Chalk Paint Planter & Flower Tower Topiary!

At my local grocers this morning I saw them unpacking their shipment of fresh cut flowers -- so I snagged a few (sad) Alstroemeria Bunches to give my home a little Monday Happy ☼!

UPDATE ::: Flowers opening up nicely -- even Happier Tuesday :)

I decided to add them to a terracotta planter that got a makeover this past weekend . . .

Corner of Mantel with Fresh Flowers = Monday Happy ☼

Here is the Santorini Planter (it's official name) playing happily in our Den at Christmas . . .

I add small Santa hats randomly to prints, pictures and characters in our house (I use Simply Tacky to tack them on). 
Our Maribel Tabletop Clock counts down the time to Santa's arrival. Here the Santorini Planter with Innsbrook ornaments, berries & juniper sprigs.)

I love the profile of this planter -- just not so jazzed about the burnt red color for spring or summer.  Luckily the planter was an incredible steal of $12.96 earlier this month -- so I thought I would snag one and paint it.

 

I started by giving it 2 quick coats of chalk paint (Annie Sloan's Old White -- giving it rather an eggshell appearance), letting it dry . . .

. . . then adding a coat of clear wax . . . waiting a wee bit . . . then I distressed slightly, letting some of the red show through.

I then added a touch of dark wax . . . waited a bit and then buffed it with a soft cloth.  So Easy!  I really, really like the smooth finish and touch of shine, yet it still was a bit roughed up . . . Rustic Elegance if you will . . . perfect (for me anyway :).

The alstroemeria flowers -- which were flat as a pancake this morning -- are starting to fluff up thanks to trimming their stems and giving them a good long drink while the wet floral foam soaked in the sink.

I inserted a foil plant wrapper  (left over from Christmas poinsettias -- I guess I am a bit frugal :)inside the newly painted planter . . .

. . . trimmed the floral foam to fit snuggly inside, and then start adding the flowers to their new home.

I already had a place in mind for the floral arrangement to go, so I knew I needed to go big.  This one corner of the mantel in our den is within my line of sight anytime I am in our kitchen -- and it needed a little happy ☼. 

I decided to make a tall fresh flower topiary with the alstroemerias (which are now less sad thanks to fresh air and water).  I striped the leaves off the bottom 3/4 of the stems to make the topiary.

After I inserted 1 bunch of the trimmed flowers into the wet foam, I tied them together with a bit of green raffia, and added wet moss to the top (to hold moisture in -- and to hid the foam).

I snipped a few groupings of flowers and poked each into the wet foam -- until I had a nice covering.

It gives the corner of the mantel a bit of happy and it will easily last a week if I water it regularly.

I always seem to need something tall for this spot -- the ceiling is high and it is such a narrow space it is awkward to accessorize.

I am uber pleased with this mini-makeover.  I really like the change a little dab of paint, wax and sandpaper were able to achieve.  I can't wait to tackle some of the bigger chalkpaint projects I have lined up . . .

indoor shot . . . looks a bit dark . . .

. . . outdoor shot . . . more true to the color of the finish color of the planter.

. . . but for now, I am tickled with my Monday Happy!

I even had a few stems of flowers left to include in an Italian Ruffle Container on the books in the den . . . :)  Hmmm . . . I should change this spot up more often, don't you think?

Thanks for stopping by!  I apologize in advance for the poor quality of these photos.  Someone keeps eyeing me whenever I walk outside . . .

. . . and my lighting isn't the best indoors on overcast days.    Psst . . . our mourning dove couple are the proud parents of two babies (that are growing fast!).

See what I mean!

I am linking up with :::

• Between Naps on the Porch's Metamorphosis Monday

• Craft-O-Maniac Monday Link Party

• Sumo's Sweet Stuff's Market Yourself Monday

• Sweet Anne's Sweet Sharing Monday

• C.R.A.F.T's Making Monday Marvelous

• Nifty Thrifty Things Sunday

• I Heart Naptime's Sundae Scoop

• Debbiedoo's Newbie Party

• Skip to my Lou's Made by You Monday

• DIY Showoff Project Parade

• Tip Junkie's Homemade Projects

• Romance on a Dime's Tuesday Blog Hop

• Jillify It - Party

• A Bowl Full of Lemons - One Project at a Time

• Today's Creative Blog - Get Your Craft On Tuesdays

• Vintage Wanne Bee - Talent Tuesday

• Topsy Turvy Tuesdays

• Not Just a Housewife - Show Me What Ya Got

• Uncommon - Uncommonly Yours Link Party

• Oopsey Daisy's Wednesday Wowsers

• Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays

• Fine Art Guild - Party!

• Its Overflowing with Creativity Party

• No Minimalist Here - Open House Party

• Domestically Speaking Power of Paint Party

• Common Ground Vintage Inspiration

• Simple Home Life Simple Creations Party

• Fridays at Redoux Interiors

• Creative Things Thursday at Vintage Farmhouse

• My RePurposed Life Catch as Catch Can

• Classy Clutter Spotlight Saturday

• Funky Junk's Saturaday Night Special Junk to Jewels

• Too Much Time's Get Schooled Saturday

 

AND . . . I can't believe I ALMost Forgot!  We Have a Winner of the French Wire Carousel Caddy Giveaway!  Congratulations to Theresa J!  Woo Hoo!  So tickled for her :)  Thank you to all of you who entered and shared how you would use the caddy!