Thrift Store Pumpkin Makeover

September 23, 2019September 22, 2019Leave a comment

Good morning! Now that’s it’s officially fall, are you experiencing fall weather? This week we have a few cool days, a couple hot ones, and then it cools down for the weekend. I do love the cool nights and being able to cuddle under the blankets!

I found this paper mache’ pumpkin at a thrift store this past week. I liked the size, but didn’t like the shiny finish on it.

I took the stem off and then used some of the chalk paint I had on hand. I used what I thought was a cream colored chalk paint, but it was actually wax. I thought I would try it and it ended up working out.

I used a couple of coats of the wax and I like the chalk look much better.

I used Waverly ‘Mineral’ and Americana Decor ‘Heirloom’ and used a small paintbrush to brush small strokes of paint all over the pumpkin. I made sure to add some in the recesses, to give some shadow.

I also painted the stem with the ‘Mineral’ and ‘Heirloom’ paint and then glued it back on the top of the pumpkin.

I added the pumpkin to my mantel along with a couple of lanterns and a large pumpkin canvas I painted last year.

Just a few touches bring fall into the room!

I also bought a new candle from Bath and Body Works, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin. Mmmm! It smells so good!

I love when I can take a thrift store item and remake it to be usable again! I also love when I don’t have to spend a lot of money to bring something ‘new’ to my home. What items have you made over? I would love to hear about it!

Driftwood Wreath

February 4, 2019February 3, 20193 Comments

Good morning! I’m back today with another driftwood project, or maybe it’s another wreath project! You can see my other driftwood projects here and here and here and here. You can find the wreath projects here and here.

I had the idea to make a driftwood star. My husband cut out a wooden star for me, but when I started to lay the pieces on, I realized I didn’t have enough small pieces of driftwood. So I poked around in my garage and found a large piece of cardboard I had been saving. I figured it would work for a driftwood wreath instead. I tried a few different things to trace for my circle, and ended up with this bucket. I traced the outside of the circle first. It measures about 16 inches.

Once I had the outside circle traced, I turned the bucket over and centered it as close as I could. Then I traced the inside circle.

I cut around the outside circle first and then poked a hole in the middle and cut the inside circle. Now I had a cardboard form for my driftwood to be attached to. The edges don’t have to be perfect, since the driftwood will cover it up.

I started with the bottom layer, using bigger pieces and laying them around the edges. Once I had it the way I liked, I hot glued them on.

After the bottom layer was secure, I started adding in smaller pieces to fill in the top layer. I kept adding until I could no longer see the cardboard and it was filled in nicely.

I felt like it needed a little something more, so I added one starfish to the bottom. I hung it on an old window I have sitting on my faux mantle. The perfect coastal touch!

I thought the song ‘Down By The Bay’ was the perfect saying for my chalkboard.

A lantern with some fairy lights and a small bowl of seashell necklaces add to the beach feel.

Now I just need the warm weather to match my new wreath! Don’t you just love that really curvy weathered piece of driftwood at the bottom?

Thank you so much for coming by today! I hope you have a wonderful week!

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Drop Cloth Winter Wreath

January 14, 2019January 13, 20192 Comments

Good morning! I hope you are all well today! We are having lots of rainy weather lately. We need the rain, but my yard is a muddy mess! Hopefully it won’t be too long before we are nice and warm again and the mud will be gone.

I saw this drop cloth wreath over at Thistlewood Farms blog, my favorite blog, by the way! I thought this wreath would be great for the winter months, but it would be perfect any time of year! Here’s the link for the wreath, but be sure to check out her other posts. KariAnne is a terrific writer and so creative.

You can find out all the instructions over at her blog too and mine are pretty much the same. The only difference, I had to cut many more leaves than she did, so my wreath form must be larger than hers.

Supplies:

Wreath form-I used a metal one from the Dollar Tree, but you could use other kinds too
Drop Cloth
Scissors
Hot Glue

I ended up cutting about 150 leaves. i was able to cut several layers at the same time, so it didn’t take too long.

Once the leaves were cut, I added a dot of glue at the end of the leaf to give it a little bit of curve. This will give the wreath a little more depth.

Once all the pieces had their dot of glue, the leaves were glued onto the wreath form. I glued them on, staggering them, but keeping them all going the same direction.

I hung the wreath on a shutter on my mantle. I have a random outlet right in the middle of the wall above the fireplace, so I always have to find something to cover it up. This shutter was perfect.

I like the contrast of the brown shutter with the white wreath.

I added a couple of brass candlesticks and a little bird to the mantle as well. I’m hoping the bird will bring spring a little sooner. 🙂

Have you ever used drop cloth for any projects? I’ve used it for curtains on my back patio and also as tablecloths, but I have never done a smaller project like this. I really like the texture of it and the soft creamy white color.