DIY Decor & Crafts

Thanksgiving Setting

Published on November 19, 2012November 19, 2012 by Our Humble Abode54 Comments

For those of us living in the U.S., Thanksgiving is only three days away. We’re hosting friends from Minnesota and a few family members this year. I went back and forth trying to decide what style/color/type of decor I wanted. Last year we had a navy and gold theme, but I wanted something lighter and more rustic this time. So, I settled on a white, copper, and gray color scheme.

In addition to our every day white plates, glasses, and silverware, I added several DIY projects and a few thrift store finds.

Dollar store cylinder vases wrapped in white tissue paper, then dipped in copper acrylic paint add ambiance. Gold rimmed glasses, also from the dollar store can easily function as candle holders or vases. For added texture and color, pour in a little rice, dried corn, beans, or nuts.

By far my favorite part of this table setting are the log candle holders.

Free logs are the perfect rustic touch, and simple to make. Since cutting down the locust tree, we’ve had a pile of wood in the back yard. I dug out three of the smallest logs and cut them to various sizes. Some got a coat of copper paint, just to add a little more glitz.

Lined up on the table, they make a big impact. Each place setting is simple, consisting of a plain white dinner plate topped by a gold-rimmed crackle plate (from the thrift store). Cloth napkins I sewed from a geometric gray and cream fabric are neutral and can be used long after the holidays.

Super simple (and free!) napkin rings made from cut paper towel tubes, then painted copper.

We’re ready to go, just gotta make the food and wait for our guests. I suppose we should wait until Thursday for the food and guests.

Speaking of food, check back tomorrow for our meal plan. We’ve got the staples (turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, and green bean casserole) but we’ve got a few new menu items this year. And I’m already salivating at the thought.

So tell me, do you have a theme for Thanksgiving? Or new items to add to your menu?

Craft Challenge: The After

Published on October 15, 2012October 15, 2012 by Our Humble Abode8 Comments

Okay, I admit I kind of let the Craft Challenge slip my mind. Life gets crazy sometimes and I wasn’t feeling inspired to craft. While my crafts aren’t super creative, I’m happy to have done something slightly creative yesterday. Other than fabric scraps and wire, I didn’t have enough of any other item to make what I wanted. So, here’s what I did make.

A fabric covered mouse pad and fabric covered, reusable twist ties. Both were super easy and I had all supplies on hand. To revamp my old 99 cent Ikea mouse pad, I used a scrap of blue and white striped fabric, glue (Mod Podge shown, but I switched to Aileen’s Tacky Glue for superior adhesion), and a foam brush.

As easy as spreading glue on the pad, pushing and smoothing fabric, and let it dry. Cut the excess off.

I tried using embroidery floss to make a blanket stitch around the outsides. Five stitches in, my only large needle broke. But the fun stripes at my desk make me smile.

To make the twist ties, I used two strips of fabric, one of Wonder Under interface, a small piece of wire, and a little more Aileen’s tacky glue (not shown).

First, I ironed the interface to one piece of fabric.

Then peeled off the paper backing and placed my small wire on top.

Another piece of fabric on top, ironed to the other fabric sandwiched the wire.

I decided to make a simple leaf design at each end, leaving the center a thin strip. Because the interface only lightly adheres the two fabrics, I added a thin line of glue to the thin center strip. Wrap around anything for a cuter way to hold things together. Cables? Sure.

To close a bag of bread? Yep.

As a napkin holder? Why not!

In fact, I might make more to seal Halloween candy bags. Because we got about ten trick-or-treaters at our other house, I’m guessing we’ll have the same or fewer here. Who wants to hike up our driveway? And I think black bat shaped ties on cellophane bags would be adorable. I’m already thinking of Thanksgiving and Christmas versions, too. Why not add one to a bottle of wine as a hostess gift? Or to wrap up a bag of cookies? Now it’s your turn to share what you made.

Leaf it Alone

Published on October 9, 2012October 9, 2012 by Our Humble Abode14 Comments

Sometimes I wish I planned ahead more and decorated for various holiday and seasons. Nothing that would look like I bought an entire aisle at Hobby Lobby, but more than the few areas I do decorate. Because so much is unfinished (or even started) in this house, my focus has been more on necessary projects, not decorating. And we’ve only got a few logical places for decor at the moment. I’ve already fall-ified the couch. Without a mantle, I use our entertainment center as a substitute. So, here’s our little dose of fall decor.

