Frugal Fall Centerpiece Ideas

Here are some fun ideas I saw online and thought I would share!

This one is super easy. You can use real or silk sunflowers (silk will last longer unless the centerpiece is for a specific occasion then go for the real touch). And place on some ornate plates!
This one is almost the same as above. you will need to buy some small pumpkins from the grocery store. I think you could also use gourds. I think for the embellishments you could use flowers including sunflowers or even some dried fall leaves.
I really loved this one! If your crafty enough you could paint on the design or if you don't think you could paint then try a sharpie! You could try some fall leaf designs as well or whatever you could think of. For the pedistal you could use a ornate candle holder or if the pumpkins big enough try a cake server.
Branches in lemon water. I love how they used branches with acorns on them! Easy as pie and looks cute as ever!
Ok, whoever thought of this is truely creative and I vow to use this idea sometime in the future. The small pumpkins can be found at stores such as Walmart or I've even seen them at the dollar store. We all have stem wine glasses from our weddings that we all want to use someday! I think when I do this centerpiece I will use walnust or smaller pinecones or maybe nothing at all.

Either way these are all easy and cute centerpieces! Let me know which one was your favorite!

Spring Flower Arrangments

Lighten up your home for spring by adding some fresh spring flower arrangements... and you can do it for free!

What you'll need: All around the city there are blossoms and buds. You'll need to get some branches from the side of the road or wherever. You'll also need some gardening sheers or sharp scissors. Last but not least you'll need a vase, any will do.

What to do: You can do a short or long stem arrangement. You will want to cleanly cut the ends of each stem. Make sure each end is cut clean, this will help to lengthen the life of your arrangement. Arrange them off centered or symmetrical, you decide!

Tips: Try not to place your arrangement in direct light or extreme heat. Keep the water clean, you may have to change it. Remove any leaves or buds that fall in the water. Best of all be creative; use pastel ribbons around your vase or whatever comes to your genius mind! Have fun!

Coupon scoup

Craft shopping tip: Did you know that coupons from JOANNS, ROBERTS, or MICHEALS can work between each of the stores. The stores match their competitors coupons. It's great! For example if your like me, you love Roberts 40% off coupon, and now you can use at JOANNS or MICHEALS! Happy shopping!

Spring Forward with new decor

Springtime decor tips

"It's fun to feel cozy in the winter with warm colors and soft, fluffy fabrics. In the summmer, a cool, airy look is appealing. Read here to get some simple ideas for transforming the look of your home with the seasons.

Here's How:

1. When the cold weather arrives, have a collection of cozy, fluffy throws to place on your furniture for snuggling. Remove them or replace with soft cotton or silk throws for warmer months.

2. Remove the toasty down-filled duvet from your bed in the spring and substitute a light cotton matalasse bed cover or a simple cotton blanket.

3. Floral arrangements of pine and holiday colors can be changed for light, colorful ones for the spring and summer. Put away dark brass or pottery containers and bring out clear glass or crystal vases.

4. Change dark-patterned decorative pillows by covering them with fresh, floral prints or plaids for warmer weather. Either change out the pillows with a second set or alternate the decorative covers.

5. If you have a collection of plates on display, put classic holiday designs away for the winter and replace with pretty floral china from grandma.

6. Have your draperies made so they are reversible allowing you to easily turn them from lively to neutral with the seasonal changes.

7. Be sure to put garden magazines and flower books out on the coffee table in the spring and summer. That will help bring the outside in and add color to your interior.


Tips:
1. Keep spring and summer colors and accessories light, both in feel and color.

2. Changing with the seasons gives you an opportunity to get out some long-lost pieces and make them the center of attention for a while.

3. The change of decor can come all at one time, like spring house cleaning, or over a period of several days or weeks. You'll be surprised what a difference just a small change can make.

4. If winter seems especially long, forget the calendar and get your spring things out even if there's snow on the ground. You may still need the warm blankets, but the look can be light and uplifting."

(These helpful tips are from http://interiordec.about.com/cs/seasonaldecor/ht/ht_changeseason.htm?once=true& by Coral Nafie)

Here are some helpful and cute rooms http://www.pier1.com/TopMenu/GetInspired/tabid/137/Default.aspx

Easter Crafts: Part 2

These are some ideas from Martha Stewart's Easter Workshop ( http://www.marthastewart.com/easter-workshop?xsc=eml_eas_2008_03_13 ) and Easter crafts. I've made some Spring crafts I'd like to share. Enjoy!

What I used:

1. Fallen branch

2. Spring flowers

3. Birds

* I hot glued the flowers to the branch and the birds I purchased at Dollar Tree came with wires. I twisted the wires around the branch. Using white thread (also can use fishing line or jewelry making thread) I hung the branch.

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What I used:

1. Orange knitting yarn

2. Elmer's glue

3. Green felt

4. 3 Straight pins (per carrot)

5. Styrofoam star (Roberts crafts or any local craft store, shown below)

* I took the Styrofoam star and cut it into five pieces as shown in the first picture. Then I took a straight pin and wrapped some yarn around the top. At this time I also applied some Elmer's glue around the top where I wrapped the yarn. I continued to wrap down the carrot as shown in the third picture. As I worked down the carrot i applied glue to the bare Styrofoam.

* Once I worked down the carrot I secured the bottom with another straight pin and applied glue. To make the stem I cut two small pieces of felt and folded them like in the above picture. I then took a straight pin and placed them through the top. you can also use this method to make eggs with egg shaped Styrofoam as shown in second picture. I placed these carrots around my home or you could use them on an Easter tree. Thanks Martha!

Most of these instructions are also found on the Martha Stewart website or from my link on Easter Crafts: Part 1. Here are also some other fun crafts I will be doing this week!

Easter egg wreath

http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=1bcbd52add62f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

Egg Garland


http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.0e0eb51a2e6b5ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=0705d0f19132f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default


Bunny Garland


http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.0e0eb51a2e6b5ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=d461ba1fa9751110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

Easter Crafts: Part 1

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I know we still have to get through St. Patricks Day but I am so excited for Easter! Here are a few fun craft sites I found with some fun ideas!


http://www.marthastewart.com/article/just-hatched-by-hand?lnc=a489cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&page=2&rsc=articlecontent_holiday

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectlist?categoryid=47

http://www.hersheys.com/easter/crafts/


http://www.homeschoolzone.com/pp/easter.htm

December decor

Gift Tags

I bought these letters at pebbles in my pocket located by Arby's on State St. They were 10 for 1$! They have adhesives on the back so I tied some on (T he letter "k") and also put some directly on the gift(The letter "D") .

Hanging ornaments

Kinda a fun idea I saw on an Old Navy commercial. I hung them with push pins which you can see (below picture) and thread though you could also use fishing line. Someone also suggested putting some greenery around the top to hide the push pins.
Thought I would also throw out the tip that you can make any room feel like Christmas. Just take some leftover ribbon and make a picture into a present! This ones in my Rubber Duck bathroom!