A Fluffy Fall Wreath

      It would seem most of my belongings will most likely be in moving boxes fairly soon. Not much fun for the Fall decor department at all! (...But very good news for the future of the mister's employment!) I thought I would throw together something simple, just so I wouldn't have to skip the Fall feeling in my house completely.

     This was a super low budget project...$1 for a pool noodle. Whoever the lady was that dreamed up this brilliant idea is forever my best friend.

       It also got rid of a fair amount of scrap ticking fabric I had laying about. I cut a multitude of strips like so.

      I ruffled most of them...and shamelessly cheated by using the ruffling foot for my machine. Fabulous little piece I'd highly recommend investing in!

      Using generous amounts of hot glue, I wrapped the pool noodle with strips of fabric like so.

      Next I glued on the ruffled strips. When one piece ended, I just kept going with a new one. I didn't take the time to sew them all together, and it worked out very well indeed.

       Oh, yes, I didn't finish the edges of the strips either...shabby is cozy. (...or lazy is easy, whichever way you want to look at it...)

       It's rather bodacious for a wreath, but I rather like it. What say you?

 Matthew 7:7   Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 

Linking to:
The Freckled Laundry
Someday Crafts

Homemaker on a Dime
Brassy Apple

New Look for the Mantle

     My mantle makes me happy all year long. It brings warmth to the front room, and it's about the only thing I regularly decorate. Everything else in my house usually stays pretty much the same. I decided the Spring look I had going needed a change.

      I found the huge clock face and the globe bookends a thrift store recently. I love clocks, maps and books, so those were great finds! I'm sure I'll probably spray paint the clock face, and hang it at some point.  For now, though, I like it just the way it is.

      The big letter "F" and the lantern were clearance finds from Hobby Lobby. I can almost always find the funnest stuff for usually five dollars or less by digging through their clearance stuff.

     I do believe I like my new look very much indeed!

     What's your pet spot in your house to mess with?

Psalms 28:7   The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

My Indoors Version of Spring - Mantle Decor

      Is it Spring yet at your house? It is at mine, and I am loving it! Fresh green leaves, and flowers are always going to put me in a good mood, every time. I decided it was high time to add a little Spring indoors. I don't know how you typically go about your decorating process, but mine usually goes something like this...Glance up and catch sight of mantle. Decide I cannot stand looking at the current decorating situation one second longer.

      Dash off madly to the attic and my "junk tote" outside to drag in anything and everything that even remotely makes me think of Spring. Rusty shovel pieces, dusty clay saucers, and musty old seeds in mason jars are all acceptable decor in my domain.

    I typically end up stealing something from some other room in the house, like this scrap wood sign that I made a while ago for my bedroom.

      Of course, no display could possibly be achieved without a quick run outside to douse something in spray paint, usually while burning dinner on the stove. In this case, hot pink Easter eggs, got a nice makeover with some white spray paint.

     My center "wreath" came from the top of a plant hanger that I used here. I twisted on some flowers, and it adds just the right pop of color. I'm not a gigantic fan of fake flowers, but they do have the distinct advantage of not dying on me. We all know how insanely wonderful I am at keeping things alive after all.

       As you know, pretty much all of my high class looks are gathered from thrift stores and garage sales for next to nothing.  Friday, I'm going to show you through an entire store filled with beautiful examples of someone's brilliant use of someone else's castoffs. You will love this, so don't forget to check back in! Have a happy week!
P.S. The winner of the MyMemories giveaway is Mary! Hurray you!! You can still use the code STMMMS77964 to get $10 off your order even if you did not join the giveaway, or are not a follower of this blog.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;

linking to:
Between Naps on the Porch
BoogieBoard Cottage
The Girl Creative
The Southern Institute
Kammys Korner
Home Stories A to Z
Chef in Training
Suger Bee Crafts
Not Just a Housewife
Homemaker on a Dime
Brassy Apple
Under the Table and Dreaming
Funky Junk Interiors

My mantle update

       I don't usually decorate for Valentine's Day, so I go for a "cozy" look that caries me through from after Christmas until Spring. I adore Christmas decorations, but I really enjoy how clean and uncluttered the house feels after I take them down. I like to leave things that way for a bit, so my decorating is very minimal January through March or so.

        My sister gave me this lovely picture for Christmas, and it perfectly fit the warm look I wanted.

      I just borrowed random items from the rest of my house that seemed to go. It does work to my advantage to have the whole house basically the same style and color scheme. I can rearrange to my hearts content without having to go to any extra trouble.

