Chalkboard Instead of a Fall Wreath

 On Wednesday I showed a picture of the old cabinet door that I had made into a chalkboard. Here she is all finished and hanging on the front door! I love it! I can see all kinds of potential for this throughout the year and especially at Christmas!

 I found the Southern Living planter at a garage sale a few years ago for $1.00. It was brand new and still wrapped in the packaging. The flowers I purchased on clearance for 90% off. The cupboard door was around $2.00. Cheep yet very cute!

Here it is without the container. This is probably the way it will stay most of the year! A nice change from my usual wreaths!

Our home is twelve years old and starting to show some wear. There are many projects that need to be done so I am thrilled to be partnering with Lowe's Creative Ideas to get some of these projects done. On my to do list in the spring is paint this ugly burgundy door!

I didn't use Lowe's funds for this simple project, (chalkboard paint was left over from another project), so I used the Lowe's cash for other items to spruce up the front porch. I'm hoping my hubby will get those done while I'm at work and I'll share the completed project later!

Thank you for stopping by the nest!

Robin

Nature Shots Coasters

It is hard to believe that we are nearing the Christmas season! I work in retail and I've been seeing Christmas decorations for a few weeks already! I'm not ready for that quite yet! But ready or not, here it comes!

 If you are looking for inexpensive teacher gifts or hostess favors, I have a quick and easy project that you may like!

I enjoy nature photography and I have so many pictures of flowers and birds! I had seen the tile coaster tutorials on blogs and Pinterest and thought I'd make a few with some of my favorite bird pictures.

I bought the 4x4 tiles at Lowe's. You cover the tile with Mod Podge, place your picture on the tile and coat several times with Mod Podge, (drying in between coats)! I used peel and stick cork for the backs but you can also use felt.

I had these in a friend's vendor space last year and they sold pretty well through the holidays.

I've been collecting wool sweaters from Goodwill for a few fun winter projects. (Maybe if I say that out loud I'll actually get to them!)

We are supposed to have unseasonably warm weather this weekend in Indy. I have to work, but I hope to have some time outside to finish up a few things before winter sets in.

Enjoy your weekend!

Chalkboard Project

Welcome friends! In my last post I said that I had finished my Lowe's Creative Ideas projects but I didn't realize that we had one more for before the season was over. I have also been asked to continue for another phase! I hope that I will be able to do that. It has been fun and has also challenged me to get a few projects done around my home.

This month's challenge is: COMBINING OLD & NEW

"Look to Lowe’s for new materials and to your own garden for any items that can be recycled and revived to make unique outdoor decorations – We’re looking for those “conversation starter” pieces that people will take notice of when walking up your front steps or walkway."

Nothing like a little pressure, huh? Thankfully there is Pinterest and I am also very blessed to work in a wonderful atmosphere where there are many creative people and some really wonderful deals! One of those deals is this sweet little cabinet door that I painted with chalkboard paint!

I love chalkboards but sadly I am penmanship challenged! As you can plainly see, I am not an artist either! I won't let that stop me from making them!

One thing that helped me was using a pencil, (or lip/eyeliner), sharpener to sharpen the chalk! That was an idea from The Creativity Exchange on Pinterest!

I sometimes make my own chalk paint with non-sanded grout; I had heard that you could also use ground chalk so I started a jar of chalk shavings to give that a try!

Come back later and see what I do with my cute little cupboard door!

Did you know that you can join Lowe's Creative Ideas on Facebook and Pinterest http://pinterest.com/lowes/? With the holiday season ahead it is also a great place to get ideas!

P.S. If you are really observant you might already know how I'm going to use it!

Mum's the Word!

The final assignment for Lowe's Creative Ideas was all about mums! Here is my project for the month! I still have a lot of bare spaces from my losses during the drought this summer.

I love this old ladder and borrowed it from my bedroom to use for the autumn display. I purchased it at a garage sale for $1.00 and painted it blue.

I know a lot of people don't care for mums, but I always celebrate the entry of autumn with mums in my garden or on my front porch.

I think this color is my favorite!

I took  the pumpkin and mum pictures last year at Stoney Creek Farms here in Noblesville. I used the same colors in my Lowe's mum project.

Here is another shot. I took these pictures quickly with my point and shoot. I had hoped to get better shots before posting about the project but between the cold rainy weather, sickness and work it never happened. These will have to do.

Thank you for stopping by and for following along while I blogged for Lowe's Creative Ideas! It has been fun for me and I hope it inspired you with ideas for your own garden!

 A special thank you to Lowe's for this wonderful opportunity!

Lowe's Gift Card Giveaway!

Summer is officially over and fall has wasted no time making its presence known! We have a frost advisory tonight! After the record breaking hot dry summer, the cooler temperatures are a welcome relief but I am not ready for frost!

Here are a few late summer pictures:

Hummingbird moth in the evening sun.

The verbena bonariensis is always a hit with the butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and hummingbird moths! Thankfully it spreads easily throughout the garden and was one of the few plants that survived our summer drought.

The hummingbirds were here yesterday fighting over the feeders. There were three or four of them still hanging around, diligently keeping guard over their  nectar source! This one was on the front porch all day long sitting on a dragon fly that stays in a planter. I took this picture through the front door side lights. 

The temperatures dropped into the 30's last night and the hummingbirds have not been seen at all today. Their departure is my signal that summer is officially over.

 

The Lowe's Creative Ideas project this month is all about mums! The best part is that I have a gift card for one of you! I've never had a giveaway on my blog before so I am excited to offer this Lowe's $50 gift card to one of my readers, (U.S. residents only)! To enter leave a comment on this post and  I'll use Random.org to pick a winner! 

The giveaway ends at midnight September 30, 2012. Only one entry per person please!

This giveaway is now closed! Thank you for participating!

See this post for winner information!