Smile And Wave

Decorative Outdoor Planter DIY

Raise your hand if you've spent your weekend covered in dirt but have something pretty to show for it! This warmer spring weather has me ready to tackle a few projects to make our outdoor space more enjoyable and this planter was a great place to start. I've done raised beds and container gardens but this year I wanted to add a decorative, wooden planter to flank our house near the back door. It's designed so that it can rest against a wall and fill in some blank space but a pair of them in a straight line or at a right angle would work as great dividers in a yard or garden as well. 

After visiting with one of the educated employees at Lowe's, I chose to use cedar over pine for two reasons. It's pest and insect resistant, which is important if it's going to be placed near your house. Pine is a favorite with termites and I didn't want to give them any reason to start chewing away at our rental. Cedar is also one of the more affordable non-treated options for outdoor use. It won't need to be replaced next season as it withstands rot and weathers nicely. It would've been beautiful left in its natural cedar color but I really wanted a black planter against our light gray siding. I knew paint would likely peel off in a year or two so I chose an indoor/outdoor stain in Ebony and applied two coats. The cedar took the stain so well you can hardly tell it's not painted. Winning!

The other best part about my design is that you can get all of your cedar cut to size at a store like Lowe's if you're patient and there isn't a long line behind you. The first two cuts are free but then each additional cut is $ .25. Since I don't have a place to store many power tools and gear at our house (no garage or shed), this is worth it's weight in gold. If you know someone willing to cut your lumber for you, maybe bake them some cookies in return for super precise measurements. And you'll want to be sure your front and back panels are cut evenly or your clean lined, mid-century planter will look a little more shabby-chic. Your end result will be a 3" x 4" planter with a planting depth of about 10". 

Supplies

1 - 1" x 12" x 10' cedar board cut into three 36" pieces

1 - 1" x 8" x 8' cedar board cut in half

2 - 1" x 2" x 8' cedar board cut in half

4 - 1" x 4" x 8' cedar board cut in half

3 - 1" x 3" x 10' cut into 4" lengths (keep the scraps for your interior support beams)

3 - 2 pack 1" corner brackets with hardware (six brackets total)

3" stain brush

56 - #6 x 2" black wood screws

1- 30 oz. can of Olympic Maximum Tintable Semi-Transparent Exterior Stain in Ebony

power drill

power sander and/or 100 grit sandpaper

landscape fabric

steel hardware cloth

staple gun and staples

work gloves

cotton cloth

wire cutters

scissors 

ruler

pencil

Step One: Rub a damp (not soaking) cotton cloth over your wood to help open up the pores to absorb more of the stain. Do this step for each piece before you stain it, not in one big batch or most of your wood will have dried before you get to apply the stain. 

Step Two: Test your stain on a piece of scrap wood to make sure you like the shade and coverage. I was pleased with my first coat initially but wanted to see if a second coat would make a difference and it did. Once you're happy with your stain, apply a generous amount to your wood. I do suggest wearing gloves for this part as your fingers will get covered in it. Don't forget to stain the entire board as all sides will be visible from certain angles. I forgot to stain the opposite side of two of the large boards until the very end. You'll be able to do touch ups and a second coat once it's assembled but it's tricky to get full coverage in between the slats so I suggest staining everything before assembly. 

Step Three: Make sure to wait the recommended drying time according to manufacturer's instructions before drilling. It's best to wait about 24 hours if you can. I may or may not have jumped the gun and started in after three hours but only because I knew it would rain the next day and I wanted to get my project finished before then. 

Step Four: Place all three pieces of your 3' panels on a flat surface and mark 10" down from the top, short edge. Draw a line with a pencil. Then place one of your brackets about 3" from the long edge so that it rests just below your pencil line and mark where the screw hole will be on the 3' panel. Place another bracket 3" in from the opposite side and make a mark for the screw hole. These two brackets will attach your interior support beams in place. They are not going to provide much stability to the frame on their own but they will help support the weight of the dirt and plants. 

