DIY - Wooden Plank Welcome Mat

Spending time outside is one of my absolute favorite things. I love nature and I'm lucky to be married to someone who is as equally enamored as I. Since we live in a townhouse surrounded by "communal" property, I wanted to make something to dress up our front porch for the Outdoor/Yard challenge at SYTYC. I've been drooling over wooden door mats for awhile now but had yet to find one in my price range that could stand up to the elements and look good doing it. That's when the glorious idea came to me -- make your own - and that is how this glorious Wooden Plank Welcome Mat came to be. {Unfortunately, I was a couple of votes short last week and got eliminated from SYTYC but I wanted share this wooden goodness with all of you!}

I got to pull out a few fun tools for this that I rarely use which was pretty exciting. I sort of felt like Superwoman... until I chickened out and asked the Mr. to help with the saw because I like all of my fingers and toes just the way they are.

DIY Mini Felt Gnomes

Last week on Instagram, you probably noticed a few nods to gnome culture. It's probably got something to do with my fascination with all woodland things but I adore those little guys. I looked everywhere for miniature gnomes but besides ordering them online (which I don't have the patience for when I'm crafting), I decided to create my own. 

These gnomes were born from materials that just about any craftaholic would have on hand: felt, yarn, a toilet paper roll, and a pompom. 

OUR not so SECRET GARDEN

I spent the better part of my childhood gardening with my Nanny -- everything from rock gardens and butterfly gardens, to wildflowers and watermelon. It was so gratifying to enjoy the fruits of our labor season after season. Despite all of those summers, I sure as heck did not inherit her green thumb. Finally, I buckled down and after 8 hours of rain, sun, bug bites, and repeated trips to Lowes/Sears, it's almost finished.

I originally planned to rip everything out and start from scratch but after removing some heinous bushes, I scrapped that idea haha. It was so gosh darn hard! I was sweating and heaving and it made no difference. Thankfully the Mr. is the best guy ever and came out and did all of the really tough stuff for me. Despite all of his help, I have never been so sore in my life. Muscles I didn't even know I had are aching... STILL. 

OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR:

BEFORE: Dead ornamental grass thing, spreading ivy, weird weeds/plants growing in the background

AFTER: Waiting on some more mulch and a cutesy woodland gnome but spreading perennials are planted and ready to shine :)

NEAR THE GARAGE:

BEFORE: More weird flower/weeds growing, an overgrown magnolia tree, and ivy taking over everything (even the weeds!)

AFTER: As you can see, this part of the house only gets morning sun so I have to figure out some additional plants to add (probably ferns), but the trees are pruned now and actually look like trees and the weeds are gone. All that is left to do is plant the remaining plants and completely mulch the area

ALONG THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE:

BEFORE: Those giant overgrown bushes were spreading like wildfire and it looked rough

AFTER: Both of those bushes are gone and in their place are hostas, small ferns, peonies and gardenias; all of which will fill in nicely once given a year or two.

ALONG THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE (another view):

I need to get some more mulch and might throw in a few ornamental grasses and some flowering perennials but all in all, we are done! Yay!

Now -- on to refinishing the patio next weekend!