Skip to main content

Changes for Year 5

What a week it’s been!  From an update to the bathroom TO the interesting new color choice by Pantone (what’s your take on Marsala?) TO sharing my TOP TEN TOOLS for DIYers, it’s been jam-packed with goodness.  But I have news to share that’s even bigger and better… My blog + business of almost 5 years is getting a revamp.

Here’s a peek >

New Blog Design

If you haven’t noticed yet, some changes have already taken form.  For the past week, what used to be sasinteriors.net is now jennaburger.com (take a look up at the URL bar – My site will always be accessible using sasinteriors.net, but going forward it’ll automatically redirect to jennaburger.com).  This weekend, the blog will be down for a bit while the design is changed over but bright and early Monday morning, the new blog will be up and running with an entire new look.

New Button

Why the Change?

As I head into Year 5 of my design business & blog,  I was feeling a need for change.  It’s like that moment you walk into your closet, hate everything, and rush out to buy an entire new wardrobe.  Oh, thats never happened to you?  Me neither, but I dream about it sometimes… 

The decision to change my blog name + redesign my little spot in the blogosphere was difficult to make.  From day one choosing a name that defines my mission for inspiring & creating seemed impossible.  I was never thrilled with my blog & business name, and after living it + breathing it for 4 years, I was ready to go in a different direction.   Since my site is not only my inspirational blog, but also a business platform for my design company, the title / the name needed to make sense for both facets.  To simply use my name, Jenna Burger, made the most sense.  That’s what people know me as and over the years it has become my brand.  I, Jenna Burger, am the one to create and I am the one who inspires.    The new tagline Layers of Inspired Style was a fluid addition to accompany my name and I feel it sums up my mission & thought-process on design with the layering of materials to create a cohesive, unexpected, and eye-catching composition.

With all the new changes coming, PLEASE don’t fret that my mission and design ideas will be changing.  That will all remain the same and more awesomeness is to come in the New Year!  I feel this new design and layout is a better reflection of me and my design aesthetic.  The new layout/design is a lot cleaner & simpler so in turn my hope is for you, my readers, to find things & navigate the site faster & easier!

There might be a few hiccups over the next couple weeks so if you see a broken link or something missing/wrong, please let me know.  An extra set of eyes is always helpful.  Thanks so much and as always, I appreciate all of you so much!  Here’s an early CHEERS to 2015!

Valentine Wreath with Paint Chip Flowers

Thanks all for loving my printables so much – I didn’t realize what a hit they’d be.  I guess next time I should have more confidence…  Weren’t all the other printables along the Blog Hop super cute as well?  I am still in the romance mood (that sounded corny), and wanted to share with you a wreath I created last year.  It was originally featured on Jen’s blog, but I wanted to give it a refresh and share it all with you.  It’s one of my favorites to-date!

Come see how I made this Valentine Wreath with Paint Chip Flowers

Valentine Wreath with Paint Chip Flowers created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

It wasn’t difficult to make at all and the flower petals were actually a bit calming to create.

The supplies I used for this wreath creation were:

  • Grapevine wreath ( I got mine on sale at AC Moore for $2.50)
  • Eucalyptus leaves
  • White spray paint (I used a gloss finish)
  • Paint chip samples in an array of pinks and reds
  • Hot glue gun
  • A heart punch or scissors to manually cut out hearts

I started off with the paint chip flowers.

Using paint chip samples in a range of colors from pinks to reds to purple, and a 1.5″ heart-shaped hole punch, I cut out about 40 hearts. I got this decorative paper punch at AC Moore for less than $10, but as an alternative, you could cut hearts out with plain ole’ “old school” scissors. The hearts may not result as exact, but the idea is still the same.

Valentine Wreath with Paint Chip Flowers created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Then I cut a piece of felt about 3″ round (any heavier material will work as well), laid out 6 hearts around the outer edge, and secured them with a nice-sized dab of hot glue.

Valentine Wreath with Paint Chip Flowers by @Jenna_Burger of WWW.JENNABURGER.COM featured on tatertotsandjello.com

Then for the inner hearts, I curled the top edge using a pencil to create the look of a flower.

Valentine Wreath with Paint Chip Flowers by @Jenna_Burger of WWW.JENNABURGER.COM, featured on tatertotsandjello.com

I layered (4) ‘curled’ hearts in the center, on top of the outer edge of hearts. To complete each flower creation, I added a small 3 dimensional piece of paint chip for the center of the “flower”.

After making a few more flowers of different sizes (they don’t all have to be this large size – differing sizes make it more interesting), I added them to the wreath. Having the back of the flowers on felt, allows the ease of adding them to the wreath. With a dab of hot glue, I attached the felt-backed flowers to the wreath. Once Valentine’s Day is over, the flowers can easily be removed from the wreath, and different embellishments can be added for other holidays or occasions.

Valentine Wreath with Paint Chip Flowers created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

This wreath truly was a joy to create and took only about an hour to make (I add the eucalyptus & spray painted the wreath Day 1 which took about 15 minutes, then made the flowers and attached them Day 2 which took about 30 minutes).

