DIY Bottle Garden & Insulator Tea Lights

 

 

The weather is so nice today! I decided to go out into the garden to add

 

a bit of whimsy to an area by the chicken coops.

 

My sweet Husband brought me these Iron Gates a few years ago.

 

He thought I would like them. He was SO RIGHT. I love them!

 

I have used them to grow SWEET PEA flowers, but decided I would

 

like to make a BOTTLE GARDEN.

 

 First I gathered some bottles, new and old.

 

I also had a few vintage glass Insulators.

 

 

I used Bailing Wire and pliers

 

 

 

The first bottle I will make the loop large to fit over a doorknob.

 

Cut a piece of wire about 18 '' long.



Twist a couple times using pliers.

 

Wrap around the lip of the bottle and twist tightly again using pliers.

 

        

 





Cut ends so they are more even.

 



I like to curl the sharp ends using the end of pliers for a decorative finish.

 

Cut a 4'' piece of wire to make an ''S ''hook to hang on your fence or wood area

 

in your yard.

 

 

 

I hung this on the door while I made the rest.

 

Do you celebrate May Day ?

 

You could leave one on your neighbors door.

 

 

 Here is a closer look.

 

For the Insulators, they will be flipped over so they will be hung upside down.

 

 

 

They are the perfect size to hold a tea light.

 

For safety reasons I prefer the battery operated type.

 

The Dollar Tree has the tea light size and the votive size both will work.

 

If we our outside enjoying our friends and family I don't want to worry about candles.

 

These have a flickering effect. You can turn them on ahead of time and

 

enjoy the mood lighting !

 

 

Look how beautiful they look on the table

 

When they sit upright. The tea lights fit under perfectly!





 

 

 

 

And at night.

 

 

They have a nice glow.



I hung the bottles on the fence, filled with water

 

and fresh flowers and added the tea lights to the Insulators.

 





I may add more bottles, but for now I like the way it turned out.

 

Thank you again for visiting!    

 

Please follow by email if you would like to be notified when I post.

 

I always appreciate comments and I will respond back.

 

Have a wonderful day!

xoLisaS 

 









How to Care for WOOD Items in the KITCHEN

Farmhouse Kitchens are so beautiful. I love the natural elements of wooden bowls,

 

wood trays, crates and cutting/ bread boards. Just this last week while THRIFT SHOPPING 

 

 I found three cutting boards. They were poorly maintained but I knew I could get them back

 

to the way they should look.

 

I am certainly not an expert but I would like to share what I have learned

 

and what has worked for me.

 

 

 

 

       Maintaining a cutting board is a quick and easy task that will keep your board sanitary,

                                        looking new and extend the life of your board.

                        Wash your cutting board with soap and warm water and scrub well.

     After washing the cutting board, dry immediately with a towel and let it air dry standing up or

                                                            on a raised rack with air flow.



  If your board has stains or smells, you can use lemon juice or white vinegar directly on the area.


        The acid in these liquids will neutralize the organic material or fats causing the problem.

 

If the stain is a discoloring on the surface you can try and use very fine sandpaper.

 

I maintain my wood items with Mineral Oil. 

 

 

 

Mineral Oil

 

            Mineral oil  is a non-toxic, non-drying product that is colorless, odorless, and flavorless.

     Its properties prevent water absorption, which makes food-grade mineral oil (as determined

               by the Federal Drug Administration) a popular choice for wooden kitchen items

               such as wooden spoons, bowls, and, of course, cutting boards and butcher blocks.

                                        The key word here is food-safe,  there are

                              types of mineral oils that are not safe for human consumption.



               You can find it in the pharmacy where laxatives are sold. I bought mine at Target,

                                     it was not very expensive and will last a long time.

                                          Regular application of mineral oil will prevent

                                  cutting boards from becoming dry and brittle, which

     can cause a cracks.  A board that is treated with oil also prevents liquids from penetrating the

                                        board, which is often the source of germs and bacteria.



 

PLEASE NOTE:

 

               I do not recommend natural oils such as vegetable, corn, olive, peanut or walnut oil,

                         as these are rich in fats that will eventually oxidize and go RANCID,

               creating a foul smelling board. Also, never use standard mineral oil from a hardware

                                   that is not rated as food safe, as that is meant for machine

                                                lubrication and not for contact with food.



Add a generous amount with a clean soft cloth. You will be amazed

 

how much the wood will absorb the oil.

 

Keep rubbing until it has soaked in to the touch. Wipe off excess if needed.

 

 



BEAUTIFUL !

 

This will also give new life to vintage rolling pins, all metal pans and kitchenware.

 

 

Before, looking a bit dried out

 

 

You can see the difference here.

 

 

 

And after I finished you can see the improvement.

 

 

 

The Mineral Oil also works well on vintage utensils.

 

It helps clean and stops rust, giving the metal a nice sheen.

 

I recommend wiping down your vintage cookie cutters after use to protect

 

them from rust. I store my rolling pins in an old crock ready for use!

