Simple Fall Deck Decor

The blooms have faded from my garden candelabra, but I can't bear to pull out the plants. This piece was picked up at a flea market a few years ago, and is always a joy to fill each spring. All lit up with candles, it's really a beautiful addition to the garden view.

Bringing a little fall to the back deck with these gourds, I decided to put them in place of the candles. It's a touch of whimsy, but also keeps the gourds a bit more out of reach of my golden retrievers.

I'm amazed that they stay on the candle bases. These orange gourds brought the beauty back to a summer container planting. They're just as beautiful as the flowers were.

 

Halloween & Christmas Magnet Tutorial

Here's some fun little projects included in a local paper crafting class I am teaching at my local library. They are super easy and fast to make. These magnets will be fun for tiny gifts or even to use as bows on top of your holiday packages. You can also use them as embellishment to a greeting card.

Supply list*

• 2-3 sheets of scrapbook paper
• Glue Gun (turn it on so it's ready)
• 3/4" circle magnets *(mine are pretty heavy duty, don't get the floppy sheets)
• Glue
• Two circle or scalloped circle punches, 1 1/2" and 1" or 3/4" inch

The reindeer magnet was made with 3 different sheets of scrapbook paper. You could pick any red print, any green print (mine has a bit of glitter on it, which really adds some sparkle) and then any type of center image. This was cut from a piece of scrapbook paper by Reminisce called, "Wish List." It is two sided, but the best part on the reindeer side is that are these tiny little reindeer--about 50 of them, on one sheet! 

Depending on how many of these you want to make, you can either score the paper every half-inch first if you have a score board and then cut the paper into 1x12 inch strips. If you are only making one, or don't have a score board, then cut the paper into the strips and then fold it by hand (accordion style) to half-inch folds. 

Punch the green (or center piece) paper with a 1 1/2" scalloped circle punch, and the deer head with a 1" or 3/4" scalloped or circle punch. If you turn the punch upside down when you punch the deer paper you can see exactly where you will be cutting... so you don't chop off the deer's ear!

Fold the 12" strip accordion style and bring the two edges together with a piece of tape or glue. I like using regular tape, just butting the two edges together and not overlapping. You can put tape on both sides if you like.

Then put the circle on edge on a table and push it down in the center. It will pop into a little medallion shape. Make sure the wrong side is facing you and the red side is on the table, Hold it with one hand in this shape and then drop a 1/2" dot of hot glue in the center of the wrong side and push the magnet on top and down. Hold the magnet there until the glue has hardened.

Use regular (or hot) glue to adhere the larger circle to the center of the right side of your scallop. Put a small 1/2" 3D foam dot on the back of the reindeer head and adhere it to the green circle.

That's it! Here's another one I made with Halloween colors. I added a little black cat (by Jolee's) to the center for some sparkle.

You can make these for every holiday or occasion. My daughter made a pink ribbon magnet to take to her office. They would also be cute little party favors for any occasion.

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A Sweeet & Simple Fall Mantel

My fall mantel decorations had to be pretty easy this year as my mobility is still a bit limited after the bunion surgery. I gathered a few things from the basement and tried to keep things simple (as in one trip down the stairs mainly made to change the furnace filter).



I started with the vintage window piece I picked up an art fair a few years ago. It used to hang in my office year round as I loved the verse it was decorated with. I added the brown wired lights after I bought it; I can never resist adding a little sparkle to things!



I feel I need candles all around the house as the weather turns cold, so the hurricanes were a must. The gold candles have been changed out since I took the pictures for some smaller egglplant ones.



The fall silks and stems have such a muted, aged color to them. The artist that put it together used beautiful supplies.

The leaves scattered about began as a silk fall bouquet but I snipped them apart to look like fallen leaves. I don't know if they were originally folded like this or if they have just been crushed after being packed away each year but I like the realistic effect.

Now if I can just figure out how to run the cord through the entertainment center to an outlet, I'll be done with this project. Note to self... perhaps an outlet on the top of the mantel would be handy!

{Electric Stove} Vintage Inspired, White and on Sale!

I ordered this sweet little stove last week and it should be arriving any day now. It's a great deal at only $99, and if you order before October 12, you get a $50 gift card to use on another product. I have a gas fireplace in the kitchen but end up spending the later part of the evening in the family room and this will be a perfect addition.

It's available in black too! Here's the site I purchased it from.



Disclosure: none necessary... no compensation was paid for this post.

Silver Casserole Repurpose {Fall Decor}

I have found a great way to use my silver casserole dish for fall. This piece has been one of the most versatile pieces of thrift shop silver I have found.

This is pretty simple. Just add a fat pillar candle in a fall color and add a few silk leaves (or real ones you have preserved in wax) for color. I found the cloche at Hobby Lobby last year as part of a 2 piece set but I don't think I have ever used the bottom of it. The dome fits the casserole, as well as my Longaberger Pie Plates (which I use for quiche, pasta and salads, too) and it is mainly used in those ways.

My favorite part of this silver casserole is the sweet little legs. They are very ornate and give it a little glam!

Fall is when I seem to light a candle every evening. I love the warmth and glow it brings to the room, not to mention the scent. What's your favorite piece of vintage silver?

Pumpkin Style {Fall Porch Decoration Idea}

I showed you the pumpkin on the back deck the other day, but the one I was most excited about dressing up was the one I have in the front porch.

