DIY Planter Challenge: Gorgeous Glass

Summer's nearly here and it's a tight race for competitors in our DIY Planter Challenge. For weeks Facebook fans have been voting for their favorite homemade planter, and everything will come to a head June 30th at 11:59pm. Whose planter will receive the most votes? Only time will tell.

Before you visit our Facebook page to cast your vote, try making your own planter. We've already showed you how to make Karen A.'s printed pipe and William Brown's perfect printer, but what about some gorgeous glass? This lovely creation, submitted by our Digital Marketing Director, Joanne C., looks wonderful and is a snap to make. Add some subtle beauty to your indoor space with a planter like this one. Find out how to make it below!

What you'll need:

• Glass bowl (or any other glass container you want to use for your planter)
• Alcohol inks
• Sponge
• Shellac spray
• White acrylic paint
• Plant (Joanne used a Kalanchoe)
• Potting soil

Directions:

Step 1: Gather your supplies. Remember to put on your rubber gloves and cover any work surfaces you don't want stained as alcohol ink is hard (impossible!) to remove.

Step 2: Holding up the glass bowl, splash one drop of ink at a time and blow it around the glass until the entire surface is covered. Alternate using different colors until you see the desired effect.

Step 3: Let dry for a few hours or overnight.

Step 4: Once the ink is fully dry, spray it with shellac to seal the color. Two or three thin coats of shellac will ensure the ink doesn't rub off.

Step 5: To make sure the ink colors will still be visible when you have dirt and a plant inside your planter, paint the inside with white acrylic paint.

Step 6: Let the acrylic paint dry overnight.

Step 7: Fill with your favorite plant, (Joanne chose a Kalanchoe), and put it in your favorite space.

We adore this beautiful, stained glass inspired planter. Though one of the more complex on our list, you can recreate it at home in just a few simple steps. Love it as much as we do? Make sure to vote for it on Facebook.

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DIY Planter Challenge: Perfect Printer

The DIY Planter Challenge is in full swing and the competition is getting fierce! To help get in the spring spirit and prepare for summer, Marketplace Events team members crafted some fun planters, and now the online voting has begun. Whose planter will receive the most votes and be crowned the winner? It's up to you (and our other Facebook fans) to decide.

Before you visit our Facebook page and vote for your favorite, why not try making your own planter? We've already showed you how to make Karen A.'s printed pipe, but what about William Brown's perfect printer? The Landscape Coordinator for Marketplace Events and owner of William H. Brown Landscape Inc. made this unique piece using an old printer. Here's how you can make one.

What you'll need:

• Printer
• Tinfoil
• Potting mix
• Variety of plants

Directions:

Step 1: Find an old printer and remove its ink cartridges and any other extraneous parts.

Step 2: Using tinfoil, create a tray for some plants in the middle of the printer. Fill it with potting mix.

Step 3: Add more plants of varying height and style to any additional compartments your printer may have to create a lush "printer-scape".

We're big fans of this creative upcylced planter. Not only is it a great way to find new use for that old printer you've been hesitant to throw away, but it's a truly unique and original piece to display in your home or garden. Love it as much as we do? Make sure to vote for it on Facebook.

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DIY Planter Challenge: Printed Pipe

To help put a little spring in all of our employees' steps, we challenged our Marketplace Events team members to a friendly DIY competition. Folks had just over a month to create a cute, original planter. There were no restrictions on size, style, or influence - it just had to be homemade.

Check out the full list of entries on our Facebook page and vote for your favorite. But first, learn how Karen A., Exhibit Sales Consultant for the Birmingham Home + Garden Show, created her fabulous printed pipe planter.

What you'll need:

• PVC sewage elbow
• Grinding disc
• Glue (Karen used Goop)
• Stylish duct tape (Karen used leopard print)

Directions:

Step 1: Start with a trip to your local hardware store to grab supplies. Karen went to Habitat for Humanity and bought a PVC sewage elbow and grinding disc. Total cost for both was $2.

Step 2: Using a sturdy adhesive, (Karen chose Goop), glue the disc to the bottom of the PVC.

Step 3: Cover the PVC in stylish duct tape. Karen used leopard print to give her planter a funky look, but you can use any style.

Step 4: Fill the planter with the plant of your choice. Karen selected an air plant from her property, but any species would look nice.

