Quick Fall Porch Makeover!

Ok, so let’s be honest here for a bit! Who is always late to the game? Let me ask that again…who is always late to do things? Like all your friends are over here posting pictures of their front porches with the adorable mums, pumpkins and décor and your porch is still just sitting there looking like no one is home. Well, guess what you are not alone! Never alone, I am always right there with you! I have great intentions and the best ideas but I can never seem to find the time to actually put my plans into action. Well…that is until tonight! Nothing like some friends and family coming over for the weekend to kick you in gear. I mean after all I don’t want the first words out of their mouths when they get in the car to go home be “doesn’t she like have a store and sell décor for your porch?”

Until tonight I had totally neglected my outside area front porch and oh how it shows. I am going to post some pictures of a quick front porch make over I did tonight with some things I ordered from next day Amazon shipping while the majority is things I grabbed from around the house! Easy peasy quick and cheap! (All of my favorite things 🙂 )

During spring and quarantine we had the house and porch area pressure washed and deep cleaned. I had all good intentions of painting our concrete at that point but time got away from me and then it got too hot out and to be totally honest I just don’t do hot so…. here we are in October and my porch is a mess again, so until next spring we will just mask it a little and dress the mess!

I started off with a bare front porch you can check some of the pictures here

Not much right? Well, I love my porch swing and we actually use it a lot so I would love to make the area more inviting so I went on the hunt. Now remember I just said I am having company this weekend and while most bloggers have had their porches fall perfect since August mine has been seriously lacking this year! Like I said I am always late to the game 🙂

Now I have some hurdles to pass here. 1. I need it quick 2. I need it done now 3. I need it to be super easy 4. The boyfriend lives for Packers football and any and all fall theme must incorporate the Packers because well… we kinda live for Sundays in the fall and last 5. Lucky for me I made a Packers porch leaner and door hanger in the years past for gifts for “him”

I went to Amazon on Friday and ordered a couple of pillow covers, and a new outdoor rug. I had to find the perfect Packers yellow and green that would still blend with the fall theme I was looking for. Today I stumbled across a local store with a couple of mums left and yay me they were also yellow! I had to snag them up because in the south if you don’t have a mum it’s really not fall. I skipped out on the pumpkins but I think I may stop tomorrow and add a couple to my collection I am feeling a little more inspired now!

Check out what I done with my Amazon finds, Packers decor and some other things I had in the spare closet! I am loving how it is all coming together and guess what?? Even though I am late getting it all out I think maybe just maybe at this point I can keep my mums alive through Thanksgiving! That has never happened!!!

Like I said the concrete and swing is an absolute mess and needs to be painted but that will have to come in the spring. I just let the time get away from me. What else would you expect from someone who just got their fall décor up the last week of October? My blessed sign will be coming in at night, it is literally a wall sign I picked up at Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago, it will not hold up long outside but I love the message for the front door and will put it out when we are expecting our weekend company. I have some adorable flower pots there that we carried in store last spring that will show through all the other times. I added the metal owl, the KY sign and the extra pillow for the shelf. That part came last and was not at all planned but I knew it still needed a little something extra and I love how it came together!

The hello rug was a quick ship order from Amazon and was way larger than I anticipated note how much smaller the under rug is but I was able to cheat it and make it work for the time being. The pillow covers also came from Amazon and I stuffed the covers with my summer porch swing pillows win, win! Come winter I’ll change those slips out and spring take them all off and use the original pillows!

One thing I hope I can always show is real and that things don’t have to be perfect to be great! Decorating is all a state of imagination and can be done on any budget! Dress up your space with items you already have for an adorable look of your own!

Check out here a side by side and see how much of a difference a little imagination, some mums and fall décor can make!

Check out these Amazon affiliates to grab some of the items I used!

