Article By: Mirna Cacic

We just love anything shabby chic, and this cute chair planter is no exception! Raid your local thrift store or garage sale for an old wooden chair that you can turn into a planter for cheap! This is a great way to dress up your porch, patio, or garden if you’re on a budget. Paint the chair a fun color or add whimsical designs to it to dress it up and match it to your garden decor. This project is great because you don’t need any special power tools to get the job done, and it can be done in less than an hour!

Supply Checklist:

1) Old Chair

2) Paint

3) Sand paper

4) A planter with a lip, wide enough to fit inside your chair (the lip will help hold the planter in place)

5) Polycrylic

6) Screwdriver

7) Damp cloth

8) Plants and soil

Step #1:

Sand your chair using the sand paper. This will help remove any varnish that will prevent the new paint from sticking to your chair. Sanding the chair will roughen up the surface so the paint can stick better.

Step #2:

Take out the seat from the chair. You can do this easily by removing any screws using a screwdriver.

Step #3:

Get a damp cloth and wipe down the chair to get rid of any dust before painting. When you’re finished, paint your chair your desired color.

Step #4:

To make the new paint on your chair last longer, give it a few coats of polycrylic.

Step #5:

Add your soil and plants to your planter, then place the planter into the spot where the chair seat originally was. Now place your new shabby chic planter anywhere you like! Try it out on your patio or porch, or place it in your garden amongst your flowers!

Photos: DIY Cozy Home, Love This Pic, Moonstruck Vintage.

We’re loving this super cute gumball machine! What’s great about it is that it’s cheap to make, and you can get the kids involved in making it! Fill it up with Hershey’s Kisses, pink and red M&M’s, or Valentine’s Day conversation hearts! Head on over to your local dollar store for supplies and let’s get started!

Supplies:

– 4″ terracotta pot and 4″ terracotta saucer

– wooden doll head

– paint

– a small round bowl

– alphabet stickers

– ribbon

– glue

– candy

The first thing you need to do is paint the pot, saucer, and the doll head. Get as creative as you like! When the paint has dried, glue the doll head to the top of the saucer. Now take your pot and turn it upside down. Glue the bowl on top of the pot. When everything has dried completely, fill up your bowl with candy (we love Hershey’s Kisses and conversation hearts!) and place the saucer lid on top.

Don’t forget to get creative with your gumball machine! Switch up the pink and white paint for black and silver, baby blue, or red. Add glitter, rhinestones, or pearls. Anything goes! This makes a great craft to do with the kids because it’s super easy to make, and we bet the kids will want to make a ton of these!

Photos: Joy Unexpected, Moms by Heart.

These snowy cupcakes are a must for your dessert tray this Christmas! They’re really easy to make since you can use cake mix and ready-made frosting. Give them a try and we’re sure that you’ll have the most unique cupcakes on the block!

What You’ll Need:

1) A box of white cake mix

2) 2 containers white frosting

3) Cupcake liners

4) 2 bags of cocoa candy melts

5) 1 bag white candy melts (you can also use white chocolate)

6) Sparkling sugar

7) Granulated sugar

8) Ziploc bags

9) Sheet protectors

10) Tree clip art (there’s tonnes on Google!)

11) Cooking spray

Step #1:

Print out your tree clip art, making several copies of it on one page before printing. Insert your printed clip art into a sheet protector. Grease with a spritz of cooking spray.

Step #2:

Melt the brown candy melts in the microwave. Place the melted candy melts in a Ziploc bag and snip off the corner. Pipe the candy melts along the tree design until the image is filled. Don’t worry about it being perfect!

Step #3:

Leave the trees to harden. During this time, bake your cupcakes according to package directions.

Step #4:

When the trees have hardened, it’s time to add the snow! Melt the white candy melts and place them in a Ziploc bag, snipping off the corner. Pipe the candy melts randomly on the branches.

Step #5:

Before the candy melts have hardened, sprinkle the white areas with sparkling sugar. Allow the candy melts to harden completely.

Step #6:

Frost your cooled cupcakes with white frosting and dip them into the sparkling sugar and granulated sugar mixed in a small bowl.

Step #7:

Remove the chocolate tree carefully from the sheet protector. Insert the tree into the frosting on the cupcake. If the tree needs extra support, you can insert a toothpick into the cupcake to hold it up.

Photos: Not Your Momma’s Cookie.

We just love fudge, and what’s great about it is that it’s so easy to make! You only need a few ingredients, and it can keep for a while, up to three weeks! There are so many combinations of fudge, but we love the pink and white of this one. Make a few batches for your family, because we’re sure they’ll love it! This fudge also makes a great homemade gift.

A Very Sweet Christmas Peppermint Fudge

Photos and recipe: Shugary Sweets.

Pressed flowers aren’t just for grandma’s house anymore! Their natural beauty can be used to decorate almost anything! Here are 7 ways to use pressed flowers!

The first step to decorating with pressed flowers is actually pressing the flowers! This simple tutorial from Martha Stewart tells you everything you need to know about this easy craft.

1. Flameless Candles

Decorate flameless candles with pressed flowers using a couple coats of Mod Podge. Mount them on vintage candle holders to complete the look.

2. Decorate Gifts

Add pressed flowers to simple white wrapping paper to dress up gifts. Tie the package with twine for an added vintage feel.

3. Coasters

Arrange pressed flowers onto white stone tiles and give it a couple coats of Mod Podge. This also makes a great gift for those on a budget.

4. Simple Wall Art

If you’re a minimalist, this artwork is for you! Place individual flowers in simple frames and arrange them on your wall.

5. Decorate Light Switches

Decorate your plain white light switches with pressed flowers using Mod Podge.

6. Make a Monogram

Make a cute monogram for your bedroom using a frame and one variety of pressed flowers.

7. Easter Eggs

These pressed flower Easter eggs are just too cute! Get a head start on Easter by drying flowers this summer. Tutorial here.

Photos: Etsy, Home and Garden, Mod Podge Rocks Blog, Willow Day, Rook No 17.