DIY Halloween Gingerbread Village

Last year, I chose a gingerbread theme for my holiday decor, and it was such a delight! I shared all kinds of gingerbread tutorials that you all loved, like how to create gingerbread houses, garlands, and themed ornaments. (scroll down to the bottom of the tutorial to HOP over to see these gingerbread projects.) This year, I thought it would be fun to take that gingerbread theme and give it a spooky twist for Halloween by creating a DIY Spooky Gingerbread Village. These little haunted gingerbread houses are perfect for adding a spooky-yet-sweet touch to your Halloween decor!

Easy and Fun Supplies for Your Spooky Village

One of the best things about this project is how simple it is to put together! You don’t need a ton of fancy materials or complicated tools. Here’s what you’ll need to create your own spooky gingerbread village:

• Black spray paint (or pre-painted black houses)
• White paint pen (fine tip recommended)
• Black paint pen (if you want to add eyes to your ghosts)
• Small light-up houses (The ones I used are already painted black and are in the holiday area of Hobby Lobby) but you can also use white houses and spray paint them black. I included links to these as well.
• Timer lights to use with houses that don’t have lights inside of them. Just add one of these lights and set the timer so your houses will light up!

I love that these supplies are so accessible, and you might already have some of them on hand from other DIY projects.

Make It Spooky!

The first step in making your gingerbread village spooky is switching up the classic color palette. Instead of painting the houses brown, we’re going for a dark, eerie look by painting them black. If you’re lucky enough to find houses that are already black (like the ones I used from Hobby Lobby), you can skip this step! But if you’re starting with white or unpainted houses, simply give them a couple coats of black spray paint.

Next comes the fun part—adding spooky details! After your houses are painted and dried, grab your white paint pen and start outlining the gingerbread designs just like you would on a traditional gingerbread house. You can add rooftops, windows, and even faux frosting swirls. To make things extra spooky, think about including little elements like spider webs, tiny ghosts, or gravestones in your design. You can also attach small plastic spiders, skulls, or other eerie embellishments to your houses for added creepiness. Let your imagination run wild—this village is meant to be haunted!

Using a Paint Pen for Fine Details

For creating detailed lines and intricate patterns on your gingerbread houses, I love using a paint pen. Paint pens are fantastic because they allow you to have a lot more control than a traditional paintbrush, especially when working with smaller surfaces like the tiny windows or intricate details of the houses. They come in a variety of widths, from fine to thick, so you can choose the one that works best for your project. For my spooky gingerbread village, I used a fine-tip paint pen to get those crisp, clean lines that make the white stand out against the black background. Aand don’t worry if your lines are not straight, imperfections show that this is handmade!

If you’re new to paint pens, they’re super easy to use! Just give them a shake, press the tip to get the paint flowing, and start outlining. Don’t worry if your lines aren’t perfect—it adds to the whimsical, homemade feel of the village.

How to Fix Mistakes

Mistakes happen! But don’t worry, if you mess up a line or accidentally smudge the paint, it’s easy to fix. While the paint is still fresh, grab a damp paper towel and gently wipe away the paint where you made the mistake. You can start over without much hassle. The great thing about this project is that imperfections can add to the spooky, hand-made charm. And since you’re working with a white paint pen over black paint, any slip-ups can be quickly corrected. Just make sure you’re patient and allow your design to dry before handling the houses again.

Built-in Lights with Timers!

One of my favorite features of these black village houses is that they come with built-in lights! Even better, they have a built-in timer. You can turn them on using the “timer” setting, and the lights will stay on for six hours before automatically shutting off. Every night, your spooky gingerbread village will light up, casting an eerie glow that’s perfect for Halloween nights. You don’t even have to remember to turn them off—how easy is that?

If you’re buying similar houses that don’t come with built-in lights, you can still create a similar effect by placing battery-operated tea lights inside or even small string lights to illuminate the village. I’ve included these in the supplies as well.

Add Your Own Spooky Touches

Once your gingerbread houses are all decorated, you can place them together to create a whole spooky village scene! To make your village even more Halloween-ready, consider adding some creepy accessories. You could place small fake cobwebs across the rooftops, tuck in tiny ghost figurines, or even add mini gravestones around the houses for that ultimate haunted look. Little plastic spiders or bats would also look fantastic hanging from the edges of the roofs or resting on the windowsills.

Feel free to personalize your village to match your style—whether you want something more whimsical or eerie, the choice is yours!

Final Thoughts

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to make your own DIY Spooky Gingerbread Village! This project is a wonderful way to bring some Halloween magic into your home, and it’s simple enough that anyone can do it. Whether you’re decorating your mantel, coffee table, or kitchen shelves, these little haunted houses will add a charmingly spooky touch to your space. Plus, it’s so fun to see them glow each night!

More DIY Gingerbread Village Tutorials

• Turn a Christmas White Village into a Gingerbread Village
• Transform galvanized houses into gingerbread houses.
• Gingerbread House centerpiece.
• DIY paper gingerbread house gift bags.
• DIY gingerbread house wreath.
• Salt Dough gingerbread men garland.
• DIY Gingerbread Cookie Ornaments
• 7 Gingerbread projects to make for the holidays!

