Coffee Anyone... Planter

Isn't this huge coffee cup and sauces planter adorable!!
I had my eye on this for a while now at our local nursery Vanderwees.
They gave out fake money when I purchased my plants and out door decor earlier in the season and Thursday was the last day I could cash them in...plus this was on sale :)

I let Kristy pick out the colour of the flower and brought everything out to the cottage to plant it there :)
Being as it is a pretty big planter, I needed something to fill up some space as not to use so much soil.
We have an abundance of pinecones in the yard at camp, so I gathered a few handfuls to take up some space.
I also put a coffee filter in the bottom to cover the drain hole.
Then added soil and some moss on top hoping that it will keep in the moisture since it only gets watered on the weekends....I will find out when we go back to camp if this worked ;)

Doesn't this look so cute on my bistro table on our deck :)
Being that I don't drink coffee or tea, this is a perfect use for any type of tea or coffee cup :)

I hope you all have a very creative day :)

Tracy :)

Wind Turbine Vent Planter

Another planter at the cottage and another small thing that made me so happy :)
I needed to improve on my planter from a few years ago...for one thing, it needed to be repainted as it had faded from the sun.
Second the soil dried out pretty quickly as it only gets watered during the weekend.
Thirdly, the landscape fabric I put in to keep the soil from falling out of the blades, would shimmy down over the summer.
Time for late night planning, as that is where all of my ideas come to me :)

Here is the new and improved planter :)

So lets start at the beginning...
I found this old wind turbine vent at the cottage dump a few years ago....it did not look this good when I first picked it up.
Again Wayne didn't say anything....but he may have rolled his eyes at me, teehee.
After we straightened a few of the fan blades, I got Wayne to paint it the same colour as the planter from yesterday's post.

I grabbed this soft plastic trash can I was going to put in the dump and cut it to size so it would fit in the turbine without sticking up to high.
I also drilled in some drainage holes and added some coffee filters so the soil wouldn't fall out.
I then got Wayne to paint the top of the container (trash can). I just needed the top painted as the bottom can't be seen...and why waste paint, right ;)

I went for a nice quad ride to pick some moss from the bush and wrapped it around the inside of the turbine in between that and the container.

See how the moss peeks out from the gaps in the vents :)
I love that!

I planted my bedding flowers and lastly added my shims around the bottom of the turbine...turned planter to keep it level and from tipping over :)

Didn't this turn out cute!!!
I think it looks better than last years, don't you?
I was so happy, I did another little dance ;)

Tracy :)

Its the Small things...planter insert.

I get excited about the smallest things....I mean really excited!!!
I actually danced when this all came together...now let me explain.

I picked up this wooden planter from my dad's apartment many years ago.
There was a garbage shed and anything the tenants thought someone may be able to use, they would place it beside the shed, instead of in it.
Much to my husbands dismay, I grabbed this wooden planter.
I got Wayne to paint it this deep burgundy colour.
But to find a container to fit in here, so I could plant some flowers was no small feat.
Wayne found some empty windshield washer containers and we added some scrap wood to lay on the bottom of the planter and then planted my flowers in the containers.
This year when I took out the windshield washer containers....they crumbled apart.
So what to do????

I searched and searched around the camp, looking for a better inner container to plant my flowers in.
I found a couple of dish pans (which I don't use) and it fit almost perfectly.
I got Wayne to give it a bit of paint to match the planer itself (as it can be seen around the edge) and then drilled in some drainage holes.

I added a few coffee filters so the soil wouldn't clog up the drainage holes and added my soil.
Now look how perfectly the dish pan fits!!!!
Seriously...this made me so flippin' happy!!!
Don't you just love when things come together so wonderfully :)

Lastly add my flowers.
Yes, its the little things that make me so happy :)

What small thing has made you happy this week?

I hope you all have a very creative day :)

Tracy :)

2nd Front Flower Bed completed.

The rain stopped so I went out to play in the dirt ;)

This is how it looked like before I weeded.

I first had to weed the driveway part....in front of the cement blocks.

Looks like a mini jungle doesn't it?!

Looks better already.
And that is just from weeding outside of the flower bed, lol.

Look at all of those weeds.
I filled up this big bucket with weeds.
I also trimmed the shrubs.
The Dogwood was dead last year, looks like it came back to life :)

Now isn't that a lot prettier :)

I picked up another planter from the nursery.

I was going to plant my own, but it was actually less pricey to buy one already done!

Bonus, save money and my time ;)

I just love these flowers so bright and pretty :)
I picked up this stand where the planter just sits in the ring at the top once it is locked into place.

I made this sign years ago when I was big into woodworking and decorative painting.
I have one for each season.
Looks like it may need a redo though... but it has weathered quite well.

