I inspired someone else!

My friend Mandy just sent a picture of the Fall leaf wreath that she made.  She used an 8x10 frame and the little blown glass acorn.  So cute!

Trash to Treasure!

I love refurbishing old furniture!  I have about 4 projects sitting in my garage right now, waiting for some magic.   I don't know if it was the nice weather today, but I finally completed a furniture project.

This is an old piano bench that I picked up at Goodwill about 4 months ago...

Isn't she a beauty?  I love the carved detail on the legs and the fact that it could be a really neat storage piece...

 

Oh, what sorts of treasures could I put in here?

It was covered in this lovely burnt orange (really more the color of baby poop!) crushed velvet...

 

So with a little Rustoleum White Spray Paint and striped fabric I found in the clearance bin for $4 a yard at Hancock's, the bench now looks like this...

 

 

I apologize for the "shadowy" pics.  I was taking them at night and trying not to use the flash.

Total cost of this little 30 minute project?  $22 ($15 for the bench, $4 for fabric, $3 spray paint)

I don't know exactly where I will put it yet, but for now, it's in front of the tall mirror in my foyer.  Maybe I will put umbrellas in the storage compartment!

 

The dreaded "Kid's Table" (i.e. Things to distract your little turkeys!)

Okay, can I just say that I hate the bad wrap that the "Kid's Table" gets at Thanksgiving.  My son never wants to stay at the kid's table (and who can blame him?)  He'll usually end up in my lap midway through dinner (he's 8....yes.....it's a problem).

This year, I will have a plan, yes I will.  The kids table will be so awesome even the adults will want to sit there.  I've been pulling some ideas together and here are all the things I'm pondering at the moment...

Use white or brown butcher paper to cover the kids' table.   Construct a marker or crayon holder using 1/2 a styrofoam ball (craft store) and construction paper to make a turkey or pilgrim.  Kids can create a Thanksgiving masterpiece while they eat!

(photo FamilyFun.com)

Or, use a mason jar tied with raffia to hold crayons...

(photo nofussfabulous.com)

Use a few crayons tied to the napkin with raffia for a cute kids' placesetting...

(photo nofussfabulous.com)

Or personalize their napkins with a pilgrim photo...

(photo Familyfun.com)

Create an awesome centerpiece they'll love to dine under.  Use a large golf umbrella.  Hot glue or velcro paper Fall leaves (cut out or premade) to create a leaf canopy.  Underneath, use fishing line to attach random leaves.  It will look like they are "falling" from the "tree".  To secure, place in a tall glass container filled with unpopped popcorn.

(photo Rachael Ray)

Here's a closeup of the base for the falling leaves centerpiece...

(photo Rachael Ray)

And there's scores of Turkey Day activity pages you can download and print.  I think I will make an activity book tied with raffia.  That'll keep 'em busy for awhile!  Here are some FREE downloads (click on the links)

So cute from BHG - An "About Me" page they can fill in and draw a self portrait...

http://www.bhg.com/servlet/securePdf.dyn?file=/bhg/securepdf/BHGplacemat-aboutme.pdf

A Thanksgiving crossword (BHG)...

http://www.bhg.com/servlet/securePdf.dyn?file=/bhg/securepdf/BHGplacemat-puzzle.pdf

A Silly Turkey placemat...

http://www.bhg.com/servlet/securePdf.dyn?file=/bhg/securepdf/printables_pm_turkey.pdf

A pumpkin coloring page...

http://www.bhg.com/servlet/securePdf.dyn?file=/bhg/securepdf/printables_co_pumpkin.pdf

Good luck putting together your own Lil Turkey Table!

Let's talk "turkey"!

Well, did you survive Halloween?  I did....barely.  I caught a nasty cold last Wednesday and was down, and I do mean DOWN, for 3 days.  We were supposed to attend an adult Halloween party Friday night, but instead I was holed up on the couch with Robitussin and cough drops, fun!  Our costumes were so awesome!  We were supposed to go as "white trash" -- Brett had a mullet, wife beater, prison ankle bracelet.  And moi?  I was going to be the pregnant "trophy wife" complete with mini skirt, fishnets, cowboy boots and "bun in the oven" shirt.  Oh well, there's always next year.  I was feeling better by Saturday, so I got to enjoy Halloween with the kiddos.  I've missed my little blog!  Sorry I was out of commission!

