Rain on a Tin Roof

Tag: books

The Best Coffee Table Books

I believe in making your home a reflection of yourself.

If that means merging your love for good country music, black walls, the 70’s, a pop of red and The Rolling Stones into one space, then I say go for it. Own it. Fly that freak flag, baby.

Sure, I might buy a little knick-knack home accessory because I just absolutely love it – it may not have any sort of relationship to those things I mentioned above or my family or anything else. I might just find it really pretty. And that’s ok too.

But.

It’s even better when those things do have some sort of connection to what you and your family love.

Case in Point: My Favorite Coffee Table Books.

I love coffee table books.

I know that many people just buy them to look pretty and take up space, but I search out coffee table books that I actually want to read. Books that I will look at and oooooh and ahhhh at the pictures over and over again.

Those are, in my opinion, the best coffee table books.

Because yes, they do have pretty pictures. But they also have character. And good character wins everyday.

The Best Coffee Table Books

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Unforgettable Women of the Century

Unforgettable Women of the Century

Unforgettable Women of the Century gives a nod to women in the past century who made their voices heard. Whether it was standing up for something they believed in or a touch on the scandalous side, they weren’t going out quietly. The Circus and I have sat down with this book a few times now and talked about how strong the women in this book are. Find the book here.

Art Coffee Table Books

The Art of Rock / Pop Art

The Art of Rock combines two of my loves – music and art. It has over 1,000 images relating to music including concert posters, photographs, tickets and more. Find it here.

Pop Art includes pieces of art popular mostly during the 1960’s. You’ll find works from Warhol here, who is a favorite of mine. Find the book here.

Fashion Coffee Table Books

Vogue: The Covers / Fifty Dresses That Changed The World

Vogue: The Covers, is just that, the most popular, beautiful and influential covers from the magazine since it started. Find the book here.

Fifty Dresses that Changed the World pays honor to those unforgettable dresses we’ve seen in films, on celebrities, royals and more. It includes dresses from Cher, Jackie, of course Audrey and even one of my personal favorites – Princess Diana. Find the book here.

The Romantic Egoists

The Romantic Egoists

There are two great literary loves in my life – Fitzgerald and Bragg. While I’m still waiting for Rick Bragg to come out with a coffee table book, I’m not waiting on one about the Fitzgeralds. The Romantic Egoists details the lives of F. Scott and Zelda in pictures. Many of these images actually came from their own personal scrapbooks. Find the book here.

Places to Go, People to See

Places to Go, People to See

This Kate Spade coffee table book is definitely more mainstream and a popular home decor coffee table book, but even so, it’s still one of my favorites and filled with lots of character. There is gorgeous, vintage photography from all over the world in every kind of place imaginable. It’s also very witty, as all Kate Spade things are, and even provides playlists for your travels. Find the book here.

Studio 54 Coffee Table Books

Studio 54: The Legend / Fabulous! A Photographic Diary of Studio 54

Of course, I have to have a couple of Studio 54 coffee table books. After all, it was a source of inspiration for my living room. Both of these books include photos with commentary that perfectly showcase all the glam, chaos and once in a lifetime kind of place that Studio 54 was. You will catch peeks of celebrities such as Andy Warhol, Bianca Jagger, Truman Capote and more, but you will also see people that were unique to Studio 54 like the golden couple and Divine. The Legend book is here and Fabulous! is here.

The Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry History of Country Music

And while I love Studio 54, my love of country music runs deeper. This book gives a history of the Opry from the beginning to now and has over 200 photographs to go along with it. Find the book here.

Talking Pictures

Talking Pictures

Talking Pictures is hilarious at times and sad at times. It’s a collection of photographs collected by the author over time that are accompanied by captions on the back that the original owner of the photograph once wrote. Some are heartbreaking and some are full of joy. Find the book here.

