Smile And Wave

What She Wore: Cauliflower Kids

Outfit Details: Dress c/o Cauliflower Kids. Jeans, Target. Shoes, Payless. 

Cauliflower Kids is one of my favorite on trend, handmade kids' clothing shops right now. Each of the designs is fresh and each collection is so cohesive. This is one of the dresses from the spring collection and I love how unique it is. The keyhole back, the raindrop print, and the way it's pieced together all contribute to it's charm! Ruby likes that it's made out of jersey because it feels like a t-shirt and she's all about t-shirts right now. 

Do you think she'd go for this top? I'm gonna ask her.

-Rachel

40 Projects: Himmeli Plant Holder

I finally found an air plant in our local nursery a few weeks ago and bought a little hanging terrarium to put in our kitchen. However, the terrarium had an accident involving a curious 3-year-old. I started thinking about another way to display it apart from just setting it in with another plant and went digging in my supply cabinet. I had some left over copper pipe from my original himmeli project and figured if I cut small enough pieces I could make something small and sturdy that would still show off the plant's fun silhouette. One thing that was brought to my attention is that copper is toxic to air plants so after I had already made it I took it apart, gave it three coats of poly, let it dry, and reassembled. I've added that step into the instructions for you.

1. Supplies: I had a leftover piece of copper pipe. You can purchase these at any major hardware store. They're soft so be careful not to bend them on the way home. You'll also need a small pipe cutter, a sharpie, a ruler, twine or yarn that will fit two at a time through your pipe, clear poly spray, scissors, gloves, cardboard, a well-ventilated area. 2. Measure out how long you want your pipe pieces to be. I cut three to be about 1.25" and three to be about 1.4" but they can all be the same length, too. Make small marks with your sharpie or just do it as you go and place the pipe cutter over the pipe. Gently twist it so it's applying a tiny bit of pressure and then twist your pipe so that the blade cuts all the way around. Then tighten a bit more, etc. Repeat.

3. Cut your twine or yarn so that you have three lengths measuring about 5' long. Tie them all together in a knot in the middle. 4. Spray your copper pieces using a glove and some poly. Follow spray paint instructions. I gave mine three coats with about 15 min. dry time between each. 5. Separate your strands two by two into three sections and thread each section through it's own piece of copper as shown. 6. Separate the two strands coming out of each copper piece and thread one through another piece of copper so that it comes out facing right. Then take a piece from the nearest copper pipe and thread it through the opposite direction so that it comes out facing left as shown. Repeat two more times. Pull the strands up at the top and adjust things. Tie a knot at the top and hang your air plant!

This one may end up in our bathroom where it can get regular moisture all week and I'll be sure to give it a good soak once a week for 24 hours to keep it healthy. 

I love how tiny it is! You could easily substitute copper with plastic straws. They'd be just as sweet in a fun color. 

As mentioned in my copper himmeli post, I have since seen similar things on Etsy. If you're not interested in making one you could always enjoy someone else's handiwork in a larger size!

-Rachel

40 Projects: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven

40 Projects: Plant Stand to End Table DIY

One of my favorite kinds of projects is one where I can repurpose something I picked up along the way either in a thrift store or, in this case, on the side of the road. I was coming home from the grocery store with the kids last summer and decided to take the alleys home just in case I came across anything shiny and metal. I lucked out with what looked like someone's garage sale leftovers. There was a busted treadmill from the 80's, lots of broken plastic pots, some odd bird cages, junky carpet, etc. In the midst of all that stuff were three vintage metal plant stands, a huge shop broom, metal plant hangers, and a metal basket for garden tools. I very happily plucked them from the wreckage and put them to use in our home.

I had been using this one as an actual plant stand in our bedroom until I realized it'd be really cute with a wooden top and utilized as an end table. I've had a few people ask where to get one and my best answer is to check your thrift shops and garage sales (when it's warmer). You may even find something similar at your locally owned hardware store or nursery.

1. Supplies: 16" round cut of wood (found at Lowe's), metal plant stand, sand paper, spray paint, wax or stain for the wood, power drill and bit, 6-10 1/2" screws, 3-5 two hole straps (found in electrical department), power drill and bit, screwdriver, cardboard, cloth, ruler, pencil or pen. In my photo I was going to hammer nails in and then bend them over the plant stand but that plan didn't work. Replace the hammer and nails with the screws and two hole straps. 2. Sand down your wood and plant stand if it's rusted. Wipe off with damp cloth and let dry. 3. Spray paint your metal stand. Be sure to protect your surface with a cardboard box or backdrop. 4. Apply stain or wax to your wood top according to manufacturer's directions. I used leftover stain from my dining table DIY. It's Briwax and may need to be ordered through Amazon. I love the richness it adds to the wood!