We love the simplicity of this craft. A few dollars can go a long way when it comes to making planters. What do you think of Karen's creation? If you're a fan, make sure to vote for it in our DIY Planter Challenge. Visit Facebook to cast your vote today!

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DIY Planter Challenge

With spring in full swing and summer just around the corner, we wanted to help our Marketplace Events coworkers add some green to their space. And what better way to do so than with a friendly DIY competition? Employees from every department across the US and Canada were invited to try their hand at making a cute, original planter. There were no restrictions on size, style or influence. Employees were encouraged to be as creative as they could, with just under a month to make their entry.

Here’s where you come in! 

We need our beloved fans to help us choose a winner! Please visit our Facebook page to see all the planters we created and vote for your favorite. Voting will run until June 30, 2016 at 11:59pm. The employee whose entry receives the most votes will win some serious bragging rights and a pizza party for their entire department.

What are you waiting for? Check out the planters we made and vote for the one you think deserves to win. And don't forget to Like Us after you vote. Our Facebook fans get lots of perks - like exclusive show content, fun contests, ticket deals, and more!

Want to learn how to make some of the fabulous planters we've featured? Watch for instructional posts to teach you how to create some of our favorites, including Karen A.'s printed pipe, Joanne C.'s inspired alcohol ink piece, and a playful printer from William Brown of William H. Brown Landscape Inc.

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4 Simple Chores to Get Your Home Ready for Spring

Spring is here and you know what they say: April showers bring May flowers. Are you ready for this rainy season? Just as grey skies and weather warnings have us bringing out our rain boots and jackets, it’s important to ensure that your home is protected in the event of a storm. To spare you some headaches and a few costly repair bills, we’ve outlined our top four home maintenance items to tackle this (and every) spring.

Gutters

Gutters collect rain and help move it off of and away from your home. Uncovered gutters will fill with debris (leaves, sticks, rocks, trash, etc.) over time and should be cleaned out regularly. Unkempt gutters are unable to adequately move water away from your home; instead it will pool in the gutters and overflow onto your roof - which can cause serious damage. Cleaning out your gutters twice a year (in the fall and the spring) can help save you from major repairs.

Roof

It’s a good idea to assess your roof after the snow has melted. The several inches of white stuff that’s been on your roof for two or three months can hide damage. Once it’s gone grab a ladder (and a pal; don’t do this on your own!) and see what shape your shingles, flashings and chimney are in. You want to make sure that everything is attached properly and in good condition. Winter weather hits roofs very hard, so it’s important to ensure yours has fared well when things start to warm up or else you could be at risk for water damage when your first major rain storm hits.

Grading

While you may look at your lawn and yard in terms of gardening and landscaping regularly, how often have you thought about your grading? The slope of your outdoor space can have a big impact on the state of your indoor space. If your yard slopes away from your home, there’s nothing to worry about. However, if your yard slopes toward your home, you might be in trouble. Rain, like everything else, has to follow the laws of gravity. If your home is at the bottom of a downward sloping lawn, water will follow that slope, pooling around the base of your home and seeping into your foundation. This can cause all sorts of damage. Setting up your lawn so that it is flat or sloping away from your home is a must-do.

Cracks

Here’s hoping you sealed all your cracks before the winter, but if you weren’t able to take care of this chore a few months ago, it’s still valuable to do it now. Go through your home and caulk all the cracks in the walls and around windows and doors you see. These holes allow air to seep out and pests to get in. Sealing minor cracks will help make your home more energy efficient and deter unwanted bugs and rodents from making their nests in your space.

Taking care of these chores will help make your space more comfortable this spring and summer, and these little home improvement projects can prepare for your next big renovation or remodel. Not feeling confident enough to tackle these chores on your own? Connect with a local pro in your area and see how they can help with your space. Referral based websites like Angie’s List and HomeStars can put you in touch with the right company. Looking for more advice, ideas, and inspiration for your home? Follow @HomeShows on Twitter and Instagram, and like Home and Garden Events on Facebook.

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10 IKEA Hacks To Freshen Up Your Space

What is it about springtime that signals the start of DIY season? Yes, there are many who undertake projects all year long, but for some reason there seems to be a flurry of home improvement activity as the temperature begins to rise. Perhaps it's the bright spring sunshine illuminating your dated decor, or the prevalence of inspiring spring colors, patterns, and trends, or maybe we're all just feeling invigorated after a long winter's rest. Regardless of your motivations, we're excited to share some new projects to help cultivate your DIY ambitions. We know that starting a DIY entirely from scratch can be a lot of work and usually requires a certain level of skill that not every homeowner possesses. So we decided to share our 10 favorite IKEA hacks - simple projects you can try to make your otherwise conventional IKEA furniture look more beautiful and luxurious. Check out great ideas from some of the best bloggers our there and get ready to get your DIY on.