My SIL bought me this plain birdhouse.
It is made out of balsa wood, so not very weather resistant.
But I painted it and sealed it.
I loved this, as I painted it Debbie Mumm style...love her artwork.
I have to do some touch ups...or retire it.
Every year I have to glue it back together as the pieces separate....I guess I really should bring it in for the winter.

So that is what I did today.
Took care of another flower bed.
The rate I'm going they should all be in tip top shape just as winter rolls around, lol.

Funny story:
I needed to cut the lawn, with all of the rain we have been getting my lawn looks like a field.
I couldn't get the lawn mower started (this is an ongoing debate with my honey and I)
Later in the day a man comes to the door and asks me if I need help cutting my lawn.
I know he was looking for work...but how embarrassing that he knew to come to my house as the neighbours lawns are all nicely manicured.
When Wayne got home I made him start up the lawn mower for me, lol.

I hope you have a very creative day and get to enjoy the beautiful weather :)

Tracy :)

Abundance of Flowers

About 10,000 or so more and I should be good to go :)

For the last couple of days, I have been making 100's….or at least it feels like 100's of these tiny little flowers.
These are part of one of the Bridal Shower projects I am doing for Ashley's Shower.

Poor Ashley was really sick with a bad cold this week and stayed home on Tuesday.
Tyler, Ashley's fiance, was off work, so took care of her.
He had to work the rest of the week, so I asked Ashley "Well who will take care of my baby?"
Ashley's response…"Mommy :)"
So I brought Ashley cold remedies.
I also brought all of the supplies to make these tiny flowers as I took care of my Ashley ;)
But I also put her to work ;)
Since we were both just sitting on the couch, I got her to punch the tissue paper and I made the flowers….all while we watched some shows.

Off to make some more tiny flowers.
I hope you all had a very Creative Day :)

Tracy :)

Marking my flowers

I have planned to move these lilies for a couple of years now, but when the time comes for me to do it, I have a dilemma.

I bought these in a mixed pack many, many years ago.

I guess the manufactures mixed pack, consisted of orange and yellow.
My two least favourite colours.
Not only that, but when I first planted them, I didn't know which bulb was what colour.

Now how to rectify my problem?
I want to group these colours.
It gives more of an impact to group the colours together.
So first thing I have to do is try to find a way to mark these flowers so I know which colours they are when I transplant them.
Because I can't do this until the fall, the petals will be gone so it will be impossible to figure out which colour is which.
I know many gardeners (which I am not) take a photo of their flower beds for this reason…but this won't work for me….too many of the same flowers mixed up.

Bread clips to the rescue ;)
I have been saving these things for I don't know how long and I have no idea why…a craft project perhaps ;)
But they have come in handy to mark the colours of my lilies.
I use a sharpie marker and mark an O=orange. or Y=yellow…but I guess you figured that out on your own.
Then I put the bread clip/tie to the stem of the flower.
It doesn't harm the flower and even if the leaves fall off, the clip will just slid down to the bottom of the stem…..at least that is my theory.
I will let you know how it goes in the fall ;)

My dad and stepmom, Doreen are in from out of town and came for a bit of a visit this afternoon.
Looking forward to seeing more of them this weekend :)

Hope you all had a Creative Day :)

Tracy :)

Using my Big Boy camera

Ok, here they are.
Here are some of the photos I took with my "big boy" camera.
Don't get to excited, as all of these photos are taken in auto mode.
The camera that I am using is a Canon 50D, that my husband passed on to me when he got a bigger and better camera for himself.

Here is my peony flower.
I just love, love this colour.
This was my MIL's plant. When she passed away my FIL told me to take it, as he didn't want to cut around it anymore, so it has a special place in my heart, as did she.

This here is just a really pretty wild flower I have growing in my flower beds.

I ran out of things in the yard to take photos of, so I went searching for some victims willing participants….my daughter Kristy and her boyfriend Blake ;)
The were willing ;)
My Kristy is tiny like me, I noticed in this photo that I should have taken the photo a little lower so her head doesn't look like its floating, teehee.

I think Blake was getting a bit bored, lol.

When we made our fence 19 yrs ago, I got Wayne to cut a heart out of each gate.
I thought this made a cute background for Kristy and Blake.
The have been dating for 4 yrs.

I think they were both getting a bit bored and silly by the time I took this one, lol.

