2.27.2023
thrifted knit beanie mushrooms
1.30.2023
'gilded' hearts
while the majority of people i see on social media are rushing to Target
for the release of new items every season and holiday,
i'm over here digging thru bins in my garage and studio
to find things i can revitalize and reuse to decorate my home.
case in point: these painted hearts.
so i pulled these out and found two ways to try out my idea.
it cost me nothing at all! i had everything i needed on hand already.
and i didn't need any more storage space to keep a new project in!
(can you imagine if i kept every.last.project. i have ever made???
i'd have far more bins and boxes and shelves filled than i already do.
i'd have spent a lot more money, too!)
continue reading to see how i got these effects...
11.15.2022
salvaged wire fan fall wreath
8.15.2022
Deb's top three pumpkin tutorials
Sweet Sweater Pumpkins
Faux Concrete Painted Pumpkins
Glass Globe Pumpkins
6.23.2022
county fair centerpiece
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.
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
6.09.2022
county fair award ribbons
6.03.2022
county fair dime toss game!
and quite by accident, i just created a HIT of a party game...
5.12.2022
what's your inspiration board style?
i've shared some flowers that i've created with paper.
well, there's something else i've done with paper for many MANY years -
i make pinboards / bulletin boards / inspiration boards
and fill them with all kinds of paper detritus that i've collected
over several decades.
they serve as not only inspiration and a way to corral my 'vision',
if you are a left-brain creative or a right-brain creative!
the houzz article has a LOT of visual inspo, too!
4.28.2022
happy May Day flowers
4.14.2022
the old rugged cross
and in the background of a few shots you saw a small collection of wood crosses.
today, i'm focusing on those and how they are made from 'everyday' materials.
Easter arrives in just a few days, and it is one of the most important days of the year to me.
my faith is built on the miraculous events celebrated on this day centuries ago,
and my hope resides in the promises God made about what it all means for the future.
Easter is also the day that my sweet Dad went home to Heaven seven years ago,
just as the sun was rising and beaming through the windows onto his peaceful face...
a precious reminder about what is really important in this life.
having a cross (or collection of crosses) in my decor is important to me,
and i love being able to make them unique and personal.
i hope these ideas inspire you!
continue reading for details...
3.17.2022
repurposed bottle brush carrots
an item at the store i was in reminded me of something i had used before,
(which is what my approach to decorating is all about!)
when i arrived home, i dug out the components in excitement,
ready to 'hop to it' (see what i did there?!) and get this project done.
it took me all of ten minutes to make these cute lil' veggies!
1.20.2022
show 'em some love!
this project didn't make the blog last winter
and since I'm not currently making new things,
I thought I'd share it for your Valentine's Day inspiration!
we've all become familiar with offering a little 'thank you' to the many service people
who deliver food and goods to our homes - especially during a pandemic.
our isolation is made more comfortable by them bringing us what we order online.
last year, I created one with a Valentine theme
from an old wall mailbox, all 'shooszhed' up with hearts
to express my gratitude to our USPS, UPS, FedEx, and Instacart delivery people...
continue reading to see how!
11.22.2021
Sweet Sweater Nativity
i've made a lot of things this year,
and this project ended up being my very favorite one.
i've selected it as my very first 'official' holiday decor post
because for me, this is the 'reason for the season' -
observing and celebrating the birth of Jesus.
it is at the foundation of my faith, and fills my soul with joy.
this project began with the beautiful blown glass art of artist Helle Mardahl...
i was so inspired by the luminous colors and soft forms of her art in photos on Instagram
and they immediately made me think of human forms.
i turned a few small ceramic vessels and some tiny tree ornaments
into a charmingly sweet and simple nativity scene that reflects her art.
after i added sweater scraps to the mix, i HAD to call this a 'Sweet Sweater Nativity'!
continue reading for the very easy details...
11.08.2021
honeycomb paper mushrooms!
10.29.2021
last-minute 'pumpkin party' decor
here's an example of the crazy ways things connect in my brain:
while in the process of cleaning up my studio
(an Herculean task, let me tell you....)
i found a plastic bag filled with some yellow paper party supplies
that i had picked up while out thrifting - and promptly forgot about!
the paper goods were immediately removed from the bag,
so i wouldn't forget about them again - i'm in that drawer at least once a day.
just hours later, i scrolled through social media and saw a photo of a big fat bow,
thought 'that's cute', and kept scrolling. then i stopped.
in my mind, the big fat cute bow merged with the paper party supplies,
and became 'a pumpkin party' in my imagination...
pumpkins bedecked with ribbons and bows in a 'party' setting.
the combination of the two - plus some stickers and more party decor -
turned out cheerful, happy, and so easy to create
and it took me just minutes to assemble the vignette shown above...
which makes it a PERFECT last minute decor idea,
and a great 'no carve' pumpkin decorating project for kids.
continue reading for the details...
10.26.2021
give 'em pumpkin to talk about!
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!
10.22.2021
harvest moon shadow box
10.19.2021
decorate pumpkins with stickers!
10.08.2021
white wire basket pumpkins
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...