Happy Monday! I’m sharing my Top 10 Must-Try DIYs and “Before and After” Projects!
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch is celebrating her 500th Metamorphosis Monday! Metamorphosis Monday, along with Tablescape Thursday at BNOTP, were the first link parties I joined 8 years ago when I started blogging and it continues to be weekly favorites. In celebration of her 500th week milestone, I’m sharing a round-up of favorite must-try DIYs and “Before and Afters”. Click on the links in red for the complete tutorial and post details!
Window Dressing for the Potting Shed: DIY Board and Batten Shutters
Adding decorative shutters to the Potting Shed was on my to-do list for several years. The challenge was finding the size and width needed and three shutters, to hang one in the middle between the windows. Building the shutters was an affordable and easy project that you can tackle in a weekend, with the painting most time-consuming part.
We added the window boxes in 2015.
The window boxes look so naked without shutters don’t they? The photo below is how the window boxes looked in mid June of this year, planted with petunias, lobeila, coleus and sweet potato vine.
The red bench was an addition in 2016, purchased on sale from Grandin Road with a tip from Susan! The wood bench has held up in surprisingly well in the elements. Sadly the red color is no longer an option, but it is still available in either black or white.
I ‘spruced up’ (pun intended :) the window boxes with greenery for Christmas and the winter season using my ‘cheater method’.
Fresh greenery gives the window boxes an instant facelift and best of all, it’s free for the clipping!
No-Carve Pumpkin Owls
With fall around the corner, these No-Carve Pumpkin Owls are a hoot to make! This is a fun project to give your pumpkin a life beyond the Jack–o’–lantern! Since they’re no carve, they’ll last throughout the fall season. I used white pumpkins but you can use orange or faux pumpkins to make a “parliament” of owls.
You can find them at a whimsical fall table, HERE.
Garden Bouquet DIY and Recycling Flower Arranging Hack
I love finding and sharing flower arranging tips and this post from 2017 was a favorite for many of you, as well as mine.
Save your produce netting bags and use them for flower arranging! The plastic netting bag is strong and flexible, making it am ideal material to support your flower stems. It saves you the step of taping off a grid pattern on your vase and is a way to recycle too.
Flower Arranging and Recycling Hack: Garden Center Plant Tray Repurposed as a Flower Grid
The plastic pot ring is more substantial than chicken wire for supporting stems and a great alternative to wet floral foam for arranging flowers!
Flower Therapy: Arranging Tips, Tricks, and Medicine for the Soul
Create a flower arrangement from Farmer’s Market flowers, fruit and foliage from your garden with these arranging tips and tricks! I used apples and limes for a bright pop of green. This post link has several arrangements with tips and tricks for creating flower arrangements.
Welcome Fall Wreath DIY
Upgrade a ready-made wreath to welcome Fall! The addition of natural materials soften and add a realistic touch to a faux wreath.
I added dried hydrangeas, preserved pomegranates, grapevine pumpkins and pheasant feathers to help transform a ready-made wreath from discount to designer.
DIY Pumpkin Vases The Easy Way
An Easy Short Cut to create Blooming Pumpkins, no cutting required!
Flowers and pumpkins are two of my favorite things and I love to combine the two for a seasonal centerpiece for Fall or Thanksgiving! This shortcut method is my favorite way to create a pumpkin ‘vase’ for flowers, not to mention a time-saver.
If you’ve ever cut these little tiger-striped pumpkins for serving soup or for mini vases, you know how hazardous trying to cut through the hard skin and flesh can be. Skipping this step saves time, prevents accidents, and extends the life of your pumpkins. See them at a fall alfresco table, HERE.
The Witch is In: DIY Halloween Wreath
The ‘Witching Hour’ is drawing near and supplies for a Happy Haunting are already in craft stores like Michaels and Hobby Lobby.
Time to dust off your broom, polish your shoes and buy a new hat! <|:>)
Gather your supplies and conjure a ‘Witch Is In” Wreath, HERE.
Floating Umbrella Witch DIY for Halloween
This is a fun witch “craft” that starts with a pair of witch legs and an umbrella!
She’s getting some additional crinoline for her petticoat and an over skirt this year. You can see her floating over a table for Halloween, HERE.
Create a Birdseed Bed & Breakfast for your feathered friends!
This a fun DIY project with the kids for a snowy or cold winter day!
You can reseed your birdhouse again after the birds feast on their bed & breakfast. :)
Link also includes more fun ideas for feeding your feathered friends with a DIY Bird Seed Wreath from a Bundt pan, Easy Pine Cone Feeders and a Snowy Day Table for the Birds.
Growing a Potting Shed Inside and Out!
Visit my Potting Shed page at the link above to see how she’s grown for more DIYs and “Before and Afters”. . . windows dressed with landscaping burlap, a salvaged chalkboard door and links to projects, gardening and tablesettings.
Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Metamorphosis Monday, StoneGable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Cedar Hill Farmhouse,
Tablescape Thursday, Savvy Southern Style, Shabby Fufu, Designthusiasm
Mary, You’ve given me fall fever with pumpkin DIYs and wreath ideas. Pinned so I remember to try your shortcut pumpkin vase method this year! Your window boxes are beautiful no matter what the season. Thank you for the inspiration this morning!
Mary, Your energy knows no bounds! So much inspiration in this post. I always love your flower arrangements and arranging tips. I used your produce netting idea for each table for my garden club lunch and everyone was so impressed! Thank you for another great post. I hope you enjoyed your “lakecation” last week ;)
I think I broke my ‘pinning’ finger Mary :) Love this round-up! Bring on Fall!
BNOTP and MM were the first link parties I read and joined also. What an inspiration Susan has been.
Your round-up of DIY projects are so impressive. You do have boundless energy and creativity! I enjoyed seeing these projects again.
Great ideas. All so much fun! Thank you !
Mary, your post is Awsome. Your garden is so inviting, I just want to come and sit a spel. Thank you so much for sharing, you are my inspiration to improve my garden next year. Kim
So much to love here! I can get lost in your blog!
Love love love this post! Water, sheds, flowers, pumpkins—oh my! A few of my fav things. Thanks for the Monday inspiration!
Thank you Mary, enjoyed the round up and for sure this year I want to try the floral foam on the pumpkin stem! That arrangement is just so pretty! Ahhh, pumpkin love! 🍊 I too, enjoy decorating my window boxes and being in a colder climate, they last until March. Will remember your tip on leaving the roots in place to help ground the greenery. I love it when the snow fills in between the branches. Still trying to eek out the last days / rays of summer, enjoying our friends cabin at the lake. Totally in heaven! 🌅 Have a great Labor day and rest from all of your summer labor, oops I mean gardening! Lol
Thanks for sharing your top 10 DIY’s, Mary! I loved seeing the before and afters, too. I see many that I would love to try. You’re always an inspiration to me with all your creativity.
YOU SHALL HEREAFTER BE CALLED AMAZING MARY!
You are such an inspiration! All of these DIY ideas are fabulous. I really enjoyed seeing your shutters. I am going to share with my Sweet Man. I have been wanting shutters on the front of the LakeHouse but with one window …normal size shutters will not work.
The owls also spoke to me! I so enjoy reading your posts! Congratulations also on being featured today on Pam’s Blog … Everyday Living! 😊
I don’t know how you narrowed your list to 10 when you have so many wonderful creative DIYs in your archives! The pumpkin owls are one of my favorites, I’m so glad it’s almost pumpkin season! I always enjoy your round ups Mary, your posts and tips are always so full of eye candy and brilliance :)
Jenna
The Owls are just to cute you just cannot hold back a smile when you see there. Thank you again for your creativity. Have a blessed week.
Mary, It’s amazing how the addition of shutters added to your potting shed! Thank you for this round up, there are several posts I missed that I’d love to revisit like that beautiful fall wreath. Jerri
Hi Mary, I’ve used your brilliant tip to make a pumpkin “vase” several times, since you first shared your Chick-fil-A bouquet! :) Thank you for the inspiration you provide. I’m ready for fall! Karen
Oh em gee…those pumpkin owls are the CUTEST!! I can’t wait to make some, I think I’ll use faux pumpkins so they’ll last. My daughter will FLIP!
Susan’s party was one of the first, if not the very first, party I joined too. Her blog and yours have been top inspirational blogs for me since my start in 2013. For that, I thank you, and I still continue getting inspired by you. These are all great projects.
I’m making birdseed items for fun presents for neighbors
All great ideas Mary, I love to see some fall creeping in:@)
Mary, what fun to see all of these amazing projects. I started clicking on links and went down quite a few trails. I didn’t know you had to move your potting shed, that would have pushed me over the edge. You always inspire me!
I love all of your projects..but must say one of my favs it the Umbrella Witch!!! What an achievement to reach for Susan of the 500th Met Mondays…she is a treasure!
This is a great culmination of your genius, I so enjoy all your creativity and expertise! Loved everything!
Thanks for sharing your walk down memory lane with the DIYs. Lots of inspiration.
Can you tell me where you purchased the pumpkin tablecloth? I love it!
Hi, All the sources are at the table link here: https://homeiswheretheboatis.net/2016/10/24/an-alfresco-fall-table-with-blooming-pumpkins/
Oh such great and precious inspirations
I found you because of Susan & BNOTP! :-) . Although I browse around a few other blogs, the two of you are
my regular go to for inspiration & creativity! When I grow up (retire) I want to be like you and putter with plants. I do some tablescaping now, for my own pleasure but no time for gardening just yet. This morning, feeling a little blah, I poured a cup of coffee & opened your site, and I feel better already. Thanks for sharing your creativity!