Rain on a Tin Roof

DIY and Home Decor Blog. Fly Your Freak Flag.

Jenna

Tips and Tricks for The Perfect Container Garden

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The last time I wrote about gardening or flowers in general, I was apparently misleading.

You see the post was titled how to get a yard full of hydrangeas, but all I did to get a yard full of beautiful hydrangeas was have a husband who heard me say I’d never leave if I had them.

So I see where you may have been a bit miffed with me.

But it was a good story, no?

This time though, I promise, I actually have real tips and tricks for you on how to get those glorious container gardens that we all lust after at the plant nurseries.

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DIY Headband Holder for $5

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Remember our Aunt Rochelle?

The aunt that you wanted for yourself?

The one who sends the circus ensembles complete with matching shirts, pants, dresses, cardigans and even sunglasses.

Well, that amazing Aunt Rochelle, she also sends headbands to match every single outfit she’s ever bought for the circus.

She’s pretty much any little fashionista’s dream.

She is 100% the reason why the kid wins best dressed at preschool every year.

Well, there really isn’t an award for that, but if there was, she’d have it in the bag.

While the circus will wear, and love, every shirt, shorts, dress, sunglasses and everything else Aunt Rochelle sends, she isn’t always a fan of the headbands.

So I had a brilliant idea when I made her dress-up station.

I would also make a DIY headband holder so the circus would easily spot her headbands and in theory, want to wear them.

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The View from the Floor | Painted Ceiling Designs

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Sometimes I lay on the floor.

For no good reason at all.

Sometimes I close my eyes.

And daydream.

Sometimes I stare at the despicable popcorn ceiling and try to find the strength to remove it.

I usually decide I’ll pay someone to do that before I scrape ceilings again.

Sometimes I just ponder life’s mysteries.

Either way, the ceiling is usually ugly.

And most of the time, my wondering leads me down a rabbit hole of painted ceiling designs.

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Don’t forget to tip your hat to Hank.

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I remember being about four or five years old, in the kitchen with my Grannie one day, when we heard country music and line dancing start playing on TNN.

All biscuit making halted.

She swept me into her arms.

Carried me into the den.

And we did our own version of line dancing right then and there in front of that tv.

She knew the song.

She knew the steps.

And she held me as we danced.

And in those moments, my love affair with country music began.

From Loretta & Conway to Garth & Trisha, I love them all.

Furthermore, I firmly believe that every single situation in life has an accompanying country song and I’ll be happy to tell you what it is.

Grunt Labor and I decided to take a quick trip for our five year anniversary back in June. As we pondered our options, one city seemed to be clear – Nashville.

Music City U.S.A.

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Sparkly Horses Birthday Party

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Every year around the end of April, I feel the need to start drinking a tad bit more.

Because a birthday party is on the horizon.

And that means lots of planning.

And organizing.

And making.

All in a specific timeframe.

And I’ve never been good at any of that stuff all together at once.

Thus, why the sparkly horse birthday party was two months ago and you are just now hearing about it.

I needed time to recuperate.

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DIY Outdoor Daybed Tutorial – doubles as a sofa!

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If you’re looking for a piece of furniture to pull double duty outside, then this outdoor daybed is for you! Not only does it function as an outdoor bed, but it also makes a great outdoor sofa! Step-by-step instructions for making your own DIY Outdoor Daybed can be found here! 

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The Bold And The Beautiful Furniture Makeovers

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Yes, I did try to make that title sound like a soap opera on purpose.

Why?

Because these furniture makeovers deserve a title that is just as dramatic as they are.

Because they are bold and beautiful.

The Bold and The Beautiful Furniture Makeovers

Add a punch of color to your headboard.

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DIY Sunglasses Holder for $5

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We have an Aunt Rochelle.

I hope you have an Aunt Rochelle too.

You see, Aunt Rochelles always send the good stuff.

It is not uncommon for multiple packages (sporting color coordinated designs & patterns) to arrive on the front porch anytime of the year.

It may be Christmas.

Or it may not.

It may be a birthday.

Or it may not.

Said packages will contain not one, not two, but multiple ensembles for the circus.

Each ensemble is complete with a top, pants, cardigan, usually a skirt, socks, matching beret, and my favorite – matching sunglasses.

And during the summer she gets multiple swimsuits with matching cover-ups, hats, and sunglasses.

The kid has Jackie O sunglasses, pink sunglasses, movie star sunglasses, Iris Apfel sunglasses, floral print sunglasses, checked sunglasses.

If she has an outfit from Aunt Rochelle, then she has the matching sunglasses.

