. -->
Showing posts with label neutrals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label neutrals. Show all posts

1.19.2024

a serene winter wreath

wreaths,white,DIY,home decor,decorating,winter,neutrals,diy decorating,inspired by nature,tutorial,winter wreath,re-purposed,up-cycling,foraged,january,2024,winter home decor,seasonal home decor,diy home decor.

i love a seasonal wreath, don't you?!

this simple winter season wreath
is created from remnants of an old white matlasse' bedspread
and adorned with natural elements from my yard,
reflecting the way winter looks and feels where i live.

a fabric-wrapped wreath can be made with YOUR preferences,
and i hope this one inspires you to create something you love!

continue reading for an easy tutorial...

1.12.2024

time for a change... a new 'mantel'!

home decor,decorating,winter,diy decorating,up-cycling,white,DIY,inspired by nature,foraged,neutrals,tutorial,re-purposed,painting,wall art,faux mantel,winter home decor,winter decorating,vintage-look signs.
in November 2020, i created something i had wanted for a long while:
a faux fireplace and mantel, as a photo backdrop.

using some spare lumber and white paint
i cobbled together a simple 'fireplace' and attached it to
the old wood gate that hangs on my studio wall
(my dad built it in the 80's and i swiped it when he built a new one in 2013!)

home decor,decorating,winter,diy decorating,up-cycling,white,DIY,inspired by nature,foraged,neutrals,tutorial,re-purposed,painting,wall art,faux mantel,winter home decor,winter decorating,vintage-look signs.home decor,decorating,winter,diy decorating,up-cycling,white,DIY,inspired by nature,foraged,neutrals,tutorial,re-purposed,painting,wall art,faux mantel,winter home decor,winter decorating,vintage-look signs.
this backdrop has been in constant use since then, and has worked pretty well.
there have been a few times when it has not worked well -
usually when photographing a wreath or wall art
that was too big in scale to fit in the space above the mantel.
(and those sharp dark shadows from the 'firebox' drove me mad!)

in mid-December of '23, i decided it was time for a change
and tore that faux mantel and firebox enclosure apart!
the result is very satisfying.

continue reading for more details...

1.05.2024

welcome, winter...

found objects,natural elements,DIY,seasonal,home decor,decorating,winter,original designs,tutorial,diy decorating,new year,color palettes,neutrals,
my personal word for this next year is light 
along with the many meanings that word encompasses.

 i often hear people talk about how dark winters are -
yet after we remove the holiday decor, our homes feel lighter. cleaner.
(and yes, some say emptier.) 
but do we really want to fill them up again with a lot of stuff? 
why not welcome the new year with the lightness of a refreshed home?

i'm embracing the aesthetic of lightness and simplicity this year,
as well as a renewed focus on the beauty of nature in every season.
that's going to affect the way i approach my own home decor
and by extension the content i share here to inspire you.

as i plan and create new projects for the upcoming season,
i'm asking myself questions about how i want my home to feel,
how i want to feel IN my home, and how i can inspire you
to create a home you love to live in.

continue reading to see where i'm heading...

6.14.2023

NEW! sweet sweater 'sandy' cake

summer,foofoo Faux Food,sweaters,Sweet Sweater Cake,diy decorating,DIY,home decor,re-purposed,up-cycling,trash to treasure,beach style,coastal style,neutrals,sweet sweater originals,seashells,summer home decor, fake sandcastle cake,seashell displays,tutorial.
a question i am often asked is 'where do you get your ideas from?'
i'm honestly inspired by everything! 
from the color combinations i see in nature to memories of my childhood
to objects i see that make me ask "can i make that out of a sweater?!"
i am never without ideas to investigate (which is why deb doesn't sleep....)

one of my long-time online friends from the 'way back' blogging days (early 90's)
is the most incredible cake decorator and baker i have ever seen.
Sasha (@saucybakes on IG) has a wild imagination and wicked talent,
and her creations never fail to make me
 A. hungry and B. intrigued about replicating them in my own style.

back in 2022 i was inspired by Sasha to create a cake
using sweaters, as my own 'birthday cake',
which then led to creating a faux holiday cake and a faux frosty wintery cake.

a recent post on her IG account showed a 'Little Mermaid' themed cake
with shells and sprinkle 'sand'...
so i started thinking about making a summery 'sand cake'
with a sweater and seashells and a few other elements. 

continue reading to see how i interpreted a beachy theme faux cake!

