Fall Mantel 2013

I've been thinking about decorating for the season for a while now-I'm always inspired by Fall! By the time the season gets here, I have a pretty good idea what I want to do. I even do some sketches as ideas come to me.

I didn't even get around to showing you my Summer mantel...this is how it's looked for several months.

When Justin and I were at Ikea last week, we bought this botanical canvas. I didn't know how much I would love it until I got it up on the wall.

 It's a large piece and it matches in scale the sconces that I have....It really makes a statement and I let it guide me in the rest of the living room. I wanted to do something different for Fall. I use all the colors anyway...green, brown, black, orange, and even blue....but the deeper green-that I've never used.

With my energy level being super low-the fireplace is the only area I'm going to decorate this year. I'll probably work on the porch as well, but we'll see. I made this little apple wreath to hang down the face of the fireplace. I've always admired the fresh apple versions but these are little artificial apples and will last year after year. All I did was cut a wire clothes hanger and push the styrofoam apples on one at a time and finished off the top with some burlap.

 Along with the emerald green, I decided to do a more muted palette vs. shocking orange which I've done in the past. I'm really liking it for this year.

 The lanterns I bought last year during Christmas time, so I am really happy to use them for fall this year.

 I seem to always anchor the mantel with an arrangement and this year is no different....it's what I do and I love doing them -so why not! This one is pretty tall, reaching all the way to the ceiling with the branches. Maple leaves, millet, hydrangea, berries and curly willow-all things I love to work with.

 Little mushroom images (from the Graphics Fairy), I printed them here at home, cut them and literally taped them to the mirror with washi tape.

 The little revamped garden stool from yesterday. Click HERE to see the before. It's the same shade of green as in the canvas and it looks fantastic up against the walnut buffet. This makes me happy about my decision to do a bold green!

 I'm still enjoying my ikat curtains and haven't changed them in several months-that's always a good sign.

 An evening shot-so cozy with the battery operated candles! ;)

I hope you are inspired and Happy Fall!

Joining Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick

Christmas Tree 2012

It is officially Christmastime at the Edwards house, the tree is done! This year, if you read THIS post, you know I'm trying to take a stress-less approach to the Holiday season. So with the whole decorating thing, I took my time.....but I've gotten the glitter vacuumed up and I'm ready to reveal the Christmas Tree of 2012.  If you remember the tree from last year, you will definitely notice a slight difference in this years tree. First, it's a completely different tree! How's that for different! :) After 17 years of decorating trees as part of my career, we broke down and bought a pre-lit hinged Christmas tree. After dealing with the ginormous yard sale tree (and the massive undertaking of lighting it) last year, I knew that I couldn't handle it this year, so we bought a nice small tree WITH lights! I decided to donate the other tree, by the way. I had this puppy up in less than 15 minutes.

 A lot of the ornaments are handmade from over the years. I made these snowflakes using Stephanie Lynn's tutorial. Click HERE to see her tutorial. Yep, those are clothespins!

 The little mushroom ornament is new this year.  Isn't it cute?

 Very neutral, with a lot of browns and metallics with a tiny bit of green.

 I don't know what is up with me this year, but just like the front door, I didn't use any ribbon. See more of the mantle HERE.

 Anywhere.

 Some evening shots.

I hope you are inspired!

Joining Sarah

Christmas On The Porch

 The weather has been practically tropical for December in these parts (60 degrees) and I spent about three hours outside decorating. The entry is sort of recessed, about 5' square. You can see how I've decorated in the past HERE.

 First, I cleaned and swept...and I think the door could use a coat of paint...but I am not doing that right now. Anyway, please notice my fantabulous Smith and Hawken black metal planters. Total yard sale steal...I think I ran to them...I could not believe anyone would give them up, they are perfect. They sort of led the way for the look this year.

 Now, you might think it's odd...but for some reason, I have been reusing a lot of things that I used for Halloween for Christmas. I know, right? Weird. I used these branches for 'spooky branches' with orange lights (you might have seen the picture on Instagram)...but they are perfect for Christmas too. I wired several of the branches together to form the base...they nearly go top to bottom.

 Then I used some pine and berries and pine cones to create the focal point. I kept hem-hawing about whether to use the red berries or not, but decided with allllll the greenery the red would draw your eye.

