Simple Fall Projects - Part IV Another Wreath

OMG!!! I usually never use OMG, but I have been screaming at the computer. Have you ever seen something that you love and then it gets lost in blogland forever?

Yeah, I just spent the last hour trying to find something that I new I wanted to try the moment I saw it.

Look at this beautiful wreath.

Julie over at Less-Than-Perfect Life of Bliss made her.

Like I said, isn’t she beautiful? You can see how she made her here.

Well, here I go searching for a way to make this my own. I had dollar store garland. I had wire, ribbon, and spray paint. Ready, set, GO!

First I began making a wreath by winding my garland into a circle and securing each circular pass with wire.

Waalaa…I have a fall wreath. I knew from my inspiration above that I didn’t want to leave it like it was. I also know that although I love heirloom white, it doesn’t work well for me. ORB does though! What to do.

Well, ORB it is and here are my wreaths.

Yes it is ORB, but on the fabric leaves it appears more black in the picture. This lead me to the orange ribbon and a perfect wreath for Halloween.

I have two long windows in the family room that flank the fireplace. I thought the white wood blinds would make the perfect back drop for these wreaths.

The bow is hot glued on and the ribbon is tied on the back of the wreath and the curtain rod.

Never mind the poor or lack of window treatment at the top :(

That will be another day.

What do you think?

If you are looking for other great wreaths, check out this party:

For the LOVE of Wreaths Party at Domestically-Speaking

Simple Fall Projects – Part III Wreath

Need a little more fall somewhere?

Well these supplies are inexpensive, but I have to confess that I looked in my craft stash and found all that I needed.

Take a wispy grapevine wreath and some berry sprigs.

Twist the sprig around and in the wreath. No wire or hot glue necessary.

Take a timeout to enjoy the interest that the little man shows in all that I do.

And then voila! A simple cute wreath to enjoy.

It is in the guest bathroom for all to see.

Remember keep it simple and love it!

Simple Fall Projects – Part II Fall Centerpiece

I love to use natural elements in my fall decorations. The center of the table needed something fall-ish. So I pulled out a pedestal hurricane type candle holder that I had and filled it with a variety of mixed nuts.

It is a one time small investment too as they will last for years.

You can be as elaborate or simple as you want, just remember to make it your own and love it!

Setting the table…something nice for everyone to look at during mealtime.

Simple Fall Projects – Part I

Okay, you say you don’t have time or money to create all the loveliness that you see out in blog land! Wow, I know there are some extravagant and B-E-A-utiful stuff out there. Well read through their blogs, because if there is one thing that I have learned…it is that the beauty is your inspiration to make something on your own that you love.

Most of the blog women that I follow are thrifty and creative and that together can create great stuff!

So….I have decided to make some simple posts with simple natural ideas that are cheap if not FREE!

(Every post doesn’t have to be extravagant either… Right?)

Want to add something that can stay out from fall through Christmas? Me too! (I don’t mind changing my decor, but it is always great if something can last through it all).

What about cinnamon sticks!!!!

See how cute!

This idea was free to me, but to keep it cheap for you if you don’t already have everything think about this.

Don’t buy your cinnamon sticks in the spice aisle.

1. Look for cinnamon in the seasonal section at Wal-mart, the dollar store, or the craft store. (Not sure if it is different quality, but it smells just as good and is usually cheaper).

Don’t have a canning jar already?

2. Look at the thrift store. You can find all kinds of canning jars for mere cents.

Doesn’t have enough flair for you?

3. Consider using ribbon or fabric to tie around the neck of the jar that can be changed from beautiful fall colors to match your traditional Christmas decorations.

And finally, this can be a stand alone project. But still want more, consider layering and adding this to other things you love. My thrift store has tons of fall and seasonal decor. The dollar store has some great fall garland.

Remember the beauty of fall is all around you and most can be found not purchased.

Stay tuned for more projects. You never know what you will find…nuts, leaves, pine cones, bird nests, wood!

Fall Sprucing – Part I

Okay so I am absolutely crazy about fall and all the beautiful colors. Rustic reds, pumpkin orange, golden yellows! Living here in Colorado always requires a fall drive in the mountains to see the colors begin to burst from the hillsides.

These are B-E-A-utiful stock pictures!

My trip and pictures are coming soon! We have had warm weather and the leaves were green a little longer this year :)

Recently I updated our mantel for fall and began to look at other spaces where I could spread some of the fall loveliness that I am crazy about.

I have a love for roosters! I know hold the horses…I had a country phase in the past that I have been moving from. Well, let’s just say that I am updating it. You know what I mean! There are not any checkered curtains, but there are some items that I still love. Like roosters!

I found this great metal rooster at Goodwill for $5 and couldn’t wait to 1/2 price day as I knew it would be gone. When I first met her she was country red! Then I was in awe of all the heirloom white out in blog land that I decided to give it a try.

She sat inside like this for a while and then I decided that it wasn’t working!

So fall had me thinking that I needed to dress her up and give the proper greatness that I knew she had in her. So my all time favorite ORB (oil-rubbed bronze) paint would do the trick.

Here she is being transformed.

I thought that she would need a friend in her new home though and found this large and substantial candle stick at the thrift store also.

