Easy Forced Amaryllis Bulbs | DIY for Busy Gals

"perhaps, had we chilled them,
they would have bloomed in time. "

 Paper Whites are so dang easy.
Especially given that last year's attempt
at growing Amaryllis, was an utter fail.


We (and by "we" I mean "I")
thought to myself
if these are bulbs that require
a chilling period, I am doomed.


And, I also thought I would start a lot earlier this year.

Negative.

On both fronts.

There was no chill/deep freeze this year.

And I started these less than 4 weeks before Christmas last year.

Even the strongest grow light in the world can't help that procrastination.

Guess I'll be enjoying the holidays

long after they are over.

And this time, I won't do it with 

a fire hazard Christmas tree.

Just. Saying.

Another super easy project.

Especially if you buy a kit.

I did alter my kit supplies with my own clay pots
AND

I don't know WHAT kind of moist peat they are trying to pull,

but my ONE peat pellet in one of three kits

was enough growing medium for three gigantic bulbs.

Really now.

Enjoy!

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Miniature Christmas Trees | DIY for Busy Gals

 You know how there is that saying

that goes something like

"if you love something,

set it free.

if it comes back to you,

it was meant to be"

 I always get an image

of a butterfly in a glass jar

when people say that to me.

Or a ladybug.

Yes, ladybug.

Because I love ladybugs, not so much butterflies.

Regress with me here...

In any event,

these miniature Christmas trees under glass?

Love. Them.

Set them free?

N.E.V.E.R.

Really easy to make.

Enjoy!

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Pinterest Challenge- Summer Edition with Young House Love

Guess who FINALLY put all of that pinning to good use?

Well, that would be me!

See, I have this HUGE plant I call Beefy, 
and a skinny almost dead plant I call Spindly

Both of these plants need serious water.

And I'm about to go on vacation.

So a tiny little, gorgeous water bulb like this one

(image via here)

Was not going to cut it.

I was looking around my pinterest boards

when I saw these awesome vases by Valri Peyser

I thought to myself,

Self, you are no artiste. 

However.

You do LOVE a Paint By Number

(or, in this case, a Pet by Number via here)

AND

You DO have a billion empty tasty adult beverage bottles 

up in this here joint.

So the label removing began.

Interesting note:

Really cheap wine has REALLY stuck on labels.

Just. Saying. 

Barefoot Moscato

And also, that really good stuff,

from Napa,

those labels come off in sheets.

Probably so that you can frame it on your trophy wall

to prove that you have so much disposable income

that you COULD have thrown away that bottle 

(with the label that you've framed as a show off)

but you didn't.

Oh and for those keeping score.

Really REALLY good wine

(don't hate, I'm married to a wine snob)

has an etched glass label.

Seriously.

Then I broke out the primer to,

you know, lay a foundation on my bottles.

I was slapping it on good,

conveyor belt like

Which meant it was only a matter of moments

before Ms. Klutzo struck.

I think I still have some shards in my elbow.

Never fear.

Remember that love of paint by number?

I sketched some simple doodles

because I just can't freehand paint like that.

I used some basic acrylics, some tempura 

(note to the wise, tempura is pretty, but not sturdy)

even some glass/ceramic/enamelish paint I got off of freecycle.

Tada!!!

I know. I still need a TINY

QUALITY brush so that I can do fine lines

with some more black

(always bet on black).

But for now...pretty snazzy.

I filled them up with water,

tipped them into the soil pots and

on the next day 

(seriously, these took me overnight w/drying time)

they all drank in the good life.

Ms. Spindly was super happy.

But not nearly as happy as Beefy, Big Girl and aPEARantly.

Why yes.

I name my plants.

This is what happens when you can't have children.

I'm linking all this pinteresting stuff up to the 

Summer Pinterest Challenge.

Over at Young House Love, they did a paint project too

And Michelle at Ten June did an awesome little nursery project

(not hating/bitter, it is THAT awesome of a project)

Katie at Bower Power made an awesome hideout teepee 

(with my love of Native Americana...I might need one for me)

And Kate at Centsational Girl built furniture

(yep, with power tools).

because she's an overachiever like that.

You should check out my award winning Pinterest boards 

not bragging, just saying, I'm winning on my boards.

especially in the kitchen

which

happens to be the room I spend the LEAST time in

and muck up the most with my DIY projects.

Anyhow.

Pinterest.

See the rest of the awesomeness I'm pinning and cooking up.

And you should check out the parties at each of those gal's blogs

to get your own tush in order and stop pinning and start doing!

What have you pinned and done lately?

Let's not talk about that horrible Texas Skinny Fries recipe

that's so popular right now...

Week 74 Random Pinehurst

Home.

In so many more ways

than you will ever know.

I love gardening.

And mini houses.

And terrariums.

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Project 13: Musuem Worthy Gallery Walk (DIY for Busy Gals)

So.

Clearly, I didn't get all 31 projects done in October.
That was an ambitious task with the travel I did (17 nights away from home).

Then came Thanksgiving,
and Christmas/Kwanzaa
and then it was friggin' 20112 already!

So let's just carry on shall we?