Valentine Wreath with Paint Chip Flowers created by @Jenna_Burger,WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Valentine Wreath with Paint Chip Flowers created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

This festive Valentine wreath would be great hanging on a front door or inside the home. I have it above my fireplace – it’s the perfect centerpiece above my mantel.

Valentine Wreath with Paint Chip Flowers by @Jenna_Burger of WWW.JENNABURGER.COM, featured on tatertotsandjello.com

Super cute, right?!

I like it so much because it doesn’t scream Valentine’s Day.  It could really take you right through the Spring months.  Wouldn’t it also look good with fall colored paint chips – Ooo, that gives me an idea!

Want to see some more of my Vday creations?  Here are a few:

> The valentine burlap wreath with felt flowers that I created a few years ago

click on image for tutorialValentine Burlap Wreath with Felt Flowers created by @Jenna_Burger of WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

> My ‘love’ connection wood sign.  Do you see lame / dorky or wow, she’s really creative?

click on image for tutorialValentines Love Connection Wood Sign created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Do you decorate for Valentine’s day?

2013 Year in Review + {Link Up}

What a year it’s been.  I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s gone by in a blink of an eye.  Seriously.  I don’t think a year has ever gone by so fast.  Anyway, the past year has been filled with many unexpected and rewarding opportunities – I can’t be more thankful.  As always, it’s fun to look back on all the DIY creations and projects that have been accomplished around the ole’ homestead.  Let’s head down memory lane for 2013…

Year in Review

January started out with revamping my central command center with a new chalkboard wall behind.  Who knew at the time that it would be chosen to be featured in a national magazine, Better Homes and Gardens (on stands now).  Crazy.  This 30″ spot in our home is incredibly functional and truly keeps our family on track so we know where we’re going when.

I will mention, since a year ago, this spot has changed once again (as our needs have changed) and it’s one of the first projects I’ll be sharing with you in 2014.

Central Command Center

Along with this fun + functional wall, January was also filled with inspiration on starting a blog, fixing unaligned furniture, and turning trash into treasure (lamp to vase).

As we headed into February, the focus was on designing my new office / family room and all the new details that went into creating it like the striped window treatments using paint, the modern to industrial-style coffee table, and the creation of my GIANT inspiration board.  The backstory of how the room evolved over the years is quite interesting…

Newly design home office + family room

What a busy month!

March was another busy month around my neck of the woods, along with a few client projects.  The MEGA craft room with bright + vibrant colors that I had finished was finally ready to be revealed…

Craft Room Reveal

…as well as a newly renovated client kitchen. Both were such rewarding projects (and both were photographed for BHG and will be featured later this year). Pinch me again.

Kitchen Makeover

April was another exciting month with the start of my powder room makeover. And still to this day, I just LOVE it.  The renovation started with removing the existing toilet and sink, then the following month I moved on to wallpapering the space, and installing the new toilet, sink, and accessories.

Also in April, I shared inspiring Spring porches + entryways, ideas for infusing color into the home, and superb Spring mantels.  So much INSPIRATION to go around.  The biggest project in April though was definitely the creation of the Vertical Garden Pallet for my front porch.

Vertical Pallet Garden

Spring was one of my favorite seasons on the blog because I hosted a beautiful blog series about Creating a Meaningful Home.  Many of my blog friends contributed and opened up their homes to share how they’ve created a meaningful home.  If you want to see the entire series, this link will take you there.

Creating a Meaningful Home blog series

On the DIY front, May was a big month because we finally tackled the staining of our exterior wood deck.  Looking back at the before picture makes me simply shake my head.  I can’t believe how desperate it needed some TLC.  It was a big project to tackle, but so worth it in the end!

How to Stain a Wood Deck

In June, the Creating a Meaningful Home blog series continued, but it was also a month filled with making cute mason jar terrariums with the kids, sharing inspiration on 5 upgrades for a killer kitchen, and my new entry drop space.  The entry upgrade has made the foyer space so much more user-friendly and even though it’s not a huge area, extra room for coats and bags has been wonderful.

Simple Foyer Entry Upgrade

As the summer rolled around, the powder room kept me busy throughout the month of July.  Once it was finally finished near the end of the month, I was able to share the big reveal. What a CHANGE!

Powder Room Reveal

During the Summer, I was also asked to become apart of the Apartments.com team as a Brand Ambassador.  Through my partnership with Apartments.com I have been able to share ideas + inspiration about living in an apartment and/or a small space.  We’re all looking for strategic ways to maximize our space and often with a little planning and outside-of-the-box thinking, a better use of space is possible. As a Brand Ambassador for Apts.com, over the past few months I have shared many easy-to-create DIY projects, like these rope wrapped vases and glasses.

August was a slow month on the DIY homefront, but it was a busy month in general because my family and I hit the road for the biggest roadtrip we’ve ever taken.  We headed to Atlanta for the Haven Conference in a 2300+ total mile trip.  The trip truly changed my life.  I finally got to meet so many friends that I had only known thus far through the computer.  It’s amazing how blogging has made such an impact on my life.

