I feel like it has been forever since I have spoken to you all! It is officially summer in our household, with school wrapping up finals on Thursday. Can I get a holler!!! It doesn’t matter that PT starts teaching … Continue reading
The post Plywood Kick Plate for an Interior Door {DIY} appeared first on tempting thyme.
It’s the last day of the Summer Tour of Homes. I hate that it has to come to an end – but it’s going out with a bang because I have a gorgeous home to share today. If you’re just now popping in from The Shabby Nest - WELCOME! Let’s see what today’s tour has in […]
The post Summer Tour of Homes: Haneen’s Haven appeared first on The Shabby Creek Cottage.
Read more about oil vs water poly here
Read more about hardwood sheen levels here
Read more about staining hardwood gray here
Read more about red oak vs white oak hardwood here
Read more about carpet runners here
The post More flooring polls – Please vote appeared first on The Flooring Girl.
Hello pet and plant lovers! I’m back with another dog-friendly question and this one is very important.
Photo: Melissa Maggio
Elaine in Waverly, Ohio, wrote to say Laurieeeee! I’m a crazy dog lady with a green thumb! I can’t keep my pups from snacking on my plants when I’m not looking. I’m worried that certain plants might make them sick. Which plants should I get rid of and/or which ones can I keep?
Check out the video below to hear some of my advice.
So if you want to be sure that your pets and your plants play nice together, check out this list from HGTV.com. The Humane Society also has a very handy printout listing poisonous plants here. And the ASPCA has a fantastic database you can visit to find out which plants are toxic and non-toxic to a variety of animals. Take a look here.
Photo: Melissa Maggio
If you notice your dog eating grass and plants more than usual, it might be time for a trip to the vet. It can sometimes be a sign that they’re lacking something nutritionally or need medical attention.
Photo: Sarah J. Wells
We love our dogs, but since we can’t keep our eyes on them all time, it’s reassuring to know that we’ve done our research and their environment is safe. By choosing your houseplants carefully, you can be sure your furry friends are happy, healthy and, um, comfortable? Is that comfortable?
This post was brought to you by Bayer’s K9 Advantix® II. Do not use on cats.
Welcome to day four of the Summer Tour of Homes! If you’re just now joining in, you can find the entire tour starting here. Want to see today’s inspiring line up? You’re sure to fall in love with these homes, including…. My Fabuless Life showcases the gorgeous home of my sweet friend Jen. Her ability […]
The post Summer Tour of Homes 2015: Day Four appeared first on The Shabby Creek Cottage.
The impact made by edging the driveway, sidewalks, and stone patio never ceases to amaze me. When I moved into this house, my husband and I spent a good few hours with a flat shovel and a machete making our way around the edges of our hardscapes to define the space. In some areas, the weeds had so overgrown the stone that the rectangular shape of the flagstone was completely disguised. In the driveway, we realized an extra 18″ of width!
Grass and weed overgrowth happens every year, so we like to stay on top of it. These days, we’ve gotten it down to a great process.
Now, admittedly, you can go a long way (doing anything) if you’re wielding a shovel and a machete, but there are lots of mainstream edging tools on the market that make landscaping along your sidewalks and driveway considerably easier.
Take the classic edger for instance! One dollar, garage sale find. Side note: Sometimes old tools are a dime a dozen at garage sales, and this is the time of the year to keep your eyes peeled. I always recommend scoping out garage sales in older neighborhoods, because retirees are consistently the ones offloading the best gadgetry. Stock up!
This basic edger is popular for many few reasons: It’s one step up from a gardening spade shovel. The tool is completely flat, which means straight cuts, and the blade is shallow. The tool is easy to use from a standing position (no hunchback), and it’s light weight too.
If you’re looking for more power, a good cordless string trimmer is great for edging upkeep. Adjust the angle of the trimmer’s handle so that you can comfortably hold the tool at an angle so the string is perpendicular with the ground, don some fitted eye-protection because it will throw debris, and carefully clip your way along the groomed path to prevent overgrowth every time you mow.
Another style of power edgers are the ones that roll along a path on wheels. The blade is on one side of the tool, the depth is variable, and these models are especially convenient if you’re edging over a long, straight distance (it’s harder to use around curves). I owned an electric model and despite its convenience, associate it with that tool-on-sidewalk grinding sound that makes me feel like I’m destroying both the cement and the edger itself. So, it’s not my favorite, but a lot of people swear by them.
When you’re edging along a driveway or sidewalk, what’s important to remember is that you only want to remove a sliver of grass and soil no more than 1/2″ wide. The divot you create also should only be about 1″ deep. This fine delineation between where the sidewalk edge ends and the grass begins is like eyeliner for your hardscape, and when maintained on the regular it will continue to look polished.
