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Showing posts with label tutorial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tutorial. Show all posts

11.01.2024

modern wood bowl mushrooms

autumn,fall,Thanksgiving,pumpkins,farmhouse style,rustic style,woodsy style,mid century modern style,DIY,diy decorating,seasonal,up-cycling,re-purposing,modern wood mushrooms,shrooms,mushrooms,tutorial,thrifted
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...

10.31.2024

happy halloGREEN!

pumpkins,Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,foofoo Faux Food,painting,tutorial,DIY,diy decorating,fall,autumn,seasonal,Halloween,colorful home,home decor,ping pong paddle pumpkins,caramel apple pumpkins,fake pumpkin cake,shroomkins,
( 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

10.24.2024

NEW! Faux Pumpkin Cake

pumpkins,beach towel pumpkins,fall,autumn,seasonal,DIY,diy decorating,tutorial,foofoo Faux Food,painting,re-purposed,up-cycling,thrifted,home decor,faux pumpkin cake,beach towel 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!

10.17.2024

pumpkins made from garden clippings!?!

tutorial,pumpkins,inspired by nature,fall,autumn,DIY,diy decorating,garden style,farmhouse style,dollar store crafts,natural elements,sage leaf pumpkins,from the garden.

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...

10.10.2024

Faux 'Caramel Apple' Pumpkins, Take 2!

pumpkins,foofoo Faux Food,autumn,fall,DIY,diy decorating,seasonal,dollar store crafts,painting,take 2,faux caramel apple pumpkins,tutorial
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...

10.03.2024

NEW! Sweet Sweater Apples!

tutorial,fall,autumn,DIY,diy decorating,pumpkins,Sweet Sweater Originals,Sweet Sweater Apples,sweaters,Sweet Sweater Season,Sweet Sweater Succulents,re-purposed,thrifted,up-cycling, fall apple decor.
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...

9.26.2024

Make My Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins + Succulents!

Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,Sweet Sweater Succulents,Sweet Sweater Originals,pumpkins,take 2,fall,autumn,DIY,diy decorating,home decor,tutorial,sweaters,up-cycling,re-purposed,thrifted,original designs,.
every autumn, i get a huge uptick in blog traffic
searching for my Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkin tutorial.

they're a fun bit of seasonal decor that i am proud of creating back in 2007,
they've been published in major shelter magazines a few times,
and i love that people want to make their own versions of my babies!

every year i make new versions of them, and create a new post
just to make it easier for the tutorial to be found.
and yes, this year, i have green pumpkins!
but i didn't make them this year... i RE-made them.
because they weren't originally pumpkins...

back in 2019, i created my Original Sweet Sweater Succulents,
using my 2007 Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkin method...
Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,Sweet Sweater Succulents,Sweet Sweater Originals,pumpkins,take 2,fall,autumn,DIY,diy decorating,home decor,tutorial,sweaters,up-cycling,re-purposed,thrifted,original designs,.
this year, i've made two simple changes to them
to turn them into pumpkins!

continue reading to see how easy this was...
and for links to both tutorials. 

9.19.2024

Ping Pong Paddle Pumpkins, Take 2!

pumpkins,painting,autumn,fall,DIY,diy decorating,tutorial,take 2,re-purposed,up-cycling,thrifted,ping pong paddle pumpkins.

yes, I'm still over here re-imagining alla' my pumpkins!
this time, i dug into some boxes and found a past project
that's been on my mind...


i originally made the ping pong paddle pumpkins in 2019
(i'm linking the original post & tutorial below)
and it just felt like time to find them 
and give them a fresh new look - in green!

continue reading to see how they looked before,
and how easily i changed them...
(because i bet you have something you could do this to!)

9.12.2024

'Shroomkins, Take 2!

seasonal,home decor,DIY,diy decorating,tutorial,inspired by nature,re-purposed,up-cycling,project makeovers,'shroomkins,green mushrooms.
how many times have you stared into a seasonal decor storage bin
and thought "This stuff just isn't ME anymore"?? it happens to all of us!
preferences and style change over time,
but that doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune on new decor.

this year, i'm giving some of my existing fall decor elements
a new look that fits my current style - without spending any money.
i'm calling this approach 'Take 2'!

i first made these fun " 'shroomkins" back in 2022
by cutting styro pumpkins in half and adding stems made from pool noodles.
and of course, i painted them yellow back then:

seasonal,home decor,DIY,diy decorating,tutorial,inspired by nature,re-purposed,up-cycling,project makeovers,'shroomkins,green mushrooms.
then i used my photo editing program to show them in other hues:



now, two years later and in my 'green era' (Deb's Version ;) ) 
i wanted to give them a new look. enter 'Take 2'!

continue reading for details of the new version...

