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.

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.

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’ve all drooled over those expensive mercury glass pumpkins from Pottery Barn, but we always turned them down because of the price. This year, make your own mercury glass pumpkins for a fraction of the price by simply going to your dollar store!

What You Will Need:

1) Plastic pumpkins from the dollar store

2) Krylon Metallic Spray Paint

3) Burt umber/dark brown acrylic paint

4) Matte white spray paint

5) Sponge/scraping tool

6) Spray bottle filled with water

7) Foam craft brushes

Step 1:

Spray paint the pumpkins with the matte white spray paint.

Step 2:

Spritz the pumpkins with water.

Step 3:

Spray 1 coat of metallic paint.

Step 4:

Immediately after spray painting, take a foam craft brush and your burnt umber paint, and dab the paint on random areas.

Step 5:

Using the metallic spray paint, spray short bursts of paint on the pumpkin.

Step 6:

Using a napkin, wipe down random areas to let the burnt umber paint shine through. For a rougher look, scrape off the paint using a sanding brush.

That’s it! Now you can display your pumpkins on your mantel, kitchen table, staircase, or wherever you like! Arrange candles around the pumpkins so the light can bounce off!

Photos and idea: Monica Wants It.

If you’re want a new look for your kitchen, try updating your kitchen cabinets! Save money by using paint and new hardware to update your existing cabinets. We’ve rounded up 7 ideas to get you started!

1. Bright Colors

Add a pop of color by painting the inside of your cabinets and removing the doors. Open cabinets and glass-front cabinets can give your kitchen an open and airy look.

2. Open Shelving

Remove some of your existing cabinets and add shelves. This gives your kitchen more of an open look, and make sure to use shelf brackets that match your kitchen’s style.

3. Distressed Look

For an aged look, try distressing your cabinets. We love these Victorian-style distressed cabinets!

4. Details

These gingerbread appliques are too cute! They come in many different styles and sizes to match your kitchen’s look, and you can find them at home centers. Glue them on with wood glue and give your cabinets a coat of burnt umber glaze (wipe off with cloth while still wet) for a vintage look.

5. Hardware

Change up the hardware on your cabinets for an instant makeover. We’re in love with these vintage fork handles!

6. Add Feet

Add feet to your kitchen cabinets buy purchasing them at hardware stores, or make your own using scrap wood. We love how these cabinets look like they’re built-in, and it was all made on the cheap! Tutorial here.

7. Wallpaper

Add wallpaper to the inside of your cabinets to brighten them up. Try a geometric pattern in a color that subtly contrasts with the rest of your kitchen.

Photos: BHG, Flickr, Ate My Tauntaun, Hometalk, Interior Design Blog.

Vintage doilies can be used to decorate tonnes of things around your home, and they’re making a big comeback! Decorate pillows, table runners, or bowls with doilies for that delicate vintage look. We’ve got 7 adorable doily ideas that look great and won’t break the bank!

1. Doily Bowls

These bowls look just like crowns, and you can use them to hold jewellery or as a candle holder. They’re easily made using starch! Tutorial here.

2. Table Runner

Stitch a few doilies together to create a one-of-a-kind table runner. This would look great at a vintage-themed wedding! Add white candles in mercury glass candle holders to complete the look.

3. Wall Art

Display your vintage doilies by hanging them on your wall. Simply wrap a canvas in burlap, and glue on the doily. This also makes a great gift! Tutorial here.

4. Luminaries

These doily luminaries are so cute! Simply use spray adhesive to attach the doily to the jar and decorate with ribbon, buttons, and twine. Tutorial here.

5. Pillows

Attach doilies to pillows by stitching them on, or using fabric glue. Use contrasting colors to make the delicate doily patterns pop.

6. Lamp

This lamp only looks expensive, but you can make it for cheap! Follow along with this easy tutorial to make your own doily lamp! Tutorial here.

7. Bunting

Decorate your home with this adorable doily bunting! Hang it up on your mantle, or use it at your next outdoor party!

Photos: Time Washed, How To Set a Table, The Happy Housewife, Crafts by Amanda, Grains of Earth, Handmade Ology, Stirling Design.

If you’re hosting a get-together, party, or BBQ for July 4th, it’s time to get your outdoor tables ready for the big event. If you’re feeling uninspired, take a look at these festive tables!

1. Festive Lanterns

We love the different sized patriotic lanterns hung above this rustic table. The plaid tablecloh and navy napkins add old-world charm to this festive table.

2. Make it Fun

What’s not to love about this table? The pinwheel centrepiece is a fun and original idea, and we love the mason jars used as cups. The cupcakes placed on mini chairs as party favors complete the fun theme of the table.

3. Keep it Simple

This table is simple, but still elegant and welcoming. We especially love the mini present party favors! Too cute!

4. Nautical

This nautical-themed table is colorful, but not too busy. The red napkins and navy chairs keep the striped table runner in check, and the white lanterns give the space a more open feel.

5. Old Americana

This table gives a nod to the old Americana of the 50s with a country flair. We love the bandana napkins and the rustic style metal cups. The Pepsi and Cola bottles used as vases look charming, and are a simple decoration that can be recreated on a budget.

6. Budget-Friendly

Just because you’re on a budget, doesn’t mean you can’t throw together a lovely table! We like how the plates and utensils are kept in baskets, and the Uncle Sam sparkly top hats add a bit of fun!

7. Chair Decor

When decorating your table, don’t forget the chairs! These chairs are decorated with an American flag and held together with blue tulle. The plaid tablecloth makes a big statement, but is toned down by the blue charger plates and cups.

8. Vintage

For a vintage look, antique plates were paired with a classic plaid tablecloth. The glass goblets are simple, but still keep the vintage feel.

Photos: Enmerit, Party Resources, Nest Nest Nest, Homeward Found Decor, Premeditated Leftovers, Tobi Fairley, The Charm of Home.