Don’t forget to share your creations—tag me on Instagram at @tatertotsandjello. I’d love to see how you bring your spooky gingerbread villages to life! Happy Halloween crafting!

Have a Creative Day!

xoxo

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Pottery Barn Inspired Amber Pumpkin Cloches

Hi friends! It’s my favorite time of the year – FALL!! And now that it’s September, I feel like I can officially start sharing some pumpkin projects! One of my favorite home decor stores is Pottery Barn, unfortunately it is often out of my budget. So over the years I’ve shared a few different PB inspired projects for fall and the holidays to get the look for less! One of my favorite Pottery Barn items this year are the beautiful Amber Pumpkin Cloches.

DIY Fall Pumpkin Projects

Today I am joining some talented friends who are also sharing DIY pumpkin ideas! Be sure to scroll down to see the ideas and pop over to grab the easy tutorials!

Amber Pumpkin Cloches for 95% less

I created this dupe that takes grocery store glass pumpkins and creates the same warm feeling pumpkin cloches for $10 instead of $195!

Only a Few Supplies to Create Amber Pumpkin Cloches

You only need a few supplies to create this PB fall dupe! I used a lot of my supplies from my craft stache. Here’s what I used!

Pottery Barn Inspired Amber Pumpkin Cloche Supplies

• Glass Pumpkins – I used to different sizes. One larger which I found at my Kroger grocery aisle for $5 and a medium sized glass pumpkin I found in Target’s dollar spot for $5.
• Gold paint – Here is the one I used.
• Crackle Medium – honestly the crackle medium didn’t work that well on the glass and it gets covered up by the glitter so I would skip this step.
• Three different glitters – I used a chunky glitter to look like crackled glass and two fine glitters, a gold one and a copper one.
• Mod Podge – use this to apply the glitter.
• Battery Operated Candles – don’t use real candles. When you put the lid on the pumpkins the lack of oxygen will make the real candles extinguish.

How to Make Pottery Barn Inspired Amber Pumpkin Cloches

That’s it! You only need 5 supplies to create these PB pumpkin dupes. And they look so pretty glowing in the fall nighttime light! Here are the steps to creating these pumpkins. You can also check out my Instagram Reel where I have a video showing the steps to make these!

Paint Your Pumpkins

Use a craft brush or flat paint brush to apply a light coat of gold paint to the bottom of each pumpkin and the lid. Let dry at least 1 hour.

Add a Second Coat of Paint

Once the first coat of paint is dry, add a second coat. Let it dry completely, at least an hour.

Add a Layer of Mod Podge

Now you will add a coat of mod podge to the pumpkins. Do this in sections so the mod podge doesn’t dry.

Sprinkle Glitter on the Pumpkins

While the mod podge is still wet, add your glitter. I added the chunky glitter first and then filled in the rest with the finer glitter. It took some practice but I found that adding the chunky glitter evenly looked best. You can kind of see on the bigger pumpkin how it looks a little patchy compared to the smaller one. The smaller pumpkin has glitter that is more evenly distributed. Learn by my mistakes!

Glitter Tips

Put a large paper plate under each pumpkin as you are adding glitter. This corrales the glitter to the plate and makes clean up much easier. You can use the excess glitter on the second pumpkin you create. When You’ve finished the first pumpkin, put it on another paper plate and take the plate with the excess glitter and pour it over the next pumpkin. This creates much less waste.

Brush Off Excess Glitter

Once both pumpkins are done, use your hands to brush excess glitter off the pumpkins and onto the paper plates. That way you don’t have glitter flying off everywhere when you place them to display. If you are worried about glitter getting all over, you can also spray a layer of clear polyurethane spray paint over the whole pumpkin. I found that after I brushed the pumpkins off, there was very little glitter on my surfaces. You can also take your pumpkins outside and brush them off.

Blogger’s Best Series – Fall Pumpkin DIYs

1. Pottery Barn Inspired Amber Pumpkin Cloches by Tatertots and Jello
2. How to Make Concrete Pumpkin Candle Holders by Robyn’s French Nest
3. Dried Floral Pumpkin Centerpiece by Modern Glam
4. Sherpa Pumpkin Pillow PB Knockoff by Craftberry Bush
5. DIY Fall Decor Ideas by Jennifer Maune
6. DIY Faux Terra Cotta Pumpkins by Twelve on Main
7. Pumpkin Planters by Finding Lovely
8. Luxe Studded Pumpkins by My Sweet Savannah
9. The Best Pumpkin Wreath DIY by My 100 Year Old Home
10. Easy Pumpkin and Candle Decoration by Zevy Joy
11. Pumpkin Fairy House by Happy Happy Nester
12. Fall Pumpkins: How to Easily Make Costly Pottery Barn Look for Less by The Design Twins

More DIY Pumpkin Tutorials

Here are a few other pumpkin tutorials I’ve made over the years!

• DIY Yarn Pumpkin Garland
• Colorful Pumpkin Wreath and Garland
• Houndstooth Pumpkin Wreath
• Gold Geometric Pumpkins
• Embroidery Hoop Paper Pumpkins
• Gilded Leaf Pumpkins
• 3-D Pumpkin Wall Art
• Stacked Pumpkin Topiary
• Polka Dot Fabric Pumpkin Tutorial
• Pottery Barn-Inspired Gold Glitter and Grout Pumpkins
• Plaid Pumpkin and Ruffle Wreath
• Ruffled Fabric Pumpkins
• Dollar Store Crackle Pumpkins
• Fresh Sweater Pumpkins
• Painted Autumn Pumpkin Mantel
• Elevated Toilet Paper Pumpkins
• Glittered Dollar Store Pumpkins

Which Pumpkin Project do YOU want to make first?

