How to Make Yourself the Most Adorable Valentine You Will Get This Year

So what if I told you that this adorable pompom endowed heart shaped Valentine’s Day succulent planter started out as a hideous country craft wicker basket at the thrift store.  Would you believe me or would you start shouting “liar, liar, pants on fire” as you pointed at me and tears welled up in my eyes.  Let’s hope it’s the first one.

Boom – it’s true these are thrift store baskets.  Don’t ever doubt me again.  I am seriously kicking myself in the toosh for not picking up the wicker Texas shaped basket I saw that same day.  Every day is Texas day here.  Anyway, back to the story YOU CAN DYE WICKER BASKETS!  Not all of them, but some of them.  Look for the ones that are not shiny.  Sure you can always paint them, but dying the wood has a different look that I really like.  Plaid Crafts (sponsored – I’m a brand ambassador for them.  Fancy title right) was kind enough to send me several bottles of their Ultra Dye and finally it came to me what I could use it for.  Did I mention I have several bottles left I am going to give away.  Ya I do, keep reading more on that later.

So with Ultra Dye you brush it on just like paint, however it stains the wood as opposed to coating it like paint would.  I used three different shades for the basket to create an ombre effect: Hot Flash, Raspberry Beret and Hot Pink.  Love the Prince reference, but the first one hits a little close to home.

After the dye has dried you can cover with a top coat.  I didn’t, but you can.  Next I used a thick yarn to do a little weaving on the sides of my basket.  I like lot’s of texture and more is more is always the way to go.  Nothing fancy here, just in and out following the pattern of the basket.  Not all baskets are created equal so your basket might have a weave that is too tight for yarn embellishment.

I live by the motto: Pompoms make everything better.  Like I should get it tattooed on my stomach in Old English I believe it so much.  So you can make your own pompoms or you can do what I did and raid the kids craft department at Michaels and use some ready made ones.  I attached with hot glue.

Finally you add your plants.  These mini succulents are all still sitting in the small plastic cups they came home from the store in.  Sure I’m not going to water them over my nice rug or anything, but it works.  Another possibility is to add chicken wire to the top of the basket and insert the plants through the wire holes so that the basket can be hung on a wall.  I preferred the table top version.  Go for a variety of succulents.  I tried to pick several that had hints of pinks and purples.

Now if you will excuse me I’m headed back to the thrift store to see if that Texas basket is still there.  I’ve got a bottle of Hot Pink Ultra Dye with it’s name written all over it!  Oh and don’t worry if you can’t find this exact basket.  I promise every thrift store I walk in (and I walk in A LOT) has an aisle of baskets.  I see heart shaped ones on the reg.  Oh wait I promised a give away!

So here’s the dill pickles.  Like I said Plaid Crafts was kind enough to send me a box full of Ultra Dye.  Plenty to share.  I’m going to be giving away all these bottles and maybe throwing some other fun stuff in the package too (not my Texas basket don’t get excited).  There are three ways to win and you can enter all three places!  18 and over US residents only.

Blog – leave a comment here on the blog.  You don’t have to tell me anything exciting, maybe how pretty my eyes are or what you would like to use the dye for.  I’ll choose a winner for two bottles.

Instagram – Pop over to Instagram, like THIS POST and tag a friend.  I will give away a bottle to two lucky winners there.

Facebook – Are we friends on ye ole’ FB yet?  We should be.  Like THIS POST to enter. I’ll give away two bottles to one lucky winner there as well.

Three ways to win, one week to enter.  That sounds like Thunderdome: “Two men enter, one man leaves”. Anyway, love to hear what you think about the project and love to send you some dye!

FULL DISCLOSURE – I am a brand ambassador for Plaid Crafts.  As I mentioned I was given these products for free.

Posted January 31, 2017 & filed under Crafts, Holidays, Home Décor Crafts, Recycled Crafts, Valentine's Day.