This fall I gathered a plethora of acorns on my walks at the local park. I've never seen such a variety of sizes and styles and browns in acorns. Of course, I probably never took the time to look before. This year in my quest to decorate on less than a dime, I turned to Mother Nature. And oh my... did she provide an abundance. I wanted to create a centerpiece for my Thanksgiving table setting. I had already made lovely oak leaf chargers, so I did what we all do when we want inspiration, I popped over to Pinterest. While I was looking at pretty tablescapes, I saw an acorn basket … [Read more...]
Do you remember those days as a child when you would collect fistfuls of autumn leaves? Maybe it was just last week that you found yourself picking up pretty leaves on your walk? Please... "Pin" - "Tweet" - or "Share" this image! I'm always on the look out for creating home decor with nature's bounty. It does seem that Mother Nature couldn't deliver any more leaves than she's been raining down on us the past few weeks. Actually, it's all been quite convenient for me. I have been planning an autumn tablescape but feeling like there was an important missing … [Read more...]
My heart sings for simple doable home decor. Even more... when it's inexpensive to make. Oh! And packs a WOW! Are you ready for a project that's all that and more? I'm going to show you how to create a flowery book page pumpkin that's extraordinary! The best part is that it's whimsical.... it delights children... and make adults smile. I brought one with me when I went to visit a friend and she fell in love with it. Don't you think it's looks adorable in her tabletop greenhouse. Sometimes we take seasonal home decor too … [Read more...]
It's Monday and time for Project Inspire{d}! I am so glad you're here! Now, is a good time to be scouring the woods for pine cones. You'll be wanting to add them to your late fall and holiday decor before you know it. Learn what I do to debug my pine cones and make them pop from this post from the archives. It's a popular post lately. Feel free to "pin" these pine cone crafting tips to remember for later, too. How was your weekend? My weekend began on Thursday this week. Not really, but it sure felt like it as I got to meet a fellow blogger for breakfast. Oh so fun! … [Read more...]
Please … “Pin-it” – Share it on Facebook – Stumble it! My friend mentioned to me that there just had to be something she could do with the garbage can filled with acorns she had just raked up from her yard...aside from starting an oak forest. You too? Recently, I shared the first of several upcoming ideas for creating home decor with acorns here. Can you imagine living in a virtual oak forest and never having crafted anything with acorns? [guilty] This year...I'm making up for lost time. There's a county park within walking distance and I've filled up a couple of bags of … [Read more...]
Last year I went hunting for acorns. I walked for what seemed like miles through the woods that rimmed the cornfield, eyes to the ground, carefully searching for those little nuts with cute hats. After expending all that effort in the hunt, I walked home with a small handful. That's all! This year I had success and found all the acorns I ever wanted! Please … “Pin-it” – Share it on Facebook – Stumble it! You know how you hear that there will be a bad winter when there are lots of acorns? Last winter was the worst I've known, and there were hardly any acorns in my neck of the … [Read more...]
There's something special about a bundle of love letters wrapped up in ribbon. Want to top that? Create a lovely stack of letters that is a treasure box in disguise... Sweetest Day is just around the corner! Those of you who live in the Midwest are undoubtedly familiar with the special celebration in October called Sweetest Day. Saturday, October 18 is Sweetest Day, this year. It's a day created by Cleveland, Ohio confectioner manufacturers back in 1921. You might have thought this holiday was a creation of Hallmark since the greeting card manufacturers are enjoying this day … [Read more...]
It's true! I've been at it again..creating home decor with book pages. Today, I'm going to show you how to make pumpkins made from paperback books and create realistic pumpkin stems, too. Right now, pumpkins and gourds are overflowing at every farm stand along the road. They're beautiful and colorful and expensive. So...what'a gal to do when her pocketbook isn't filled with extra pennies for a plethora of pumpkins? Create them from book pages, of course! A nice tall book page pumpkin is easy to make. Crafting skills not required! And those amazing pumpkin … [Read more...]
