August Inspiration: 🌴 Tropi-FALL!

I'm never really ready for summer to end... even though our summers here in Southern California have become triple-digit adventures filled with insane afternoon winds and wildfire smoke. I only venture into our sunny backyard before 7 AM and after 9 PM.

Over the past few years, I've found a way to extend my own tropical style summer decor by including a nod to autumn: Pumpkins that look tropical! By creating some with tropical style, I embrace what I call 'tropiFALL' - a slow transition from summer to autumn that will be enjoyed from August 1st through September 30th. Our heat waves last all the way into early October - then the fall decor and pumpkins get their spotlight! (If you don't know this about SoCal, our 'Locals Summer' BEGINS after Labor Day Weekend - when all of the tourists have exited the beaches and amusement parks 😉)

As always, I'm sharing these ideas to inspire you to try new things in your home decor. I hope that even if tropical style isn't your jam*, you'll see some ways to 'bridge' your summer decor with touches of autumn decor - in YOUR style, and your favorite colors...

View these ideas below without thinking you have to do exactly what I do - picture them in different colorways, with different natural materials that will work in your home, with your theme!

AUTUMN: Cathrine Holm-Inspired Painted Pumpkins

It's a bit hard to believe that this is the LAST pumpkin design for this year!
I've had fun coming up with new ideas for you.... including this one.

The inspiration for them came from the green placemats seen in the photo.
When I found those in the dollar store last month,
I fell in love with the leafy elements in the print -

and planned on using them for something ELSE!

Then I looked again, and realized why I like it!

Continue reading to see my inspiration for this project + tutorial...

AUTUMN: Faux Tree Bark Pumpkin

One of my lovely long-time readers messaged me recently,

asking if I am planning to share any specifically Halloween decor ideas this fall.

I replied privately, but will share with all of you that no, I am not.

I'm just not into Halloween anymore, even the 'cute' side of it.

Back in January 2024, I decided to focus on creating for seasons not holidays

and my content has reflected that. Yes, I DO create for Christmas!

(The 'Holidays' are the fifth season and there's no escaping it!)

My fall content focuses mostly on pumpkins (IYKYK) and leaves, 

and on bringing the beauty of the season indoors

 to enjoy from September through November.

Today's project is a new way to replicate nature: faux tree bark.

I've had fun experimenting and coming up with techniques

that you can do to re-create my project... continue reading for my tutorial!

AUTUMN: Make 'Bumpy' Pumpkins With Loopy Yarn!

I've been so dang busy lately, I haven't been able to to create ANYTHING...
but when I found a hank of loopy green yarn in my stash, I had an idea,
and in a matter of minutes two elements became pumpkins -
so here ya' go, friends!

Continue reading for an easy-peasy tutorial that will help you
make a fun version of 'warty pumpkins' using loopy yarn...

AUTUMN: 130 Pumpkin Ideas from Deb!

 
Looking for DIY pumpkin decor inspiration and tutorials?
You've come to the right place - it's Pumpkin Season at hwF! 

CLICK HERE
to see every single one of the 130 different pumpkin posts 

that I have shared here on the homeward found decor blog - since 2012!

You'll see my most recent designs inspired by Taylor Swift:

You'll find past gatherings of greens, oranges, whites,
(which I just can't get to pull up together... sorry)
  yellows, tropi-FALL, and neutral pumpkins

that I have painted, collaged, covered in fabric, glued stuff to, 
and of course made using thrifted sweaters... 

including my top three original pumpkin decor tutorials,
with my Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins:

Enjoy perusing my posts for new ideas and techniques
to help you create pumpkins that fit YOUR style and YOUR home decor!

Happy Fall, Y'all! 
~ Deb

AUTUMN: 'The Life of a Showgirl' Confetti Pumpkin

"Hi! I'm Deb... are you ready to SPARKLE?!"
Let's create the last of my four 'Showgirl Pumpkins'!

'4' has been completely re-done - AGAIN!
She has been bright warm yellow,
white with painted gold kintsugi 'cracks', 
white with brown-tone painted florals, also plain white,
and originally she was a weird orange at the thrift store.

