresh flowers always sends a message of love! Giving a fresh flower bouquet to your mom, grandmother, mother in law or your favorite mom friend is pretty much mandatory for Mother’s Day. Of course they will be so happy to receive it! I know I would. Fresh flowers don’t have to be expensive. I always love to put together my own bouquet of flowers with either ones from my garden or the local flower market. But for this DIY Mother’s Day mini flower bouquet I turned to Blooms by Isabel to break down how she makes such beautiful mini hand-tied flower bouquets. They are always so gorgeous, and she has a great eye for floral colors, texture and flower combinations. She is sharing how she creates the perfect Mother’s Day Mini Flower Bouquet. She also tagged the bouquet with our FREE mother’s day gift tag printable, available at the end of the post.

Mother’s Day Mini Flower Bouquet

Flowers–choose a combination of large flowers, smaller flowers and fillers

Flower shears

Twine

Wrapping Paper

Ribbon

Mother’s Day gift tag labels (FREE printable below)

To begin making your Mother’s Day mini flower bouquet, head to your local floral shop. I usually have good luck with Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods or Costco. You’ll want to find a combination of large flowers, smaller flowers and filler greenery. For larger flowers, roses are usually the best or lilies work good too. Spray rose flowers, tulips or ranunculus are the perfect smaller flower options. For fillers, baby breaths, eucalyptus or ruscus work great.

To begin making your bouquet, start with greenery as your base, then add in your small flowers, then your larger flowers. If you have any leftover filler flowers, then place those in the bunch and move flowers around until you are happy with where the flowers are placed. I usually do with while holding all the flowers in my hand. Then I take twine and tie the flowers together. For mini bouquets, cut the stems shorter and all the same length. Wrap them up with wrapping paper. We used an iridescent wrapping paper over white paper then tied with velvet ribbon.

Before you send these beautiful Mother’s Day mini flower bouquets off, tie on our FREE Mother’s Day gift tag printable that you can easily download and print! Make a few of these easy-to-make Mother’s Day mini flower bouquets!

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Valentine Emoji Pop Up Card

Valentine Emoji Pop-Up Card

Emojis are everywhere lately, and they are SO cool among the kids these days. We just had to do some kind of valentine emoji pop-up card for all the boys in my life…and in yours! I hope you had a chance to check out this year’s girl valentines using honeycomb balls to creating a pop-up effect. We thought it would be a good idea to staying with the honeycomb pop-up theme and create one for the boys. These emoji valentine cards create a fun wow factor. We decided to use the cool man emoji and a pirate emoji. It was hard a picking, but these designs worked best for big eyes.

Download the FREE VALENTINE EMOJI POP-Up Card after the jump.

If you need instructions on the how-to, please refer back over to the original honey-comb pop up card. The download for the Valentine Emoji Pop Up card is right below. Here is the link to the 2″ black honeycomb balls. Have so much fun putting these together!

>>>>>>>DOWNLOAD VALENTINE EMOJI POP UP CARD>>>>>>

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Heart Shape Flower Box

DIY Heart-Shape Flower Box

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and you know roses are the way to a girl’s heart and a sign of love and friendship. I’m such a sucker for flowers and always love receiving and giving them! So I was looking for something extra special to make to give to my love ones for Valentine’s Day. This DIY heart-shape flower box is just the one that I know my girls will love or even a friend who needs a little cheering up over the love holiday. If you are planning a Galentine’s breakfast or even just a romantic evening with your lover, these heart-shape flower box would also make a perfect centerpiece. So many fun ideas.

Supplies:

Heart Shape Box or Paper Mache box (spray paint for desired color)

floral wet foam

wax paper

fresh flowers

scissors

knife

Take your foam block, using your knife cut it about 1.5″ thick. Then use the bottom of the heart box to cut the foam in the shape of the heart. I had to use two 1.5″ foam blocks to get the entire shape of the heart. Don’t worry if it is not perfect. You just need a general heart shape.

2. Put your foam blocks in water and let it soak for a bit. While it is soaking, take wax paper and cut the width of the box. Gradually push it down to fully cover the bottom and the sides of the heart shape box, while making sure the paper doesn’t tear or rip. You may have some extra paper hanging over the sides. I just cut the paper with scissors around the shape.

