Hello Christmas 2011 !!!

These are a few of my favorite things......

The challenge this Christmas decorating season was to use only things from home. Have you ever shopped within your own home? Seriously, you should try it, the cost is 0, and you begin to look at things in a whole new light.
Old burlap, branches cut fresh from my trees outside. This little house lights up on the front porch.



Do you remember the old ammo chest made over? So here she is adorned with an old world snowman, burlap, and evergreen sprigs and berries in the tray. This all came together, even better than I'd dreamed.


What did I do with the boxes that once housed Christmas lights, I wrapped them with mailing paper, then wrapped old ribbon tied with a bow! Total cost, 0 dollars!!! But the old fashioned look,......... priceless:)
The black frame, I dusted it off and placed on old fashion Christmas card in it. I have been saving all my favorites for years, what a fun way to display them. It really adds to my red table vignette.

More will come as I continue to brain storm. Take my challenge, you'll be surprised with what you find and breath new life into.

Happy Decorating,

Melanie

Just in time to say, " farwell to Thanksgiving."

Our computer/ Internet has been down nearly the whole month of November. I just wanted to share my holiday fun from the front porch. We have enjoyed this month so much. We have spent some quality family time, made memories, and feel so very thankful for the many blessings we enjoy every day. May you share tomorrow with those you love, and make memories that will last. Melanie

Where have I been?

Internet has been down!! Needed new modem, finally up and running again. We also had our first ever family vacation to California. I can comfirm the rumors, yes Disneyland really is the happiest place on earth! Missed you, Melanie

Happy Halloween all, as we say farwell to another fun holiday.

So at the "11th hour", I decided to pull another outdoor decoration together for the front porch. I gathered fun Halloween print that I already had. Cut triangles with pinking sheers and hot glued them to jute. Then I embellished with old zippers, buttons, ric rack,ect. Of course I opted for a no~sew project, so I used my trusty ole glue gun. However you decide to celebrate this Monday night, I hope you spend it with people you love and that, at one point you find yourself laughing. I am still trying to decide,.... Witch, church lady, pirate. My kids are on the edge of their seats waiting for my big reveal. Did I say kids,( meaning all kids)? I need to take that back, my little kids are excited. My mature 19, 16, and 14 year olds just plain think mom is crazy.

Melanie

Three dollar garage sale find, turned treasured frame.

Awhile ago, I came upon a wonderful garage sale. The old frame you see had so much character, I loved it instantly. I took it home, spray painter it heirloom white, glazed it in Burl from Martha Stewart's line. Then I cut bead board to size, painted it black and sanded it down. I then found different fonts of "L"~for Lott, Sometimes I cut the L from wood other times from cardboard for different thickness to create dimension. Then I covered the letters in fabric that would pop against the black back ground. And there she is. I loved the way it turned out.

Melanie

Have an old lamp shade? Need a new Halloween decoration?

So, just kept dreaming about what this old lamp shade could be. And one night it came to me, Frankenstein! I didn't have the right color of material and I didn't want to spend any money, but I did have spray paint, and why not spray paint cheap muslin material?

1 old black zipper,1 wooden ball, once blond curly doll hair: spray painted black, black marker,paint, and wire spider legs, and I was ready! When wrapping the lamp shade in it's new color I used adhesive spray,... found at a craft store. Then I spray painted screws black and put them into the sides of his head, attached the hair with hot glue, cut long strip for zipper in forehead, surgically glued the zipper in place. Then made a spider using,1cotton ball, black felt, lrg.button and wire. Traced a simple face onto the material, filled in with black and white paint. and there he is! And to think, I almost threw the lamp shade away about a year ago, what was I thinking then? The best part, other than he's adorable, is no cost involved!
Have a great Monday.

Melanie

View my front porch, Halloween style.

These wicker chairs had adorable chair pads, but they just didn't look like Halloween. All that I did to change them was wrap existing pillows in Halloween fabric and looped a belt, ect. This was a no sew project, just required safety pins to anchor them. I can already see Thanksgiving fabric when it is time to change them out next month.
The wreath was a grapevine wreath spray painted black, I added a ghost painted on a paper grocery bag, cut out a rectangle from bead board, twisted orange netting around the wreath and, there she is.

I also cut out this letter "L", which you could pick up at any craft store, sprayed it orange and added Halloween fabric circles for a polka ~dot look. "L"~ is for Lott:)

The chalkboard is the frame I've always used, just changed the words.

Added a fabric bat and tin jack~o~lantern inside the wreath. Hung on the fun old door.


Do you notice the witch caught under the old chest? Those boots were originally white and only 1$ at a garage sale, I spray painted them black, bought the striped material for tights, stuffed them with plastic shopping bags, and anchored them under the chest. Why do I always associate the Wizard of Oz, with Halloween?
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Here we go, I continued to use some of the same base items to re~decorate my front porch. Only this time I went all Halloween. Anyone can stuff kid~size overalls and a flannel shirt for a custom scarecrow, I nestled him in the wheelbarrow. (the annoying magpie birds love to sit on the edge of the wheelbarrow, unfortunately the crow doesn't really do his job) The witch was a similar idea. I painted a garage sale frame purple to frame her loveliness. Enjoy the spooks and such . Happy Halloween!

Melanie

P.S Do you have old Halloween decor. that can be re~purposed? Any old costumes that can be stuffed for spooky fun decor.? The possibilities are endless!