6.07.2023

sandy castles

summer,seashells,DIY,diy decorating,decorating,seasonal,beach style,coastal style,painting,just for fun,neutrals,tutorial,painted sand castles,summer mantel decor,seashell displays.
long gone are the days when i hauled four kids and a carload of toys to the beach...
the chaos was worth it to spend long summer days
on the shores of Lake Tahoe or Puget Sound,
walking the waterline searching for beautiful seashells
and building sand castles (IF there was sand and not broken seashell grapple!).
those memories live on, especially in summertime,
and i've come up with an easy way to add a fun beachy touch to summer decor.

you can create these 'sandy castles' , too -
and it might just be as relaxing as making the real thing!

continue reading to see my sneaky trick...

1.02.2023

warm new year greetings

home decor,decorating,winter,diy decorating,new year,decorating basics,white,neutrals,seasonal,winter decor,winter home decor,seasonal decor.
happy new year, my friends!
i hope 2023 finds you healthy and happy...

every year, i learn something new. sometimes MANY somethings.
and this past year, i think i could sum up what i learned as:
"sometimes, you just have to do the thing."

this winter i've added a new element to my studio, shown in the photo above -
it's a heater that looks like a wood stove, 
and it works perfectly in tandem with my fake fireplace mantel built in 2020!

i had been thinking about doing this for over a month, but put it off.
(procrastination is my biggest challenge, seriously.)
then in Mid-December the temps dropped waaaaay lower than normal,
and my studio windows frosted over.
sometimes nature gives us a lil' helping hand to get us moving.

continue reading to learn more about my solution...

9.27.2022

NEW! faux painted bamboo pumpkins

fall,pumpkins,painting,faux finish,DIY,diy decorating,tutorial,neutrals,tiki style,coastal style,beach style,Halloween,boho style,re-purposed,home decor,fall home decor,autumn home decor,painted pumpkins,pumpkin decorating,faux bamboo,bamboo decor,bamboo pumpkins.
my penchant for tropical decor and tiki culture inspired this new pumpkin project...

our So Cal home is filled with tikis and bamboo and leafy palm fabrics,
because during the pandemic lockdown we had to cancel our trip to Hawaii
and decided to just make HOME feel as much like Hawaii as we could.
and we love it!
so, i like to create seasonal decor for us that coordinates with that theme.
pumpkins that look like they are made from bamboo are a perfect fit!

continue reading for my paint tutorial...

10.26.2021

give 'em pumpkin to talk about!

fall,pumpkins,neutrals,farmhouse style,just for fun,Halloween,DIY,diy decorating,crafting,crafting with kids,dollar store crafts,seasonal,fall home decor,pumpkin decorating,decorating pumpkins,easy no-carve pumpkin decorating,pumpkin decorating for kids, stickers, dollar store ribbon,dollar store pompoms.
for my final 'Halloween' post, i'm sharing some costumes!
they're a bit different that what that word might cause you to expect...
because they are all for pumpkins!

i dressed up my white pumpkins in hats, glasses, bow ties, lacy ruffs, masks, crowns,
and one spectacular wig.
they're ready for the costume parade - and they serve as great inspiration
if you're still looking for last-minute decor ideas!


continue reading to see how i raided the costume box and dressed up my punkies!

