Zinnias - What a Delight!

Zinnias - What a Delight!

This is a re-post on zinnias that I did last year. I had few views with this one and I thought garden lovers would appreciate reading about the lovely zinnias that grow in my yard for the "Blooming Marvelous" series.  They're back this year .  .  but not as pretty.  I love them still!

Zinnias are gorgeous flowers that are beautifying my rock garden right now. They were grown from seed and are loving the hot weather.

The flower comes in varied colors and numerous varieties . . . unfortunately I didn't save the package describing which ones I have.

                                                                 
Zinnia flower has large and intense blooms which give a cheerful look to any garden or a yard.

Zinnia, appears in many different varieties from a single row of petals to a dome-shaped flower, with colors like yellow, red, white, chartreuse, purple, and lilac. Mine are different shades of purple and green.   The leaves of the plant are opposite and are mostly found without a stalk with a shape that varies from ovate to linear and the colors varies from pale green to bright mid green! 

  So, with this zinnia flower information, I'm sure you would want to plant a few in your yard next time considering the little maintenance they require.  In doing so, spread love and affection with zinnias .  .   .   . or any flower, for that matter.  Enjoy!     

                                                       

                                                            

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SeaShell Monogram

                                                                                 

My dear friends Bob and Helen are moving to North Carolina later this month.  Among some of the lovely items they gave me as they were getting rid of stuff was a box of seashells they had collected through the years.  I used a few of them to make a wreath here, but that didn't put a dent in the pile of what represents so many wonderful coastal memories for them.  Looking through the shells, Helen had label some with initials and dates of where they were found. 












I saw shells that brought back memories of our times together traveling.  The one pictured means Jamaica'08. Oh what fun we had together!  

 I am truly gonna miss them living close by. But we will be visiting one another and still take vacations together.  

Anyway, getting back to my project .  .  . since these shells mean so much to Helen and Bob I decided to make a seashell monogram using their last name initial E, and framing it.    Shhhhh . . . and then I will take it with me on our first visit to their new home.

Making the seashell monogram was very much like doing a puzzle.  I started with the larger shells, placing them randomly on a 13 1/2 inch mdf monogram I picked up at Michaels on clearance. I used Aileen's Fast Grab Tacky Glue instead of hot glue.  I found this to have the best hold since hot glue doesn't have a permanent grip on shells.You can easily pull them off.

 

After gluing on the larger shells I filled in any open spaces with smaller shells. 

I love the colors and different shades of the shells and how they look together.  So beautiful . . .  mother nature at her best!

While the seashell monogram looks great on its own, putting it on an open frame added just the right touch.

Adding a few decorative accessories such as a fish net, driftwood and larger shells compliments the framed monogram.

I'm sure this will add to Bob and Helen's wonderful memories of times at the beach and of our friendship.  Can't wait to give this to them!


Take a little time to enjoy!







Linking to:










 
  
