Make The Best of Things

Time to redo my wreath for spring. Easy and CHEAP and beautiful!


Ooh aah!

Back in the fall I started out with a Walmart twig wreath, some eucalyptus branches, mixed twigs, fake roses and gloss black spray paint. I added a Dollar Store haunted house cut-out and some ruffled streamers made from a cheap plastic table cloth. Spiderwebs and tiny little bat cut outs made this a fun wreath for my Halloween door.



This wreath is almost 24" across, so it is big enough for the arched windows in the door to fit right into the curve.


Next......

I added Dollar Store autumn leaves and flowers, plus some real mini pumpkins. The bright colors against the gloss black wreath and twigs really popped! This was a great look between Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Next...

I spray painted the wreath gloss white and really changed it's look. See how the roses stand out now? I added pretty shiny decorations in blue, silver, teal and white and LOVED the way it came out. I scored some teal foil twist at the Goodwill and used it for the curlicues and the rosettes on the little ball in the middle. I also crackle painted another teal ball with silver acrylic paint and Elmer's glue.

And now to that white wreath I'm adding all these springtime elements.....

Silk hydrangea leaves, plastic ferns, sticks from the yard, glitter and paint and pretty glittery butterflies. And, a mini vine wreath to remake into a bird's nest.

I painted some of the greenery with lime green Patio Paint for some color interest. The Patio Paint is specially formulated for use outdoors and I've had good luck with it holding up to bad weather.

I like it. I like it alot!


And here's a closeup....


I had most of these things in my stash and only bought the glittered eggs for the nest. The bronze glittered butterflies were on clearance after Christmas for 50 cents. I painted the curly wires with the Patio Paint and re used the tiny blue berry twigs from the Christmas wreath. I soaked the tiny vine wreath in hot water then unraveled it and spread it out to be less tight and more nest-like. Then I added twigs from the yard to make it a little shaggy.

I've had this project in mind for awhile and it was fun getting it finished and hung up. As wet and cold as the weather has been here, it's the only thing we've done outside so far this spring!

Join me at the linky parties in my sidebar, you never know what neat projects you will find.

 I love ferns in any way, shape or form. Boston ferns can be persnickety but these airy Asparagus Emerald ferns grow well for me. This one was a 3" Walmart starter from last spring. This plant looks fragile but it is really tough. And it has thorns! The stems look like mini bamboo. Feed it well during spring and summer and it will get more lush and beautiful. Prune it for thicker growth. The stems look wonderful in flower arrangements. 

Hard to see in the octagonal window is a pink striped Prayer Plant ( aka Maranta) which folds up its leaves at night, hence the popular name. The smaller plant is a pretty Croton. The big planter holds yet another happy Spider Plant mama with lots of happy babies. On the back side of this planter is a Croton, Philodendron and Lady fern.

My mom used to grow beautiful sweet potato plants this way when I was little and now I'm trying for one of my own. Can an avocado pit tree be far off? Lol!

Houseplants give me my gardening fix while I'm waiting to work outside. What about you, how do your houseplants grow? What are your favorites?

I am so ready for warm, sunny spring weather. It has been so rainy and cold here in Oregon that NO yard work has been accomplished. A recent bout of the flu and a new prescription have conspired against me. Curses! Or should I say, Rat Damn Fink! That was my "mom cussing" when the kids were little and they still tease me about it. :o)

Join me at the blog parties listed on my sidebar. There is LOTS of great, creative stuff for springtime out there in blogland. Enjoy!