Fall Pillow Covers

<a href="http://<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08G1JDCMR/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B08G1JDCMR&linkCode=as2&tag=polkadotsan06-20&linkId=73c6dde7357fed88dafa80ed60bbed41"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B08G1JDCMR&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=polkadotsan06-20" ></a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=polkadotsan06-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B08G1JDCMR" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />" data-type="URL" data-id="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08G1JDCMR/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B08G1JDCMR&linkCode=as2&tag=polkadotsan06-20&linkId=73c6dde7357fed88dafa80ed60bbed41"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B08G1JDCMR&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=polkadotsan06-20" ></a>""<a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08G1JDCMR/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B08G1JDCMR&linkCode=as2&tag=polkadotsan06-20&linkId=73c6dde7357fed88dafa80ed60bbed41″><img border=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B08G1JDCMR&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=polkadotsan06-20″ ></a><img src=”//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=polkadotsan06-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B08G1JDCMR” width=”1″ height=”1″ border=”0″ alt=”” style=”border:none !important; margin:0px !important;” />

Hello Rug

<a href="http://<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KXN79AC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01KXN79AC&linkCode=as2&tag=polkadotsan06-20&linkId=23f5b71d4863f0bb17637cc5e3cc9ae0"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B01KXN79AC&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=polkadotsan06-20" ></a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=polkadotsan06-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B01KXN79AC" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />" data-type="URL" data-id="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KXN79AC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01KXN79AC&linkCode=as2&tag=polkadotsan06-20&linkId=23f5b71d4863f0bb17637cc5e3cc9ae0"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B01KXN79AC&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=polkadotsan06-20" ></a>""<a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KXN79AC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01KXN79AC&linkCode=as2&tag=polkadotsan06-20&linkId=23f5b71d4863f0bb17637cc5e3cc9ae0″><img border=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B01KXN79AC&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=polkadotsan06-20″ ></a><img src=”//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=polkadotsan06-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B01KXN79AC” width=”1″ height=”1″ border=”0″ alt=”” style=”border:none !important; margin:0px !important;” />

You can check out our website at www.polkadotsandpaislees.com for door hangers and porch leaners for purchase!

Easy DIY Chalk Paint for Home Projects

Are you a crafter? A DIYer? What is your jam? Well I love it ALL! ALL THINGS HOMEMADE AND DIY so when I was searching for Chalk paint to refinish some of those projects that I have had my eye on I was in total disbelief at the cost. Let’s be honest I was in disbelief and like OH NO, NOT HAPPENING, NOT DOING IT. So I went to Pinterest to search. When I originally started searching I was looking for alternative on something else to use that didn’t require sanding first nobody has the time for that nonsense! What I found more of though was literally thousands of blogs of people who make their own chalk paint. I was so excited and couldn’t wait to try it out myself.

Well, I headed to Lowes to pick up some paint, Plaster of Paris and I was ready to go! Well, the first couple of “recipes” were a disaster some were so thin I couldn’t even get it to stay on my project, some so thick it would not smooth out and others so grainy I ended up having to sand it off and start all over. After several tries and fails I found what works best for me. My perfect mixture and it is literally my favorite thing I have ever painted with!

So here you go…. stop searching and use this one you won’t be disappointed. This is the easiest recipe to mix and use:

1/2 Cup Water

1/2 Cup Plaster of Paris

1 1/4 Cup Latex Paint

Mix vigorously and paint! It’s so easy I do however, recommend keeping a stirring stick close and stir very often. I stir every couple of times I dip my brush. I would also recommend mixing enough to finish your entire project atleast one coat at a time with this mixture or your colors may be slightly different when you mix again. If you find it is still too thick or thin for your liking simply adjust with water or plaster very small amounts at a time.

