home decor

How to Make an Outdoor Hula Hoop Wreath

May 2, 2018 by Bre 4 Comments

I hope I’m not jinxing it by saying that spring has finally arrived in Chicago, but with beautiful sunshine and temps in the 70’s, I think it’s safe to say that winter is gone! I am really looking forward to sprucing up my backyard and patio this season, and I have the first project to share with you – my new outdoor hula hoop wreath!

Yes – I turned a hula hoop into a large outdoor wreath and I’m going to show you how to make one for your outdoor space, too!

I wish I had some pretty backyard shots to show you, but my grass is barely growing, I have no flowers, and everything still looks kind of blah. So you’ll just have to see my wreath for now and check back later in the season to see how it looks with the rest of my backyard setup!

Supplies Needed for a DIY Hula Hoop Wreath

This post contains affiliate links. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

These are the supplies I used to make the hula hoop wreath as shown in this post. You can substitute anything to make the wreath your own style!

Hula hoop (I bought mine at the dollar store)
Faux greenery (I picked out two types at Michaels)
Faux lemons with leaves
Gorilla tape
Floral wire
Scissors
UV floral protectant spray
Rope
Fishing line

How to Make a DIY Outdoor Hula Hoop Wreath

If you’ve read this far, I think it’s safe to assume that you’re into this project. But in case you’re not, let me tell you why you’d want to use a hula hoop for a wreath. The answer is that hula hoops make very large wreath bases at a very inexpensive price point!

OK, so let’s get started on crafting a wreath with a hula hoop.

Hula Hoop Wreath Step One: Make the Hoop Plain

When I started, my hula hoop looked like this – it had a bright pattern all over it.

The pattern was just tape, so I peeled it all off to reveal a plain, brown hula hoop. Not so good for kids, but perfect for my wreath!

If your hula hoop is not decorated with tape, you could spray paint it to get a solid color.

Step Two: Attach Greenery to the Hula Hoop

I started to transform the hula hoop into a wreath by attaching pieces of faux greenery to the it with Gorilla Tape. This tape worked perfectly because it is the same color as the hula hoop and because it is SO STRONG and waterproof – perfect for outdoors!

After I had a first layer of greenery on the hula hoop, I attached a different type of greenery to the hula hoop – also with the Gorilla Tape. The first type of greenery had large leaves; the second had small leaves and tiny white flowers.

Then, I used floral wire to wire in some faux lemons. I liked the pop of color the lemons added. Plus, they’re summery and fun. (If lemons leave a sour taste in your mouth, skip them. :-))

Hula Hoop Wreath Step Three: Protect the Greenery from Fading

Once I had everything on the hula hoop, I took it outside and sprayed it with UV Floral Protectant.

Faux flowers and faux greenery can become discolored by the sun when left outside, so spraying them with this UV Floral Protectant helps preserve the color. The vibrant colors will last so much longer!

Step Four: Wrap the Hula Hoop with Rope

After that dried, I cut some rope and fastened it to the top part of the hula hoop (where the greenery doesn’t show), with the Gorilla Tape.

I then hung the hula hoop wreath from the side garage door (I have a detached garage that is next to my patio), with fishing line. I put the hook on the inside of the side door and strung the fishing line over it so that the wreath hanger is not visible on the door.

This outdoor hula hoop wreath is super cute and was such an inexpensive way to add a decorative touch to my (currently) bare patio area!

Now I just hope some flowers bloom out there soon so we can really enjoy the patio and its pretty colors!

-Bre

How to Apply Wall Decals in a Pattern

April 25, 2018 by Bre 20 Comments

In order to brighten up our foyer and stairwell, we recently painted it Seapearl by Benjamin Moore. While we love the updated look, parts were looking a little stark for our taste. So, I added vinyl wall decals to create an accent wall, and I can’t wait to show you how to apply wall decals in your own home!

You might be wondering why I chose vinyl wall decals to create an accent wall instead of removable wallpaper (like I used in my new home on my removable wallpaper built-ins makeover). The reason is because it would be really tricky to put removable wallpaper around the window AND it would have been much more expensive!

So, if you’re wanting that wallpaper look but intimidated by the process, you should consider applying vinyl decals in a pattern instead!

First things first . . . I have to show you what the accent wall looked like after its paint job but before it got the faux wallpaper treatment. SO plain, and I was so over that metal wall decor over the window.

Supplies Needed to Apply Wall Decals

Thank you to Kenna Sato Designs for providing the wall decals you see in this post. The project and opinion are my own. Also, this post contains affiliate links. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Vinyl wall decals (I used these gold leaf wall decals)
Vinyl or wallpaper smoother
Laser level
Pencil
Tape measure
Ladder or step stool

How to Apply Wall Decals

After surfing Etsy one night, I fell in love with the adorable, unique, and custom vinyl decals from Kenna Sato Designs. It hit me that these decals would be the perfect solution for my boring wall! I narrowed it down to about five patterns, and then settled on the Autumn Leaf Wall Decals in Matte Gold. I figured that these leaf decals would be the perfect ones for my house – whimsical but not over the top.