5. After your wax dries, flip it over onto a soft surface and center your metal stand on the bottom side of your wood cut. 6. Place 3-5 of your two hole straps evenly around your stand so that the inside hole is flush against the stand. This will secure the stand more than centering your straps and will hold it in place. Use more straps for more stability. Mark where your holes are and remove the stand. 7. This is a trick I learned from my friend, Ruthie. Tape your drill bit to mark how far down you want to drill so that you don't drill all the way through. My wood was about 1" thick and my screws ranged from 1/2"-3/4" long so I marked about 1/2" up from the end of my bit and drilled all of my holes. 8. Finally, I put my stand back in place and drilled my two hole straps on. 

Although it's harder to tell in these photos, I used Krylon spray paint in Celery. It's my favorite minty color but can also look a little washed out surrounded by lots of white. I love the way it looks with the natural wood color. Very summery!

This size table is really versatile and can be repurposed as a plant stand (with more surface area for more plants!), an end table in our living room, or a side table to our platform bed. 

Now I don't suggest junking up your house with stuff you find in alleys but this project is definitely a testament to how it can be profitable to see the potential in items you come across. If it's something I know I have the capacity, motivation, and time to transform and I've got the money (if applicable) and space to bring it home, I do. I now have a one-of-a-kind end table that cost me about $8 plus supplies I already had on hand. Holla!

Plus, it's kind of an excuse to buy more plants, right?

-Rachel

40 Projects: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven

 

EDITED: Vivid has shared below that Big Lots carries very similar plant stands. You may also check the Dollar Store. Good luck!

40 Projects Just For Fun: Lighting Solution

I have been missing having a designated studio pretty bad since we've been in our current house. I've been housing my fabric stash and sewing machine in the laundry room add-on at the back of the house and keeping random craft supplies on the dark, scary side of the basement but I'm always pulling things to the dining room table to work-so much so that we've been eating dinner in the living room around the coffee table! 

I've had this vintage kitchenette since our last house but originally took the legs off to make our dining room table. Then last summer I stopped in at a garage sale while my family was in town and happened to find a desk with hair pin legs for $3. They were moving and I was thrilled! Anyway, I put the new legs on it, added my rug, and brought my wall map back in to create my very own studio space. Well, it's at least a new surface for all the piles.

I love wire baskets and was thinking about doing a pendant light but the opening wasn't going to work with my plug size so I got the idea to wrap twinkle lights around it and just hang it from the wall. I made a similar one in our old house but it was too big for the space. This vintage egg basket was just right but the color wasn't so I spray painted it yellow, then white, and then cut up a bunch of white floral wire and wrapped the twinkle lights around the basket making sure to end them near the back so they could stay flush with the wall on the way down to the outlet. 

I need to trade out my bottom row of twinkle lights with a regular white extension cord and just tuck it under the rug but I love having some extra light in this space when I work after everyone is tucked in. 

Also, I love when solutions present themselves so easily! Don't you?

-Rachel

40 Projects: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six

Woven Rug DIY

This may be my favorite thing I've made for our home yet! Well, besides our table, bed, clothes rack, and swing. Ha! 

Get my full tutorial and a little pep talk about making your own over on A Beautiful Mess. 

You can do it!

-Rachel

40 Projects Just For Fun: Woven Clutch DIY

I love when non-traditional supplies come in pretty colors. The rope section at Lowe's has woven and braided cording and rope in almost all the colors of the rainbow so I chose pink and red to make something for our next date night. This ended up as a clutch but if I had made it six inches longer I could've turned it into a tote. 

To make you're own you'll want to start with a frame. I built this one from scrap wood with a hammer and nails. I made it as long and as wide as I wanted my clutch to be by nailing two nails in each corner (to keep it from getting wonky). It measures about 16" wide and 32" long. There are 21 nails on each end spaced about 3/4" apart. Then I tied a knot on the top left nail and wound it back and forth between the nails until I got to the bottom right corner and knotted it again. This is a pretty rudimentary frame but it does the job. I used a cabinet to make my first frame as seen here but this one is much sturdier. I decided to make my clutch from rope because of it's texture and sturdiness. The red is really thick and the pink gives a little. 

