Self-Watering Planter for Back Porch

Self-watering planters are the best thing to happen to outdoor gardening!

When I first learned about these I was so excited but also a little skeptical that they would work where we are because we live in the mountains at a very high elevation.  

But I built one last year that worked perfect and the strawberries I had in it came back and grew wonderful the 2nd year.... so far so good.

And... I've been wanting to try a blackberry bush in a planter.

Our dryer went out a year ago and my husband, being the conservative that he is, thought the tub would make a good planter... and I agreed because it would be covered with pond liner on the inside so no yucky leftover chemicals bothering out plants.

It is the perfect size for our back porch!

I bought cedar planks and cut them in half... screwed them on and added a piece of metal strap to the top and bottom just to help hold the boards on for a long time... hopefully.

Once the outside was all ready... I drilled a hole about 10 inches up from the bottom for the drain pipe which is just a 1 inch black pipe 5 inches long.

I used leftover pond liner I had from last year... it was just the right size, but putting it in a round container was a bit challenging.

Once the pond liner was all in I poked the drain pipe through the pond liner and side of the tub and siliconed it into place.

I used leftover plant buckets for the reservoir inside and drilled holes so the water wouldn't be blocked.

I put all the plant buckets in and made sure my drain pipe wasn't covered

I used a container lid for the shelf on top of the buckets and cut holes for the wicking containers. I also used a 2 inch pvc pipe for the fill tube and drilled holes in the bottom so the water could fill the bottom of the tub (reservoir).

I also drilled holes in the wicking containers so they could suck up the water, lined them with cloth barrier and filled them with soil, then placed them in their spots I cut in the shelf.

I used the cloth barrier to line the inside of the tub on the shelf and around the sides to keep the soil from falling down in the reservoir.

Once everything was in the right place, I filled the planter with soil and soaked it really really well with water and filled the reservoir so the wicks could start pulling water up, then I planted my blackberry bush and a few small flowers. 

I am loving these self watering planters!

They are a little more expensive to build but I wouldn't do another planter without because I don't have to babysit them and water them non-stop.

I only water once or twice a month!

It's great!!!

Good luck with your next gardening adventure!

Mini Picture Frame Magnets

I make and collect magnets...

(there are no affiliate links on this post but I did include product ads so you can see prices)

The magnet collection was never intentional... it just happened:)

.....

My collection started because I had a jar full of stuff you collect as a teenager...  and as an adult I didn't know what to do with them besides throw them away. 

But before I tossed them... I had a great idea...

I could make them into magnets!

(I had sea shells, stones, marbles and coins)

They turned out great!!

.....

As an adult I've also collected a few small objects from trips we've taken as a family... 

and they make great magents also!!!

But my favorites are the mini picture frame magnets!

They have pictures of my favorite people and 

they are really nice because I can change them out if I want.

.....

It's sooooo easy! 

~ buy a large package of magnets from the hardware store or you can order           them

~ use your favorite craft glue... 

~ glue a magnet (or a couple) to the back of whatever you want

~ let it dry approx. 24 hrs to harden completely

~ put it on your magnet board... or large tin letter

I found these little frames on Amazon and I thought they would be perfect for photos of our parents.

I used 3 magnets because the frames are a bit heavy and I want them to hold well without falling off my large tin letter H. So depending on how heavy your object is you may want more magnets.

Another great project finished!

They turned out beautiful and so simple!!

Happy crafting!

DIY Wheelbarrow

 If you're looking for a fun easy little project, here it is!

This wheelbarrow is so cute and it was easy to make!! 

I get in so much trouble when I scroll through Pinterest!... but there are so many good ideas on there. 

So one day I came across instructions on how to build this cute small wheelbarrow. The instructions list all the supplies and cuts that you need to make. 

I already had some of the wood so I only needed to buy the crate which I ordered on Walmart.com for I think $18 and a large carriage bolt.

With the great instructions it didn't take long to cut my boards and put the wheelbarrow together. 

Here's the website I used...