Edging a lawn is also one of those easy tasks that makes your home the stand out on the street. When your public sidewalk is edged and your neighbors isn’t, the impact of the clean edges is very obvious. It’s also something you can do to improve your curb appeal prior to selling your home. A little bit of effort goes a long way.
For more tips on maintaining your yard, be sure to check out the landscaping section of DIYNetwork.com, and the below articles:
We’ve made it half way through the Summer Tour of Homes 2015! If you’re just now joining us, you can find the beginning of the tour here. Today’s tour is full of great homes you don’t want to miss, including…. Craftberrybush – Lucy’s lovely home is sure to inspire you from every nook and cranny! […]
The post Summer Tour of Homes: day three appeared first on The Shabby Creek Cottage.
Selling your home? The real estate market is ready to throw you plenty of curve balls that will keep you on your toes. Put your best foot forward, and do what you can in order to make your home shine.
Consider how you would like the house to look when you’re moving in – sometimes it can be hard to look past a seller’s personal belongings, but it’s harder to look past damaged drywall, dirty fixtures, and cloudy windows.
If you’re working with a realtor, they may have additional recommendations for home improvements based on your personal circumstances, the housing market in your area, surrounding comparable properties. They’ll also offer staging tips depending on what you have displayed in your home (there’s a tasteful vs. distasteful ratio that they’ll beg you to consider). Good luck!
For more tips from DIY Network’s own Matt Blashaw, check out this gallery.
Today’s tour includes an amazing home I found on Instagram, yet she doesn’t have a blog – so I offered to host the tour here on my blog because I knew you’d love it! If you’re popping over from Decor Adventures, welcome! I was honored when Gina asked me to join the summer tour of […]
The post Summer Tour of Homes: feature of House No. 214 appeared first on The Shabby Creek Cottage.
Today’s tour includes an amazing home I found on Instagram, yet she doesn’t have a blog – so I offered to host the tour here on my blog because I knew you’d love it! If you’re popping over from Decor Adventures, welcome! I was honored when Gina asked me to join the summer tour of […]
The post Summer Tour of Homes: feature of House No. 124 appeared first on The Shabby Creek Cottage.
Welcome to the Summer Tour of Homes! This is the third year for the tour – and I’m always amazed by all the support you give it each year. (You can check out the previous years here: 2013 or 2014.) As always, there are a lot of familiar favorites, plus this year we’re inviting a […]
The post Summer Tour of Homes 2015 appeared first on The Shabby Creek Cottage.
This post is in partnership with 3M Over the years, we’ve had a lot of requests on how to build our kitchen island. So that’s what I’m sharing today – how to build a farmhouse style island. If you’ve never built a piece of furniture before, this is a super easy build with all straight […]
The post DIY Farmhouse Island building plans appeared first on The Shabby Creek Cottage.
Looking for some fun summer ideas? This collection has everything to make your summer a hit – from cocktails to desserts, to pretty ways to decorate and even stuff for the kids. With 100 ideas, there’s a few summer ideas for almost everyone. An InLinkz Link-up
The post 100 Summer Ideas in Mason Jars appeared first on The Shabby Creek Cottage.
I have to tell you that I am still on such a high from my Goodwill “find” a few Friday’s ago. Wasn’t even on my radar to go! In fact, I was heading to a Restore that I haven’t had … Continue reading
The post Goodwill Upcycle: Bedroom Nightstand appeared first on tempting thyme.
1. Rope
2. Washi Tape
It’s just SO easy. I did one in preppy blues and one in feminine florals and I love them both. Alternate colors or stick with one color palette. Go crazy. No matter what, your extension cord will be prettier than when you started.
3. Yarn
I had some super fat yarn leftover from a winter knitting project and knew it would add a dose of soft texture to my extension cord. I tied a quick knot at one end to secure, then simply wrapped the yard tightly all the way down the cord, securing the other end with a dot of glue. Done.
So, there you have it. Three ways to conceal that hideous eyesore of an extension cord. What’s your best trick to hide something unsightly?
Spring is a great time of the year to focus your efforts on transplanting and landscaping your yard. Ivy! Pachysandra! Myrtle! There are so many types of creative groundcovers, many of which make for great garden edging, are easy to establish in yards that struggle to grow thick grass, and offer landscape solutions that are low-maintenance, lush, and sustainable.
In the springtime, plants are beginning to regenerate after the long winter, but are not yet at their seasonal peak. This makes it a great time to move them about without greatly disrupting their desire to generate new growth. Transplanting groundcover is one of the easiest ways to achieve low-maintenance curb appeal at a low-cost – but be patient – it takes a few years for the plants to begin to multiply, but once they start, it’ll be lush, lush, lush.