        So, in other news, I have a new photo editing program, Gimp. I normally use Picasa to edit my pictures, but I decided to try something different. (They are both free downloads) I'm no good with pictures, and even worse with computer editing. I appreciate a good picture though, and want to improve mine as much as possible. I'm trying to learn my camera better, and practice good staging, natural light, and all that jazz. That was one of my goals for this year...I suppose I better get cracking! I'm sure I'll be old and toothless before I figure out the art of a good picture! Have you started on any of your oh so fun goals for the new year?

  Ephesians 6:10   ... be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Christmas at my house

      I went super simple on the Christmas decorating this year. I didn't do anything very "wow", but just for fun, I thought I'd give you a peek around my place. My mantle is my funnest thing to play with. I love changing it up for the seasons. This year, I stuck to mostly white, and a natural theme.

      I used some grape vine stuff that I had laying around to make my "trees" and spray painted them. They are a bit wonky and Charlie Brownish, but I like them. The stars were some Americana ones that I didn't use anymore and spray painted. The deer are my Pottery Barn knockoffs that I showed you here.

     I stuck some tea lights in jam jars filled with my choice of "snow"...Epsom salt. I added a few jingle bells just for shine. I read somewhere that you should put something that reflects light into every display...not sure how good that advise is, but I usually stick to it. It looks pretty when they are lit.

       The star I made out of sticks last year. I really like all the texture here, even though it is rather simplistic.

       Here's a wonky shot of my stairs. There are lights in the garland, and its so lovely at night. You can find the tutorial for the stockings here.

     I already showed you my "gift wrapped" pillows.

      I tucked a bit of greenery here and there. That greenery actually came from my wedding bouquet. We got married in December so I used Christmas decorations for the wedding. I use that greenery every year, and it makes me happy.

     This deer also was from our wedding decorations.

      I always put a manger scene under my tree to remind the little people, and us big ones, what Christmas is all about.

     Spray painted pine cones are always an easy decoration.

     The table just has a simple candle holder on it. The ornaments were also from our wedding, we used them for the guest favors.

  
     And that's it...for now anyway. I need to finish my tree, and I want to do my kitchen cabinets. Are you all finished decking the halls at your place? Christmas will be here and gone before we know it!

Psalms 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

Fall decor makeover

      Do you have a tub full of Fall decorations that looks something like this?

      Mine is mostly Dollar store type stuff....entirely too much orange and entirely too overly used looking. I decided a new Fall look was in order...except I didn't want to spend money on it and I really didn't want to take babies out to go get any. What to do, what to do...spray paint naturally. I took some of this lovely stuff and went to town.

      I spray painted all my orangeness, but let a little of the color show through still.

       Ahh, so much better. I took these little wreaths...

      ...and doused them with silver paint. Ya, ya, I know, silver isn't a fall color...but I'm already breaking all sorts of decor rules, mine as well continue. I do believe I approve of my new look.

     I wrapped the candles with upholstery webbing and put a few fallish colored berries through it to give a bit of color.  The banner I made last year out of burlap and jute.

      I also took some paint to this dollar store plastic tray.

       It makes quite a lovely centerpiece for my table.

      I made these blessing blocks last year out of scrap 4 x 4 pieces. I suppose its a bit early for Thanksgiving stuff...but, being thankful doesn't need to be limited to one month out of the year anyway!

      I must say, it was a bit hard to get in the Fall mood while sweating and slapping mosquitoes while spray painting. Oh well, its the thought that counts.

      Spray paint is a fabulous thing, it makes me happy.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Simple Summer Mantle

     I tend to be a "cluttery" decorator. I'm learning, slowly, not to stuff every nook and cranny. Simple can speak for itself.

     I read in a book recently, "God doesn't give us a flaming sunset to look at all day long". It was meant as an explanation of how to use color when decorating. Use colors that are soothing to look at in large doses and use explosions of color sparingly. I thought that was very helpful, and I'm trying to follow that advise a little more.

Window Mirror

      Can I just say I LOVE spray paint! It might be the best invention known to mankind. Ever since I discovered looking glass spray paint, I've been dying to try it. My antique window was the perfect candidate for such an experiment and it worked wondrously. Here is what I started with.

     I gave it multiple coats of Krylon looking glass spray.

      You have to spray this stuff on the backside of whatever glass you are working on. It is not going to look like a store bought mirror. It has a cloudy, almost old look to it. That was exactly perfect for the look I was going for, so that was fine with me.



      It adds a nice open feel to the wall above my mantle, instead of just looking through a window at a wall.

      I like my springified mantle. Isn't my bird cute?

      I don't suppose it's proper to mix fake plants with real, but seriously, who can keep flowers alive in a tipped over pitcher?

      You can see how I made my wreath here.

      I love Spring! It's my favorite!
Linking this to:
Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Friday
Funky Junk Interiors: SNS 71
Be different Act normal show and tell Saturday