10.19.2021

decorate pumpkins with stickers!

fall,pumpkins,neutrals,farmhouse style,just for fun,Halloween,DIY,diy decorating,crafting,crafting with kids,dollar store crafts,seasonal,fall home decor,pumpkin decorating,decorating pumpkins,easy no-carve pumpkin decorating,pumpkin decorating for kids, stickers, dollar store stickers.
Halloween is comin' up quick... 
and if you're still looking for easy ways to decorate, i've got 'em!

this pumpkin decorating method ticks all the boxes:
fast     cheap     easy    no-carve     no clean-up   kids can do it 

and the results are loads of fun, too!

continue reading for a really sneaky way to get fabulous 'last minute' pumpkins!

10.15.2021

repurposed planter pumpkins

pumpkins,outdoors,seasonal,fall,DIY,diy decorating,home decor,neutrals,farmhouse style,Halloween,junk makeover,trash to treasure,re-purposed,thrifted,up-cycling,garden art,salvaged,painting,fall home decor,Halloween decor,Halloween home decor,Halloween decorating, pumpkin decor,decorating with pumpkins,plant pot pumpkins.
i can't even say this is a 'craft' project...
it's more like an 'arrangement' project.
it's just stacking things together to make pumpkins!
SO easy - and flexible.

it will work in any color, any size, any style:
i'm into a black and white (with accents of yellow!) palette this fall,
but these would be elegant in gold & white, mod in chrome silver and white,
boho chic in terra cotta, and traditional in varied orange tones.

continue reading for the details - and more ideas!

10.12.2021

paint + paper picture frame pumpkins

art,wall art,Halloween,fall,home decor,DIY,diy decorating,painting,re-purposed,thrifted,up-cycling,paper,paper crafts,pumpkins,Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,neutrals,white,farmhouse style,trash to treasure,Halloween home decor, Halloween decorating,pumpkin decor, decorating with pumpkins,trash to treasure pumpins,junk pumpkins,painted pumpkins,black and white Halloween decor.
creating seasonal decor accents with paint and paper is my jam.
i love taking something i already have, combining it with scraps of this and that,
adding some paint, and turning it into something new
without spending a cent.

it's 'green'/eco-friendly, no-cost, easy to do,
keeps stuff from being 'stuffed' into storage boxes until it's that season again,
and it's a great way to ensure that my decor is unique and one of a kind.
i'm able to embrace current trending looks - with my own twist.
like..... yellow. yup. still doin' my yellow thing. alllll year long!

while these photos do indeed have yellow in them,
the project is graphic black and white - which is not just perfect for Halloween,
but easily incorporated into nearly any color scheme.
or, you know, altered to fit any color scheme...
you want orange? great! swap out the black for orange!
maybe you embrace all neutrals? okay! use soft sand instead of black with white.

and if 'cute' isn't your vibe, picture these made from elegant gold frames
filled with vintage book pages or wallpaper, with gold-painted wire 'stems'.
i want to inspire you to make it yours!

continue reading for details...

10.08.2021

white wire basket pumpkins

coastal style, beach style, decorating, diy decorating, re-purposing, white, DIY, vintage style, boho style, neutrals, metallics, vintage, thrifted, fall, pumpkins, fall decorating, pumpkin decor, decorating with pumpkins, diy pumpkins, wire pumpkins, fall home decor, farmhouse decor, boho chic home decor, boho chic fall decor, Dollar Tree crafts, Dollar Tree DIY.
i use a lot of containers in my studio (and home) to try to be organized.
wire baskets like these from the Dollar Tree help corral my copious stash
of craft & art supplies, and various small bits & pieces that i use and re-use in projects.

i was today years old when i looked at them and saw pumpkins instead!!!
similar to the gold wire basket pumpkins that i shared last month,
they are SO easy to make.

continue reading for the easy how-to...

9.17.2021

gold wire basket pumpkins

coastal style, beach style, decorating, diy decorating, re-purposing, white, DIY, vintage style, boho style, neutrals, metallics, vintage, thrifted, fall, pumpkins, fall decorating, pumpkin decor, decorating with pumpkins, diy pumpkins, wire pumpkins, fall home decor, farmhouse decor, boho chic home decor, boho chic fall decor, Dollar Tree crafts, Dollar Tree DIY.
 i just love finding something that can be turned into something else.
case in point: these gold metal wire baskets from Dollar Tree.
not only are they great for storage & organizing, they are also a 'raw element' for crafts.

i used four of them to create three different kinds of pumpkins,
and it was truly one of my trademark 'fast, cheap, & easy' efforts!
of course, you could do this with old galvanized wire baskets, as well.

continue reading for my easy new tutorial...