Haven Conference in Atlanta 2013

Once I returned from Haven, I was still a busy DIY girl!  I kept myself occupied with revamping my bookcase backs, sharing inspiration on ideas for open kitchen shelving, and my latest DIY creation – a new pallet gardening table.

DIY: Vertical Garden Table

Also in late Summer, I became a covergirl by having a space I designed featured on the cover.  I had worked with a local magazine called, Saratoga Mama, and their Fall magazine featured a Kids Corner Craft area that I designed.  It was such a fun project to be apart of!

Saratoga Mama magazine Fall 2013

As Fall rolled around, and we welcomed September + my 3 year blog anniversary, ideas for a foyer revamp started to fill my head.  And when I set my mind to something, I usually can’t let it go. The best part of the foyer makeover was definitely the addition of wide horizontal stripes.  Of course, I shared a few tips + tricks I learned to achieve the most perfect stripes

Creating Perfect horizontal stripes

A few other favorite projects + posts in September were how I created drop cloth curtain panels with a leading edge (one of my most favorite projects to date), my unique Fall wreath with plums + peacock, and ideas + solutions for the wall BEHIND the TV.

In October, I tackled quite a few fun and easy DIY projects like the creation of the stained yellow coffee table with dipped legs, the chevron patterned pillow, and how to bring the outdoors in with Fern Art

How to Make Fern Art

October was also an exciting month because I got to share the final foyer reveal with you.  The space has had quite the evolution of styles over the years!

Foyer Remodel

November brought the start of the Christmas decorating season.  We started early this year!  But before I began showing you all things Christmas around the house, I opened up a secret door in the house.  One that is often not revealed to anyone.  What am I talking about??  The inside of the kitchen cabinets, of course.  But I was okay with opening them up because I reorganized them and they looked fab.

Kitchen cabinet organization

As December rolled on in, the house transformed into a seasonal wonderland.  I was honored to be apart of the Jennifer Rizzo Holiday Housewalk Tour and opened my home for Christmas Tour.  I was blessed to be apart of this well-known blogland tour and had a great time showing you around my holiday decorated home.

Christmas Home Tour

And to round out this blessed year, my kids and I are currently featured in the I Did It section of the Better Homes and Gardens January issue – which is on stands now.  I shared all about the behind the scenes of the day just a few weeks ago.

@Jenna_Burger featured in the I Did It section of Better Homes and Gardens January 2014

What a year it’s been.  To be honest, not until putting this post together did I realize how much we’ve tackled and accomplished this past year.  Like I’ve said so many times, it’s been an incredibly surprising and rewarding year.  I can’t wait to see what 2014 brings…

A few of my friends and I are hosting a link up for you to share your “Best of 2013” or “Year in Review” posts.  These types of posts are great because they give a fantastic recap into the biggest accomplishments throughout the year.

2013 Year in Review

After you’ve linked up, head on over to Beth, Carrie, and Jessica’s blog where they are sharing their recaps + your “Best of 2013” posts will be seen on their blogs too.

Beth, Unskinny Boppy

Carrie, Making Lemonade

Jessica, Decor Adventures

The only party guidelines: Visit the co-hosts and if you link up, perhaps publicize the party on Facebook or Twitter so others can find out about it as well.  The more the merrier!

DIY: Wood Spice Rack

Earlier this week, I shared my newly organized kitchen cabinet interiors where I added multiple materials to make the vertical space on the interiors of the doors super useful.  One specific element that made a world of difference, as far as storage, are the 2 wood spice racks that I made from scratch.

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

While originally gathering materials for the project, I was on the search for pre-made spice holders.  I didn’t have a specific style in mind but was hoping for wood.  In the end, I didn’t find anything, so instead I DIYed them.

One of the best sponsor gifts I came away with from Haven over the Summer was my new Kreg Jig Jr.  I had been eyeing a jig for a while because it makes building furniture so much easier by allowing for the screws to be concealed.  When the wood spice holder came to mind, I knew this was the perfect first project for using my jig.

Kreg Jig Jr.  Great tool for small do it yourself projects.  Made a spice rack for my first project.

But before getting to that, I headed to Lowe’s for my materials.  I purchased (1) 1″ x 3″ x 8′ piece of wood, which are the actual dimensions of 3/4″ x 2.5″.

And here is the breakdown of the pieces needed:

  • (2) Side Pieces – 3″ high x 2.5″ wide
  • Bottom Piece – 2.5″ wide x 11.5″ long (length to be adjusted depending on cabinet door width)
  • Dowel – 1/4″ round x 12″ long (length to be 1/2″ longer than bottom piece)

A picture to explain it further…

Wood components that make up creating a DIY Wood Spice Holder by @Jenna_Burger

And a quick drawing to explain it even more…

This is a front on view of the cabinet and the spice rackComponents that make up creating a DIY Wood Spice Holder by @Jenna_Burger

The first step when using a kreg jig is to figure out the depth of the wood to set the jig placement.  My wood depth was 3/4″, so the jig and depth collar on the kreg drill bit were set to 3/4″.  Kreg really makes using this handy-dandy gadget SO EASY!

