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Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

February 16, 2017

On a Shoestring: DIY Air Plant Holder

February 16, 2017

I’m collaborating with Amy over at Amy and Angie for On A Shoestring: a series of posts to re-imagine how we dress, decorate, dine, and more all on a shoestring budget. We’re on a mission to show you that it doesn’t take a Rockefeller-sized closet (or house) and budget to have a good life!

Today, Amy and I are DIYing decor. I’ve been seeing those cute geometric terrariums all over. You know the ones I’m talking about. They’re usually diamond-shaped, either have glass on their sides or they’re completely open, and typically in a brass/gold finish. Oh, and they’re like $25. For a table trinket.

No, thank you. I can make that instead (Famous Last Words of a Pinterest Project).

(Speaking of “I can make that instead,” you have to see this coat rack that Amy made for $10. She has an awesome tip for finding “free” wood!)

This DIY is truly a shoestring project. If you can break a penny, you can make this geometric air plant holder.

This air plant holder is so easy to make! It's just toothpicks, glue, and paint. It's an awesome, quick DIY!

All you really need are toothpicks and a glue gun; I added some paint as well. Side note: I can’t wait for sunnier/less windy weather so I can spray paint again. The ventilation in my garage is less than ideal.

Bonus points if your Martha Stewart paint also came from Pat Catan’s clearance section.

This air plant holder is so easy to make! It's just toothpicks, glue, and paint. It's an awesome, quick DIY!

I started by laying out the toothpicks in the design I wanted. For the base, I placed the tiny ends against the fat ends to form a triangle. Next, I built up the pyramid with the fat ends on the bottom and the tiny ends coming to a point.

DIY toothpick air plant holder. So easy to make!

DIY toothpick air plant holder. So easy to make!

DIY toothpick air plant holder. So easy to make!

For a hanging planter, I added a second point to the other side. You can keep building it out to make it more gem-like – there’s no wrong or right way to do this.

DIY hanging air plant holder. So easy to make!

DIY toothpick air plant holder, hanging double pyramid style.

Then, I painted and styled with my air plant. You don’t even need to paint it, but I added a some color to one or two of the sides to carry out the geometric look.

DIY hanging air plant holder. So easy to make!

Here’s a warning about the glue: a little dab of glue is all you need – you’re just attaching toothpicks together, after all. They aren’t really that heavy-duty. My gluing got away from me just a bit. Painting the whole thing would cover that up. Since my glue gun tends to leak/drip, I just stuck the end of the toothpick in the drip and tried to wipe off the excess. Even if you failed at Glue Gunning 101, you and Lady Gaga can do this.

I feel like I cheated, it was that easy.

Double air plant holder DIY with toothpicks

DIY toothpick air plant holder. So easy to make!

Hanging air plant holder. It was a DIY homemade project using just toothpicks!

Caring for an air plant is super easy, too.

It really doesn’t need much attention. Because it gets its moisture from the air, though, it does need a little more TLC when the weather is dry.

When that happens, I soak my air plant in a cup of water for about an hour once a week. Place it in the water upside down and make sure the plant is submerged. When you remove it, dry it upside down. Water that sits in the plant can cause it to rot.

If it’s relatively humid, you can get away with spritzing it with a fine mist when it looks thirsty (mine right now needs to be watered – it’s looking a little ashy), but keep an eye out for warning signs.

How can you read the warning signs? Garden Therapy has a great how-to guide for reviving sad air plants. (I also have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to gardening and plants. I kill (almost) every succulent I bring into my house; I don’t know about you, but I need all the help I can get.

Do you have air plants? Where do they live?

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1 Comment · Labels: On A Shoestring Tagged: diy, home decor, on a shoestring

September 23, 2015

DIY wine rack makeover

September 23, 2015

Another day, another chance for me to DIY and get spray paint all over myself.  I can’t get enough.  Case in point: these lamps and these picture frames.

It’s gotten to the point where I have figured out the prices and selections at my Pat Catan’s and Joann Fabrics stores is not as vast or easy on the wallet as at Home Depot.  Seriously.  If there is one store I avoid like the plague (next to IKEA for reasons why here) it’s Home Depot.  I always feel like a 6 year old in pigtails asking for help there.

But I found spray paint that was like…75% cheaper there than at a craft store.  So of course I had to do something with it…

80s wine rack makeover with spray paint. Love how this turned out! | Gardening In High Heels

I have this really old hand-me-down wine rack that my mom left when she moved out and it’s just not doing me any favors.

I think it was part of my parents’ dining set when they got married because the caning looks similar.  How she got this one piece and the rest of it stayed with my father, I’ll never know.  Mysteries of the family.  Either way, it’s mine now and I have stared at this long enough.

