You’ve put away the Christmas tree and it’s too early for the ferns so what’s a girl got to decorate with?  Every year I ask myself this question.  I always like to have some kind of decoration on the outside of my house by the entry way doors but I always stumble with what to do.  I know spring will be coming soon but until then I’ve come up with the idea of how to transform ordinary items into my own grapevine topiaries.  The topiaries will serve well as my outside decorations until the frost is over and the plants can survive.  To begin the project, I went to my local discount store and purchased the following supplies:  5 gallon paint bucket (new), plate charger, grapevine wreath, grapevine balls (different sizes), grapevine cone, dowel rod, pea gravel, glue, paint, ribbon, terra cotta pot, moss, artificial ivy, paint brushes & craft stamp.  To construct the topiaries, I followed the steps below:

1.    Remove the bucket handle and paint the bucket what ever color you choose and allow ample time to dry before step two.

2.    Drill a hole through the plate charger.

3.    Fill the bucket with the pea gravel to add weight for stability.

4.    Glue the plate charger onto the bucket.

5.    Insert the dowel rod through the plate charger hole and secure in the pea gravel.

6.    Place the grapevine balls onto the dowel rod altering with the different sizes.

7.    Once the height you want is established, embellish with the ivy, moss and ribbon.

To construct a smaller version of the topiary above, I followed similar steps that are listed below:

1.    Paint the terra cotta pot what ever color you choose and allow ample time to dry before step two.

2.    Decorate the pot by stamping a design onto the pot and allow it to dry.

3.    Fill the pot with pea gravel to add weight for stability.

4.    Glue to grapevine cone onto the pot.

5.    Embellish it with ivy.

To add symmetry, I created two topiaries of each size and the placed the larger ones at one door and the smaller ones at the other.  You will need to make sure to purchase enough supplies to construct the quantity that you need.

Remember, if you can think it you can make it.

{Sidenote}

If you’re like me, you’re ready for spring and that means it’s time to get down to business in terms of cleaning.  Instead of buying those smelly and costly cleaning products, opt instead to transform some items that you already have into some green cleaning products that are good for the environment and your wallet.

WHITE VINEGAR – is a very universal product.  It can clean many surfaces in your home.  Try mixing it with half water into a spray bottle to clean your mirrors.  Using old newspaper with the solution works well.

BAKING SODA – can deodorize and clean as well.  To clean the toilet, sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl and add white vinegar and finish it off using your standard toilet scrub brush.

LEMON JUICE – can be mixed with vinegar and or baking soda to make cleaning pastes. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains. Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and you will have a furniture polish for your hardwood furniture.  Make sure to test a spot before applying all over and use sparingly.

ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL- is an excellent disinfectant.  It can be used in a spray bottle to disinfect hard surfaces such as countertops.

SALT – can be combined with lemon juice and used to remove metal rust.  Mix two tablespoons of salt with one tablespoon of lemon juice and apply to the surface in a circular motion.

Using Items That You Already Have Can Help You Clean Green While Saving Some Green.

About the author: Carleigh Carmichael is a local writer who’s philosophy is “Why buy it for more when you can make it for less?”.