Art and a Blog Party

I have been MIA and I am sorry. My computer is not connecting to the internet because the internal Wi-Fi switch broke off. I guess I am going to have to get a new one within this next year. Mine is in sorry shape. The space bar is broken and I have to hit it 1-2 times between words and my on/off switch broke a long time ago so my husband had to drill a hole so that I can use a toothpick and hit just the right spot to turn it on. I have not had to use any duct tape thus far so we are good there. lol They duct tape is the cure all. Men that is. At least my men. :) This is an ATC I made for a lady who challenged me to use tattered laces and trims, old book pages, script writing, Tim Holtz elements and a vintage image in a beach theme. The sand is comprised of many elements including tattered seam binding, book pages, script writing pages and grains of sand from Aruba and bits of seashells. The water is tattered rick rack, tissue paper and silver glitter to represent the sun dancing on the water. The background is a map of the Indian ocean and the Tim Holtz elements are the tag and the buckle under the ladies image and his distressed inks. I hope she likes it.

This is a September Tag. I included a quote "No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face" by John Donne Such a pretty quote, don't you think?
This is a bird tag using vintage elements. Old book pages, and tattered vintage lace, along with some pretty feathers on a turquoise paper with eggs.

Inspiration Avenue Etsy Team is hosting a blog party this Sunday, October 16th. Go by and check out the fun giveaways, tutorials, art challenge and freebies HERE. It should be a fun week long party.

Chair Planter in 6 Easy Steps

Hello and welcome. I thought this tutorial  would be perfect for Inspiration Avenue's Blog Party this weekend. You should stop by and check out all of the fun stuff over there.  There are all sorts of links to tutorials, recipes, tips, etc. Invite your friends along to play.

This is a fun and rather easy project to do. I made this last spring and it lasted through fall.  I just changed out the flowers from Spring to Summer and then in the Fall.

Supplies you will need:

Chair

Drill

Jigsaw

Staple gun

Pencil/marker

Screen

1. Find old chair (mine was from the road side)

2. Use a round object (I used a plate) to mark out where the hole should go for the plants.

3. Use a drill to start the hole in the center of the marked out circle and then onto a jigsaw to cut out the rest of the circle.

4. Next place screening (can be metal or not, doesn't matter) over the hole and allow for it to droop down inside the hole low enough for a good amount of soil and moss to fit in (makes for better water retention) and staple it all the way around on top of the chair seat.

5. Cut off excess screening , leaving about 1/2" overlapping the chair seat (this will be covered by the moss and plantings.

6. Fill with moss and then soil and lastly whatever plants/flowers you want.

Remember you will need to water regularly as the soil is in an exposed area only being held in by the moss and screen. I planted pansies and ivy in it in the spring and then when summer came along, I left the ivy and took out the pansies, added in Petunias and Sweet William for height. It was lovely. This picture is when I first added the petunias, before the whole thing went crazy with blooms and some of the ivy was wrapped up around the back of the seat, while the rest reached for the ground.