We're not IKIDDING you, these are from IKEA!

Stools - This Little Street shows us that removable wallpaper in fun patterns turns regular stools into works of art! Perfect for children's rooms or just jazzing up your own space, these stools are super easy to make. Get the full tutorial here.

Image via This Little Street

Cabinets - You might not know this, but switching out the knobs and top part of this cabinet make it look like a custom built-in. As Made By Girl proves, it's the little details that define IKEA furniture, so transforming these pieces isn't usually a huge undertaking. Get the full tutorial here. 

Image via Made By Girl

Side Table - This IKEA table was only $30, but you wouldn't believe it - heck, you wouldn't even believe it was from IKEA. Style Me Pretty used marble contact paper and copperleaf to give this side table a serious upgrade! Get the full tutorial here.

Image via Style Me Pretty

Entryway Table - Just because a piece of IKEA furniture doesn't fit your exact requirements when you first buy it, doesn't mean you can't make it work. Using paint and a little carpentry, The Sweet Beast turned this shelf into the perfect entryway table. Get the full tutorial here.

Image via The Sweet Beast

Tote - Ok, so this isn't exactly for your home, but the hack from Melissa Esplin was so creative we had to share it. I guess what we're trying to say is, we totally love this tote. It's more complex than the other hacks we've shared, but the end result is so stunning you won't believe this bag was once a pillow case. Get the full tutorial here.

Image via Melissa Esplin

Window Bench - Mommy Vignettes is the genius behind this creative upgrade. A cushion, some legs, and a bit of carpentry turn this shelving unit into a window bench. Get the full tutorial here.

Image via Mommy Vignettes

Bathroom Vanity - The Golden Sycamore went a little rustic with their hack and we approve. A touch of milk paint changes the feel of this IKEA vanity, making it look a lot more luxurious, expensive, and unique. Get the full tutorial here.

Image via The Golden Sycamore

Chair - Turn a boring, plastic desk chair, into something more fluffy, original, and comfortable. Our very own Digital Marketing Director, Joanne Carry, is responsible for this creative hack!

Image via Snapguide

Lamp - Cape 27 fill the inside of this clear IKEA lamp with paint creating a bright, adorable piece of furniture. $23 well spent! Get the full tutorial here.

Image via Cape Twenty Seven

We love lamp!

Bookshelves - Centsational Girl added some faux crown molding to these simple bookshelves and painted their interiors a rich color to make them look a lot more high-end. What a great idea! Get the full tutorial here.

Image via Centsational Girl

We hope these hacks help to inspire your next DIY project and show you how a really simple undertaking can have a huge impact on a space. Are there other IKEA hacks you've tried that we haven't listed here? Share them with @HomeShows on Twitter and Instagram. We'd love to hear about how you've made your furniture better!

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5 Ways To Get Your Home More Organized

Spring cleaning isn't just the time when you scrub the areas of your home that aren't always on your "To Do" list, it's also a great opportunity to organize spaces that tend to get easily cluttered. We've vowed to help you with your spring cleaning, so we compiled a list of rooms and appliances that can typically use an assessment, purge, and restructuring. Check it out below, as well as some expert techniques you can modify and implement in your home, and get ready to get organized.

Remember, spring cleaning has chores that fall into three categories: cleaning, organizing, and maintenance. To help you, we're writing blogs to tackle tasks that fall into all three of these categories. Enjoy our tips on organizing below, read up on cleaning here, and check back for more advice on home maintenance.

Organizing

Refrigerator - We're sure cleaning the fridge is on your spring cleaning list, (you probably even do it more than once or twice a year), but is organizing it on the list too? When your fridge space makes sense, you're less likely to waste food and it's easier to keep your fridge clean year-round. Squawkfox has a great system you can modify to fit your refrigerator and eating habits.

Image via Squawkfox

Kitchen Cabinets - While you're working in your kitchen, it might be a good time to evaluate the state of your cabinets. How organized are they? It's easy for us to hold onto kitchen items for longer than we should (I'm sure you've got some Tupperware that doesn't have all its parts, chipped mugs and glasses, and old water bottles that you wouldn't use but don't want to throw away). Since you're in spring cleaning mode, take the plunge and start purging your useless kitchen items. Bargain Briana has got great tips to help you whip your cabinets into shape.