Seventies Glamour

Seventies Glamour

I will be the first to say that the cover of this book looks so ridiculously corny. However, what’s inside Seventies Glamour is a whole other story. It includes photos and short biographies of people from the era that helped to shape not only the fashion world, but also the decade in general. You’ll find Debbie Harry, David Bowie, Halston, Elton John, Diane Von Furstenburg and Jerry Hall, whose wardrobe from the 70’s and 80’s, I would gladly take off her hands. Find the book here.

Storyville, New Orleans

Storyville, New Orleans

Another obsession of mine is New Orleans and everything that goes with it – including Storyville, the once red-light district in NOLA. The book is exactly what the cover says – “an authentic, illustrated account of the notorious red-light district.” Yes, there are pictures of some prostitutes, but they aren’t rated X. It includes photos of “houses of ill-repute” as well as the calling cards of some of the ladies and more. Find the book here.

Memos: The Vogue Years, Diana Vreeland

Memos: The Vogue Years

I first fell in love with Diana Vreeland, the legendary editor at Vogue for years, after watching a documentary about her. She is most definitely one who didn’t care to tell you like it is. Memos is a collection of some of her famed memos that she often used to communicate with her staff. Find the book here.

The Rolling Stones Coffee Table Books

The Rolling Stones 50 / Mick Jagger: The Photobook

Of course, this post would not be complete without an appearance from The Rolling Stones. The Rolling Stones 50 came out when, you guessed it, The Rolling Stones band turned 50. It includes previously unreleased photographs, outtakes and backstage shots. Find the book here.

Mick Jagger: The Photobook is one of my most favorite books I have. I found mine at a used books store and nearly did a cartwheel right there in the aisle I was so excited over it. It is obviously a photobook that covers Mick Jagger from his early years to the date of publication. Find the book here.

Shop the Books:

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What are your favorite kinds of coffee table books? Leave me your favorite titles – I’m always on the hunt for more!

You might also want to see this…

The Best Southern Books

The Best Ghosts, Witches and Such Books

*Affiliate links may be contained in this post. That just means if you click on one of those links and buy something, I may receive a small commission, but you won’t pay a dime more.

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February 9, 2017
The Best Ghosts, Witches and Such Books

Halloween is my favorite holiday.

Christmas is a close second, but there is no other holiday that gets me more giddy than Halloween.

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been mesmerized with ghost stories and witches. There was no other little elementary school girl more excited than me when the librarian did her yearly reading of Tilly Witch. I may or may not still sing the song more than I should this time of year.

While I still get giddy over reading Tilly Witch, there are a few more “adult” ghost and witch books that have become my favorites. These are ones I’ve read over and over again and are sure to get you in the All Hallow’s Eve mood. 😉

The Best Ghosts, Witches and Such Books

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

The Mayfair Witch Series

Book 1: The Witching Hour / Book 2: Lasher / Book 3: Taltos

While many people love Anne Rice mostly for her vampire books, I love her more for her Mayfair Witch books. If there were ever a series I would love another book from, it would be the Mayfair Witch Series. These are longer books, but they suck you in and take you on a “witching” adventure like no other. Two of the three books are also primarily set in New Orleans, so of course I’m partial.

A Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches is also part of a trilogy, however I’ve only read the first book so far. It’s another long one, but worth it. If you do like vampires, this book also brings in a vampire, which results in a forbidden love affair. There’s even a spell book involved. 😉

Witches of East End Series

Book 1: Witches of East End / Book 2: Serpent’s Kiss / Book 3: Winds of Salem

You might have watched the television series of the Witches of East End and while I did think it was good, it wasn’t as good as the books. These are shorter books, but still packed with all kinds of witchy goodness.

The Eden Moore Series

Book 1: Four and Twenty Blackbirds / Book 2: Wings to the Kingdom / Book 3: Not Flesh Nor Feathers

I cannot say enough good things about the Eden Moore series by Cherie Priest. The way that the woman weaves ghosts, history and the south together is just amazing. Now once more, I am partial as these books are set in the Chattanooga area, which is where I’m from. In the first book, you meet Eden Moore, who is protected by three dead women who also hold the key to unlocking mysteries of Eden’s past. The second book features a ghost whose existence stems from the Civil War and the third book has zombies. As someone who has never been a fan of anything zombie related, I loved the book.