Setting the jig and depth collar on the kreg drill bit to the width of the wood

After securing the wood and the jig with a clamp, I drilled a hole on each end of the base piece.

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

Once that was complete, it was time to add the (2) end pieces + the dowel.

Sorry for the lack of pictures for this part.  I was so excited about my new jig I forgot to grab my camera.  Anyway, positioning about 1/2″ down from the top of the end piece and 1/2″ in from the front, I drilled a 1/4″ hole about 1/4″ deep for the dowel to fit in.

Then I put the dowel in the two end pieces and connected the end pieces with the bottom piece using the Kreg screws specifically made for 90 degree connections.

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

After filling in the holes with paintable putty, it was complete.

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

I decided to add some color to the new spice holder and used Valspar Spring Sprout in Satin.

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

In about 10-15 minutes, this was the result…

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

I attached the newly made wood spice holders using a very very very strong adhesive – Loctite Epoxy Instant Mix.  Basically it’s two formulas that mix together and provide a major adhesive mixture. DO NOT TOUCH IT.  I carefully applied the mixture to the back of the wood holder and placed it on the interior of the cabinet.  I held it in place for about 3-5 minutes until it was completely adhered to the surface.  I will be honest, the wood started to slide a few times, but I was close by and slid it back into place.  There are other epoxy mixtures that dry even quicker – 1 minute of less.

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

I was a total novice at using a jig and I was very happy with the results.  I couldn’t believe how easy it was.  Now I can’t wait to get my hands dirty with even more furniture projects.  Boy, do I have a list!

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

To see how I organized the rest of this cabinet, plus more of my kitchen interiors, head over to Kitchen Organization: Ideas for the Inside of the Cabinet Doors.

How do you organize your spices? In a cabinet or in a drawer?  Is this project something you think you would tackle?  With every new tool, there is a learning curve, but it was fairly easy.

Pallets. Pallets. Pallets.

Pallet projects + creations have been on the ‘Hot List’ for quite a while.  Crafters and DIYers love creating upcycled projects using pallets because of the unique and aged look of the wood, plus you can get them at a very low cost or even for free.

Just this morning I received an email from a follower who created this fun, interesting, and informational infograph (i heart infographs – do you?) on the Ultimate Guide to Upcycling with Pallets.  Since I am always asked by readers where do I find pallets or how do I dismantle them to create something new, I thought I would pass this along…

Ultimate Guide to Upcycling with Pallets - Infograph featured on WWW.JENNABURGER.COMvia

Interesting, right?

I have made my fair share of pallet creations and love each of them.  Take a look…

[dopwgg id=”11″]

At the same time that pallets are loved by so many and creations from beds to headboards to sofas have been made, there has also been controversy on the safety of pallets being used in the home.  I recently read this article and it kind of got me thinking about the wood and where it came from and what it’s been exposed to.  If you are someone who loves using pallets, it’s definitely an important read!

Funky Junk Donna wrote an entire post on everything you need to know about pallets – what to look for, how to dismantle them, and the signs of a bad pallet.

Something to think about and consider when making your next Pallet creation…

Please share…  What pallet creations have you made?

 

DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

How fun are terrariums…

A collection of potted plants in a cute glass jar.  Yes, I’ll take it!

My guy + I got our hands dirty the other day making these small terrariums using mason jars.  Come have a look…

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Mason Jar Terrarium

Supplies Needed:

  • Glass Mason Jars
  • Small rocks
  • Terrarium style plants
  • Miracle-Gro Potting Mix
  • Moss
  • Rocks
  • Gardening tools

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

I’m love hoarding collecting used glass jars.  Whether from apple sauce, tomato sauce, jelly, etc., glass jars never get thrown out in our house.

1. To start off, I took a bunch of glass mason jars and put about a 1/2″ layer of small rocks on the bottom.

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

2. We then added a 1″ layer of Miracle Gro potting soil on top of the layer of rocks.

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

3. We then took our plant, gently broke up the roots, and used a small section of the plant for our glass mason jar.

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

This is where little hands come in handy.

4. My little guy snuggled the roots into the soil.

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

5. Add a layer of moss (which we got from our backyard)

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

6. And finished it off with some water.

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

The result?  A beautiful and easy-to-make, easy-to-maintain plant project to enjoy in the Summer or all year round.

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

If you want to keep the Mason Jar Terrarium contained (less water will be needed), then use the cap from the glass jar.  This is from a used tomato sauce jar…

#DIY: Mason Jar Terrarium tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

So fun, right?! With the kids out of school and the chaos of Summer, the time I have to devote to the garden is very little.  Thankfully with Miracle-Gro’s new venture, The Gro Project, there is no more worry or need for gardening to be difficult.  The Gro-Project showcases fun garden projects, similar to what I created, that are easy, manageable, and that even a gal like me can tackle!

Happy Summer with a plethora of fun AND easy outdoor gardening projects!