Here is my affiliate link for some great products I recommend using for DIY Chalk Paint:

<a href=”http://<a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075RZZPXX/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B075RZZPXX&linkCode=as2&tag=polkadotsan06-20&linkId=01c90161eab52e00cf8c67f54565aaaf”><img border=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B075RZZPXX&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=polkadotsan06-20″ ></a>""http://<a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075RZZPXX/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B075RZZPXX&linkCode=as2&tag=polkadotsan06-20&linkId=01c90161eab52e00cf8c67f54565aaaf”><img border=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B075RZZPXX&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=polkadotsan06-20″ ></a><img src=”//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=polkadotsan06-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B075RZZPXX” width=”1″ height=”1″ border=”0″ alt=”” style=”border:none !important; margin:0px !important;” />

Blessed DIY Sign With Bling

  • INSPIRATION FOR MY BLESSED SIGN

So have you ever been somewhere and see something and think well I think I could make that? Well I am the worlds worst! No matter where I am or what I see my first thought is always I could do that. Which most of the time I’m not gonna lie ends up as a purchase of several items laying in a pile somewhere buried in my craft room or closet that never gets finished or even started and I come to realize later I should just buy that! Well it happened again the other day, we were over at my mom’s and I seen this hanging in her bedroom. I have noticed it before but always just thought I really like that sign and that was my last thought. Well this time was different you know what I thought..Stacey you can make that! So I snapped this picture and slept on it for the night!

I woke up the next day and could not wait to get to hobby lobby for my supplies! I headed that way and within minutes (or hours you know it’s all the same in Hobby Lobby!) I had my supplies and was ready for my project.

I found this board that I loved laying in our scrap pile where we do all of our wood and painting. My Grandad helped me cut it to the size I needed for my project. (3ft. long 6in. wide) We then stained it using Minwax Dark Walnut Stain, let dry (mostly) then painted over with white paint. After it completely dried I went back and used our electric sander and gave it an aged and farmhouse look. I love the way it turned out here!

When at Hobby Lobby I purchased several sheets of scrapbook paper and 3 inch chipboard letters to spell blessed. I also found the cute little wooden cross and thought that would be the perfect embellishment! I couldn’t not buy it! I traced the letters on the scrapbook paper and cut them all out with a pair of scissors. How easy is that?

I used Modge Podge to put the letters together and let dry. This was actually the first time I had ever used Modge Podge on chipboard and was a little worried about it bubbling up but it did great. I had no problem at all.

After letting dry we laid them out on my board we stained, painted and sanded earlier and got them arranged just how we liked best. We then simply hot glued them to the board! To be totally honest I didn’t think it could possibly work but it did and looked great!

I will admit though my favorite part of any project is making it my own, so I had maybe went a little crazy buying bling and embellishments when I went to hobby lobby so my mom and I got together and “blinged” it out! We added some burlap, stones, ribbon and other pieces to it and it was exactly how I envisioned it to be! We then added hangers to the back and it was completed! Here is the finished project! It is going to go in our bedroom above our door. I love it and hope you do to!

All in all this project was pretty simple and except for getting the board ready and waiting on the drying time for it was a relativity quick for the size and look of it! If you love this one and decide to make one share your finished project with us on our facebook page! We love to see your creations!

Just a little about us!

Hey y’all I am Stacey owner of Polka Dots and Paislees! We are a women’s and children’s clothing and gift boutique in Benton KY. Not familiar with KY no problem you can find us online at http://www.polkadotsandpaislees.com or on Facebook which is where we like to spend most of our time. Our business started about 10 years ago when my mom and I started working some flea market and craft shows with a single Cricut and some cake carriers and wine glasses. We traveled most weekends making crafts on the spot it was so much fun but we knew there was so much more!

Fast forward several years later and here we are! We have been in our storefront for 10 years now. We run a full time staff and have several embroidery and vinyl cutters as well. It is still work yes but oh so fun we absolutely love what we do! We still spend lots of time traveling to those craft shows. It is actually my favorite part of this journey is getting to meet you all face to face.

Hop on in and give us a follow as we dive deeper into all things DIY and crafts that we will be doing together. You may learn something or better yet teach us a thing or two! We are always eager to learn, expand and grow.

Can’t wait to see where this journey takes us in the future! Be on the lookout for some great projects hitting the blog soon! In the meantime join us on Facebook and catch some of posts, check out our pictures, or watch one of our lives!