In ALL of her 'former costumes', 4 has been lovely...
but now, she's really ready for the spotlight!

Read More for my easy tutorial....

AUTUMN: 'The Life of a Showgirl' Sequin Pumpkin

"Hi! I'm Deb... are you ready to SPARKLE?!"
Let's create the third of my four 'Showgirl Pumpkins'!

This sparkling glittering specimen was inspired by one of Taylor's outfits,
and I've combined several elements to transform a styro pumpkin
into one worthy of the spotlight!

Read More for my easy tutorial...

AUTUMN: 'The Life of a Showgirl' Graffiti Pumpkin

"Hi! I'm Deb... are you ready to SPARKLE?!"
Let's create the second of my four 'Showgirl Pumpkins'!

Using my favorite decorating tool - paint - 
I glammed up an item I already had in my stash,
which made it a pretty cheap makeover!
The only thing I bought for this was a small bottle of gold glitter glue.

Read More for my easy tutorial...

Autumn: 'The Life of a Showgirl' Sweet SPARKLE Sweater Pumpkin

"Hi! I'm Deb... are you ready to SPARKLE?!"
Let's create the first of my four 'Showgirl Pumpkins'!

And honestly, what OTHER kind of pumpkin
would you expect ME to start with - than a Sweet Sweater Pumpkin?!
Since creating the Originals way back in 2007,
I've come up with many versions of them over the years. 

This one is what I'd term an 'embellished' pumpkin,
because we're gonna' add an obscene amount of glitter to it
(along with a final detail that is SO perfect!) to make it spotlight-worthy!

Read More for my easy tutorial....

AUTUMN: 'The Life of a Showgirl' Pumpkins!

"...so, I wanted to show you something..."
 THIS is my brand new theme for this Autumn's seasonal decor:

With Taylor's new album releasing in just over a month,
I was inspired by her FUN theme + her wardrobe on the Eras Tour
to create some sparkly orange 'costumes' for my pumpkin 'showgirls'...

I've got FOUR fabulous pumpkin tutorials to share with you -
two are painted ceramic pumpkins and two are fabric pumpkins.
(and yes, of course one of them is a Sweet Sweater Pumpkin!)

Here's a quick Sneak Peek:

They're all glittery and sparkly and shimmery 
(one of them even has friendship bracelets!)
and the perfect addition to your autumn decor.
I'll be sharing four posts with four detailed tutorials,
one each Wednesday in September.

What a fun way to lead up to Taylor's album release on October 3rd!
(AND to celebrate her recent engagement to Travis Kelce!)

...even if you're not a fan of Ms. Swift, OR orange,
you can use my creations as a starting point to make your own
uniquely sparkly pumpkins. Maybe in BLACK! Or Green ;) 
(I'm stepping out of my 'Green Era' this month... but not forever!)

We'll get started on Wednesday, September 3rd...
Get ready to SPARKLE here on the blog!

pumpkins,autumn,fall,tutorial,painting,Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,colorful home,DIY,diy decorating,The Life of a Showgirl Pumpkin,re-purposed,up-cycling,thrifted,Halloween,Taylor Swift The Life of a Showgirl Pumpkins .

Tropi-FALL: Square Tiki Pumpkins

It's almost September - and that means it's PUMPKIN SEASON!

Back in August of 2020, I was BORED and came up with this fun idea for making unique tiki-style fall decor. I figured if you can paint on a pumpkin, you can paint something else to LOOK like a pumpkin.

After all, who needs plain ol' pumpkins when you can have TIKI pumpkins?!
(or - and hear me out - Disney character pumpkins or Harry Potter character pumpkins, whatever your vibe is!)

I recently realized that I've never shared them on the blog and since they fit right into my current Tropi-FALL vibe, now is a perfect time to remedy that.

Read More for an easy tutorial plus detail shots....

Ready for Tropi-FALL?!

August? Already?!

Not ready for summer to end? Neither am I!
But I can get on board with a different kind of 'summer into fall' decor...