 

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden

The warmer weather has got me movin’ and groovin’ outdoors.  This past weekend I got my DIY mojo on for this months Lowe’s challenge and created (what I think) is something pretty cool.  Check out my newly created Vertical Pallet Garden using colorful pots…

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Though the flowers are finally starting to peak through around the yard, I was in need of color NOW to start decorating my front porch for Spring.  I, of course, hit up my local Lowe’s garden center to get my color fix.  It’s still the early days of Spring, so the selection (at my local Lowe’s in NY) was limited, but I was able to find a few perennials for shaded areas that would be ideal for under the front covered porch.  I chose a few colorful perennials & vines because they could easily be transplanted to the garden at the end of the season (smart & savvy thinking).

Pallets have been all-the-rage for a while, but I just don’t get tired of them – probably because they’re free.  I’ve created so many DIY projects with pallets and I just love their old, worn texture and aesthetic.  When thinking about this seasons porch, my major desire was to add height.  Height = drama, and that was my goal. 

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

For this project, the materials I used were:

  • Pallet (which I snagged – with their permission of course – for free in the back on my local Lowe’s)
  • (4) Eye hooks for 100 lbs+
  • 3′ of metal chain
  • Plastic pots (I used lime green and turquoise from Lowe’s)
  • Drill with 1/4″ drill bit
  • 3″ S hooks (found in the outdoor section of Lowe’s)
  • Vise Grip

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Here’s the DL (downlow for short) on how I created the Vertical Pallet Garden

1. At the top of the pallet (slats oriented horizontally), screw in (1) eye hook at about 2-3″ in from each end. It’s best to start out by using a large nail to start the hole.  Once the hole is started, screw in the eye hooks with the help of a vise grip to get leverage.  Unless you’re the Hulk, it’ll probably be impossible with just your bare hands.

2. With the Misters help, we then unlinked one of the chain links and linked it through the eye hook. (one side only – the other side has to wait until hung)

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

3. Heading over to the house, we installed the eye hooks (using a drill to start the hole) through the siding and into the house about 2″ below the ceiling plane at the same distance apart as the hooks in the pallet.

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

4. Once the eye hooks were in, we took the loose end of the chain of the pallet, slipped it through the eye hooks, and secured the chain on the other side.

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

The pallet base is complete!

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Then it was time to create the “garden”.

5. Using varying sized plastic pots in fun colors, drill a 1/4″ hole about 1″ down from the top rim. Using a 3″+/- S hook, slip it through the hole.

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

6. Plant the pretty flowers…

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

…And it was complete!

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

The vertical pallet garden adds so much color to the front porch.

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

S-hooks make it easy to move the flower pots around or bring them into the sun.

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

A beautiful focal point for the porch.

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

If you’re wondering about the pretty white wreath, that was a DIY project that was featured on Jen’s blog.  It was created for Valentine’s Day, but I took off the paint chip flowers and just hung the wreath plain and simple.  Who knows how I will transform it for another holiday or season to come.

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

I’m still working on the rest of the porch since it’s still in need of more color and pizazz.  By late May, I hope to have that done and ready to share.  Right now we’re still getting alot of rain and most nights are still way too chilly to get my gardening-on.

DIY: Vertical Pallet Garden by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

I couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome of this fun and easy DIY project.  It’s brought gorgeous height and beautiful color to my Spring front porch.

To see more creations of mine using pallets, click on the links below:
How-To Make a Pallet Shelf
Monogrammed Pallet Chevron Tray
Pallet Picture Holder
Eclectic Family Gallery Wall

Disclosure: I am part of the Lowe’s Creative Team and was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to purchase items for my project.  I was also compensated for my time to use the products.  No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write.  All opinions are 100% mine!

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents #LowesCreator

Happy Monday!  Yes, it’s Spring, but sadly it doesn’t feel like it (at least here in NY).

I am so ready for the warmer days ahead and am yearning for the array of colorful flowers, the endless chirping of birds, and the sounds of outdoor laughter.  I know it’ll be here soon, but I am just ready for winter (and the endless snow) to be over.

In my search for all things Spring, I decided this years seasonal mantel had to include elements of the outdoors. Last Friday when perusing the aisles of Lowe’s, specifically the outdoor section, I saw a huge display of succulents.  I immediately knew they’d be the ideal addition for my Spring mantel!

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, SASinteriors.net

While in the gardening section, I gathered a variety of succulents in different sizes and styles, along with a new bag of potting mix.  I wasn’t going to dare dig through the garage in search of leftover soil from last year, plus I saw this soil that is fast draining and made for cactus type plants.  I thought I’d give it a try, since I don’t have a great track record with keeping greenery alive. Yes, I admit, I don’t have a green thumb…

Once home, I collected a bunch of glass vases, dishes, and bowls that I had laying around the house.  A few I picked up last week at TJ Maxx, but most I’ve had for a long time stored in the closet.

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, SASinteriors.net

Then it was time to transplant these beauties into their new homes.

Choosing the right size bowl / vase for the size of the succulent is important.  One rule of thumb that I always try to follow is to be sure that the plant isn’t too big for the pot (or bowl / vase in my case) so it has room to grow.  The teeny size succulents (which I bought for $2.98/each) went in the smaller bowls and the larger styles ($3.98/each) went into the clear glass vases (which are my favorite because you can see the soil and plant roots – so interesting).

