Pumpkin Topiary

I have been wanting to make a Fall topiary for years. I always thought of them just as a Fall decoration and never wanted to go to the effort for just a couple weeks. This year I decided to do a combo Halloween and Fall topiary......

I had a garden urn that I sprayed black and I used an iron stake to hold the pumpkins (faux pumpkins).  I did put some rocks in the bottom to stabilize it as well.

I added this vase/candle holder and stuffed some plastic bags in the hole to hold it better.  I made stencils on plain paper and filled the letters in with a sharpie. A little spanish moss and viola' Halloween topiary!

Now the best part....simply turn the pumpkins around and add some Fall leaves and instant Fall topiary!

Join the party at Centsational Girl!

Halloween Decor

October is finally here! I love this time of year and am so happy Autumn is in the air.  We kicked off the weekend by decorating for Halloween. I never used to be so ahead of the game,  but my daughter loves to decorate for Halloween, in fact, if I agreed she would start in August.

Our first of many projects this year was super easy! Spider web luminaries, made from what else....placemats!

My trusty assistant prepared the placemats (she removed the price tags)

We simply hot glued them to these glass cylinders from a summer project

...and instant creepy Halloween luminaries. Trust me they are much creepier at night with the candles lit...I just forgot to take a picture.

The lil guys in the front are from last year. I bought web ribbon at the Dollar Store, hot glued it and the googly eyes.

a few of our other projects from years past....

I couldn't find a runner that I likes so bought some great fabric,ribbon and trim from JoAnn's. Luckily black is very forgiving....you can't see how awful my sewing is. (oh and it is long enough I just pulled it up to show the detail)

Lots more to come, we've been very busy.  What have you been up to?

Vintage Frame Magnet Board

Greeetings! I have been beyond busy with our kitchen/family room make-over (reveal coming soon) as well as all of my other projects. Here is just a quick one.  I have a thing for frames, especially, vintage ones. As I've been going to room to room I've been collecting all of my unused/no longer being used frames and let me tell you...I never need to buy another frame!

Here is a quick and easy project for a favorite frame.

I painted it using my fav Rust-oleum gloss black and then cut a sheet of galvanized tin to fit inside. For a little extra something I added the crown decal.

This lives inside our pantry.

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70's Trash to Guest Room Chic

I don't know where the time goes...I bought this piece for $50 from a local thrift store back in April and just finished it in the last couple days!  It took me forever to finish the last details, but I think it was worth the wait (well that's how I'm justifying my procrastination)

Aside from the finish I really like the hardware- it has character

After a couple coats of Zinser Primer I painted her with Rust-oleum Blossom White in satin. I sprayed the hardware with Rust-oleum Nickel.

I added a fabric bulletin boards to the inside as well as labels for the drawers.  We have lots and lots of guests (Mom is coming tomorrow) so I wanted to provide extra storage for them as well as guest supplies (more on that soon).

Look closely and you can see Finley on the bed ;-)

I painted the inside of the drawers Martha Stewart Cobblestone (left over from an earlier project)

You might recognize the liner - it's the Allen + Roth Wallpaper from this project.

I think my husband and maybe a few of my friends were really doubtful about this transformation....

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Lantern Makeover

Just a quick re-do today. I loved the look of this lantern, just not the color. 

I removed the glass panels and sprayed with Rust-oleum Glossy Black (oh how I love spray paint!)

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French Inspired Outdoor Buffet

Hello! We had a fabulous summer filled with travel, fun and of course DIY projects. I enjoyed my break but am so happy to be back in Blog Land!

What better way to jump in than with a trash to treasure.....

Last week while dropping off a bunch of stuff at my local Goodwill, I popped in and look what I found...the perfect cabinet (beautiful outdoor buffet in waiting).

even better was the price...$12.99.  Originally marked for $16.99 - how could I afford not to buy it (my hubby hates that logic!)

It was in shabby condition but solid wood - why do kiddos love putting stickers on furniture?

Nothing a little elbow grease couldn't fix.  I knew I wanted to try glazing this - so many of you are doing it and I really wanted to give it a try.  I used Behr cool mist in flat exterior. The Minwax Old Oak.  

I love it! Is it possible to be in love with a piece of furniture....well I am.

Just look at the storage....citronella candles, outdoor paper lights, dog toys, an extra blanket to get cozy on chilly evenings, and on and on. Can't decide if I want to glaze the inside.....should I or shouldn't I? What do you think?

It also gives us extra room for food and drinks during parties.

A few other thrifty treasures...

Vintagesque bottle - $3.99

Small metal urn - $1.99

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Fourth of July Decor

O.K. So I am a day late (well several days late and a dollar short) I'm on vacation and was having some issues trying to post using my iPad. I'm borrowing my brother's computer for now. 

I've never really decorated much for the 4th, but this year my daughter really wanted to so I tried to come up with some inexpensive and quick projects for us.  I love to create things that we can use over and over each year.

First up...a couple of table cloths. Both are made using drop cloths from Lowe's.  Very helpful assistant.

I used fabric paint on this one.

I was running short on time so decided to just spray paint this one...and I taped the star design instead of drawing with a pencil...so much faster!

Now on to the reaming decor...

Dollar Store ribbon that we glued glitter stars to.

Brown metal stars that I had on hand but never used....quick spray paint job

My easy take on red white and blue with stuff I l already had and an inexpensive bunch of carnations.

More Dollar Store ribbon and a couple bags of red hots

White chocolate candy lollipops...

..and finally a lovely dessert from my friend (shout out Karen)

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