A Plant for Every Room

Hi Friends, are any of you planting along with me today? No worries if you're not....this post will be waiting for you when you are ready. Here are the final steps for the Lowe's Sponsored Challenge.....Migrating Garden. With all my plants, containers and soil ready....let the planting begin. 

Matching the right plant to the right container can get really frustrating at times. The easiest way for me is to actually hold the plant in the container. It's like trying on a dress, and just like a dress...it looks better when it is not too tight.

Once you have decided that you like the scale and fit of the plant, remove it from the plastic container

Sometimes succulents naturally break apart when you remove them from the original container. This is another example of why I love succulents...a free plant!
I like to use the plastic container as a scoop for the soil. Fill your new container with soil

Make a well for your new plant

Put your plant in place and gently add more soil if needed. Be sure to lightly press down on the soil all around your plant

Dust off the dirt...I like to use a paint brush

Now that wasn't hard. Trust me, this is not beyond your abilities! 

A little more difficult, but still totally doable....is the arrangement of multiple plants. For this one, I like to start with the largest plant first

Then step it down a size

And gently tuck in the smallest plant last

Sometimes, when you remove the plant from the original container ,the roots are tightly bound. Before you replant gently separate the roots.

Once the roots are separated, you can see if you like the fit for your container

It really is that easy. Now for the fun part...travel around your home and find places for your Migrating Garden.
White container grouping...no tray

With a tray

DIY Tray Tutorial

The succulent arrangement

The blue & white grouping

With a plain bottom tray...that a few of you thought should be the third option (I totally agree and am glad you suggested it)

Can you spot the free plant that separated earlier?

Now if this wouldn't make the sweetest hostess or teacher's gift...I don't know what would.

I hope you give indoor gardening a try. I read some study once that said "gardeners live longer". I have no idea if it is true, but if it is...I think this would count!
If you haven't already grabbed your free subscription to some of the many Lowe's magazines...you can do that here. 
Finally, this is a list of my Lowe's Challenges for the year...just in case you missed them, or we didn't know each other back then:
Holiday Window Box Mum's The Word Cleaning Garden Tools Organizing Your Garden Stuff Garden Shed Makeover & Easy Window Boxes Adirondack Chair Makeover & Monogrammed Table
Happy baking, wrapping, or shopping...enjoy the moment whatever it is.

Easiest Plant....Ever

Hi friends, welcome back to my Lowe's Sponsored Challenge.  If you recall from yesterday's tray makeover post, I am working on a Migrating Garden. 
I mentioned that indoor plants don't like me. Here are my thoughts on that;
Plants are just like men....we want to live with the ones that want to live with us! Allow me to introduce you to the only plant species I have never killed...
Succulents!

For those of you who are already in love with succulents, just enjoy the pictures. For those of you who have always wanted to plant one in your home.....as the guy on that tv show says, 

"Let's Do It, People".

First, let me tell you a few reasons why I love succulents.

They have an architectural quality about them

They have a free flowing form

They have a wonderful variation in color (coral edged)

They look like my hair when it's humid

They come in lovely shades of blue-gray

AND....some of them bloom

Without going into the great debate on weather or not this is a cactus....I will tell you that they love dry soil. 
If you are anything like me, can you fit a plant watering schedule into your life? I can't.....so when you look at your succulent and think..."when was the last time I watered that thing"....you know it's time. Container round-up time!
 Here is the fun part....go around your home and pick things that you would like to put a plant in. I decided to have two groupings.
The white container group

The blue & white group

One last thing on the supply list...this soil mix

Now go round up your supplies and tomorrow while the cookies are burning baking we will plant them up together. They make great teacher's gifts.
If you are feeling really ambitious, you can go over to the Lowe's Creative Ideas page and learn how to make this container.

DIY Cement Container Tutorial

I also have a Pinterest board for Container Gardening.
See you tomorrow!
Update - Here is the planting tutorial

1 Tray...2 Ways

Welcome to my final Lowe's Sponsored Challenge for 2012!
The Challenge : Migrating Garden Taking the garden indoors for the colder months. This is quite the challenge because indoor plants hate me......except for one species. More on that later. I headed off to Lowe's for inspiration. For me, inspiration happens by traveling up and down every single isle. 
I could not believe how fantastic this display was. Lowe's is speaking my language in a big way. Completely forgetting why I came, I found myself wanting this entire vignette. That mirror...perfect (although gold paint would be my choice). That pillow is dying to become an upholstered stool. Those urns need to live in my home. AND THEN I SAW IT....