 



 

I hope you found this helpful.

 

Thank  you so much for stopping by!

 

xoLisaS

 

 

How to Fake a Farmhouse Wire Basket

 

I found a few different baskets at the Dollar Tree, but I am just not a Neon Green

 

or Hot Pink kind of Girl. I really would prefer a nice galvanized

 

vintage wire basket. I have been fortunate to find a few,

 

 but with popularity comes scarcity and  high prices.

 

I will usually settle for white organizers but I really liked the shape of this basket

 

below and this was the only color available.

 

 

 

Here is the other one I liked.

 

 





The paint that I used is below

 



In  MATTE NICKEL 

 

This paint worked great.! It gives a slight grit finish.

 

NOT smooth like other spray paints. It even feels like metal.

 

I took the baskets outside to spray. I also painted a Locker Bin but I will share that later.

 

 

 

Here is another basket

 

 

 





This paint gave very good coverage.

 

It dried quickly I was impressed.

 

I was very impressed with the look and feel of the baskets.

 

I can honestly say they look even better in person.

 

 

 

 

On the above tray basket I used a different spray paint by Rust-o-leum. One that is more widely

 

available in the color Flat Antique Nickel.

 

Metallic Paint and Primer in one

 

 

 

The small square basket holds 4 of the Milk Bottle Vases from this project perfectly.

 

 

 

Milk Bottles from the Dollar Tree

 

https://freshvintagebylisas.blogspot.com/2018/04/chalk-painted-milk-bottle-vases-and.html

 

 

 



I had fun changing things around.





 

I will definitely do this again ! I am so happy with the way they turned out.



 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 





 

A more realistic use would be just a mail drop!

 

Thank you,

 







I hope you have a wonderful day!

 

xoLisaS







Thrift Store Vintage Jewelry Boxes and Display Upcycle

 I was out Thrift Shopping on my afternoon off cuz that's what we do! AM I RIGHT?

 

I was looking for a Jewelry Box I could use/sell at future

 

Craft Boutiques. I found one.

 

Then I found another one. It was a pretty box with a recessed design on top and

 

nice little feet.

 

 



Each one was $1.99.

 

SO YES I bought both.

 

Then I found another item, I am guessing was a paper towel holder.

 

 

 It was $1.69 YES I bought it. I thought it was tall enough to add

 

hooks to hang necklaces. It WAS!

 

I thought it was my day, I got to the store late morning and usually

Jewelry Boxes of any kind are in the $8 to $10 range. 

 

 I added four hooks to the top of the paper towel holder.
 

HOME and a quick wipe down of my purchases, time to get out the paint.

 





I decided on white chalk paint !
 

I had it and it is neutral if I decide to sell them.

 

Doing 3 projects at one time is easier than painting each item separately.

You only have to clean the brush once.

 

I gave a first coat and came back to check and everything was dry and ready

 

for a second coat and next, hit the high spots with #150 sand paper

 

another wipe down with a soft cloth.

 

Use your hands to feel the surfaces. If it feels smooth you are ready for the wax.

 

Wax is just to seal. It will feel like fine furniture.

 

I use a waxing brush. Just a small amount goes a long way. Put on with small

 

circular motions.
 

Lots of detail 

 

 

 

Repurposed Paper Towel Holder



 

All three-

 

 

 

This was my THRIFT HAUL just over $5.00

 

I really appreciate you stopping by!

Thank you.

xoLisaS

 

 

 

 

 

Kitchenware as Repurposed Planters



                                                                                     

                                           I don't know but it seems all garage sales, tag sales,

                                             yard sales and estate sales have one thing in common.

                                                                Tons of  KITCHENWARE !

        I want to share a couple of fun pieces to turn into planters.

                                                 First I found an aluminum colander for .50

                                                          These are so useful in the garden.

                                    I use one to carry fresh vegetables and herbs to the house.

                                             Then it is easy to rinse and clean your veggies.

I had a Coco Liner on hand from The Dollar Tree. You can

line the sides and bottom with moss if you prefer.

It was a pretty good fit !

They can be trimmed with scissors.

                            I used Patio Potting Mix and purchased one small pot of Petunias.
         

Less mess if I do it on the grass!

 The Colander on the left has succulents that I planted in the Fall

The other pan was an old Jello Mold for .50

I used the same Potting Mix.

I know there is special potting soil for succulents but it is expensive and I have

had good results with the Patio Mix.

I will only water the wreath with a spray bottle.

                                                    I just used cuttings from my backyard.

For this project you will only need a small amount

of cuttings. If you don't have access to

cutting, ask friends and neighbors to save you some.

Hey ask your Mom or Grandma !

Gardeners love to share.



I used a stick to poke holes in the dirt.

Gently press stems into the holes and tap down dirt around plant. 

Mist with a spray bottle.

As the plants establish you can give your wreath a tilt if you like.

Trim to keep the shape.

I brought it in the house and added a candle.



 A Living Wreath



Thank you for stopping by !



Have a Wonderful Day !

xoLisaS