Showing posts with label Chalkboard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chalkboard. Show all posts

Friday, June 17, 2016

My Backyard Garden



Today I'm sharing with you a few garden projects. This is the view from my back porch. I've decided to make a few changes this year so I thought I would show you how it used to look.

garden, box garden, outdoor decorating, vegetables, back porch

 A friend of ours was getting rid of some wood boxes and the wood fence so this garden project was very thrifty! Another friend had a pile of dirt in his yard so we got that too. 

This is how it looked before the plants started growing.


Backyard Box Garden

Here's some outdoor projects I did for the garden.

First, I picked up this mirror at Salvation Army for cheap, painted the frame, and hung it on the fence.

Then I made a sign to hang above the mirror. I used an old board, stencils, and a black sharpie. 
Mirror Hanging in the Garden, Outdoor Garden Sign

To make a wreath, I used some dollar tree items to decorate an old worn out soaker hose that we already had. The flowers faded a little over time but it still held up great through the summer.
DIY Garden Hose Wreath

This chalkboard inspired sign was definitely a keeper. I painted a board with black paint, used stencils and filled them in with paint pens. 
Chalkboard, Garden, Outdoor Sign

It lasted through the hot summer sun and rainy days. It was still intact when I eventually took it down. 
Outdoor Chalkboard Sign, Garden


Here's a peek at our bigger garden. This is out in the field behind our house. I call it the desert. We live on sandy land and it's so hot out there in the summer.

My husband plants peas and corn in the big garden now while I have veggies in the smaller garden. It's so much easier for me! 

My husband likes to plant a lot, because he likes to plow a lot. I guess it's like therapy for him... or maybe just a man thing?

We pick enough peas and corn for us and we give the rest away.
Large Garden

The best thing about planting corn has been the kids playing hide and seek in it. They love it!
Corn

I had fun looking back at my garden. I'm ready for a new look and some new projects. 

I know I've been absent the past several months; I think things are getting back to normal. My family has had a lot going on. Several of you have emailed me and I appreciate it so much! 

My blog friends are the best!
Box Garden, Outdoor Decorating, Signs, Wreath, Plants, Vegetables
I hope you were inspired!
Thank you for stopping by Thrift My House.

Sharing here:

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Changing Up The Chalkboard And A Surprise Gift.

Is this pretty or what?

Out of the blue and for no particular reason at all, I received a package from my sweet blogging sister Connie. 

If you don't know Connie, she blogs over at Crafty Home Cottage and she is one of the nicest ladies you'll ever meet here in blogland. 

She's an expert quilter, crafter, and she's quite handy with a hammer. I always enjoy visiting her blog. She makes me smile and she leaves me inspired.

One of my favorite posts is the one where she shares her Art Barn.
This is where the magic happens! I'd love to have a place like this!

She leaves the most encouraging comments. Some people you just automatically love...
She's one of them!

She made me this Valentine's banner out of drop cloth. I absolutely love it! It's perfect on my new chalkboard, and it fits my style.

So cute! My daughter picked me up some new lights; I like having them on in the evenings. 
I think they look good highlighting the new banner. 

Connie also made me this pretty apron. She re-purposed a skirt she picked up from the thrift store. A woman after my own heart!


There is nothing like a homemade gift! And I can tell she put some love in it :)

I moved my chalkboard from the dining room to the living room. If you missed it all decked out for Christmas; you can see it here. I'm sure this chalkboard will travel many times.

A huge thank you to Connie for the thoughtful gifts.
I'll treasure these things and think of you when I use them.

I hope my friends here will visit Connie over at Crafty Home Cottage and follow along. 
I promise you will make a new friend!
I hope you were inspired! 

Thursday, December 3, 2015

How to Make a Ginormous Chalkboard

Today I want to make a confession. I have a chalkboard addiction. I just might have one in every room of my house. I tend to do that. If I really like something; I repeat it... a lot :)

How to make a large, wow, it's really big (my mom said) chalkboard. My husband did the cutting and putting it together. Please forgive me for my lack of professional directions.

Supplies: Luan plywood cut to size at Lowes.
4 Pallet planks
Chalkboard paint, roller
Short screws, screwdriver
Some kind of saw...
Lots of coffee (save the grounds)

My husband cut the planks to fit around the edges of the board. He made the triangle pieces from the scraps to put on the corners. Now that he had the pieces ready but not screwed together yet; I took the plywood inside to paint it.

I placed the board on blocks and leaned it against a cardboard box that was hanging on a nail... We do what we have to do.
It took 3 coats and 3 days because the paint has to set 24 hours between coats. 

I decided to try a coffee stain on the planks. I saved my coffee grounds, about 5 days worth in the fridge. I brought them to a boil, let it cool and then slathered the grounds and coffee water all over the boards. I painted the water on and used my hands for the actual grounds.  I set them in the sun till they dried and then swept them clean. I guess you could use fresh coffee and grounds but I thought this was the thriftiest way.

Now, it's time to put the frame together. He turned it upside down and screwed the pieces together. The screws were short so they didn't go through the front. 

He sawed this piece off the edge.

Next he placed the board (already painted) on top of the frame and screwed it down.

He carefully cut the edge off of the plywood.

Flip it over and this is what I had.

I took it in the house and seasoned it. You have to completely cover the newly painted chalkboard paint with chalk before you can use it.

Now comes the fun part! I clipped some Christmas cards onto some lights that I strung around the frame.

This was a thrifty project. Less than $30.00 and 
you know I'll have fun changing it up with the seasons.

The best part for me is, it's narrow and doesn't interfere with the dining table chair, but it still makes a statement in the room.
I hope you were inspired!
Thank you for stopping by Thrift My House.

Sharing with these sweet people.