DIY Stenciled Patio

I have been rolling through some home projects.  These are the bright ideas I had when I had no time to do them.  In these last few months, I have been fortunate to plan, create and make my ideas come to life. Watch my quick video.

Our back patio was sooooo boring.  It is old and stained but structurally in good condition.  It was just not pretty to look at. I have been researching different techniques on how to spruce it up. I thought my best option was to stencil a faux area rug.  I am into farmhouse decor and settled on something white with a simple pattern. I figured it would mask the bland concrete.  I did like the natural concrete color and some areas that blue grey flecks poked through the warn areas was interesting to me.

I was not happy with any stencil I found in the stores.  I figured this is a job for my Adobe Illustrator skills and something for my trusty Cricut. Creating a stencil was not as easy as I first thought. You need to be precise on all 4 sides.  I mean exactly the same, people! I drew out a design, created a vector in Illustrator and cut it out a million times on card stock before it was perfect. I had some Folk Art Stencil Plastic that I loaded into my Cricut. I cut it with a Deep Cutting Blade 11.5" x 11.5" and I was ready to go.

I gave my patio a good power washing and gathered my supplies while I was waiting for the patio to completely dry. It was a super hot day so it only took an hour or so. I had my husband helped lay out exactly the center and we snapped a few chalk lines.  This is the key to making sure it all matches up. I got lazy on a row and a few squares did not line up perfectly.  This could have derailed me but I kept pushing on. I kept telling myself, it does not have to look perfect, it's hand made! The stenciling process is not hard but hard on your butt and knees and back and neck.  It took many, many hours sitting in a crunched position. I did row after row after row until I completed it.

What I learned along the way...

1. Wash your stencil brush periodically.  The paint dries and it will ruin your brush. 

2. Have more than one stencil. After a row, soak your stencil in hot water to soften the paint and keep stenciling with the duplicate stencil.  If there was not a pandemic and Micheal's was open, I would have cut lots more stencils and not even taken the time to clean them.  It is very time consuming!

3. Have a pillow or old towel on hand to sit or kneel on. It will save some aches and pains.

4. Measure and chalk straight lines. Don't try to eye ball it because an 1/8" of an inch multiplies over the length of the patio.

5. Have a small dust broom on hand for the occasional leaf or ant that walks by.

After days and many hours of hard work, I am gonna seal the paint with a concrete sealer.  I did not do this yet because the weather is not cooperating. It is not necessary, but it was a lot of time and I want it to last.

Thanks for keeping up with all my projects!

Stay Safe,

Stacy

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Farmhouse Style Decor

I love creating something from nothing. Especially when I can use chalk paints and my Cricut. I used a vintage wooden window frame for a command center. My husband helped me make a narrow box to hold chalk and important papers. I created stencils for the days of the week.

I built a board-and-batten shutter from reclaimed wood.  This is perfect for narrow wall spaces or could be nicely paired with a grouping of frames. I decorated a small wreath for Christmas and tea dyed red-striped ribbon (because the white was too new looking). They both could be swapped out for the seasons. Both items are available for sale.

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Holiday Decor Not Only for the Holiday

I have specific things I decorate for Christmas. Then I have things that I keep out and decorate with no matter the season. I love to be surrounded by pretty things that I create. It makes me happy.  These are a few of my favorite things I created and have in my home. The welcome banner is a small detail in my kitchen adorns the open shelving. I used a drop cloth and painted it with chalk paint.  When it dried, I cut and assembled it with jute. I used my Cricut to make a welcome iron-on.

I created this craft paper scroll for my daughter and loved it! So I created a second one. For low cost, it makes a big impact. This is something I can recreate fast to change with the seasons. I hand-lettered craft paper and attached a thin piece of stained pine. It frames the quote and helps it to hang straight. I will be making a few Christmas-themed ones soon.

This gate is my favorite thing I have made from reclaimed wood. If you love the farmhouse look, you need one for your wall. I found these old hinges at a local antique store. I love the patina on them. Hang a seasonal wreath off of it and you are good-to-go whatever the time of year.

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How to Make A Rope Basket

This summer we visited Ottawa.  It is a beautiful city.  We did all the touristy things; visited the Parliament building, saw the changing of the guard and checked out the Rideau Canal.  After we headed to the shopping district, we had lunch at an outdoor pub and did a little shopping in the street market.  My daughter picked up a rope bowl for her kitchen table from a booth selling African crafts.  It was rope sewn together with tread.  I was intrigued by this and wondered if I can make it myself.  When I got home, I took to Pinterest.  There are lots of ideas on rope bowls and baskets.  There is no easy way of learning something new unless I actually do it.  Here is what I did.

What you need to start this project:

A bowl or bucket to use as a guide

Hot glue gun & glue sticks

Scissors

Rope (I purchased mine from Lowe's)

Optional items:

An old leather belt (Thrift store find, $3.99)

Round headed fasteners (brass brads)  (Staples)

Hammer & Hole Punch (Making Memories)

Carpet knife & cutting board

1. Gather your materials.  Heat up glue gun.

Cut the end of the rope clean and hot glue the end so it doesn't fray.

2. Begin twisting it around and glueing between each row as you go. Use the bottom of your bucket or bowl to guide you so it stays flat and tight.  Do not glue it to the bowl or bucket.  Some glue might get on it so when it cools, make sure it is not stuck.  

3. Work up the sides to desired height.  Remember to keep the glue from sticking to your bucket or bowl.  If you run out of rope and need more, cut the end of the rope clean and hot glue the end so it doesn't fray. Continue by gluing the two ends together. Once you achieve the desired height, cut the rope and glue the end so it doesn't fray. Tack it with hot glue in the inside.

4. These next steps are optional.  I knew I wanted leather handles on mine.  I found a belt at my local thrift store for $3.99.  I cut the belt with a carpet knife.  The leather was too thick for scissors.  I punched holes in them for the brass brads.

5. I pushed the tabs of the brad between a row of rope.  You might need to use something sharp, like scissors to help punch threw some of the glue.

6. Once you have it positioned, add a little hot glue on the back side of the leather to secure it.

That is it.  Be careful not to burn yourself with the glue.  

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