Recycle a Sweater for Home Decor

October 27, 2020October 26, 20202 Comments

Good morning! The days and nights are getting chillier! I do like fall, but I am not looking forward to winter. I don’t like the cold, dark and dreary days and the way it get dark so early. I am looking forward to the holidays though and being with my sweet family!

Have you ever recycled a piece of worn out clothing into something for your home? Sounds kind of crazy, but I have done this a few times. Mostly to make pillows out of, but this time I did something different. This sweater had a hole in the neckline, so it wasn’t wearable, but I liked the stripes and the colors of the fabric, so I chose to make a small stuffed pumpkin pillow with it.

I found a pumpkin pattern online and printed it out. Then I traced it onto the sweater with a piece of chalk.

I cut through both layers of the fabric so I would have two identical pieces. I sewed the pieces together, leaving an one inch opening at the bottom.

I stuffed the pumpkin and then hand stitched the opening closed. I cut out a stem from felt and found some embroidery thread in the same yellow color.

This part was a little difficult, but I stitched lines through all the layers using a long stitch. It was kind of hard keeping nice stitches, but with all the puffiness, you can’t really tell. Don’t be too hard on yourself!

Whew! Made it! Now just add the stem. I glued mine, but you could stitch it on too.

Once the pumpkin was finished, I placed it on my mantle with a few other fall items.

It gives a little spot of color in an otherwise neutral mantle.

I would love to know if you have recycled any clothing to create some home decor! Let me know! Have a wonderful day!

Here are some other posts you may have missed:

Happy Labor Day plus a Fall Roundup

September 7, 2020September 6, 2020Leave a comment

Happy Labor Day to all those in the U.S.! I hope you aren’t having to labor too hard! This is the unofficial start to fall for most of us, so I thought I would share some of my past posts with you. Hopefully you will find some inspiration! Just click on the picture to be taken to the original post.

Pumpkins and Peacock Feathers Tablescape

I loved this one! The colors are so pretty for fall!

Dollar Tree Fall Rake Makeover

This is a great way to recycle an old garden tool and make it something pretty for you porch or patio.

Living Room Fall Tour

This was my very first fall tour! It’s funny how many of these decor items I still use! You don’t have to buy all new items for the season. You can re-use what you have, just in different ways.

Welcome Fall!

I had forgotten about this tablescape! I love how this turned out! I have these same plates on my table today!

Bringing Fall to the Back Porch

I really enjoyed decorating the back porch. It was such a pleasure to look out the back door and seeing the pumpkins and flowers.

Thrift Store Pumpkin Makeover

I always find ‘treasures’ at the thrift store, but they don’t always look quite the way I would like. I gave this one a little makeover!

Neutral Decor Book Page Mobile

This is a cute and simple project and you could use so many different items to make the leaves. I used book pages, but you could use paper or silk leaves like I did below, or even magazine pages.

Falling Leaves Door Hanging

I had all the items I needed for this project, but you can find similar items in your yard and the Dollar Tree.

Decoupage Pumpkin with Maps

This is another quick and easy project to do this fall. Again, you can use any type of paper to cover you pumpkin and personalize it to what you like!

I hope you enjoyed this round up! Happy fall!

Bringing Fall to the Back Porch

October 7, 2019October 5, 20194 Comments

Good morning! I know I have been away for a bit and I am trying to get back in the swing of teaching and blogging. So far, teaching is winning out! 🙂 I have all sorts of projects spinning round in my head, but by the time I am done teaching, I don’t have much energy left. Thanks for sticking with me though. I will be trying to get a few more projects out to you all!

I was looking back through my posts from last year and saw this one. I liked this one so much, I thought I would share it with you again.

A few weeks ago, I bought a variety of pumpkins, both small and big. I had to buy them at the supermarket, since our pumpkin patches weren’t open yet. Lol.

I used them on my back patio. I actually see my back patio more than the front, and I wanted to be able to enjoy the fall decor all season.

I used little white pumpkins along with faux leaves and acorns in a glass container.

I added a couple more pumpkins to my potting bench too. I made my acorn garland a few years ago, using the acorns from the oak tree in our old backyard.

There are so many ways to decorate with pumpkins all over the house or outside. I like setting one on top of a terracotta pot for the different textures.

I hung up this old window from the edge of the patio. I love the chippiness and the charm it brings to my outdoor space.

A big orange striped pillow, a soft throw, and a few pumpkins make this a cozy place to hang out.

Aren’t these mugs adorable?! I found these at #HomeGoods. They had dogs on them, so I had to get them!

The dogs enjoy being out here too!

I kept things really simple. Just adding small touches here and there.

Tucking a small pumpkin into your potted plants is a great place to add fall to your decor too.

It’s so nice to look out the window and see touches of fall. Thank you again for stopping by!

Non-Carved Pumpkin Round Up

September 27, 2019September 24, 20194 Comments

Hello! How has everyone’s week been? I took a day trip up to Yosemite with a friend of mine which was super nice and fun. We had a wonderful time up in the mountains away from the heat so it was relaxing.

This week we are showing off some really cool pumpkins that don’t require any carving. These are the kind of pumpkins I like because I absolutely despise carving. I cannot stand gutting a pumpkin so I much prefer decorating them. So here are some cute ideas if you are like me and can’t stand carving. Enjoy!

Crayon Drip Pumpkin from The Swell Designer

Confetti Pumpkin from Cloudy Day Gray

White Pumpkin with Flowers from Finding Zest

Candy Corn Pumpkin from Craft Project Ideas

Frankenstein Pumpkin from Plaid Online

Painted Pumpkins from Think Make Share Blog

Striped Pumpkins from Makely Home

Thumbprint Pumpkin DIY from Handmade Charlotte

Glow in the Dark Pumpkins from I Love to Create

Fox and Owl Pumpkins from Home on the Corner

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!