Hugs & Kisses From Twigs & Embroidery Hoops

Valentine Conversation Stones

So many times when my husband and I get a dinner out alone, we talk about bills, work and the daily grind. This year for Valentine's Day, I thought I would plan a dinner in and make some conversation stones so that we talk about other things than what is going on day to day.

How to Get a Vintage Finish on Painted Furniture UncategorizedHow to G

In this post I will show you how to get a vintage finish on painted furniture. There are several applications that you could use to achieve an antique look, however there is one that i find to be the easiest.

Boho Mandala Wall Hanging

This wall hanging is a fun project that can to add color and cheer around your home. The basic form is created with sticks or dowels and can be enhanced with wrapped yarn or twine. As long as you have access to sticks, this mandala can be a great addition to your house for little to no cost!

How to Apply Paint That Looks Like Stain (6 Stain Shades to Pick From!

How to Faux Stain Furniture with Latex Paint If you want to stain a previously stained or painted furniture piece, check out this tutorial and video where I show you how to easily apply paint that looks like a stain with six color options. So everyone deals with stress in different ways and this year has absolutely been an “opportunity” to start some new hobbies for stress-relief. Most people have learned a new love for bike riding, working in the yard, or DIY projects. But once again, I’m not like most people… One Sunday afternoon in March, I decided to experiment with different stain options with my faux stain technique. My original Barnwood stain was a big hit but I wanted to give readers more color options. I sat down and started mixing paints and creating samples like the DIY version of a mad scientist. Before I knew it I had created over 3 dozen different stain samples and there were even more little bottles of paint scattered all over my kitchen table. Who knew this would be my best option to de-stress during the craziness of this year. And become I didn’t want to overwhelm you with TOO many options, I have condensed the options into the top 5 shades – 6 if you include my driftwood stain. This technique has never let me down on several of my own furniture pieces and I hope it will be of some use to you too! LET ME SHOW YOU: My tried-and-true stain technique for covering stained or painted furniture without strippingAn alternative to traditional stain that is reliable no matter the wood typeA “stain” that will easily cover wood imperfections like knotholes which means you don’t have to buy high-grade lumber for woodworking projectsHow I saved a ton of money by refinishing my damaged breakfast table top instead of buying a new tableA great technique to make metal garage doors look like real wood WANT TO SAVE THIS FOR LATER? CLICK HERE TO SAVE THIS PIN TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD

How to Build a Hula Hoop Shelf – A Stylish Storage Solution

You probably wouldn't traditionally associate hula hoops with storage space, but this project will show you that it's time to start thinking of making a hula hoop shelf whenever you're short of storage space. This is a versatile item, as the hula hoop shelf can either be free standing or attached to the wall.By reusing old hula hoops or purchasing new hoops for $1, you don't have to break the bank for this project. I used copper spray and stained wood to produce a rustic shelving unit, but you can change the colors to match the decor of your home.

Decorate Like the Mall

Have you ever walked through the mall during the holidays and seen all of the ornaments hanging from the railings, ceilings of the stores, and all around? They add such a holiday feeling and now you can have that at home.After looking at the mall decorations I realized that this can't be that hard to do. My bigger concern was the cost. I love to decorate but I don't want to spend a fortune to do it.I began gathering my pieces after the holidays were over....Things are at deep discounts. I was able to get 100 ornaments for $10.00. No I haven't hung 100 ornaments in my house....well not yet. I noted that all of the mall ornaments were hung on beautiful velvet ribbon...Walmart, Amazon and Hobby Lobby carry velvet ribbon - all year round. So while shopping for velvet ribbon I also found glitter ribbon....I love everything that sparkles. So I bought a roll of each; velvet and glitter.Now became the task of deciding what is the best way to get these put together. So tapping into my inner MacGyver I grabbed my glue gun, scissors, the ribbon some bulbs and paperclips.I'm so happy with the results and it is fast, easy and very inexpensive. The results will leave you feeling very festive. And since the ornaments come in so many colors you can decorate in this fashion for a lot of holidays; Hanukkah, Easter (yes, they make great hanging Easter eggs, Mardi Gras..I'm sure there are others that I haven't thought of.

How to Build Board and Batten Shutters

We just completed a makeover on a home near Nashville, Tennessee with Lowe's. It was a chance to give a home a fresh new look for spring after a very harsh winter. The home owner was wanting to add new shutters to their windows, so we built them some board and batten shutters.

Gardener's Hand Scrub Recipe

How to make a gardener's hand scrub recipe. This is a simple recipe that uses Epsom salt and sugar to scrub away dirt and an oil to nourish the skin.

DIY Kitchen Pedestal Dish

Today I'm creating a sturdy pedestal dish for my kitchen from things I already had around the house. I love it when there is no trip to the store!

