Crafts Archives - Everyday Edits

Garage Sale Wreath Makeover

September 6, 2019

Here’s a post before my rebrand. With redirects and pins I have had to repost a few favorite posts. This garage sale wreath makeover was a favorite so it gets a little more in the spotlight.

Garage Sale Wreath Makeover Before

Because it was one of my original posts, I don’t have the before photos but picture a dusty, cobwebbed and feathered filled wreath that I picked up for a $1.00.

I did not recognize the smell until I had it in my car. I would have passed on this wreath if I had detected the damp, basement smell. I am so happy I did not sniff the wreath!

But, it was destiny. What I loved about this wreath, sitting on the driveway, was the size of the grapevine and its potential.

Makeover Details

removed the picks that were broken or beyond the makeover
placed the wreath outside to air out
sprayed the wreath with vinegar & water. repeat. repeat.

Because this was a garage sale find I stayed with the thrifty budget and used the miscellaneous leaves that fall off the garland. You know the leaves and pinecones and sticks that fall to the bottom of the box or storage tub? I just grabbed a few of those and fresh pinecones and either glued or tucked them into the wreath.

It was an instant makeover. I paid $3.00 for the wreath. The size of the wreath takes up the width of the front door which I love. My motto: go big or go home.

With garage sale season in full gear, take a second look at those dingy wreaths, crafts and accessories.

How to Make Cement Pavers

July 2, 2019

If you know how to make pancakes from a box then you can make cement pavers. Seriously, working with cement was as easy as making pancakes. My craft curse took a hiatus for the summer with this fun tutorial on how to make cement pavers.

The best part of these DIY cement pavers was the supply list was short and so was the prep and set-up time; just like pancakes. I had so much fun with a medium that only needed water and dry time.

Cement Paver Supply List

plastic or metal trays
Quikrete Setting Cement
cooking spray
bucket to mix
utensil or tool

With a short supply list, the only item I needed was Quikrete Setting Cement which I found at Home Depot. I used this brand. And, as a side note, the brand’s name answered my blog post dilemma- are they cement or concrete pavers? I stuck to cement.

How to Make Cement Pavers

The cement worked just like boxed pancake mix. It was a bit of trial and error to figure out the proportions of water to cement.

My first form was a round, metal serving tray from the dollar section at Target. A little bit of cooking spray was all I need to flip the dried paver out of the tray; just like flipping a pancake.

I decided to make lightweight, smaller, round pavers for the garden. What I found was the DIY pavers were much lighter than similar ones at garden centers.

These pavers looked great with the mint. And, they were a nice way to transition from one herb to the next. I love the different textures between the pavers, mulch and the mint. They are like petite stepping stones.

Depending on the trays or recycled plastic containers used, some of the pavers will have a fun, unexpected pattern on the opposite side. I stuck to the smooth side for the herb garden, but I had fun with a Qdoba tray ;0).

I love, love, love how these pavers turned out. My plan was to make the cement pavers for my herb garden, but I had so much fun I ended up using a few pavers for my indoor plants.

If you can make pancakes from a box then you can make these cement pavers for your garden!

If you are looking for another fun craft check out this craft that arrived in a box at my front door.

How to Make Embroidery Hoop Orbs

May 9, 2019

I am so excited to share these embroidery hoop orbs. I am a sloppy crafter which means my craft projects will never trend on Pinterest. And, I am good with that. So when I was asked to join an embroidery hoop craft challenge I thought this was my chance to get my craft on.

But, first I Googled “embroidery hoops” to confirm they were what I thought they were.

I ordered a “lot” of embroidery hoops on eBay because I wasn’t sure what I was going to make or how many hoops I would need. Let’s just save I can make a dozen orbs.

I decided to make orbs because I liked the look of similar projects on Pinterest and orbs matched my decor style.

embroidery hoops

I knew I wanted to stain these. I took the lazy route and didn’t separate the hoops.

Do as I suggest, not as I d0.

Take a few minutes to detach the hoops, it made a huge difference in the time it takes to stain and the quality of the finished look. I used a foam brush and a small paintbrush to get around the metal fasteners. After I stained the embroidery hoops I decided it was harder to stain hoops than furniture.

I loved the difference the stain made to the embroidery hoops. The stain gave them an instant Pottery Barn like finish. This craft project was headed in the right direction.

The stained orbs looked great with our shelves on the opposite ends of our this updated fireplace.

I wanted an easy way to attach the hoops, but finally committed to the power drill to drill pilot holes and then attach a small screw at the top and bottom of the orb. The wood was soft enough that with a little muscle you could secure both ends with a tack.

I figured this out when my drill’s battery died mid-drill.

I love the finished look of the orb. The embroidery hoop’s stained wood finish added much-needed character to the shelves. I have a few more embroidery hoop orbs “in production.”

On a side note, I love the shadows created from the lighting above the orbs onto the white shelf.