Autumn Decor to last September through November

Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year. The smells, the colors, and the excitement of the holidays. But rather then decorate over and over during such a busy season sometimes it is nice to be able to make Fall/Autumn touches to your home and have them last for 3 full months rather than a few weeks. So a few ideas to help get you through the Autumn season. Of course you can add in Halloween decor for the month of October but take it down and you are still left with fall colors that will work for November.

• I bought I small sprig of leaves from a local craft store for $1.50. However, it did not look like this when I bought it. It was much smaller and a little sad looking. I found some fake leaves and added a few more to the ones already there. I also found a few pinecones from the local park and glued them on to add more visual interest to it. Finally I added a burlap ribbon from my scrap box and stepped back to a finished product. I chose to hang it in my kitchen but it could be placed on a mantel, in a wreath, or anywhere you choose.

• A leaf garland from the Dollar Store adds color and interest. Two face pumpkins from Walmart were 1.00 each and also add color and a festive touch.

• Pinecones, another 1.00 garland, a glass jar, and a candle holder complete the mantel. A thank you note adds a personal touch.

DIY Halloween Felt Ornaments

I wanted a Halloween decoration that my toddler could play with that would not get ruined and that did not cost me money. So to the closet of random goods I went. I found some felt and embroidery floss and decided to make some ornaments for this "Halloween Tree." It is actually supposed to be for tea cups but I use it for a variety of things during the year. I did not have cookie cutters or anything to trace my ornaments so I just did them by hand as I went with some scissors. 

If you can't tell from the photo the two white ornaments are a moon and a ghost, and the black ornaments are a witch hat and a bat.

Fairly simple instructions: (I did them by hand but you could use a sewing machine if you wanted.) (Little girls love this project that are just learning to sew. )

Cut two matching pieces. 

Use thread to stitch them up.

Leave a small hole to fill with poly fill or other stuffing.

Add ribbon at the top.

You could easily bring in some old branches or twigs from your yard or park and put them in a container of some kind to make a Halloween Tree. Let the kids decorate and play. 

Trick or Treat Decor

I want to say I feel bad about this but I don't. I keep EVERYTHING well almost everything for a few months even if I don't like it or know what to do with it. I have a large box with random items in it. Why you ask? You never know when you will be able to use something for another purpose. This is the perfect example. 

I was given two of these as a gift a few years back. It had the name of our family on it and our wedding date. What do I need two for? So I kept this one and recently decided to paint over it and turn it into a Halloween decoration. A little black paint covered the letters and I was then able to use a gold sharpie marker to write Trick or Treat on it. The images ... those took me a day or two to figure out. I used the gold sharpie to color a stamp and then stamped it onto the wood. I'm thinking I'll change the leaf in that top right corner on Trick. It did not turn out as I'd have liked. But all in all I'm happy with it. I'm thinking about writing something on the back for Thanksgiving so I have another piece of decor for the cost of oh NOTHING. Can't beat that. 

So see what you can find and see in a new light. You might be surprised at what can be changed into something else.

Halloween and Fall Wreath's

I know everyone is busy. I realize it more and more everyday as I find myself with more to do's then I know what to do with and no time. But there is something about making your home festive for the Holidays. It helps create memories for your family and especially your little ones. 

As I've been thinking about a lack of time and how to handle it I've  decided there are  few ways to go about it. Either do things sloppily, which would drive me insane because I like things done right. Or drive myself crazy trying to find time among a million other things that need done to do large elaborate projects that look amazing. Or last and my chosen method, find ways to simplify so I can do a bit of everything. 

So rather than show you a long winded project I have more of a challenge for you. 

Look around your house and see what you already have that you can add to quickly or buy something small to add. In the picture below I bought this wreath almost 4 years ago. It is just a basic twig wreath from Michaels Craft but I love it because I can add small things to it each season and make it different. One of my Halloween decorations a half moon got a makeover with some ribbon and then I tied it to the side of the wreath so it looks like it belonged there all along.

This wreath below is similar. Basic white berries can have other berries, pinecones, small pumpkins, flowers, or any number of things added depending on the season. If you need berries or flowers you can usually find them at a craft store for just a few dollars for a stem of them. Easy, Easy. So adding that moon to my wreath was my accomplishment for the day and finished up my outdoor Halloween decor. Don't worry that is my only decor this year. With a new little one its lucky I have any at all. So no judging. :)

DIY Fall Pillows

After looking at so many really cute decorative pillows in the stores I talked myself into needing one but they are so expensive. Especially when you are only going to use them for a month or two. So here is my solution.... Make your own but do it the easy way. I'm not a seamstress by any means though I wish I was. Instead I looked for placemats. Seasonal placemats. Placemats that were good and sturdy. Placemats that could work for the whole fall season rather than just Halloween. I found this cream leaf embroidered one and a pumpkin. Got them home, found my seam ripper and went to work. 

After making a small opening in the base of each pillow I stuffed it with poly fill and hand stitched it closed again. Done. From placemats to pillows. Each placemat was $3.99 and a bag of fill was around $5. But I still have quite a bit left for other projects. I'm thinking each pillow cost me about $5 each which definitely beats the $30 plus pillows I was admiring and I LOVE how mine turned out. May try it again for Christmas! We ll see. Good luck if you try it. Very simple. Don't worry if you cannot sew. With this project it's easy to hide mistakes on such a small hole. 

HAPPY FALL!

Thanksgiving Home Decor

Find Time for Turkey.....Or Pie!

Home decor is a hobby, passion, and even a career for many. While I enjoy it all year long there is something about the holidays that leaves me wanting to fill every nook in my home with soft light, warmth, and the detailed touches of the current holiday. These small touches can be surprisingly simple and with minimal effort on your part will refresh your home to add that bit of holiday homey feel you've been waiting for all year long. 

Bring natural elements indoors with warm color palettes, a variety of textures, and shapes aplenty. Here is to helping you find simple decor ideas for the big day so you'll have plenty of time to focus on delicious food, family, and the inviting home you created.

•  Nothing says fall like pumpkins. Real or fake, orange or white, pick your pumpkin, find a sprig of fall color to add to the top or place around the base.  Use on side tables, as a centerpiece, or add to any lonely corner of your kitchen or living areas.

• This pumpkin was used for Halloween and then painted white to be used for Thanksgiving. 

• Wheat left in the sun drenched fields of summer is the perfect visual feast to add to your Thanksgiving table. Gather a bundle from a field or side of the road, cut the base as you would a fresh bouquet of flowers and finish with a sleek ribbon with a bit of sheen which will emphasize the rough texture of your roadside find. (Wheat bundles can also be purchased from craft and home decor stores.)

• Greet your family and friends with a simple berry wreath. No fuss added please and thank you. Create eye catching appeal by choosing a ribbon with a simple texture and a rich autumn hue.

•  A simple vine saves oh so much time. Add a leaf garland to end tables, cupboard tops, bookshelves and incorporate it into your existing items. Wrap garlands or real branches in, around, and through items as you see fit. The pop of color adds that little extra touch.