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Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts

8.29.2023

NEW: beach towel pumpkins!

fall,summer,tropical style,vintage style,coastal style,pumpkins,beach towel pumpkins,DIY,diy decorating,re-purposed,up-cycling,beach style,colorful home,decorating,crafting,original designs,pumpkin decorating,fabric pumpkins,tutorial.
as August comes to a close in the weirdest way possible
(a hurricane in Southern California? AND an earthquake? okay....)
i am still stretching 'summer' to the very last moment
with this new original pumpkin design...
dare i say 'it's time for beach blanket bingo'??!!

i've noodled the idea of creating pumpkins using colorful beach towels for awhile... 
first i tried to make them the same way i do my famous sweater pumpkins
but towels just don't *squish* like sweaters do - even thin ones.
 i tried a kind of 'gathered' approach - nope. still too bulky.

then one day i was scrolling Instagram,
and right there in front of me was a fantastical, incredible, creative,
 ORIGINAL and colorful new form of art that just blew my mind -
AND solved my pumpkin problem!

continue reading to see what i saw, and how i translated that into pumpkins!

7.26.2023

'Christmas in July': SanTIKI mug

summer,tiki style,beach style,coastal style,painting,DIY,diy decorating,holiday,Christmas Decor,Christmas,trash to treasure,tutorial,up-cycling,re-purposed,vintage,santa mugs,vintage santa mugs,tiki mugs,
the summer heat must be getting to me,
because i'm jumping on the 'Christmas in July' theme. 
👀 WHAT???!!!! 

truth is i've been dealing with some.... stuff... and my creativity is ebbing.
i've run out of time and frankly the energy to complete the diy projects i started.

but as i was perusing photos of past projects,
i found one that i created + photographed back in late fall 2019, but never shared it.
since it just happens to fit the 'Christmas in July' theme that we're seeing everywhere,
i've decided that NOW is the time!

(granted, it's got a summer vibe,
 but it's made out of something decidedly Christmassy... so it works!)
 
...continue reading to see how Santa became a tiki!

7.19.2023

tropical tiki transformation

beach style,coastal style,colorful home,DIY,diy decorating,home decor,on the porch,outdoors,summer,tiki style,tropical style,wreaths,painting,re-purposing,up-cycling, painted plastic tiki mask,outdoor tiki decor,outdoor decor.
our backyard in Southern California underwent a transformation back in 2020....
when the pandemic shutdown happened and we had to cancel our trip to Kauai, Hawaii,
we decided to bring Hawaii to us!
i shared some of those backyard diy projects here on the blog back then
(the bamboo tiki bar, the tiki totem pole, and others - all linked below this post).

the project i'm sharing today wasn't a planned one - 
i saw something in a store and thought 'hmnn. that COULD look really good if i....'
and so i bought the item, brought it home, and worked some magic on it with paint.

it couldn't have been easier to transform a really cheap looking tiki mask
into something with much more of our own tropical style.

continue reading to see how it started... and how it's going now!

7.12.2023

tropical front porch decor

summer,tropical style,coastal style,beach style,DIY,diy decorating,home decor,colorful home,wreaths,tiki style,outdoors,outdoor decor,summer front porch decor,tropical decor,tropical wreath,tiki culture,tiki mask,tiki decor.
i always tell people 'i see things differently'... 
that means i use elements & materials in ways they weren't intended to be used.
and i RE-use things i've created before in new ways.

this tropical look on our front porch is a perfect example!

in past posts, i've shared how i raided the garden shed for fall porch decor,
using items meant for the garden to decorate with. 
here i've used paper & bamboo party decorations...
continue reading to see what i used 'differently' to get this summer vibe...

7.05.2023

easy tropical-style light cover

tutorial,coastal style,beach style,DIY,decorating,re-purposed,diy decorating,summer,up-cycling,tiki style,lighting,tropical home decor,beach hat light cover,summer home decor.

the summer heat arrived here on June 30th,
so i've been busy completing some fun new EASY projects around our home
(which has a tropical, tiki vibe going on all year long!)
since these projects work perfectly well as 'summer' season decor content,
 i thought i'd share them here on the blog this month!
so... let's get tropical!

first up, a ridiculously EASY way to make a builder-grade light fixture
look a lot more fun for summer... in just two steps!

continue reading to see what i did!