Mellywoods Mansion for Raising Imperfections Party ,  By Stephanielynn  for the Sunday Showcase Party ,  The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday ,  VMG206 for DIY Sunday Showcase , Sewing Barefoot for The Weekly Creative, Alderberry Hill for Make the Scene Monday , Clairejustineoxox for Creative Mondays ,  Craft and Repeat for On Display Monday Link Party ,  The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday , Feeding Big and more for In and Out of the Kitchen Monday ,  I Should be Mopping the Floor for Mopping It Up Monday ,  Making the World Cuter for Making the World Cuter Monday , Newlywed Pilgrimage for Moonlight Mason Jars linky party Monday Night ,  So Much Better with Age for Give Me The Goods Party ,  Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday , Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday , Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , Home Coming for DIY'ers , I Gotta Try That for Linky Party Monday,  Mod Vintage Life for Mod Mix Monday , Pursuit of Funtional Home for Monday Hop , One More Time for Share It One More Time , Twelve O Eight for Pretty Things Linky Party Monday , Todays Creative Blog for Get Your Craft On ,  Be Betsy for Brag About It Tuesday , DIY Dreamer for From Dream to Reality , Flusterbuster for Creative Muster  Tuesday ,  Kathe With A E for You're Gonna Love It Tuesday ,    The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday , A Stroll thru Life for  Tabletop Inspire Me Tuesday , Cedar Hill Ranch for The Scoop on Tuesdays ,Homework for Inspiration Board Tuesday , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures , Romance on a Dime for Take on Tuesday , Debbiedoos for Tuesdays Top Talent Pinterest Party ,  Hickory Trail for Assets and Efforts ,  Hope In Every Season for Make,Bake,Create , VMg206 for Brag About It Tuesday , Love Grows Wild for Time to Sparkle , The Blissful Bee for Work It Wednesday ,  Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home ,   Eclectic Red Barn for The Pinterest Power Party ,  Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesdays , Ginger Snap Crafts for Wow Me Wednesdays , 
Pink Recipe Box for Creative Wednesdays ,   Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays ,The Shady Porch for Rock and Share Wednesdays , The Taylor House for Pinterest Power Party Wednesday ,  We Like To Learn As We Go for What I Learned Wednesday ,  DIY by Design for Swing into Spring , All Things With a Purpose for Thursday Link Up , Krafty Cards,Etc. for Krafty Inspirations Thursday ,   CSI Project for Challenge of the Week Thursday , Dysfunction Junction for Linkin With My Ladies Thursday ,  I Gotta Create for Wildly Original Linky Party The Frugal Girls for Chic and Crafty Party ,  Glued To My Crafts for Thursdays Obsessions , Lamberts Lately for Create It Thursday , Katherine's Corner for Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop ,  A Peek Into My Paradise for TGIF Link Party ,  The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays , Marigold's Loft for Tutorial Thursdays ,  My Fashion Forward Blog for All Things Pretty ,  No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays , Posed Perfection for All Things Thursday , Stone Gable for Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits on Thursdays , Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday , The Dedicated House for Anything Blue Friday . Happy Go Lucky for Shine on Fridays ,  Jennifer Rizzo for Fabulously Creative Friday ,     My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday , French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday , Common Ground for Be Inspired on Fridays , The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday ,  Diana's Rambles for Pin Me Linky Friday 504 Main for Tickled Pink Fridays , Happy Go Lucky for Shine on Friday , Happy Hour Projects for Happy Hour Friday , Rooted in Thyme for Simple & Sweet Fridays , See Vanessa Craft for do something crafty Friday ,  Shaken Together for What's Shakin' Friday , Rooted In Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays ,  Whipperberry for Friday Fair Link Party ,  DIY Showoff for That DIY Party ,   Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special, Love of Family & Home for Inspire Me Please Weekend , A Bouquet of Talent for Life on Lake Shore Drive on Saturdays , Classy Clutter for Spotlight Saturday , Crafts a la Mode for What To Do Weekends , Debbiedoo's  for Get Blitzed on Pinterest , It's Overflowing for Share Your Creativity Saturday ,  Just Us Four for Pinworthy Projects Party Friday , Mommifried for Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party ,  Natasha in Oz for #Say Gday Saturday Linky Party , One More Time for Share It One More Time Saturday ,  Serenity You for Serenity Saturday , Tutus & Tea Parties for a Pinteresting Party Saturday






















                                                                                    

Flowers Flowing from a Galvanized Bucket

Just a short post on my latest creation  .  .  .flowers flowing from a galvanized bucket.

 How cool is this?

I started with a small shepherd's hook and a galvanized bucket that I had never used.  Added some petunias and hooked the bucket so it would hang sideways partially on the ground.  Fortunately the arrangement is in the path of our sprinkler system so the flowers get a dose of water ever so often. It's really best to punch a hole or two in the bucket for extra drainage.

 It's been so hot here that I think the metal bucket might be "cooking" the flowers. They are beginning to look a bit straggly.

Some of you may not like the shiny galvanized look.  I read somewhere that spraying bleach on the metal and allow to dry in the sun would solve this. But I don't mind and will wait for the bucket to age naturally.

Galvanized garden decor is quite popular.  Makes for a great outdoor arrangement don't you think!

Take a little time to enjoy!