Outdoor Kitchen

Original House - here's a pic of the back of our old lake house (Before)

Giving A Curb Find A New Look - MCM Desk Makeover - Wood And Paint

In the furniture refinishing world, there's nothing better than finding a great piece of furniture on the side of the road 🎉While taking my pup for a walk, a few doors down from me had this beautiful MCM (mid century modern) desk that was in great shape just sitting on the curb waiting for the garbage truck to pick it up 🤦‍♀️ Obviously, I couldn't let this beauty disappear forever, so I ran back to my house and dropped off my pup, grabbed my van, and went back to pick up the perfect gem!Read on to see how I transformed a plain desk into a modern beauty.............*Whenever picking up a used piece of furnure, you want to inspect it really well for any sign of bugs, but this rule is especially true for those "curbside" pieces. You can even wrap a large black bag (or 2, 3, 4, how many it takes to tightly cover it) around the piece and spray insecticide in it, preferably one for bedbugs. Tightly cover the piece and tie it closed. Allow it to sit in the sun for 48 hours, dispose of the bag(s) and continue on as usual.*Price is based on the amount of product used, not the initial cost of the products*Time is based on work time only, does not include dry time

How to Upcycle a Thrift Store Lampshade

This post may contain an affiliate link. See my disclosure policy. Today I’m going to show you an amazing DIY upcycled lampshade project that shows you how to upcycle an old lampshade into a repurposed project that will be a unique decor item and conversation piece!

How To Break Up And Salvage Old Concrete

Whenever you do home renovations, it helps to find ways to save money. Read on to see ways you can save money when it comes to concrete work.

Doable Farmhouse Outdoor Table

If you are like me and you like to eat outdoor rather than indoor. It doesn’t matter if you are just having your breakfast alone with the songbirds or a big family gathering. It’s always better outside. But, i found my round 4 chairs faux wicker table quite annoying. It’s small and not my style. For that, we thought about something built from scratch. That way we decided on the style, the size, the color and the BUDGET. The one we want is an 8 to 10 chairs capacity depending of the size of chairs. it’s exactly eight feet long, 42 inches wide and 28 inches high.If you have a small knowledge in working with wood this project is for you. Also if you are used to use the following tools the work gonna be much easier for you. You will use the miter saw, the kreg jig and the drill. We really didn’t use any extraordinary technique or tools to build it.I was inspired by the pottery and barns farmhouse table design. It has a beautiful X brass legs and along board as a table top we added a thin frame all around to bring everything together. For the table top boards we bought a specific wood boards that facilitate the assembly. They can go into each other without leaving any gap. I know how frustrating to get those beautiful X legs done and all the required tools and techniques. Here we did a little trick to have it done. Clever husband hhhh.the general cost of this table is 210 dollars. Did I Said 210$? Yes, that Includes wood boards, screws, stain and protection formula. A judge table like this will cost not less then 800$ from any store. So you are saving a lot here.

How to Propagate and Plant a New Pothos Plant

The other day my mom gave me some Pothos stems that she had recently propagated. If you don’t know what propagating is, it’s when you grow new plants from an already established plant. This is done by cutting of one of the stems and placing it in a jar of water until it grows roots. Once the roots have sprouted you can then plant it and grow a whole new plant.This is such a cost effective way to fill your home with beautiful live plants, and is also a lovely way to share new plants with family and friends. Below I explain the steps that I used to plant and propagate my new Pothos stems.

How to Clean Plastic Planters So They Look Like New Again

I'm a Southerner & we Southerners love a good front porch!No Southern home is complete without a fern or 5. But every year like clockwork, the urn planters I have my ferns in seem extra dirty.That's not a good look especially since they are on the front porch on either side of the front door. Plus it's just not good feng shui.So every year, I pull out the petroleum jelly & a rag & get to work cleaning them. I knew there had to be a better way so this year, I tried something new.

Pallet Walls, Sanding and Sealing Them in the Basement Bathroom

Returning to work on the Basement Bathroom by tackling the pallet walls. This Basement has been a LONG, slow process but, to be fair, its not where we live so its not on our “urgent” to-do list. Though we do hang out down here on the weekends especially it wasn’t until I upcycled an old toolbox in the bathroom here that I finally got motivated. We installed the commode and rolling doors for this space and finished up the living room. After that I realized there wasn’t a ton to do to finally have a completed bathroom for the first time ever so I got to work!

Diy Reusable Sponges

I’ve spotted a few articles on the internet about how to make your own reusable sponges, so I thought I’d whip up a few for myself and try them out. I’m always looking for clever eco-friendly alternatives to household cleaners and supplies. Regular kitchen sponges are made from polyurethane foam, which is harmful to the environment, and they also harbor bacteria. These reusable sponges are a healthier choice and can be tossed in the wash when dirty. I also discovered they are easy to make and work like a charm! (Affiliate links included for your convenience. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See disclosure here.) supplies needed: cotton fabric remnantterry cloth remnant quilt battingupcycled vegetable mesh bag rotary cutter & mat step 1 – cut the fabric With a rotary cutter and mat, cut one piece of terry cloth, one piece of cotton fabric, and two pieces of cotton quilt batting, each measuring 5″ x 7.5″.

Creating a She Shed/Craft Shack - The Exterior

After painting the interior of my She Shed/Craft Shack it was time for me to work on the outside. When the shed initially was delivered, I had it placed at the very back of the property. Every project I would have to trudge all the way back there at least 10 times to get tools and supplies. Needless to say, that got old... QUICK. Major changes were in order for this little shed’s location and exterior! Here is how I did it for less than $200!

