Article By: Mirna Cacic

This adorable vintage-style beehive fits in perfectly on any porch during these warm spring days. With summer fast approaching, it’s time we get our porches in tip-top shape for porch season! This beehive would look great on a small side table next to your porch swing or patio furniture! It’s so easy and cheap to make and it costs less than $10 to put together! Everyone will think you purchased it at a vintage shop, since it looks so realistic! Make a couple of these to arrange in groups, maybe one large beehive with one or two smaller ones next to it. If the color isn’t suited to your tastes, break out the acrylic paint and paint it a fun color to match your decor!

Supplies:

1) Metal bowl

2) Hot glue gun and glue sticks

3) Rope

4) Permanent marker

5) Scissors

Step #1:

Begin making your beehive by wrapping the rope around the rim of the bowl. Add a few drops of glue as you go along to hold the rope in place. Remember, you’re only gluing the rope pieces together, not actually gluing the rope to the bowl!

Step #2:

Keep wrapping and gluing the rope until you have covered the entire bowl.

Step #3:

To finish off the beehive, leave about an inch of rope at the end and form it into a loop at the top, then feed it through the bottom before eventually cutting it.

Step #4:

To take the beehive off the metal bowl, you want to place it inside the freezer for about 20 minutes. Then you can gently take it off the bowl by wiggling it side to side until it slides off completely. Leave the beehive to come to room temperature, then cut a piece of rope for the entrance to your beehive.

Step #5:

Glue the rope in a circle and color in the entrance with the permanent marker. You don’t want wasps to take up residence by actually cutting a hole in your beehive!

If you like, you can paint your new beehive or you can add a few pom pom bumblebees to it! Place it on your porch just in time for this year’s porch season!

Photos: Confessions of a New-Old Homeowner.

On a decorating budget? No problem! Dress up your bookcase or coffee table with these shabby chic wire baskets! So easy to make and put together, you don’t need many tools or time to make them. They’re great for those on a budget, and they work for any occasion! Use them as part of centerpieces for weddings, as gift baskets, or just to dress up and organize your home. Take a look at the tutorial below!

Supplies:

1) Woven wire or hardware cloth (you can find this wire at the hardware store in rolls with 1/2″ or 1/4″ openings)

2) Tin snips

3) Needle nose pliers

4) Metal or wood ruler

5) Graph paper and pen

Step #1:

Draw out your pattern on graph paper that has a 1/2″ grid. This step is optional, but it makes it easier to see where you need to cut the wire.

Step #2:

Cut your pattern out of the wire using the tin snips. Leave the wires long on alternating edges so you can use them to hold your basket together.

Step #3:

After cutting out the pattern, use your ruler to help you bend each side of the basket up.

Step #4:

Bend the long ends of the wire and loop them around using the pliers to hold the corners in place.

Step #5:

When you’re working on the top edge, bend over the cut tops to make a loop that curls toward the inside of the basket.

Step #6:

Now that you’ve finished your basket, you can decorate it any way you wish! You can line it with fabric, add tags, and fill it up with desk supplies, mail, or anything you need to keep organized!

Photos: Four Corners Design.

We just love shabby chic! When our furniture looks too new for our liking, the only way to remedy that problem is to make it look like its been in the rain for years! Wear and tear is the name of the game, and this tutorial is perfect for any shabby lovers out there! Iron brackets are an inexpensive way to add a bit of flair to regular shelves, but sometimes they don’t really match the rest of our decor. This tutorial will show you how to make them look old and rusty for cheap!

Supplies:

1) Iron brackets (you can find them at Hobby Lobby)

2) Chalk paint (for this project, Annie Sloan Old White was used)

3) Sponge brush

4) Paper towels

5) Antiquing Medium

6) Clear matte spray paint (optional)

Step #1:

Take your sponge brush and paint the entire bracket. You don’t have to worry about it being perfect.

Step #2:

Take a damp paper towel and begin wiping off the paint. Don’t wipe off everything! We still want the bracket to have a weathered look.

Step #3:

Take the antiquing medium and add a small amount to a damp paper towel. Rub the antiquing medium over the entire bracket.

Step #4:

If you want to seal your brackets, you can give them a coat or two of clear matte spray paint. Allow the spray paint to dry between coats and you’re done!

Photos: From My Front Porch to Yours.