3. Gently place the wet floral foam blocks in the heart-shape box, making sure the bottom is fully covered. You can add additional water in the box at this time.

4. Next is the fun part, adding the flowers. Simply trim and push the stems in the wet foam block. Start on the edge and work your way to the middle of the box. My boxes used about 10 stem roses. If you’d like put the top on the box, then make sure to cut the stems short so the flower heads are below the top of the box. I kept my longer because I am using them more for display and wanted the flower heads peeking out. If you are planning to give them away, add a ribbon around the box and flowers!

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Valentine’s Honeycomb Pop-Up Cards

Valentine’s Honeycomb Pop-Up Cards

There was this little grocery store near my house growing up that sold the cutest pop-up Victorian Valentine cards. They were so beautiful and intricate, and they had the honeycomb pom pom somewhere in the design. A small memory, but a happy lasting one. These Valentine’s printable honeycomb pop-up cards may not be as intricate and completely 3-D, but they have a happy pop that will bring a smile to a friend or classmate. I teamed up again with my girl Melissa, who is amazing at graphic design, and we came up with this cute design. Remember last year’s Valentine’s cards? One of my favorites, so we really had to up it this year with another fun concept. These Valentine’s Honeycomb Pop-up cards are so easy to put together and perfect for your child to hand out at school or to give to a friend. The designs are fun even for older children. My teenage daughter is excited to give them to her friends. Using honeycomb balls to achieve the effect is so easy and time effective that you won’t have to spend a lot of time making these striking Valentines. In fact, I’m sure your child would want to get involved too.

Get the instructions and FREE printable after the jump.

Instructions for Valentine’s Honeycomb Pop-Up Cards:

Valentine’s Printable DOWNLOAD PDF

2″ Honeycomb Balls

Glue or adhesive dots (I prefer the dots)

Download the Valentine Honeycomb Pop-Up card printable (link above). Print on heavy cardstock paper. I printed mine at my local print shop so the color was bright. Cut down and then fold over with the words on the outside. The honeycomb balls will arrive flat. Unfold the ball and secure the honeycomb balls with glue or adhesive dots on the circle graphic on the printable. When delivering your card, use washi tape to secure the card to stay down and attach a fun lollipop or toy to it.

Stay tune for next week! I’ll be posting another similar Valentine’s for boys! Also head to the sidebar to see other FREE Valentine’s Printables.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Modern Wire Evergreen Wreath

Modern Wire Evergreen Wreath

Wreath making is one of my favorite Christmas crafts for decorating the home. You really can’t go wrong and the outcome is so beautiful. I can’t wait to show you the wreaths and garland I’ve been putting together. I’m hoping to get my Christmas holiday post up either tomorrow or Monday (fingers crossed). If you remember last month for Thanksgiving, I made these Modern Harvest Wreaths out of wire hangers and clippings from my yard. I love the fun wreath shapes you can make of circles, triangles and squares. It really puts a geometric, modern look on a simple wreath. Well, I just updated my modern harvest wreaths with a modern wire evergreen wreath so they look a little more holiday and goes with my Christmas tree and ornaments. This craft is so easy! Don’t throw out those wire hangers, craft them into something beautiful that can be used year after year.

Supplies for the Modern Wire Evergreen Wreath:

Wire hangers
Follow the instructions for the Modern Harvest Wreath for making the wire wreath.
floral wire
wire cutters
wire pliers
Christmas ribbon
leaves–magnolia, eucalyptus, boxwood, any kind of ever green leaves
Cotton stem
holiday berries from any craft store

Instructions for the Modern Wire Evergreen Wreath:

After you make the wire wreath, go out to your yard or a neighbors or even the woods or a park and clip evergreen plants. An evergreen plant is a plant that stays green all year round for example boxwood, cedar fir, Fraser fir, eucalyptus, magnolia. There are so many evergreen variety but I tend for find branches that remind me of a Christmas tree. You don’t need a lot but enough to cover the bottom half of the wreath. Then arrange the evergreen clips with the large, bushier branches behind and the thinner smaller leaves in front. Take your floral wire and wrap around the wire wreath. Once everything is secure, add your holiday berry branches under the floral wire. Pull out the cotton heads from the stem and place them also in floral wire. Add some ribbon and you are ready to hang.