Let us know in the comments!

xoxo

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Spring DIY Upcycled Chair Planter

Don’t you love Spring? I always get so excited to plant flowers and get my yard ready for outdoor entertaining! When my kids were little I remember taking an old chair, spray painting it yellow and planting flowers in it. So over the weekend when my husband and I were out on our early morning Saturday, walk and I came across an old chair abandoned on a street corner, I knew what I wanted to do!

DIY Spring Ideas

I’m joining some friends who are sharing the prettiest spring DIY ideas. Scroll down and hop over to see the tutorials!

Upcycle an Old Chair Into a Planter

An old chair can become the perfect upcycled planter. There are a few ways to turn an old chair into a planter. I am going to share two ways to turn an old chair into a delightful flower planter.

Chair Planter with No Pot

(source unknown)

This is the way I made a chair into a planter about 20 years ago. You don’t need a pot to use this method. This is a great upcycle if you have a chair with a seat that is broken or missing.

No Pot Chair Planter Supplies:

• old chair with no seat
• chicken wire or screen door material
• coco liner material
• garden dirt
• flowers
• Staple Gun

How to Make a Chair Planter with No Pot

• Cut a large length of window screen or chicken wire and staple it onto the top edges of the chair cavity, leave enough in the middle so it creates a cavity in the middle of the open chair seat.
• Line the chicken wire or window screen material with coir/coco liner.
• Fill cavity 3/4 way full with garden soil.
• Plant flowers in the cavity.
• Fill in holes between flowers with garden soil.
• Enjoy your planter!

Make a Chair Planter with a Pot

I find this to be an easier way but it might not be as charming? What do you think? The chair that I found on the side of the road was originally a “commode chair” so it already had a hole cut out fo a container. I also love that it has a large apron that conceals the bowl. It’s perfect for a planter! But you don’t need this type of chair to make this planter. Any chair with a removable seat will work!

Potted Chair Planter Supplies:

• Old chair
• Hammer and nails
• Shims or a couple pieces of scrap wood
• Primer and spray paint (optional)
• Pot
• Garden Soil
• Flowers

How to Make a Potted Chair Planter

Here is how you can transform an old chair into a cute planter in minutes!

• Take the seat off your chair. Or, if your seat is hard to remove, but a hole in the middle of the seat. Measure your pot and cut the hole to be smaller than the widest point of the pot.
• Paint your chair (optional). I painted my chair to give it more strength against the elements but you can also leave the bare wood of your chair or give it a coat of polyurethane to protect it. I used a ultra-bonding primer first and then put a chalk spray paint over the top.
• If you didn’t cut a hole in the seat, you will want to add some pieces of wood around the base of the chair to hold your pot edges. I used a couple pieces of the wood from the seat and nailed them on both sides of the seat so that the pot could rest on them.
• Add garden soil to your pot and plant your flowers.
• Put the pot in the cavity of your chair.
• Enjoy your adorable chair planter!

More Potted Chair Inspiration

Here are a few other chair planters to give you inspiration! I hope you score your neighborhood or your Facebook marketplace for free chair to give new life to in your yard!

DIY Succulent Chair Planter at Garden Therapy

How fun is this succulent chair? It would be so cute inside too!

Potted Chair with Herbs (source unknown)

Wouldn’t this be perfect to place right outside of your kitchen? I love the idea of planting herbs! It’s a perfect idea if you have a smaller yard or apartment.

Blogger’s Best Spring Decor DIY

How to Make Your Own Lemon Plates | My 100 Year Old Home

Fresh Spring Home Decor Ideas | Life is Better At Home

Spring Home Decor Trends for 2022 | Modern Glam

Easy Spring Flower Arrangement Featuring Cabbage | Inspiration for Moms

A Simple Easter Table Centerpiece Idea | My Sweet Savannah

5 Easy Steps to a Beautiful Dough Bowl Centerpiece | Robyn’s French Nest

How to Decorate for Spring | The Happy Housie

Spring Upcycled Chair Yard Planter | Tatertots and Jello

Easy Spring Decor Ideas | Zevy Joy

A Few Simple Ways To Welcome Spring | Sincerely Marie

Easter Wreath DIY | Happy Happy Nester

Simple Living Room Spring Decor | Twelve on Main

Which project do you want to make first?

xoxo

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Anthropologie-Inspired Colorful Holiday Doormat

I love COLORFUL holiday decor. So when I saw a charming rug sold through one of my favorite stores, I decided to try recreating it! I love painting rugs. I’ve painted a few over the years!

• Joy Holiday Painted Doormat
• Welcome My Pretties Painted Doormat
• Hello Pumpkin Stenciled Doormat
• 31 Painted Halloween Rug
• Painted Greek Key Rug

All Is Bright Rug

Here’s the original Anthropologie rug. I love how whimsical and happy it looks!! Of course, you can always buy it through the store, but if you want to give painting a rug a try, I compiled a few tips!

