{DIY} Easter Egg Topiary

Hello, Hello! Okay so y'all know I've been going crazy with the Easter decorations lately. I just shared with you my Easter themed mantle (the BIG fireplace reveal) and included that I would break down the topiaries into how-to tutorials.

First up is the Easter Egg Topiary. I really didn't have anything to go off of. I was just trying to use stuff that either I had on hand, or wouldn't cost an arm and a leg to purchase. Now, I'm all about convenience. I know that a lot of you have easy access to Hobby Lobby, Micheal's, etc. I don't. My nearest Hobby Lobby is about 25 minutes away or so (not that far) BUT I am a stay at home Mom. I always have kids with me....I learned my lesson the hard way.

Hobby Lobby is NOT a place for curious little boys. I never realized how many breakable items they had until I brought my kids. WOW. I think the whole time I was in there, I was a frantic mess. I think Wyatt ran loose through the store and I found him in the floral section. Anyways, y'all get the idea. So, while at Wal-Mart (my mini vacation site...sometimes I sit in the patio chairs in the outdoor section and pretend I'm on a private beach in Hawaii), I visited the craft section. Y'all, let me tell ya, Wal-Mart's gettin' it together with their craft section. I found these cute little pre-made topiaries. I knew immediately that I could do something with them!

Here we go:

I got the pots from the dollar store. Don't forget to take the stickers off!

 

 

Next, I painted and distressed them with chalk paint- Annie Sloan Versailles. No prep work required. Just start painting!

 

 

Then get your cute little topiary from Wally World

 

 

And start hot gluing Easter eggs on it. I chose to go in a diagonal with my eggs, but you can place them however you want. Also, I bought plastic Easter eggs. You can totally buy the more expensive ones, but I was being cheap. After you hot glue all the eggs on, fill in the spaces with Spanish moss (I bought mine at the dollar store). Sorry I don't have a picture of this. It's not hard, just grab a bunch of moss, then hot glue it on. Easy as that.

 

 

Then you're done! Isn't it adorable?! For the price, you can't beat it. Also, I chose to hot glue on some burlap ribbon. You don't have to do this. I had some on hand, so I used it.

 

 

 

 

 Linking with:

Ivy and Elephants

Savvy Southern Style

No Minimalist Here

From My Front Porch To Yours

 

{Moonshine Monday}

Hey Guys! I hope y'all had a fabulous weekend. The weather here in Arkansas was pretty nice- sunny and the high today was 60 degrees! Crazy considering that just a few days ago, we got a little ice and snow. The weather here is definitely a little bi-polar. So just a little while ago, I shared with you my fireplace reveal- I hope you'll check it out...I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

Okay, so onto Moonshine Monday! :)

 

 

Here are this week's lovely features:

 

Life on Lakeshore Drive shared this awesome little basket transformation. How cute is this? Very creative, too. This could have multiple uses, including holding blankets in your living room. Love!

 

Ummm, is it me or are you really hungry now? The Best Blog Recipes shared this yummy twist on spaghetti and pizza by combining them to create...Pizzetti! I'm sure this will please a crowd...and kids that are picky eaters.

 

Lake Girl Paints shared this awesome, simple tutorial for making rope handles. This is very Pottery Barn-esque and super cute. What I love is that it's classic and could be used for adult and kid spaces.

 

Ladies, if you were featured, feel free to grab a button!

 

Y'all have fun! I can't wait to see what everyone has been up to!

 

~Fireplace Reveal~

Hey Y'all! Okay, so I am very excited to share with you my fireplace reveal. I talked to you recently about how my living room was under attack by the color brown. Seriously, though...it was under attack. You can read the post here. I mentioned incorporating more white to give my living room a fresh new look. I chose to start my transition with my fireplace. You will see in the original pictures that it is a funky color wood- it may look pretty in the pictures but it did not work in the space against the paint color as well as the granite. It needed to pop. I chose to paint it Annie Sloan's Old White with a hint of a dark wax over it. I could not be happier with how it turned out! What do you think?

{Before}

 

 

{After}

 

 

I plan on giving you the complete tutorial for these Easter, Spring-inspired topiaries. Both are very easy to make and really give your space that Pottery Barn look and feel. How cute are my little bunnies?!

 

See y'all shortly for Moonshine Monday! I can't wait to share with you who is featured. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. So hurry up and finish your house chores & cooking so you can watch the Oscars with me and share your latest projects!

 

~Smooches~

Amber

 

Linking with...

The Best Blog Recipes

DIY Show Off

Alderberry Hill

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

The Dedicated House

Cozy Little House

Creative Cain Cabin

PJH Designs One of a Kind

Savvy Southern Style

Ivy and Elephants

No Minimalist Here

 

 

{Moonshine Monday}

Hello Ladies! I am SO loving all of the projects that have been linked up over the past few weeks. They are just oozing with creativity and inspiration. I really appreciate each one of you for linking up. Please remember to link back to me so others can join in on the fun!