6.26.2023

fourth of july decor roundup!

Fourth of July, summer, DIY, diy decorating, decorating, seasonal, red white and blue, patriotic decor, fourth of july decor, summer home decor, American flag, starts and stripes, independence day decor, post roundup.
 i'm being lazy right now and NOT creating any new summer decor content
for the Fourth of July.
but that doesn't mean i don't have loads of previous projects
to inspire your celebrations!

click HERE to see ALL of my past fourth of july blog posts & projects
(the first four are yellow - but they'd be perfect in red, white and blue!)

see more inspo on my
July Pinterest board

continue viewing post...

6.21.2023

display seashells in a gumball machine!

summer,beach style,coastal style,seashells,painting,DIY,diy decorating,colorful home,decorating,re-purposing,up-cycling,thrifted,beach souvenirs,seashell collections,seashell displays, gumball machine.
if you're a beach lover like me,
collecting & displaying seashells is a top summertime activity!

i've share many ideas before (linked below this post)
and now i have a different way to show off your shells
by using an unconventional container...

...continue reading for this easy paint & display project!

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...

5.31.2023

inflatable ring summer wreath

summer, wreaths, beach style, coastal style, colorful home, DIY, diy decorating, home decor, Sweet Sweater Sandbabies, re-purposing, up-cycling, tutorial, pool inner tube wreath, inflatable ring wreath, summer home decor, diy summer decor, summer door decor, summer wreath
it's finally time for some summer fun,
and i have a fun way to set the mood right at your front door - 
display a welcoming wreath made from an inflatable pool ring!

i've added one of my own Original Sweet Sweater Sandbabies TM and a sign,
but this idea lends itself to so many interpretations
i know you can round up some beach toys, pool toys, flip flops, 
and other accessories to make a one-of-a-kind wreath for your home!

continue reading for my easy tutorial...

5.26.2023

fave past summer decor projects

summer,outdoors,beach style,decorating,diy decorating,DIY,seasonal,seashells,Sweet Sweater Sandbabies,thrifted,re-purposed,up-cycling,summer decorating, summer home decor,taj ma tent,boho style.
summertime is finally here, 
so let's start the new season with some easy decorating ideas!

i've enjoyed refreshing my homes every season over the years...
 some of those projects have been successful in more than one home
as i re-create them in new versions + colorways...
from bright primary hues when my kids were young,
to a restorative neutral palette with beachy style in an 'empty nest',
to my current enjoyment of bright happy yellow & white
(and the tropical / tiki decor in greens & oranges that you don't see on the blog),
my decor choices always reflect how i want to feel at home.

over the past ten years of blogging here at homeward found decor,
i've shared hundreds of my original diy home decor projects
in 765 published posts since i launched this blog in August 2012.

if you've been reading my blog for the past decade, THANK YOU FRIENDS!
if you're a newer visitor, i hope you enjoy discovering some of my past creations
as i share a look back... 

continue reading for some of my FAVE past summer decor projects!

5.24.2023

crepe paper dandelions

spring, summer, flowers, garden art, garden style, DIY, diy decorating, paper crafts, paper, just for fun, wreaths, tablescapes, crepe paper dandelions, crepe paper flowers, tutorial.
summer's on the horizon!
with Memorial Day coming up this weekend, many parties are being planned...
from backyard bashes to pool parties to picnics in the park.
that last one gave me an idea for a tablescape/party theme
and i'm revisiting a past project as part of it.

last spring, i participated in an art challenge on Instagram,
and making a paper dandelion was one of my entries.
today i'm sharing the easy process with you, 
along with inspiration for a fun summery table decor idea!

continue reading for my easy tutorial...

3.29.2023

garden light mushrooms

spring,DIY,diy decorating,home decor,colorful home,garden,garden art,garden style,crafting,dollar store crafts,up-cycling,re-purposing,spring home decor,spring garden decor,tutorial,garden lights,mushrooms,garden light mushrooms.
this month i have shared a bunch of ideas for creating and decorating with mushrooms.
this last one is kinda' sneaked into the blog lineup...
perfect for your yard OR indoors, these mushrooms lamps
are whimsical ways to repurpose household items
while you light up your summer evenings.

continue reading to see what inspired them and my easy tutorial...