10 Holiday DIY Ideas

I am joining some friends who are also sharing some Holiday DIY ideas! Be sure to scroll down and grab all of the DIY ideas and make something special for the holidays!

Coir Rug Painting Tips: Draw the Pattern

If you aren’t using a stencil, use a pen or dark pencil to sketch out the pattern before you begin painting.

Coir Rug Painting Tips: Supplies

Paint Pour Squeeze Bottles

Coir rugs are a tricky texture to paint. They absorb paint really well and have a rough surface, so getting lines straight can be tricky. I’ve discovered that using a very small brush to get the lines straight works best. But also a trick is using a mixing bottle that has a hole at the top. I fill it up with 80% paint and then add about 20% water. Adding water makes the paint come out easier, instead of globs.

Coir Rug Painting Tips: Using a Stencil

Another idea you can do to paint coir rugs is cutting a stencil out of vinyl. You can use a craft cutting machine to cut out the letters and designs. Then you lay the vinyl over the rug and then use a sponge to dap paint on top of the stencil.

Coir Rug Painting Tips: Imperfections are Ok!

Also just know that your rug is going to have some imperfections and that is ok! It just means it was made with love. So don’t sweat it!

10 Holiday DIY Ideas

As I mentioned, today I’m joining some of my talented blogging friends who are also sharing their Christmas DIY and Craft project ideas with you. Be sure to visit their posts by clicking on the links below the images!

Dollar Store Crafts: Christmas Nutcracker Makeover at The Happy Housie

Anthropologie Inspired Colorful Holiday Doormat at Tatertots and Jello

DIY Mini Jingle Bell Wreath at Simply, Marie Designs

DIY Moon Shaped Christmas Wreath at Life is a Party

How to Make a Christmas Wood Bead Garland at She Gave it a Go

How to Make a Beautiful DIY Christmas Cloche (Ikea Hack) at The DIY Mommy

DIY Felt Gingerbread Man Bunting at Clean & Scentsible

DIY Wood Bead Garland at Maison de Pax

DIY Orange and Cinnamon Stick Napkin Rings at A Pretty Life

DIY Sleigh Bells at Zevy Joy

More Colorful Holiday DIY Ideas

Here are a few other colorful holiday ideas!

Colorful Embroidery Hoop Ornament Wreath

Here are some colorful holiday mantel ideas. An easy ornament wreath, colorful trees, garlands and more!

Joy to World Colorful Holiday Mantel

A colorful Christmas tree, felt garland and embroidery hoop banners!

What Holiday Projects are YOU Working On?

xoxo

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I LOVE the look of black windows in new homes. But there are also so many projects on our to-do list with our remodel at the #1891AvenuesCottage that I knew we didn’t have the budget for new windows.

Paint Older Window Frames to Get an Updated Look

One of our favorite past-times is walking around our neighborhood downtown and looking at the different turn-of-the-century homes. I’m always amazed at the details the homes have. There are always multiple homes being remodeled too and I it’s so inspiring to see all of the different projects people are doing on their homes. It gives me so many ideas!

Black Window Frames Look Modern

As we were walking one day I spotted a house with black windows! I went over to the home to get a closer look, thinking that the owners had put in new windows. I was delighted to see that they were older windows that had been given a fresh update with black paint!

Painted Window Frames Update Your Home

I took a closer look at our windows.The windows of our home are double-paned so they have all been replaced at some time pretty recently. I just assumed that they had vinyl frames since every home I’ve lived in always had vinyl window frames.

As I took a closer look, I was surprised to see that the window frames had been painted. I took a knife and gently scraped away a tiny section of paint and discovered that there was wood under the paint. I discovered that all of the windows in our home are wood frames except for two windows in the kitchen that have metal frames.

What Material are Your Window Frames Made Out of?

I discovered that there are different ways to paint your frames, depending on what the window frame is made out of. The main window frame types are — wood, metal or vinyl. And each type of window frame type requires different ways to paint them to get the optimal results.

Can You Paint Vinyl Window Frames?

While researching how to paint my window frames I discovered that painting vinyl window frames is quite a controversial subject. Contractors say that it can be done, while window manufacturers say that it shouldn’t be done. As I read many different posts on the subject, I read quite a few comments from home owners who have painted their vinyl window frames and had no problems.

The problem with painting vinyl window frames is that paint doesn’t adhere as well to vinyl window frames. When painting vinyl windows, use a primer that is made specifically for vinyl. Also – there is controversy that if you paint vinyl window frames a color darker than they already are, solar heat will heat up the windows and warp the frames.

Jess at Bright Green Door painted her vinyl window frames and she has a great tutorial on how to do it. While I was reading about vinyl window frames, I read a comment on one of the posts from a home owner who painted her vinyl window frames 10 years ago and has had no problems, So if you DO have vinyl window frames, be sure to research this fully before you decide to do it. I tried to find the article so I could link it but can’t find it again.

Can You Paint Metal or Wood Window Frames?

Yes! You can paint metal or wood window frames. If you have wood or metal window frames, the instructions on how to paint your window frames are pretty similar. The only difference could be the type of primer you use. I have both metal and wood frames and I painted both types of windows using the same primer and paint.