These simple modern wire evergreen wreaths are best placed over a mirror or over the back of a chair. I also love the look over a fireplace mantle or switching out a picture over a console with one of these modern wire evergreen wreaths.

Modern Harvest Wreath

Modern Harvest Wreath

I don’t know about you, but it is hard to feel like it’s Fall when the weather outside is hot and steamy. Halfway through September, and I’m trying really hard to get into the mood of Fall so the best way to do so is with crafting Fall home decor. I love how these modern harvest wreaths came out, and they are the perfect crafting idea to get into Fall. These modern harvest wreaths are perfect to place over a mirror, hang off the back of a chair or decorate above a console table. Did I mention budget friendly? Except for a few berry branches, I pulled almost everything from my flower garden and around the house. And how can you not get over the geometric wreath style? It the best part of the modern harvest wreath! You may have seen similar modern harvest wreath styles on Pinterest, but these ones are made out of wire hangers!

A few of the items I used were magnolia leaves, eucalyptus leaves, wheat grasses, decorative berry branches and dyed dried natural berry branches. These modern harvest wreaths are made with real, natural flowers and leaves but using items that will completely dry beautifully and not wilt. They should be good the whole fall season!

Here’s the easy breakdown for the modern harvest wreath.

Materials for Modern Harvest Wreath

Three wire hangers to make a circle, square, triangle
metallic spray paint
floral wire
wire cutters
wire pliers
ribbon
leaves–magnolia, eucalyptus, boxwood, any kind of ever green leaves
natural dried dyed branches like wheat or berries
real flowers or berries that does not discolor or welt when dried

Instructions for Modern Harvest Wreath

To make the modern wire wreaths, I used a wire hanger and snipped off the hook part with wire cutters. Then I manipulated the wire into a geometric shape. You will need arm strength to bent and twist the wire ends around each other to hold the geometric shape. Use pliers to assist in the twisting and maybe another set of hands. Once the shape is secure with the wire hanger, don’t be surprised if the wire ends are pointing out. You will be covering that part with your flowers. Just make sure they aren’t pointing out too much that there is a concern with scratching a door or mirror. After you are happy with the shape of the wreath, spray paint both sides of the wreath with metallic spray paint. Let it dry.

Start with the leaves and then add three decorative flowers or berries. Cut the stems an inch from base. Wrap floral wire around the base of the flowers, then wrap the floral bunch around the base of the wire wreath, making sure it covers where the twist is located. Repeat about three more times. Hang the wire wreath with ribbon.

I love the look of hanging the wreath in other places other than a door. Get creative and have fun decorating your home with these modern harvest wreaths.

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DIY Copper Hat Rack

DIY Copper Hat Rack

DIY Copper Hat Rack: Summer time is usually when I rock a hat..almost everyday. Protection from the sun and blocking harmful UV rays makes me all about wearing a hat when I head outside. So, my hat collection, specifically my straw hat collection, has become a little out of control, and I have been in desperation of organizing the collection. I have wanted to buy a hat rack, but most of the hat racks on the market weren’t quite what I was looking for. But after DIYing the copper clothing rack, I was leaning toward a DIY copper hat rack because I had left over copper supplies and thought it would be a great way to use up my copper inventory. All said and done, this DIY copper hat rack what SO easy and took about five minutes to put together with total supplies of about $15. Of course, not including the cost of the hats!

Find a spot in your closet to set up your hat collection. Or this DIY copper hat rack is so chic and stylish you could use your hats as display over a headboard or dresser. I recommend using parts from Tradefix Direct as the price and quality are both very good!

Supplies for DIY Copper Hat Rack

All these materials are available at Home Depot or your local hardware store. Or you can buy with the links below, but prices will be higher.

