Missing my summer style♡

Summer time! Home gardening, summer cooking...oh how I miss you and can't wait for this Canadian winter to end! I realize this is more of a throwback (not on a Thursday :) ) but I just couldn't stop thinking about vibrant colours and wine on my patio ♡♡♡♡

#jademadeit follow my instagram and twitter for lots of great ideas and fun DIYS

Shepherds Pie- modern twist on a classic

Hey guys!
We all love mashed potatoes. 100%. I just wanted to elevate the dish by adding a design element so I thought what better way than potato roses but one big one?
All you need to do this is a Mandoline slicer and your good and peeled potatoes.

I used the thin setting for more even cooking.  Slice slice slice- (please watch your fingers and use the guard...I seriously injured myself one time!)

Starting with the outside lay potatoes around in your circle formation, slightly overlapping each one. Then move on to the second row and repeat same pattern. Continue this until you have reached the middle.  At this point you can then slip in potato slices here and there in spots that need more filling.

Cover and bake as you normally would :) (375 until potatoes are golden and crisped)

Xoxo let me know what you think!

#jademadeit

Old bookcase? New love!

I had this old bookshelf that I don't even remember how it came to be in my house...it was black and chipped, looked terrible. I didn't want to throw it out as it is totally useful... So I thought I would paint it to freshen it up.

Materials:

1 bookshelf

Paint and primer or one that has both

Paintbrushes naturally

Gift wrap (back panels)

Tape or spray adhesive 

Revamp your old lamp!

So I was trying to get my younger brother to take an old brass lamp that I ended up with to college with him, and he said he didn't want it... I didn't want to just throw it out though. So I thought hey! why not have an afternoon of arts and crafts?

I grabbed some painters tape and a neutral colour grey to be safe and match any room in my house but any colour could work.

Chevron is really popular right now and is pretty straight forward.. I started placing tape all around trying to keep points at about the same height ( chevron is very forgiving so it doesn't have to be perfect).

Required:

lamp shade and base if you want

Painters tape

Sponge brush (works best if dabbed on vs paint brush as it causes less leaks)

Scissors

Paint colour of your choice

I will admit I did touch up a couple spots but not many.

I then painted the base white and I love my new lamp!

Old to new with a ten minute make over :)

Natural Home Air Freshner

Want a natural air freshner without chemicals AND super cheap? 

Cinnamon sticks! Just boil 1 long one broken in two :)simmer in a pot of water on the oven, that's all! Can also do with cloves, nutmegs, vanilla bean( although more expensive) and orange peels :)

Perfect for Christmas time!

DIY steam cleaner!

Staind carpets are THE WORST. Wine, dirt, animal stains can haunt your life, at least mine anyway. We moved into a rental property that has carpet going up the stairs to the roof top patio, it was filthy. 

Didn't want to spend hours scrubbing or have to rent a steam cleaner and lug it home and then back so I did this.

I seriously wish I had a before pic, it was so gross!

Supplies needed:

-Iron

-Spray bottle with 2 parts vinegar 1 part water

-face cloth/ rag

Literally spray the stain with the vinegar and water solution, place a rag on top and using your iron on it's hottest temperature go over the stain a few times. The heat and moisture will steam the stain right out!

Garden/ patio lighting

Ever have your light cover crack? Shatter? Get so ugly you can't stand it? How about using a mason jar? Has a rustic look and you could also tint it with mod podge and food colouring for different coloured lighting :) screws will just hold jar in place! 

Planting with corks!

Ever want to pot a new plant but have no gravel or rocks for water drainage?... Have any corks around the house? Only takes a couple! ( use real ones!) corks are naturally anti fungal so this is an extra benefit and when or if you must move your potted plant this makes for a much lighter move in weight!
Winning!

Patio art! Diy

Want to spruce up and personalize your balcony or an outdoor wall?
Tools needed:
Staple gun
Staples...;)
Outdoor picnic cloths ( dollarama)
Canvas or old frames (dollarama)
You can colour match or be wild...
Cut according to size leaving 1" on all sides of canvas and then begin staple gunning heading in one direction and end it As if you were wrapping a gift... Or staple away until your corners are neat. :) You can even use tape or pins if unsure...
Voila! Rainproof/ weather proof personalized wall art:) Enjoy!

DIY Curtains with Scarfs

Save money and save space. Use you scarves to create ever changing decor in your home. Makes a cool closet curtain too. Use regular curtain rod and brackets and your scarves. Hang at different lengths and different knots.

Enjoy your new fun look and space for more clothes!