So, the Halloween garb comes down and now for the marathon that is Thanksgiving!  I've posted several decorating ideas, but want to focus today on "the feast", specifically your Thanksgiving table.  Now, if you are lucky enough to NOT be hosting Thanksgiving this year, enjoy!  For those of us who will be slaving over a hot stove & cleaning baseboards, read on...

I found some really cute placecards on HGTV.  Just click on the link to download the template.  I HEART FREEBIES!

http://web.hgtv.com/webhgtv/images/pac/2008/thanksgiving/pdfs/HG_Thanksgiving_Place-Cards_Final.pdf

Here's what they look like.  Cuteness!

HGTV recommends surrounding each card with chocolates (do they make chocolate turkeys?), nuts or fall leaves.  Another cute idea is to place the card in an empty wine glass and garnish with the above items.  Or cut a small slit in a gourd (love me some gourds!) and insert placecard.

Or, use a pinecone to hold the placecard, like so...

(photo BHG)

Now on to placesettings.  Here are some that I love!

I absolutely love this centerpiece for it's "un-fussiness".  I am SO not a napkin folder, and I love how the napkin is just tucked over the plate.  The coffee mug on top with the pinecone is adorable!

(photo HGTV)

Monogrammed mini pumpkins!  How cute is that?!

(photo BHG)

Don't buy napkin rings, it's so last year! Ha!  No really, don't spend money on rings when you can make your own at a fraction of the cost!  Just take cute harvest ribbon or suede cord, tie around your folded napkin, and tuck in a sprig of dried flowers, like bittersweet.

 (photo BHG)

We serve our Thanksgiving dinner buffet-style, which leaves room for a beautiful table centerpiece.  Here are some of my favorites!

This centerpiece is simple, yet beautiful.  White pumpkins, metallic painted gourds (spray paint, baby!) and simple candles in classic holders.

 

(photo HGTV)

This is a great idea!  Candles & loosely arranged potpourri!  Now there's a way to use that dusty bag of potpourri that you were given as a gift, but can't bear to re-gift, right?

(photo HGTV)

When you're at the store picking up your bird, buy some unpopped corn for a creative, simple centerpiece.  I love decorating from the grocery store!

 

(photo BHG)

Here's that same corn idea, kicked up a notch.  They layered unpopped corn & a variety of dried flowers and greenery.  Still easy, but a totally different look!

 

(photo BHG)

Now dat is just the cutest wittle pumpkin centerpiece I ever did see! (okay, cheesiness overflowing this morning)

 (photo BHG)

Okay seriously, this one would take all of 5 minutes to put together.  I love that!  Make a cone (ala cornucopia) out of doubled wrapping paper.  I love the map print they used in the picture, but you could use any beautiful wrapping paper.  Arrange fruit &/or veggies from the market to appear they are spilling out of the cornucopia.  Again, grocery store decorating, gotta love it!

(photo BHG)

Another grocery store idea!  They used kumquats in their vase, but I think clementines would be cute too (and probably cheaper!)

(photo BHG)

I love a centerpiece with a touch of whimsy.  This candle message centerpiece was created with 2 colors of felt.  Use any size pillar candle (they used minis in the pictures. Look at the dollar store for cheapo pillar candles).  Measure and cut one color of felt to cover each candle.  Secure with fabric or hot glue.  Cut out your message in a different color felt and glue on.  Some other cute messages might be:  "Turkey Time", "Thankful", "We Are Thankful", "Bless This House", or how about "Thanks" in different languages?  The possibilities are endless.  I love this idea. 

(photo Country Living)

Thanks for sharing, my friends!

My sweet friend, Sunny, just shared a wreath she made for her front door.  She was "inspired" by one of the projects I posted a couple of weeks ago.  Thanks Sunny, for taking the idea and making it even cuter than the original!  Here's what she did:

Take an old picture frame (take out the glass & backing) and hot glue silk leaves to the front.  You can use any size frame!

I love that she used silk leaves that have a little "sparkle" (I'm such a girlie girl and anything sparkly just "has me at hello"!)  She attached a little blown glass acorn on a ribbon for extra cuteness.  Sunny, share where you got that cute ornament.

