Easy Fall Porch Decor

Recycled an unhappy potted chrysanthemum and some hydrangea blossoms for this simple fall display.

The fall chrysanthemum gave up the ghost not long after I brought it home. But a little spray paint gave it a new purpose. I sprayed it with gold, getting all in-between the flowers and leaves.

Then I took some hydrangea blossoms, removed the leaves from the stems, stuck them in a pot for support and painted them silver. I didn't intentionally leave some of the natural colour showing through, but I like it!

Once dry the silver hydrangeas were inserted into the gold mum ball. I think it looks pretty good just like this. If the stems are tall or if the display will be in a breezy area you may need to place wire supports in the pot and twist tie the hydrangeas to them.

Just added a dollar store fall garland and it's done in a snap! Already thinking ahead...this might get a winter transformation after Thanksgiving🎃.

Candy Cane Sleigh Place Markers

These easy to make candy cane sleighs can be used as table place markers, gift toppers or added to any Christmas display. These were made for last year's Christmas before Covid-19 came to challenge the world. Here's hoping we can be together for family celebrations this year, but if we need to stay apart this year then we will, so that we WILL be all together in the future!

What you'll need for each sleigh:

glue gun

2 candy canes for the runners

a chocolate bar to fit as the base of the sleigh

a chocolate Santa (of course😀)

and a pile of candies for his pack 

Make sure the chocolate bar for the base of the sleigh fits the length of the candy canes. I used minis here. Tuck the wrapping ends of the bar underneath and glue. Then glue the bottom of the bar to the candy canes. There you have your sleigh bed and runners. Glue Santa's feet to the front of the bar (so he can stand up to drive the sleigh!) And stack chocolates and candies (or a little toy) behind him as his stash of goodies!

If you are going to use this as a place marker just leave enough room behind Santa to tuck a name card in.

These mini Santa's sleighs sat neatly at each place.

Painting a Brick Fireplace

My husband built this fireplace many moons ago and we decided it needed an update. I read up on whitewashing brick and we agreed that was the way to go.

It didn't take too long to do, but longer than most posts I read implied. They say you can paint your brick fireplace in about 1 hour. Well, that is true... sort of. My husband did all the prep work (taping and papering) which took about 1 1/2 hours. And he painted all the black stuff, two coats. So another 30-60 minutes. Then the painting of the brick took me about 1 1/2 hours (so about an hour of actual brick painting as they claim). I'd say you're looking at more like 3 or 4 hours in total, but it's definitely worth it!

He removed the black vents then papered and taped everything else, leaving the brass doors uncovered as they were going to get painted as well.

I stirred together 1 part white latex ceiling paint with 3 parts water, mixed very well. I used only about 1 cup of paint or less before adding water. Using a small piece of sponge I tapped on the paint, wiping any drips that happened right away and trying not to have them happen at all.

Didn't load the paint mixture on the sponge. Just a little goes a long way.

Once finished I stood back to see how it looked. They say you can go back and put a second or third coat on, but we like how the colours of the bricks still come through so we stopped at one coat.

My husband used this Rust-Oleum High Heat spray paint used for painting barbecues to paint all the black parts of the fireplace along with the brass doors to give it a more modern look.

We can't get over how much brighter the room looks!

Rustic Burlap Table Runner

No sewing involved!!  Now that I've got your attention, check out how easy it is to make this table runner. This one was made for Christmas but you could choose any colour scheme you like.

Pick up some burlap at your local garden center, the one used to cover shrubs in cold weather. No need to buy it at the fabric store...way more expensive!

First iron the fabric.
Next, pull out one string where you want to cut the burlap.
This helps keep it from unraveling.

Now you can cut through where the string had been.
And remove more strings from the ends if you want a fringe.

Weave some coloured ribbon through at measured intervals and...

you've got your burlap runner. I tied little brass bells on each corner of mine.

Just change up the ribbon colour for different holidays or events. Super easy!!

Decorative Christmas Urn

In full holiday mode now!
Here are some basics for this DIY decorative Christmas holiday urn.

What you'll need:

a tall planter
a large pail
a few firelogs
some tall branches
a pot of dirt and/or florist sponge
ribbon or deco mesh
2 old moss hanging baskets 
spray paint
mini lights
decorative garland or sprigs
fresh greenery

Some will say to just remove the plants from a summer planter and stick the branches you're using right in the dirt. Great if you are not having to move the plant, but too heavy to lug around. I was working in the garage so this needed to be transportable.

I started with this tall planter and stood a large pail upside-down in it as a space filler. Next I placed a couple of firelogs and random pieces of wood in for some weight and stability of the branches. You want some weight so when it's finished it can't be blown over in a wind. (This sucker isn't going anywhere!)

We had a tree trimmed this past summer but it wasn't a birch which would have looked great for this project. My husband just gave these old branches a whitewash and I think they look pretty good. I stuck them in trying to fit them snugly so they don't wobble around. Use cutoff pieces of wood as wedges for support if you need to.  

You can then place a flower pot full of dirt in the top which will be what you'll be sticking your greenery into. You can also use florists sponge.

Wrap the top edge of the planter tightly with wide ribbon or deco mesh and create a bow in the front. My dog Karma was supervising!

I had these two old black and rusting moss hanging baskets that I asked my husband to wire together and paint. I think he did a pretty good job.

Once dry I slipped one of the branches through the globe and slid it down until it was sitting in the top of the urn.