I purchased two of each color rope and started with a six foot strand of pink. I tied a knot to the bottom right corner and wove over and under all the way across. Then I went back the other direction and went over and under the opposite strings. When I got close to running out I got to one end, wove it in about three inches, and trimmed it. I tucked it under to the back side. Then I started with the red so that I was going in the same direction and pulled it all the way through so that the end crossed under the same string as pink end. I pulled the rope down to keep the weaving tight and made sure I didn't pull so tight that it turned into an hourglass shape. 

Once I got to the other end I tucked it down and back under so as not to have to tie another big knot. Then I unhooked each white strand at the top and tied a knot flush with the red rope so it wouldn't unravel. Once I had my knot I trimmed my twine down. Then I unhooked the other side of my hooked twine. 

To turn it into a clutch I laid it down wrong side up and trimmed the tails a bit before folding the bottom up as shown. Fold it into almost thirds for a clutch or just in half for a tote. Cut two sections of twine about 32" long and fold in half. Start at the bottom fold and lace one half of the twine through the sides and then the other half. Knot at the top and trim excess. Repeat for the other side making sure your clutch is folded evenly. 

Just the right size to tuck in the essentials. Now I wouldn't travel with bobby pins or anything but it's guaranteed to add some happiness to your wardrobe! 

Have you tried weaving anything before? 

-Rachel

40 Projects: One, Two, Three, Four, Five

Geometric Planter DIY

I shared one of my most favorite projects this year over on A Beautiful Mess last week-a geometric planter and/or decorative accent. I had such a hard time getting this one right but I'm so glad I saw it through to the end. I always try to design from a personal place. If I'm going to put the effort into making something, I want it to be something I'd be happy to have in my own home. These two are surely going to be sticking around awhile. 

You can find the full tutorial and a bit of a project fail story here. 

-Rachel

Three-Tiered Lampshade DIY

Necessity is the mother of invention, right? I had originally thrifted a few lamp shades in similar shapes trying to get the right proportion but ended up deciding to ditch the lamp base altogether. I purchased a cord kit from ikea and used some white floral ties to connect the shades and then added a hook to the ceiling and I had myself a new light fixture.

I love the extra layer it adds to this side of the room and how it works with the lamp on the other side of the piano. If I was going for more pattern and color I think this kind of tiered lamp shade would look fun in three coordinating patterns (gold stripes in different widths) or some sort of ombre. 

Tip: If you're on the hunt for shades at a store and aren't getting them from the same place just note the shape and sizes to make sure they're going to look good together. 

-Rachel

Collage Valentine Craft

One afternoon last week the kids were getting restless so I grabbed a stack of Lucky mags that were headed to the recycling bin and some manilla folders and told them to sit. I cut hearts out for them, pulled out some pages with pretty colors, and let them cut and paste until they were done. Ruby wrote her name on hers. In case you don't read toddler it says 'Ruby'. 

It took me back to elementary school art class and it was fun to introduce the kids to something new (to them). 

-Rachel

Straw Bunting DIY

I was making a himmeli last week and had a ton of pink and coral straws leftover and suddenly I realized I could string up a bunch of triangles and have a new kind of bunting! I love that it's got negative space, is three dimensional, and won't get easily ruined in storage or if used outdoors.

1. Decide how long you want your bunting to be and multiply by three to get your twine length. I used pink twine from Lowe's but you could also use embroidery thread or really thin rope. You just need something thin enough for two pieces to fit through a straw. You'll also need three straws for each triangle. I used 6" coral straws for the bottoms and 4.5" pink straws for the tops. I placed my pink straw on first and then two coral straws and pushed them to the left end. 2. Then I bent my straws around to arrange a triangle shape. 3. Take your long end and string it back through the top straw as shown. 4. Add your next triangle in the same order of size/color and restring that long end through the top to get your next triangle. Continue until you're out of room.

I hung mine up with glittered tape from the Martha Stewart line and cut little triangles into the ends. I found my straws at Target but you can find darling striped and spotted ones on Etsy or large party stores. Spray painting is always an option if you can't find the perfect shade of mint!

 Now, go make some bunting.

-Rachel