Once the right size “home” was chosen, I loosened up the roots and made the transfer.  A few minutes later, all my succulents were planted and ready to add to the mantel.

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, SASinteriors.net

Gardening in the kitchen isn’t something I would suggest, but with 30 degree temps, I wasn’t going to dare be outdoors longer than I had to.  A little mess wasn’t too bad to clean up…

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, www.JENNABURGER.COM

Then the fun started and here’s the result of my natural Spring mantel using sensational succulents…

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, www.JENNABURGER.COM

It’s a beautiful collection of natural elements mixed in with colorful favorites.

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, www.JENNABURGER.COM

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, www.JENNABURGER.COM

Any style bowl, vase, cup, or container will make for the perfect holder to display succulents. My collection includes a clear glass round vase, a similar square style, a plain white double dish, a decorative ceramic bowl, and a white milk glass cup.

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, www.JENNABURGER.COM

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, www.JENNABURGER.COM

Choosing succulents of varying sizes allows for an interesting mantel composition.

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, www.JENNABURGER.COM

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, www.JENNABURGER.COM

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, www.JENNABURGER.COM

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, SASinteriors.net

Spring Mantel with Sensational Succulents - Creative ideas for bringing in natural elements by @Jenna_Burger, www.JENNABURGER.COM

Despite the frigid temps, the Lowe’s gardening section is already stocking up on their summer displays including an array of flowers, plants, and a large selection of outdoor furniture.

Lowe's Creative Ideas App - Great ideas & Inspiration

To gather even more unique, fun, and creative ideas for your indoor and outdoor Spring decor, I would definitely suggest downloading the Lowe’s Creative Ideas app on the iphone and ipad.  I’m always checking out the FREE app for great inspiration. Consider following Lowe’s on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram as well.

Disclosure: I am part of the Lowe’s Creative Team and was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to purchase items for my project.  I was also compensated for my time to use the products.  No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write.  All opinions are 100% mine!

I link my projects to some of these parties: Skip to My Lou, Dittle Dattle, Between Naps on the Porch, Today’s Creative Blog, Stories of A to Z, All Things Heart & Home, House of Hepworths, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Serenity Now, Tatertots and Jello, Thrifty Decor Chick, Tip Junkie

Publication Feature: SaratogaMama Magazine

It’s an exciting day for me.

My name, my picture, and my home have been published.

The feature is in the premier issue of a local family-related publication called SaratogaMama Magazine run by Colleen Pierre of SaratogaMama.com.

If your local to the Albany / Saratoga  Springs area of Upstate NY, you might have heard of it – SaratogaMama is so helpful to learn about important places, helpful resources, and “what’s happening” in our community.  The article I wrote is about Ideas for Infusing Color into Your Home for Spring.   So no matter where you live you might gather some helpful and creative ideas.  Plus, you can get a little sneak peak at the featured photos of my pad taken by Mark Bolles, a local photographer.

Here’s the feature, which you can read in it’s entirety by clicking {here}.

(left click on image to view larger – these directions are for you mom, lol )Feature Article in SaratogaMama Magazine

Feature Article in SaratogaMama Magazine

Feature Article in SaratogaMama Magazine

Have an enjoyable and creative weekend!  Any exciting plans?

Basic Tips, Ideas, and Thoughts on Starting Your Own Blog

I hope you’re having a nice weekend!   I usually take a break from work on the weekends, but I was eager to share this post with you about blogging.

Over the past few months, several friends and readers have reached out to me for advice on starting a blog. After sharing my story, along with a helpful list of ideas and tips to get going, I thought I could help more than just those few… thus the creation of this post

Basic tips, ideas & my thoughts on starting your own blog.  10 helpful tips I wish someone told me when I started blogging 2+ years ago…

After blogging for 2+ years, Blogger @Jenna_Burger is sharing basic tips, ideas, and thoughts on starting your own blog  - as a hobby or a business!

Even though I sometimes still look at myself like a newbie and think I have a ton to still learn about blogging, I realized that I also have a lot to share through my personal experiences – good and bad. The beginning days of when I started blogging were exciting and exhilarating, but also (at times) difficult and frustrating.  I spent many endless hours and late nights, trying to find my way through coding, HTML, design, and much much more.  Now I can look back and appreciate all the lessons that I learned.  It feel it’s important to overcome struggles to get to the other side. The feeling will be that more gratifying in the end.  It’s how we learn and can reflect on the path taken.  That being said, I didn’t have a blog mentor when my blogging days began.  It would have been great to have someone to point me in the right direction.  So basically the rest of this post shares the ideas, tips, and thoughts I wish I had when first starting out.  I hope as a somewhat seasoned Blogger, this helps you out on your possible blogging journey.

To start out, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

  • Have you ever thought of starting your own blog but didn’t know where to start?
  • Have you ever wondered how a blog can actually be a business?
  • Do you have something special and unique to share with others?
  • Do you wish you could have a job that doesn’t feel like work and that you truly love to do?