Supplies to Paint a Window Frame

1. Paint (specific to the type of window frame you have) I used Valspar Cabinet Enamel which works on wood and metal.
2. Primer (specific to the type of window frame you have) I used Valspar Bonding Primer/Sealer which works on wood and metal.
3. Fine-gauge sandpaper
4. Rags
5. Angled paintbrush
6. Small detail paintbrush
7. Painter’s Tape or
8. Large putty tool with a straight edge

Prepping Your Window Frames is Very Important

Selecting the right primer is the most important aspect in prepping your window frames. Be sure you have a primer that is specific to the type of window frame you are painting. I used Valspar’s Bonding primer which is a heavy-duty stain blocker and bonds really well to paint. I am also using the primer on my kitchen island, which I am going to start painting this week.

Lightly Sand the Window Frame

Use a fine-gauge sandpaper and lightly sand the surface of the window frame. Then go over the sanded surface with a damp cloth to wipe all of the dust off the window frame.

Wipe Up Dust with a Rag

Use a damp rag to wipe the window frame down and get all of the dust off. You don’t want to ruin the painted finish with dust.

Tape Off Window Frames

Use painter’s tape to tape off the window frame. I used a hack that my friend Brooke at Plank and Pillow suggested to save time. I used a large putty tool and put the straight edge against each of the exposed areas and used a small paint brush to finish the straight edges of the frame.

The trick to this hack is to dip the paint brush in the paint or primer and then gently brush it at the edges, while pushing the edge of the tool firmly against the window or wall. If you have gobs of paint of primer on your brush and you try to make a straight edge using this technique the paint can get under the edge of the tool and you won’t get that straight edge. When you are done with each section, lift the tool straight up so that you don’t drag it on the surface where paint can get smeared. I would experiment using the tool if this is the approach you want to take. If you don’t feel confident using this method, it might be worth taking the time to tape everything off.

Apply 2 Coats of Primer

I opened the window slightly so I could get the bottom of the window and also to preventing sticking. Apply a coat of primer using long strokes. Let the primer dry at least 2 hours and then paint another coat over the first one.

Let Window Frames sit overnight

Paint the second coat of primer, then let the primer sit overnight to really get dry before you paint.

Apply Paint to Window Frames

I chose Valspar’s cabinet paint as the paint for this project. The reason why I did this is that this paint has the look of oil-based paint without the hassle. The paint has a smoothing feature that makes brushstrokes disappear The sheen is semi-gloss .

• This paint is water-soluble so it’s easy to clean up.
• A 4 hours drying time – which allowed me to move my windows up and down while it dried. This way the paint didn’t get stuck between the window and the frame resulting in windows that were painted shut.

How Many Coats of Paint Should I Apply?

I painted my window frames with two coats of primer and two coats of paint. It’s safer to apply two light coats of paint than one heavy coat of paint that will drip and ruin your paint job. Be sure to apply the paint in long, even strokes.

Take Off the Painter’s Tape and Enjoy Your new (old) windows!

That’s pretty much it. It does take time and it is a little tedious painting each panel but the results are amazing! I love the way this DIY updated our home for under $100.

Is Painting Your Window Frames Black Too Trendy?

Yes, painting your window frames black is a big trend right now. But if you look at ancient castles that had windows they were black so black window frames have been around for a long time. Remember, you can always repaint your window frames in the future. I’ve also seen painted window frames that are COLORS and they are gorgeous!!

Did You Paint the Inside and Outsides of the Window Frames?

I only painted the inside of the frames. One reason is that it’s winter and cold outside. Another is that I don’t know how black windows would look with our greige house. I do want to paint the outside of our house white eventually and at that point I will paint the outside of the frames to match.

Do You Have Any Questions About Painting Your Window Frames?

Let me know if you have any questions! I would be happy to answer them. And if you paint your window frames, I would love to see YOUR windows! Tag me on Instagram at @tatertotsandjello so I can see YOUR projects!! I’m going to start painting my kitchen cabinet this week, I will share the behind-the-scenes DIY on my Instagram stories!

Thanks for stoping by! And I hope you will journey with me as we remodel this historic home!

xoxo

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Anthropologie-Inspired Spring Vase Vignette

Rasie your hand if you’re ready for Spring! I thought maybe if I created a little centerpiece for our kitchen nook that maybe it would take a little dreariness of winter away. When I was on Anthropologie’s site, I spied some pretty, textured vases. Perfect for Spring.

Three Ingredient Challenge — Fabric, Paint and Trim

I’ve been joining with some friends for a 3 Ingredient Challenge each month! Last month I shared easy Valentine’s Day gifts with free typewriter printable sayings. It was so fun! This month the theme is fabric, trim and paint. I thought I could create a little centerpiece vignette creating some vases that echo the Anthropologie vases. I love a challenge!!

Be sure to check out ALL of the ideas my talented friends are sharing for this challenge. It’s so inspiring!!

How to Make DIY Anthropologie-Inspired Vases

I found three similar little clear vases. The texture on the Anthro vases reminded me of trim so I headed to Hobby Lobby to check out their trims.

Select a Textured Trim

There were quite a few that were very textured and interesting. I chose a kind of bohemian-patterned trim. I liked how much texture it had.  Then I headed over to the fabric section. I found some canvas material with a fun BRIGHT plaid pattern. Perfect! I thought it would be fun to make a runner and pillows with the fabric. I matched the spray paint colors to this fabric.