I got five sets of decals for my wall, and they arrived in large sheets.

I cut them apart, grabbed my laser level (you DEFINITELY want a laser level for a project like this!), tape measure, and a pencil, and got to work!

Step One: Find the Center of the Wall and Apply the First Decal

I started right above the window and placed my first leaf decal in the center of the wall. To apply the decal, I pressed it against the wall, rubbed over it with the wallpaper smoothing tool, and removed the backer paper. You can see that process well in the video in this post.

I then placed leaf decals along my laser level line eight inches apart – alternating their direction up and down.

Step Two: Apply the Next Row of Decals, and Repeat

After I finished the first row, I moved three inches down and started the next row. I continued the same process across, and then the same process down. After I finished the bottom row, I moved up to the top (the hardest part of the job – I saved the worst for last – ha!).

I spread out my wall decal application for a few days so that I could take my time and minimize mistakes. I think that made a big difference in the quality of my work and led to an awesome finished product!

So . . . are you ready to see how my wall decals have made a huge difference in the look of my stairwell? I think they definitely look like wallpaper! (Hey . . . if you prefer a hand-painted accent wall, check out this post, too!)

Some people say that wall decals are tacky, but I don’t agree. I think that there are some that can be tacky, but if done right, wall decals can add personality in a classy way!

These gorgeous leaf decals paired with my new DIY Wall Art and Wall Art Hangers and wicker elephant planter have made this space one of my favorites in my home! I keep stopping at the top of the stairs and admiring it.

And, in case you’re wondering, these wall decals do not damage walls upon application or removal! You really just peel them off and there is no damage to the wall.

I am thrilled with how these vinyl wall decals transformed the look of my stairwell! This accent wall has so much personality now and it makes me so happy! If you have any bare walls that need a quick pick me up that requires no commitment (seriously – you just peel off the decals when you tire of them, and they won’t damage your paint!), I one-hundred-percent recommend Kenna Sato Designs’ wall decals to you!

Let me know what you think of my patterned wall decals in the comments below. I love to hear from you!

DIY Poster Hanger: An Easy and Affordable Art Idea

April 22, 2018 by Bre Leave a Comment

Learn how to make a DIY poster hanger or wall art hanger for thin canvases. You’ll never buy these again!

Sometimes you need an inexpensive way to hang a poster or printed piece of artwork – am I right?

With the crazy price of frames, knowing how to make your own DIY poster hanger or wall art hanger can be a definite budget-saver! It’s so easy, and you can make pretty-yet-affordable art display hangers in no time.

Supplies Needed for a DIY Wall Art Hanger

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Wood trim pieces
Stain or wood stain cloths (these are my favorite for no-mess and no-odor!)
Hand saw with miter box
Hot glue gun
Permanent mounting tape
Scissors
Twine, ribbon, or string

How to Make a DIY Poster Hanger

Purchase a piece of thin wood trim at the hardware or home improvement store. I bought 3/4″ wood trim with embossed leaf detailing to give my poster hanger a little “something extra.”

If you prefer a simpler look, you could use a flat profile screen trim instead!

Cut the trim in two pieces to be slightly longer than the art piece you want to hang. (My photo shows four pieces because I was hanging two pieces of art.) All you need is a hand saw and miter box to cut thin wood like this!

Then stain the wood trim the color you like. I love to use wood stain cloths because they’re so much easier to use than regular stain. They also have no odor, which makes them perfect for using indoors!

Once the stain is dry, hot glue a piece of twine to the back of the top piece of wood trim. Glue it a couple of inches in from both ends of the wood trim.

Next, place permanent mounting tape on the back of both pieces of wood trim. (Note: if the mounting tape you use is wider than the piece of trim, apply it and then cut along the top or bottom edge to remove the excess tape.)

Remove the protective layer that remains on the mounting tape, and press into place along the bottom edge of the art.

Repeat the process with the top piece so that the twine, ribbon, or string is hanging freely at the top to allow the art to hang.

Press the pieces into place one more time and hang your art.

I Think You’ll Like These Other DIY Ideas!

I just love how this inexpensive art adds a fun touch to my upstairs hallway.

This “art” is actually decorative wrapping paper sheets (unfortunately these specific prints are no longer available).

Can you believe it’s that easy to make a DIY poster hanger?

When I get tired of it, I will just swap it out and re-use the DIY Wall Art Hangers to hang other art!

How to Decorate a Spring Mantel with Just Five Elements

March 19, 2018 by Bre 14 Comments

I’m so happy that spring officially arrives this week! I love sharing seasonal mantel decorating ideas, so of course I had to put together a mantel for spring. Let me show you my spring mantel decor ideas and how you can decorate a spring mantel with just five elements!