                                              

                      




                                                                                                            


 My Linking Parties:
  
Mellywoods Mansion for Raising Imperfections Party ,  By Stephanielynn  for the Sunday Showcase Party ,  The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday ,  VMG206 for DIY Sunday Showcase , Sewing Barefoot for The Weekly Creative, Alderberry Hill for Make the Scene Monday , Clairejustineoxox for Creative Mondays ,  Craft and Repeat for On Display Monday Link Party ,  The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday , Feeding Big and more for In and Out of the Kitchen Monday ,  I Should be Mopping the Floor for Mopping It Up Monday ,  Making the World Cuter for Making the World Cuter Monday , Newlywed Pilgrimage for Moonlight Mason Jars linky party Monday Night ,  So Much Better with Age for Give Me The Goods Party ,  Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday , Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday , Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , Home Coming for DIY'ers , I Gotta Try That for Linky Party Monday,  Mod Vintage Life for Mod Mix Monday , Pursuit of Funtional Home for Monday Hop , One More Time for Share It One More Time , Twelve O Eight for Pretty Things Linky Party Monday , Todays Creative Blog for Get Your Craft On ,  Be Betsy for Brag About It Tuesday , DIY Dreamer for From Dream to Reality , Flusterbuster for Creative Muster  Tuesday ,  Kathe With A E for You're Gonna Love It Tuesday ,    The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday , A Stroll thru Life for  Tabletop Inspire Me Tuesday , Cedar Hill Ranch for The Scoop on Tuesdays ,Homework for Inspiration Board Tuesday , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures , Romance on a Dime for Take on Tuesday , Debbiedoos for Tuesdays Top Talent Pinterest Party ,  Hickory Trail for Assets and Efforts ,  Hope In Every Season for Make,Bake,Create , VMg206 for Brag About It Tuesday , Love Grows Wild for Time to Sparkle , The Blissful Bee for Work It Wednesday ,  Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home ,   Eclectic Red Barn for The Pinterest Power Party ,  Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesdays , Ginger Snap Crafts for Wow Me Wednesdays ,    Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays ,The Shady Porch for Rock and Share Wednesdays , The Taylor House for Pinterest Power Party Wednesday ,  We Like To Learn As We Go for What I Learned Wednesday ,  DIY by Design for Swing into Spring , All Things With a Purpose for Thursday Link Up ,  CSI Project for Challenge of the Week Thursday , Dysfunction Junction for Linkin With My Ladies Thursday ,  I Gotta Create for Wildly Original Linky Party The Frugal Girls for Chic and Crafty Party ,  Glued To My Crafts for Thursdays Obsessions , Lamberts Lately for Create It Thursday , Katherine's Corner for Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop ,  A Peek Into My Paradise for TGIF Link Party ,  The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays , Marigold's Loft for Tutorial Thursdays ,  My Fashion Forward Blog for All Things Pretty ,  No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays , Posed Perfection for All Things Thursday , Stone Gable for Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits on Thursdays , Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday , The Dedicated House for Anything Blue Friday . Happy Go Lucky for Shine on Fridays ,  Jennifer Rizzo for Fabulously Creative Friday ,     My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday , French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday , Common Ground for Be Inspired on Fridays , The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday ,  Diana's Rambles for Pin Me Linky Friday 504 Main for Tickled Pink Fridays , Happy Go Lucky for Shine on Friday , Happy Hour Projects for Happy Hour Friday , Rooted in Thyme for Simple & Sweet Fridays , See Vanessa Craft for do something crafty Friday ,  Shaken Together for What's Shakin' Friday , Rooted In Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays ,  Whipperberry for Friday Fair Link Party ,  DIY Showoff for That DIY Party ,   Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special, Love of Family & Home for Inspire Me Please Weekend , A Bouquet of Talent for Life on Lake Shore Drive on Saturdays , Classy Clutter for Spotlight Saturday , Crafts a la Mode for What To Do Weekends , Debbiedoo's  for Get Blitzed on Pinterest , It's Overflowing for Share Your Creativity Saturday ,  Just Us Four for Pinworthy Projects Party Friday , Mommifried for Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party ,  Natasha in Oz for #Say Gday Saturday Linky Party , One More Time for Share It One More Time Saturday ,  Serenity You for Serenity Saturday , Tutus & Tea Parties for a Pinteresting Party Saturday  http://www.inspirationcafeic.blogspot.com/2013/07/bloomin-marvelous-link-party.html







