Wreathful Thinking

Getting into the holiday spirit is so much about finding out about new and interesting crafting ideas. How else would our families and friends receive such great gifts? Right?

For a while now, I have been wanting to do a wreath made out of paper.

Some have done it with old books or sheet music....even the phone book.

While doing some research, I picked some favorite sites that I am using as resources.



Jenna DeAngeles

I like the YouTube video, "How to Make a Door Wreath from Antique Books" by Jenna DeAngeles.
Informative, and fun....in fact, you can pass a lot of time watching all the different YouTube videos on this subject while rolling all your pages!
 

Nesting Place

Nesting place blog had a cool link party, "You Made a Wreath Out of What?" The wreath above was made out of pages from an old book.

Funky Junk Interiors

A link from the party, to Funky Junk Interiors, led to a gorgeous, layered wreath made from sheet music.

So lately, while out junking, I have been trying to be on the look out for different paper items that would work for a wreath.

 
I found a Sears Fall 1900 mini catalog reprint made in the 70's.

 

 

I thought the images might make a great vintage looking wreath.

I also found an old atlas with great colors.

 

 

So I'm gonna see what I can come up with and hopefully I can show some good lookin' results later on. Wish me crafty luck!



PUMPKINS SURE TO PLEASE

 

 

 

FALL GARDEN



I hope everyone is enjoying fall as much as I am! After four years in the making, I am now able to sit on the front porch and appreciate the colors in my fall garden.


 





ISPIRING FALL COLORS


The backdrop of turning leaves provides a great contrast to the still-blooming, bright red pineapple sage and the giant mums.

Now that all my laboring garden chores have been completed over the years, I can now focus on actually decorating for fall and Halloween.

I am especially excited about all the variety that is now bred into pumpkins and gourds.

PUMPKINS IN THE GARDEN


A miniature hay bale, some leaf and berry accents, and a thrift store crate are the perfect setting for this quartet of different sizes and shapes.

It really pops against the bright green backdrop of creeping jenny, strawberry vines, and hostas. It is also a welcoming sight at the beginning of a small slate path.

PUMPKIN AND GOURD VARIETIES


These colorful guys keep me company next to my garden bench. The color helps the lack of sunlight and monotones of this side of the garden.

VINTAGE CHILD'S ROCKING CHAIR


The vintage child's rocking chair is so charming with its little occupant. This little guy is my favorite.

FRONT PORCH HALLOWEEN VIGNETTE


After decorating outside, I couldn't shake my pumpkin fever! I convinced myself that I should be allowed to buy inexpensive plastic or foam pumpkins at thrifty prices.

I found some at an estate sale....a giant box of mini pumpkins and fall floral sprays for only $3. I put the better, decorative ones in my booths at the antique mall, and kept the split and broken ones for myself.

METALLIC SPRAY PAINTED PUMPKINS


I used gold metallic spray paint and some gold "webbing" spray to cover the cracks.

METALLIC PUMPKIN VIGNETTE


The Target dollar bins were another great resource for my Great Pumpkin adventure. The metallic pumpkin was really bright and clashed with the other accents so I ombre'd it with a little hammered copper spray paint and some gold webbing spray paint.

The gold webbing, gives the surface a fitting, funky texture perfect for Halloween.

HALLOWEEN MANTLE VIGNETTE

GOLD WEBBING SPRAY PAINT AFFECT

I also found some inexpensive foam pumpkins that I sprayed with hammered gold paint and added accents of leaves and moss bought at the dollar store.

HAMMERED GOLD PAINTED PUMPKIN

DOLLAR STORE FALL DECORATING ACCENTS


Even though I have never really decorated for fall or Halloween, the family usually concocts elaborate scenes for the trick-or-treaters. This year's theme is a haunted dinner. So I continued my new pumpkin addiction in the horrific scene that is my tablescape.

METALLIC DOLLAR BIN PUMPKINS FROM TARGET

HAUNTED DINNER TABLESCAPE

I glued candlesticks from Goodwill to the bottom of the pumpkins to add depth to the tablescape and accented the pumkins with plastic snakes, glittered spiders, and black feathers.

(I just knew that JoAnn Fabrics would have black feathers!) I bought the multiple stem feathers and pulled them apart. It was less expensive than buying the individual pieces.

CANDLESTICK PUMPKINS


Who knew pumpkins could be so fun? (everyone on Pinterest) I feel like I was really missing out, but surely I have made up for it! Oh well, there is always next year!