Easy Scrap Wood Wall Mounted Cat Playground

With the price of lumber so high I went through my scrap pile of wood so I could build our new cat his own getaway. I gathered a lot of ideas of what I wanted, measured the walls, and started building. At the end of this post is a video I made showing the whole process.

How to Restore Damaged Cabinets

How to Hide a Laundry Utility Tub Sink

We've all seen 'em, the boring white plastic sinks. Why not dress it up with inexpensive wood lath for a cool, hip look?

Fun Plant Pot Covers Made From Old Road Maps

I love old road maps and have a stash of them at home that I keep for crafting. They are cheap craft paper, that can really add interest to a project. One of the most popular map crafts on my post is my pretty map roses.This time I decided to make some fun map buckets that I used as plant pot covers. They only took 10 mins to make and are waterproof as well as looking funky.

Bold Floral Transfer Toy Box

Have you heard Dixie Belle Paint carries a transfer line now? The one that caught my eye first is called Latin floral and I found the perfect project to try it on; a wooden toy box. The bold colors and great design are perfect to add personality to the box.

No Sew Denim Fruit Bowl

I say this is a denim fruit bowl because that is what I use it as. You can use it any way you want, but perhaps not as a cereal bowl!

THE BEST HEAVY DUTY GARAGE SHELVING

{Disclosure: This is a sponsored post from Rhino Shelf but the opinions and project are mine all mine!} If you follow me on social media you know that we film in our garage pretty often, and you also know that it is a chaotic mess with stuff piled everywhere. So we couldn’t believe our luck when we discovered Rhino Shelf! Their heavy duty garage shelving has not only helped us get organized, it has given us the room we need to create even more great projects! Rhino Shelf has graciously offered a 14% discount for Hometalkers! Use code HOMETALK at checkout by typing HOMETALK into the "Gift Card or Discount Code" line on their website.

Uncle Sam Porch Sitter

This project was so much fun to make! I love anything Patriotic/Americana, and what is more Patriotic than Uncle Sam?! I had some wood laying around from other projects, so I thought I would put together a Uncle Sam Porch Sitter. He turned out AMAZING!

A Very Vintage Nursery Makeover

TV Wooden Cabinet Makeover, DIY Toy Storage With TV Airmoire

Come see my old wooden TV cabinet makeover. This project turned out SO good and it is the perfect DIY toy storage cabinet for decluttering!

2WK FURNITURE FLIP

Restoring an Art Deco Bar Cabinet

DIY Marble Side Table Makeover

Check out the before and after of this DIY marble side table makeover, and refinish any side table with this easy 3 step tutorial.DIY Marble Side Table Makeover

How to Make a Pallet Daybed

My sister asked if I would be able to make her a pallet daybed for her entertainment area. She wanted the daybed to be big enough for 2 people to sit comfortably on and wanted it to be sturdy. Her entertainment area is sheltered but when we get heavy rain it does get wet. That is why she chose to have the daybed made from pallets.

How To Recycle A Broken Urn

Today, I’m sharing how to recycle a broken urn. Because a piece has a broken piece off the edge, don’t throw it in the trash. Here I will share steps to fix the broken edge.By the way, if you have been following Cloches & Lavender for any time, you know I love to recycle. As an example, this cabinet needed some love. Because it still works with my French Country home, I used chalk paint making it petty again.Besides the cabinet project, I also have a collection of antique tea cups and saucers. Not a tea drinker like me? After some thinking I show how to make a plate wreath. Now, back to how to recycle a broken urn. I found this urn thrifting some time ago, and I have used in our home before. However, I was tired of hiding the broken side. So, it was time to fix the broken edge.Let’s Take A Look And See How To Recycle A Broken UrnBefore I begin, I wanted to mention, this urn is made of resin of some sort. So I feel this is the best and easiest solution.First, a piece of spackle tape is added to give a base to the urn. After the tape, using a chip brush I add joint compound. This is the beginning how to recycle a broken urn. Brushing also seemed to be the best way to apply joint compound to the tape.

Quick and Easy Marble Coaster

Table stain from juice or coffee is something that I want to avoid. They are difficult to remove and sometimes stays permanently.

How to Mosaic a Plant Pot With Old China Plates.

Plants are so gorgeous and therapeutic to grow and nurture so I feel a lovingly decorated plant pot is just the thing to show them off.I choose a terracotta small round pot bought from local garden centre.

How to Repurpose All Those Glass Luncheon Snack Plates

They must have been MASSIVELY mass produced. These lovely cut glass luncheon plates with matching cups were, at one time, the standard for serving “a light lunch” at baby showers, wedding showers, church meetings, bridge clubs and other hosted “Ladies who Lunch” events.

Easy DIY USA Sign

I realized the other day when organizing my holiday decor, that I only had a sad little box of patriotic decorations. I decided that I needed to add some more red, white & blue decor. Here I will show you how I turned a pair of American Flag Swim Trunks into an easy DIY USA sign.