Well, that was round one. Touches of yellow, white, gold, and copper. I swapped a blue vase for the gold one on the left and replaced the paper behind our Whole Family Tree cut out. Previously, it had a teal backing, which you can see on the top right shelf at our first house.

While I liked the general selection, I wanted a little more. I found pressed leaves in my craft stash so I used light fishing line to make a simple garland.

Simple. I taped a few more leaves on fishing line then hung them from the ceiling to get the effect of falling leaves.

Other than the leaves, the left side stayed the same.

To add more metallic goodness, I spray painted the little bird to match the vase. And a pine cone. Because one can never have too much bling.

Other than the pillows and faux billy buttons, I think I’m done for the season. I’ve done a little Halloween decorating that I’ll share soon.

What are your favorite ways to spruce your home for the changing seasons? Do you go all out on decorating? Or just a few touches here and there? Got a favorite project? Share it with us!

Pillow Palooza

Published on October 4, 2012October 8, 2012 by Our Humble Abode24 Comments

Up until yesterday, we still had very summery weather. I’m a little late, but I’ve started decorating for fall. Usually I don’t go all out on seasonal decorating, but I like to switch up a few things. I started with new fall colored pillows for the couch. Thus, pillow palooza was born.

Red doesn’t often make an appearance in our house. However, I can’t get enough coral lately. Spurred by a towel I bought for the bathroom, I figured dark coral and gray could replace red nicely.

I happened to have half a yard of light gray duck cloth in my stash, so I cut it to an 18 inch square piece. Wanting a simple design, I taped off two-inch wide random stripes. Then I mixed up a batch of dark coral using apple red, orange, and a dose of pale pink. Painting went quickly, covering in one coat.

Peeling off the tape is such a fun moment. A few areas of bleed through, but nothing terrible. Definitely fun color.

For something even more fall-ish, I had the idea to add a leaf design to a pillow. Preferably, I would have used fabric for the leaves, but I had my heart set on metallic. Sadly, our little fabric stores don’t carry much in the good-looking metallic department. Again, I turned to craft paint, this time in a metallic copper finish. Freehand leaves appear to fall and settle at the bottom.

Later, I went back and added a few metallic gold leaves, too. Yellow is a great fall color, so I kept the fun Target pillow.

For the other side of the couch, I started dip dyed a piece of natural colored canvas in a tangerine dye bath. Just a simple dip and wiggling to get an ombre-ish pillow.

To incorporate orange, yellow, and gray to temper the bright colors, I had my heart set on a triangle pattern pillow. I cut a 7 inch equilateral triangle template from card stock, then traced it to scrap fabric left over from other projects.

Pinning the pieces together to create a line of triangles.

After completing the strips, I sewed them to each other. Randomly placed colors made a fun mix.

Of course the yellow arrow pillow fit in, so it’s still around.

So that’s our fall-ified couch. Nothing ground breaking, but I’m happy with a change. Both the pillows and weather.

What have you been changing up? New pillows? A fall mantle? How do you incorporate fall colors in your home?

Craspedia, Billy Buttons, Whatever

Published on October 2, 2012October 8, 2012 by Our Humble Abode17 Comments

I’m sure you know those cute yellow flower balls I’m talking about. They’re everywhere lately, and for good reason. Except in the state of Montana. Seriously, I have yet to see these guys anywhere.

{photo via Flored Del Sol}

I’ve got plenty of cute vases. Though most, okay, all, are empty. While decorating the entertainment center for fall, I decided that had to change. A simple, modern shape and bright color would be perfect. Billy buttons, that’s what I needed. So I set out to make my own. I’ll let you judge how realistic/cute they are after the tutorial.

Using small foam balls (from Dollar Tree), green floral wire, paper clips (not pictured), and sunny yellow spray paint, I got to work.

First I skewered each ball with a straightened paper clip and stuck it in a piece of scrap foam. If you don’t have foam, you could stick these in a pile of small rocks or even hold at the end. Then I spritzed each sphere with the yellow paint and let it dry.

Once the balls dried, I cut pieces of floral wire to length and pushed the balls on. Voila, faux billy buttons.

Looking back at the thicker painted yellow paper clips, I might like that better. But I’m happy with my two dollar ‘flowers.’ Ben thinks they look like cheese balls stuck on wire.