Diablo Gazette • AUGUST 2015 • Page 9 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925) 303-4779
Easy DIY Succulent Planters: Twisted Rope Wrapped Cans CAROL AND RANDI The FruGirls With a drought turning our lawns brown & brittle, it’s the perfect time to make some beautiful outdoor decor that is perfect for front door, porch or backyard. All you need are succulents & some not so obvious items. Items Needed: •package of Twisted Manila Rope (1/4" x 50') •1 Empty Coffee Can & 3 Empty Tuna Cans •Potting Soil •Glue Gun & Glue Sticks •A variety of Small & Medium Size Succulents Succulents have recently become all the rage on Pinterest, Hometalk and many other home improvement sites. They are drought friendly, come in many varieties and sizes, and are very affordable . They are also easy to maintain.
We used the store brand rope from our local Ace Hardware store. LOVE the tones in the twisted rope. It is a rustic chic that looks straight out of Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware. Upcycling cans that would have gone into the recycle bin … good for our environment and our wallets. We like free! Our total cost for three small and one larger plant container and the succulents is under $20. Directions: With a little patience and lots of glue sticks, all you need to do is wrap and glue, wrap some more and continue to glue around and around until the can is completely covered. To start and finish, each end of rope should be cut on an extreme angle and glue along the rope line closest. This will keep the line as smooth and tight as possible. Be generous with the glue without letting it show or seep through the edges of the rope. We prefer
putting the glue directly on the can but do be careful because the can will get hot in the spot behind the glue. Put slight pressure on the rope when you press and hold for a few seconds while the glue settles and dries. Your pattern starts to blossom as you go around the can. Keep the rope pushed as close to the glued layer before it. It will create a tight and beautiful rope pattern without showing any can. The glue dries super fast. You are ready to plant your succulents as soon as you finish wrapping. Carol & Randi, aka The FruGirls, are all about living the most frug-elegant life. FrugElegance is where frugal & elegance come together. "We love to create an elegant look for a lot less!" Visit our bog at www. FrugElegance.com. Our home staging & decorating business is FrugElegance by Design.
Bead and Boutique Arts Show Coming to the Concord Hilton The Bead & Boutique Arts Show offers tradition-inspired products of excellent craftsmanship to the public as well as to art galleries, designers, and retailers. Enthusiasts of all skill levels may also attend one of several workshops in a variety of crafts. Those looking for collectibles will discover fine collections of distinctive traditional designs in fine art jewelry,
antique beads, vintage sterling silver, artifacts, ethnographic objects, Asian art, Venetian trade beads, objects de art, antique textiles, and decorative arts. The Bead & Boutique Arts Show is a great place to shop and discover emerging boutique trends at reasonable prices. The participating artists, artisans and trades people, who are chosen by invitation and juried application,
will offer the latest designs in artistic beads, hand-woven textiles, jewelry and fabric designs, art clothing, gemstones, metalwork, lapidary, and vintage items. Other tradition-inspired products include fine pearls, kiln-fired beads, lamp-worked pendants, hand-cut gemstones, Gablonzer crystals, Tibetan silver, folk art, designer findings, interior décor, hand-sewn skirts, as well as bead
and design supplies and components. Bead & Boutique Arts Show also gives attendees the chance to take a handson workshop and learn to make oneof-a-kind jewelry. Workshops will be offered daily, 9am-9pm, for every skill level. They cover a range of techniques in enameling, soldering, bead making, riveting, silver clay, talismans jewelry, metal and wire work. The new workshops include Making Art Glass, Soldered Ring, Lovely Links, and Kumihimo Lilies. A word to the wise, workshops fill quickly. Early reservations are recommended. The show is open to the public, admission $10. Friday - Sunday, August 7 – 9, 10am - 6pm. Located at Hilton Concord, 1970 Diamond Blvd, Concord, CA. Visit www.beadandboutique.com for more information and gallery. See their ad on the front page