Make a Bird Bath

I have been trying to come up with some fun things to do with my 12 year old daughter during Spring Break and think I came up with a fun spring time craft that she would enjoy at least one of the days.

A clay pot birdbath is very simple to make and the birds just love them. Attract birds to your backyard and watch them take a sip of water or splash while taking a bath.

There are many different birdbaths that you can buy or else you can have fun and make your own with terra cotta pots. It is so much more fun when you make your own and you have the feeling of accomplishment when you are through. I guarantee that people will ogle your birdbath and want to know how to make one themselves.

Here is the one I think we will make. We may even do a mosaic on the bottom of the saucer (where the water goes)

Here Is What You Will Need:
16" and 14" clay pots
16" or 18" clay saucer
Paint of your choice
Clear acrylic spray sealer for outdoors or polyurethane
Liquid nails, silicone adhesive or heavy duty outdoor glue

The first thing you need to do is to simple wipe down your pots and saucer with a damp cloth and let dry completely. Paint your pots with the color you have chosen and then let dry. Patio Paints work great! If you are going to paint a design on them you may want to do that before you glue them together.

The decorating ideas for your birdbath are endless. You can paint the whole bath one color and then paint a design on it. You can leave the pots in their original color and put decals on it. Just use your imagination and you will come up with a one-of-a-kind work of art.

After you have your pots finished you need to glue them together. Use liquid nails to glue them. Be sure that you have the clay pot dish centered on the top. We will make the bird bath that is pictured above so we will add a smaller pot and dish on top. The birds can then use both baths.

When it is all dry you need to seal it. Use clear acrylic sealer spray for outdoors. Sealer is also available in a can and then you just brush it on. Be sure to give it several coats so that it is sealed good.

Also make sure that you store your birdbath inside during cold weather months.

Here are some other Clay Pot Bird Baths for Inspiration:
















I'll be sure to show you how our bird bath turns out! If you make one...please be sure to post it for all of us to see!

Enjoy Spring!

Darlene

Who will Always Love You

Thrifting Pays Off BIGTIME!!

Just heard of a lady that found a Starbucks mug at a thrift store. She bought it for $2. Her husband thought she way overpaid for this used Starbuck mug. Well, turns out there were only 50 of this particular mug created which made it highly collectible. She put it on ebay ...take a look at what it has been bid up to HERE.

WOW!!! I bet her husband won't question her thrift store shopping anymore!!


Happy Thrifting!

Darlene

Creating a Tablescape for St. Patrick's Day

I didn't know much about what St. Patrick's Day was for so I did some research. If you would like to know for yourself...click here.

I have NEVER decorated for St. Patrick's Day, but I'm all about creating memories for my family so I was thinking about doing a fun tablescape & fun menu for St Patrick's Day this year.
I was searching the net and came across some great items from Lillian Vernon.


This is only $2.98 Irish Coffee anyone?? Put some green food coloring in the whipped cream for St. Patty's day! Set of 4 is $29.98 (personlized with 1 initial)

How about these adorable shamrock plates & coffee or hot toddy mugs? Set of 4 $12.98

Shamrock tablerunner or some shamrock placemats/napkins (I would use one or the other, but not both)

This Shamrock Platter is adorable for only $8.98

(this would be nice to take with some shamrock cookies all wrapped in celophane to a neighbor or as a hostess gift)
I'm sure you all have a glass candle holder or glass vase, so just pick up a green candle and you can buy some glass clover scatters for $7.98

If Irish Coffee isn't your thing...how about some personalized Pilsner glasses. Set of 4 $14.98



Happy Tablescaping!

Darlene

Birthday Review & Advice Needed

Thank you everyone for my nice birthday wishes! I really appreciate how thoughtful all of you are! I spent the day by myself as hubby was at work, and youngest daughter was at school (6th grade) aqnd other daughter had clinicals (she's in nursing school). So I started my day by going to get a pedicure. This was my gift to myself. Ahhh, that was so relaxing! Don't my little toes look cute?!



After my pedicure I hit some of my favorite stores; TJ Maxx, Pier One, Kirklands, and some thrift stores. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but did buy this cute zebra print top from TJ Maxx.
My oldest daughter gave me a survival kit for 42 year old. LOL! It contained St. Joseph Baby Aspirin (to prevent heart attacks), Bliss Chocolate, A christian book called,"Crazy Love", Almond Roca, and some facial moisturizer (to prevent wrinkles)
It was cute and I enjoyed coming home from shopping to indulge in some chocolate goodness!

My youngest daughter gave me a night gown (I had told her that I could use a new one) only problem...it was a maternity night gown. LOL! Not planning on any more babies! Oh well, she tried.

Hubby on the other hand didn't do so good! Remember my post about 1 week ago where I said I just want my loved ones to put some thought & effort into choosing a birthday present for me and not wait untill the last minute to hurry go the store and quickly pick something?? Well...that's what he did. Monday night he went to Sears to buy me a gift. Did he have any clue what he was going to buy?? NO! Was any thought put into it? NO! Much effort?? NO! So what did I get, you ask..........he gave me a top that was leopard print (ok, he gets some credit for knowing I like leopard) but it was for a Plus Size. Hmmmm, I wear a Medium. Guess he couldn't look in my closet to find the size. He then didn't take the time to even take the price tag off...he got it on clearance for $19. Why in the world would he ever decide to buy me clothes?? This man of mine has NEVER bought clothes for himeself or for me in his life. I was disappointed to say the least.

We then went to dinner and the drive was very quiet and I prayed the whole way for God to forgive me for being ungrateful. Dinner was going fine, then he said something in which I ended up in tears. Oh My...what a birthday!

When we went to bed he said, "I hope you had a great birthday." I said, "It was ok." He said my birthday snuck up on him. Well, let's see...my birthday is ALWAYS on March 3rd and he has known that for 21 YEARS!! How did it sneek up on him??

I told him this morning that I would like him to return the top and then put some thought into what he would get me even if it took 1-2 weeks. I said, "I want something from your heart."

So....was I wrong for my reaction to his gift or would you have felt the same way?


Darlene

It's My Party and I'll Blog If I Want To

Ok, so there's no party.....but it is my birthday today and I am taking the day off from blogging and working to just enjoy the day. I'm off to get a pedicure and to celebrate my day!!

Talk to you tomorrow!

Darlene

Bring Spring Indoors

Are you ready for Spring like I am? I am so ready!! If you have been reading my blog since I started it back in August you will know that I was so sad when summer was over. I'm not much of a winter person. I LOVE spring & summer and very happy to see it on it's way!!

The forsythia bushes,dogwood trees,cherry blossom trees, bradford pear trees, flowering quince, and pussy willows are all sprouting forth new life (blossoms) I just love it!!

Bring some of that spring indoors and make a great decor statement in your home.

These are forsythia branches

This is how the forsythia bush looks...it can get huge!

These are flowering quince branches
This is a flowering quince bush
These are cherry blossom branches

This is a stunning cherry blossom tree

This is suppose to be dogwood branches but they look yellow to me so not sure if that is correct, but either way it's very pretty!

A row of pink & white dogwood trees...gorgeous!! I wish this was my driveway to my house!

These are Pussy Willow Branches

...this is my vase in my kitchen with faux pussy willows and some burgundy feathery branches that I got from Pier One...I think I'll remove the burgundy for spring and summer and get some more pussy willows.

This is a pussy willow tree/bush


Now go out and find you some blooming branches (real or faux), put them in a vase or urn and Enjoy Spring Indoors!!


Darlene