10 minute project
(not really a project so much as an inspiration post)

You'll need:

electronic viewing device
(computer, smart phone...carrier pigeons not so good for this one)

eyeballs
(for looking)

fingertips
(for typing, scrolling)

You are going to explore alternatives to this:

Traditional Gallery Wall

In pictures:

For the readers:

Everyone and their mama has a gallery wall in their house.
Most variations I have seen,
all focus on the frames
(the shapes, styles, colors, empty or not)
but I wanted to show you some variations on a gallery wall.

Why?

Because if you have ever been to a gallery,
you just might notice the surprisingly FEW
frames they actually have on the wall.

Here are some ideas for variations on a theme:

1. Beginner Art Collection

The focal photograph is a picture I took
at the Center for Wooden Boats Cama Beach opening

To complete: 
I chose a theme (sail boats)
and scoured thrift stores for sketches, water colors, oil paintings and photos.

2. Traveler's Wall

These are all postcards I bought at a Pow Wow
(can't remember if it was in NM or WA)

To Complete:
I took basic dollar store frames,
a sheet of kraft cardstock
and mounted the postcards in each of the frames.

3. Function Meets Form | Calendar Wall

These are all pictures snipped out of an Ansel Adams calendar
that I snagged for free off of FreeCycle.

To Complete:
I tore the photos out of a calendar,
trimmed and inserted into frames
(no matting needed)

4. Starving Artist Supply Wall

These pages were ripped out of a watercoloring book
that I snagged for 75 cents from Goodwill.

To Complete:
I tore the 6 pages out of a vintage lighthouse coloring book
I pegged them straight to the wall with tiny finishing nails

5. High Seas Code Flag Wall

These size 2 code flags were snagged for a steal ($60)
from the 2011 CWB Annual Auction.

(I might or might not have threatened to cut a sister when she tried to outbid me)

To Complete:
Stalk the silent auction at the annual CWB Auction.
Or go all out and buy some from the US Flag Store for $405

I tacked each of my flags to empty frames
(see, upper left corner, you can kind of see some frame poking through).
Finish with an oar above.

6. Vintage Regression Session Coloring Book Wall

These pages were ripped out of a coloring book
that I snagged for 25 cents from Goodwill.

(the pattern? It pays to shop the kidding books at Goodwill)

To Complete:
I tore 24 pages out of a vintage lighthouse coloring book

I pegged them straight to the wall with tiny finishing nails
Clearly, I have a thing for tiny holes in my walls.

 7. Cozy Textile Wall

This throw was one HECK of a find

(ready for it)

at the Goodwill.

Here is how I mangled another textile find, 

here is what I usually look for in the textile sections of thrift stores 

and, one day, I'll blog about what I DIE for

(and spend big for)

in the textile realm.

To Complete:
I ventured bravely into the stinky textile section of my thrift store.
I peeled my eyes off of the usual Indian blankets
and held my nose.
A little dry cleaning
and it is now draped over the upper half wall/railway of my stairs.

8. W3 (Woven Wicker Wall)

These wicker rounds are a long time collection
No round cost more than 3.99, most were only $1 ea if not 50 cents half price.

To Complete:
I waited until I had a sizeable collection (18 of them)

then I eyeballed it and used nails to hang them on the wall
I fill in the gaps as I go along and have JUST started to collect vintage and tribal rounds.

Takes a bit more care to hang those, but they are awesome en masse.

9. Message Board Wall

These letters are an inexpensive way

to take my typography fix to the walls.

I could paint a chalkboard wall,

but some messages are enduring

and everyone has one of those anyhow.

To Complete:
I used a 20% off coupon from JoAnns Fabrics and Crafts
and bought these paper mache 8" letters

This project is actually NOT complete.

I'm going to paint them and properly attach them to the walls.

I'm gridtastick like that, so I actually purposefully

chose a message that resonates

(see the mountain of clothes peaking in on the right)

AND that was easy to evenly space

(4 letters per line).

There you have it.

Some unique takes on Gallery Walls
that go beyond the standard

"look at me, I painted a frame"

approach.

Just. Saying.

Linking up to 
Thrifty Decor Chick's Before and After Party
The Stories of A to Z Tutorials and Tips Party
 

Check out other DIY projects for Busy Gals by clicking the logo above.

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Project 12: Wrapped Yarn Fall Wreath (DIY for Busy Gals)

3 hour project
(2 hours of it making a yarn ball, 45 minutes wrapping a wreath)

You'll need:

Wreath form (I used a hay one)

Yarn (I used two fluffy rolls/skiens?)
Silk/faux/dried fall flowers
glue gun
P.A.T.I.E.N.C.E

You are going to create this:

In pictures:

For the readers:
1. Gather your wreaths (these were all the forms I got at a yardsale for $5)
2. Grab your yarn (mine was on clearance at the Salvation Army)
3. Grab your fall picks and florals
4. Take 2 hours (non-knitters) to wrap your yarn into a ball.
Trust me, wrapping your wreath is far less frustrating this way.

5. Use the ball of yarn to wrap, over and over and over and over and over and over
 and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
 and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
 and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
 and over and over and over and over and over and over

You get the point.
6. Halfway there. Fingers are cramped at this point.
7. So cramped that I just threw some stuff together for the floral arrangement
8. Farther out shot of your prowess
9. Perched up on the mantel, call it done.

Variation 1 is on the books.

Such a cozy little wreath.
She can withstand temps down to -47 degrees celsius.
No, I have not tested that.

Check out what's to come with 31 DIY projects for Busy Gals by clicking the log above.

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