Rustic Willow's DIY Concrete Planter

I get some of the craziest things posted on my Facebook timeline by friends who know me well. This is a DIY Concrete Planter, and will probably be my next project! Very cool, and sounds easy but messy (right up my alley).Just an old towel soaked in concrete! The instructions can be found at Rustic Willow.

How to make a Soup Can Safe

Came across this on the internet... great little item to hide your valubles or the chocolate from other household members

Seahawk Duct Tape Bow!!!

I needed a bow for one of the baskets for our upcoming Silent Auction, one that themed the basket to the contents, but couldn't find what I wanted. So I turned to my collection of Duct Tape- picked out the Seahawks tape and put it together like so...

Cut or tear an 8" strip. Place it face down. Take a plain piece of Duct Tape match it up to your nice piece of tape and place sticky side down to your nice tape, making a two sided duct tape strip. Make 2 or 3 more strips. THen make two strips at about 7" long. Place them together in an X formation and attache them to the first. Then take a Piece about 4" long and make a loop for the center. Attach it to the center of the bow. You can use these directions from Jenny at How about Orange.com for more detailed instructions. I found using duct tape requires fewer loops.

DIY Redneck Stemware

Time to start making Christmas gifts. I know a whole lot of folks who will enjoy this "stemware"
So easy it's silly. First get a standard candle stick ( I got mine at Dollar Tree) take the candle stick, place the top on the bottom of your canning jar.

When sastified with the placement. take a super glue for glass (I used Loctite Glass Glue- dries clear and is dishwasher safe!), glue per directions. when it dries, you have a lovely piece of stemware for the duck dynasty folks that you know!

Simple Patio Table

Super simple. Just take an old wire spool, and put a microwave glass turntable on the top! Use as a side table or plant stand. Weather proof, should last for a while! And it keeps that spool and the Turntable out of the waste stream!

Wasted Space!

Ever watch “WASTED SPACES” on the DIY Network? Host Karl Champley goes around and finds wasted spaces in homes, and solves the wasted space problem by building cool little cubbyholes for storage, computers and such. Well, Karl, I have one such space. Under my kitchen counter,  (my counter top is an “L” shape) in the corner is there is no cabinet. Nothing, except 4 square feet of wasted space. My idea was to build a cabinet on the backside in the hallway to hold towels, toilet paper, etc. etc. So I took and made a “box”. After demo’ing the wall to make room for it I installed the box in it. The box has a removable back so I can access a hose bibb(faucet) on the outside wall. Built a door and we are in business! Now I have a storage for towels and T.P. or whatever my little heart desires. No expensive remodel either. Just a bit of elbow grease and some cheap lumber!!!

DIY SPRINKLER for Running through, Watering yard and garden!

D.I.Y. Garden Hod

Garden Hod- A basket designed as a harvest basket but can be used for everything from a picnic basket to a knitting basket to a place to store kindling at the fireplace. We love the fact that we can rinse our veggies, including carrots, beets, potatoes, turnips etc., right in the hod.

I always wanted a garden hod… But the price kept me away (They range anywhere from $35 to $75!). So one day I decided to make my own. I made mine from a 

pine Plaque from Michaels, some 1” X 2” ‘s cut into 16” pieces, some Hardware cloth (Fencing) and reused 2 of the pickets I had on hand from remaking my POANG chair into a patio chair. And 1 piece of doweling I had on hand.

 The end result: A nice wooden garden hod. I am going to be so ready for harvesting this year!

New life for an Old POANG Chair

Poang... That iconic chair from IKEA, what do I do when I see one on the side of the road that obviously has seen better days?










 

The POANG frame... getting a new life as Patio Furniture!

I throw it in the truck!!! I was looking at the frame and thought... I bet that could make a cool piece of patio furniture. So some light sanding, and cutting, and some cedar fence boards, and voila a Poang Patio chair!!! Now to decide if I paint it or stain it...

CHEAP GREETING CARD ART!