Pre-drill pilot holes for the brackets but be sure you only drill about 1/2" into your 3/4" wood so you don't bust through the other side. Awkward! Put your brackets back in place and screw them in with the screws that came with them.  

Place one of your 22.5" boards perpendicular to the 3' panel and center it over one of the brackets. Make a pencil mark where the screw hole is and then pre-drill a hole in your board. Repeat this with the second board. 

Step Five: Use the same measurements to attach the brackets to the other side of the center panel but adjust them about 1/2" to each side so you don't screw into the screws on the opposite side. Finish up with the last two brackets on the third 3' panel.  

Step Six: After you've pre-drilled all of your holes for your center support beams, screw everything together. It will not be sturdy enough to bear weight or move without help at this point. Also, your 3' panels should be stained on both sides but I forgot to do mine. Oops! I went back and took care of it after I assembled everything. You don't need to stain your support beams. They won't be seen.

Step Seven: Separate the rest of your cedar planks into two even piles so you know that the front and back sides will be matching. Set aside one pile. Place the other pile on top of your frame until you are happy with the placement of the different thicknesses. I spaced mine out about 1/3" apart and had the thinner planks up top and the thickest plank at the bottom with some variations in the center. You could even do this with the same thickness as long as you know how many you'll need to cover the same amount of space. 

Make sure your top plank is flush with one of the side panels and pre-drill a hole through both. Attach your screw to secure it and then repeat with the opposite end. This will help secure your frame at the top while you continue working. For even spacing between your planks, insert the end of your paintbrush or use another tool to keep things consistent as you screw each plank to the frame. I suggest screwing in two or three planks on one side and then finishing up the other side of those planks instead of just doing an entire side at a time.

Step Eight: Once you've finished with the front side of your planter, carefully turn it over to the other side and repeat the process. To add further stability, you will want to add three screws down the center support plank on the back side. Adding these only to the back side adds support without interrupting the lines of your planter on the front side. 

 

Step Nine: Stand your planter upright and make sure everything is looking straight. I had an overhanging board on one end so I sanded it down to be mostly flush with the 3' outer support. 

Step Ten: Cut your hardware cloth to measure about 21" x 30". Fold it down into one of the planter boxes and staple it to the inside so that it is just under the lip of the top of the box. The wire should rest on top of the support beams. Staple it in as many places as you prefer. Repeat on the other planter box. I also suggest wearing gloves while cutting your wire and stapling it in as those edges can get sharp.

Step Eleven: Cut your landscape fabric to be about 36" x 36" long and fold it down inside your planter boxes. You'll have to do a little folding in the corners and tucking back at the top edges. It is almost like wrapping a present inside-out! It doesn't need to be too neat as it will all be covered in dirt but you do want to make sure there aren't gaping holes in the corners where the dirt could wash out. Staple the folded back edges as close to the top edge as you can and then staple down into the corners and in a few places along the bottom. 

Step Twelve: Repeat with the other box and get your planter set up where you'd like it before filling it with soil and beautiful flowers or herbs. It's a heavy planter by itself but adding dirt will make it slightly top heavy. Be sure not to allow children to climb on it if they are eager to help water the flowers. 

The cost of this planter came in at around $170 including the stain and brush but not including the soil and plants. It's still more affordable than purchasing similar sized planters from your favorite design stores as they can range anywhere from $120 - $370. You could also alter your design a bit for a shorter planter and skip the stain to cut off another $30-$50. Whenever I invest a little more money into a DIY project, it's usually because I know it's a piece that I'll use for years and I'm confident this planter will still be looking great this time next year. 

I love the height and color it brings to this side of our house and I can't wait to have all of that green cascading over the sides in a few weeks! This is a great option for an herb garden, too, if you want something just outside your kitchen window. What would you plant in yours? 

-Rachel

Photography: Rachel Denbow and Janae Hardy. 