Attach the Trim to the Vases

Next, I wanted the pattern of the trim to be straight, so I measured the diameter of each vase and cut strips of trim to fit around the vases. I hot glued the trim to the vases. Each length of trim was attached in the same place so that the seam is straight. I did this on all three vases.

Paint the Vases

Then I used indoor/outdoor spray paint which holds up well with water. These vases will not be dishwasher proof but I can wash them by hand. The indoor/outdoor spray paint adheres the trim onto the vases too and gives the trim a waterproof coating.

Create a Colorful Kitchen Vignette

When I was planning this project, I also picked out fabric to make pillows for our little nook. Also, I wasn’t sure if I would make a runner to go along with the pillows. So I decided to line a big white tray that I had with some of the fabric. I also made a long pillow for the bench in our kitchen nook.

Make Matching Pillows

Pillow covers are SO easy to make. In 10 minutes I had a pillow cover for a long rectangular pillow form. I have a tutorial on how to make 10-minute pillow covers that will show you exactly how to do this.

I really love how bright and colorful the vases and vignette and the pillows look in our kitchen. It feels so happy and Spring-like!

Be sure to hop over and see all of the other projects my talented friends made with fabric, paint and trim for the 3 Ingredient Challenge this month! So fun!

This wreath is perfect for Spring from @The DIY Mommy. I love the fabric flowers and the burlap welcome – so cute!

Ashley @Modern Glam made these painted canvas pot containers. And it’s NO sew. I need to make one ASAP! So creative!

Did you know that you can use Avocado skins and pits to dye fabric?? So genius and such a gorgeous color — from Janine @Happy Happy Nester. 

And how pretty is this tea towel from Rhonda @Hallstrom Home? She stenciled the design with chalk paint! How adorable would this look in any kitchen, and it’s a wonderful handmade gift idea!

Tauni’s gnome is so cute for Valentine’s Day! And you can make it in under 30 minutes. You can grab the fun tutorial at @Tauni Everett 

This pillow is painted! It’s gorgeous and those pom poms are the cutest from @My 100 Year Old Home!

Pin This Idea!

Pin this idea to make later!

Have a CREATIVE day! 

xoxo

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Painted Suede and Metallic Terra Cotta Pots

Fresh flowers always make the world a little brighter, especially now. I’m sharing an easy way to dress up plain, inexpensive terra cotta pots with paint!

18 Spring and Easter DIY Ideas

I’m joining friends who are all sharing easy Easter and Spring DIY ideas. Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post and HOP over to see all of the easy Easter ideas!

Suede Paint Gives Terra Cotta Pots a Rustic Look

I found out about Deco Art’s suede paint. It’s perfect for home DIY projects. The suede finish is matte and it has a thicker, sandy texture than regular paint. The suede finish gives the pots an aged look in minutes!

Metallic Paint Make Pots Shine

Metallic is a HUGE trend right now. I picked up this multi-pack of Deco Art’s Extreme Sheen Colortrends Metallic Paint – the colors are so pretty! You can find the metallic paint and suede paint at Michaels!

Supplies to Make Painted Suede and Metallic Terra Cotta Pots

Terra Cotta Pots

Deco Art

Suede Paint – Khaki

Sheen Rose Quartz Paint

Metallic Bright Brass Paint

Paint brush

White paint (optional)

Paper towels

Apply Deco Art Suede Paint

To give the pots a rustic look, paint a coat of paint on each pot, then wipe excess paint away with a damp paper towel. You can make the pot as rustic as you want by how much paint you wipe away, exposing the underlaying terra cotta color.

Leave the Top of the Pot Exposed

Don’t paint the top rim of the pot. This is where the metallic paint will be painted. You don’t want to paint over the suede paint since it has a rough texture.

Paint the Pot Rim with Metallic Paint

Once the suede paint is dry, apply metallic paint to the rim of the pots. Brush the metallic paint along the rim of the pots in long, even strokes. The metallic paint sheen will show the brush marks, so making the brush strokes smooth will look best.

Dry Brush White Paint

This is optional; you can add a more rustic look to the pots by dry brushing paint on both the suede sections of the pots as well as the metallic sections. If you decide to apply this step, you can use a damp paper towel to smudge the brush strokes.

Paint a Tiered Tray

I also painted a tiered tray that I found at Micheals. It is a galvanized tray but I thought it would look so pretty painted white. I used the same metallic Rose Quartz paint to make the edges of the tray POP!

Create a Tiered Tray Centerpiece

Once I painted the tiered tray, I added planted flowers to my painted pots and put them in the tray.

To create the Spring centerpiece, I layered the tiered tray on top of a cutting board, then put two larger terra cotta pots on each side of the tray and some faux flowers. I love the way the centerpiece. And this centerpiece will last a lot longer than cut flowers so I plan on leaving it on our dining room table through Summer!

Add Painted Pots to Your Outdoor Decor

I put the largest size pots outside on our porch. I love the way the metallic rims sparkle in the sunshine! Such a beautiful addition to a porch our backyard!

18 Spring and Easter DIY Projects

This week I'm joined by some of my talented blogging friends who are also sharing their Easter projects, decor ideas, and crafts with you. Be sure to see what they are sharing by clinking the links below the images.