This little bit of Pumpkin Style is a new way of dressing up my front porch for fall. I actually copied the idea from a house I passed on my way to the north woods of Wisconsin a few weeks ago. I love passing the houses in Clintonville and Antigo on Highway 45. There are some gorgeous vintage homes (and some new) that always seem to embrace the season in style. 

 I wish I would have taken a picture, but I was driving so that was out of the question. Instead, I made sure to take a good look on the way back home and did my best to recreate the fall container idea.

It's very simple.... a large pumpkin surrounded by a tee-pee of cornstalks and accessorized with some fall leaf garland from Michael's. I emptied out some of the dirt and put the pumpkin on top of a small black flowerpot I stuck in the base rather then set it on the dirt hoping the pumpkin would last a bit longer if it wasn't sitting in the moist earth. I used three 6 foot bamboo stakes from Home Depot and pushed them into the base of the pot and used a rubberband to tie them together at the top. I then divided my cornstalk bunch into three piles and used wire to attach each bunch to one of the bamboo stakes. The two leaf garlands were wound around the stalks and wired in place, saving a bit for the back stake and the base of the pot.

I hope it holds up through the season; I figured keeping it on the covered porch might help. I hope you like this idea... passed on from a very cute house in Wisconsin... to me.... to you!

P.S. I had some minor surgery on my foot earlier in the week and made sure I had plenty of pictures in my camera to hold me over for blogging while I am camped out on the couch. I did some nesting before the surgery like stocking the refrigerator, cleaning floors, getting laundry done, etc... But perhaps only the similarly decor and style- obsessed of you will understand that my nesting activities included gathering a few pumpkins and creating a fall decoration on the porch!

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Fall on the Deck {Yay!}

The temperature is dropping (at least at night) and the leaves are falling. Fall is my favorite time of year. Still warm enough to enjoy the outdoors and a bit of a chill so that I can wear my sweaters.

I seem to push the limits on moving from season to season. I've already unpacked my sweaters and hung them in the closet, and moved my shorts into that same zippered case that held the sweaters. This past weekend, I bought a pumpkin; well, really, I bought two pumpkins. One for the front yard and one for the back deck.

Although the neighbors and passerby can enjoy the pumpkin in the front, I don't see it much from inside my home. I have a sweet little spot out on the back deck where I like to enjoy my coffee in the morning with a little table and chairs. I like to seasonally decorate the table in the fall and winter. Right now, this beautiful bright pumpkin fits the bill. As if the trees were responding to my call for Fall, they have sent down some pretty yellow leaves to surround it. It's not quite as elaborate as the lake house I shared with you a few years ago here, but it will do.

It's such a simple thing, that orange pumpkin that is the centerpiece of my view from where I spend most of my time (the kitchen). But it brings me such joy.

Thanksgiving Wreath {Most Unique} with Pheasant Feathers

Strange and beautiful. That's my words to describe this wreath I spotted at the Grayslake Antique Fair and
Flea Market this past weekend. The colors are your typical autumn reds, greens and a touch of bronze. And there's a feather at the bottom. A pheasant feather, which has been showing up in autumn decor the last few years. But there's something more. The body of the pheasant.

 Here's a closer view. Strange, yes. Also quite pretty. Look at the gorgeous colors on the body of that bird. Greens and blues muddled with the brown and gold--simply gorgeous! This wreath didn't make it home with me. It was a bit pricey at $125 and the bird would not have held up well on my front door facing the elements.

I admired it all the same and the vendor didn't mind me taking a picture to share. What do you think of this most unique Thanksgiving wreath?

Hello Peacock {Goodbye Jack-O-Lantern}

For some reason, I always seem to take down the Halloween decor really quickly. I have reverted back to basic fall touches in a few key spots in my home. This beautiful armoire is one of my favorite spots to decorate. For the next few weeks, it will sport "late fall slash peacock" style. I have been enamored with Peacock inspiration this fall; I have a Pinterest board devoted to it.

I think it's a nice addition to my fall decorations. The colors are so rich--a nice contrast to the warm oranges and yellows of fall.

A peacock feather added to my vase of pussy willows is so easy {with a new copper glittered fern giving nod to the coming holidays}. A clip-on bird in the same color family was another fun add on.

A clock from Home Goods that I've had for ages to add that essential bit of black that I love.
 

I've added a sprig of leaves for the touch of fall. The pretty ruffled knit throw was put there out of necessity when not being used. The goldens are way too interested in it and it's much safer up here.

 

They do look like little angels here but they do have their moments. One of their favorite indoor games is tug of war with an old baby blanket that Marley arrived with. Besides, I like how the throw looks up there!

So Simple... Fall Decor Made Easy

I have a lot of seasonal decorations. Bins and bins of vintage finds, family treasures and thrifted goodies. I am feeling a little overwhelmed by it all this year. I actually packed most of it back up and gave a few things to my daughters for their college apartments. I had purchased a few new things from JoAnn's and Michael's and returned them once I brought out my collection that was stored away. I have so many decorations already that would work well again this year.

Just as I was putting things away, I set a stack of faux autumn leaves, yet another vintage candle and a new rectangular tray I picked up at Target over by the bar sink and decided the leaves were too pretty to put away and they would be perfect set on the new tray by the sink. Very simple... yet pretty!





The other side of the sink needed a little something and so the candle slid right into place.

Nothing fancy, no great creative shakes.... just a few things I enjoy looking at brightening up the bar sink. Leaves on a pretty tray.... why not?




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