I can't wait until my family from out of town comes for a visit.
I have 2 young nephews to take photos of.
Looking forward to my next photo shoot, wonder who will be my next victims…I mean subjects ;)

Hope you all had a Creative Day :)

Tracy :)

Flower Day

Awwww summer planting…I love it.
I am not good with what plants or flowers grow good in which areas.
I think I have inherited my mother's black thumb.
I remember when HGTV had garden shows on Saturday morning. I would sit down with my little note book and watch Mark Cullen and take notes.
Then Wayne my little girls and I would go outside and we would get to work on our yard.
I have to say I think I was better at the hard labour than I was with keeping my plants alive ;)

If you remember from last year this post here, I redid my whole front flower bed, by "little ol' me" pulling out the large cedar bush, and replanting.
I planted a few flowers in here this year, but am rethinking my flower bed again.
I planted some Hosta's in here last night, but they are not doing so well, they are so so tiny.
Then I look across the street at my neighbour's Hosta's and they are gigantic.
I think I need a professional gardener, lol.

Oh and look at this little fella.
I am not looking forward to seeing more, but I hear they are on their way.
This is an Army Worm or Tent Caterpillar.
We have had them before and they will clean out a forest of their leaves in no time.
I remember you could actually hear them crunching on the leaves as there were so many of them.
When driving on the highway, it looked like the highway was moving, but it were these guys marching across the highway.
It was gross.

 I don't want to leave you with that thought in your head, so I will share the beautiful Lilacs Kristy picked for me.
She knows I love the smell and look of these beautiful blooms, so she picked me some.
My living room smells so nice :)

Debbie and I don't walk on Thursday's or Fridays, so Kristy and I went for a short walk tonight.
Kristy knows I am having fun with this Map my Walk app, so she said we can't retrace our steps.
My phone died (story of my life) so I am not sure how accurate tonights walk was.
But I did enjoy walking with my Kristy :)

Hope you had a Creative Day :)

Tracy :)

Hospital visit and planting Flowers

Went flower shopping with Kristy and Ashley today.
But first….

We came home early from the cottage today because yesterday Wayne hurt his wrist.
When we were riding our quads on the trail, Wayne turned to see where I was and as he turned his head, he hit a stump and banged his wrist on the handle bar.
He hit it so hard he heard a snap and thought he broke it.
Yes I said that this took place yesterday, afternoon.
His wrist was bent and he had a large lump on the top of it.

So off to Emerg. we went.
I was so impressed that we were only there for a little over an hour.
I have heard of others being there for over 9 hours!!!
I think the doctor and the nurse were both surprised that it wasn't broken. But what he did do was tear his tendon.
Luckily he just has to ice it and try not to use it. So he has had a tensor bandage on it to keep it in place.

Because Wayne was such a good boy for the doctor, I treated him for dinner at Applebees :)

As soon as Wayne and I got back from our early dinner, Ashley came by to pick me up to go plant shopping.
Then we had to go and pick up soil for her flower bed and then plant her new plants.

Now she can't wait for them to flower :)

I didn't get my walk in tonight, but I did get to work out a bit by working in the flower bed ;)

Hope you had a Creative Day :)

Tracy :)

Defunkifying my Flowers

I had shared with you before I how organize or I should say re-organized my flowers.
So far, so good.
It is still working great for me.
I like that I can see through these containers.

I also like that they are thin…so I can only keep a limited amount of flowers in each container ;)
They stack nicely, but I store them upright…easier to pick the colour I want without having to move them around.
They are the thin Iris containers, I purchased them from Michaels.
I was suppose to use these containers for re-organizing my wood stamps….guess I need to pick up some more, teehee.

I made a video explaining this in more detail ;)
I hope you all had a creative Tuesday :)

Tracy :)

Organizing my Flowers

While I was on a 2hour phone call with a friend, I decided to clean my scrap room.
My desk may be clean and organized, but the floor is not.
Well guess what I did instead???

Organized my flowers.
I really didn't think I had that many flowers.
But as I was putting them in these containers, I kept finding more in other places of my room, lol.
Now how does that happen ;)
I love that they are so nicely contained and organized.

I hope that is all of my flowers :)

I have a bin for my just my whites.
And one just for my pinks.
One for my blues and purples.
One for my browns, beiges and blacks.
And lastly one for my orange, yellow, green and reds.
I think storing them this way will be so much easier to find the ones I want….and hopefully I will use
them more.























Here are the containers I used.
I picked them up at Michaels to re- re-organize my wood stamps, lol. Yes you read that correctly re-reorganize.
I organized my wood stamps, but I think I found a better way :)
These are the thin containers.
Funny as they are twice the price of the thicker, bigger ones.

I am thinking of making a watermark on some of my photos.
So I was playing around with some app. on my phone.
Not liking this so far…but hopefully will get it how I like it some day soon ;)

I hope you all had a very creative Monday :)

Tracy :)