Cherie Priest also has a new book out called The Family Plot, which is separate from the Eden Moore series, but looks equally as good. It’s on my reading list!

The Tradd Street Series

Book 1: The House on Tradd Street / Book 2: The Girl on Legare Street / Book 3: The Strangers on Montagu Street / Book 4: Return to Tradd Street

I went through this series just as quickly as I went through the Mayfair witch books. As soon as I finished The House on Tradd Street, I immediately ordered the rest of the books in the series. While the third book, The Strangers on Montagu Street is probably my least favorite in the series, all of them are still great. The series is set in Charleston and centers around Melanie Middleton who sees ghosts, however she is reluctant to embrace that talent. Soon though, she realizes that in order to unlock secrets, solve mysteries and clear the names of those wronged in the past, she must talk to the ghosts.

P.S. If you are a Tradd Street series fan, then you will be super pumped to hear that a fifth book is coming out, The Guests on South Battery in January of 2017! YAY!

Ghosts of the Southern Tennessee Valley

Ghosts of the Southern Tennessee Valley

And for all you lovers of real ghost stories, here’s one for you. A friend of mine actually wrote this book, Ghosts of the Southern Tennessee Valley, which is a collection of thirty ghost stories she researched. If you like your ghosts served up in bite-sized portions, this one’s for you. 😉

What are your favorite ghosts and witches books?

P.S. You can read my own ghost story here…

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October 4, 2016
Latest Good Reads No. 1

While I realize this blog is predominantly about home decor and DIY, I love that it’s turned into it’s own little beast where I can also write about anything from my ridiculous stories to the latest books I’ve read and we still have good conversations about all the topics equally.

That’s why you’re my people. My Freak People.

A couple weeks back, we went to the beach – me, Grunt, the Circus, and my in-laws. While we all go to the actual beach of course while we’re there, everyone of us will have a book in hand at just about any spare moment we’re not on the beach playing with the kid. We bring lots of books and make sure we’re stocked up for the week. To run out of books during a beach week would be a damn bad deal.

If you were to walk in on us while we’re not at the beach, you may think we’re a family of nerds because we would all have our noses in a book.

And that would be just fine with us.

You would also think Grunt Labor is the head nerd because he reads all these really smart non-fiction books. I love a good non-fiction book, but he reads this stuff about how people learn and leadership and all that other jazz. He’s a multifaceted gem, isn’t he?

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Normally, I have the latest Greg Iles book to take up most of my time at the beach. Unfortunately, Mr. Iles has not yet released his third book in the Natchez Burning series. Come on, Greg. I’m dying over here. Therefore, I went through about four different books this vacation. Here’s some goodies to add to your reading list…

South of Broad by Pat Conroy

In one post about my favorite southern books, there were quite a few of you who kept saying, “You have to read Pat Conroy!” Well damn, why didn’t y’all tell me that sooner? South of Broad is the first Conroy book I’ve read and it has already made my list of top five favorite books. I would describe it as similar to The Big Chill, but southern style and much more riveting and gripping. It’s a tale of family tragedy and how strong friendship can be. I could never do this book justice with a summary. Get it. Read it. You will thank me later. I’ll also be picking up quite a few more Pat Conroy books to dive into.

Doll-baby by Laura Lane McNeal

If it’s set in New Orleans, there’s a good chance I’m going to read it. As you all know, NOLA and I are madly in love. Doll-baby is set in New Orleans during the 1960’s. Ibby’s father dies unexpectedly when she is 12 and her mother sends her to live with her grandmother, Fannie, whom she has never met before. Fannie has a slew of family tragedies and secrets that only her and a handful of people including her cook, Queenie and Queenie’s daughter, Doll-baby know about. Ibby soon falls in love with her wild grandmother, Queenie, and Doll-baby and eventually unravels the family secrets. Doll-baby has been compared to The Help and I’d say that’s a pretty good comparison – if you loved The Help, you’ll love Doll-baby. Hell, if you love wild, eccentric grandmothers, you’ll love it.

