Passover Planter Placecards

This weekend brings many families and friends together.  My family celebrates Passover, where we retell the story of the Exodus with blessings, songs and specially-prepared foods.  When we were kids, my parents invited many friends and relatives to join us for the seder.  Because we had about 30 people, we moved our living room furniture into the dining room, and turned our living room into a large dining hall.  We also used place cards to assign everyone a seat.  That was always my responsibility...which I took very seriously. 

This year, I decided to rekindle my job and make place markers using small terra cotta pots.  You can see from this photo with the ruler, the biggest pot only measures 4" tall. 

I painted the three pots in different combinations of blue and white paint, and added pictures and text that I printed out on clear sticker paper.  After coating each pot with modge podge, I wrapped blue and white baker's twine around two of the pots. 

I printed names on white cardstock, then mod podged the cards onto wooden plant markers painted blue. 

 
A green herb (such as parsley or cilantro) is used on the Passover table to symbolize spring.  So I decided to plant herbs in each pot.

I'm going to use the largest pot as a centerpiece, so I made a label that reads "Kosher for Passover". 

I decided the smallest pot was just too tiny to hold a plant, so I used the medium sized pots for the place markers.  These festive pots and plant markers should add a nice touch to my parents' seder table. 

Whatever you celebrate this weekend, have a wonderful time with family and friends. 

May be sharing here:

and

 summer scraps the-creative-exchange-linky-party

Being a Wordsmith Traffic Jam Weekend Party

Spring is for the Birds!

Spring has sprung.  The flowers are a bloomin', the days are getting longer (YEA!), the outdoor cafes are busy with coffee klatches and tea totallers, and allergies have set in. You could say that spring is for the birds! So let's welcome our tweety friends with an altered birdhouse. 

Several years ago, I saw large wooden birdhouses on clearance and snapped up as many as I could hold.  I pulled one out of my stash with a paper pack, paint and a few embellishments, and went to work.

I had two shades of red that would complement the paper,

ultimately deciding on "Barn Red." [Duh]

Using a foam brush, I painted all the edges and the eaves of the birdhouse.

Next, came the tricky part:  making a template to fit the pointed front and back of the house.  I couldn't trace it because the eaves jut out.  So digging deep into the left side of my brain, I tapped into my algebra skills; and after a few tries, came up with the perfect template with just the correct angles. [Insert happy face.]

The sides and roof were easy to measure with a ruler, as they are all right angles--just measure twice and cut once. Actually, I cut twice, as there are two sides of each!   I also used Chestnut Roan liquid chalk to edge the paper.

On the template, I again carefully measured exactly where the circles should be to fit over the 1" hole and tiny perch.  Folding the paper in half lengthwise, I punched out both circles and then replicated that on the printed paper.

And now the fun begins:  Mod-podging the paper to the bird house.

To add some interest to the roof, I cut out a border from one paper, and adhered it to corrugated cardboard before podging it to both sides of the roof lines.  Then more podge all over the birdhouse.  If it sits outdoors, it is a good idea to use Outdoor Mod Podge.  

More fun:  The Embellishments! 

A wooden bird, a rhinestone crown, flowers, brads, an embossed sticker

with a 1" opening [fitting perfectly around the hole], and raffia.

I printed out a sign reading "Early Bird Special" and hung it on twine with two altered mini clothespins. [I hot glued the twine and brads in place.]

Added more twine and a little wooden tag that reads "open."

Lastly, I glued the bird house to a distressed candle holder
(found for $2 at the thrift store).

And we are open for business!

Later in the week, two friends came over to alter birdhouses, choosing their own fun paper and embellishments.  Here are their results:

Aren't they great?

Happy Spring!

Echoes of Laughter

 

My Repurposed Life Catch as Catch Can

Chase the Star Keep Calm & Link Up

Eclectically Vintage Creative Spring Projects

Practically Functional

My Repurposed Life

Wayward Girls

Wildflowers and Whimsy

Fireflies & Jellybeans

Serenity Now

The Answer is Chocolate)

Project Queen

Katherine's Corner

Oopsey Daisy Wednesdays Wowzers

Lil Luna

The Shady Porch

Grateful Belly What's New Wednesday

Nifty Thrifty Sunday

i heart naptime sundae scoop

At Home with K Terrific Under Ten Tuesday

Coastal Charm

Vintage Wanna Be

Today's Creative Blog

Cowgirl Up Link Party

Skip to my Lou

Creative Jewish Mom
Under the Table and Dreaming
Get Outta My Head Please

Alderberry Hill
My 1929 Charmer
Craft-o-Maniac-Monday
The Girl Creative
House in Roses
Sumo's Sweet Stuff Market Yourself Monday
How to Nest for Less
Rook No 17
Crafts Keep Me Sane
Sew Can Do Craftastic

Terra Cotta times Three

One of my very favorite crafty garden projects is the tiered terra cotta planter. 

I first saw this idea on Amy's creative blog, Positively Splendid, back in May 2010; and I finally got around to creating my own tiered planter and checking this off my "wanna-make" list! [Applause]

You'll have to excuse the lack of "before" photos or tutorial.  I was too excited about finally making the tiered planter to slow down and take photos of the mundane terra cotta pots or the creative process.  However, you can link to Amy's post to get all the how-to's.  In the meantime, just relax and enjoy the photos:

Poolside

How did Coconut sneak into the pic?