Image via Bargain Briana

Bathrooms - It's so easy for your bathroom to become cluttered. It seems like there's a specific product or two for every part of your body, and if you're sharing a bathroom with one or more people, that's a lot of stuff you have to make room for. If you have a gigantic storage-filled bathroom we're jealous, but if you're like most of us and have a small space you have to make compromises in, Good Housekeeping has some great ideas for you.

Image via Good Housekeeping

Garage - For many households the bulk of spring cleaning revolves around the garage. It is an area of the home that sees a lot of change as the weather gets warmer. Bring out your gardening gear and sports equipment, put away your shovels (finally!) and holiday lights. Getting your garage organized is a large chore, but luckily Listoic has it broken down into 28 manageable tasks.

Image via Listoic

Closet - Another part of your home that'll see some major change as the weather improves is your closet. As you say goodbye to sweaters and hello to sundresses, use the opportunity to take a minute to organize and purge this space. Buzzfeed has some useful techniques to help you assess your garments so you can determine what stays, what should be donated, and what belongs in the trash.

Image via Buzzfeed

We hope these tips help to clear your space and mind. For more spring cleaning advice make sure to check out our article on keeping your home spotless, and watch out for more advice on home maintenance soon.

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9 Life Hacks To Keep You Sane During Spring Cleaning

This month we’ve been on a quest to provide simple tips, tricks, and ideas to help you spring clean smarter. Although we have already outlined some best practices and often-missed spots for cleaning, there’s a lot more info coming your way. In the next few weeks we’ll be discussing methods for organizing and maintaining your home more effectively. But for now, while you’re in the thick of your most tedious spring cleaning chores, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to share with you some household cleaning hacks.

Showerhead Hack – Not sure how to clean your showerhead without unscrewing it or doing some seriously awkward scrubbing and reaching? Don’t worry. The folks at Wonderful Engineering have hacked this chore; all you need is vinegar, a plastic bag, and a little patience.

Image via Wonderful Engineering

Shower Spray Hack – Ok, so we’ve yet to find a five minute deep clean hack for showers (that’s wizardry), but we did find a cheap and effective way to keep your shower clean. Once your shower has had a good scrub, use this homemade shower spray after every shower you take. It’s simple and inexpensive to make (there are only three ingredients) and it’ll help your scrubbing go a long way.

Image via Pop Sugar

Pillow Hack – Think you can’t clean your pillows? Think again. It’s as easy as turning on the washing machine. One Good Thing hacked this important chore so you can get your comfy cushions back in great condition.

Image via One Good Thing

Vacuum Hack – Don’t have one of those fancy vacuum attachments? Don’t worry. A toilet paper roll will work just as well. Save yourself some cash and clean all the hard to reach spots in your home.

Image via ViralNova

Cord Organizing Hack – Toilet paper rolls also work well for keeping cords untangled and organized!  

Image via Wonderful Engineering

Hard To Reach Hack – Have you ever tried getting the dust and crumbs trapped in between your keyboard keys or car vents? Those spots used to be pretty well impossible to get clean...until now! This cleaning slime, (yes, we know it sounds like an oxymoron), is your new best friend! Simply Living Smart will show you how to make it and the best spots to use it.

Image via Simply Living Smart

Furniture Hack – Over the years your furniture can see some wear and tear. If you’ve got dings on your wooden pieces, buff them out using walnuts! (Seriously!)

Image via Wonderful Engineering

Fix It Hack – While we’re on the subject of fixing things, did you know there’s a website that will give you a step-by-step tutorial on how to fix something you’ve broken? So if you get a little over zealous during your spring cleaning and break something, the Fix It Club has got you covered!

Image via SlipTalk

Hammer Hack – Should any of your fixes or chores involve a hammer and nails, we’ve got the ultimate hack to share with you.  Instead of holding the your soon-to-be-hammered nails in your mouth as you line everything up (gross and a little dangerous), simply glue a magnet to the bottom of your hammer and keep your nails there! What a genius idea!

Image via Dream A Little Bigger

We hope these simple hacks help you through your spring cleaning chores. Are there helpful hacks that you think we should know about? Tweet @HomeShows your favorite home improvement and cleaning hacks – we want to hear from you!

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