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5.31.2023

inflatable ring summer wreath

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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...

5.20.2023

upcycled garden 'bee cups'

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this project may not fall within my usual 'seasonal home decor' category,
but it certainly fits my 'use what you have' philosophy!

have you heard of 'bee cups'?
created to provide a safe fresh water source for garden pollinators,
they're a hot item among naturalists and gardeners here in the West...
with our drought conditions, access to water is important to every living thing.

i've seen several versions of 'bee cups' for sale,
and one day as i was taking care of a task at home, a very simple item
(that was about to be trash) caught my eye - and this project is the result!

continue reading to see what i used (if you haven't figured it out yet!)...

5.17.2023

deb flips the bird... ?!

spring,painting,diy decorating,DIY,flowers,wreaths,just for fun,dollar store crafts,colorful home,farmhouse style,wall art,bluebird of happiness,bird decor,painted birds.
that post title doesn't mean what you might think!
some people 'flip' furniture. (actually, i've done that, too).
now i 'flip' home decor elements each season...
sometimes more than once IN a season!

and my favorite tool for changing how things look is paint.

i never let the color of an item found at a thrift store or yard sale
or even in my own storage bins limit me - 
because it's SO EASY to repaint things to make them fit my current decor style.
so when i discovered this little ceramic bird on a bottom shelf at Dollar Tree,
the very last one they had in the store,
i didn't hesitate a moment before dropping her into my shopping basket:

spring,painting,diy decorating,DIY,flowers,wreaths,just for fun,dollar store crafts,colorful home,farmhouse style,wall art,bluebird of happiness,bird decor,painted birds.
the pink color isn't BAD, it just doesn't fit my decor.
but with a few ideas and some paint, i gave her FOUR NEW LOOKS
and i created spring wreaths / wall decor for three of those!

continue reading to see how all four turned out...

5.10.2023

giant paper flowers

spring, Mother's Day, flowers, DIY, crafting, decorating, dollar store crafts, tutorial, garden style, diy decorating, paper crafts, paper, vintage paper, paper flowers, diy paper flowers.
sometimes it's just best to go BIG, you know?
i've been a retail visual merchandiser + display designer / stylist for over 45 years,
and have made a LOT of props in my lifetime...
and i learned that whether you're creating a window display
or an event display or a photo backdrop, large scale has the most impact.

making big things can get costly, tho - unless you use inexpensive materials
like paper, tissue, and repurposed/upcycled elements.

the flowers you see up above were created for use in an event entry display,
and are made from new cardstock paper -
but i've made similar ones from vintage book pages, too.
can't you just imagine flowers made out of repurposed MAPS?
old newspapers? magazine pages? gift wrapping paper?
yep, so can i!

i can also see them decorating a lovely Mother's Day brunch setting,
or as decor in a nursery or girls' room.

continue reading for a quick tutorial and loads of inspo...

5.03.2023

grandma's button flowers

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did your grandma have a button box?
mine did, and i spent many hours playing with the colorful contents as a child.
 when my Grandma Ward passed, i was given her button box.
to this day just looking at it makes me smile...

 i decided to start collecting buttons of my own to add to her tin,
so i grabbed them at garage sales and thrift stores
and sometimes even bought some from craft stores.

when i began using the buttons in home decor projects.
one of the projects i undertook was to make button flowers:
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those were made back in the early 2000's!
it's such an easy project that kids can do it, too.

continue reading for my easy tutorial...