PneumaticAddict.com

Then I stained it with my new favorite color 

I love this stain!!!

(it is brown with just a bit of gray to make the wood look rustic)

This wheelbarrow was a fun project and I love how it turned out. 

I used pipe insulators as a filler and then bought fake greenery from Dollar Tree.

I'm excited to use this for fall and fill it with pumpkins

and flowers in spring!

Happy Crafting!

my NEW Rocking Bench

 I love living in the country!

We live in a sweet little spot three miles north of a tiny little town. There are wild turkeys along with other wildlife and mountains in our back yard. 

With all of this goodness to enjoy, I decided to indulge in a new glider bench for our back porch. 

It fit perfectly and because its made of metal and trex it should last a very long time through our long sunny summer days and harsh winter storms.

It's perfect!

Evenings are sweet...

and now we have the best place to sit and soak in the last rays of each day!

Happy Spring!

Crochet Shawls

Spring is cold here and we still have a month or so before we can plant anything outside... so its nice to have a project to pass the time. 

I learned to crochet as a teenager in our Young Women's group at church and I really enjoyed it. We learned how to crochet borders on baby blankets and I started to make a blanket that I'm still not finished with (25 or so years in the making... that one started out as a queen size and I've changed my mind to just make it a baby blanket). 

Sometimes I do a lot of crocheting and then I'll go years without touching it.... I guess it all depends on the season of your life. 

So, I started making a few dish clothes just to make sure I still knew how to make all the different stitches.... then I got a crazy idea to make shawls for my girls and I (for the Fort Bridger Rendezvous we participate in each year in the fall)

I picked up some yarn at Walmart and Joann's. 

(the purple shawl took a little more than 1 roll)

(the cream shawl took about 5 rolls, because the rolls aren't very big)

(the blue shawl took 10 rolls of yarn)

I found my patterns online. 

The cream shawl was a free pattern on

Pinterest.com

 

The purple and blue shawls are the same pattern I bought on Ravelry 

https://www.ravelry.com

I started with the cream shawl. It was easy and super fast to make. 

The purple shawl was a bit more challenging with a lot of different stitches but I still really enjoyed making it and it didn't take too long. 

I made the blue shawl last... I thought I would try a smaller weight yarn so it had more detail but I was in for a harder longer project than I bargained for. It took a long time to finish... by the time I was done I didn't want another project!

But they all turned out beautiful!!!

I still love to crochet and I'm even thinking of entering a project in the county fair.

Good luck with all your projects!

Happy Spring

I LOVE my Mini Printer!

 Mini Printer Product Review (this is my personal opinion)

I LOVE my little printer!!!

This little printer is the best tool I've found for scripture study!

I've wanted a mini printer for a long time... I looked at the more expensive color ones but couldn't bring myself to spend the money, but when I saw this one which was cheaper... I thought I'd give it a try. 

...And I'm not disappointed!

It isn't colored, which would've been nice BUT it works really really well for study and printing small notes that you can easily add in the margins. 

I use it daily as I study my scriptures.

I love how easy it is to screen shot the scriptures or quotes I want and then print them from the app.

It makes it so much easier to add extra to my studies and takes up a lot less space than trying to write it all (especially since I write so big)

It bluetooths to my phone and connects really good!

I'm very happy with how this little printer works!

It's not perfect picture quality... but its clear enough for notes and small pictures.

Overall a good product!!

Happy Studies!!

FREE 2024 Portrait Calendar

 

I hope everyone's doing well in their neck of the woods! We've been warming up and I'm already excited for spring, but I know its a long way off.

I'm glad January is almost over... its not my favorite month, but this January hasn't been to bad. 

I know its been a couple years but I finally got a calendar made for this site. I have others on Etsy and they take up most of my time...

but I thought it was time for a free one!

These calendars are great! They have lines on each of the days so it's easier to keep things looking neat, and there's lots of extra space for writing notes and reminders. 

I hope you enjoy the calendar!

...its FREE...

so ... click on READ MORE (under the calendar)... find the link below and start planning a wonderful year!