Life Lately

Learning

-How to stay flexible when things don't go as planned

-How to time manage multiple projects without consistent work hours

-How to move past the overwhelming first step

 

Getting Better

-Making plans 

-Getting outside every day

-Listening to my intuition

 

Celebrating

-Final author edits on my book!

-Sebastian losing another tooth

-A clean(ish) studio

 

Needing

-To finish prepping a more permanent place to sell my wall hangings

-A date night!

-To work on our raised garden

 

What are you working on this weekend? What are you celebrating from last week?

-Rachel

Podcast Time with Elise Gets Crafty

I shared some thoughts about staying connected to myself through the years, how I was invited to write my new book, DIY Woven Art, and a little about how Brett and I keep the plates spinning (or don't) with Elise Blaha Cripe in her fantastic podcast, Elise Get Crafty. It's about 30 minutes but if you enjoy listening while you're working out or making something pretty, it's an incredible resource with three seasons worth of helpful interviews from other creatives and small business owners. Find it here. 

She pulled this quote from our interview and I'm even impressed with myself. Ha!

-Rachel

Image c/o Elise Blaha Cripe.

 

Woven Bath Mat DIY

 

In case you haven't already seen it over at A Beautiful Mess, I shared how you can use your weaving skills for more than just beautiful wall hangings! Grab some fabric yarn, spend some time finger-knitting a chunky garland or two (or four), and then make yourself a luxe bath mat that you'll wish covered your entire floor! It's ultra plush and textural so it's a great way to turn a boring but practical bathroom item into something beautiful. 

This mat cost about $40 to make which can be comparable to similar-sized, plush mats but I didn't have to look long and hard for the colors I wanted in the right size because I got to choose my own! One of my favorite fabric yarn resources is Gannxet. If you're looking for all of those subtle tones or even prints, they have a huge selection at reasonable prices. 

Head over to A Beautiful Mess to get the full tutorial.

If you already know how to weave, this is a great way to stretch your boundaries with a home decor project. If you've been wanting to learn, my new book DIY Woven Art is a great resource for beginners! It takes you step-by-step through the simplest of weavings and teaches new techniques and stitches with each of the 12 projects. You'll also learn about building your own affordable looms! It's available for pre-order now so be sure to grab yours before they sell out once they hit bookstores in August!

-Rachel

 

Easy Stripe DIY with Walls Need Love

You may remember the mini room makeover I worked on in January that featured Walls Need Love Design Packs. Ruby's room was so fun to work on because she's all about pink and gold and patterns and textures so I didn't have to think too hard on how to refresh her space on a budget. Well, I'm back with a second room-in-progress featuring Walls Need Love's Easy Stripes and am happy to share how their removable self-adhesive strips are taking center stage in a sea of solid colors.

Sebastian's room was probably in even more need of a little love as his space is on the main floor and was a catch-all for the random extra chairs and big toddler toys we'd toss in to hide whenever company was coming. It also housed our Christmas decoration boxes the entire month of December and well into February! Poor kid! So neglected! I finally had some time to focus on designing his space in early March and then things came together rather smoothly. I'll be sharing full details and the full room tour in a separate post as I still have some shelving to add, a bed frame to assemble, and all the styling he'll allow and then we'll be golden! Today is all about how to think outside the stripey box when it comes to using the Easy Stripe strips.

As a renter, it's almost impossible to make changes to the color or patterns on your walls unless you've got a trusting landlord or don't need that security deposit. This is the main reason we almost ALWAYS make white walls a high priority on our list after wooden floors when searching for a cute rental. Our current rental is a beautifully remodeled 100-year-old home with beautiful windows and woodwork but the paint color is a sad little shade of gray. Like the kind of light you get on a rainy, winter day. It's not the worst in the world, by far, but I regularly have to work on my good attitude about how it affects the brightness of my photos. However, I'm a firm believer in working with what you've got and enjoying it as often as you can! 

After working with Walls Need Love the first two times, I knew their product would be the perfect option for making Sebastian's room feel a little more exciting. 