The House We Grew Up In, by Lisa Jewell

After Doll-baby, I started The House We Grew Up In. This book was probably my least favorite of the ones I read over vacation, but none the less, it was still good. It’s set in England and follows a family over decades of tragedy, betrayal and estrangement. The whole family is terribly troubled over a tragedy that happened one Easter. After their mother, a full-fledged hoarder, dies, they finally discover more details about the tragedy.

What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman

This one was so good. What She Left Behind combines tragedy with a touch of mystery. Izzy’s mother was sent to prison years ago for killing her father. After Izzy’s grandmother dies, she bounces around foster parents. She finally ends up with a couple who is loving and unlike any other foster parents she’s had. They are working to preserve the history of a long closed insane asylum. While helping them, Izzy finds the trunk of Clara who was never actually mentally ill, but still held in the asylum against her will. Izzy works to find out more about Clara and what happened to her and in the process finds out more about herself and why her mother did what she did. What She Left Behind is another favorite of mine.

The Tradd Street Series by Karen White

I had already finished The Tradd Street Series by the time vacation rolled around, but wanted to follow-up on them since we’d talked about the series in the last book post. Y’all, this whole series is just awesome. Each book is set in Charleston and centers around Melanie Middleton, who can see ghosts. The main ghosts in each book have dark histories or have somehow been wronged. Melanie and her friend, Jack have to work to uncover the history of each ghost and right the wrongs. My least favorite of the series was The Strangers on Montagu Street, but still it was good. If you love ghosts, Charleston or both, read The Tradd Street Series. Start with The House on Tradd Street. I’ve also heard Karen White is coming out with a new book in this series which makes my whole damn day.

Ok, your turn to tell me what should be next on my reading list!

What’s your latest and greatest read, y’all?

You’re a bookworm too? You’ll want to see these then…

The Best Southern Books

More Favorite Southern Books

You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy. Sign up to get my posts delivered to your inbox. It’s free, of course.

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April 14, 2016
More Favorite Southern Books

As I’ve told you before, there are fewer things in life better than a good southern book. Losing myself in a good book is by far, for me, the best way to relax. I am a go-go-go person. Being idle is not in my blood. Being wrapped up in a good book though – well that’s one of the few things that can make me actually sit down for a while.

Towards the end of the summer last year, I wrote about some of my favorite southern books. Well, I’ve read more since then and have a whole new list for you. And ya’ll – these are good.

More Favorite Southern Books

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Karen White’s House on Tradd Street Series

The House on Tradd Street / The Girl on Legare Street / The Strangers on Montagu Street / Return to Tradd Street

I just discovered Karen White and I can’t believe I didn’t find her sooner. I just finished reading The House on Tradd Street and it was amazing. I nearly peed my pants with excitement when I got to the end and discovered that there were three more books in the series. You can bet your bottom dollar that those other three books are already ordered and on their way to me. The House on Tradd Street is set in historic Charleston, South Carolina and centers around Melanie Middleton who can see ghosts. She is a realtor who specializes in selling old homes, but despises old homes. Much to her surprise, an old man whom she barely even knows leaves her his house (a historic Charleston home, hundreds of years old) in his will. The house has a few ghosts with a story to tell – Melanie and her friend, Jack just have to figure it out. Apparently, Karen White also has a new book out, The Forgotten Room, which sounds great as well. It’s not set in the south, but it sounds like it has just as much mystery as the Tradd Street series.

