DIY [Faux] Concrete Planters

I'm not the type of gal who can keep plants alive. Cats and dogs, no problem. Maybe even a baby, although I haven't tried yet!  But plants? No me gusta! If you look close enough, you can see the brown tips at the leaves. Fortunately, the plants have survived long enough that I could get pictures of them for this awesome post. I don't expect them to survive my "house of plant death" much longer, so I'm taking bids if anyone wants to place a bet when these bite the dust. 

Although the plants won't last long around here, at least they can look good while they're here! I love the concrete pots I've seen around the Blogosphere, but I haven't had a chance to try it myself. In the meantime, I already had some of those cheap, orange terracotta pots and I thought I could mimic the look I wanted. 

Here's how to try it create this look yourself!

Materials:

• Paintable pots- I used those orange terra cotta pots
• Primer
• Grab your favorite concrete-ish colors
• Sponges

Directions:

1. Prime your pots.
2. Take your paint colors like grey, slate blue, and black and put small circles of paint on some scrap paper. 
3. Use a sponge to dab the paint colors together and start applying the pain. The paint will be applied in layers and you want a darker base. The base color should begin very gray.
4. Once your paint is dry for your bottom layer, you should lay out circles of white and gray paint.
5. For your top layer, the paint should be much lighter. Apply with a clean sponge and begin building a white/light gray layer.

6. Once the paint is dry, for your final touch, use a stippling brush or a hard sponge and apply a few flecks of black and brown to the top coat to recreate the speckled look of concrete.

That's all she wrote. 

I would still love to try the real concrete pots- I think they are super, duper cool. But I've had these brand new, empty terracotta ones FOREVER (since Zack accidentally bought them & I was too lazy busy to return them!) and they weren't about to grow legs and walk themselves out of my house. Sooo, now I can finally enjoy them!

How to DIY Gild a Gold Frame Chalkboard

Today I walked past a girl in the mall, holding a sign that read, "Live, Love, Life!" She was chatting on her phone saying, "tots" this and "tots" that. I cannot tell you how many times I've seen that sign, but this "tots" was something totally new. After a quick "tots" Google search, my suspicions were confirmed, that "tots" is short for "totally." I suppose that's pretty original and here's something even more original, "LOVE! LIFE! LIVE!" *Did you see what I did there? ;-) 

As many of you can see, practically every woman on the planet tots has a sign like that in her home. Well, with gold in, "Live, love..." whatever is tots on its way out. I'm saying good-bye to all those signs and today, I feel like making a tots awesome sign. From now I "Always live the Life of my Dreams." Which is tots different than "Live Love Life!" 

Here's how to make these happen in your home! 

Materials

1. Gold Spray Paint
2. Frame 
3. Chalkboard Paint or Make your own Chalkboard Paint with this Recipe
4. Glaze
5. Black Craft Paint
6. Rags

Directions

1. Paint the frame's hardboard or glass with CHALKBOARD PAINT. You can buy chalkboard paint in a spray paint, a quart, or you can use my DIY chalkboard paint recipe, found here. 

1. Use GOLD SPRAY PAINT on the frame, this is will you a better, more realistic finish than gold craft paints would. I used this post to decide on which brand and chose Rustoleum {since it was available and a close runner up in Chris' & Julia's test.} Apply several light coats, slowly building even coverage.

1. Once your frame is DRY, MIX some 1/4c GLAZE with a several drops of black craft paint. APPLY it with a RAG or sponge brush, then wipe it off with a damp rag. Let the frame DRY.

1. Next mix some GLAZE with just a couple drops of black paint or even some gray paint. Follow the same process, apply and rag off. Building some shadows into the frame's decorative areas. 

The design I chose is from one of my all-time favorite apps, Rhonna Designs. It adds all the amazing designs I use on my Instagram pics. Not only can you personalize your pics, but she has decals  that your actually want to use, like chalkboard style or tribal patterns. My copy was a poor knock off, but now that I have my new chalkboard, I can practice all the time! ;-)

You know I have the gold bug- remember this lantern's major overhaul?! 

What have you gilded lately? What was your method- rub-n-buff like the lantern? Or spray paint, like the mirror?