Easter Mantel Decor with Free Printable Easter Art at The Happy Housie
Simple Easter Brunch Table at Finding Silver Pennies
Spring Flower Pot Cakes at Satori Design for Living
Dollar Store Wooden Box Centerpiece at Craftberry Bush

Free Easter Activity Booklet for Kids at The DIY Mommy
Wood Slice Easter Craft for Kids at She Gave it a Go
Free Printable Easter Banner at Happy Happy Nester
DIY Easter Egg Salt and Pepper at Life is a Party
Kid Friendly Easter Table at The Tattered Pew

Painted Terra Cotta Pots Centerpiece at Tatertots and Jello
DIY Easter Sign at Lemon Thistle
DIY Easter Carrot Wreath at My Sweet Savannah
5 Ideas for Wooden Easter Eggs at Hallstrom Home

Black & White Easter Vignette and Printable at Taryn Whiteaker Designs
Easter Bunny Peg Dolls at Cassie Bustamante
DIY Spring Artwork at Love Create Celebrate
DIY Authentic Easter Eggs at Zevy Joy
Modern Classic Easter Table at Cherished Bliss

Pin Suede and Metallic Painted Pots for Later

Show Me Your Painted Pots

Tag me on Instagram at @tatertotsandjello and sow my YOUR painted pots! I would love to see YOUR projects!

Have a Creative Day!

xoxo

The post Painted Spring Terra Cotta Pots Tutorial! appeared first on Tatertots and Jello.

16 Spring DIY Ideas

I love Spring! All of the flowers and green leaves are full of life and so refreshing! Bringing plants and flowers inside is a wonderful way to make your home feel ready for Spring and warmer weather. Be sure to check out all of the amazing Spring DIY ideas. Just scroll down to the bottom of the post and click over to see the ideas!

Make a Spring DIY Planter Basket

It’s still cold winter here but I thought it would be fun to bring the feeling of Spring indoors with some fresh plants. I spied some cute basket planters with little legs at Anthropologie and put a little spin on the project by dipping my legs and part of the baskets in white paint.

Save Money By Making a Copycat Anthropologie Planter

The Anthropolgie version is over $200 for both planters, but I was able to recreate the look of the project for under $40!

Raise Plants For Better Display

Adding legs to these planter baskets allows plants of flowers to be seen up higher to better display them in your home.

Where Can You Use Planter Baskets?

These planter baskets with legs make a statement in any room! They look adorable in front of a fireplace. I put them in my dining room next to our staircase. But in the warmer months I think I will put them on my front porch or back patio!!

Display Plants or Flowers

These planter baskets are a cute way to display plants or flowering pots. I lined each basket with a plastic bag to catch any overflow water.

Planters are Reinforced with Wood Bottom

I made a change to the Anthropologie version by adding a board to the bottom of each planter. That way you can display potted plants that are heavier and the planter will be able to support the extra weight.

Make Anthropologie-Inspired Dip Dyed Planter Baskets with Legs

Supplies:

Basket

Piece of wood the size of the bottom of basket

Paint (I spray painted my baskets)

Wood for legs (square or round dowel)

Glue (I used Gorilla Glue Construction Adhesive – because it’s thicker than regular glue, dries fast and is heavy duty)

Steps to Make a Planter Basket with Legs

1. Cut wood to the size of the bottom of basket.
2. Cut 3 lengths of dowel for legs. I cut the bigger basket legs to 8-inches and the smaller basket legs to 4-inches)
3. Glue wood to bottom of basket and glue legs to top of wood.
4. Paint legs and bottom of basket. I taped my baskets off and covered the upper part of the baskets with plastic. You can also dip the baskets in paint if you want to do that instead of spray painting the baskets and taping everything off.
5. Line baskets with a plastic bag and put your plant inside!

16 SPRING DIY Projects to Try!

Today I'm joined by some of my talented blogging friends who are also sharing their Spring DIY or Craft projects with you! Be sure to see what they are sharing by clinking the links below the images.


DIY Printed Seasonal Pillows at The Happy Housie
Spring Bulb Arrangment at Modern Glam
Wood Burned Cutting Board at Cassie Bustamante
DIY Antiqued Vase Effect at Craftberry Bush

Macrame Jar Cover at Place of My Taste
DIY Bird's Nest at Finding Silver Pennies
DIY Painted Wooden Bowls at Zevy Joy
White Washed Terra Cotta Pots at She Gave it a Go

Hand Stamped Napkins at Paint Me Pink
Spring Letter Board Bunny at Life is a Party
DIY Pantry Labels at Home Made Lovely
DIY Pot Painting with Texture at Hallstrom Home

Anthropologie Inspired Basket Planters with Legs at Tatertots and Jello
Simple Hanging Egg Tree at Sincerely, Marie Designs
DIY Dollar Tree Macrame Vase at The DIY Mommy
Dollar Store DIY Line Art Floral Panel at Lemon Thistle
DIY Paint Dipped Vases at Southern State of Mind

Have a Beautiful Day!

xoxo

The post Anthropologie-Inspired Basket Planters with Legs appeared first on Tatertots and Jello.