My Southern Journey by Rick Bragg

My Southern Journey

As you guys well know, Rick Bragg is hands-down my favorite southern author. There’s not a soul in this world who can string words together about the south like he can – and I fully intend on telling him that when I meet him next Thursday! Yep, I just said that! He is coming to Chattanooga as part of the South Bound Lectures and I grabbed my ticket as soon as I heard. Ya’ll I cannot wait! Anywho, his new book, My Southern Journey is a collection of his short stories that have been published in Southern Living magazine and other magazines and media outlets during his writing career. I had already read many of the stories in there, but had forgotten about quite a few. No doubt, this book is a keeper. In true Rick Bragg fashion, he can have you belly laughing one minute and squaling like a baby the next. If you’ve never read Rick Bragg before, start with All Over But the Shoutin‘. I’ve also got more of my favorite books by him here.

Sleep No More & Blood Memory by Greg Iles

Sleep No More / Blood Memory

While I have been impatiently awaiting the third book in the Natchez Burning series (A MUST READ!) by Greg Iles, I dove into a couple of his other books – Sleep No More and Blood Memory. Both books were thrillers that I just couldn’t put down. Both are set in southern Mississippi (where many of Iles’ books are set) and full of twists and turns that you never see coming. Sleep No More is centered around John who meets a woman who reminds him of an ex-girlfriend who’s been dead for quite a while. Turns out the woman is the ex-girlfriend. Blood Memory centers around Cat who discovers bloody footprints in her childhood bedroom after dropping some chemicals onto the floor. The discovery leads her to revisit the tragedy that occurred during her childhood and discovers that what she’s believed for all these years isn’t actually true.

Madam by Cari Lynn and Kellie Martin

Madam

Madam was suggested to me after I posted the first round of my favorite southern books. As many of you may know, New Orleans has my heart and all the history of Storyville and madams intrigues me like nothing else. Madam is a fiction book but it is based on Josie Arlington, one of the most successful madams of Storyville. While others may see her as nothing but a whore, I see her as a smart woman who learned how to break through that glass ceiling females are often left hitting long before the term glass ceiling was ever heard of. Madam proves my point.

Two other New Orleans books that have been suggested to me are Out of the Easy and Hell or High Water. I haven’t been able to dive into either yet, but both show great promise. There are more of my favorite NOLA based books here.

Once There Was a Farm by Virginia Bell Dabney

Once There Was a Farm

I checked this book out ten years ago from the public library. I checked it out at least two more times after that and finally bought it for myself a couple years back. Once There Was a Farm doesn’t have any ghosts in it, it isn’t a thriller and there isn’t much drama at all. It’s just a sweet story about a little girl who grew up on a farm and her independent mother who ran the farm by herself. I probably love this book so much because it reminds me of home. There’s no doubt – I’m sure to read it countless more times in my life.

South of Broad by Pat Conroy

South of Broad

I literally just started this book. Once more, when I wrote about my favorite southern books there were a ton of you guys who said I must read Pat Conroy. I looked over his work and settled on South of Broad to read first. This one is also set in Charleston. I am literally on like the fifth page, so you can read the summary of this one here if you want to.

Alright, as always I want your suggestions! Share your favorite books – southern, not southern, anything goes (although I really LOVE ghosts and witches) in the comments! Help me fill up my Amazon cart – but make sure we have a little money left over for booze, mmkay?

You might also want to read…

Favorite Southern Books – Round 1

And don’t miss these posts about two of the best southern cities…

The Must Do’s of New Orleans

Things To Do In Nashville

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January 13, 2016
My Favorite Southern Books

There are few things better in life than a good book.

One thing better is a good southern book.

Cause we all know I’m slightly partial to the south.

These, in my humble, 100% un-expert, but truly southern opinion are the best southern books – the keepers. Some are fiction, some are non-fiction. Some will pull at your heartstrings and some will have you rolling in the floor. Some are about scraping by to make ends meet and some are about witches and ghosts and all things weird.

Would you expect any less from me?

