Make Big Acorns For Fall

You will never guess what these BIG acorns were before.

Ready? Oversize plastic Easter eggs from the Dollar Store!

When I saw this Pin way back in 2012, I knew I had to make them.

Following the Pin to its source I saw that the blogger used plastic Easter eggs! This is my kind of creative recycling: making something clever out of something else.

I decided to use these oversize Dollar Store eggs from my stash.

 First, I painted them brown with craft paint.

 I hot glued the eggs closed then wrapped them in burlap scraps. I pleated the burlap around the egg and used hot glue all the way around to secure it. Then I deconstructed a pine cone and used it for the top and added a twig stem. Cute!

But that first one  didn't look quite right to me, so I tried this....

I used the two rounded ends and glued them together. 

Already this looks more like a natural acorn shape.

Instead of the pine cone petals, I used hemp garden twine and hot glue.

Hemp twine hot glued round and round the top until I had the plump acorn look I wanted. 

A little twig adds to the finished acorn.

By George, I think I've got it!

You could also use the regular size plastic eggs but I wanted BIIIIG acorns, so I used the big ones.

Now I'm remembering those HUGE eggs for panty hose and wondering where I can get some. Now THAT would be a statement acorn. LOL!

Book Page Leaves And Fall Garlands

Loving your fall garlands but ready for a bit of a refresh? Add book page leaves to punch them up with great texture and neutral color. It's easy!

I am always on the lookout for autumn leaf garlands at thrift stores and yard sales. And there is always the Dollar Store! Then I add leaves cut from book pages to give them a little extra decor kick. You probably have everything you need on hand already. 

Here's how to do it...

Make a template from one of the garland leaves. We used cereal box cardboard. Trace the leaves on pages of a book you don't mind using. We used a 25 cent paperback that was ruined by water on one corner.

You can layer the pages and cut up to six pages at a time. Use a smaller pair of scissors, such as manicure scissors, for this task. It makes it easier!

Use a glue stick on one leaf. Add a long 8" stem of florist wire then glue a second leaf on top. Putting glue on the second leaf helps to make a secure bond.

Add your leaves to your garland, twisting the florist wire around and around the existing garland for a good hold. Curve your leaves just a bit. The wire inside them helps hold the curve and makes them look more pleasing then just flat leaf shapes.

See how the book page printing gives interesting texture to the colorful garland? I like this alot!

I love the way the new book leaves punch up this garland.

For beautiful table decor use a garland as a runner and add other book page accents. So pretty!

They look great against my muslin curtains. But then I couldn't leave well enough alone and so I added....

twinkly lights!

Ooh aah.

This is a fun and easy project. Plus, cheap. 

Try it out!

I'll be joining these fun linky parties. Drop on by!

http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2015/10/pj-299-an-upcycled-link-party.html

http://www.littlemisscelebration.com/2015/10/02/best-of-the-weekend-6/

DIY Pretty Lace Pumpkins

These are not your ordinary plain orange pumpkins. Nope. They are covered with black lace! Here's the simple DIY for these pretty gourds and they are also cheap to make. 

Win win!

Whenever I find black lace remnants or lace on sale, I grab it. I also get black lace clothing at yard sales and thrift stores and recycle it. This lace was $2 a yard at Walmart a while back and this project took less than half a yard left from a different project. 

This project couldn't be easier. Lay your contrast fabric over the black lace and cut out a long rectangle  about 8" wide by 20" long.  I cut out both layers at the same time.

Using the longest stitch and loose tension on your sewing machine, stitch the two pieces together at the top and bottom of the long sides. Turning the lace to the inside, sew the two short sides together. You now have a tube of material with long stitches at the top and bottom. You can also sew this by hand if a machine isn't handy.

Thread a long sewing needle with strong black thread, like quilting or crochet thread.  Gather one stitched side of your pumpkin and pull the stitches tight. Use the needle and thread to sew the gathered end tight and secure the gathering with a couple of good knots. 

Here's a neat tip....stuff these little pumpkins with a handful of crumpled up plastic shopping bags. Most of us have dozens of the things and they are perfect for a poufy filler for these pretty pumpkins.

Make sure your needle has a long piece of string and tie a big knot at the end. Stick it right through the middle of the gathers of your stuffed pumpkin and out the other side. Make a big loop around the pumpkin and draw it up til your pumpkin squishes down and poofs out. Draw it tight and tie it in a knot. Do this five or six times and adjust your big loop around each section of your pumpkin for a pleasingly plump effect.

Voila! Fat, lacy pumpkin!

Hot glue a stubby twig or even a cinnamon stick in the middle of the gathers and add silk leaves (these are from the Dollar Store). If you wish you can also give it a light touch of glittery spray for a bit more gleam.

I LOVE how these come out! And you can also make pumpkins with no lace just by using your choice of fabrics. I made the white pumpkin at the top left using muslin and twine. And of course, I stuffed it full with plastic shopping bags!

For a neat look, why not layer white lace over burlap for some rustic chic pumpkins? Or black lace over purple fabric, or mustard gold. How pretty that would be? Now I have to make some!