See why we love our Aunt Rochelle?

We also love her because she’s just a load of fun too.

With this vast assortment of sunglasses, it felt wrong just putting them in a drawer and only bringing them out as needed to complete an ensemble.

No, no, no, no, no – sunglasses like this should be displayed.

So Grunt Labor and I came up with this DIY sunglasses holder so that the kid could enjoy her shades even inside.

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Liquor Cabinet Makeover + Adding Fretwork to Furniture

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After a few weeks, I started missing the red.

Not the red on the buffet itself, but just the color red in general.

Apparently, not only are my beloved colors kelly green and navy, but also a bold red.

This really isn’t surprising. Red was always my favorite color growing up. I’m quite sure it became my favorite color when Reba wore the red dress.

If you know the dress I’m talking about, then we are kindred spirits.

So I started hunting for something to paint red.

Que Lorrie Morgan’s Something in Red.

Sorry, I’m not quite sure how this post has become about country music of the 90’s.

And I happened upon my great-grandmother’s china cabinet turned liquor cabinet.

I know. I know. You can judge me. It won’t bother me at all.

It was time for a change.

And not just a change in color, but also a change in location.

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Dress Up Closet: Easy DIY Dress Up Storage from a Bookcase

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Coming up with great storage solutions for your kids’ toys and paraphernalia can often be hard – not this one though! If dress up clothes are taking over your life then make this DIY dress up closet now! A bookcase is all you’ll need to get started and create dress up storage to save your sanity and a dress up station your little one will love!

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The Ultimate DIY Outdoor Sectional

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Grunt Labor is working on creating the ultimate backyard.

Last year, we built the deck and made over the screened-in porch.

This year, we added on a patio.

And if this summer heat gets any worse, there’s going to be a new pool with me in it on a pink flamingo float.

After said patio was finished, we looked at it and asked ourselves what in the world we were going to put on it.

Didn’t think that one through.

So we built an outdoor sectional.

Ok, I came up with the idea and Grunt Labor mostly built it.

Oh, and Nicky helped a little. He got mad that I didn’t mention him in my Facebook post about the sectional, so I have to mention him here. He’s such a girl sometimes.

Of course, the ultimate backyard must include ultimate seating and this is the ultimate DIY outdoor sectional.

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13 Stunning Home Ideas I Found in One Place

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Last Wednesday they let me into the Nashville Symphony Show House.

I’m quite certain the powers that be must have never read my blog before to know that this gal is borderline redneck and hadn’t set foot in such a fancy house before – otherwise they may have thought twice before sending my invitation.

I walked out of that house scolding myself for using inappropriate language in front of people who never met me before, but brimming over with DIY and decorating ideas.

I quickly got over the inappropriate language scolding. I feel overall they became better people for having met me.

The ideas though – my head is still spinning. Here’s 14 stunning home ideas that I took away from the Nashville Symphony Show House – and really, there were waaaay more than 14, but I felt I should cut it off somewhere instead of keeping you stuck here reading all day.

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Summer Home Tour: The Details Make The Space

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It doesn’t matter how many times I paint a piece of furniture or upholster a chair – if the accessories around it don’t look good, the furniture or chair won’t shine and the space will fall short.

The details make the space.

It took me a really long time to realize that.

And a lot of backaches and wasted paint.

I get it now though – and even if we are just talking about decorating – the pain was worth the reward.

As dramatic as that sounds.

So this summer home tour is about the details.

The quirky little objects that I love.

That some may find ugly.

Or even tacky.

But for me, they make my space a reflection of my family.

And that’s all that matters.

So if you love it or hate it, either way, I don’t care.

Because we love it.

And its how we fly our freak flag.

Welcome to our freak show.

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Collected Modern Living Room

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After four years of living in the beloved foreclosure, the living room is finally done.

For now anyways.

It may have taken four years, but I can finally say that I know my style and I love my living room.

Of course, its all subject to change on a whim.

For now, I’m calling it the Collected Modern Living Room.

I’m sure that isn’t the correct design technical term for this living room, but I don’t care.

Its a mix of vintage and thrifted pieces that have received a facelift with some modern elements.

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12 Outdoor Furniture Makeovers That Are Easier Than You Think

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Its that time of the year, friends.

Time for sipping drinks, preferably ones with little umbrellas, on porches, decks and patios.

Furthermore, we should all be enjoying those beverages in pretty outdoor chairs, chaises and other comfortable perches. No?

If you are like me though, as you were dusting the three inches or so of pollen off your outdoor furniture, you may have discovered the furniture needed a little facelift of its own.