For my spring mantel decor this year, I decided to keep things simple and symmetrical, which is a little different than last year’s spring mantel decor. I only used five types of objects, which made decorating a snap! I love this pared down approach.

This post contains affiliate links. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

So what are the five elements in my spring mantel?

1. Spring Mantel Decorating with Faux Florals

Faux cherry branches and faux grass (both used in last year’s spring mantel) bring the “nature” to my mantel.

2. Terracotta Pots on a Mantel Decorated for Spring

I stocked up on inexpensive terracotta pots and then gave them an aged look with paint. I set them on top of this upside down wood planter box (that I used in last year’s spring mantel) to give them a little height. Had I purchased larger terracotta pots, I wouldn’t have needed this extra height from the planter box.

Read my blog post on how to age terracotta pots with paint to see how easy it is to make new terracotta pots look old.

3. Use Pitchers as Vases on a Spring Mantel

Ceramic pitchers have recently worked their way into my decor-loving heart. Of course I love them for pouring lemonade, but I also love them for holding flowers and greenery!

I have used this adorable pitcher from Magnolia’s Hearth and Hand line at Target on previous mantels, but this cute yellow pitcher was a recent find from an unexpected place! I adore the color and the bamboo wrap around the handle!

4. Spring Mantel Decor with Books

I grabbed a few books from the office and used them to give height to the pitchers. Notice how I used two underneath the smaller, yellow pitcher to bring the cherry branches up to the same height as the ones in the cream-colored pitcher and give a balanced look.

5. Use Pretty Wrapping Paper in Spring Decor

I’ve used regular books on my mantel in the past, but for this spring mantel I decided to cover my books in beautiful wrapping paper.

I purchased a roll of this paper and am happy with the color and floral details it adds to my simple spring mantel!

So there you have it – with just five main elements I was able to create a pretty spring mantel in hardly any time at all!

-Bre

Free Spring Flowers Printable Art (with YOUR Monogram!)

February 21, 2018 by Bre 4 Comments

One of my favorite low-cost ways to update my decor is to use free printables. Because I need to start freshening up my home for spring (wishful thinking that it will be here soon), I created this pretty and free spring flowers printable art, and I decided to make it in all 26 letters so that anyone can enjoy this floral watercolor printable!

This spring monogram printable is a great way to add some greenery to your home without having to take care of anything. That’s a good thing for someone like me! (My favorite plants are fake. Don’t believe me? I have a whole post on how to make fake plants look real.)

This free spring printable is formatted to print best up to size 11×14″, but you can print it as an 8×10″ or even a 5×7″ – whatever works best for your home and the picture frames you have on hand!

I printed this as an 8×10″ at FedEx/Kinko’s and the print quality is great!

You could also print on your home computer or at a photo center (definitely a photo center if you’re going the 11 x 14″ route!).

Download Spring Flower Prints Here

If you’re printing smaller than an 11 x 14″, you’ll probably have some excess white space along the edges to trim, depending on how you set up your print job.

Once you’ve saved the file, print it out and enjoy!

-Bre

Cozy Winter Mantel Decorating Ideas

January 18, 2018 by Bre 8 Comments

Ever since I swapped the bold artwork over my fireplace for a neutral mirror, I have LOVED switching out my mantel decor with the changing seasons!

The mirror is the perfect blank canvas for adding accent pieces that reflect the time of year, and for helping me to get my decorating fix without spending a lot of time or money on a project!

Because of that I’m happy to be sharing my Cozy Winter Mantel Decorating Ideas today as part of the Decorate Your Mantel blog hop, hosted by my friend Amy at My Life From Home.

You may remember my Classic Christmas Mantel that I shared just about a month ago. The great part about the Cozy Winter Mantel that I’m sharing today is that it incorporates several of the same pieces you saw in my Classic Christmas Mantel (sorry though – the giant Santa art had to go!), but has a totally different look that’s appropriate for the season!

This post contains affiliate links. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

The porcelain houses, ceramic pitcher, and some of the greenery are all leftover from Christmas! While I love these items, the newest addition to my Cozy Winter Mantel is my Upcycled Sweater Embroidery Hoop Art, which I shared a tutorial for last week!

I just love the look these thrift store sweaters add to my mantel! Who doesn’t love extra warmth and coziness in the winter?!?

I fastened the extra large embroidery hoop on the left to the mirror with a clear 3M Command Hook, because it fell forward and shattered one of my mercury glass candleholders! So be careful if you create something similar and don’t hang the hoop on the wall.

I really like how this mantel feels like the season. The glittering mercury glass candleholders remind me of the way snow glitters when it is freshly fallen, the upcycled sweater embroidery hoops remind of of staying warm in my “winter uniform” of sweaters, and the porcelain and ceramic accents call to mind fresh snow. It just feels right!

If you agree, I’d be grateful if you would pin this post and share these ideas with others.