I know I am horrible at before pictures (promise, I will get better). But mid painting I remembered and here you can see how wonderful ORB is as this is transformed with a base coat of black and then finished with ORB.

A little bow and the perfect little pumpkin and my new little friends are a perfect fit for there new home atop the entertainment center.

Hope you enjoyed and if you viewed this, I would LOVE a comment! I read them all!

I know sounds a little sad since I don’t really have any followers or many comments yet, but I know I will soon as I begin partying and following others!!!

Fingers crossed :)

Mantle Makeover for Fall

The weather is cooling and becoming a little crisper. That can only mean one thing…..FALL is coming :)

Fall is my favorite and season and the house needed to be spruced up a bit for the change. It is so exciting to me to decorate during this time of year, because I feel that the warm tones of the season are my color.

The mantle was first on my decoration list and here it is.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the little favorite things that decided to use.

On the right, I used a few of my favorite little pumpkins.

These cute little pumpkins are putka pods.

Then I decided to take my beaded pumpkin and raise her up on a little thrift store find that got a make over with some ORB (oil rubbed bronze) spray paint.

Then I found a canning jar and filled it with lentils and used my decorative topper that I purchased several years ago at a craft show.

On the left side….

I love these cute little glass apothecary type jars and seldom pass one up at the thrift store. These are filled with navy beans!

This little dear deer was a thrift store purchase that was white ceramic before a coat of ORB.

And what mantle would be complete without a candle. This one was spruced up with an orange ribbon.

For the middle….

Not specifically fall, but our “G” that was purchased at Hobby Lobby (50% off, of course). It is paired with another thrift store frame.

Both have a coat of ORB :)

Intertwined among it all is a fall leaf garland like the ones you find at the dollar store.

I think that it is beautiful for now and will certainly be updated in the coming months as the holidays approach.

I am linking up to:

http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2010/09/countdown-to-fall-party-corn-husk.html

Little Monogram

I love this little “M.” Isn’t it so cute?

I wanted something small and sweet to go with the plentiful pictures of my little one. I thought that his first initial would be perfect. Now which came first the egg or the chicken? Well, in this case the cute little frame came first and then the idea.

I had two little 3.5x5 frames from the dollar store. This size is perfect since many of the studio pictures we have taken of him are 3.5x5. It seems that you usually see more 4x6 frames in the stores. Dollar store frames made over to be mine, are just perfect for me! Especially since I am now a thrift store frame snob. I can’t imagine paying more than $1 for a frame now (people get rid of such great stuff?)

The little frame came from the thrift store for $0.69. It is one of those tiny frames that can be used for seating assignments at a wedding.

The candle stick was another thrift store find. See what I did with it here.

Of course everything will get a coat of Krylon Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint.

The little “M” was super easy.

1. Paint the frame.
2. Cut two types of coordinating scrapbook paper to size desired.
3. Apply cute scrapbook sticker letter.
4. ENJOY!

Copycat Treasured Cloche

Okay, so I have been surfing blogs for a while and checking out some parties and this idea quickly became a must for me to have.

Everyone was pairing up items to make cute cloches that made beautiful displays and my shelf was wanting one too!

So here is what I wanted…

from House of Hepworths

and this from Lemon Tree Creations

Wow! aren’t they beautiful?

I am finding my style more and more, but I believe that I am a ORB (oil rubbed bronze) girl mostly. However, I can’t help but stare at the heirloom white beauties. Maybe I will figure out how to have a few of those too.

Well for my desire to copycat these, I have my attempt below.

First find two objects at the thrift store that would work. This cheese dome and candle stick from the thrift store would work just fine for $2.50. I didn’t have enough patience for 50% off day!

Next I gathered my supplies

Then I cut the candle stick to size and shape desired.

Gorilla glue and the closest thing with weight to permanently join my candle stick and cheese dome into a cloche forever.

(The bowl is heavy, not that I think onions are LOL!)

Then some spray paint and you have this.

What do you think? Beautiful!

Thanks to the sites above for the inspiration, restless nights, and ultimately great dreams come true.

Camouflage

Well, we knew when out little boy was on the way what the nursery theme was going to be. We are a hunting family and reading my husband’s mind (no matter what other cute themes I saw), I knew it was going to be CAMOUFLAGE!

So here are some nursery pictures.

Notice all the stuffed animals aren’t traditional.

I set out when planning to find all the forest animals I could find to fit with the theme and expose our son early to the things that we love. It was so much fun looking for them and then finding the elk, deer, squirrel, coyote, eagle, big horn ram, and black bear.

The nursery was pieced together with craigslist finds and frugal ideas to compliment our camouflage.

Craigslist finds:

Crib and Changing table/dresser was $400 (retails for $1200).

Pottery Barn style rocking chair $150 (similar retail for $500-$800)

Creative Frugal Ideas:

Wall name art

Items needed: Branch, coordinating ribbon, small pine cones, letters, paint, glue gun, and poster putty.

Shelf with Mason Jars

Items needed for shelf: Wood, router, brackets, liquid nails, drill, and screws.

Items needed for Mason Jars: old mason jars with lids; and various natural materials such as moss, pine cones, and pebbles.

Aren’t they cute?