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

The Best Southern Books

1. Anything by Rick Bragg

All Over But the Shoutin’ / Ava’s Man / The Prince of Frogtown / The Most They Ever Had

Hands down, Rick Bragg is my favorite author. Start with All Over But the Shoutin’ – his tale of growing up poor in Alabama and how much his mama sacrificed for him and his brothers. Its raw and honest and an amazing memoir. He also has a new one coming out – My Southern Journey – and you’d better believe my copy is already pre-ordered. He writes a column in Southern Living every month as well. I have saved every single one of his columns from the magazine – they are so good.

2. Natchez Burning & The Bone Tree

Natchez Burning / The Bone Tree

Every time we go to the beach, it never fails that I spend at least three or four nights up until the wee hours of the morning reading a Greg Iles book. Once you start one of his books, you cannot put it down. His latests ones, Natchez Burning and its sequel, The Bone Tree are unbelievable. They are set in present day Natchez, Mississippi, but everything that’s happening are results of events that happened during the civil rights era. Both are full of unforgettable twists.

3. The Last Madam

The Last Madam

As you may remember from my story about visiting a whorehouse, things that most people find weird or scary fascinate me – and I love all things New Orleans. The Last Madam (non-fiction) is a book about just that – the last madam of New Orleans. It is a captivating tale of debauchery. I’ve re-read the book now at least three times. Its that good.

4. The Eden Moore Series

Four and Twenty Blackbirds / Wings to the Kingdom / Not Flesh Nor Feathers

Now, I’m quite partial to these because they are all set in Chattanooga, where I call home. They are all fiction, but the cool thing about the Eden Moore series is that they are based around real ghost stories and historical events here in Chattanooga. Cherie Priest did a spectacular job of creating stories around real events. These are books I’ve read over and over again as well. Start with Four and Twenty Blackbirds to get to know Eden Moore and the three ghosts that protect her. Continue with Wings to the Kingdom and then Not Flesh Nor Feathers. Then, let’s all beg Cherie Priest to write another one in the series because you’re gonna be hooked.

5. The Mayfair Witches Series

The Mayfair Witches

While Anne Rice might be most well-known for her vampire books, my personal favorites of hers are The Mayfair Witch books. I’m quite sure they were the first books that I read which were based in New Orleans, so of course I was hooked immediately. The series is centered around a family of witches in New Orleans that is haunted by an unknown being. Start with The Witching Hour, followed by Lasher, and finally Taltos. If you love tales of witches or New Orleans, you’ll love these.

6. The Help

The Help

Unless you’ve lived under a rock for the past few years, you’ve heard about The Help. You probably even watched the movie. But did you read the book? Because if you didn’t, you need to. The Help is set in Mississippi during the Civil Rights era and man, is it a powerful book. It will make you laugh out loud and cry at the same time.

7. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

New Orleans is my favorite city, but Savannah is a close second. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is set in Savannah and you may have seen the movie for this one too, but the book is worth a read as well. There are mansions and voodoo and crime all rolled into this one.

8. The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

If there were ever a group of girls you wanted to be friends with, its the Ya-Yas. This is a tale of strong, true southern women at both their finest and weakest moments.

Ok. Your turn.

What are your favorite southern books?

***Update! Read Round Two of my favorite southern book picks here!***

More Favorite Southern Books

And you might also want to read about two of the best cities in the South…

The Must Do’s of New Orleans

Things To Do in Nashville

You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.

Sign up to get my posts delivered to your inbox here.

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August 31, 2015
DIY Succulent Book Planter
I may be giving myself too much credit.

My head may be getting a bit too big.

But….

I’m giving succulents a try again.

With the success (meaning I’ve had it for more than a month and haven’t killed it yet) of the fiddle leaf fig and the banana tree, I’m thinking, hoping, praying that I can keep these succulents alive.

In the past year, I’ve successfully killed two succulents.

Yes, I’m well aware I’m the only person on the planet who can’t keep them alive.