Here are some tips on how to create new beds using transplanted groundcover:
Scope out your yard to identify garden beds that are already thriving with groundcover (or reach out to your fellow homeowner friends to see if they want to lend you a scoop). Groundcover is dense, thereby making it one of the easiest plants to share. The plant I’m relocating in my own yard shown here is Pachysandra, which also sells for about $25/flat at the local garden center.
In a thick bed of Pachysandra, use a shovel to dig small clumps of the plants. The undisturbed surrounding growth will naturally re-fill this vacancy, so it won’t be barren for long.
Be sure to dig deep enough to gather the roots with the plants.
Create a landscape plan to decide how you want to add groundcover for curb appeal. Create trenches or holes for the roots. Plan to space your transplants 8-12″ apart, and 2-3″ below the surface of the soil. This will give the roots space to grow, and as the roots generate new shoots, the population will become more dense.
Though the individual planting holes will be spaced apart, I still find it helpful to bunch 2-3 lively plants together into the same hole. Better survival rate, and a slightly more lush appearance.
As with shrubbery transplants and vegetable seedlings, the roots of your new groundcover will need a lot of water to begin to regenerate in the new bed. Keep the soil wet for a few weeks, at minimum.
The leaves might look a little droopy for a day or two, but with regular watering you should see them pop back to life – the sign of a successful transplant.
You might not see a lot of new growth on these plants in the first season, but by next year, you will. And within a few years, you will see the transplanted roots generate new offshoots, encouraging the new bed to grow more densely, and outwards in all directions.
For more tips on establishing your garden and landscape, check out these articles:
Go farm-to-table by visiting a pick-your-own farm.
Most of us don’t have the real estate to grow as many of our favorite crops as we’d like. This is especially true when it comes to seasonal fruit like blueberries, blackberries or peaches. Sure, we may have a few plants at the back of the yard or we can hit the farmer’s market when crops are at their peak, but nothing quite compares to the joy of picking your own, especially when the weather is nice and harvesting a flavorful bounty can double as a family outing. Farm-to-table food has never been more popular, and pick-your own farms are happy to oblige, opening their fields to hungry DIYers looking to load up on seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Here in North Carolina, pick-your-own strawberry farms are in full force right now and we aim to pick our fill (and then some). A great way to spend some family time outdoors and teach kids about where their food actually comes from, visiting a pick-your-own farm is a seasonal excursion that is likely to become an annual tradition. Here are a few tips to consider before hitting the fields.
1. Shop Around
There are plenty of pick-your-own farms out there. Prices, crop availability and amenities can vary widely, so check around before heading out. Do they provide containers? Are restrooms available? Is there someplace to take a break with the kids when the inevitable meltdown occurs? When it comes to pick-your-own farms, look before you reap.
2. Call Ahead
Hours and availability will vary and you may be advised to hold off from arriving during peak hours, warned of muddy field conditions or advised of newly opened fields ready to be harvested.
3. Dress for Success
A farmer for a day should dress the part. Sensible shoes and a hat are de rigueur and expect to get at least a little dirty. Long pants can protect your legs from collateral damage from blackberry bushes and sunscreen and insect repellent are a must, especially when pint-sized farmers are in tow.
4. Go Early
An early start will help beat the heat and give you a good shot at getting the best haul before the fields have been picked over by weekend crowds.
5. Ask a Farmer
What does a perfectly ripe raspberry look like? Will a slightly green strawberry ripen after it has been picked? It won’t. Farmers are generally a friendly lot. Asking questions will help you make the most of your day and score the best fruit when you’re not sure what you’re looking for.
6. Bring a Cooler
Pack a cooler with some snacks and plenty of cold drinks before venturing out. After lunch, that cooler will come in handy for keeping your freshly picked fruits and vegetables cool for the ride home.
7. Use Your Bounty
It’s easy to go overboard picking your own fruits and vegetables and they will spoil sooner than you might think. Once you’ve eaten your fill (often in the car on the way home), have a plan to put the harvest to use. Make room in the freezer, share with friends or break out the mason jars for an afternoon of canning. As for me, I’ll be set for strawberry jam until it’s time to hit the fields next spring.
Meet Katie Brown, Editor in Chief of Yahoo Makers, author and host of the PBS series “Katie Brown Workshop”
As host of the PBS series “Katie Brown Workshop” and author of a whole shelf of books on decorating and entertaining, DIY maven Katie Brown started touting the benefits of homemade long before the term “maker” became popular. But now that it’s caught on, it’s only fitting that Katie would be at the helm of a new maker-focused channel on digital giant Yahoo. As Editor in Chief of Yahoo Makers, Katie plans, creates and curates some of the best lifestyle how-to content on the web. (Editorial disclosure note: DIYNetwork.com and sister site HGTV.com are among the brands featured on Yahoo Makers.) I had the pleasure of chatting with Katie about Yahoo Makers, the new generation of DIYers and the evolution of her personal brand of DIY. Read on to get Katie Brown’s homemade perspective.