I used a couple of decorative wire garlands from the dollar store and secured them to a couple of the branches. (There's that supervisor again!)

The next step is very important (and I forgot to take a pic!) but before using the fresh boughs always give them a good soak in water and a fresh stem cut. Also soak the florist sponge for 15 minutes and fill the pot of dirt with water as well.

Start sticking stems into the sponge and earth using the decorative ball for their support.

I bought cedar and pine branches and wired some pine cones into the arrangement too. Add the mini lights.

Once outside (thank goodness my husband was able to use a dolly to roll this out of the garage and up the stairs) I decided to cut some branches from a blue cedar and yew in the garden and added those here and there.

Well, there you have it. My first decorative Christmas urn.

Christmas Table Centerpiece

My first attempt at a fresh bough centerpiece. I think it turned out pretty nice!

(This was last year's project that I finally got around to posting)

It can be made about 5-7 days ahead of time just drop an ice cube or two in on the foam block every other day to make sure it stays moist.

I picked up a wooden crate on sale when Sears was liquidating before closing up. I draped some cotton inside because of the open slats. Then sat two plastic containers from the dollar store inside (because I couldn't find just one the right size)

Got some floral foam blocks also from the dollar store and cut them to fit inside the plastic squares. Following the instructions on the foam package I soaked the foam with water for about 15 minutes.

Picked up these fresh boughs for just $2.99! Plenty to work with here!

I stood 2 candles in glass pillars (you don't want flame to get in contact with the boughs) and tied a strip of material around secured with a piece of twine. I had this one fake bough with red berries that I stuck in the foam between the candles.

Now for the fresh boughs...give them a fresh cut and a good rinse before sticking them in the foam. I laid them in the bathtub and added water enough to submerge them. Gave them a swish around then removed them to a large towel to dry.

I don't know if there is a right way to do it (there must be) but I started filling in from the middle out until the centerpiece was filled with boughs to my liking. After having done it I think it might have been better to start working on the outside of the foam block with longer boughs, working in to the center.
I went outside and snipped some holly and boxwood sprigs out of my garden for added texture. Just had to shake a little snow off them.

I tucked some pinecones in here and there along with a few brass bells I had around.  One glittering reindeer got to sit in the front and I added some extra colour and scent with these traditional spiced orange pomanders. See how to make them here:
http://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.ca/2017/12/traditional-spiced-orange-pomander.html

My plan was to use this centerpiece for the dining room table but once I finished it I realized it would take up to much space. So I sat it on the coffee table then proceeded to make this small display for the dinner table.

I used an empty jar from a 3 wick candle then used the same idea as the first piece for decorating. Sat it on a small tray with tall candlesticks on each side.

Pretty and economical. The most expense components were the 2 pillar candles in the large piece at $10.00 each. And I had boughs to spare once these were both finished.

Coastal Deco Mesh Wreath

Wishing I was at the beach...

What you need to make this wreath:

wire wreath frame
deco mesh
glue gun
twist ties or pipe cleaners
needle and thread
knotted rope, shells and driftwood

I started with the frame and mesh, just bunching the mesh and tying it every so often with pipe cleaners. I know, I should have used green ones but I had white ones. No worries, they all got covered in the end. If using any ribbon, tie it in and around the mesh.

Once I had my base of deco mesh secured I laid out everything that I wanted to attach right on the wreath to get an idea of the layout.

I used a needle and thread to secure the knotted rope in place.

Then started gluing the driftwood into place.

I was a little concerned when gluing onto the mesh. I thought the hot glue would just melt the mesh, but it was fine.

Be sure to glue the shells in well so they don't flop over when the wreath is hanging up.

And that's it....

the coastal wreath is ready for hanging!

Upcycled Denim Placemats with Matching Table Napkins

Spring cleaning and finding a pile of jeans you don't/can't wear anymore? Deconstruct them into re-useable parts. Once you start snipping away sort into like piles...pockets, seams, waistbands and lengths of material. Iron before sewing.

This isn't a pattern and I'm in no way a seamstress but I'll just show you what I did. I'm sure you can sew better than I.

I cut the useable pieces of material into squares and rectangles then sewed them together, sometimes leaving a hem or seam for interest. Trimmed them to just a bit larger than the size I wanted the placemats to be.

I sewed a pocket on the right-hand side for the cutlery and napkin because I think it's cute. But there was also a practical reason. When my husband sets the table he can never remember where the knife goes, where the fork goes. Now I just say "stick them in the pocket!"

Once that was done I cut some cotton for the backs and I also cut some old towels (I seem to have alot of those!)  the same size as the denim patchwork.

Sewed them together and trimmed the sides. My poor old sewing machine had some trouble here but we got the job done.

I sewed over each seam throughout the placemat to keep the layers together (sort of like quilting I would imagine)

Next, the bias tape edging.
This is where I had the most difficulty...figuring out how to make the corners with the bias tape. This is what I came up with, don't know if it's the correct way but it worked for me.

Then I made the coordinating table napkins.
Using the same material as the backs of the placemats, I cut 18" squares and folded and pressed a 1/4" hem all around.

Then folded 1/4" again and sewed all around.

So, here are the finished placemats and napkins,

A little puckered and pulled but still cute for very casual dining I think 😕

And everyone knows where the cutlery goes!

Here's a use for those denim seams...

http://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.ca/2018/05/recycled-denim-wrap-bracelets.html