9.14.2021

faux 'kintsugi' pumpkins

coastal style,beach style,decorating,vintage style,farmhouse style,Glass Globe Pumpkins,thrifted,diy decorating,re-purposing,pumpkins,white,fall,DIY,vintage,boho style,neutrals,painting,faux finish, pumpkin decor, decorating with pumpkins, diy pumpkins,glass globe pumpkins,glass pumpkins,fall home decor,farmhouse decor,boho chic home decor,boho chic fall decor
i am always amazed by how my creative muses get my attention!
after bumping a vase and having it crash to the floor (ending up in tiny pieces),
an ancient art form came to my mind.

the 15th-Century practice of kintsugi, meaning ' to join with gold ',
is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by re-joining broken parts
with lacquer that has been mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.
the result is an elegant art form,
making the vessel stronger and more valuable than it was before breaking.

here at homewardFOUND, re-purposing and upcycling old, used, cast-off items 
is my way of embracing the same philosophy - and applying it to home decor.
giving things a second chance, a new purpose, is not only budget-friendly and 'green',
but immensely satisfying from a creative standpoint.

i've applied the kintsugi aesthetic to these pumpkins for fall decorating,
and i love the way an age-old art can look so fresh and contemporary!

continue reading to see how easily you can achieve this look, too...

9.07.2021

floral painted pumpkins

faux finish, farmhouse style, thrifted, diy decorating, Thanksgiving, pumpkins, fall, DIY, painting, boho style,neutrals, painting, colorful home,  garden art, fall, fall decorating, fall decor, pumpkins, pumpkin decor, pumpkin decorating, painted pumpkins, home decor, decorating, autumn decor, thanksgiving decor, thanksgiving, october decor, november decor, chinoiserie painted pumpkins, toile painted pumpkins, blue and white painted pumpkins, brown toile, neutral home decor, fall leaves, fall florals, fall trends 2021.
i recently went thrifting in Palm Springs
 and found some beautiful vintage china with yellow roses and gray & brown leaves.
the moment i saw them, i pictured a new version of a project that i created last fall:

 last November, i painted some of my ceramic pumpkins
with floral motifs that matched my brown English Staffordshire china collection:
faux finish, farmhouse style, thrifted, diy decorating, Thanksgiving, pumpkins, fall, DIY, painting, boho style,neutrals, painting, colorful home,  garden art, fall, fall decorating, fall decor, pumpkins, pumpkin decor, pumpkin decorating, painted pumpkins, home decor, decorating, autumn decor, thanksgiving decor, thanksgiving, october decor, november decor, chinoiserie painted pumpkins, toile painted pumpkins, blue and white painted pumpkins, brown toile, neutral home decor, fall leaves, fall florals, fall trends 2021.
they were a HUGE hit on social media (thank you all!)
and even won a creative 'pumpkin decor' challenge!
last year i also painted some mini pumpkins with the Jewel Tea 'Autumn Leaf' pattern
to match my grandma's ceramic collection.
i envisioned a similar paint treatment that would match the 'new' vintage yellow rose china,
creating the perfect additions to a beautiful fall mantel or table this year.

many people get a similar effect gluing pretty paper napkins onto pumpkins. that's ok.
but i love to paint, and i'm able to replicate the design from the plate, so i do it that way.
honestly? it's not hard. and it doesn't have to be perfect.
the end result is a very elegant fall decor accent that i made myself - and that no one else has.
  i LOVE that part!

continue reading for more details...