                                                                                                           

Jute & Pinecone Flower Tree

  I love crafting at Christmas time.  I saw the cutest pinecone flowers here and had recently been given a bag of pinecones from a friend who's moving.  Need I say more?  I ended up making a jute and pinecone flower tree.  Isn't it adorable? Here's how I made it:

You will need -

• Styrofoam tree
• Jute Twine
• Pinecones
• Hot glue gun
• Exacto knife (flat straight edge)
• Cardboard
• Gloves (optional)

First, you must wrap the styrofoam tree in jute twine starting at the top with a dab of glue.

 

You should hot glue the twine every now and then as you wrap, keeping it tight and straight. When you get to the bottom of the tree, cut off the excess twine and glue the end of the twine to the base.  Drape an additional piece of twine around the tree as a placement pattern for the pinecone flowers.

To Make the Pinecone Flowers:

Remove the scales (petals) from the pinecones. The easiest way for me was to start at the base of the cone.  Here the first few rows of scales are easily removed with your fingers.  They come off rather quickly. Once you've gotten these off, it's time to conquer the larger ones.

Using a flat edge exacto knife, wedge and push the tip under the scale and twist and lift. The scale should pop off. It takes practice to get the hang of removing the scales but I found this way a lot better than cutting them off.  I tried cutting with heavy duty shears and the wood split on a lot of them.  *Be careful to keep your fingers and hands away from the knife and there are tiny thorns on the tip you should avoid. Gloves might help.

To create the flower, cut quarter size discs out of cardboard. Next glue the larger pinecone scales on the 3,6,9 and 12 positions (clock) of the cardboard disc. Fill in the remaining areas with more scales.  Use the smaller scales to add dimension to the flower.                                   

Hot glue the completed pinecone flower at the top of the jute twine wrapped tree. Follow the draped twine on the tree as you glue the pinecone flowers in place until you reach the end.

 

I added lights for a more festive holiday look:

 

 I also placed the tree among some evergreens  .  .  .

 

Sorry about the blurry photos .  . I think my camera is taking a dive.

Most of all I like the natural and rustic look of the tree with its earthy textures.    Oops . . excuse glue strings.

I'm calling it Rustic Chic!

  

Thanks for stopping by

and take a little time to enjoy,

Happy Holiday Crafting!

               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

          





                                

Seashell Wreath

Keep longing for those wonderful walks on sandy beaches, collecting all sorts of seashells   .  .  . while thinking of ways to preserve those memories?    In an effort to look for ideas and searching for something different, I came across this on the internet for $59.99.  Wow!  How pretty and beachy is this!  What an inspiration! 

                                                





Did you know a seashell wreath personifies the true essence of a beach experience?  Yes, it does!  And I can easily make one of these .  .  . without paying a high cost.  

Here's how:  

Just gather up your stash of collected shells - natural shells in assorted sizes and colors, starfish, small conchs, cone shells, and scallops.                                      

.

Grab a can of white acrylic paint and lightly spray a natural twig wreath.
                                                        

 

 
Start with the largest starfish and shells first, gluing them using E6000 or another permanent type glue. *You don't want to use a glue gun for this if you plan on hanging outside in the heat. The glue will melt if you do.

Cover the entire area of the shell that will touch the twigs with glue, position and hold in place until the glue "grabs" on. I put heavy items such as books to weigh the shells down while drying.  Be careful with the delicate twigs. This is time consuming but worth the wait to make adhesion permanent.

Next fill in with medium shells and then the smaller ones to give your wreath that coastal look!
                                    

Satisfied with exactly how you want it .  .  .Voila! You're done!!!

What do you think?

And for a fraction of the cost  .  .  .

I opted for a more natural look  .  .  .  colors that remind me of the beach, like assorted tans and shades of white.

Makes for a welcoming front door wreath or stylish design accent for any room where you might want to preserve those memories of long walks on the beach and those cool ocean breezes!


Take a little time to enjoy!