To the paint!  I used Rust-oleum Gold Metallic and Semi-Gloss Black spray paint to update this clunker.  Krylon is usually my go-to for spray paint, but I think Home Depot has a deal with Rust-oleum.

80s wine rack makeover with spray paint. Love how this turned out! | Gardening In High Heels

True story: growing up, I was not a fan of gold.  I only wore silver jewelry and I gravitated towards cooler tones.  Well, times have changed because I can’t get enough of gold accents now.  I mean, it’s a design element in the tagline in my header!  And black and gold just looks so chic together.

Please ignore the fact that I am from Pittsburgh and am proclaiming my love for the black/gold color combo.  I swear I’m not that stereotypical.

If you need proof that I cannot do anything without first making a huge mess, I give you my hand after spray painting the tiles on the top of the rack.

Spray paint blunders

The tiles look pretty, too.

Ceramic tiles spray painted with Rustoleum gold spray paint - perfect DIY update! | Gardening In High Heels

I’m so happy with the outcome of this DIY makeover.  The best thing about spray paint is how easy it is to completely change the look of something.  I’m at the point where I want to paint anything that isn’t nailed down (and maybe some things that are.)

80s wine rack makeover with spray paint. Love how this turned out! | Gardening In High Heels

80s wine rack makeover with spray paint. Love the gold and black combo! | Gardening In High Heels

80s wine rack makeover with spray paint. Love the gold and black combo! | Gardening In High Heels  80s wine rack makeover with spray paint. Love the gold and black combo! | Gardening In High Heels

Keep wine corks in a latern from IKEA! | Gardening In High Heels

I thought I’d be super-cute and paint an old DVD/CD tower to match.  It didn’t have nearly as much luck.  I thought I grabbed the paint+primer kind that can cling to a water buffalo, but either this laminate was no match for the paint or I didn’t get the right kind.

Spray paint fails - you get chips if you don't use the right kind or prep your surfaces!

I tried to put the shelves in and got scratches galore.  Fail all over.  So this has been sitting on my back porch while I get the nerve to take it up to the curb for trash day.  I hate giving up on a project, don’t you?

80s wine rack makeover with spray paint. Love the gold and black combo! | Gardening In High Heels

What have you DIY-ed recently?

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3 Comments · Labels: How To Tagged: diy, furniture, home decor, makeover, rustoleum, spray paint

August 23, 2015

Sunday Lately, 34

August 23, 2015

This week, a big truck came and took all 95% of my father’s furniture to his new apartment.  There’s still a little more to do, mostly cleaning, in the next two weeks before closing.

I also took my first Bodhi Suspension class this week at Dragonfly Pilates.  It was the most fun I’ve ever had working out.  It kicked my ass, but it was a great time.  It didn’t feel like 45-60 minutes went by.

And finally, my first #KatyMade Sub Box arrived!  It’s full off coffee goodness and the print is basically me and everything I stand for.  (September boxes are all about fangirling out, so get in on this action, like, now.)

Handmade Escapade KatyMade sub box for August is full of awesome coffee goodies!

Updating

I’ve been updating my house.  Spray painting furniture, building crap from IKEA, hanging pictures.  The walls in my house are pure plaster, so you need a drill and a big hatchet to break through.  It takes a while to get a picture hung.  My Pilates muscles will come in handy though.

Spray paint blunders

Speaking of updating, I re-wired these lamps with Jonathan’s help last night.  I finally feel confident to leave them plugged in when I’m not in the house.  I love actually being able to use them.

Reminding

It’s been a hard couple of weeks.  It helps to remind myself that it all comes to an end at some point.  As humans, we all try very hard to avoid discomfort, but sometimes it can’t be avoided.

Needing

Dude, I need a break from my break.  I took two days off last week to help my dad and I slept like a rock 2 out of the 4 nights I was off.  Hard work does a body good.

Wearing

Light jeans and tank tops.  It’s my summer uniform.  It also hasn’t been crazy-hot here with the exception of a few days, so I haven’t even turned my air conditioning on this summer.  It is glorious on my electricity bill.

Being

Quiet for the morning.  It’s a great feeling.  I suggest you try it some time soon.

What have you been up to lately?

Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup with Katy, Nicole and Meghan.  Use their themes or use your own. Just remember to link up with them so we can see what is happening with you lately!

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8 Comments · Labels: Life, Right Now Tagged: bodhi suspension, diy, dragonfly pilates, link up, sunday lately, weekly round up

May 20, 2015

DIY spray paint frames

May 20, 2015

There are few things that I can’t do with spray paint.  I’ve updated dining room furniture.  I’ve make over hand-me-down hand-me-down lamps (or is that lamps twice removed?)  Either way, now I used spray paint to update some picture frames.  It’s a total cheap-to-chic makeover.  Today’s theme for Blogger, May I is share something you created, so I’m sharing my easy frame makeover.

