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Sunday, July 15, 2012

Sizzlin' Summer


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Hi everybody! It has been an exceptionally hot summer so far with very little rain! My lawn has brown patches everywhere, and the annuals and perennial are suffering under this scorching heat. 
I love planting snapdragons in containers. However, this summer has been so unusual as they are withering away and dying. I have kept them in a shaded area thinking maybe heat is causing the withering and kept them well watered, but nothing seems to work. The impatiens  and rose buds in my garden have become a favorite snack for the deer this year! I had no idea that deer favors impatiens! So far, they seem to leave the geraniums alone, but I'm wary of what they will be feasting on next!


I have been working on a couple of projects around the house. I love the vibrant outdoor fabric available in fabric stores and have been meaning to make some outdoor pillows but never got around to it until recently.
Loving the beautiful summer colors of these outdoor canvas:



This wooden box is covered with a map using mod podge:
I cut around one side of the box after placing it on the map. Leave about half an inch extra all around 
 for overlap.
 There should be four cutouts like the one below for the four sides of the box:
The finished product:
I am loving how it turned out and the multitude of ways it can used. Makes a wonderful planter for the fern:
Another side:


Lazy days of summer:
Soaking in the sunshine:
I found this cute twig tray at our local Salvation Army for $2:
I like the rustic look of the tray, and it's perfect for serving summer beverages:

A slice of summer:
Chilled glasses of flavored water:

Melting cherry ice cube:
This rusty tin pail used to look like this:
A couple of coats of aqua paint transforms it beautifully:

The pink geraniums and and dianthus seem to like the bucket as well:
I love the contrast between the pink and aqua, so summery :)
Summer breeze makes me feel fine:

I'm so glad you stopped by to share a slice of summer with me. I enjoyed the pleasure of your company. Thanks for your visit and hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
Also my heartfelt thanks to these gracious hostesses for featuring my decoupaged French pots in their wonderful weekly linky parties:
 Thank you ladies! Your encouragement inspires my creativity and I appreciate it!  
Hugs, Poppy
This week partying at:


Home is where the heart is. - Link it up! - Wednesdays - HomesteadSimple.com

45 comments:

  1. Your photos are beautiful! I love your summer pops of color :)

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  2. Poppy, Your chair, flowers, pillows, and watermelon look so beautiful and inviting. Love all the color!
    Mary Alice

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  3. Wow you staged this so beautifully! I love the Adirondack chair. I'm stopping by from a blog hop and am a new follower, I would love if you came to say hi and followed me back at www.iheartpears.blogspot.com

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  4. Poppy, your pictures are beautiful. The colors of your pillows are perfect. Thank you for sharing this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see you again next Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  5. Oh my goodness...I could certainly soak in the sun in this setting! Love all the pops of color! I hopped over for Masterpiece Monday and I'm your newest follower. Would love to have you stop by for a visit and follow me back. Blessings ~ Judy

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  6. I especially love the wood box covered with the map....all the other pops of color are so pretty!

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  7. I love the pillows and the map covered box.

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  8. Un petit coin de paradis que celui crée par votre talent... Les couleurs de vos coussins s'harmonisent parfaitement bien avec le cadre et quelle idée originale pour la jardinière que d'utiliser une carte...
    Gros bisous à vous

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  9. Hi Poppy: What a beautiful post--gorgeous pictures, rich colors and really creative yet thrifty ideas--I like this a lot!

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  10. I love what you did to that box, you mapped it out beautifully. Oh I love the chair and the pillows... so very clever of you.

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  11. Oh I just loved your summer retreat ,that decoupaged Map planter was awesome!
    Hugs
    Auro

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  12. Oh you are so talented! Everything looks so pretty and colorful and those cushions look awesome!

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  13. This is def. summer lovely! :) Makes me want to sit down and relax! We'd love to have you link it up at our "Home is Where the Heart is" Link Party!
    http://www.homesteadsimple.com/home-is-where-the-heart-is-link-it-up-wednesdays-2/

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  14. Wow, you've really had a busy summer! I love the bright pillows and the fabric is of course perfect! Your planter covered with a map is precious! Love, love, love that idea too! I'm sure you're enjoying your retreat!

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  15. Those pink flowers are just gorgeous in that turquoise pail. What a makeover you gave it! Thanks for linking up to Share the Love Wednesday!
    Mary

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  16. Just gorgeous Poppy. You know I love everything about this. Such pretty photos and colors to make you smile.

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  17. Hi Poppy!

    Your vignette in the garden looks so pretty... despite all the weather and deer issues.

    Your pillows make nice cheerful accents. I wish I would get busy and get some made. Just a matter of dragging out the sewing machine :/

    I love all map decor this year... especially when it has the pretty aqua colors!

    Thanks for sharing at my party :)

    xoxo Bunny Jean
    Wednesdays Bunny Hop Party!

