Summer is here and there’s nothing like creating some fresh, fun decor to spruce up your house. Check out these five projects that will be sure to convey a little “summer lovin’” in your home!

Hypertufa Pots

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Learn how to make these beautiful hypertufa pots to host your succulents this summer. You don’t have to have a green thumb to get on-board with this summer trend.

Painted and Stenciled Bookcases

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Summer is a great time to paint the insides of your bookshelves a vibrant color, such as the one shown in the photo above. No matter what color you choose, it’s sure to change the entire look and feel of the room.

Don’t be afraid of pattern, either! This green and white stenciled china cabinet by centsationalgirl is a showstopper!

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Outdoor Drapes

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Do you need some pretty outdoor drapes to keep that scorching sun from ruining your patio time? Try creating drop cloth drapes like Traci from BeneathMyHeart did. She shows you step-by-step how to make and hang them.

Mason Jar Labels

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Make these beautiful labeled jars for your pantry this summer! Blogger Kristine from The Painted Hive used a transfer technique to make these. We love the way she used a “dictionary” style wording with a simple font.

Kid Car Wash

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We saved the best for last! Need to help the kids cool off this summer? Use your imagination and create a kiddy car wash like this preschool did for its summer camp! Don’t you just love the colorful hanging sponges and the PVC pipes spraying water? This is so awesome!  Kids would love to have this in their backyards! It’s a great idea for a summer block party, too.

What DIY projects are you planning to try this summer? Have you started one already? Let us know…we’d LOVE to hear from you!

With spring almost here, gardening is on our minds! Nothing beats going to the first farmer’s markets of the season and stocking up on starters for your garden. But, have you heard of guerrilla gardening? It’s a pretty neat idea…you basically make “seed balls” by adding a bunch of seeds to clay and then just throwing them where you want them to grow.

You can read about how to do this in the Urban Homestead book, which has lots of other fun ideas, too. Or, you can purchase these extremely cute seed bombs from the visualingual Etsy shop. These bags alone are worth the purchase! And, they’d make a great “welcome to spring” gift!

It’s crunch time! There’s only a few more days until Christmas! If you’re in need of some last-minute stocking stuffers and hostess gifts, then this post is for you!

Your sister, girlfriend or co-worker will appreciate these adorable, cozy gloves. The beaded ruching and ruffle detailing make them extra swoon-worthy. It’s the perfect gift for the “girly girl” in the family! You can find both pairs at DownEast Basics stores and in the online gift section.

Gift the tween or aspiring writer in your life with a notebook for jotting down “to do” lists, doodling or capturing all those amazing ideas. The Grand Thoughts Notebook comes in four bright colors. Or, if you want something with a little more bling, choose the Brilliant Ideas Notebook.

Here’s a fun idea! Let a stuffed penguin or snowman double as a gift card holder. Use festive ribbon to hang the card around the penguin’s neck or have the snowman “hold” the card. Gift cards are always welcome gifts, and the addition of a stuffed animal is a keepsake!

I don’t know a single hostess who doesn’t love candles! These Candy Stripe Candles are a great way to say “thank you”! And with prices from just $2 to $5 each, why not stock up for next year, as well?

Which of these charming gifts will you be picking up this week? You can find all of the ones featured here at your local DownEast Basics store or DownEast Home & Clothing store and also online!

We wouldn’t want you to stress over what to serve at your Fourth of July backyard party or picnic. So, we’re sharing what we think is the perfect summer holiday meal! Cranberry Limeade (via Williams Sonoma), Turkey Caprese Sandwiches (via Martha Stewart), and some delicious Berry Cobbler (via Our Best Bites)!

What’s your favorite Fourth of July dish?

Don’t forget to check out your local DownEast Home & Clothing store to find the perfect serving platters for your party!

When you decide to give your bathroom a makeover, you should first start with a color scheme or a fabric that you love.
In this case, I picked a color scheme first, then went on a hunt for bathroom items. I knew I wanted a pop of color somewhere, so that’s where the purple came in (the shower curtain is from Crate and Barrel). I also knew that purple everywhere wasn’t a good idea, so I pulled in some neutrals to tone it down (the bath mat is from Target and the towels are from Crate and Barrel). Adding pops of color to neutrals is a good way to brighten up any room.

If you are renting your home, accessories and fabrics are great ways to bring your own personality to your space. If you own your home, you can be more daring by using paint for pops of color.

Tell us, how do you like to incorporate color?

Head to your local DownEast Home and Clothing store to find fun items and accessories for your home!

There are just a few hours left to enter the $1,000 in-store shopping giveaway for DownEast Home & Clothing!

For directions on how to enter, read our entry blog post here.

The official winner will be selected at 12:01am (MDT) tonight and will be notified directly via email.

The lucky winner will then be announced publicly on our blog later this week!

Good luck to all entrants! Thanks for your support and we hope you found some great deals at our Labor Day sales this past weekend!