Hi Tatertots & Jello friends! Kimberly from A Night Owl back again, sharing a fun and easy holiday craft! One of my favorite things about the Fall holiday season is candy corn! Don’t you just love it? When the stores line their shelves with the sweet and colorful candy, fun to eat but even more fun to craft with don’t you think? And today we’re showing how you can do both in style with these Candy Corn Treat Jars!

How to Paint a Candy Corn Treat Jar

I love to have jars of candy corn around the house during this time of year. Not only are they fun sweet treats, but I just love how the colors can add to both your Halloween and Fall decor! And these sweet little jars will help you do just that. So let’s chat about how easy they are to make so you can run out and make your very own jars too! I picked up my jars at the dollar store, aren’t they perfect? You don’t need anything expensive to get started… Supplies:

• Glass jars with lids
• White spray paint
• Orange acrylic paint
• Yellow acrylic paint
• Paint brushes
• Sand paper (optional)
• Painter’s tape (optional)

Directions:

Paint Your Jar White

First you’re going to want to seal your jar shut with the lid so no paint gets inside, then spray paint the entire outside of your jar with white spray paint. Several thin coats work the best, making sure the jar is dry between each coat.

Paint the Bottom of the Jar Yellow

Once you’re happy with coverage and the jar is completely dry (best to let dry overnight), paint the bottom third (or so) of your jar with the yellow acrylic paint. You can use painter’s tape here if you’d like for completely perfect lines, but I chose to free hand.

Paint the Middle of the Jar Orange

Once that layer is dry, paint the middle third (or so) of your jar with the orange acrylic paint. Again, you can use painter’s tape here as well if you prefer.

Dry Overnight

Once your paint layers are complete let the jars dry completely and cure, again best to let this stand overnight.

Sand the Jars a Little to “Rough” up the Lids and Edges

Once they are dry, if you’d like, you can take a little sand paper to them to “rough” up the lids and edges. I love the look of distressed jars so I did just that!

Make Them for Teacher, Neighbor or Birthday Gifts This Fall!

And the result is are some ridiculously cute Candy Corn Treat Jars! Don’t you just love them? I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out, they will be gracing my Fall and Halloween decor this season for sure!

If you’re a big fan of candy corn like I am, be sure you check out our collection of Candy Corn Crafts and Candy Corn Treats on A Night Owl! And I’m sure this isn’t the last you’ll see of our candy corn obsession…join in the fun! And let us know if you try your hand at these cute little Candy Corn Treat Jars!

***********

Thanks Kimberly! How cute are those jars? I love how inexpensive and easy they are too. Kimberly always has great ideas on her blog. Here a few that I love:

Her Easy Fall Hydrangea Wreath is so beautiful for fall. I love it.

And, I totally love the idea for this DIY Apple Chalkboard. How cute would that be for a teacher gift, or just a fun fall decoration?

And, she always shares the yummiest recipes. I’m dying over these Easy Caramel Apple Nachos. YUM!

I really am so lucky to have Kimberly as one of my awesome contributors. She has such fun, inspiring ideas.

Make sure to visit A Night Owl and

xoxo

The post Paint Candy Corn Treat Jars – an Inexpensive Fall Gift Idea appeared first on Tatertots and Jello.

 I LOVE paint! Especially spray paint. A simple paint job can bring an old piece of furniture new life! Here are…

13 Painted Projects!

13 Painted Projects from this week’s Best Friday Features!

* * * * * *

DIY Ikea Moppe Organizer @ Deco Art

Thrifted China Cabinet Makeover @ Thrift Diving

How to Paint Crushed Velvet @ The Magic Brush

DIY Industrial Bunk Bed Free Plans @ Cherished Bliss

13 Painted Projects!

Learn to Paint Online with Make with Paint @ The Casual Craftlete

Chalkboard from Old Thrift Store Print @ The Magic Brush

Grain Sack Typography Chair @ Knick of Time

Headboard Makeover @ Dagmar’s Home

Kitchen Renovation @ So Much Better with Age

DIY Wood Shim Hearts Wall Art @ Hazel + Gold Designs

Light Blue Jewelry Cabinet Makeover @ Duct Tape and Denim

DIY Mirrored Jewelry Tray @ Small Home Soul

Vintage Dresser to Bathroom Vanity @ Lolly Jane

* * * * * *

And if you are still looking for inspiration to paint something, here are some of MY favorite painted projects: 

I went through a phase a few years ago when I was looking for bold, graphic rugs and couldn’t find any. So I painted a BUNCH of rugs! This was one of my favorites — Painted Greek Key Rug. 

This was a rug I spray painted. And I actually left it outside for a couple of years and the paint held up great! Spray Painted Outdoor Rug. 

One Spring I spray painted all of our mismatched resin pots yellow. It made the yard really pop! Easy Outdoor Painted Pots. 

Last year I painted all kinds of pumpkins bright colorful hues and it made me so happy! Spray Painted Pumpkin Mantel. 

I have TONS of more painted project ideas on the blog. You get the idea LOL! If you want to see more just type in PAINTED in the search bar on the right and they will all pop up!

What are some of your favorite painted projects?

Tell me what you’ve been working on in the comments – I would love to come see your ideas!!

xoxo

The post Great Ideas — 13 Painted Projects! appeared first on Tatertots and Jello.