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  18. I just love your summertime colourful post - it's so cheerful and awesome!

    LOVE your map covered box idea, so clever!

    And best of all is that refreshing watermelon and lemonade, wow does it look GOOD!!!!

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  19. I have to say you do have a dash of color and quite a flair for it. What a great spot and how great is that box you covered! Love the idea of covering a box. Why didn't I think of that. I hope the flowers perk up for you. They are still very colorful and pretty out there. Thanks for letting us come for a visit.
    Liz

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  20. I love your projects. They look quite easy to do. I am really taken by the dianthus. I don't think I have ever seen one with a trailing habit before. I love it.

    Yael from Home Garden Diggers

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  21. Beautiful, Poppy! You say lazy days of summer, but it looks like you been busy! You sure have a bunch of lovely projects going on here! I think all the colors are so happy! That looks like an inviting picture to sit in that chair with the pillows, and drink the flavored ice water, and eat watermelon, while enjoying the flowers. So relaxing. I just think those lemon glassed are the best!
    Blessings,
    Susie

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  22. Love the great colors of your pillows and the box really turned out cute:@)

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  23. Poppy, you have so many pretty summer projects going on here!
    I really love the colors you chose for your pillows. So soothing and cool! Great Tutorial for the map box! I could think of so many ways to use it!
    I am so sorry to hear that you have had a rough gardening year! YOur summery vignette certainly makes up for it!
    Thanks for sharing this great DYI with us at TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS!

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  24. So many wonderful projects. I adore your beautiful pillows and your map planter. All the rest are just lovely. So very inviting indeed!!!

    Dee

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  25. I love all the bright summer colours in your backyard vignette. Turquoise is a favorite of mine and your bucket is adorable with the pink flowers in it. I would enjoy this setting very much. Beautifully done! Visiting from A Delightsome Life.

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  26. I love your projects! Despite the heat and all of the browning, you've done an amazing job.

    - The Tablescaper

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  27. This map planter is amazing!I love all your projects. My mouth is watering for some of that ice cold watermelon, YUM!
    Thanks so much for sharing with us.
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  28. Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos of your lovely garden. It looks so pretty with all you pillows.

    Jody

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  29. Great vignette! Love the chair, pillows and the map box! Sorry about the flowers, mine have had issues with insects and caterpillars too!

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  30. Hi Poppy, Love the pillows and the map planter. Aqua is one of my favorite colors and the pop of color in your garden is so fun. Hope your flowers get some relief from the heat soon. Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup.
    Hugs,
    Jann

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  31. Hello Poppy,
    What a lovely post. I love the refreshing photos. You have chosen such soft summery colors.
    Love the chair...pillows and creative touches.
    Smiles,
    Carolynn

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  32. So colorful and I love the map planter! Awesome!
    Thanks so much for linking up at I Gotta Create! <3 Christina

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  33. love this entire post...how cool is that map container? I think its awesome! thank you for linking up to Fishtail Cottage's garden party...loved each and every photo you shared - such cheerful colors! xoox, tracie

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  34. I just love what you did to that bucket. Such sweet flowers and set up! It looks so inviting!

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  35. Wow! You are so creative Poppy! I love the box! Your setting is just so inviting for this summer. My snapdragons are wilting too, I am going to cut them back severely and see if that helps. I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  36. Love these pillows. I have a link party, and I would love it if you would link this post. You can find it at
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/07/face-cleansing-oil-and-wednesdays.html
    It is called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party.
    I hope to see you there. Have a great Day.
    Debi Bolocofsky
    Adorned From Above
    www.adornedfromabove.com

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  37. Lovely! Two great makeovers here! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  38. Love, love, LOVE those pillows!!! It doesn't look hot there at all! Just so nice and relaxing!

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  39. WOW you sure went all out with COLOR!!! Love your projects and your pictures are gorgeous! So glad you dropped by the All about COLOR linky party today! You are rockin!!! Hugs...

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  40. Poppy,

    I just love your color combinations! So fun and fresh ... and that map covered box is my favorite. Probably because I plan something similar with my side tables ...

    Thanks for sharing at our Crazy for Color link party!

    :)

    Linda
    www.itallstartedwithpaint.com

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  41. Well, with you blog name it's almost like we named the party just for you!! I am in love with your covered box and little sitting retreat! Thank you so much for partying. :)

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  42. I can tell you had lots of fun putting this all together!

    Thank you for linking it up at http://www.FineCraftGuild.com
    Looking forward to seeing you again later today with another fabulous project!

    Rose

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  43. I could sit there all summer long! What an inviting spot and your pops of color really make it unique. I love your map planter - pinning it!

    So glad you joined our Color party!
    Kelly

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  44. You're being featured today at the Crazy for Color party!
    Kelly

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Thanks for stopping by and for your loving thoughts. They make me smile!Hugs~Poppy