If you try out one of the ideas I post please share with me!  You can post on my Facebook, if we are friends there, or email me at kendall@digiteconline.com

OR, if you have a different, cute, easy and most of all CHEAPO decorating project, please share that as well.  I'm always hunting for new ideas to decorate without pawning jewelry!

I also want to share another blog with you that I absolutely HEART.  If you are looking for absolutely adorable and unique things for your next party, head over to my friend, Brandy's blog:

www.simplycreativeinsanity.blogspot.com

Is that not the cutest blog name ever?  Brandy is one of my dear friends from high school, now a stay-at-home Mom & entrepreneur party planner & consultant in the Dallas area.  Enjoy!

5 minute Halloween/Harvest decorations! Quick, easy, & no stress!

Here are some really quick & easy Halloween/Harvest decorations I found this morning.  These take 5 minutes MAX to put together!

(photo BHG)

Candy Corn in a clear glass container with ANY fresh flowers!  Easy and super cute!

(photo BHG)

Use simple construction paper shapes and tape to embellish a simple glass dish!

(photo BHG)

Cut a runner out of orange felt.  Cut the same size out of brown felt.  Cut small circles in the brown felt runner.  Layer on top of the orange.

(Photo BHG)

Use fluorescent green foam circles (craft store) Cut into crescent moon shapes.  Use double stick tape to secure them to a tree to look like creepy eyes!

(photo BHG)

Cut Halloween shapes out of black construction paper and tape to the inside of your windows.  When the room is lit, the shapes will glow!

(photo BHG)

Use strips of orange construction paper secured to a glass votive holder at top and bottom with tape, forming a pumpkin shape.  Add a leaf cut out of green construction paper.  Drop a votive candle in for instant cuteness!

More harvest decorating at Kendall's house

I've completed a few more updates and my home is ready for Halloween & Thanksgiving.


I have bookshelves in my entry, but didn't want to completely dismantle what I already had on the shelves.

Instead, I just added a few pumpkins and harvest items to the mix...

This is the arrangement I made last week with the little pumpkins and gourds I got at the pumpkin patch 6 for $3.  I already had the glass container.  I elevated it on orange and yellow books.  I already had the red coral, but thought it still worked with the colors.

I already had the white pearl vase, and just added some burnt orange silk flowers I found at Hobby Lobby for $2

I already had the Ethiopian basket (it usually holds rocks and small candles).  I arranged mini pumpkins & gourds and a few silk leaves and branches.

This is a fiber optic haunted house that I've had for years.  It changes colors and is super tacky but I love it!

Instead of removing things from the shelves, I just added in little pumpkins tied with raffia.

I've also had this little light up pumpkin "house" for a long time.  I just put it on the bottom bookshelf on top of a stack of books.

I spent a total of about $15 on this bookshelf arrangement!

Ssshhhh, don't tell Pottery Barn!

I just love Pottery Barn style, but I hate paying PB prices!  Look at the hurricane candle arrangement I "reinterpreted" for $7 a piece!

Here is the inspiration, courtesy of Pottery Barn...

And here is the Kendall "on the cheap" reinterpretation!

I found the hurricanes at Hobby Lobby for $5.99 a piece.  I layered river rocks in the bottom (PB used nuts or acorns).  I had the pillar candles already.  I used 2 silk Fall leaves layered on top of each other and tied in the middle of the candle with a piece of dark brown raffia.  I tucked a sprig of Fall berries on the side, and voila!  Cute fall arrangement "on the cheap"!  Pottery Barn is charging $59 for just each hurricane, without all the stuff inside!  Wow!

I added a wooden bowl full of gourds and mini pumpkins to the arrangement....

And the whole thing looks like this....

 

It sits on the sideboard in my formal dining room.

I also put together this little arrangement...

 

I used mini pumpkins and gourds to fill a tall footed glass container.  I filled in the holes with silk fall leaves and berry sprigs.  Total cost for this project?  $6, the cost of the pumpkins.  I already had the container & leaves.   By the way, find a local pumpkin patch to buy these mini pumpkins.  I got a great deal on mine at 6 for $3.  Also, Hobby Lobby is running 50% off their Fall decorations right now!