 



MARTHA STEWART HALLOWEEN KNOCK OFF





MARTHA STEWART GRANDIN ROAD CATALOG


The Grandin Road Halloween Catalog is always my ultimate inspiration for Halloween DIY crafts. I think Martha Stewart designs so much cool stuff! If I could indulge and buy it all, I would!

But alas, I cannot. Therefore, I try to do most of it myself.

DIY SPIDER WEB WRAPPED BODY


Begin with desired length of white plastic pipe.

Drill holes at one end if you want yours to hang upside down.

Bundle white plastic bags around pipe in the shape of a body and tape.

Wrap body in gauze and then cobwebs.

Add spiders.

Too easy!

Besides Martha Stewart and Grandin Road, Pinterest is definitely an awesome place to get plenty of spooky and crafty ideas.

 


 

 



FRANKENSTEIN DOORWAY AT MEL DESIGNS

 

Because I have a green door, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to copycat this funky Frankenstein via Mel Designs.

 

PINTEREST INSPIRED VIA MEL DESIGNS

 

And. of course, there is the thrill of the hunt by dumpster diving or scouring thrift stores and the dollars stores.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TARGET DOLLAR BIN



So there are many options and inspirations out there for finding anything Halloween from cute to downright creepy!

 

Happy Halloween!

 

And happy hunting!





GRIM REAPER REAPPEARS FOR HALLOWEEN 2012

 

 

 

 

HOMEMADE HALLOWEEN GRIM REAPER

 

 

Hello, Mr. Reaper! So glad you will be joining us again this year!  I see you have chosen the front peak of our roof to rest your dreadful head.

 

 

Hopefully, you are enjoying your frightful new existence as a macabre entity as opposed to  your former life as our shower curtain rod.

 

 

 

NEW LIFE FOR AN OLD MASK


Bundles of plastic taped to a shower curtain rod support the head wearing an old mask and body of fabric. Fabric was ripped instead of cut primarily. Sheer and black fabric is secured by zip ties.



 





WANNA "HANG OUT" WITH ME ON HALLOWEEN?


He won't be missing any trick-or-treaters from this vantage point. He is watching and waiting........for you! Ah ha ha ha ha! (Evil laugh)


And just to make sure you are seen from miles around, a spotlight for the man of the hour....the midnight hour!



 

WATCHING AND WAITING-DIY GRIM REAPER

Early Bird Gets the Junk

I got up early but stayed local this weekend to attend the second day of an "Estate Sale by David" in Mechanicsville, VA.

David has been having some awesome sales where you can pile up your finds and get a super deal!

Granted, the last time, at a "David" sale,  I was in a dark attic (that was bigger than my whole house) which was hotter than a sauna! Of course I just pretended like I was at the spa while finding treasures....what a fantasy!

Saturday's sale didn't have an overstuffed attic, but there was a two story barn that was an adventure in rust, cobwebs, and dust galore!

Estate Sale Finds

Nothing had a price on it in the barn. Now that's my kinda sale because you can bargain if needed.

Between the estate sale and a couple of other garage sales, I forked over a grand total of $45. Not too shabby and way below budget....my husband loved that!

Vintage Metal Register

Sometimes I actually have a plan and a wish list in my head...especially after checking out preview pics on a estate sale company website or estatesales.net.

This time, I bought some things that had nice lines and potential for crafting at a later date. My favorite thing was the vitage metal register. It could go in the garden for visual effect or be used to hang earrings on, for example.

Vintage Sewing Table Drawers

These sewing table drawers were previously claimed. Boy was I bummed! But, when we, myself and super junk hunter friend, Melanie, were outside the barn, she spotted them sitting on the ground!

Industrial Gears and Shelves

Usually I buy items to refinish for my home or antique mall booths, but I am branching out and adding some rusty industrial items in the mix. I like the gears and shelf for using in vignettes.

Two little Frenchie tables caught my eye on a drive by yard sale. It was getting later in the day and I was able to bargain a lower price. SOLD!

They are petite and short, but when side by side, I think they are a alternative to a long, one-piece coffee table. I finished them with Valspar antiquing glaze and took them to the antique mall today. (Through the Garden Gate Antiques in Mechanicsville, VA)

Antique Hardware on Shutters

How many shutter ideas are on Pinterest? Millions?! I couldn't resist the pair of shutters with the rustic hardware.

Retro Replogle Globe

So where in the world did you thrift this weekend?

As always, happy hunting!