Seasonal – Page 12

Drop a Harvest Bomb

Have a college student, or friend/relative in a situation that prevents them from decorating for fall, even thought they would love to boast a festive porch? I say harvest bomb them. Go ahead. You must have seen the yarn bombers by now? Apply that philosophy to autumn decor and surprise your loved one.

This all came about when my stepdaughter, admiring our fall porch, expressed how nice it would be if her house were festive on the outside. As soon as she left, I pulled out the glue gun and wreath form and went to work. Here is a step by step photo montage of Harvest Bomb day one. Stay tuned for more. I plan to add things daily over the next week, and will update this post with a final picture.

Fall Front Porch Reveal

by Johnnie Collier

I have shown you a pumpkin and wreath here and there. Now for the full reveal. This porch was DIY frugal all the way. Using supplies you probably have on hand, some fall foliage from your yard, and some creativity, you will be well on your way to a cozy, welcoming autumn porch.

Save old paint cans and paint them in fall colors. Here I used masking tape to create the stripes on the black can. I gathered the husk from the ground at a local park to put in the can. The pumpkin I spray painted black, painted acrylic blue over that, then rubbed off in most places with a dry towel. I love the distressed look that came out of it. I wrapped some orange cotton yarn around the stem and threw a hand stamped tag on there.

Here are the blue crackle pumpkins from the post linked above. Easy and quick, you check it out if you like the look. The spray painted white gourd is adorned with self adhesive scrapbooking border. What I love about this part is that I actually grew the squash. Can’t say I have ever grown my own home decor until now!

Here is another paint can with white stripe painted on, as well as a white pumpkin with black crackle stamp like the blue above. The give thanks pumpkin came from last year’s fall decor. I spray painted over the white pumpkin with its vinyl lettering, then removed the vinyl, leaving white words on black pumpkin.

There you have it. Frugal fall decor possibilities are endless. What are some of your favorite ideas?

Easy Blue Crackle Pumpkins

by Johnnie Collier

This time of year brings a parade of creatively embellished pumpkin decor to fit any style out there. I have posted on SBLC’s facebook fan page some of my favorites over the past week, eluding to my recent pumpkin painting marathon. This project was inspired by Beth at Home Stories. Here is her version, using crackle medium. Today I will share with you an alternative way to create this faux crackle effect with using stamps. The result is beautiful with fewer steps involved, and greater control over the amount and placement of the cracks.

Supplies:

Fake or real pumpkins, gourds; I got my pumpkins at dollar tree and the gourds from my garden
Spray primer
light blue acrylic paint for the pumpkin, black for the stem
Staz on jet black ink pad
Flexible crackle texture stamp

Instructions:

Remove the stems from the plastic pumpkins and spray on white primer. When that is dry, paint over primer with light blue acrylic paint. I used Martha Stewart craft paint in Sky Blue.
While that is drying, paint the stems you black.
When pumpkins are dry (I used a heat tool to speed this along), ink up your texture sheet and randomly apply crackle stamp to surface. You can go for just a little crackle, to a heavy effect. If you go overboard, you can always paint over the stamp with blue. The flexible stamp allows you to get into the curves and depressions.

That is it! I thought up this technique after a botched attempt using crackle medium, and I am thrilled with its simplicity and effectiveness. What do you think? What are you doing with pumpkin decor this year?

Fall Burlap Wreath DIY

by Johnnie Collier

Who can get enough of burlap these days? There are so many fabulous fall wreaths out there incorporating the versatile fabric. I snatched up a roll of burlap garland at a garage sale awhile back, and used it to make this quick and easy fall wreath. Grab a wire hanger and craft your very own.

Supplies:

Roll of “burlap garland”. Not sure exact yardage on this one. Also not sure where you can buy it since I got it at a yard sale.
Wire hanger
Flower embellishments of your choice
Ribbon to hang wreath

Instructions:

Clip the coils and hook of the hanger and shape the remaining wire into a circle, as best you can. Mine was far from perfect, and my wreath looks good.

