Tag: house numbers

My Mailbox: The Struggle is Real

My Mailbox: The Struggle is Real

mailbox

Although I haven’t accomplished much around the house this past month, I did manage to decorate and hang our newest mailbox — that’s number four in five years. . . and not just because I just couldn’t make up my mind on what type of mail receiving receptacle would look best by the curb.

Box number one came with the house. It was old, ugly and rusty, but I’m beginning to see why it was left on its perch in such a sorry condition. We quickly replaced this sad little mess with a brand new post and cute oil-rubbed bronze box, complete with a shiny gold flag. I cut vinyl numbers similar to the ones pictured above and we were set. . . until winter.

After an untimely ice-induced collision with our neighbor’s truck, we replaced number two with another just like it. But before I could dress up box number three with letters and such, our rather broody mailman knocked that one clean into our neighbor’s driveway without so much as an acknowledgement or apology. Seriously?

After that incident, I refused to buy a new mailbox until I thought it was safe to spend another 30 bucks on something in which to stick the mail, so for almost two years our mail has been tossed into a severely dinted box bearing little decoration other than a hand-written last name in white grease pencil. (Surprising, how well that little pencil held up in the weather, but certainly not a permanent solution.)

Insert little anecdote here:  a friend just dropped by at the end of that last paragraph and she actually commented that I finally put numbers on my mailbox. See, they were long due. Plus, those big numbers are seriously hard to miss.

So anyway, here is mailbox number four (and hopefully final) in all its big-numbered grandeur. The box is actually oversized (because apparently our mailman is also far-sighted and can’t read the “Do Not Bend” labels on certain large envelopes) and so are the numbers. I also added the “No.” for a whimsical touch and used a heart instead of a period after the “o.” I think it’s pretty cute, not that my magazines, bills and occasional card care, but it certainly makes it easier to find our house. Now let’s just hope it makes it through the winter, the school bus, the trash pickup and mail delivery.

Cashing In on the Rain with Perfect Patina

Cashing In on the Rain with Perfect Patina

numberpots

This year’s rendition of the house number pots is going strong and the pink and white Impatiens seem to be loving their location on the new front deck. I also think the serious rains we had the entire month of May helped the moss grow up the sides of the pots. Just look at that patina!

While I’m loving the look this year, it almost didn’t happen. I knocked over a pot while rearranging earlier this Spring and took a big ol’ chip out of the “3” pot. I was so sad and thought it might be the end of this fun tradition, but decided to glue the thing back together and call it “character.”

If you’re interested in reading how these pots first came to be and how to make your own, visit my earlier post “House Number Pots are Easy and Inviting.”

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.