This cute wreath is so easy to make and it doesn’t cost anything to make! Grab some green scrapbook paper and hot glue to put this together and you’ve got a great St. Patrick’s Day wreath you can hang on your door or mantle! Try making mini ones and string them together using twine for a shamrock garland! If you don’t have any green paper lying around, some green acrylic paint over white paper works just as well! Get out the scissors and let’s get our craft on!

Supply List:

1) Green scrapbook paper. You can use double-sided scrapbook paper, or you can use regular white paper and paint it using acrylic paints.

2) Seven 12″x2″ strips of paper

3) Seven 10″x2″ strips of paper

4) Seven 8″x2″ strips of paper

5) Green ribbon so you can hang up your wreath

6) Some extra paper so you can make the front decoration, and you will need it for some back pieces of the shamrock

7) Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Step #1:

Take a strip of paper of each length and stack them one on top of the other. Glue the ends together on one side.

Step #2:

Take the inside piece and make a loop. Glue the other end down.

Step #3:

Repeat the same step with the other two pieces of paper. You will end up with a teardrop shape.

Step #4:

Repeat these steps until you’ve made a total of 6 teardrops. Glue them together by the ends in groups of two. You will end up with a heart shape.

Step #5:

Now it’s time to make the stem of the shamrock. You should have 3 strips of paper left. Take the 12″ strip and make a fold mark 5″ from the left edge and 5″ from the right edge. There will be 2″ between the two fold lines. The area between the folds will be centered. Take the 10″ strip and make a fold mark 4.25″ from the left edge and a fold mark 4.25″ from the right edge. There will be 1.5″ between the two fold lines and the area between the folds will be centered. Take the 8″ strip and make a fold mark 3.5″ from the left edge and a fold mark 3.5″ from the right edge. There will be a 1″ area between the fold lines and the area between them will be centered.

Step #6:

Line up all the ends and hot glue them together.

Step #7:

Put your shamrock together. Cut out a small circle out of paper. This will hold all your points as you’re gluing them together. You can add an accordion fold circle to the front center of the shamrock. It will hide all the glued points. Glue a piece of ribbon to the back and hang up your ornament!

Photos: The Craft Patch.

If you’re looking for the perfect centerpiece for your garden this spring, this disco birdbath is for you! Revamp that broken birdbath that’s been collecting dust in your garage with this easy facelift! Don’t have a birdbath? Build your own out of terracotta pots! We’re loving this easy tutorial from Patricia’s Pots, which takes you through the whole process, step-by-step. Give your feathered friends their own place to party (and recycle in the process!) by getting started on this awesome birdbath today!

What you will need:

– An old birdbath or a birdbath made from terracotta pots

– Water Weld (just in case your old birdbath has any cracks)

– Old DVDs

– Clear spray paint

– Liquid Nails Clear Seal glue

– Mapei Keracolor Sanded Grout with Polymer with Grout Boost mixed in

– An old spatula

– Damp rag

– An old butter knife

– Sandpaper

– Scissors

Step #1:

If your old birdbath has any cracks in it, you need to fill them in. Water Weld is perfect for the job since it repairs and seals cracks that are going to be wet or underwater. It’s also drinking water safe, which makes it perfect for the birds! Take the Water Weld (it comes in a tube of clay) and kneed it together well. Take your old butter knife and slice the Water Weld into smaller pieces.

Step #2:

Smooth the Water Weld over the cracks using the butter knife, making sure to push it into the cracks well. Leave the Water Weld to sit for 60 minutes.

Step #3:

Take the sandpaper and sand down the Water Weld until the surface is smooth.

Step #4:

Now you’re ready to decorate! Since DVDs are made up of two layers, you’ll need to separate them in order to get to the nice shiny side that’s inside. Take the DVD and make two cuts. Cut from the outer edge to the middle, and repeat the same process on the other side. You should now have two halves. Run your fingertip around the edges to loosen the layers. Separate the layers and you will be left with a thin, shimmery layer you can use for decorating your birdbath.

Step #5:

Cut the silvery part you saved into small pieces. This birdbath needed about 20 DVDs worth of pieces to cover it completely.

Step #6:

Take your clear spray paint and spray paint all the pieces. This will prevent the shiny part from flaking off.

Step #7:

Once the spray paint has dried, begin gluing the pieces onto the birdbath using Liquid Nails Clear Seal. Cover the rim of the birdbath first, then work your way towards the middle.