Next, fold the burlap every couple of inches to make a ruffle, and stick the hanger through the stack of ruffles.

When it is as full as you want, twist the wire ends around one another and tuck them behind the ruffles to hide them.

Hot glue flowers of your choice. I used some scrapbook embellishment paper flowers and a felt flower. Tie your ribbon at the top and that is that!

Six on Sunday: Fall Decor DIY Round-Up

by Johnnie Collier

I am so behind this fall! There are tons of beautiful projects piling up in my bookmarks. Maybe sharing with you six of my favorites will inspire me to get going. A little bit of my procrastination has to do with the fact that I don’t want pool days to be over just yet, and marathon training is wearing me out. That will all be over soon, and my fall decor will be in full swing. Here are some great ideas I want to share.

Adri at Dream Book Design shared this lovely burlap harvest banner. This is from last year, and guess what… It is a fave. Go over and check out the detailed tutorial!

Over at Love of Family and Home, I spied this burlap framed monogram. There are certain things that always catch my eye. Monograms and burlap are 2 of them. The pumpkin is a great touch.

Kristin at Write it Down made a precious yarn ball wreath in fall colors. I have so much yarn, and am obsessed with unique wreaths.

Look at these adorable glittered pumpkin place holders by Beckie at Infarrantly Creative. I had the privilege of watching her showcase this project on Indianapolis’s Indy Style show. Visit IC for the full tutorial.

I pinned these as soon as I saw them at Honey and Maple Syrup. Precious rustic twine pumpkins, and easy to whip up! Awesome job, Ali!

Desiree at 36th Avenue shared these gorgeous pumpkins at Tatertots and Jello, here. Check out the detailed tutorial. I am amazed at these. Can’t wait to give this a shot!

Fall Dollar Tree Wreath

by Johnnie Collier

*This is a repost. Bringing it back cause it is that time of year, and fall is in the air today. Are you ready to decorate, harvest style?

I spent $9 at the Dollar Tree and made this harvest wreath for my front door. I got the inspiration after googling “fall decor ideas” and running across this post over at House of Hepworths. I put my own lil’ spin on it. Here is what i did…

Supplies:

6 assorted floral leaf packs

1 18 inch garland wreath

1 package fall centerpiece decor variety (three pictured here, but only used one for

wreath – you will see the other 2 soon enough)

Add it up – $9!!

I used some organza I had on hand to tame down the green garland, which i wasn’t real fond of, but it was all I had to choose from at Dollar Tree. I just wrapped it all the way around the wreath, cut it, and secured it with a dot of hot glue.

Next, I began tearing apart my florals and hot gluing them around my wreath, onto the organza fabric. I cut small holes in the fabric to stick stems in for extra security, but I am pretty sure the hot glue would have sufficed.

Once I was satisfied with the fullness and balance, I hung it from a hook with a piece of lovely orange ribbon I had on hand.

I love how this turned out. It was easy and cheap, just the way I like it. Yep, I just typed that sentence. Wow. Anyway, it was a perfectly beautiful fall day, as I put this together on my front porch, belly full of homemade turkey chili.

Dollar Tree Spring Wreath

by Johnnie Collier

I needed to bring some spring to the ol’ front porch and decided a wreath would be the way to go. Off I went to the Dollar Tree. I loved the fall wreath (here) I made from Dollar Tree supplies so much that off I went to the Dollar Tree, where I found some off white carnations and a wreath form…

I removed the flowers from the stems and hot glued them to the wreath form. That is it. I used 7 bunches of the flowers, the wreath form and some green ribbon I had in my stash. Spent a whopping $8. Well worth it. Fast, easy, frugal… it’s a good day.

Awesome Acorn Wreath; Thrifty and SOOOO Cute

by Johnnie Collier

I ran across this post by Dana at “Made”, and filed it under “To Do” right away. The following day, i scored a the above straw wreath at Goodwill for $0.99. It was meant to be. I went to the local dog park and found the perfect almond shaped acorns. Some of them I had to decapitate (remove their hats), but most of them were hatless.