That's better

Ultimately, it found its rightful place on the front porch. 

Here it is with the flowers grown up a bit.

 

Extra flowers found their way into an oversized garden cup

This fountain was not handmade, but it was a double mark down
 clearance buy that we attached to the opposite brick wall.

By Southern California standards, we're having a really cold winter. 

Which is why I especially like the bright colors I used.

It's a sure sign that spring is on its way.

Having a great time partying with my friends:
Get Your DIY On [House of Hoff]



A Bowl Full of Lemons
Cozy Little House
A Little Knack Knack
Five Days Five Ways
Sidewalk Shoes Garden Tuesday
Blackberry Vine
Craft-o-maniac
The Sweet Talk
Skip to my Lou
Alderberry Hill
Flamingo Toes Think Pink Sunday
Under the Table and Dreaming
Creative Jewish Mom)
Nifty Thrifty Things
You are Talking Too Much Meet Me Monday 
1929 Charmer
504 Main
Classy Clutter
Family Ever After
The Answer is Chocolate
From My Front Porch to Yours
Suzy's Sitcom
Serenity Now

Rook No 17

Lil Luna
Get Outta My Head
Oopsey Daisy Wednesday's Wowzers
Passionately Artistic
Ginger Snap Crafts
Sugar and Dots
Someday Crafts
Cow Girl Up-link Party
The 36th Avenue
Night Owl Crafting
The Shady Porch
Blue Cricket Design
Handy Man Crafty Woman
Today's Creative Blog
Jillify It
Just a Little Creativity
The D.I.Y. Dreamer
Happy Hour Projects
katherine's corner
Fireflies and Jellybeans
House of Hepworths
A Glimpse Inside

Pull Tab in case of [Chocolate] Emergency

You know the kind of S.O.S. I'm talking about:  those nagging children issues and feelings that only chocolate cures! 

While the bag of chocolates sits in the pantry, package already torn open, ever so slightly, it is just too easy to sneak one piece here, nab one there, a few later, a few sooner...until the next time, when you find the bag is completely void of any chocolate remains except for the slight aroma of cocoa. 

"Who ate the last piece of chocolate?" she screamed, echoing down the long carpet-less hallway.  "Not me!" replied Thing 1.  "Not I," yelled Thing 2.  The dog?  Thankfully, not.  That could only leave one suspect:  "Yes, I confess, Mommy stole the last of the wonderfully decadent chocolate kisses once again."  [Sigh] 

Where is the willpower?  Where is the lock and key? 

The answer:  Create an altered art project.
Thanks to Erin at Making Memories, this project fits the bill.

All you need is a [small] can with a pull tab, a [Pampered Chef] can opener

and an UNOPENED bag of chocolate.

[The blueberry muffin is optional.  It tasted good with the juice.]

The first thing to do
is turn the can upside down. 

Using a can opener that doesn't leave ragged edges, carefully open the

bottom end of can and set aside.

Drink the contents.

Gather fun scrapbook paper and embellishments with a chocolate theme. 

For this project, I also used a tag punch, twine, stamps and a sticker.

Measure the circumference and length of the can,

adding 1/2" to circumference, allowing for overlap.

Cut paper and adhere to can.  Add additional paper if desired. 
I like polka dots.

Punch tag shape from solid cardstock.  Stamp chocolate sentiment on tag. 

This one reads,
"CHOCOLATE:  It's not just for breakfast."

Tie onto pull tab.  I used twine cord.

Using computer, print out

"Directions:  In case of sudden chocolate craving, pull tab."

onto cardstock. Cut out and adhere to can.

Add additional embellishments.  I added a sticker and ric-rac. 
Seal paper with Mod Podge.

This is the difficult part: 

Open bag of chocolate kisses [or chocolate of choice], and fill can to top.

Do NOT [let anyone see you] eat any chocolate during this step.

Using hot glue gun, adhere bottom end back to can. 

That's it! 

Only you and I will know how you got the chocolate in there! 

This makes a great gift, don't you think?

 Or....
I might keep it on my own desk
for emergency chocolate cravings....just in case.

Score:  A 6-Pack!

Enjoying great ideas at:

Craft Love Learn

Ginger Snap Crafts Wow Me Wednesday

Happy Hour Projects, A Glimpse Inside, House of Hepworths, At the Picket Fence,

Fireflies and Jelly Beans, Somewhat Simple, Serenity Now, One Artsy Mama,

Katherine's Corner, The Answer is Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring, Be Different Act Normal,

Summit Street Joy, Flamingo Toes, Keeping it Simple, Craft-o-Maniac Monda,

CRAFT Monday, DIY Home Sweet Home More the Merrier Monday, Making the World Cuter Monday,

Polly Want a Crafter [Monday], The Girl Creative, Serendipity and Spice Manic Monday, Nifty Thrifty Sunday,

Alderberry Hill, Positively Splendid, Cedar Hill Ranch Cowgirl-Up Party, A Bowl full of Lemons,

Creating Your Home, Vintage Wanna Be, Get Outta My Head Please, Polish the Stars