Fall Light-Up Topiary

Don't you just love fall? 

All the beautiful colors and textures are everywhere. Once again I find myself decorating and sprucing up the house. I am always looking for a way to create something. Last year I decorated outside with some fun budget friendly ideas. This year I am looking for table ideas.

I just love all the fall decor out there. The pumpkins come in all different colors, textures and sizes. 

When I came across this Owl candle holder I knew I would incorporate all this in my design.

How to make a Birdhouse Lamp

Haven, Flat, House, Home.

Whatever the word you use, it has meaning to you.

When I think of the word home I think of Design and Family.

I love creating in my home. When I do I like to share it here on my blog. Many times I will give you a step by step tutorial that can help you produce it yourself. I have done a few things with birds before like Turning a birdcage into a chandelier.

Today I will teach you How to make a birdhouse lamp.

This is one of my favorite projects to date. It just looks so cute. All it took was a really cool lamp I picked up at Old Time Pottery. It is one of those fill lamps.

Home was the inspiration!

If you want to learn how to make a birdhouse lamp, You can get all the details over at 

Old Time Pottery.

And speaking of home....

This event will be great for the collector or designer in you!

Remember there is still time to enter to win tickets for the Country Living Fair!

Hope to see you there!

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How To Make Bunny Napkin Rings {tutorial}

This is a complete tutorial about how to make my burlap bunnies napkin rings.

 It is another Pier 1 knock-off that came out adorable and easy. I have knocked off Pier 1 before with my  Pier 1 Pumpkins. This project was just as fun.  I am so glad to be sharing it with you!

This project didn't cost me a dime since I used scraps that I had.

I started with a cardboard roll from wrapping paper. You can use a toilet paper roll but this was sturdier.

I measured 2" on the tube for each napkin ring and cut it

Don't worry about perfect edges because this will be covered

Cut strips of burlap around 21/2" wide and measure around the tube you are using

glue down seam....I used hot glue

Take scissors and cut slits around burlap and stop at cardboard tube

This will allow you to wrap burlap to inside and glue

It should look like this

Cut 2 ear shapes out of burlap to desired height 

Mine was 21/2" long ..You can always adjust it if it is too long

Now pinch the bottom of burlap and glue to the front side of burlap covered tube

The burlap is stiff enough to stand the ears straight up. You can adjust when dry.

Cut frayed ends of fabric and glue the rest down with the ears

Note: Make sure both ears are glued center and the roll sits with out rolling over. You want it balanced.

Now make the rest of them to complete your tablescape

Told you it was easy!

Want to see the knock off go here!



Linking here

Easy Metal Flower Frames {tutorial}

With Christmas six months away yes I said it gift making is on the brain. Some things can be used anytime of the year. Picture frames are always popular.. I have done a few here on my blog like my pine cone Shabby Chic picture frames.

While on a trip to the dollar store I came across colorful metal flower hooks. I thought they would be cute if I painted them. Remember chalk paint goes on virtually everything! Then I could hang these in my wannabe craft room!

When I took them home a light bulb went off. I love the hand cut metal flowers that adorn picture frames, but they are a lot of work. What if I could use these? They needed to be changed up a bit though.

First thing to go was the middle piece. Cut with a wire cuter.

Next cut off the back hook. You will need some muscle for this one!

The flower will look like this. I did a pink and yellow one. Remember you can paint any color you want!

Now they look boring like this so I fluffed up the petals by bending them forward.

Here is one of the yellow ones. I love that the flowers look like the old Italian chandelier I repainted!

Grab a canvas. Rip off the canvas and you have a wooden frame. A great idea in itself! Many possibilities. You can find them cheap at bargain stores. They are all wood. Add some paint!

 Now to attach the flower. I found these really cool concrete nails. They will become the stamen.

 Hammer on to the corner of the frame or wherever you see fit.

 
 Attach eye hooks to the inside of frame on either side. Twist wire through to hang photos on.

Or you can just use it as a frame. Either way it is a cute gift for any occasion. 

Can you think of other ways these can be used?

Antique Toy Box Before/After

This is my toy box! I got it when I was born (yes its pretty old)! It wasn't a typical design for a child and it was made of vinyl. It had a matching child chair that went with it but is no longer in my care. Every time we cleaned the basement or garage I didn't have the heart to get rid of it. I knew that "someday" I would do something to it. Well "someday is here! I am so glad I kept it!

Let's start from the beginning....

This is what I did to transform it!

Th

It was covered in vinyl and it was ripped in several places. I began taking out the tacks (which I love) and staples.

The inside was rough too. It had a broken piece that had to be replaced and a drawing that my son did when he was little.

I removed all the hardware and the vinyl. The top had a major gash taken out of the wood where the hinge was so the whole piece had to be removed and replaced.

I basically had to remove all the covering pull out 1,000,000 staples and reinforce the whole structure.

The bottom was coming out so I pre-drilled the holes and I put screws in to secure in back.

I used the old vinyl as a pattern and cut some batting and stapled it to the top and sides. Then I measured and cut material.

After stapling the batting I began stapling the material over it making sure the pattern was straight and tight. I folded the edges and tucked under top help with fraying. I finished the top first then the bottom. I needed to make sure the top pattern lined up with the bottom when it was put back together.

I wanted to make this a bench so I added wooden legs to it and painted them black.

 This is the Before:

This is the After.....

I will add the tacks back to the front to finish so it still has a little piece of the before and I didn't have the heart to get rid of the picture my son drew so I guess its staying.

Cost $30.00 to redo!

Tell me what you think?

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