I love the greeting cards from Trader Joe's. 99 cents (cheap!) and so expressive. I thought they would make great art if they were framed. So I did.

I took some TJ's greeting cards that I have had in the drawer for awhile and framed them with frames from the Dollar Tree. I like the end result! Makes me wish I had done this for greeting cards I have received in the past, some cards are so good you remember them always!

Easy Cell Phone Art

Making an art project using your cell phone is pretty easy. I took this picture:

The original shows a bent leaf. Then some editing through snapfish, a free online photo service. I turned it into  a black and white. Then some crafty cropping using paint, and made a black border.
Now ready for framing!

Four Great "Pinhead Ideas"

Pin Head Ideas... what I like to call those pics with a simple statement that would go great on Pininterest. You know those so simple ideas that make life easier. I find these all over the internet.

DIY Business Card Holder

Ever need a place to hold all those business cards you aquire? Here is a simple idea... Take a book, (one you don't read anymore or like- or in my case an old contract book from 1999) fold the pages in half and fold them on towards the spine. Now you have something to grab that contractors number when you need to swear at someone. Could also be used as a recipe file, or a Baseball card file.

On the Cheap Knick Knack Shelf

I have always like the look of furniture and stuff made from used pallets. Finally it's my turn. I made this simple Knick Knack shelf ! Here are the complicated instructions

• Find desired size pallet
• Take home
• Hang it!
• done

You can sand it down, finish or as I did just leave it (I like the rustic look!).It does not get any easier folks. Next time a chair or something more substantial but for now I will just admire my Knick Knack Shelf!

Pop Top Canned Kisses

Nothing says I love you like a can of kisses. I made mine following these instructions, I used a larger can, same object though, and printed an appropriate label for them. Of course, the can is filled with Hershey's Kisses, you can fill it with whatever you like.  A fun cheap Valentine's day gift for your kids, grandkids, neices, nephews or whomever.

Valentine's TIn

Simple strikes again for the new year! I took a clean new quart paint can, bought at Lowes, and put some of these neat foam rubber stickers all over it I found at Dollar Tree, then put dog treats in it. I would think a person could put candies in it or cookies then seal the lid (pound it down with a mallet or light hammer). A simple valentine gift for a kid or someone special.

What to do with old gift cards

Gift cards are a great present... but what to do with them when they are spent?

ReUp the account- a lot of gift cards can be recharged- Starbucks comes to mind... so register that gift card and re-charge it!

Ice Scraper- leave a used gift card in your car- they make great Ice Scrapers for Icy windows.

Guitar Picks- I have a fancy hole punch that punches out guitar picks out of expired credit cards, gift cards, store member value cards. The punch is available at PickPunch.com.

Dress- Lizzie Gardiner, who won an Oscar for best costume design for "Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert" designed and wore a dress made out of American Express credit cards to the ceremony.

Leash Holder frame

I needed someplace to put up a hook to place my Dog leashes after their walk. So I got this idea after perusing the internet for plaques with hooks.

• Simple to do- just purchase an unfinished picture frame, I got mine at Michaels  Finish the frame first ( I did mine after as 1-I just used spray Laquer and wanted to laquer the tiles as well) 
• 2- glue some Scrabble tiles for a name or message
• 3- Add decorative hooks to frame for hanging things.

This could be a perfect gift for a new pet owner or a good friend who loves their four legged friends.

DIY Art Part Two

Another instant DIY art project, Using stickers and spray paint/And this time a nice frame!

Autumnal Cake plate

Well back to it after a week off. Here is an easy Craft Hack anyone can do:

Okay, you may call me Martha for my use of the word Autumnal, but this was a super easy cake plate to make! The plate is one I bought at Dollar tree last year for Thanksgiving dessert...

The base is a shade from an old pendant lamp I have been keeping for awhile, that I glued with some Loctite glass glue, but you could use a candle holder or a wine or dessert glass- I have even seen someone use a series of shot glasses like using table legs-  I like the look a lot.And it gives me the excuse to say "Autumnal"