Featured this week is Redoux Interiors with this lovely little table transformation.

 

Is this not the cutest table? It's very "leggy". LOVE. Go check out this inspiring blog for more on this table transformation. You won't be disappointed.

 

Alright folks, onto the party! :)

 

 

 

Spring is on the Way: {DIY} Easter Tree

Hey Guys! Did you have a good weekend? I know I did! I got a lot accomplished including cleaning and creating fun little projects like this DIY Easter tree. I swear if you go in my garage, I have at least 5 projects going...please tell me I'm not the only one that does this??

Okay, so I've never really been one to decorate for Easter but with my little Jesus lovin' babies getting older, NOW is the time to start. I'm questioning why I never decorated for this special holiday before??

Anyways, I've seen a gazillion Easter trees before but none quite like this. My goal was to use as much stuff that I already had on hand. I had the white branches (got them for $1 after Christmas), the bucket, and well...read on to see what else I had on hand after my project went south. I purchased the flowers and moss at the dollar store. The burlap ribbon was purchased at Wal-Mart.

Okay, here we go:

 

I gathered all my items (burlap and moss not pictured...sorry!). Next, I went to put everything in my bucket....the problem was that I forgot to buy some styrofoam to stick my branches in. Crap! I hate when this happens. This is where we start to go south and I have to resort to my "redneck" ways to complete the project.

 

 

SOOO.....I grabbed a big'ole cup and stuck it in the middle of the bucket, then used everything I had on hand to hold the cup in place. I started by cramming deco mesh in the very bottom of the bucket, then topped it with tissue paper..I did a lot of cramming to get everything nice and snug. Then I got a twist tie and wrapped it around the branches for extra support.

 

Last, I topped it with moss and wrapped my burlap ribbon around the bucket. Finally, I added Easter eggs. This project took every bit of 15-20 mintues to throw together. It would have been faster had I purchased the styrofoam :)

 

 

The best part about it is that when Easter is over, I can just take off the eggs and BAM- it's a spring tree:)

 

See y'all in just a bit for Moonshine Monday!

~Amber~ 

 

 

Linking with:

 

 

 

Alderberry Hill- Make the Scene Monday

Mod Vintage Life- Mod Mix Monday

Fireflies and Jellybeans

Say Not Sweet Anne

Creative Cain Cabin

Cozy Little House

Savvy Southern Style- Wow Us Wednesdays

No Minimalist Here- Open House Thursday

PJH Designs- Transformed Tuesday

                                               
                                              

~Liebster Award~

Hey Friends! So, on Valentine's Day, I was awarded the Liebster Award from Magali at The Little White House On The Seaside. Liebster, in German, means endearing, valued, lovely, etc. You get the idea. This award is presented as a way to acknowledge up and coming bloggers and to help them be recognized for their outstanding accomplishments within design that is presented on their blog.

 

Here are the rules for receiving this award:

 

 

1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about

themselves.

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, and then

create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.

3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.

4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.

5. No tag backs.

 

Here are the "about me" questions that Magali presented me with:

 

1. What is the one song/music you listen to when you need to be cheered up? Johnny Cash. His music ALWAYS motivates me and cheers me up. How could you not laugh at "A Boy named Sue"? Come on, it's a classic. PLUS, Johnny Cash is from Arkansas, folks, not Memphis, Tennessee.

 

2. Are you a cat or a dog person? DOG. Big dogs, in fact. We have a large Fox Red Lab named Charlie. When he's in trouble, he goes by Charles.

3.What is the little habbit you know you shouldn't have but can't give up? Miller Lite beer. Sorry, just keeping it real, folks. I'm NOT an alcoholic, just a stay-at-home Mom that sometimes needs a beer after a long day.

4. If you didn't live where you are right now, where would you like to live?  I would still live in the South. Anywhere, as long as it was in the South.

5. What is the colour you never wear? Blue. I don't hate blue...just find that I never wear it.

6. What makes you cry for no reason? Just thinking about my Papaw Bill. He inspired me in everyway imaginable. He passed away a long time ago. I could think of him and all the wonderful memories I had with him and cry at the drop of a hat.

7. What's the device that makes you happy you were born in this era rather than in the Middle Age? It wouldn't be tv's, phones, or computers. I could totally live without those. However, I could not live without my stove and oven.

8. Is there a TV-show you hate to miss? Yes, I love The Vampire Diaries.

9. What's the title of the book that changed your life? The Bible. ----->You should read it. It'll change yours, too.

      

10. Which fictional character are you in love with? I'm not. Sorry.

11. How did you start blogging? I have always been a DIY'er and loved decorating and all things design. I finally just took the plunge several weeks ago and DID it. I'm loving being a blogger and inspiring (hopefully) others.

 

 

 

 

Now, I had a really hard time choosing who to pass the Leibster Award to. I really did. I didn't just choose these blogs because they had less than 200 GFC followers and I felt sorry for them. I chose these fine bloggers because they have raw, beautiful talent when it comes to design. I feel that their work has slipped under the radar when it shouldn't. Listen, I know we all get in a rut where we follow the same blogs every week. However, I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and check these talented ladies out and give them a chance. You won't be dissapointed...just inspired.

