Beach Lovers Terrarium...

This would have to be the most effective table top DIY ever!

In 10 minutes a plain glass fishbowl vase

 visuals into a tropical beach scene.

I love this so much!

But then I am a bit of a sucker for beach themed styling.

 YOU WILL NEED:
A glass fishbowl
(this one is from KMart - cost $10)

White sand
(I used 1/2 a bag of aquarium sand - cost $19.97 and still have have a bag left for another project.)


Air Plant
I had this already but they cost about $12 to buy

Crystal Rock
The quartz I had - (found on top of Takaka Hill in Golden Bay, New Zealand)
 Malachite rock - $12 on TradeMe
Shell
Beach found.

TO CREATE:
Put white sand in the base of the fish bowl.


Position rocks, air plant and shell into desired position.
DONE!


I'm totally crushing on Malachite rock...

with those gorgeous green and aqua colours.

In love with...
the beach...
shells...
interesting rocks ?


Then this easy to create Beach Lovers Terrarium is for you.
It's also a superb 'Beach lovers' Christmas gift idea too.

#airplant #beachy #beachdecor #terrarium #crystals
#rock #sand #fishbowl

DIY French Styled Jewellery Box...

From THIS...

 To THIS!

Using THIS...

THIS...

 And THESE!

 After removing the old wooden knobs,
sanding back the old paint...

 The box and drawers were painted in Annie Sloan 'Duck Egg' Chalk paint.

 Once the paint was dry I measured a piece of this pretty decoupage paper 
and mod podged (glued) it to the top of the box.

Then painted a layer of mod podge over the top of the paper.

The wood was waxed.
And the shiny new knobs screwed on.
Quite a transformation - 
from that unkind green colour to duck egg blue sweetness.

#chalkpaint #upcycle

Spring Flower Basket...

What do you do with a basket from a hamper gift

 when you have baskets literally coming out your ears?

Upcycle it of course!

 I spray painted the basket in a soft grey.

This also gives it a little bit more water repelling protection.

 From Bunnings I bought ready to plant annual pots.

A Pansy, sweet alyssum, and two polyanthus.

 Next I lined the basket with a heavy clear plastic, 

and poked drainage holes in the bottom.

 A good quality potting mix filled it.

And the plants planted.

It's such a pretty way to display flowering garden plants, and it looks fabulous on my deck step!

It also a wonderful idea for a gift for someone special.

 It upcycles and utilises a basket that would have probably been lost and forgotten in the storage shed.

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#upcycling #pottedplantideas #basketupcycle

Actually I Can...

A simple 

But

Powerful little message...

#quote #quotes #inspirational

Baileys Fudge Sauce, Ice Cream & Choc Leaves...

What's your favourite ice cream sauce topping?

Caramel - sweet or salted?

Berry?

Fruit?

White chocolate?

Mine is Bailey's Fudge Sauce!

More for the Adults.

If serving the chocolate sauce to children, simply leave out the Bailey's Irish Cream.

It's such an easy one to whip up:

Baileys Fudge Sauce:

In a pot over very low heat, stir until combined and creamy.

20 grams butter

190 grams of Dark Chocolate Melts

1/2 cup of fresh cream.

Just before serving.

Warm the sauce then add 1 tablespoon Baileys Liqueur.

How to Make Chocolate Leaves:

Wash and dry small camelia leaves.

These are a naturally waxy leaf so the chocolate does not stick to them.

Melt chocolate and spread with a knife onto the leaf.

Place onto wax paper and leave to set.

Once set, slowly and carefully peel off the leaf.

You will be left with the leaf shape and vein patterning.

In a parfait glass place two scoops of vanilla ice cream, 
top with Bailey's fudge sauce, and a chocolate leaf.

Printable recipe link HERE.

Then serve...
Molto delizioso!
(very delicious)

GRAB A COFFEE AND POP OVER TO MY GIFT STORES AT

FINE ART AMERICA

SAATCHI ART

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#chocolateleaves #fudgesauce #icecreamsundae

The New 'AQUA Clock...

You know what it's like when you get a new decor piece...

things have a strange way of totally changing up.

When I replaced my failing 'worst time keeper ever' black and white clock with a new one, that is what happened.

Because the clock was black and white,

 the decor pieces below it were black and white!

And Grandmas old china cabinet held my collected china in yellow,white and green.

Then along came the new AQUA clock...

Nothing like a bit of colour to brighten things up!

So the pieces on the top and inside of the cabinet

 morphed into white and aqua...

The yellow, white and green china moved into the white french cabinet,

and the aqua that was there moved into Grandma's china cabinet.

Aqua has to be one of my most favourite colours.

I have collected these pieces over many years...

And the watercolour painting of 'my eye', 
just adds a bit of fun to the display.



#aqua #aquacollection