posted by: Ashley on November 4th, 2011

Glitter pumpkin, courtesy of Twig & Thistle
Halloween has passed, so now we are in full fledged Holiday season!!! You have to put away the ghost, goblins and spiders but the pumpkins can stay out for another month. In an attempt to find new options for my mantle I came across these great DIY pumpkin ideas.
This glitter pumpkin will add sparkle and bling to any tablescape, bookcase, or vignette.
In order to make this gorgeous glitter pumpkin I found on Twig & Thistle you will need a Styrofoam pumpkin, drill and hole saw attachment, spray adhesive/craft glue, glitter and a candle. Slice off the stem of your pumpkin and use your hole saw attachment to drill out the section where the stem was, be sure the hole is slightly larger than your candle so it will fit. Using a spoon, continue to carve out the foam until your candle can be slipped in and not seen. Then you can either coat the pumpkin in craft glue or use a spray adhesive (the spray is much easier and faster but be sure to be outside or in a vented area) and cover with your choice of colored glitter. Once dry, spray the whole thing with hairspray (yeah!!! one more reason for Aqua Net!) This will set the glitter and reduce the amount ending up on your floor.

Pumpkin Pages, courtesy of Craftberry Bush
Grab one of those books you read on summer vacay and make it into a pumpkin book. I love the neutral, old world feel of the tea stained pages that make up this rustic pumpkin I found on Craftberry Bush.
Your supply list includes: an old paperback, a stick to act as the pumpkin stem, cardboard, scissors, hot glue gun, tea bag and ribbon(optional). First remove the front and back cover of the book-leaving the spine intact. Cut the cardboard into a half circle (or any shape you desire) and place on the book, trace and cut. Make a cup of hot tea then squeeze the tea bag over the pages to stain them. Once the pages are dry, glue the stick to the spine of the book. Then take the first and last few pages of the book and glue them together, making sure to adhere the pages to the stick as well. Add ribbon!
I love the holidays and creating my own decor using uncommon materials and colors. I’m working on more resourceful, affordable ideas. . .stay tuned to Spark and be inspired!!
Tags: DIY table decorations, holiday decor, pumpkins
Posted in Budget Friendly, DIY Projects, Family Friendly, Inspiration, accessories, decorative arts, general, how to, repurposed |
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posted by: Ashley on November 1st, 2011
While having a relaxing “mom movie” night watching Julie & Julia, I discovered not only the joy of cooking but the joy of the pegboard (don’t laugh). Towards the end of the movie, Julia Child is in her kitchen, hanging up her pots and pans. Her husband was outlining each piece so it would be [...]
Posted in Budget Friendly, Creative Spaces, DIY Projects, Design Solutions, Inspiration, Kitchens, Organizing, entryway, foyer, general, how to, living room, mudroom |
posted by: Misty on October 26th, 2011
For those who have small dining and kitchen areas, I often suggest built-in banquette seating to maximize the space. A banquette allows you to carve out little dining nooks in oddly shaped rooms or to double the width of free space in rectangular rooms. The long bench seat is perfect for piling up the kids [...]
Posted in DIY Projects, Design Solutions, Dining rooms, Family Friendly, Kitchens, entryway, foyer, how to, pillows |
posted by: Ashley on October 25th, 2011
Bored with your not-so-new or hand-me-down chairs? Give them a fresh makeover with a can of paint and some fun new fabric! I inherited a pair of iron bar stools from a relative years ago. When they fell into my hand hands, the stools were white and gold with almond colored “pleather” seats (yikes!) Immediately, [...]
Posted in DIY Projects, Design Solutions, Paint, color, fabric, furniture, general, vintage |
posted by: Misty on June 24th, 2011
Even though my sitting room isn’t entirely complete, I wanted to share this sweet space which has become a favorite for our family. In an effort to embrace the concept of “a little bit is better than nada”, I’m checking my perfectionism at the door and enjoying the progress that I have made so far. [...]
Posted in Budget Friendly, DIY Projects, Design Solutions, Family Friendly, Inspiration, Shopping, Style, accessories, furniture, general, living room, rugs, window treatments |
posted by: Misty on June 13th, 2011
There’s a Texas Tornado’s song that goes, “A little bit is better than nada, sometimes you want the whole enchilada”. Maybe it’s my craving for TexMex or maybe I’m just consoling myself, but these lyrics keep popping up in my head. When I think of all the decorating projects I want to do, the mundane [...]
Posted in Bedrooms, Budget Friendly, DIY Projects, Design Solutions, Dining rooms, Inspiration, Kitchens, Organizing, accessories, color, fabric, general, how to, pillows |
posted by: Ashley on May 13th, 2011
Ready to add a pop of color to your abode but don’t want to paint an entire room? You can always paint a piece of furniture like a bookshelf, table, stool or even the legs of an upholstered chair! The book shelf above is bright and unexpected. The entire unit is painted white, but then [...]
Posted in Budget Friendly, DIY Projects, Design Solutions, Inspiration, Paint, Style, color, combining styles, furniture, living room, modern |
posted by: Misty on April 15th, 2011
“We just got rid of a bunch of old furniture that we weren’t crazy about, and have a rug, wall color, and sofa that we like. I need end tables, but am having a hard time imagining what shape/size tables would work best. We will probably be either making them, or refurbishing them, so I [...]
Posted in Budget Friendly, DIY Projects, Design Solutions, Q & A, furniture, general, how to, living room, local, vintage |