If you’ve ever had these thoughts, keep on reading…

I’m super thankful to have taken the leap to start a blog to influence and inspire so many people.  When I decided to start my Interior Design business 2+ years ago, I thought a blog would be beneficial as an “add-on” to reach a larger audience.  At the time, I had no expectations for it and thought the blog would simply be a means to share information about design.  Boy, has that changed.   And I have to be honest, at the time, I really didn’t know much about blogging, how influential they were/are, or how much of a resource blogs can be.

That being said, 2 years later, I love blogging.  I love reaching a huge amount of people and inspiring them to think outside the box and to create a home that they may not have thought could be possible.  I’m thankful that I have found a job, but feel like I never work.  I love that I’m here for my kids each and every day, but at the same time am doing something for myself and providing for my family. It’s a win-win.  With hard work, Blogging has become a source of income for my family and I take this job very seriously.  At times its difficult to juggle it all, and my life is rarely balanced, but I’m okay with that (honestly, who’s life is??).  I wouldn’t change it for anything and I hope you find the same path, whether it be blogging or another passion.

I think when you have something special or unique to offer, it’s important to share that with others, and blogging is a great avenue to do so!

So let my sharing of tips begin…

1. To start off the first and most important question to ask yourself is whether you envision your idea, a.k.a. a new blog, to be a hobby or a business.  Many blogs start out as a hobby, but then eventually turn into a business that actually provides an income.

To help determine this, ask yourself these questions…

  • How much time do you have to devote to your new blog?
  • Would you want to write a few times a week or just on occasion?
  • Would you want to share your blog with others?  Meaning more than just your family and friends?
  • Would you want to (over time) make money?

Looking within yourself at these questions, you’ll hopefully be able to determine how devoted you are.  Let me say, hobby blogs are awesome and just fine too.  It’s what you want to make it and how much time you devote.

My blog has definitely evolved, but for the last year and a half as I’ve transitioned to making blogging my job, I spend about 30+ hours a week focusing on DIYing, projects, photographing, writing, social media, PR, etc.  Additionally, I spend about 10-20 hours on my Interior Design business, but that fluctuates depending on the amount of projects I have going on.  I blog about 3-4 times a week and have an idea of what I’m going to post about.  I don’t like it to be too ‘set in stone’, because I think it feels more real (for me) when I share projects and ideas as I go along.  If you want to create a biz out of blogging, finding the right balance of posts per week will be important.  Actual blogging only takes about 25% of my time, while the other remaining 75% is all the other stuff (ie: projects, social media, PR, emails, etc).

2. If you’re thinking of starting a blog, do it because you want to, not to make money.  You can absolutely start out with the desire to make money (eventually), but it will take a while.  You really need to write about what you love.  You have to stand behind your ideas/thoughts and passions.  Readers will be drawn to that and that is how your following will begin.  Like with any new business, it takes a good two years to see any sort of return.  For some it’s faster, but often it takes time.

After blogging for 2+ years, Blogger @Jenna_Burger is sharing basic tips, ideas, and thoughts on starting your own blog  - as a hobby or a business!via

I would say at around my two year mark was when I saw a turn.  My following / pageviews started to really increase, companies started reaching out to me, and offers started to come my way.  Again, that was after two years of really pounding the pavement.  But again because I love what I do, I really don’t feel like I work, even though I probably spend more time “working” than a typical 40-hour a week job.

3. Once you’ve established your thoughts on how you envision your blog to be – whether a hobby or a business – it will help determine what blogging platform you use.  Blogger.com and WordPress.com are great starter and FREE blogging services.  If you’re starting out, these blogs are easy to use and you can be up and running in an afternoon.  That being said, with these free blogging sites, you do not OWN your blog, the service you are using owns it. Since you don’t own it, that company (especially with Google) can take it down for no reason (it’s been done to many). Also with Blogger.com, there are limitations, but if it’s for a hobby, then it’s fine and this is a great platform.

After blogging for 2+ years, Blogger @Jenna_Burger is sharing basic tips, ideas, and thoughts on starting your own blog  - as a hobby or a business!

Want to learn more, {here} is a great article that shares more pros and cons!

I use WordPress.org and have my site hosted on a server. I own my blog and run everything, but also pay money to do so. I’ve worked with a few designers to design the site to look professional. If you have big visions for a prolonged business and blogging venture, I would suggest starting on WordPress.org from the beginning.  It will save you alot of time and alot of money to make the transition at a later date.

*FYI: this is all my opinion.  There are many huge, successful blogs that use blogger.com and there are very small hobby blogs that use WordPress.org.  There is no right and no wrong.

4. Decide on a name and be sure the URL is available.  There are a zillion websites and blogs across the internet and I bet you, the name you love, will be taken.  Maybe you’ll be in luck and it’ll be available. Once you’ve established the niche and type of blog you want to start, next up is deciding what to call it.  If starting a blog on any platform, I would suggest buying the actual .com or .net name. You can do so through Go Daddy or Mad Dog Domains (there are many others as well).