I'm pleased to partner with Plaid Crafts and Blueprint Social to introduce you to . Add the feeling of fall to your home in unexpected ways. Often when we think of fall decor we think of pumpkins, gourds, and colorful leaves. May I challenge you to think outside the box? I sure did when I created these fun, stenciled, animal print plates. Don't you agree....they're fabulous and unexpected? Certainly for my home decor. Today I'm going to show you how to use stencils, so you too, can create fabulous unexpected fall decor. Recently Plaid Crafts … [Read more...]
If you've been looking for a detailed tutorial so you can try your hand at chalk painting, you've come to the right place! Back when it was below freezing and the snow was driving sideways and the drifts were rising an inch an hour, my friend Alice asked me if I would be willing to help her paint her antique washstand. We live half an hour apart and there was no way I wanted to drive in that crazy winter weather, so I told her I'd love to, in the spring. Spring came and with it an opportunity to try out the new . This post is part of a sponsored campaign with Blueprint Social and … [Read more...]
Raise your hand if you have decorated your valentine mantel or some area of your house only to have members of your household tell you it's pretty ordinary? Did you see my hand go up? Yup. It did. That's what they said in not so many words. It's not a good thing when your blog name includes the word, "extraordinary." Remember my winter birch branch mantel with the hand cut book page snowflakes? I liked that "mantelscape." It was different. And it seems that since it's being featured a few places, some of you like it too. Why not tweak it just a bit for Valentine's … [Read more...]
I've been hearing this question a lot lately, "Is there enough snow for you?" Having lived in West Michigan and in the Buffalo area, I am familiar with snow. Lots of it. Record snowfalls. This year, it snows or seems to snow every day. Regardless of the amount, it's enough! Prior to this year's white avalanche, I shared my winter mantel and asked if anyone wanted me to create a tutorial for making pretty snowflakes. It seems that I am not the only one who did not know that there was a paper-folding technique that would make all the difference in the world. So, today, just in case … [Read more...]
Birch is such a fun wood to decorate with in the winter. It gives a space a certain brightness and the bark almost seems reflective. Both of which brighten corners and more during the dark gray days of winter. If you've been following along, you may remember the birch wreath for Christmas. Shhh...don't tell anyone...but it's still up and it has a few cardinals residing in it's quickly drying greenery. [wink] We also used it to decorate the front of the house, which for some reason none of my photos turned out, and we used it to decorate the fireplace and mantel area for Christmas as well. After … [Read more...]
I played with power tools this weekend. Just two. But, one, in particular, got me totally excited. I may or may not have posted something about it on Facebook. One tool was a power miter saw. That wasn't a big deal. I used to own one until I allowed some other people to use it and it came back to me in pieces. That's a story for another day. Maybe. I've always wanted to use a nail gun. I can't tell you how fun it was. It made quick work of assembling the birch branches. But, you can make a wreath like this without power tools. So just for fun, I put together a simple … [Read more...]
Grapevine wreaths can be so very easy to decorate with for most holidays. You might remember my Easter Egg Wreath or my Natural Fall Wreath. Both were quick and simple to make. This Grapevine and Winterberry Noel Wreath was also easy to put together. Early this fall I created a few grapevine wreaths from those growing up in the trees nearby. They're easy to make and they're free. Yay! I've been having lots of fun decorating with Winterberry or Michigan Holly which grows in wetlands. I love their vivid red color. They really add a colorful pop to all the … [Read more...]
This year, I wanted to be really intentional about observing Advent. I even shared a post with ideas for Advent readings and candles, here. But, when it came to my own advent candle wreath, I had nothing. Nada. It was something I wanted....but it is not necessary. Plus, I don't exactly have money to be spending on something like this, and since I'm living "in between" with my stuff in storage, well...I really could go without. Several weeks ago I was invited to participate in an upcoming blogger event, All Things Dollar Tree for Christmas, where you create something from … [Read more...]
I know...I've been an awful tease. First I gathered some pine cones, made them pop! and told you they were for a wreath. Then, I decorated the mantel with a sweater vase filled with pampas grass and peacock feathers and mentioned the wreath. And if you saw some of my posts on Facebook, you probably feel doubly teased. Maybe you were beginning to wonder if you would ever see this wreath. Today is the day for unveiling my Pampas Grass Wreath embellished with pine cones and peacock feathers. So without further ado....drum roll please... I love that nature provided … [Read more...]