I searched Pinterest to see what other people had done with washi tape or similar removable strips and got some great design inspiration. I knew I wanted something that made a statement without being a project so challenging that I gave up halfway through. After entertaining the idea of an entire wall of diagonal stripes, a repeat pattern of hand cut hashtags (still love this concept), and trying to recreate the look of flying at light speed like they do in Star Wars, I finally settled on a simple repeating arrow shape. It looked simple enough but there was still a bit of math involved.

Before ordering I had to measure out the length of the walls I wanted to cover to make sure I didn't run out or place an order a zillion times bigger than I needed. Upon arrival, I used my ladder and yardstick to make some marks to guide my design. We have an A/C duct that was retrofitted into the house on one side of the room so I was sure to take that into account. It was 17" lower than the ceiling line so I marked the corner shown below under the air duct as my highest point and then measured up 17" from the floor up to mark my lowest point. Then I found the center of the wall by the side of my window frame where the tip of the arrow would touch and made a mark there. Then I just carefully made a few dots with a pencil along my yardstick to help me visualize the line it would create from the top corner to the tip of the arrow. 

There was a little bit of trial and error in play but I also got pretty lucky with my measurements. I attached the first strip at the top of my corner and then carefully unrolled my roll so I could get down the ladder and gently place it on the center point near my window. This would've been a great project to do with an extra set of hands but my extra set of hands was keeping the smallest member of the household out of my way and off the ladder, so take heart that it's not impossible to do this all by yourself!

After placing the first strip, I finished the line of that arrow with the bottom strip. I was really happy with the size of things and then just made consistent marks for the next four arrows. I measured up 6.5" from the top of the first strip to where I wanted the bottom of my next strip along the seam of my corner. Then I'd follow the top of the first strip about halfway up the arrow and make another mark measuring up 6.5". I'd repeat that until I had three marks. I tried finding the marking place for the point of the second arrow but decided to just let the strip overlap the center line instead. Each time I stuck the next strip on I would step back to make sure it was (mostly) as straight as possible before moving on to the next strip. 

Getting a clean corner was something I was unsure about since it wasn't a right angle but it ended up being simple. 

Step One: Be sure your two strips overlap where they meet and then pull back the top strip. Trim the bottom strip with scissors so that it won't stick out from under the top strip. 

Step Two: Place your top strip back in place and be sure to double check it doesn't have the bottom strip peeking out. 

Step Three: Make a mark by folding your top strip back until it creases along the line you want to cut or mark it lightly with a pencil or chalk and then cut off your excess. 

If you cut a little too much you can easily fix the look of your line by cut another piece of Easy Stripe tape and placing it on top. It smooths down nicely without it looking like a botch job. It's pretty forgiving that way!

It also comes with a little smoothing tool to help flatten out any air bubbles on your wall. I had to completely remove two of the strips after getting distracted and mismatching my arrows and they came off without any damage to the paint on the walls. I've not had the same luck with washi tape, so this was a major relief. 

 

I am so thrilled with how much of an impact these simple little strips of red tape have in his room and I can't wait to share the rest soon! I'm sure you're already sensing a bit of a theme? I made sure Sebastian was involved in the direction his room makeover took and while it has a little more of a theme than we've ever done before, it's a theme we are both excited about and can easily adjust should he outgrow it.

Have you ever tried self-adhesive wallpaper or decals to make your space a little more special? I love how affordable this kind of option is when you don't want to make a big investment in wallpaper but still crave a little more pattern and design on your walls. Also, it always feels good to be able to knock out a project in an afternoon all by yourself! High five to all of you hard-working, creative mamas and papas out there. 

-Rachel

P.S. I worked in partnership with Walls Need Love to bring you this Easy Stripe DIY and was compensated for this post. All opinions are 100% mine and I'm proud to work with a company that makes my life better because it makes it easy to share with my fantastic readers.  

