Whenever we find an item that needs a little TLC – whether it’s found curb side, at a garage sale, thrift store or an antique show, I rarely know in advance what we’re going to do with it! Yet more often than not, I always find a way to transform our finds into a vehicle to show off plants! Plants make me so happy: there’s no better reason to upcycle than that!

Now that the weather has FINALLY caught up with the season it’s the perfect time to showcase some of our favourite before and after planter upcycles to inspire some out of the box thinking – or should I say outside the planter! These ideas are all original to Birdz of a Feather and just about all of the tutorials are Pinterest firsts. We’re revealing every detail so you can successfully make your own! Follow the DIY links to spark your own one-of-a-kind creations!

1. Blue Jean Planter

Some people think this planter is the bees knees and others think it’s creepy, but it’s still our most popular post ever! The video was our first to go viral when it was shared on Facebook with over 11 million views!

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I’ve always admired the solid construction of vintage office chairs. They don’t build ’em like they used to!  Every time we go to an antique market, I’d always point them out to Hubs. He knew one was on my wish list, so I was pleasantly surprised when Hubs showed up one day with one in-hand!

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When we built the mancave and craft studio in the basement, double door access was a must have so we could easily move my industrial equipment into the space. We used a sliding door kit elsewhere in the house and were so happy with the result that it was a no-brainer to install a similar system in our basement. This time, we chose to do pocket doors since we were dealing with new construction.

This isn’t an affiliate post so you can trust our unbiased opinion; we just have to sing the praises of quality products when we come across them.  One big advantage in investing in a quality system, like the K.N. Crowder pocket door kit we used, is that the door can be hung AFTER all the work is complete. You don’t have to build into the wall during construction. Another advantage of the K.N. Crowder system over those you can find at the big box store is the steel components. The steel is strong and durable. Since K.N. Crowder provides awesome instructions with their kits, we’re just going to show some highlights of our install.

Framing

For a double access pocket door, you need two single frame kits. Hubs started with the wooden frame structure before adding the steel header and uprights from the kits.

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In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, I think it’s appropriate to showcase something green and this project is ‘green’ in more ways than one!

If you’re anything like us, you try to complete your inside renos during the winter months so you can enjoy the great outdoors once the good weather arrives. We just finished an accessible bathroom renovation for my Mom, so in this tutorial we’re showing you how to turn an unwanted bathroom light fixture into a planter for the garden. At Birdz of a Feather, we’re all about turning trash into treasure! Whether you find your fixtures in the trash or upcycle your own post-renovation, repurposed bathroom staples can make a great addition to any backyard oasis!

We had a blank section of fencing at the entry to our backyard that needed a little somethin’ somethin’. When Hubs came home with another curbside find – a discarded mirror – it completed my vision perfectly!

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I’ve been spending some long overdue quality time with Hubs this holiday season, so this post comes a day late for 2018. Looking back on our projects of 2018 has made me realize how much I’ve turned into my mother’s daughter. It’s a strange thing to think all your life that you’re nothing like your mother then suddenly come to the realization that you have more in common than you ever thought.

My mom was a prolific indoor and outdoor gardener. For years I didn’t have much of an interest in growing indoor plants – or a green thumb for that matter. Now every available light source in our house is stuffed with plants. Albeit, succulents are easy to keep alive, so if you don’t have much of a green thumb either, give them a try! They’re so lovely to look at and make a home even homier. You can’t really consider your nest feathered without house plants 🙂

I was inspired to re-plant some of my succulents into this succulent display when I came across this set of ceramic planters at the thrift store.

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If you’re looking for a last minute, but fun and easy, ornament to do with the kids, look no further than Instructables. I used their blank template and our Birdz of a Feather logo to create this polyhedral paper craft ornament. You need nothing more than a printer, some paper, a piece of string or ribbon and craft glue to make your own.

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