7.05.2022

summer break

this was unplanned, but is necessary:
i'm taking a break from 'content creation' for the rest of the summer.

if you care to know why, continue reading...

6.30.2022

Miss Dot goes to the county fair!

summer,just for fun,entertaining,glamping,DIY,diy decorating,vintage,vintage style, outdoors,trailers,campers,vintage trailer,vintage camper,Shasta ReIssue,Shasta trailer, lemon decor,Lemon Drop Divas,glamping decor,yellow decor,lemon decor.
the past four posts have shared some of the decor i created
for a recent 'county fair' themed camping/glamping event.

and though most of the photos i took of trailers DIDN'T turn out :(
i have a few of ours and a few shots from the event
to share as inspiration for you when you host events or go 'glamping'!

continue reading so Miss Dot can show herself (and her COUSINS!) off...

6.23.2022

county fair centerpiece

summer,entertaining,party,just for fun,trash to treasure,dollar store crafts,junking,thrifted,up-cycling,re-purposed,Fourth of July,DIY,street party fun,block party fun,backyard decor party decor,flowers,floral centerpiece,vintage milk can, tutorial
when planning for our recent campout with our Lemon Drop Divas group,
i knew i would incorporate the 'county fair' theme in our trailer decor
along with lemons and yellow - it's a thing with us ;) 

so i did what i always do - looked around my studio
and house and garage and backyard
to see what i already had that i could incorporate into the decor.
it wasn't hard to find useful items,
especially considering that i have an entire studio filled with yellow stuff i've made!

continue reading to see how it all came together...

6.16.2022

easy-peasy county fair bunting

summer,entertaining,party,just for fun,trash to treasure,dollar store crafts,junking,thrifted,up-cycling,re-purposed,Fourth of July,DIY,street party fun,block party fun,backyard decor,party decor,bunting,banners,diy bunting, diy banners, tutorial
it's not a party without some fun decor,
and this easy-peasy bunting project is perfect for summer fun!

whether you're hosting a backyard bbq, a block party, or a birthday party,
making cute pennant bunting banners doesn't have to be hard.
i hate hard. i love easy.
so i'm always trying to find the easy way to decorate!

i recently made these bunting banners and they came together really quickly -
without sewing!

continue reading, and i'll show you how...

6.09.2022

county fair award ribbons

summer,entertaining,party,just for fun,trash to treasure,dollar store crafts,junking,thrifted,up-cycling,re-purposed,Fourth of July,DIY,street party fun,block party fun,backyard games,county fair award ribbons,award ribbons,county fair summer decor, tutorial
these fancy 'county fair'-style ribbons appeared in my last post,
as accents on the 'Dime Toss' game sign and the end of the game table.

they were pretty easy to create  - and are MUCH larger than anything i could find
in stores or online. plus, they had to be yellow!
so in typical Deb fashion, i made my own
using the fabric, ribbons, and other detritus stashed in my creative studio.

do you have plans for games at a Fourth of July or summer birthday party?
these could be the perfect decor accents -
or use them as actual prize ribbons!

continue reading to see my easy tutorial...

6.03.2022

county fair dime toss game!

summer,entertaining,party,just for fun,trash to treasure,dollar store crafts,junking,thrifted,up-cycling,re-purposed,Fourth of July,DIY,street party fun,block party fun,backyard games,coin toss game,dime toss for dishes game
it's SUMMER and time to party!
and quite by accident, i just created a HIT of a party game...
when our fabulous girl camping group the Lemon Drop Divas plan an event,
we go ALL OUT. WAY over the limit. everything is themed, with coordinated decor.

a campout in May was themed 'Lemon Drop Divas County Fair'
and it was packed with references to old time fairs. 
including a midway. yep!
we were all given the opportunity to create a 'carnival games' booth
as part of our own fair midway, to enjoy with our friends.

i was stumped... until i was sorting through a bunch of stuff we had here at home
and realized 'we have a LOT of wine glasses that we don't use!'
and when that thought combined with the carnival game concept,
i had a light bulb moment.

continue reading to see how easy it is to set something like this up!

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!