Front Porch Makeover $4! ...for 4th of July

Here is what my porch looked like July 3rd.

My sons collection of driftwood and his kite.

The porch needed a good washing too.

I wanted some place to seat and drink my coffee while he was outside riding his scooter.

I had seen these two cafe chairs at the thrift store but they weren't selling-so I asked if they'd take less and they did! for $4!

There was a rip in the seat and they had some rust on them.

I unscrewed the seats first...

Wiped them down and then primed them.

And then gave them a coat of white paint.

I had left over thrift store fabric from another prior project...

I took the seat

Laid in on the fabric and cut out a circle around it.

Then I gathered it and duck taped it to the back (because I couldn't find the staple gun and it is temporary for the 4th of July.)

Look how beautiful -not-(I do not recommend this for regular every use)

I screwed it back onto the chair-it'll do.

Already had this little end table...

Put some blue fabric and a flag bandana over the top for a cover.

Added a 1935 songbook.

Added this metal vase and some white hydrangeas too...

Hung up another banner I made...

Now all complete!

Here is another before...

And another after.

Looking out from my front door.

I can sit and enjoy the weather.

Ready for the 4th of July!

4th of July Table with Uncle Sam Hat centerpiece

Hi! thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm so excited because today I'm a guest blogger over at  www.11magnolialane.com ! If you haven't checked out their blog (by three friends- Christy,Terry and Amy) please do! There are a TON of ideas!! Ladies-Thanks so much for having me!!

Here's how I used the centerpiece on my.. July 4th table!

I was inspired after I found this fabric (Old Glory Bandana and Applique Flag) at my local thrift store (around 5 yards for $4.50) and spent a couple days figuring out what to make.

After cutting it apart ....

This is what I came up with...

I ended up sewing place mats, napkins, and a table runner. I also cut out the flags for the USA banner.

In a prior post I showed how I made the centerpiece..inexpensively.

I purchased red striped straws from Michael's ...

I used the bandana squares to make napkins. There are alot of tutorials on napkin folding online... I used the "star fold" for my napkins. I used the larger flags for my place mats.

I used extra fabric to cover my votive and coffee can - I placed smoke bombs, sparklers ,and pops inside and a little dollar store fan.
The USA that ran the length of my fabric became my runner.
I sewed the star fabric in between the USA pieces.

Ready to celebrate!

The poor chairs looked empty so I whipped up some fabric pinwheels and used buttons for the center and tied them to the back of the chairs.

Have a wonderful Independence day!

P.S. I had so many extra flags I made a banner for my mantle!

Again-thanks for stopping by!

4th of July Centerpiece Uncle Sam Hat

How I made an inexpensive 4th of July centerpiece!

It began with a with 5 cent plastic hat

I sprayed it with primer

Let it dry

took acrylic paint (dark red, dark blue, brown and cream)

painted the lid and stripe around the hat blue

gave it a couple coats

used my hair dryer to speed it along

took paint stir stick to measure out stripes

painted white stripes first

cut out star stencil-used ruler

then sponge painted on stars..

touched up some rough edges with blue paint--although not perfect-no big deal

added red stripes

painted top blue

all done- (used my hair dryer)

then "grunged it up" with brown paint..

used slightly wet paper towel and rubbed on brown paint then wiped it off

cut hole on top for container

Got an empty coffee can

took off label..

and glued Styrofoam to top..(could be open and used as vase as well!)

I gathered my various thrift store finds...flag candles, paper fans, flags, a bow and roll of red curling ribbon.

I hot glued tooth picks to bottom of paper fans so I could stick them in the foam...

and began putting them in... tallest items in center-smaller on outside.

I glued toothpicks to the curling ribbon...a whole bunch!


glued crinkled paper onto the foam...

then stuck in the toothpicks with curling ribbon.

After I was all done I took the can and placed it in the center of the hat...

I added the bow to the front...

here is a close up

the fans & candles

The top

Complete

 Happy 4th!!

Under $3! I can take out all of the things I put in the foam and store it for next year too.

Thanks for stopping by!