Oh Martha

After buying these planters at Smith and Hawken I received a free subscription to Martha Stewart Living. LOVE the planters…of course I've already pretty much killed the boxwoods I planted in them 2 months ago (that is why I cropped them out of the photo). When Annie was born they were neglected for a couple of weeks without water, roasting in the hot, hot sun. That will do it…oops! I do NOT have a green thumb!

I received my first issue in the mail over the weekend and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. As you would suspect the issue features tons of yummy recipes and DIY project. I thought the Naupaka flowers stenciled on cushions and lauhala mats were fabulous! When I find some free time I am definitely going to have to give this project a shot.

From:
Martha Stewart Living- http://www.marthastewart.com/article/stenciled-hawaiian-flower-cushions-and-lauhala-mats?rsc=also_try

Stenciled floral motifs patterned after Hawaiian quilts turn a porch into an open-air retreat.
Store-bought lounge cushions get a splash of cool hues, and umber tones grace the mats, woven from hala-tree leaves.
Stenciled Hawaiian Flower Cushions and Lauhala Mats How-To

1. Download the naupaka-flower template, and print it, resizing it as needed.
2. Make a stencil: Lay the printout on waterproof or stencil paper (you may need to tape a few sheets together to make a stencil large enough for the cushions), and tape them to a cutting mat.
3. Cut out the motif with a craft knife; discard printout and motif cutout. Place stencil on a cushion or mat, and dab fabric paint (for cushion) or acrylic paint (for mat) inside stencil with a natural sponge. Let dry before shifting stencil to repeat.