So in this post, I'm going to re-share a roundup of my past creations that bridge the seasons of summer and fall with a beachy, coastal, tropical, tiki style vibe. I call it 'Tropi-FALL'! (And if you ARE ready for fall, you can jump right in!)

Putting them all in one post gives me a break from having to promote new blog posts each week this month, giving me space to enjoy time with friends at some fun events... because although the hot weather will last into October here, summer isn't sticking around forever. I want to enjoy it! (And yes, I'm testing out this 'one project/one post per month' method to see if it helps me with some things I have been struggling with.) 

Continue reading for a look back at four of my faves...

Thanksgiving tablescapes in green

 
i'm pulling one out of the archives today,
sharing a look back at this lovely Thanksgiving tablescape from 2014
(plus links to a few others!)

continue reading for some Thanksgiving table looks inspired by nature...

DIY flocked acorns

i have a photo of a bunch of green acorns as my screensaver,

and the luscious tones moved me to try and replicate them - in paint.

then i saw a video showing how to make a faux 'flocked' paint finish,

and i just HAD to try it!

continue reading to see how easy this one is...

modern wood bowl mushrooms

yep, i'm stubbornly holding on to the fall season over here!
our triple-digit summer temps didn't drop until Halloween week,
so i am in no rush to hurry autumn along.
(i can actually sit outside now!)

after sourcing a few wood bowls at a local thrift shop,
i wanted to make fall decor from them, and

these incredibly easy mushrooms only took ten minutes to create.
and i love the woodsy vibe they have!

continue reading for a truly simple tutorial...

happy halloGREEN!

( you had to have known that was coming! )

it's Halloween day, and no one is reading blog posts...

but i thought i'd put this up, anyway, 

to give my green pumpkins one last bit of the spotlight.

it's been fun creating new versions of past projects

along with completely new original pumpkins this fall...

continue reading for a quick recap and links to all project tutorials

NEW! Faux Pumpkin Cake

yes, Deb loves sweets - edible or not!

and since Halloween is all about the treats,

i just make my own calorie-free versions -

like faux caramel apple pumpkins and this faux pumpkin cake.

in trying to finish up my yearly 'pumpkin palooza' projects,

i had an idea for a pumpkin slathered with frosting to look like a cake,

but wasn't sure if i could make it look the way i wanted it to...

after searching online for images of 'pumpkin shaped cakes'

(click here to see what came up). 

i was scrolling Instagram and saw THIS:

but WAIT - that's not a cake. it's EMBROIDERED fabric!

artist Heather Rios is INSANELY talented at making fake look real.

she shares her astounding works of art on Insta at @heather_rios_arte

Heather's idea of showing the inside of the 'cake' 

impacted and changed my original plan -

and made me reach for a particular material in my stash

to approximate the texture she gets in her artwork.

continue reading to see how it all came together!

pumpkins made from garden clippings!?!

you've heard 'Necessity is the mother of invention' before...

it couldn't be more true of this week's pumpkin creation!

we've had a HOT summer and early fall here...

once the temps dipped *just* below triple digits,

i finally braved the heat outside and took care of some garden tasks,

including trimming the vining branches of our jasmine plants

that were reaching menacingly toward our windows!

that led to a whole new way to embrace my 'trash to treasure' ethos:

i turned my garden clippings into pumpkins!

continue reading for the details...

Faux 'Caramel Apple' Pumpkins, Take 2!

this isn't actually a 're-do' of a past project - 

it's that i had so much fun coming up with this idea

to turn a green faux pumpkin into a green caramel apple

that i think this sweet faux food creation deserves

another fifteen minutes of time in the spotlight!

i've just changed the color accents and am sharing it again!

continue reading for my original tutorial...

NEW! Sweet Sweater Apples!

one thing always leads to another 'round here....

after i turned some old green sweet sweater succulents

into green sweet sweater pumpkins (see my last post)

i had some different sweater succulents left over.

i've not only turned them into something different,

but have come up with yet another sweater creation"
Sweet Sweater Apples!

continue reading for details and a quick tutorial...