I returned home with 2 plastic grocery bags a little over half way full. I tell you this because I had to go back for more acorns. Get them all. It takes more than it looks like it would.

I tossed them in the sink and washed them with dish detergent, rinsed, then put on a large cookie sheet and baked at 350 degrees for 15 minutes to rid them of any living beings (apparently maggots can happen if this step is skipped – Yuck). Then I haphazardly hot glued them all over the straw wreath (leaving out the back, so the wreath will lie flat against the wall). For the bow, I ripped a piece of fabric and… that is it. $0.99 plus time spent hunting acorns, plus strip of fabric and some hot glue action. Not bad! (Add a few dollars for some spray paint, which I had on hand).

Check out these beautiful spray painted versions Dana posted…

I love the look of these. I can’t wait to spray paint mine. I think I will stay with the natural color for awhile. Oh, who am I kidding, I will be making more. The wonderful thing about spray painting them is that they can be displayed all year round, not just holiday time. I am struck with a wreath obsession this year.

What are your wreath ideas? Post pics, please. I am inspired by you!!!

Fall Front Porch Finale: Gratitude Sign With Tutorial

by Johnnie Collier

This is it. I am done with the porch for now. This project was completed using the materials pictured; Scrapbook paper

Board I picked up at yard sale for $0.25

Sand paper

Scissors

Brayer

Hardware for hanging (I used a 2ft black link chain attached with black U shaped tacks)

Black vinyl cutout “gratitude” and swirlies using cricut machine

First, measure and cut your paper to fit the front of the board. I used a paper cutter to slice (can’t cut a straight line to save my life). Make sure you cut appropriate size sections that line up if your board is bigger than your scrapbook paper…
Yay. I get to talk about Matte Gel Medium. I LOVE this stuff. I was a dedicated mod podger for adhering paper to other surfaces, until this magical product was revealed to me (I am not getting paid for this, it is how I feel…). I find it much neater and easier to use. It produces fewer air bubbles and the paper becomes one with the surface. Superb. On with it…

I spread a thin, even-ish layer over the board using a sponge brush. I then apply a thin layer to the back of the paper (don’t worry about completely covering every inch), lay the paper on the board, lining up the pieces so the pattern is seamless, letting the excess hang over the edge for now…

Smooth out the paper with the palm of your hand to remove air bubbles, then again with the brayer – this is the mac daddy of air bubble eliminators. It is essential.

Next, trim the excess paper as close to the edge as you can…

I like to sand the edges of the paper to make them blend into the board and to even things out. I also like the distressed look that results…

Here you can see the edge where I sanded and light brushed a Ranger Ink Distressed Ink pad in Antique Linen over the white of the paper created by sanding. Cool worn look.

Last thing is to seal the piece; I used Mod Podge for paper, 2 layers allowing dry time between. Attach hardware and hang! Sadly, the sun had gone down before I completed this, so icky flash pictures, but you get the idea. Happy crafting. Scatter joy!

Fall Front Porch Decor Part 2; The Pumpkins

by Johnnie Collier

I have never had so much fun decorating a porch… ever. I love our new home, and what better motivation to spruce it up than brilliant midwestern days of fall. It also helps that I am having a group of Bible study women over for fellowship soon 🙂

The antique white spray painted pumpkin has been on my mind since I saw a tutorial last year. That, combined with black vinyl lettering I cut myself using my cricut made up this project in its entirety. The big orange guy was initially going to have hearts going all around, randomly, but as I began placing them, I realized a face and went with it. Now it is a face made of all hearts. He looks goofy. I love him. Go get yourself a cricut!!

Drop a Harvest Bomb

Fall Front Porch Reveal

Easy Blue Crackle Pumpkins

Fall Burlap Wreath DIY

Six on Sunday: Fall Decor DIY Round-Up

Fall Dollar Tree Wreath

Dollar Tree Spring Wreath

Awesome Acorn Wreath; Thrifty and SOOOO Cute

Fall Front Porch Finale: Gratitude Sign With Tutorial

Fall Front Porch Decor Part 2; The Pumpkins

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