Opal Crown: DIY Decor

Summer's here, which means more time outdoors. These homemade bug repellent candles are ideal for those occasions since they work as a natural insect repellent to keep those pesky bugs away. My family enjoys spending evenings on the back patio until the mosquitos arrive and ruin the night. I've never been a fan of using store-bought bug repellent sprays, as they're usually filled with chemicals. That's why I love these homemade candles, as they are healthy for us to breathe and are better for the environment. On top of that, they smell wonderful and look great as decorations.

RECOMMENDED ESSENTIAL OILS:

Cinnamon
Lavender
Lemongrass
Peppermint
Rosemary
Tea tree
Cedarwood
Eucalyptus

INGREDIENTS:

Soy wax
Candlewick
Mini terracotta pots
20 drops of citronella essential oil
15 drops of lemongrass essential oil (or other essential oil of choice)
10 drops of peppermint essential oil (or other essential oil of choice)
10 drops of cinnamon essential oil (or other essential oil of choice)
Hot glue gun

DIRECTIONS FOR CANDLE MAKING:

1.) Secure the candle wick to the center base of the pot with a bit of glue.

2.) Set a double boiler by placing a heatproof bowl on top of a pot filled with water.

3.) Pour the wax into the container.

4.) Stir occasionally until the wax is completely melted.

6.) Remove the wax from the heat, add the essential oils and mix to combine.

7.) Carefully pour the melted wax into the pot.

8.) Allow the wax to harden.

9.) Trim the excess candle wick.

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Hello there, friends! I'm back today with a quick and easy project. Coasters have been on my to-do list for quite some time. A few years ago, I made galaxy coasters (click here for the tutorial.) Although I still adore them as much as I did the first time I made them. I wanted to shake things up and create a new set of coasters that reflected my current aesthetic. Because I'm a major fan of plants, I wanted coasters that were inspired by nature. Though I considered utilizing real plants to design the coasters, I decided against it to keep things simple. However, I'll keep this idea in mind for an upcoming project because I think it's a great one. I'm happy with how my coasters turned out. Allow me to share how I made these.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Coasters
Acrylic paint
Paintbrush
Waterproof mod podge
Pencil

DIRECTIONS:

1.) Begin by painting all the coasters with whatever color paint you'd prefer.

2.) Use different colored paint to make an abstract object on each coaster.

3.)After the paint has dried, sketch a simple drawing of a plant or wildflower.

4.) Use a permanent marker to trace your design.

5.) Add a layer of waterproof mod podge to seal the design. After the first coat has dried, apply a second coat.

Now you have a new set of botanical coasters!

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Today I'm going to show you how I made this beautiful bohemian art piece. All you need to get started is a pyrography pen and a wooden circle.

I was shopping for paintbrushes at Walmart earlier this week when I noticed a circle plaque in the arts and crafts aisle. I took one, not thinking about what I was going to do with it yet. Until I remembered that I had a wood-burning tool that I could engrave a design with. The only time I used it was to personalize a cutting board. I was impressed with how well it turned out. I regret not sharing that project here, since I didn't think I would like it. As for the plaque, I wanted a simple art design of a moon and sun. If you've been following me for a while, you'll know that I'm a sucker for anything celestial. Pyrography can be a little intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be hooked.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

wood-burning tool
circle plaque or scrap wood
pencil

(WATCH THE VIDEO DOWN BELOW TO LEARN HOW TO WOOD BURN)

DIRECTIONS:

1.) Before you start, set up the wood-burning pen according to the instructions on the package.

2.) Get a scrap piece of wood to practice on so you can get a sense of how the tool works.

3.) Draw your design in pencil first, then trace it with the wood-burning pen. You are free to create any type of design or pattern you want.

*TIP* Turn off the burning tool and wait until it is completely cool before changing the pen tips.

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There's no secret that I love to DIY, for today's project, I'll be sharing how I upcycled the tiniest and cutest terracotta pots I've ever seen. I found them at Michael's last weekend when I stopped by to get new art supplies. When I saw them, I couldn't resist the urge to buy the clay pots. The first thought that popped to mind was to use them to propagate some of my succulent plants. But first I had to paint the pots, to give them a more modern look. I think they turned out really cute, let me know if you would give this project a try.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Mini Terracotta Pots
Acrylic Paint
Paintbrushes
Marker

WATCH THE VIDEO OR SKIP DOWN BELOW FOR THE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE:

DIRECTIONS:

1.) Start by painting a blob on the pot.

2.) Once the paint dries, sketch a simple design of a plant with a pencil.

3.) Go over the drawing with a black marker.

4.) Allow the paint to dry, and it's all finished.

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I love terracotta pots because they're affordable, easily accessible, and are fun to customize. I found these mini planters at my local dollar tree, along with these succulents. I went for a simple design that is easy to recreate. I love the overlapping layers of paint that give the pots a more modern look. I picked neutral colors to match the decor in my home, but I know it would also look great in vibrant colors.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you decide to make a purchase through my links, I will receive a commission at no additional cost to you. For additional information, please see my disclosure

MATERIALS:

Terracotta pots
Acrylic paint
Paintbrushes
Succulents

WATCH THE VIDEO OR SKIP DOWN BELOW FOR THE PICTURE TUTORIAL:

DIRECTIONS:

1.) Pick three complementary colors to paint your pot. Start by painting the pot with the lightest color ( I decided to use white.)

2.) Once the paint dries, paint half of the pot using a tan/khaki color.

3.) Then, paint the bottom half using a darker shade of brown.

4.) To finish the design, paint a crescent moon using gold paint.

5.) Once the paint dries completely, add in your favorite plants. I used these fake succulents from the dollar store.

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I've had an old vase/pot store in the closet for years now. I was thinking about giving the vase away to somebody else (since I'm not the biggest fan of the color.) Until I saw the artisan earthenware vases on the Pottery Barn website. I fell in love with the rustic and antique look of the vases. I knew I could easily dupe the vase using baking soda and paint.