Welcome to my blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I believe that everyone can have a beautiful home without spending a fortune! One of my favorite things to do is find creative ways to re-purpose things I already have on hand, or have picked up at yard sales and thrift stores. Join me as I share with you some of my favorite ideas for crafting and decorating, as well as travel adventures, and fun things that I pick up on my treasure hunts! Much of my work is influenced by my love all things French, nature, and of course shabby chic! I have gotten so many creative ideas from you very talented bloggers out there, and I hope that I can be an inspiration to you as well!

Monday, January 28, 2013

French Valentine Peat Pot

Bonjour Mes Amis!
I've been having so much fun creating little peat pots for Valentine's Day!  Last week I shared with you a bunch that I made in more traditional colors of pink and red.  Well, you know how much I love all things French, and that blue and white is my favorite color combo.  So I could hardly wait to make a little Valentine peat pot with a French twist!

After painting the pot white and lightly dusting it with glitter, the fun part of embellishing began!  I stitched up a cute little ruffle out of blue crepe paper.  This time I wizened up, and sewed the ruffle from a double layer of the crepe paper. This worked so much better than the single layer ruffle, as that was  fragile and tended to rip too easily as I was stitching it up.  I still had some of my tiny light aqua blue pom pom trim left
 (isn't is just darling?), so that was added to the top edge.  Oh, before all of that, I fashioned a little handle by twisting two iridescent pipe cleaners together.
 The cute little heart was made by gluing a snippet from a vintage French book page to a heart which I cut from chipboard.  And of course I just had to add a generous dusting of glitter!  A decorative brad with an aqua center made the perfect embellishment for the center, I think!
 Then began the fun part of filling the little pot with glittery goodness!  I printed out my very favorite vintage Valentine image from the Graphics Fairy (love those sweet little birds!), and mounted it onto chipboard, that I first covered with a vintage French book page.  More glitter, a cute little silver fleur de lis charm, blue and white baker's twine, and a teeny tiny clothes pin were all added.
 A sweet little German glass glitter birdie decided to perch in the basket, too! He's nestled in amongst shredded vintage French book pages.
I also added a few tiny white silk flowers, that I dusted in glitter.  'Cause you know my old saying: 
 "You can never have too much glitter!"

 I had so much fun creating this little pot!  I guess you could say that peat pots are my latest addiction!
 Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I also added a white glittered sprig, as well as a puffy white glittered heart.
 The puffy heart was actually left over from my red and pink basket projects, and started out life all red and glittery!  Of course that wouldn't work for my Frenchy pot, so I painted it!  Yep, I painted over the red heart with a thick coat of white, then sprinkled on a generous dusting of clear Martha Stewart coarse glitter, my favorite "go to" glitter!  So remember that if a craft supply isn't fitting in with your project, you don't necessarily need to make a mad dash back to the craft store!  Don't be afraid to change it up in some way, with paint or whatever else strikes your fancy!
 Ok, this last shot has absolutely nothing to do with my peat pot, but I just couldn't resist sharing!
We have a heated bird bath just off our back deck.  Hubby and I really enjoy sitting in our sun room watching all of the birds that stop by for a visit to our many feeders, and to get a drink at the birdbath.  Well, yesterday we were treated to a flock of bluebirds in our back yard!  I quickly grabbed the camera, trying not to startle them (they are so shy!), and was able to get this shot before they all flew off!
How cool is that?!
Hope you all have a great week, thanks for visiting!
Linking up with Timewashed for Blissful Whites Wednesday. Be sure to visit for tons of inspiring ideas!

19 comments:

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

It does not have to be pink or red as long as it was made with love!
Gorgeous, great great idea.

Susie said...

Donna, I love those peat pots...decorated the way only you can decorate them. The glass bird is cute. Your bluebird picture is wonderful. Once we had a bunch of bluebird come through and they got into the gutter on the shed to bathe. I had told my husband that downspout was clogged.LOL xoxo,Susie

Shabby Brocante, Karen said...

Aww, so pretty. I just want to go home and create!! My job is fairly easy and I enjoy it, but it does take away form creative time! LOL I have never created wtih peat pots. I love the look. I have made some tussie mussies...I love the little pom pom trim. I just got some at Michael's. Thanks for all the great ideas!
Karen

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

Love your pot - it is so PRETTY!
I really don't do anything for Valentines day but all of you have put me in the mood. Have some ideas - so I'm off to Dollar Tree.
Great blog - thanks so much
Mary

Blondie's Journal said...

This is just so charming! You are really getting some great ideas for the peat pots. I LOVE that little valentine! And yes, pour that glitter on!

I love bluebirds...we don't see them much around here though. They are so sweet!

XO,
Jane

Susan EvelynAndRose said...

Pretty peat pot with the best color combo - blue and white! Love that sweet birdie inside, Donna, as well as the real blue birds in your last photo. They're so beautiful!

Okio B Designs said...

You are right! Once again we are on the same wavelength Donna. =) Love your peat pot! You asked me about the tissue paper - I tape mine to a sheet of cardstock and then run it through the printer. Cut your tissue paper a little smaller than the cardstock and then tape the edges. Let me know how you make out!

Jeanine

Connie said...

Donna, you have just went and done it again . . . amazed us with your gorgeous peat moss pots.
I love them :)
Your blogging sister, Connie :)

NanaDiana said...

Oh, Donna- Oh My! Noone does glitter better than you do- You have the sweetest "take" on things- it is like you put a little bit of your sweetness in everything you do! I just love it all!!!

I see you have a new header and I love that, too, You are MUCH braver than I am- xo Diana

Musings from Kim K. said...

Love the french blue as a twist on the tradition red/white valentine. It's so YOU! What a great shot of the blue birds.

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Great photo! Heated birdbath, I can't imagine why they would ever leave! I love your peat pot and that is on my spring to do list

Carol

20 North Ora said...

Your peat pots are so cute! They look so romantic and Frenchy!!

Judy

Debbie said...

I think I like this basket best of all! LOVE the colors in it!! Beautiful!!!
You are so detailed in everything you do, Donna.
The photo of the Bluebirds is amazing!
xxoo

Little Miss Maggie said...

This is so sweet and I love the variation from the traditional red. This is good the whole year round.

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Love the french twist, Donna.

Kadee Willow said...

What a wonderful way to end your post with that perfect shot of the bluebirds! You were lucky to capture them! And besides loving blue, you are truly the glitter queen. I was almost going to ask you what glitter you use but you kindly told us in the post. Need to check Michael's for a coupon and then I'm off to buy some. Thanks for the tip!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I would absolutely have flipped over seeing all the bluebirds. I enjoy watching birds, although we don't get bluebirds here in Phoenix.

Anonymous said...

This is just adorable, what a sweet idea, love the blue color for a change from tradiditional red or pink!

PattieJ said...

LOVE your peat pots!! I'm pinning this!!;)