8.31.2021

boho chic: glass globe pumpkins

coastal style,beach style,decorating,diy decorating,re-purposing,white,DIY,vintage style,boho style,neutrals,vintage,thrifted,fall,pumpkins,fall decorating, pumpkin decor, decorating with pumpkins, diy pumpkins,glass globe pumpkins,glass pumpkins,fall home decor,farmhouse decor,boho chic home decor,boho chic fall decor
a decade ago, i created pumpkins using glass lamp globes.
i searched the innerwebs and found that nothing like them existed then,
so they are the 'originals' as far as i can tell...
i've made a few more of them over the last ten years,
and many other people have made their own versions, too! 

last month when i stumbled upon four matching white glass lamp globes at ReStore,
i decided to re-visit this project...
then paid a crazy-cheap price of just 2.00 each and brought them home.

as i looked around my studio for  various objects to become stems,
i also found a few more elements that became 'toppers' for a chic finishing touch.
all in all, i came up with five different styles of pumpkins - using the same glass globes!

continue reading to see how truly easy this diy fall decor project is!

8.27.2021

boho chic: lace-embellished pumpkins

coastal style,beach style,decorating,diy decorating,re-purposing,white,DIY,vintage style,boho style,neutrals,vintage,thrifted,fall,pumpkins,fall decorating, pumpkin decor, decorating with pumpkins, diy pumpkins,lace pumpkins, crochet lace pumpkins,fall home decor,farmhouse decor, add lace doilies to pumpkins for boho style, boho chic fall home decor
these stylish pumpkins are a combination of TWO of my past projects:
i've adorned my faux terra cotta painted pumpkins with lace,
one of them exactly as i did when i made my crochet & lace pumpkins.
[links to those below this post]

this project actually started out as a completely different idea:
i was going to PAINT white mehndi-inspired lace motifs on my faux terra cotta pumpkins.


then the heat index went haywire, deb got headaches, and it just didn't happen.
the idea to use real lace on them came to me one night - and i love the result!
it's a REALLY easy way to embellish pumpkins for a look that's trending right now.

continue reading to see how easy it is to get these effects...

8.24.2021

boho chic: crochet + lace pumpkins

coastal style,beach style,decorating,diy decorating,summer,re-purposing,white,DIY,vintage style,boho style,neutrals,vintage,thrifted,fall,pumpkins,Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,fall decorating, pumpkin decor, decorating with pumpkins, diy pumpkins,lace pumpkins, crochet lace pumpkins,fall home decor,farmhouse decor.
i love coming up with new 'takes' on my own Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,
and the two i'm sharing in this post were a fun way to give a whole new vibe to them.

a crochet textile from the thrift store and some lace curtain panels
are the perfect way to get a boho look for your fall decorating...

continue reading to see how easy these versions are to make!

8.20.2021

boho chic: floral wreath

coastal style,beach style,entertaining,decorating,diy decorating,summer,re-purposing,white,DIY,vintage style,boho style,neutrals,vintage,dollar store crafts,flowers,wreaths,farmhouse style,boho decor,boho summer decor,boho fall decor, boho wreath,door wreath,door decor
boho style is everywhere, and as pretty as it is, it can be PRICEY!
i much prefer to create something using what i have on hand already - 
which isn't just budget-friendly. it's earth-conscious, too.

this easy wreath project is a perfect accent for August... the 'golden hour' of summer.

continue reading for details on the construction + the re-purposed materials i used!

8.17.2021

boho chic: lace vases

coastal style,beach style,entertaining,decorating,weekend makeover,diy decorating,summer,re-purposing,white,DIY,vintage style,boho style,neutrals,vintage,dollar store crafts,flowers,summer home decor, boho home decor, boho crafts, boho diy.
it's easy to take inexpensive materials and turn them into a luxe look.
this pretty bohemian vase and floral arrangement are a great example...

made from two thrifted vintage cotton lace doilies and tassels,
a glass vase and two bunches of fake flowers from Dollar Tree,
arranged with wood beads and rattan wreaths that i had on hand here at home,
it gives a relaxed late-summer vibe to my office
 and also subtly fits my current yellow obsession ;) 

continue reading to see how easy it is to transform a cheap glass vase...