My inspiration....that tray on the floor holding the towels. 
I rounded the corner with my cart....and there they were

They reminded me of this $80 tray. Only, I liked the handles on the Lowe's tray much better....oh yeah, and I loved the price!
If you are wondering what a tray has to do with a Migrating Garden....I'll get there. By the way, I had to take these home, too.

A few more supplies

Tray makeover time. I wanted the handles gold, so I taped them off

Then I taped newspaper over the tray leaving only the handles exposed

Spray, spray, spray....and you have this

I tried to to take out some of the light reflections in my photo.

Now for the fancy corners. I put the hinges in place with a dab of the glue, and then pre-drilled the holes. Please note that I replaced the screws with shorter ones.

Next, I wanted a contrasting bottom for the tray. For this, I used poster board and some fabric.

Cut the poster board to fit the tray, and wrap it with the fabric

Here is my custom tray

But the title is 1 tray 2 ways....so....here is the other version

Do you have a favorite? I can't decide. 
I'll be back tomorrow to show you how I selected my containers for my Migrating Garden. In the mean time,  click on over to the Lowe's Creative Ideas page where you can find fun projects like this wooden snowflake ornament.

Wooden Snowflake Ornament Tutorial

They use the same drill I use. 
I recently heard that if you live in a building with a handyman,  you are supposed to give him a holiday tip! I am the handyman handy-woman in this building.....wonder what my tip from my family will be? Update - Here is how I selected my containers Update - Here is my Migrating Garden on the tray

I'm So Excited and Honored

The other day, when I was trying to decide which Lowe's Creative Ideas project to show you....I clicked on the "Blogs" link. 
I could not believe it when I saw this

That's me...5th row down. I am so honored to be part of this creative group. If you have a moment, you should go and check out some of the other projects. Those ladies...and one guy, really know how to get their DIY on.
There is one more challenge before it is a wrap for 2012. I just got word that I am invited back for 2013...and I hear that they are making things even more exciting. I'll keep you posted.
Now I need to get ready for my Thanksgiving. What are you making for yours?

Updating My Window Boxes....Part 2

Thanks for coming back and checking in on the progress with my window boxes. This is the second part of my Lowe's Sponsored Challenge.  You know I hate waiting, so here is the finished window box

And here is the "Before"

Yesterday, I told you which parts are old and which ones are new.

This is a case of more is better. If it wasn't nailed down....it went in

Here, you can see the duct tape closing the top of the cans and holding the holiday lights inside

Since this had lights on it, I really wanted to catch it at different times of the early evening

At some point, you would think I would stop and go inside.....it was really getting cold

I really liked how it started to glow...it's those LED lights.

I am so thankful to Lowe's. Not only did they sponsor this challenge, they wanted to make a donation to my favorite charity. Since it is almost Thanksgiving, and we are fortunate enough to have food on our table, I chose The Center For Food Action. 

Do you want to know exactly how much Lowe's cares? Check out their Social Responsibility Page. 

And, it would not be very responsible of me to leave you without some great tip. I took this from the Lowe's Creative Ideas Page.
Healthy Home Room-By-Room

I'm going to show this to my husband because he doesn't even know how to turn on the vacuum.

What are you doing this weekend?

Lowe's Recycling Challenge

This month I am getting a free late pass from everyone. It took a Hurricane to prevent me from getting this project up on time. This Lowe's Sponsored Challenge is a recycling challenge:
Pick some old objects from around your home or garden and add some new items to create a welcoming project for your home.
Since I am window box obsessed around here....and my current end of the year, after the hurricane window boxes look like this

I thought this might be just the place to add a bit of welcome charm. 
Last winter, I was inspired by the peacock, 

I decided to add a bit of whimsy to my window boxes.

I would say that some of this would be a good place to start with recycling...wouldn't you?
This year, my inspiration is this...gold, black & white

Via

When I updated the recessed lights in my bedroom with smaller LED lights, these cans were leftover

I was sure I could make something out of them....I just wasn't sure what....until now.

A quick trip to Lowe's for some additional supplies like my favorite black spray paint

gold spray paint

Super industrial outdoor black duct tape

Some outdoor LED lights.....like these

and a fancy extension cord like this one

I spread out everything all over the driveway and began to recycle

Please come back tomorrow to see how all of this gets assembled. I am working in real time on this one, and need to wait for dusk to show off the lights.

In the mean time, I don't know if you realized that the Lowe's Creative Ideas page has projects under $50?

This Paper Tube Decorated Flowerpot idea really fits the recycling theme. 

I will definitely be making one of these!

How do you give your home a welcoming approach?

**Here is part 2 of my Window Boxes**