This is the kind of adorably easy project for which Katie is known: How to Make a Cheerios Bird Feeder With Your Kid on Yahoo Makers
Me: Tell me about Yahoo Makers and your role as Editor in Chief.
Katie: We cover everything in DIY as it applies to lifestyle in a creative, entertaining way. We put up two new original videos a day — video is actually a big part of what we do, a big part of our programming. It makes sense with my TV background, and I think video is the best way to absorb how-to. So we spend a lot of time in production. We also partner with other players in the genre, curating the best of the best and pairing that with great original content. As Editor in Chief, I get to curate it all with a great team of photographers, videographers, writers and crafters.
Me: What are some of your favorite trends you’re seeing on Yahoo Makers right now?
Katie: I’m a true DIYer, I love upcycling, and I’m a sucker for a great pallet project. I’ve seen some great pallet houses recently. I also think 3D printing is really exciting. I like the merging that’s happening between DIY and technology. I love that Millenials are really DIYers. It’s fun to be speaking to a younger audience — a whole new generation is digging in and wanting to make it homemade.
Me: And Millenials have expanded DIY to new topic areas beyond the home, like fashion.
Katie: I like that they’re not so label-conscious. They take deep pride in saying, “I made this myself.”
Me: The universe of DIY has really expanded with the web.
Katie: Yes, and it’s intimidating because these people are so good! But we get to look at it all and choose the best of the best. We’re starting something called “Makers Make” where individuals can send in ideas on our Tumblr and we pick the best from our audience. It’s how we work with other brands like Brit + Co., Martha Stewart, HGTV and DIY Network, and blogs like P.S. I Made This, but this is about unearthing new talent and finding one-offs.
How to Make a Paper Curls Heart for Someone You Love on Yahoo Makers
Me: Digital media is so different from TV and books, isn’t it?
Katie: Yes, I love TV and books, but this is so fun because it’s very immediate. If you like something, you just put it up there. It almost causes whiplash; it’s disorienting at first.
Me: Your style and brand have always been about simplicity and thriftiness. Has that changed at all since you’ve become a successful entrepreneur and mom of two?
Katie: Now that I have a family, I am busy ALL the time. I’m really even more committed to making things simple now. My tagline is, “Life is better homemade.” And it’s true. I recently did an Ikea hack of a dresser for my daughter, and I was happy to tell her I made this. Of course, thousands of other people have the same dresser from Ikea, but no one else’s has orange panels.
So my style hasn’t exactly evolved, it’s gotten deeper, even simpler. The one thing that has evolved is that I lust for organization. That’s part of keeping it simple, but specific to organizing.
How to Get Sheets Whiter Than White on Yahoo Makers
Me: What are some of your favorite organizing ideas right now?
Katie: I love simple life hacks. I just saw this idea recently — when you’re painting, tie a rubber band around the paint can to use for resting your brush. That’s so smart!
Me: Are there any trends you wish would come back in style?
Katie: The first thing that comes to mind is that I love guest books in a house. People come in and sign and say something about themselves. My family had one growing up and it was like a living history of the house. People don’t do that anymore, even at weddings and parties.
How to Make a Fingerprint Baby Shower Guest Log on Yahoo Makers
Katie: And you know what else I really miss? I’ve moved a lot, and I just recently moved back to L.A. I wish neighbors would give people cherry pies when they move in, or something that says welcome. I guess that shows I’m from the Midwest, and it’s our little bit of being Southern. But when I was growing up and someone new moved into our neighborhood, our house smelled like cinnamon bread because my mom was baking something to welcome the neighbors. I wish more people did that.
Me: Like writing letters. Last month was National Letter Writing Month, and it’s nice to see people trying to keep that practice alive.
Katie: Yes. It’s a sense of graciousness that’s missing. We’re all super busy, but if we could pick one thing that’s our thing, whether it’s welcoming neighbors or writing letters, that would be great.
***
Well said, Katie Brown. I feel pretty grateful to have had the opportunity to talk with Katie and to work with her colleagues over at Yahoo Makers. I know you’ll love what you find over there. Be sure to check out Katie’s author channel to see everything that “Katie Loves.”
The Creative Genius series on Made + Remade features fabulous DIYers and makers who inspire us. Meet more Creative Geniuses and help us share the spirit of DIY!
