I won't lie to you, Chemistry was my least favorite course in high school. I hated it with a passion, so when it came to choosing the process for soap making, I chose the least scientific route possible. In doing that though, I found an easy and fun DIY project that creates the most gorgeous soaps for guests or gifts! This project takes a few supplies, but I have rounded up everything at the bottom of this post for you to easily find what you need. I loved choosing different add-ins, fragrances, and colors for each soap. This project was so simple, even my girls each made their own variety of soap. Supplies Soap Base (Oatmeal, Glycerin, Goat's Milk) Fragrance (Lavender, ...
Architectural Salvage Garden Tool Rack
I have a small collection of antique green handled garden tools that I love to display and use. I have always wanted to display them on the outside of my garden shed and I knew I needed a rack that would live up to their vintage splendor. Using a piece of architectural salvage is a great way to showcase this unique collection that you can see below. Last Spring I went to a really fun garage sale for a couple that was getting out of the antique business. They had so many neat items and they were ready for it all to go to a good home. I bought a huge lot of great items and actually went back to the sale at the end of the day and they stuffed my car full of more treasures! One of those ...
Terracotta DIY Bunnies
Remember those viral terracotta pumpkins from this past fall that EVERYONE was making? Well it's almost Spring, so that means we need some terracotta bunnies! This project is so simple and satisfying. It's the perfect way to upcycle a few thrifted bunnies or bunnies that have lost their style over the years. They lend the perfect garden nod to any spring display! For supplies I like to use a combination of different acrylic paint colors to achieve the perfect terracotta color. My three favorites are Folkart Terra Cotta - Dusty Trail, Delta Cermacoat - Terra Cotta, and Apple Barrel - Chesnut. You will also need a small paint brush, corn starch and a paper towel. You can use any type of ...
Vintage Postcard/Envelope DIY Art
The postcards of yesteryear were the only means of communication for many. Each postcard carried a special message and often a delightful piece of art with it as well. Antique postcards have some of the most charismatic images, so why not reuse those images for a piece of large scale art! This project is made even more special if the postcard is one from a loved one or family member. One of my favorite projects of all time is an envelope from my Great-Grandma that I blew up and framed. See below! You can enlarge your postcard or envelope to any size of your liking. I used an old sign and repurposed the other side to make these which made it really easy. Walk through the steps below ...
How to Make a Vintage Ornament Wreath
Vintage ornaments can be used for every holiday, which makes them the perfect craft tool for a wreath. Vintage ornaments come in all varieties of shapes and sizes, making them the perfect choice to craft a unique wreath. This is the first year that I created a wreath for Valentine's Day and I am OBSESSED! The heart shape and vintage trinkets that I added to the wreath make it so special. Follow along for the easy how to! A few helpful tips: Glass ornaments work the best to adhere to the wreath. When I have used plastic ornaments they tend to melt. Plastic style ornaments COULD be used but using a lower temperature glue gun or E6000 may work best. Don't skip the tinsel! The tinsel ...
Pumpkin Topiary DIY
If you are new to The Vettel Farm then you may not know that grasshoppers have taken over pretty much everything outside. We are patiently waiting for our first frost so they can leave the premises. The grasshoppers have eaten every single mum I have brought home, so I have been brainstorming other ideas for cute outdoor decor this year. I found these massive pumpkins at Hobby Lobby and I knew they would be such a statement piece and would last years and years. Here's the full how-to on how to create a topiary with them! Supplies Large pumpkin (found here) Medium pumpkin (found here) Small pumpkin (found here) Piece of rebar (I cut mine to 35 inches, but this will depend ...
Halloween Finds at Walmart
Wally World has truly stepped up their game this year, their Halloween decor is on point. So many options that are vintage inspired too! The true MVP is the ADORABLE vintage inspired cat yard stakes, which also come in a cutie ghost and pumpkin as well! This year's Halloween decor has a fun pop of color too! Minty green and pastels, along with really cute modern decor too! Tap the photo of each item to find it at Walmart! And Happy Halloween! ...
How to Paint the Perfect Terracotta Pumpkin
Everyone, I mean EVERYONE is in love with the terracotta pumpkins that Pottery Barn released this year, but most are not in love with the steep price tag. So I set out to discover how to paint the perfect terracotta pumpkin, one that looks realistic and doesn't break the bank. I used my collection of vintage terracotta pots as my model to get the perfect color! Perfect Paint So I took a gamble on two types of acrylic paint. Both were said to resemble authentic terracotta. I tested each paint color on a pumpkin by itself, but found that they actually created the perfect color when mixed together! I used this Cermacoat Terracotta and FolkArt Dusty Trail. I used baking soda with ...
Milk Glass Tiered Tray DIY
When I began collecting jadeite, milk glass was always close behind. I often think of them as sisters, they share many patterns and both have that consistent milky appearance that we all know and love. FireKing milk glass has always been my favorite. I often recommend to others that milk glass is a great first collection because they are inexpensive and easy pieces to find. Hobnail milk glass is milk glass that has the small dots as a texture. This is my favorite style of milk glass. I loved the idea of creating something new with my milk glass pieces and what more versatile than a tiered tray! The key to this project is finding milk glass pieces that work well together. It is ...
Vintage Lamp Base DIY Candle Holders
Vintage lamps are always so unique and quirky. They have been on the top of my thrifting list lately because of all the fun up-cycles you can create with them. Today I am going to share two easy up-cycles for a pair of milk glass thrifted lamps I found recently. These lamps would be entirely perfect on their own as lamps, but if you aren't in the market for lamps, they can make the perfect cloche base or even pair of candle holders. This DIY was so very simple, anyone can do it! Supplies vintage lamp(s) nut & bolt cloche candles hot glue (optional) Directions Unscrew the mechanical parts of the lamp. Most lamps unscrew in many different pieces. You can ...
