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...

Make My Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins + Succulents!

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...

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. 

Ping Pong Paddle Pumpkins, Take 2!

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i originally made the ping pong paddle pumpkins in 2019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!)

'Shroomkins, Take 2!

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:

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...

Easy Yarn & Twine Pumpkins

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...

Published! Farmhouse Style Magazine Fall Issue

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...

how to find my summer content

i'm currently on a blogging break, so this is a reminder:
 you can still enjoy ALL of my existing summer content!

please click on the green links below to access my content online:

on this blog:

summer posts + tutorials

4-part thrifty tropical decor makeover

Pinterest boards: 

summer decor  .  outdoor decor

june  .  july  .  august 

Instagram

there is also content linked in my blog sidebar >>>
if you are viewing on a mobile device,
scroll down and click 'view web version' to see the sidebar!

i hope you are enjoying your summer, too!
i'll be back soon...
deb

easy upcycle: 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...

vintage bowl mushrooms!

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...

paint a faux 'rusted' metal mailbox

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!

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...

welcome to an epic crafting fail. and a fix!

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...

terra cotta pot mushrooms

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!

vintage floral jewelry 'posie pots'

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...

terra cotta pot wreath

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...

NEW: Sweet Sweater Sprouts!

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!

simple paper strip nest

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! 

create a living nest

i thought this project up months ago and am so happy to finally share it!

this 'living nest' idea was spurred by a photo i saw online:

my thought was, why not take the 'living wreath' topiary

and turn it on its side?! would it resemble a nest?

so then i had to experiment a bit to see if that idea would work out in reality. 

continue reading to see how it did!

easy-peasy twine nest

i dropped a ball of twine on the floor in my studio, it unraveled...

and this nest was the result!

i love it when something happens that makes me look at a material

in a new way, with a new use in a new seasonal accent.

and this one couldn't have been easier!

wanna' turn a ball of dollar store twine into a nest in less than five minutes?

continue reading! 

faux spring leaves made from ribbon

my last post included these leafy branches

that aren't leafy branches at all!

the trees in my yard haven't yet put on spring buds or leaves,

so i had to find a way to turn some bare branches into props for photos...

i've done that before with paper flowers and paper leaves,

but this time i used a different material to make the leaves:

thick satin ribbon saved from gift baskets.

they turned out SO much more realistic than i had anticipated,

and i'm thrilled to share this idea with you!

continue reading for the easy tutorial...

NEW! 'Sweet Sweater Nest' for Spring

springtime is time for a NEW 'Sweet Sweater' Original creation!

 i've created various versions of nests over the years

from all different kinds of material (posts linked below) - 

this year, i hatched an idea for one made from sweater scraps!

(does that surprise anyone at all? i bet not!)

i love the more natural, rustic look that resulted from my new method,

and have created a tutorial to help you get the same results...

...continue reading for my 'Sweet Sweater Nest' tutorial