Okay, all together now… How easy is it?

Easy and cheap frame makeover with spray paint!

Well, I did it in a few hours on Sunday.

I had these cute kitchen printables from The Happy Housie hanging out for a while; they were just patiently waiting until I got myself to a craft store.  I knew frames would turn into a heftier check since they’re surprisingly expensive.  (Why?  They’re just some wood/metal and glass!)  And I needed five of them.

I found these frames at Pat Catan’s for $1.50 each.  I also bought a can of spray paint.

Frames before their coat of spray paint. Be sure to use paint and primer in one to ensure a smooth coat that lasts!

I love how I accidentally totally intentionally framed out “Let’s cut through the confusion” on the newspaper.  That’s what I’m doing today.  Cutting through the spray-paint-using confusion.

Frames getting a pretty coat of spray paint. Be sure to use paint and primer in one to ensure a smooth coat that lasts!

For about $15, I have 5 brand new frames.

That’s about the price of one frame at a normal store or 2.5 frames at a discount store.  And a discount store frames are sometimes a little…..well, not chic and cute like these.

DIY frame makeover and cute printables. Be sure to use paint and primer in one to ensure a smooth coat that lasts!

DIY frame makeover and cute printables. Be sure to use paint and primer in one to ensure a smooth coat that lasts!

Don’t they look so much better in satin black than glossy hot pink?

The number one spray painting trick that I follow is to look for spray paint and primer all in one.  I know people recommend to sand things down a little to get the surface rough, but I didn’t want scratches to be apparent on the frames.  The primer ensures it’s a smooth application and stays on there.  No chips or just plain not sticking for these frames.

DIY frame makeover and cute printables. Be sure to use paint and primer in one to ensure a smooth coat that lasts!

DIY frame makeover and cute printables. Be sure to use paint and primer in one to ensure a smooth coat that lasts!

DIY frame makeover and cute printables. Be sure to use paint and primer in one to ensure a smooth coat that lasts!

DIY frame makeover and cute printables. Be sure to use paint and primer in one to ensure a smooth coat that lasts!

I love how these add a little something to my kitchen quirky and cute to my kitchen.  The frames also look instantly classier in satin black than hot pink.  Blue pictures with a black frame?  That’s chic, yo.

What have you made recently? Let’s hear about it!

An InLinkz Link-up


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4 Comments · Labels: Blogger May I, How To Tagged: blogger may i, decor, diy, frames, home decor, spray paint

April 3, 2015

Bunny light bulb redo

April 3, 2015

Last year, I shared two projects for making decorations with light bulbs.  I had penguins and Grinches for Christmas and bunnies for Easter.  I’d love to make ducks, but I’m still trying to figure out the logistics of that.

If I do, y’all will be the first to know.

Super easy Easter craft making bunnies from old light bulbs! #upcycle #reuse #easter

Side note: I’m from Pittsburgh, I fully understand that my kind is supposed to say “yinz.”  I just can’t, so you get “y’all.”

Light bulb bunnies are a ridiculously easy craft and (I have no way to verify this as I don’t have children of my own) fun for kids!  Just keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t drop a poor light bulb bunny.

Super easy Easter craft making bunnies from old light bulbs! #upcycle #reuse #easter

What I love about this project is that the materials are so easy to find.

  • Old light bulbs (I don’t even bother to take the guts out, so no sharp pieces)
  • Red, white, and black paint
  • A Sharpie
  • Card stock or heavy paper
  • Cotton balls
  • Brushes, toilet paper rolls (to prop up drying bulbs), and a plate for paint mixing
  • Hot glue gun or other adhesive stuff

I’m guessing you have about 100% of these items in your house right now.

Super easy Easter craft making bunnies from old light bulbs! #upcycle #reuse #easter

Super easy Easter craft making bunnies from old light bulbs! #upcycle #reuse #easterSuper easy Easter craft making bunnies from old light bulbs! #upcycle #reuse #easterSuper easy Easter craft making bunnies from old light bulbs! #upcycle #reuse #easter

Are you ready to make your own?  Click here to see how I did it!

I’m off to boil some eggs for dying.  Pro tip: save the water!  Plants love the calcium that comes out of the shells!

What are your favorite Easter crafts?

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1 Comment · Labels: How To Tagged: bunnies, crafts, diy, easter, light bulbs, spring, springtime

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Who’s Angelica?

Life Un-styled Blogger, Gardener, Shoe Lover..among other things

I'm here to encourage and empower you to grow where you're planted and embrace the weeds that sometimes pop up. I'll share inspiration, products I like (and you may too), and stories from the garden.

Gardening In High Heels is for badass babes who aren’t afraid to get a little messy. Want to learn more? Start here.
           

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