Leaf Table Runner-Quick and Thrifty!

What do you get with 4 packs of faux leaves from the Dollar Store and a length of burlap looking fabric? 

This pretty, quick and CHEAP table runner for fall!

I wanted a nice, colorful table runner but, you know me, didn't want to spend alot of money.

So I crashed my stash and found I had loads of fake silk leaves from the Dollar Store.

LOADS.

Note to self-stop buying autumn leaves from the Dollar Store.

I also found a nice length of burlap looking fabric that paired up nicely with the leaves, including some book page leaves left over from another project.

I've kind of got a thing about book page craft projects.

I plugged in my glue gun and went to town.

Man, quick and easy!!

Originally I made each end square to match the fabric.

By adding more leaves I was able to get this nice pointed shape.

I like it alot!

It looks wonderful on the bare wood of our table and also over an autumn woven table cloth.

This is my kind of fun project....quick, easy, fun, CHEAP and it looks great!

Materials needed-

Fabric for runner in the the length you wish (you could also use a Dollar Store table runner)

Fake leaves from the Dollar Store (50 to a pack so maybe 4 packs?)

Hot glue and gun

Optional-book page maple leaves (traced and cut out)

Time needed? 

An hour if you spend alot of time rearranging and fussing with the leaves. 

I say, just do it. Your table runner will thank you for it!

DIY Faux Leaves Table Runner

There's no deal as good as a Dollar Store deal....

case in point, these fake leaves that come in a pack of fifty.

I buy a couple of packs a year just to use for my autumn decorating.

So this year when I decided to make a burlap and faux leaf 

table runner, I had everything I needed.

I cut a piece of burlap textured fabric 48" long x 12" wide and set out my array of fake leaves.

I also cut a stack of maple leaves out of old book pages and

 hot glued them to the edges of the runner fabric.

This was so super easy and fast and fun to do!

I added the book page maple leaves every few inches for textural interest.

I added a trailing triangular edge of leaves at each end of the runner to 

extend the length. We need it for our table when it is stretched out to its full eight foot length.

Along with this pretty brocade leaf tablecloth, this runner is a perfect simple touch of autumn color.

Projects Projects Projects

I am not going to give you alot of excuses but I will give you lots of pictures. It has been a busy year. Baptisms, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, reunions, holidays, plus my Etsy shop....Lol. You get the idea and most of you are also living it. And so.... 

Look, shiny!






Restyling books to look like vintage editions...

http://makethebestofthings.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-restyle-books-to-look-like.html

......and in January, another big family wedding!

But you know, it is life and I'll take it!

I'll try to post more in the new year but know that I am still here and boy, do I have projects!

Tree Branches and Leaves for Bright Autumn Corner Decor

I know this is hugely late but I'm posting it anyway. Life and projects have eaten my time for months!

Here is the corner of my living room where I keep this urn and painted branches almost all year. The square corner table is perfect for the space and easy to dress up for every season. I change the table cloth and the decor with stuff I have on hand and, of course, bright silk foliage from The Dollar Store.

But first let's go back a bit when the corner was looking a bit cluttered at the end of summer. These two couches form the favorite lounging corner in our house so I try to change it up seasonally. 

Ah, Number One Son likes that spot.

And here it is again, all fluffed up with autumn decor. I added a vase of leaves in a basket on the coffee table

I added a stack of my restyled books which I've crafted to look like vintage editions.

And here's a link....

         http://makethebestofthings.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-restyle-books-to-look-like.html

Then I just played around with everything until I liked the design as a whole. That's the fun part!

                          

I have muslin curtains hanging over lace panels on my window wall. So I added my big coffee filter wreath (made from a Dollar Store hula hoop!) and more leafy garlands.

http://makethebestofthings.blogspot.com/2013/11/oversize-wreath-from-hula-hoop.html

Here's a link to that easy rosette and autumn leaves wreath decor....

http://makethebestofthings.blogspot.com/2014/09/quick-change-wreath-decor.html

All done fussin' and ready to start enjoying. I love how the corner decor looks with my own paintings on the wall and the ever changing pillows I made for the couches. Holiday season, bring it on!!

Burlap Acorns from Easter Eggs

Ah Pinterest, you font of ideas and things I MUST MAKE right now! LOL

I love the huge acorns I've been seeing at some online shops but they are hugely expensive, so I was thrilled to find a way to make my own.

Here are my oversize burlap and twine acorns that were inspired by a Pin.

I like how they came out!

Here are the inspiration acorns.....

...posted by Dannyelle over at Life Is a Party.

Cute and clever, right? They are totally up my alley and I had everything I needed to do this on a Friday night. Here's a link to her DIY post for these neat acorns.

http://www.lifeisaparty.ca/2012/acorn-craft/

                             

I spray painted some oversize plastic eggs brown and moved to the next step.

I hot glued the egg halves together, then glued on burlap circles to cover the pointy end. LOTS of pleating and glue makes this work. Then I took apart some pine cones and glued the bits around the top along with a twig stem to finish, just like Dannyelle.

Hmmmm. This resembles her acorns but not in a good way, LOL! She said in her post they were a bit fiddly and I agree. Plus my pine cone pieces did not give a neat look to the topper.

So, tweaking must occur.

        

I thought they looked a bit too long so I hot glued two of the fat ends together for a rounded shape. Already this looks more acorn-y. Is that a word? It is now. And instead of pine cone pieces I used twine. Lots and lots of twine, plus a shorter bit of stick for a stem.

Here's a shot of both kinds of my finished acorns....

I really like the short, round ones with a twine top. The other just does not look as good as Dannyelle's. Pinterest fail!

I used loads of wrapped twine for a fat top. Love it!

Ooh aah! It took me a little over an hour to make these, tweaking and all. And they were free since I crashed my stash for supplies. Love that!

I'll be joining the parties in my sidebar, come visit and have some fun.