 

Clay Cactus Bud Vase DIY for ABM

One of the reasons I love to DIY so many things is because I love having items in my house that feel one of a kind. Yes, there are a million things on the shelves of everyone's favorite home decor stores that I'd bring home in a hot minute if they gave me a gift card and told me to go crazy but there's some about decorating with things I designed or made myself that make our house feel uniquely ours. Maybe I am a purist or maybe it's because I can usually make something for less than I can buy it and it just so happens that I enjoy the process-especially when I get an idea that turns out better than I thought! 

Enter the clay cactus bud vase! Not only is it an easy project, the concept of creating this general shape out of this general material is one that can be tweaked to get a few different fun outcomes depending on your specific taste. Leave off the wire spikes and make a narrower cactus for a fun jewelry display or use twice as much clay and create a bouquet vase rather than a bud vase. Ditch the vase idea altogether and spray paint it in your favorite metallic hue for a fun display piece or make a set and use them as bookends. Basically, there's more than one reason to get yourself over to the full tutorial that I shared over at A Beautiful Mess and then get your hands on some polymer clay. Go!

 

 

Also, thanks so much for sharing my excitement over my book, DIY Woven Art, being available for pre-order! Woohoo! 

 

DIY Woven Art is Now Available for Pre-Order!

It's here! It's here! My book DIY Woven Art: Inspiration and Instruction for Handmade Wall Hangings, Rugs, and More is finally available for pre-order!!! I may or may not have purchased the first copy back in February when it was a mere text listing but now that there's something for everyone to see, it's feeling very exciting! I'm incredibly proud and honored to have been invited to write this book for Interweave Press as it has always been a dream to get published. I am also thrilled that I was able to be a part of a resource that will help anyone that's ever wanted to learn to weave on a frame loom but didn't have access to a workshop or felt overwhelmed with finding more than one tutorial in the same place to answer their questions. Now there's a physical, tangible resource with all of the stitches and step-by-step instructions to guide you through the basics of frame loom weaving and discover your personal style!

Pre-order sales, from what I've heard through the grapevine, act as forecasters for how many copies big bookstores purchase as inventory so I'm passing that information along if you've been anticipating the pre-release along with me. Orders made now go a long way in the way the publishing world works so if you purchase yours now rather than in September after it's hit bookstores, you'll be getting a huge virtual hug from me and a giant THANK YOU for supporting this big dream of mine! Find it here through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indie Bound.

It's been a good week, friends. I got in some good friend time with gals I haven't seen in awhile, made plans for more friend time with another gal, started finalizing my next e-course with A Beautiful Mess, have a podcast interview scheduled with the lovely Elise Blaha-Cripe, and got a few other exciting business e-mails that I am eager to explore! I'm ever so thankful for all of the opportunities that are showing up or are already in the works and owe so much of it to the support from readers and followers. 

Thank you for sharing in my excitement, friends!

-Rachel

Life Lately

Hello, blog! I've been thinking a lot over the last few months about what I want this space to be and the role it should play in my business and life. With Brett in grad school on the GI Bill, our roles have shifted from him being the full time breadwinner and me working for the pleasure of it when I have time to me needing to work as well. I'd call my work part time but between his schooling and sharing parenting and household responsibilities, we're both working every day of the week and filling in the gaps for each other when one of us has a deadline. It's intense and not without daily challenges of finding any sort of rhythm but it's also been kind of great. I'm not going to lie, there are days when I dream of having a weekend off (or even a full day off every week) but I also know our hard work is only for a season and that the benefits will serve us greatly down the road. 

With so many work hours on creative projects being outsourced to paying gigs or creating weavings to send out into the world, there has been much less time for sharing DIY's just for this space or even documenting as much of life as I used to. The big kids are in school most of the day and my days with Smith are mostly spent at home and tightly scheduled around work hours and errands so I've found it challenging to have a lot of content to share other than family celebrations. Life is full! I miss the slower pace of things a lot of days but I also feel so proud of myself for all of the ways I've risen to the challenge.