9.05.2024

Easy Yarn & Twine Pumpkins

autumn,pumpkins,seasonal,DIY,diy decorating,home decor,neutrals,re-purposed,up-cycling,crafting,dollar store crafts,twine and yarn pumpkins,homeward found decor,tutorial
fall has not yet 'fallen' here in Southern California,
 but it's definitely pumpkin season for me!

first up, i'm sharing this incredibly easy way
to turn everyday items into pumpkins for your autumn decor...
these were made using yarn / twine skeins and thread spools.

i've embellished them a bit using elements
that go along with the 'sewing/knitting supply' theme
because i just can't leave well enough alone - 
yet there is NO sewing or knitting needed for this project!

continue reading to see how to make these in just minutes...

8.08.2024

Published! Farmhouse Style Magazine Fall Issue

fall,autumn,Country Sampler Farmhouse Style Magazine,farmhouse style,pumpkins,Glass Globe Pumpkins,original designs,DIY,diy decorating,seasonal,decorating,home decor,re-purposing,thrifted,published,tutorial
after a prolonged summer break, i'm back to share some happy news:
a new version of my original 'glass globe pumpkins' has been published!

you'll find the new versions above in the Fall 2024 Issue
of Country Sampler's Farmhouse Style Magazine

continue reading for a peek at the magazine
and an easy tutorial for making your own versions...

5.31.2024

easy upcycle: spice bottle bud vase

decorating, DIY, diy decorating, re-purposed, re-purposing, spring, thrifted, tutorial, up-cycling, vintage, vintage style, home decor, trash to treasure, bud vases, vintage spice bottle bud vase.
one last post before i take a break for the month of june...
 this 'discovery' came one DAY after my last blog post,
which was all about using bottles as flower vases. 
(i'm consistently a day late to the party)

this project will be a perfect way to enjoy our roses all summer long!

continue reading for an easy-peasy upcycle diy...

5.17.2024

vintage bowl mushrooms!

spring,DIY,diy decorating,decorating,colorful home,re-purposed,thrifted,vintage,vintage style,farmhouse style,vintage bowl mushrooms,diy vintage bowl mushrooms,tutorial.

this project may not 'bowl you over' (geeze, i'm old)
but i hope it will inspire you to use things differently in your home decor.
in this case, i've gathered up some kitchen items
to create spring decor elements that work in many other places.

continue reading for the easy tutorial...

5.10.2024

paint a faux 'rusted' metal mailbox

decorating,vintage style,farmhouse style,thrifted,colorful home,diy decorating,up-cycling,spring,re-purposing,DIY,painting,vintage,tutorial,re-purposed,faux rusty metal paint finish,paint tricks,faux finish,faux rust paint effects.
after sharing an epic paint fail (and a fix!) in my last post,
i thought i should share another paint project - one that went WELL!

decorating,vintage style,farmhouse style,thrifted,colorful home,diy decorating,up-cycling,spring,re-purposing,DIY,painting,vintage,tutorial,re-purposed,faux rusty metal paint finish,paint tricks,faux finish,faux rust paint effects.
inspired by this photo of a rusty green vintage metal mailbox on Instagram
(courtesy of  @thecollecteddesign on Instagram),
i grabbed a small vintage metal mailbox that i had found at a yard sale
and transformed it into a more beautiful mailbox - using paint.

yeah, i'm THAT kind of crazy, attempting this after a big mess!
but thing is - it worked. and it didn't just WORK, it worked out AMAZINGLY!

so, i'll share the steps i used to 'age' an already vintage mailbox -
including one of my 'top secret' (until now) faux finish tricks.

continue reading for all the details...