Step #8:

When you’ve covered your birdbath and the glue has dried, it’s time to mix the grout. You can use Mapei Keracolor Sanded Grout with Polymer in white with Grout Boost mixed in. When you’ve mixed the grout, take your old spatula and spread the grout between the DVD pieces. Use a damp rag to wipe off the excess grout.

Step #9:

Leave the grout to dry for about 3 weeks before placing it outside. This is why this is the perfect project to get started on while it’s still chilly out! It’ll be ready for your feathered friends just in time for spring!

Photos and idea: Me and My DIY.

If you’re looking for just the right thing to fill up your porch, living room, kid’s room, or basement, make this hammock! This hammock can really add a bit of fun to any space, and the kids will love it! It’s simple to put together and you don’t need to have pro building skills to make it! Take a look at the tutorial below and let’s get started!

Supply List:

1) 1 1/4″ x 3′ oak dowel (oak is a hard wood and is great for supporting heavy weights)

2) 3/8″ x 16′ braided polypropylene

3) 2 yards of plain canvas

4) 80mm stainless steel spring snap link (holds up to 220 lbs)

5) 3/16″ stainless steel quick link (holds up to 660 lbs)

6) black fabric paint

7) paint brush

8) drill and 3/8″ drill bit

9) sewing machine

10) iron and ironing board

11) shears

12) ruler

13) lighter

Step #1:

Fold the 2 yards of canvas in half. Lay the canvas flat with the fold on the left side. Measure 7″ in from the top right edge and make a mark. Using a ruler, draw a line from the top mark to the bottom right corner. Cut through both pieces and open your canvas.

Step #2:

Fold the top edge down 1/2″ and iron the edge until it’s flat. Fold it again 1/2″ and iron. Pin the bottom of the fold and stitch. Repeat this process with the long bottom edge.

Step #3:

Turn your canvas 90 degrees to the left, making sure that the longest edge is on the right side. You need to create pockets for the rope to slide through. Fold each corner 1 1/2″ in and iron until flat. Fold the top edge (that isn’t hemmed) in 1/2″ and iron.

Step #4:

Fold the canvas again 1 1/2″ and iron until flat.

Step #5:

Stitch 2 lines along the bottom folded edge. Make sure you reinforce your beginning and ending using back stitches. Repeat the same process with the other side.

Step #6:

Mark at 2″ and 4″ in from both ends of the dowel and drill through. Sand any rough edges and stain if needed.

Step #7:

Place the canvas on a protected surface and paint on your design on one side of the canvas. Allow it to dry, and paint the design onto the other side if you like.

Step #8:

Tie a knot at one end of the 16′ rope. Leave about a 3″ tail at the end. Use the lighter to melt the end to prevent fraying. Thread the rope through the outer hole of the dowel and up from the widest corner on the one side of your canvas to the narrow corner of the canvas. Tie another knot 3′ from the first knot. Thread it into the dowel. Continue threading it down into the hole, 4″ from the other edge. Measure about 3′ from the loose end and tie a knot. Thread the rope down through the other pocket and back through the last hole. Finish by tying another knot with a 3″ tail.

Step #9:

Find the center of the piece of rope that’s above the dowel and tie a knot. Make sure there is about 8″-10″ of room above the knot. Attach the spring link and then the quick link. Hang it onto a hook that you previously screwed into a ceiling beam. Make sure it is secure.

Step #10:

If needed, you can add a cushion to your hammock for extra comfort.

Photos: A Beautiful Mess.

There’s an easy way to bring some life into thrift store vintage plates! Why not jazz them up a bit with adorable vintage bug drawings? It doesn’t just have to be insects! Try rabbits, crown jewels, or cats! You can find loads of these vintage images over at The Graphics Fairy, which is our go-to site for all of our vintage picture needs!

Supplies:

– Vintage plates

– Clear waterslide decals

– Clear acrylic coat

– Scissors

– A small bowl

– Warm water

– Paper towels

Step #1:

Print out your images onto the glossy side of the waterslide decal paper. Allow it to dry completely, then spray it with acrylic clear coat. Leave it to dry, then cut out your images.

Step #2:

Place the decals in a bowl of warm water. Allow it to sit for 15 seconds. When the decal separates from the liner, you can apply it to your plate.

Step #3:

Place your decal onto the plate with the liner still attached. Slide the liner from beneath the decal. Smooth out any folds or bubbles using your finger. Blot with a paper towel and leave it to dry for at least 1 hour.