DIY All Natural Cleaner

This is my new favourite all natural, chemical free cleaner! Only 2 ingredients: White vinegar and citrus. No chemicals, no artificial fragrance... :)

You will need:
-Citrus peels/ skins
-White vinegar
-Mason jar
-spray bottle

To do it just save your citrus fruit rinds, or even just cut off the sides when you eat an orange or use lemon in your water etc.
Once full, pour and cover with white vinegar and cover and store for a week. Don't touch it :) I used mine as a decoration on my counter as it aged.
After your week ( could be longer if you forget) it is ready to use. You can strain or just pour into your spray bottle ( I strained as not to clog my spray straw).
You can use any combo or keep it simple and just do a lemon or orange. Mine here was grapefruit, lime, lemon, and tangerine.

Then I got to thinking?... What a nice house warming gift?

:) Enjoy cleaning

Kitchen insanity!

My new "pot rack" :) I have limited space in my downtown Toronto townhouse and the kitchen has been my personal nightmare. I decided enough is enough! Went to Home Depot got a Rubbermaid 3' linen shelf, some hooks and 2 hook racks. Designed my own plan and voila! I am so happy right now and now room for so many other organizational DIYs :)

Be creative!

Roses!

I always dry my roses by hanging method ( go to an earlier post for directions). This vase has sentimental value to me and wanted to do a display... Any roses that I have received in the last year or two I have dried. They've been cluttering up my space and I just didn't know what to do...potpourri? 3D art box ? Etc. I thought what if I fill this hurricane vase with dried roses! I put them all in a large mixing bowl letting some of the buds break apart into petals... I then shook the bowl lightly to toss them... Then into the vase. I love my new display!

Good idea for new valentines? Try this with your first received then next and so on and it becomes a timeline :) I wish I had thought of this years ago... Oh well!

Valentines day!

Idea for Valentines day ... Or any other day :)
Dry roses by hanging upside down. Then buy or use a candle, I chose 3 wick ( ikea less than 10$, smells like ...roses!) and I also added cinnamon bark ( found in spice aisle) to add extra aroma. I love it. The wax looks super cool when it catches the buds, looks like roses in milk.

Labelling photos with no damage!

Ever written names or dates on the backs of photos and then wished you hadn't because now there's dents and damage to your photos? Toss the pen and use a crayon! If you don't have crayons you could use a very dull pencil but will be light in colour and less visible. No dents no damage! :)

DIY Cork Matt

Wine Lovers!
You can use this as a matt, a pin board, black splash, wall art?... ANYTHING!
I am using this one as a matt for my kitchen. ( Therefore I water proofed it...)
Needed:
A TONNE OF CORKS!... Call restaurants/ bars or even online... or have a lot of wine with friends? :)
Glue Gun
Some king of base board, I've used melamine and thick illustration board, depends on tools you have for trimming... (Pre lay corks to make sure you can fill size nicely before you apply glue...)
Rug Matt ( Available at Dollar stores, provides anti slip function.)
Mod Podge as a seal
Acrylic Finish Varnish * ( Water proofing... Wall art does not need! Mod Podge will suffice!)

Note! Try to cut as evenly as possible! down the top (upright) works best.

(1)Mod Podge (2) Seal if needed for floor

Grow your own Green Onions!

So, you went to the store... Bought some green onion...chopped it up and had a stub. Toss it? Or.. Grow again on your kitchen counter?
Takes a couple days but you can "recycle" your green onion as long as you want just remember to change the water every day or two! I know it's cheap but its convenient? Cool? Fun for kids?

Needed:
Green onion stalk, preferably with roots.
Small cup or glass.
Water.

Whenever I need I just take my scissors and cut a piece :)

Enjoy!

Clean stainless steel naturally!

Use a lemon! Halves are probably easier but I had wedges already cut... This will remove water spots and tarnish, then just wipe dry with paper towel and watch your sinks sparkle! Dont worry about pulp it wipes clean. No chemicals necessary and a lovely clean scent!

Clean your votives!

Place dirty votives with wax build up on bottoms and place in microwave for a minute or so depending on amount of wax. Use oven mitts to remove! I then poured the melted wax into a coffee cup I wasn't using any more and took a piece of paper towel and wiped it clear! Super easy! :)
Here is a before and after :)

Mod Podge Mani

So...Mod Podge makes a great top coat for nails! Alone or on top of your favorite color! Found this out by mistake doing a craft but have been using it ever since! I believe it is gentler on my nails :) if you don't have Mod Podge you can make your own using white glue and water; some add flour! Google it :)... When it comes to removal soak and scrub, way better than acetone! :)