5.03.2024

welcome to an epic crafting fail. and a fix!

spring,garden art,garden style,painting,tutorial,DIY,diy decorating,decorating,home decor,wall art,colorful home,makeover,refresh a metal garden sign with paint.

prepare yourselves, friends... 
this project was actually going to be included as a photo prop in my 'posie pots' post.
and then everything that COULD go wrong WENT wrong.

so it wasn't included, and it's taken some time and effort
to reverse the damage and proceed with the project as intended.
ah, the joys of creating LOL! this is what you DON'T see on social media!

i've decided to feature it in its very own post
because this stuff happens - and for those who don't create a lot all the time,
it's helpful to know that 'ruined' does not equal 'toss it in the bin'.
there's usually always a way to save a project gone wrong!

continue reading to see the before, the scary during, and the after...

4.26.2024

terra cotta pot mushrooms

spring,garden art,garden style,re-purposed,up-cycling,DIY,diy decorating,outdoors,boho style,farmhouse style,garden,dollar store crafts,neutrals,tutorial,terra cotta pot crafts,terra cotta pot mushrooms,terra cotta pots.

my favorite seasonal decor is the kind that happens
when i'm just playing around with things in my studio - and an idea hits me.
i love using things in ways OTHER than how they were intended to be used,
both indoors and out.

these terra cotta pot mushrooms are one of the easiest things i've made,
and they are a perfect spring accent for your home AND garden spaces.

continue reading for an insanely easy tutorial to make your own versions!

4.19.2024

vintage floral jewelry 'posie pots'

spring,DIY,diy decorating,crafting,re-purposed,up-cycling,inspired by nature,garden style,vintage style,vintage,terra cotta pots,decorating,thrifted,vintage finds,posie pots,spring flowers,spring home decor,spring decor,vintage floral enamel jewelry,tutorial
the old saying is 'April showers bring May flowers'...
but i'm ready for flowers NOW!

i call these 'posie pots', and the idea for them bloomed
when one of my memories met with a few images on Instagram - 
i'm sharing those sources in the post below, and a tutorial
so you can make your own spring decor or maybe a Mother's Day gift
 from vintage enamel floral pins!

continue reading for all of the details...

4.12.2024

terra cotta pot wreath

spring,wreaths,diy decorating,DIY,tutorial,inspired by nature,natural elements,neutrals,garden style,wall art,terra cotta pot wreaths,flower pot wreaths.

yes, this project IS a 're-share'!
as i made this wreath for my 2023 'Terra Cotta Christmas' theme,
i did so planning to share it again this spring...

it just captures all the spring 'feels' SO well 
and has endless possibilities for embellishment each season - 
which is really what homeward found decor is all about.

friends, you don't need a whole new set of decor accents each season!
and you certainly don't need to shop for all new stuff...
and bins to store more and more and more stuff.
make your own decor and create a home you love to live in.

continue reading for my tutorial...

4.05.2024

NEW: Sweet Sweater Sprouts!

spring,Sweet Sweater Originals,Sweet Sweater Sprouts,sweaters,garden style,DIY,diy decorating,decorating,home decor,seasonal,re-purposing,up-cycling,inspired by nature,faux potted plants,tutorial
i know. i said that i really wanted to create seasonal home decor that wasn't CUTE. 
but my muses keep giving me ideas for CUTE projects. 
at THREE in the morning. sigh.
the muses have no regard for our schedules -
 they want what they want WHEN they want it.
so when deb can't sleep, deb sketches. and the muses inspire.

and so, i proudly present
my NEWEST 'Sweet Sweater Original' creation: 'Sprouts'!

perfect for springtime and cute as can be,
these lil' guys make me smile. and they couldn't be easier to create...
continue reading for my tutorial!

3.29.2024

simple paper strip nest

spring,Easter,nests,paper,paper crafts,vintage paper,crafting,crafting with kids,DIY,diy decorating,re-purposing,up-cycling,trash to treasure,create a paper nest for Easter,tutorial.
how did we get to the end of MARCH already?!!

this last post for the month - though certainly not my last spring project - 
was a thought that occurred to me as i was working on my
new 'Sweet Sweater Nest' creations late last month (post linked below)...

this nest is made using the same basic method as the sweater nest,
but with a different material: paper strips.
i've chosen to use some of my 'painted paint chip paper' strips to make mine - 
remember back in 2020 when my theme was paint chip crafts ALLL year long??!

to fit your own style, this project could easily be done using vintage sheet music,
elegant gift wrapping paper, or even colorful comic pages.
it's a fun way to up-cycle any paper you have on hand!

continue reading for a great last-minute spring project
PLUS a tip for filling your Easter baskets easily!