I decided that maybe if I gave this new succulent a cozy, happy, pretty home it would want to live longer, so I made it a succulent book planter.

What better place for a succulent to live than in between the pages of a book?

Heck, what better place for anyone to live than in between the pages of a book?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

DIY Succulent Book Planter

Before I tell you how to make this little project, let me answer your question that I know you are asking, “Aren’t the pages going to get moldy and mildewy from the plant’s moisture?”

Why no, they are not. We are going to seal the pages.

Materials Needed:
- Small Potted Succulent
- Plastic tray to go around base of the succulent pot
- Books that you don’t care to cut
- Dremel Micro 8050
- Pencil
- Mod Podge
- Paint Brush
Steps

Step 1

Determine the order you want to stack your books in. Take the book that will be on top and lay the plastic tray in the center of it and trace around it.

Step 2

Put the cutting disc on the Dremel Micro 8050, and begin cutting through the cover of the book. I put the Dremel on the highest speed to do all my cutting. The Micro 8050 is pretty cool because it can cut, carve, engrave, sand, grind, sharpen, clean and polish—helping you bring just about any brilliant project to life. It’s also cordless – which means no worrying about accidentally cutting through cords – not that I’ve ever done that before or anything…

Step 3

Once you get through the front cover of the book, open it up and continue cutting through the pages.

Step 4

Once you get all the way through your book, your circle may be a bit smaller on the back than the front. Flip the book over to the back and cut the circle as needed. You can go up and down with the Dremel to get a good even cut. It is very light and easy to handle in tight spaces, the Dremel® Micro™8050 is packed with features that have crafters, hobbyists and DIYers in mind: soft grip, LED front-end lighting to illuminate projects, a docking station that continually charges, and an 8V Max Lithium-ion battery.

Step 5

After your top book has its circle cut out, place your succulent pot in the book to make sure it will fit properly. If it doesn’t cut more as needed. If its good to go, move on to cutting the second book. Do this by placing the book you have already cut on top of the book you are about to cut. Use a pencil and trace inside the circle onto the book to be cut.

Step 6

Remove the top book and place the plastic tray around the traced circle. Trace around the plastic tray – it may be slightly bigger and you want that measurement, not the smaller one.

Step 7

Begin cutting out the hole in the second book as you did with the first book.

Step 8

If your pot was the same size as mine, you may not need to go all the way through the back cover on the second book, test the pot in the book as you go to determine how much more you need to cut. If your pot is narrower at the base, as most are, it will be ok if the hole in the second book is a bit angled as you see above. Just test the pot to see if it fits.

Step 9

After all the cutting is done, clean off the books and shake out any pieces of cut paper. To seal the books and keep mildew and mold from forming, you need to apply Mod Podge to the cut edges of the books. I started at the back cover and worked my way through the book. You don’t have to go through every single page, do small sections of pages at a time and you can put it on heavy.

Step 10

On the inside covers of the books, apply Mod Podge all over the cover and pages to keep the book shut.

Step 11

If you want to, you can seal the outer edges of the book with Mod Podge as well.

Step 12

To hold the books together, apply Mod Podge to the covers of the books and place them in the order you want them stacked. Also, be sure to give the top book cover a really good coat of Mod Podge.

Step 13

After the Mod Podge has dried, place your plastic tray in the books and then your potted succulent plant.

Isn’t this a fun twist on a planter?

The Dremel made the process of cutting out the pages go so fast and even I was able to cut out a decent circle.

I’m even liking it more than I expected.

You can purchase the Dremel Micro 8050 online at Amazon.com and HomeDepot.com.

Want more great planter ideas?

DIY Cedar Planter Box – a great DIY project that will add some curb appeal to your home!

Modern Painted Planter Pots – take basic planters and snaz them up with spray paint!

10+ Creative Flower Pot Ideas – full of so many out-of-the-box ideas!

You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.

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September 2, 2014