Summer Mantel

Wow, I cannot believe it will soon be July 4th! This summer and year is going by way too fast. So before summer gets away from me I wanted to show you my summer mantel.  I will have to show you how I transferred the font onto the chalkboard in a later post. 

This saying on the chalkboard is one of my favorite "new" to me sayings. It reminds me of the ocean for some reason. It's calm and relaxing!

I found this bucket in the dollar section at Target. I put shells in the bucket to pull it into the rest of the decor.

I found these glass candlesticks at a thrift store years ago and bought candles at the Dollar Tree. I added some twine and burlap to the outside of the candles.

I bought this starfish in South Carolina last year while we were on vacation. I tied some sisal rope to the middle and used a tack to attach it to the top of the chalkboard frame.

I think these coke bottles are my favorite! I also bought them at a thrift store. I think they remind me of sea glass. 

This seashell is very special to me. I had an aunt that lived in Florida that passed away a few years ago. Back when I was still in Junior High we drove down to see her. She had collected these big shells throughout the years and had them displayed in her flower beds. She told my sister, cousin and myself to pick a shell out to take home with us. I picked this shell it was the only shell like this and wasn't like the other shells. She told me it was a very rare and a hard to find shell. So every time I look at this shell I am reminded of the story my aunt told me and feel very honored that she let me have it!  

I found this green glass float at Goodwill. I love the color! 

I hope you all have a great 4th of July! I will be spending mine with my little family.


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Solar Light Basket

Happy Summer sweet readers! I don't know why but summer has just been so much better this year. I think it has something to do with my silly two year old and her love for discovering new things. We have been spending as much time outside as possible. One of the things that I have really been working on getting completed is our little patio all spruced up.  I have about a bazillion things left to do with it, but I wanted to share one of my projects that I did from this past weekend.

Remember my Mason jar solar lights? Well, I had a few solar lights left over from the Dollar Tree that I wanted to use . Of course, I tried to use them in the cheapest way possible. I bet you can't guess where I bought these baskets? I know I am so predictable, but I love my Dollar Tree!

I thought the baskets had the perfect shape to be hung like a pendant or they were just cute sitting!

The first thing I did was spray paint them.I used the colors Fern by Rustoleum  for the stripe in the middle and Ivory by Krylon for the rest of the basket. I have found it easier to paint a whole object the color of the stripe and then go back and apply the color that will be the main color. I just used painter's tape to cover up the green to make the stripe.

After my baskets were done drying I was then ready to add the solar light. I just wanted the light and not the stakes so I  un-screwed the top of the solar light off  the stake and measured the solar panel  (the black square) so I knew where I would be cutting the hole.  

I used chalk to mark where I would be cutting the hole. The hardest part about making the hole was trying to get it started. I had to cut a few of the weaves in the basket and then I was able to work my way around to make a square.

I then took some gorilla glue and glued the top part of the solar under the hole I just cut.

The cut hole looked a little jagged so I hot glued some clothes line that I bought at the Dollar Tree around the square. I then added a little loop to make the basket hang.

I have a basket sitting on my patio and one on a shepherd's hook. I think these would also be great to use when camping or fun to hang from a porch. Not too bad for a few dollars!



Thanks for stopping by! 

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What I Wore Wednesday

Hello and welcome back to another edition of what I wore Wednesday. I hope you are all having a good week and are having beautiful weather like we are having here. It's been nice to be able to also get some outdoor projects marked off of my list.


Here is what I wore:

Shirt: Old Navy

Skirt: Wal-Mart

Sandals: Kohls

Necklace: Very Jane
(This is an affiliate of mine)

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The Pleated Poppy

Color Block Plant Stakes

Hello to all of my awesome readers! I hope you are all having a wonderful day. I am sitting here enjoying the beautiful sun shining through my window. It's a little on the cool side outside today but still nice enough to go for a walk or bike ride. It has been such a mild summer for us so far and I am not complaining one bit. I have also been enjoying my little herb garden that I shared with you a few weeks ago. One of the things I did for my herb garden was create plant stakes to identify each herb. I am sure you have seen the trend of color blocking, right? I just adore the look on outfits and bags, but not brave enough to try it on a wall. I thought it would be kind of cool to give some chalkboard paint a little color block.

This is a five minute craft I did while my daughter was sleeping. 

I found these popsicle sticks at the Dollar Tree.

The first thing I did was paint the popsicle stick with the chalkboard paint.  I then used some painters tape to cover up the chalkboard paint after it dried.  Then I spray painted the tips with the same spray paint from this project. 

Once all the paint was dried I pulled off the tape and there you have it folks a color block plant stake...easy peasy! 

By the way, did you know you can sharpen chalk? I didn't either...I saw it on Pinterest. I just used my regular old plastic pencil sharpener. It has been a life changing moment now that I have sharp chalk. Ok, maybe I am being a little dramatic, but it has made my life easier. 

I wrote on the stakes with my life changing sharpened chalk and popped them in my topsy turvy herb garden. Who says gardening doesn't have to be stylish? 

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What I Wore Wednesday

Sorry, this post is a little late getting up this week. Summer is in full swing here and we are loving it. We are enjoying walks on the trails, bike rides and eating lots of fresh fruit!  I also love being able to wear clothes that I haven't worn since the fall. It's like getting a whole new wardrobe.

Here is what I wore this week:

Sweater: Carsons

Striped Top: Old Navy

Jeans: Thrifted

Sandals: Kohls

Watch: DKNY (Mother's Day present)

I am linking to: The Pleated Poppy