 So what is missing? You'll be shocked, I know I am...no ribbon!!! It's not that I didn't want to use any...I was too lazy to drive to my studio and get any but I think it's ok without it...but don't be shocked if I throw some plaid or burlap in there. It's my natural tendency to gravitate towards using ribbon, so we'll see how long it stays ribbonless. ha, ha

 For the planters, I cheated a little. They are pretty tall and I didn't  have enough greenery to fill it completely, so I popped a terra cotta pot in there to fill up most of the room.

See what I did there? Sneaky.

 I only had a few branches left after making the swag....but it's just enough to give the planters some interest.

 Some garland and lights above the door and I'm calling it done. I don't think I'm going to do anything else. I usually do lights on the gutters and wreaths on the windows, but unless Justin volunteers to help, this is it. (Justin, if you are reading, that's not a hint.)

 

Have you decorated outside yet?

Acorn Cap Wreath (A Tutorial)

 Remember a few years back when I made an Acorn Cap Ornament? Check out tutorial HERE. Well, for some reason, this year, I thought it would be a good idea to do a wreath in the same fashion. My friends, what was I thinking? My hands are still aching...this craft is not for the faint of heart. You've got to really make a {craft}commitment and get 'er done.

First things first, harvest a bazillion acorn caps. I grabbed a Walmart bag and Logan and I picked up a ton of caps. Just to make sure there are no little critters, heat the oven up to 200 degrees and leave them in there about an hour then let them cool.

 Pick out what sort of wreath you'd like (size and whatnot), just make sure it's a hard Styrofoam type. Paint the wreath in Burnt Umber craft paint so the green doesn't show in between the caps.

 Begin the process of pushing the caps into the foam wreath. Have a hot glue gun handy for the ones that are wanting to fall out...but most stay pretty well.

 Do a staggered pattern, but it does not have to be perfect.

 Once the  wreath is filled, you can certainly leave it as is, but I wanted to have a little glitter (like the ornament), I just like the added sparkle.

 I used some chocolate satin ribbon to hang it over a mirror...but you could use any color/style ribbon you'd like.

(check out my hair growth!!!)

 The one thing that I should have done is paint the back of the wreath in burnt umber, especially since I hung it over a mirror...

 But other than that, I think it was worth the effort. I like it mixed with the cedar garland, mirror and sconces.

Now, I've got to get that tree done!!! :)

Joining Kate

Christmas Mantle 2012

 Well, I finally brought all the fall down from the mantle...it was a little sad...but I threw on some Christmas tunes and went to work. I stripped the mantle completely down to the mirror. I keep thinking I'm going to try my Mom's mirror over the mantle for a change but I just love the round one so much, I never do.

 Since I'm trying to keep it plain and simple, this is what I came up with. The rustic lanterns (you might remember seeing one of these in THIS tablescape) are one of my favorite elements. As soon as I saw them, I knew I wanted them for my Christmas mantle...and lanterns just say comfy-cozy to me.

 I haven't even started on the tree yet, in fact I'm not even going to talk about the tree yet....we'll talk about that as soon as I get it decorated.

 Do you remember when Justin made my 'Fall' letters? See the tutorial HERE. He made me a 'Noel' while he was at it...well, he made an N, E and L and I thought it would be rather fun to come up with an abstract O. I tried a few things before I remembered this tree topper, a moss ball, one of the twig balls...but I thought the more light the better.

 For the arrangement, which is my favorite element, I used the vase that I recently sprayed black (I used it last for Halloween, take a look HERE). You might not think of black with Christmas, but I thought it was ok with the room as a whole. Branches and long needle pine with some snowy branches to tie in the white.

 Inexpensive snowflake garland hung across the face of the fireplace.

 Egads, it looks a little Vanilla...but decorating the tree will help bring in some color.

 I'm sure I'll do some tweaking as I get further along.

 It is a lot different from last year's mantle, no ladders involved or massive swag over the mirror....but I do like it.

 Evening shots:

 See? Doesn't it just make you feel warm and fuzzy? :)

 I hope you are inspired!
Joining Layla

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Thank you for all your love and support in my last post, I really can't express how much your words encourage me and help me keep moving forward! I'm so glad I'm not alone.