My Linking Parties:
  
Mellywoods Mansion for Raising Imperfections Party ,  By Stephanielynn  for the Sunday Showcase Party ,  The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday ,  VMG206 for DIY Sunday Showcase , Sewing Barefoot for The Weekly Creative, Alderberry Hill for Make the Scene Monday , Clairejustineoxox for Creative Mondays ,  Craft and Repeat for On Display Monday Link Party ,  The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday , Feeding Big and more for In and Out of the Kitchen Monday ,  I Should be Mopping the Floor for Mopping It Up Monday ,  Making the World Cuter for Making the World Cuter Monday , Newlywed Pilgrimage for Moonlight Mason Jars linky party Monday Night , Rain On ATin Roof for Give Me The Goods Monday ,  So Much Better with Age for Give Me The Goods Party ,  Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday , Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday , Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , Home Coming for DIY'ers , I Gotta Try That for Linky Party Monday,  Mod Vintage Life for Mod Mix Monday , Pursuit of Funtional Home for Monday Hop , One More Time for Share It One More Time , Twelve O Eight for Pretty Things Linky Party Monday , Todays Creative Blog for Get Your Craft On ,  Be Betsy for Brag About It Tuesday , DIY Dreamer for From Dream to Reality , Flusterbuster for Creative Muster  Tuesday ,  Kathe With A E for You're Gonna Love It Tuesday ,    The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday , A Stroll thru Life for  Tabletop Inspire Me Tuesday , Cedar Hill Ranch for The Scoop on Tuesdays ,Homework for Inspiration Board Tuesday , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures , Romance on a Dime for Take on Tuesday , Debbiedoos for Tuesdays Top Talent Pinterest Party ,  Hickory Trail for Assets and Efforts ,  Hope In Every Season for Make,Bake,Create , VMg206 for Brag About It Tuesday , Love Grows Wild for Time to Sparkle , The Blissful Bee for Work It Wednesday ,  Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home ,   Eclectic Red Barn for The Pinterest Power Party ,  Primp for Primp Your Stuff Wednesdays , Ginger Snap Crafts for Wow Me Wednesdays ,    Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays ,The Shady Porch for Rock and Share Wednesdays , The Taylor House for Pinterest Power Party Wednesday ,  We Like To Learn As We Go for What I Learned Wednesday ,  DIY by Design for Swing into Spring , All Things With a Purpose for Thursday Link Up ,  CSI Project for Challenge of the Week Thursday , Dysfunction Junction for Linkin With My Ladies Thursday ,  I Gotta Create for Wildly Original Linky Party The Frugal Girls for Chic and Crafty Party ,  Glued To My Crafts for Thursdays Obsessions , Lamberts Lately for Create It Thursday , Katherine's Corner for Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop ,  The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays , Marigold's Loft for Tutorial Thursdays ,  My Fashion Forward Blog for All Things Pretty ,  No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays , Posed Perfection for All Things Thursday , Stone Gable for Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits on Thursdays , Chic on a Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday , The Dedicated House for Anything Blue Friday . Happy Go Lucky for Shine on Fridays ,  Jennifer Rizzo for Fabulously Creative Friday ,     My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday , French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday , Common Ground for Be Inspired on Fridays , The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday ,  Diana's Rambles for Pin Me Linky Friday 504 Main for Tickled Pink Fridays , Happy Go Lucky for Shine on Friday , Rooted in Thyme for Simple & Sweet Fridays , See Vanessa Craft for do something crafty Friday ,  Shaken Together for What's Shakin' Friday , Rooted In Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays ,  Whipperberry for Friday Fair Link Party ,  DIY Showoff for That DIY Party ,   Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special, Love of Family & Home for Inspire Me Please Weekend , A Bouquet of Talent for Life on Lake Shore Drive on Saturdays , Classy Clutter for Spotlight Saturday , Crafts a la Mode for What To Do Weekends , Debbiedoo's  for Get Blitzed on Pinterest , It's Overflowing for Share Your Creativity Saturday ,  Just Us Four for Pinworthy Projects Party Friday , Mommifried for Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party ,  Natasha in Oz for #Say Gday Saturday Linky Party , One More Time for Share It One More Time Saturday ,  Serenity You for Serenity Saturday , Tutus & Tea Parties for a Pinteresting Party Saturday