Step #4:

Remember, these decals aren’t food safe. You cannot wash them or place them in the dishwasher. If you need to clean them, spot clean them only with a paper towel.

Photos: Honestly WTF.

We’re completely in love with this cute horse ornament! The best part about this ornament is that it looks more complicated to make than it actually is! You don’t need any sewing skills to make it, and you don’t have to follow along with the tutorial exactly to make one. Just use the supplies you have on hand! Keep reading for the tutorial!

Supplies:

1) 8″x10″ piece of felt or any other kind of stiff cloth

2) 8 mm black sequins

3) 6/0 black glass beads

4) 10 inches gold cord

5) 2 star fasteners or star sequins

6) 16″-18″ of 1/8″ leather cord or ribbon

7) 6″ white fringe trim (you can also use yarn in the color of your choice, just brush it with a brush to fluff up the yarn to make it look more like the horse’s mane)

8) Horse pattern (open up the image and right-click to save it to your computer)

9) Embroidery needle, black thread, and white embroidery floss (if you decide to stitch instead of glue your horse)

10) Glue gun and glue sticks (if you decide not to stitch your horse)

11) Scissors

Horse Pattern:

Step #1:

Print out the pattern. Cut out 2 of the head and 2 of the ear.

Step #2:

Place the 2 head pieces on top of each other. Glue a sequin on each side for the eyes. Glue or stitch an ear on each side of the head.

Step #3:

Place the fringe or yarn between the two head pieces for the horse’s mane. Trim the fringe if you feel it’s too long. Cut out a piece of the gold cord and place it between the 2 head pieces just behind the ear.

Step #4:

Glue or stitch the head pieces. Leave the bottom open so that the candy cane can fit inside. Cut 1 piece of leather or ribbon that’s 5 1/2″ long, and 1 piece that’s 9 1/2″ long. Begin on one side of the nose and glue the horse’s reign across the nose. Stop gluing at the point where the neck ends. Loop the reign around the head and glue the same portion to the other side of the nose. The ends should meet at the top of the nose. Step #5:

Begin about 1″ from the top of the nose and glue the harness to the head. Loop it around the head just behind the ears and meet at the same point on the other side. Trim if you need to. Glue a star bead at the point where the 2 pieces meet. Insert the candy cane. Done!

Photos and idea: Serendipity Refined.

Glitter and Christmas go hand-in-hand, which is why we adore these snowflakes! They’re made of hot glue and brushed with Mod Podge and glitter. Make a set to hang on your Christmas tree, or make a garland out of them. Keep reading for the tutorial!

Supplies:

1) Hot glue gun and glue sticks

2) Wax paper

3) Dish soap

4) Ornament template

5) Glitter

6) Mod Podge

7) Small paint brush

8) String or wire

Step #1:

Search google for snowflake templates and print them out. Use an image with simple lines.

Step #2:

Set your wax paper over the image. Mix a small amount of dish soap with a little bit of water and spread it over the wax paper. Trace the image with the hot glue.

Step #3:

Wait for the hot glue to dry, then peel off the snowflake. Gently wash the ornament with a little bit of water to remove the dish soap.

Step #4:

Cover your snowflake with Mod Podge using a small brush.

Step #5:

Cover the snowflake with glitter.

Step #6:

Add a hanger to your snowflake by making a loop out of wire and glue it to the back of the snowflake. Wait for the glue to dry and hang up your ornament!

Photos and idea: By Stephanie Lynn.

We love using natural elements in our fall decor! Using twigs for a lampshade is a unique idea, and it’s great for budget decorating. If you have a lamp with a torn lampshade, or just don’t know what to do with that lamp from the thrift store, this project is for you!

Supplies:

1) A lampshade

2) Scissors

3) Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Step 1:

Gather sticks. You’re going to need a lot! Measure the height of your lampshade, and then cut the sticks an inch longer than the shade. You want a bit of an overhang at the top and bottom of the lampshade.

Step 2:

If you lampshade still has a shade on it, take it off. Use scissors to cut the fabric.

Step 3:

Glue on the sticks. You only need a small dab of glue to hold the sticks in place. When you’re finished, you can use a blow dryer to get rid of any glue strings. Place the lampshade back on the lamp and you now have a unique addition to your fall decor!

Photos and idea: The Shabby Creek Cottage.