Author: Mama

House Number Pots are Easy and Inviting

House Number Pots are Easy and Inviting

Numbered pot plantersSpring is near, and I’m dressing the house appropriately. One of my favorite new projects is the house number pots shown here. I have no idea where I found this idea last year but I love it, especially since we still do not have numbers on the outside of our home. . . yes, it has been nine months since we moved. My goodness, that’s long enough to birth a baby — I should probably get on this project (the numbers, not the birthing).

I found my pots on clearance at Hobby Lobby for a $1 each, but you can find them in all shapes, sizes and colors. I cut stencils for painting the house numbers using my Cricut machine and sheets of Duck Brand duct tape paper. I began painting with a coat of matte finish Mod Podge so the black paint wouldn’t seep under the stencil, then followed with two coats of outdoor paint before pulling off the stencil. You can also hand-paint your pots or just use number decals or stickers.

It’s easy to rotate plants as the seasons change, but the look is always inviting. I love that my pots are starting to show a bit of patina from last fall’s mum planting. Just remember, it’s best to bring your pots indoors for the winter to avoid breakage.

 

This Dude’s a Doll

kendoll2My sister-in-law arrived last night bearing gifts for my son, one of which was a Ken doll — yes, as in Ken and Barbie. He is a half-clad surfer guy with a shark tooth necklace and actual head of hair instead of the old-fashioned molded variety. Yes, this is a very cool dude.

I’m not sure my sister-in-law brought Ken into our home because she thought my son would enjoy it and it might make him into a kinder, gentler playmate; or better yet, to see if she could get a rise out of her “manly man” brother.  I just have to say, my dear husband stepped up to the Daddy plate and hit this one out of the park.

My husband eww’d and ahh’d over Ken and even suggested that he might make a suitable bath time buddy. So off to the bathroom they three went, and what a time it was. My husband had to wash not one, but two heads of hair (at our son’s request), demonstrated the fabulous floating technique that Ken possessed and even stripped him of his cool surfer shorts to dry for the next day.

Not knowing if my hubby was putting up a good front for me, his sister and our son, I finally broke down and asked if he was really okay with our son’s. . . well, let’s just say it, “doll.” He responded, “Of course I am. . . but G.I. Joe would’ve been cooler.”

T-shirt Brining a Bust

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brineTshirtThis pin offered vintage soft t-shirts in only three days; unfortunately, it didn’t deliver on its promise of cuddly clothes.

I used a 100% cotton t-shirt that I rarely wear, because it just isn’t soft enough for my liking. I followed the brining recipe (from Octane) to the letter, soaked my shirt for three and a half days and laundered it as directed. While it did discolor it a bit in choice spots, I’m not sure it actually softened it at all — and certainly nowhere near vintage.

In my opinion, t-shirt brining is a bust.

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