 

 

Here they are:

 

Rain on a Tin Roof

Evocative Vintage

A Vintage Green

Sweet Parrish Place

Fairhope Supply Co.

Chic and Shabulous

The Refeathered Roost

Chateau Revivals

The House That Built Us

My Best Friend's Blog

French & Sparrow

 

 

Ladies, here are the about me questions I'm presenting you with. I'm anxious to see your answers.

 

1. How did you get started blogging?

2. How would you describe your style?

3. Which do you prefer...cool colors or warm?

4. What is your favorite season of the year and why?

5. Are you a dog or a cat person?

6. If you could have lived in any era of time, what would it be?

7. What color do you always fine yourself drawn to?

8. What genre of music do you prefer?

9. Favorite food?

10. Which day of the week is your favorite and why?

11. State something about you that is interesting that we don't already know. (Here, I'll go first. I'm a twin and have sister's that are twins. Yes, my parents had 2 sets of twins. ALL girls. My twin's name is Ashley.)

 

If you ladies have any questions, please feel free to contact me. thehoneysucklebusstop@gmail.com

 

Y'all have fun and congrats for receiving the Leibster Award.

 

Smooches!

Amber

Attack of the color BROWN!

Okay, Friends. Let me tell you a story.

 It was a dark, wintry night (okay, so it really was during the day, lunch time to be exact, but just roll with it) and my babies were asleep tucked in their beds. I decided to lay down ( which never happens) on the couch to catch up on sleep. As I lay there, tired, looking around my living room....it hit me. My living room and dining room were under attack...by the color BROWN. It was awful...as I looked around the room, it was everywhere.

Okay, so enough with the drama (save the drama fa' ya momma). Seriously though. I need to incorporate light colors. White is on my mind. It looks like fall got the stomach virus and threw up in my house. Yikes. I have plans, don't worry. Just need to plan my attack and well, let's be real...my time is limited. I'm a mother to two WILD little boys who think they are Peter Pan and can fly off of...well, anything. Yes, it is scary at times to walk into a room and see your 3 year old in mid air screaming "off to Neverland!" ....In my mind, all I can think is "off to the ER!".

Okay, so have fun looking at my pictures and don't let all the yellow and black arrows pointing to the brown blind you.

....Let's play a game called...Have you seen my dining room table? ....mine seems to be camouflaged with my wood floors.

In the process of updating...

~Amber~

 

Linking with:

French Country Cottage- Feathered Nest Friday

{Moonshine Monday}

Hey Hey Hey! Thank you SO very much to everyone who linked up last week. Y'all are awesome.

Here are a couple of my favorites from last week. If you are featured, feel free to grab my button!

 

This yummy hutch transformation from Evocative Vintage is stunning. You guys really need to see the before pictures...she did a great job!

 

 

Real Southern Living shared a tutorial for making this adorable burlap pennant banner. This idea could totally be used year round for different holidays and special occasions.

 

~XOXO~

Amber

 

 

 

 

{DIY} Valentine's Day Card Box

Hello lovelies. I wanted to share a simple, easy tutorial on making a Valentine's Day box for your kids to put their cards in.

Supplies needed:
Hot Glue
A box of any size or shape (shoebox, tissue box, etc)
Scissors
Ribbon of your choice ( I used two colors)
Something to decorate your box with  (I used stickers and pages from a kid's Avengers book)
Construction paper
Mod Podge
Side note: For the lettering, I used my vinyl cutter. You could easily paint this on yourself using acrylic paint.

 

Start with your box

 

Wrap it in duct tape ( fancy, right?) to secure the lid (if you are using a shoebox)

 

Mod Podge construction paper around the box. Trim your edges. It's okay if your edges aren't perfect. That's what the ribbon is for.

 

Next, cut the hole for the box. Then, hot glue on the ribbon for the corners.

 

Hot glue on the top ribbon, working your way all the way around before you finally cut it.

 

Hot glue on the last of your ribbon for the top border. If you have enough ribbon left over like I did, go ahead and make a handle. My fabric was stretchy so it totally works.

 

Now, I was trying to use stuff I had around the house. With Jackson's permission, I cut into some of the pages of his Avenger's book, then mod podged the characters onto the box. I finished by adding the stickers and vinyl lettering. Keep in mind, Jackson is 3. He requested Batman, Avengers and Buzz Lightyear. This box is blingity-bling bling, packed full with images! You could keep it simple and limit how much you put on there. But this isn't my box...it's Jackson's. You know what? He is one happy little boy right now and is SO ready for his party at school to show his cool box off to his little friends.

 

This was obviously for a boy. Feel free to change it up and personalize it for your little princess.

Here are the rest of the pictures. Enjoy!

 

*Smooches*

~Amber~

 

Linking with:

 

DIY Show Off

The Dedicated House

Savvy Southern Style