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Showing posts with label autumn crafts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autumn crafts. Show all posts

Put The Pumpkin On The Table - Creative Pumpkin Centerpieces & Tablescapes

By Karin Lidbeck for Country Gardens
(Image credit: Andre Baronowks for Country Gardens)

Since we've got plenty of time while we wait for the Great Pumpkin to arrive, why not put together a fall pumpkin themed centerpiece for your table - or take it even further and create an autumn pumpkin tablescape?

Nowadays we have so many options - not just orange! White and green pumpkins are at the height of their popularity right now. Feeling super-inspired and creative? Then you might just want to paint your own pumpkins or gourds whatever color you choose, giving them the ultimate personalized look!

I've chosen a few of my favorite pumpkin centerpieces and tablescapes below to awe and inspire you, and maybe give you a few ideas. Use them as inspiration for your fall, Halloween or Thanksgiving tables. Click the photo or text below it to visit the original post! Let me know which you  like the most by leaving a comment below!
Beautiful natural centerpiece



How pretty! Copper and neutrals from Liz Marie Blog 



Pretty coastal style from H2OBungalow


Use a hallowed pumpkin as a vase and fill with seasonal flowers.


Fall table via Sucasasuafiesa


All white: hydrangeas, antlers, candles, & pumpkins


More orange and blue, yay! from StoneGable


Love this more traditional box design with candles, pumpkins, & gourds

Natural & neutral greens and whites


Blue Willow china & pumpkin from Celebratingeverydaylife.com



A variety of different sized candles 


Succulents in white pumpkins



Which do you like best?


You might also like:

Dishfunctional Designs: Decorating With Unusual & Unique Pumpkins for Autumn and Halloween


Have a great week!
 Laura

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DIY Autumn Wreaths That You Can Make

What better way to welcome autumn and the change of seasons than to create your own fall wreath?

Intimidated by the thought of crafting your own autumn wreath? Don't be! You can collect plenty of free materials from nature - many in your own backyard (think leaves, acorns, twigs and branches) and there are many materials that you can purchase at dollar stores (wreath bases, glue sticks, craft adhesives, craft flowers) for the price of a fancy coffee or two. Even better, create your own fall wreath using salvaged and repurposed items found in your own home (painted newspaper, old encyclopedia pages, etc).

Best of all, you can create your own autumn wreath to match your own home and decor in as little as an afternoon. So round up your supplies (think glue gun and wreath base to start), and check out this collection of DIY fall and autumn wreaths and maybe you'll be inspired to create your own! Not in the mood to create your own? Some of those I feature below are available for purchase from Etsy sellers...click the link in the text to visit their shops. Happy Fall! 
Who? wouldn't love this cute owl wreath? from AdorabellaWreaths via Etsy


Autumn season wreath from desfeervantoen


Love! Simple grapevine wreath with a few peacock feathers from My Blessed Life



Fall gathered wreath tutorial from Tilly's Nest



Moss and mini pumpkin wreath with burlap bow



Suitable for any holiday, this book page wreath (found here on Pinterest) could be autumn-ized by tipping some of the page edges with glue and brown glitter



Handmade paper feathers and leaves can be made from old newspaper and book pages and make a unique addition to your fall wreath.





Have a great week!
Love,
 Laura

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Painting Feathers - How To Make DIY Metallic Painted Feathers


Over the summer I collected a few feathers that found their way to me as I sat and worked in my backyard. This morning I thought I would try to add a little bit of paint to them...here's how I did it...



Assemble your supplies. I used an old plate as my work surface, a paper napkin as my palette, and chose two small craft paint brushes: a medium ovalish flat brush and a standard round brush. I put a dollop of metallic gold craft paint onto my paper napkin. I chose two feathers to paint; one small and gray and one a bit larger and tan. 

Work in the morning sunlight, it will make you feel great :)


The first thing I did was gently use my fingers to smooth the vanes of the feather so that they laid flat and neat. You do this by working from the center rachis of the feather and smooth the vanes outward. The bottom part of the rachis on a feather is called the quill. The vanes of the feather that are directly above the quill are downy. 



I love metallic paint! I used what I had at home; gold and purple acrylic craft paint. Yes, this is the type of paint that is about 99¢ a bottle.  


The first feather I painted was the smaller gray one. It was not as firm as the tan feather so I thought I might have trouble painting it. I was right. This feather was too soft and downy-like and did not hold it's shape well, so when I painted it, the vanes immediately shrunk, separated, and stuck together. 

Note: I am holding the feather up in the photo but I painted it by holding it flat against the plate and I used a very small amount of paint and a very delicate touch when I painted it...still, it separated and did not hold the paint well. 

I also tried both paint brushes and found that the flat brush worked much better for this job than the round brush. I kind of expected that but thought I would try both brushes anyway. 



Next I painted the tan feather. Again I used my finger to hold the feather flat against the plate and with my other hand I applied a thin coat of a very small amount of paint to the end of the feather using my flat brush. I painted from the rachis out to the tips of the vanes. I held the feather in place on the plate for about a minute before I lifted it from the plate. 


I was pleased to find that the feather held its shape and the paint looked great. 



Yay!



Once the paint on the feather dries, you can apply another coat if you like, just be sure to use a very small amount of paint and apply it in a very thin coat! I really like the gold-tipped look because it shows the contrast to the natural feather, but you can paint as much of the feather as you like. You can also paint the reverse side of your feather once it is completely dry.

All in all, this project cost me absolutely nothing. I had the paint and brushes at home, and I found the feathers in my backyard. If you were going to buy supplies, it would at most cost you $5, and that's for the paint and one good brush - and you would have enough paint to paint feathers for the rest of your life! 

Wouldn't this feather be pretty in an autumn wedding bouquet or added to an autumn door wreath? 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, please leave a comment below! 






Have a great week!
Love,
 Laura



My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns


article and images ©Laura Beth Love 2016 all rights reserved. 
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