That said, this space is still so special and important to me. I'm eager to continue to find ways to tend to the things that are fulfilling even when the list of duties is long. Way back in the day when Sebastian was the only kid on the scene and I spent my days running a scrapbook kit subscription (anyone remember Red Velvet Kit Club?) it was a trend to document things in lists. I know a few other moms that do this on their own blogs and it's the perfect way to share when you've only got twenty minutes to spare. I also plan on doing this when it makes sense and not every week because now is not the time for biting off more than I can chew. If you're not already doing this in your own space, feel free to join in sharing your own Life Lately lists. I think it's a great way to stop and check in with ourselves every now and then. 

Learning

-how to set business goals each month

-how important it is to get outside every day

-to speak up and ask for what I want

-to show my kids how to gracefully stand up for yourself when slighted by someone

-to let the excuses go and make changes where I can

-to accept that I can't do everything at 100% right now and be okay with that

 

Getting Better 

-overcoming anxieties that want to keep me from taking action for fear of failure

-owning the fantastic opportunities that have come along lately

-finding ways to finish things in small chunks of time

-resisting the urge to splurge

 

Celebrating

-reaching business goals three months in a row 

-the chance to work from home and provide for my family

-pre-orders for my book on the horizon

-our yard getting green again

-Smith finally sleeping all night long in his own crib (THIS IS BIG, FRIENDS!)

 

Needing

-more time carved out for friends

-more fun

-ice cream (don't judge) 

I think I could technically knock all three of the last column out at once if I schedule a lady date over ice cream. Springfield friends...it's on my list! 

I'm off to the airport to pick up my handsome grad student that's learning all about sustainable business practices and then it's an afternoon full of weaving for me. I'm THIS CLOSE to opening up my Etsy shop to offer the wall hangings I've got left over from my flash sale on Instagram (@smileandwaveflashsale) and then I've got two more big DIY's I'm working on while Brett is officially on spring break. It's sunny outside today which means this Monday is already looking promising!

Thanks for reading, friends. 

-Rachel

Leather Keychains are for Lovers DIY

This leather key chain DIY was a project I shared over at A Beautiful Mess last month but wanted to get it posted here for the sake of documenting all of my projects. You know, for that full weekend of coding where I organize the last five years of projects (just from this blog) into user-friendly thumbnails that are organized by supplies or themes or something else super helpful. Yes, that elusive weekend! I'm sure you have one of those elusive weekends of your own! 

This was a fun project because I discovered leather paint for the first time. It's opened up a whole world of ideas for me but most of those will have to wait their turn, too. So many ideas but also so much laundry, right? Ha! I'm so thankful I get to be creative for a living so I don't have to fight too hard to scratch that itch. 

If you're in need of a quick weekend project, this is a great one. It also lends itself to making a handful at once for house warming gifts, something sweet to send to a friend, or to stash away for the holidays. Get the full tutorial and list of supplies over at A Beautiful Mess. 

I hope your weekend holds something fun just for you!

-Rachel

 

March 2016 Collection of Woven Wall Hangings

It always feels so good to have a full collection of woven art up on my studio walls. My March Collection is my new favorite group of wall hangings because I got to experiment with weaving with leather as part of the structure of the loom-an idea I had while working on my book. I've had this mint patent leather for years and love how it looks paired with these specific pinks, greens, and neutrals. I've also been experimenting with new soumak stitch lengths, upside down rya knots, and long layers of fringe. It's what keeps this craft fresh and exciting for me!

Something else that was super exciting last week was seeing the approved cover of my weaving book! Pre-orders are just around the corner and I can't wait to share a peek of this dream come true for me!

Fringe!!!

I'm selling these in a flash sale at 10am CST on Tuesday, March 14th in my Instagram feed (@smileandwaveflashsale) if you're needing something pretty for your walls. The texture in these are incredible. 

Note the mess on my studio floor. It's ever present but I have twice walked into my studio after Smith has gone down for a nap and been inspired by the color pairing of skeins that were hanging out next to each other. It's part of the design process, right?

I hope you're chasing some version of your dream this week, friends. 

-Rachel