Coleus and Petunia

Two of my favorite annuals are Coleus and Petunias.

I think these petunias are the 'fountain' variety so they 'drape' over the pot.

The bright foliage of Coleus keeps color in the pots all through the summer.

I use it with any flower arrangement. Here are my perennial Shasta Daisies and some flowers my boys gave me for Mother's Day.

These small urns are only $14.99 at Home Depot.

The black violas are still adjusting to their new home.

Climbing vines are my favorite, too. This is Clematis.

Last week it had tons of purple blooms.

Placing pots in empty spaces in the garden helps fill up areas that aren't in bloom.

This is just a quick post to share some of my favorite little blooms. 

(It's a busy time of year with the boys.)

Checker Board Side Table

The game room art turned into a side table.

Using an 8 ft long 4x4, liquid nails, nails, chalkboard paint, stain and wax.

The bottom is a stain grade pine round purchased at Home Depot.

The base is 2) 4x4's glued and nailed together and on each side 4x4 halves are glued and nailed to the seams to make the base nice and chunky. The pine round is glued, screwed and nailed to the base. The game board is glued and nailed to the top. 

It turned out super sturdy.

Pretty - too!

The boys in my house will enjoy it as a checkerboard table when they discover it.

Today it sits in my office.

Sharing with Coastal Charm

Door Decor

A quick update to the front door.

Since the forsythia is all done blooming - I had to take down the yellow forsythia wreath on the front door.

I tucked an iron scroll into the vinyl door trim.

Hung a basket with sticks and flowers to the suction hook.

Topped with a burlap bow.

Since the weather is "finicky" - I am waiting to plant the summer porch pots.

This is a fine 'neutral' look for the interim.

Decorative Window Ledge

I am sharing a little change made to the old window that hangs above the sofa.

The simple shelf adds some contrast against my very 'beige' space.

Two brackets and two 1x4's attached directly to the window.

That iron bicycle was a Homegoods find from a few years ago.

It's a summery decoration.

Sharing with - Funky Junk Interiors

Class Gift

I am one of the room mothers for my little boys class this year. We are surprising the teacher at the end of the school year with this garden pot that we made.

Actually, I purchased the pot like this.

Using a Cricut, I printed out a saying for one side:

'Teachers plant the seed to a bright future'

On the back side it says:

'THANKS - 4th Grade Class 2012-2013'

By watering down paint and washing it over the vinyl words - it lightened up the wooden areas except for the legs.  I was able to just peel the sticky words off so the sayings look stenciled. I had to use my little tool to get the bleeding paint out of the some of the wood grain - no problem.

The class got to do the most important part.

Each child signed the planter with an oil-based paint pen. The sweet little messages are so fun to read and the colors stand out against the putty color.

The kids filled all four sides with cute, colorful comments - even "Your --- O.K"  :)

(I would like to hear the expression behind that one)

The planter turned out really great. I will seal it with poly and plant some flowers for the teacher to take home and enjoy this summer. I will share the finished presentation with you when it is complete. We still have a few more weeks left of school

(thank goodness - oops! - Shoot! - I mean).

(we told the kids to keep this little project a secret - but here I go -
letting out our great idea)
You could do something like this for Mother's Day, too.

View other Cricut projects like this HERE.
See a teacher gift from last year HERE.
Sharing with: My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia, Knick of Time