1/2″ in diameter and anywhere from 5 ft – 10ft copper pipe depending on how wide you need. You can also buy long and cut down the copper. See the how to.
2 copper end caps (1/2″ diameter)
2 copper pipe strap (3/4″ wide)
Curtain rod ring with clips
Hammer
Nails or screws
Leveler (optional)

Instructions for DIY Copper Hat Rack

Figure out where you want to hang your hat rack. Think about how wide your hats are and make sure to leave room from the end of the hat to what it will be near. Also think about how many hats you want to hang. You can double similar hats together to maximize space. Also if space permits, you can hang from the clips rope or string and then attach hats with clothing clips to the ropes. Lots of different options!

Once if you figure out where you want to display your hats, take your hammer and pound in one of the pipe straps to the wall with a nail. Use screws for a stronger connection or if you are planning to hang quite a bit of hats on it. Make sure you get 3/4″ pipe strap, NOT 1/2″. That way you can slide your copper pipe in and out of the pipe strap to add or remove ring clips without marking your walls too much.
Add the end caps to the ends of the copper pipe and then slide your curtain rod rings on it and keep them in the middle of the pipe. Then slide your copper pipe into the pipe strap.
Use your leveler, or if you have a good eye, to make sure the pipe is straight against the wall. Then take your other pipe strap and place one the other end of the copper pipe. Secure in place with either nails or screws.
Grab your hats and clip them onto the curtain rings. Then enjoy!

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COPPER Plant Stand

How to Make a Maypole

How To Make a Maypole

May Day is just around the corner (May 1st), and is a traditional Spring holiday in many European countries in celebration of Spring through dance. Learn how to make a Maypole for your May Day festivities. Usually we go around on May Day and hang a bouquet of flowers on neighbors’ door knobs. And this year, I thought it would be fun to dance around a maypole! The maypole dance is not just for May Day. It can be celebrated all throughout spring and into summer. How fun would it be to have a maypole at a Mother’s Day tea party or a summer picnic or a little girl’s garden birthday party? Children (or mamas) can dance around the pole, braiding the ribbon by going under each other, over each other or cross each other’s path. I will show you an easy way on how to make a maypole that will last for many summer parties to come.

Supplies for How to Make a Maypole

Two wooden dowels-1 1/4″ x 72 ”

Drill

Afloral assorted silk flowers–the flowers I used were mini silk ranunculus bush, magnolia silk bush in blush, waxflower spray in white and mauve pin and 25″ ranunculus spray pink

1 x dowel screw

Round wooden rosette with blunt screw

12 rolls of assortment of silk ribbon 1″

staple gun

wood glue

hot glue

hand saw

Instructions for How to Make a Maypole

1. Take your wooden dowels and drill a hole, slightly less than the diameter of your dowel screw, through the center of the top of the dowel on one side of each wooden dowel.

2. Squeeze wooden glue in one of the drilled holes. Then take the dowel screw and screw it in the dowel all the way. Let it dry for a few hours so the screw will be firm in the dowel, preferably 24 hours. When you assemble to poles, you will screw the dowel with the screw into the other drilled hole on the other dowel. Once assembled, the pole will be about 12 feet tall. This will make it easy to transport the maypole and take your maypole dancing to the park, friend’s backyard or any open grassy area.

3. Take the other wooden dowel that does not have the dowel screw in it. The opposite end of the drilled hole, use your saw to shave down the edges to make it have a point or a V-shape so it will be easy to hammer the pole into the ground.

3. Now take the other wooden dowel that does have the dowel screw in it and drill another hole on the opposite side. Put wood glue in it and screw in the round wooden rosette with the blunt screw in the dowel. Let it dry.

4. If you’d like, you can spray paint your maypole. Or keep it natural.

5. Take your ribbon and staple gun and staple one end of each ribbon at the top of the round wooden rosette. Unravel the ribbons and then gently wrap the ribbon around the pole.

6. Grab your Afloral.com silk flowers and pull the flower buds off the stems. Hot glue the larger flower heads on the top of the round wooden rosette and then the smaller flowers.

7. With any of your leftover silk flowers, make flower crowns for your dancers.

You are just about ready to dance around the maypole! Before you head out, grab a hammer. You will need it to hammer the bottom pole in the ground. Hammer it in a few inches in the ground to make sure it’s secure. Then screw the top dowel into the bottoms dowel. Unravel the ribbons. Each dancer holds onto a ribbon and then dances around the maypole!