These outdoor furniture makeovers have my head brewing with ideas. The best part – they were all done with a HomeRight Paint Sprayer. That means they were easy as pie to re-hab.

Now, if only a real facelift were that easy…and that inexpensive. 😉

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When it doubt, use all the colors.

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About a month ago, I drug the kid and Bill out of bed early one Saturday morning to go yard saleing.

They hate love it when I do that. 😉

I decided to be nice for once and give Grunt Labor the Saturday morning off.

He usually gives me Saturday mornings off, so it was long overdue.

Before leaving the neighborhood, we had lucked up on a bamboo patio table for a whopping $2 and a 5×7 leopard print rug for only $5.

Luck was on my side that day.

It quickly ended when there was a meltdown with the kid when I refused to buy a creepy $7 FurrRealz Cat.

$7 for a toy cat at a yard sale? And it looked possessed? Move along child, move along.

At the next stop though, we lucked upon a play phone, a beanie baby skunk and a Care Bears nightgown that the kid just had to have.

I’ve never been so happy to see a Ty Beanie Baby in my life.

The meltdown ceased.

As we were about to leave, I spotted something that had potential out of the corner of my eye…

A vintage paper sorter.

I looked at Bill.

His eyes lit up and he said, “We can do something really cool with that.”

He’s starting to think like me.

I asked the man how much for it.

$12.

Oh honey. You must be crazy. I don’t pay $12 for anything at a yard sale unless its furniture. Let me show you the rug I just snagged for $5.

Yep, I’m that girl, y’all.

Sorry not sorry.

We started negotiating.

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Semi-DIY Party Decorations

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Did you ever watch that television show, Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee?

I’m not even sure that its still on anymore, and I only watched it a few times but what I loved most about it was that she always made a great cocktail during the show, oh and that some of the actual food was already made.

But mostly that she always had a cocktail.

I worked on discovering my inner Sandra Lee with these semi-DIY party decorations for the circus’ upcoming third birthday party.

The circus even helped me with them.

Which explains why cocktails were needed when we were finished.

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9+ Must Read Cleaning Tips

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If we’re being honest, and since I’m always honest with you, my house is not clean right now.

Its not clean at all.

May is a whirlwind of events for us and cleaning is not one of those events that tends to take place during the month.

Until there is a mad dash next Friday to clean right before the kid’s birthday party so that our guests don’t turn and run screaming out the door…

I can hear the circus talking to her therapist in ten years, “Everyone showed up for my birthday party that year, but then made a beeline for the door when they saw dust an inch thick and dried crusty milk on the floor. They took all their presents with them. I’ve never been the same since.”

Therapy is going to cost me a fortune.

So next week, to hopefully cut down on therapy costs, these are my best cleaning tips that I will actually do…well at least everywhere that guests will be… 😉

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3 Easy Ways to Update Your Furniture Hardware

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I’m the farthest thing from a tree hugger you’ll ever meet.

You already knew that didn’t you?

But I do like to re-use and recycle things.

I’m just cheap, really.

My favorite thing to re-use is furniture hardware.

This is for two reasons.

1. I don’t want to spend money on new, expensive hardware.

See, cheap?

2. I don’t want to have to potentially drill holes for new hardware.

Ok, I’m lazy too.

These are my three favorite ways to update furniture hardware while doing as little as possible and spending as little as possible.

‘Cause that’s how we roll.

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DIY Flamingo Sprinkler

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I have a thing.

For pink plastic flamingos.

Some consider them tacky.

I consider them fun.

And the perfect symbol of summer.

Since I have a deep love for this plastic being, Grunt Labor decided we should make a pink flamingo sprinkler.

We did.

But the really cool thing about it is that its not only a sprinkler, but also feeds your plants at the same time.

World rocked.

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The Perfect Navy Paint

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The part-time child, Bill, and I have formed a sort of business partnership.

I find furniture for him to paint. He paints it. I write about it. We sell it. I get my initial investment back and he keeps the profit for his labor.

When I first presented this idea to him, he was ecstatic and couldn’t wait to jump on the two end tables that I had already picked up.

I even let him pick out the color, which in my opinion is the perfect navy paint…

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How to Clean Concrete Blocks

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Typically, I leave the outdoor arena to Grunt Labor.

He is amazing at growing flowers.

He loves to keep the grass looking good.

He puts his heart and soul into our garden.

He’s currently working on building a new patio.

However, cleaning outdoors isn’t necessarily his thing.

That’s usually left to me – and that’s ok – especially when its as easy as it was to clean these concrete blocks.

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