5. Just like your home or the clothes you wear, the design of your blog will set the tone for what you’re writing about.  A blog can simply be a white background with generic typography in the header space or it can be elaborate with different color, graphics, and text.  When starting to put your blog together, look for inspiration through other blogs and websites.  Whether you are designing it or working with a professional, gather ideas from others.  Don’t copy, but be inspired and alter that to fit who you are.

6. If you want to grow your blog, I feel it’s important to have a social media presence.  Without, how will people find you?  My advice to start out is to set up a Facebook and Pinterest page.  These 2 social media networks are the biggest traffic sources and will drive more followers (there are quite a few more, but these are what I feel are the current top 2).  It’s the way to reach more people and to share your great posts with others.

After blogging for 2+ years, Blogger @Jenna_Burger is sharing basic tips, ideas, and thoughts on starting your own blog  - as a hobby or a business!SAS Interiors on Facebook

After blogging for 2+ years, Blogger @Jenna_Burger is sharing basic tips, ideas, and thoughts on starting your own blog  - as a hobby or a business!SAS Interiors on Pinterest

7. Once your blog is up and running, reach out to other Bloggers in your same niche.  Establish or request to become apart of a support group.  Visit and comment on blogs.  See what others are writing about and how they are driving traffic to their site.  Email other Bloggers to start a virtual conversation.  If you want to take Blogging up a notch, find a “pack” of like Bloggers and start to build connections and friendships.

One more tip would be to attend a Blogging Conference.  Not only will you be able to learn so much about Blogging, but I am sure you will make some lifelong friends!

8. Google Adsense.  Day one, no one is going to advertise you.  You have no traffic, so there really isn’t a value for them (YET).  That being said, I would absolutely set up a Gmail Account (start a business account separate from your personal account) and sign up for Google Adsense.  Even if you make 10 cents the first month, it’s something.  The longer you have ads through Google on your site, the better the ads will eventually be.  Believe me, DO THIS!

After blogging for 2+ years, Blogger @Jenna_Burger is sharing basic tips, ideas, and thoughts on starting your own blog  - as a hobby or a business!

9. If you want to start a blog, pictures are important.  Obviously for me, pictures are everything, but even for the text-rich niches, at least one picture is important.  People are visual, so make them clear, turn off the flash on your camera (only use manual mode), and make them large on your blog posts (no small pictures!).  Also add text to your picture(s).  This will be important for Pinterest – head over and you’ll see what I mean.  Almost 80% (that’s my guess, not a fact) of the pictures on Pinterest have text on them – it’s a driver to the original source. Using FREE programs like Picasa and Picmonkey make it easy for your to edit pictures and add text (these are the 2 programs I use 95% of the time).

10.  This is the last but most important advice! Ready??  BE YOU! BE REAL!  WRITE LIKE YOU SPEAK!  My biggest obstacle when starting out was I wrote like a robot giving information, but not writing from the heart.  Readers want to feel a connection with the writer.  That’s why they return time and time again.  I know some readers who only read certain blogs because they like the person.  They may have never met the person, but they feel they know them through their words.  And lastly, remember quality over quantity.  Don’t force a post to simply get it out there.  It’s not worth it.  I post about 3 times a week, but write my posts that have value and truly share something that I know others will benefit or be inspired from.

Be You

via

 As I mentioned earlier in the post, I have helped answer blogging questions for several friends recently, but one in particular is my good friend, Kathy, who just started a primal nutritional blog called Primal Bliss Nutrition.  Like me, she has decided to start a nutritional consulting business along with her daily resource blog.  Thankfully she took much of my advice – mostly what I shared above – and launched her site last week. As a fresh and new Blogger, here is what she has to say so far about the leap into the World of Blogging…

After blogging for 2+ years, Blogger @Jenna_Burger is sharing basic tips, ideas, and thoughts on starting your own blog  - as a hobby or a business!

Learning to blog on WordPress.org is like learning a new language. I am amazed at how much there is to learn. I thoughtit would be much simpler, but it is actually very complex. There is a great deal to learn along the way. I had to learn (and I am still learning) many new functions that I was not familiar with before. However, I am enjoying learning these new skills.  That being said, Jenna suggested I go full out with hosting my own site through WordPress.org versus using Blogger.com. There are several reasons for this, the most important to me being the choices for layouts and themes, and the flexibility and control I have over my work. Also transferring to WordPress.org at a later time can be a consuming and expensive process. I am happy I took her advice!  As Jenna did for her blog, I worked with DreamUp Studios to design my blog. They were very affordable and very helpful, and I’m happy I worked with a professional designer instead of using a typical template.

Jenna has been a godsend. She taught me that WordPress.org is all coding. The pictures, words, fonts, everything is done based on a code or command entered. Although it is difficult to learn how to apply different codes, it gives you much more flexibility in how your blog appears. You have much more control over everything, and can really personalize your blog.  I still have a great deal to learn but I feel like I am way ahead of where I would have been with the advice I was given!

I know there is alot more, but at least that’s a start. I wish you the best of luck in your blogging adventure!  Blogging is very rewarding.  At times it’s difficult, but I’m so happy to have a platform where I can share my passions and inspire.