Add Book Page Leaves To Your Fall Garlands

Here is an easy project that turns out great, and you can probably do it with stuff you have on hand. I use old book pages for loads of things but this is one of my favorites. I add leaf cutouts from old books to Dollar Store garlands and really kick up their style factor.

Using a leaf pattern traced from a real life, a fake leaf or online, simply trace the shape onto a printed page of an old book. With good, sharp scissors you can cut through about six pages at a time. Here you see one size leaf we cut to add to the garland.

And here's a smaller size. Please excuse the painty, gluey crafting hands! Use a glue stick on one leaf, add a length of florist or craft wire, then put another leaf on top. You can make as many as you like, it's easy peasy and they look so cool. I believe Pottery Barn had some similar leaves a few years back for a very pretty price.

Just use the wire to twist the leaves into the garland. Here is one garland we made last year. I love the way the book page leaves "cool down" the vibrant colors of the garland. You can add as many as you wish and the wires let you "fluff" them any way you want for a fuller look.

Here they are with another more muted garland. This was for the long stair banister in my daughter's country style house. I love the way they look!

Here is a garland of oak leaves hung on a muslin curtain. Such a complement to the colorful leaves and the creamy colored muslin.

And here is one, paired with my primitive star garland, that I've looped around my entry way mirror. I really like the way the book page leaves look with all the vibrant hues!

And here's a shot of a garland used in a Thanksgiving tablescape. Add a few book paged balls and some glass ware and you have a stylish and colorful centerpiece.

I've used book pages for years for so many projects that now it is my go to look when I style my house and studio. With the holidays coming on like a freight train it's time to style up some neat decor again.

I'll be linking to the parties in my sidebar. Come visit and join the fun!

Autumn/Halloween/Thanksgiving Decor Spree

Does this sound familiar to any of you ladies? I started out doing one thing...in this case, staging some photos of my holiday garlands for my Etsy shop.

I took the mini framed photos off my family tree and strung a banner on it for pictures. Love it!

And then.....

I put it on the top shelf of my baker's rack and took some more photos. Then I started adding more STUFF, because evidently I am out of control that way, lol!

See all the orange pumpkins? I planned to paint them white. I still might after I get done tweaking this display. I added a rosette wreath and my silver button blingy decor ball and a tiny glitter pumpkin with a black crow on top under the glass bell cover....deep breath...and a lace pumpkin and a white pumpkin and some of my Halloween decor balls. 

I am having too much fun!

Throw on a few glittery faux silk leaves and more pumpkins on painted candlesticks. And a twig punkin in a black painted sundae glass, and a faceted crystal ball on a glass candlestick, and a white rosette decor ball...

Then I added a casual arrangement in a small gold chest, next to punkins on gloss black candlesticks, including one I made of bright orange satin. Gorgeous! Ahem.

I filled this fat hurricane glass with a collection of my Halloween decor balls, Dollar Store skulls, my painted JOL gourd, twig balls, gloss black painted ferns and even a black crackled decor ball. Whew! Time to pull back and see if I'm done.

Yup, I think I'm done! This was fun and it gave me a much needed break from dealing with the last of the boxes of stuff out of our storage unit that are still cluttering up my kitchen. Even after a 4 day yard sale and a full load of stuff to the thrift store, I've still got too much stuff.

But this makes me smile every time I walk by. And the Welding Man says it's pretty, which means he noticed, lol!

Okay, fun time is over. Back into the "too much stuff" breach, my friends and try to take a fun break for yourself today. It's worth it!

So ready for fall, y'all!

I love Fall! I love the cooler temps of crisp mornings in September after the scorching dog days of August. Each year we build the first fire in the wood stove on the morning of the first day of school, so the kids have a bit of warmth and cheer before they head for the bus. I love a nice wood fire in the morning!





But most of all, I love the colors of Fall. I love the bright and myriad hues of the frosted leaves against the beautiful Oregon firs and cedars. Vine maples trace a path of fiery color in the dark forests and brighten the darker days as winter approaches.






In my house I already have a lot of red and the autumn lets me kick everything up a notch with golden hues of orange, yellow and even nice, deep, chocolate browns. The lighter colors of summer are retired, and warm colors come in to brighten things up.


Last summer I scored over two dozen sprays of beautiful silk leaves in autumn colors at the Goodwill. I use them everywhere in the house clear up until I switch over to Christmas decor. I love the way they brighten things up! I have half a dozen flower arrangements between my dining room, kitchen and livingroom. They make me smile everytime I see them. Here are some of them from last year, dressed to brighten the darker fall days. I got them out yesterday and I'm looking forward to redoing all my vases again this year. Plus bringing out the afghans and quilts, and making some new, twiggy wreaths, and decorating for Halloween....yup, I am so ready for fall. How about you?

I'm linking up to Thrifty Decor Chick's Fall Inspiration party with this post. Come see all the beauty on her blog, you'll love it!

http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/08/fall-inspiration-link-it-up.html