I Love When Autumn Comes Indoors

For me it is an understatement to say, "I love the fall season". If only one season could exist, I would choose autumn. This year I was late in getting the seasonal decorations displayed in our home. The task was on my "to do" list for many weeks but other projects took precedence. Finally, one Saturday I put the decorations at the top of the list and took action. 

I started in the living room. My goal was not to have to buy any new decor this year using the items I have in a different way. The fireplace and mantle tend to be the place that I always begin. Last year, I used the swag of leaves in a basket outdoors with artificial gourds. This year I brought it indoors and wrapped it on the iron scroll work that hangs above the mantle. Usually I would scatter the wooden pumpkins through the house but I saw on Pinterest how one person filled their fireplace with pumpkins, so I did my own version of that by placing the pumpkins in front of the fireplace opening. I love the look of candles glowing this time of year so I placed a few of my lantern/candle holders on the mantle. To say I am pleased with the outcome is an understatement.

To the left of the fireplace, we have a CD cabinet. Usually I would do a flower arrangement for the dining room table but chose to make one and place it here in this "alcove". In the vase covering the artificial flowers stems, is Spanish moss, a small artificial pumpkin and some mini pine cones. Surrounding the base of the vase, are some artificial gourds. There is a funny story about this arrangement. When I finished it and was walking it through the living room toward the cabinet Matt was following me and said very seriously, "Is that your best idea?" I have to say I was a little taken back by his comment. I asked him what he meant by that to which he replied again, "Is that your best idea?" I guess my kids have come to expect more from me when it comes to my creations. Even with Matt's unexplained comment, I'm so pleased with how this looks.

I do have a few other fall themed vignettes on tables in the living room but did not photograph them. What I love is how the whole look makes the room have that fall warmth I love!

In the dining room, I used a "vased" candle for the table centerpiece. Surrounding the candle is Spanish moss topped with artificial acorns and pine cones. On top of the computer cabinet, I places 3 different sized artificial pumpkins.  I kept the decorations very simple in here as we utilize this room not only for meals but homework and some craft projects that "spill out" of my craft room. 

The only other area that I had left to decorate was the window sill of the the dining room picture window. I purchased a long metal tray several years ago which fits perfectly on the sill. I filled it using 3 wooden pumpkins and laid some acrylic fall colored leaves in the tray.

As for the outdoor fall decor (which I don't have pictures of), last year Dave and the kids carved artificial pumpkins so we don't have to carve new ones each year. I did take the kids to get real pumpkins, Emily and I placed ours outside but Matt chose to keep his in his room. The only other decor are autumn themed flags, and two metal corn cob stakes.....oh and of course, the front and back doors both have wreaths.

One thing I love about the fall decor is that it stays out for not only October but the majority of November (we put up our Christmas decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving). Now the smell of my Yankee Candle apple cider candle and the taste of warm apple cider make the whole fall ambiance come together. Ahhh...yummy autumn, so glad you are here!

Spring has Sprung - Inside the Wessel Home

Yay!!! I'm happy to say that I have completed all the spring decorating inside our home.

The weather outside is still not cooperating with the concept that it is officially spring but thankfully we did not receive the 2 - 3 inches of snow predicted for today, just rain. 

On my previous post Spring? Really?!!, I had laid the foundation for the dining room centerpiece. Today, I added some painted paper mache eggs and bought some beautiful yellow tulips to complete the "look". 

I also placed the remaining painted paper mache eggs in the window sill tray. My plan is still to put the kid's decorated eggs in this tray.

Here is a picture of my spring mantle scape. My previous post Spring Decorations - In Progress gave details on the photo cube word display made for the mantle.  

I chose to make this display dual functioning by having on the other side of the word "Bloom" the word "Risen" which will be displayed for Easter.

Using the same card stock from the photo cubes, I created this photo tray using pictures of my kids from last Easter. I used several sticker embellishments to make the tray pop.

The last mantle feature is the candlestick display. I will admit I do need to spend a little more time on my topiary skills but I'm happy with my first attempts. The "cones" were purchased at Michaels during the Christmas season and intended for a future Christmas display but I changed gears and used them here. I had previously painted them a pine green and covered them with burlap. On both, I used flower pieces and colored twine left over from the scroll piece decorating. For the final candlestick, I covered a Yankee candle with a piece of burlap and embellished it with twine.

In the end, I am pleased with the outcome and love the look of spring....now if only the weather would cooperate.  

Spring Decorations are in Progress

Spring is coming and our home decorations are in the works. 

Normally, I would decorate a word appropriate to the season for my fireplace mantel scape. This season I decided I wanted something a little different. 

When I started crafting, the first projects I made were decorated photo cubes. So, I returned to my "roots" and decided to make these photo cube holder that display the word "Bloom". 

I painted the cubes a mustard yellow, then mod podged on a multi floral card stock. I used the other side of that same card stock (yellow dotted) for the word portion of the craft.  The "bloom" flowers were cut with my Cricut machine along with the letters. When I completed the cubes and word, I felt it needed a little something so I added the turquoise jewels to the top of the cubes.

Now, part of the spring season includes Easter and I didn't want to have to make a whole new fireplace scape so, I decided to make these photo cubes multipurpose. I used the other side of the word "bloom" and spelled out "risen".

To finish the mantle scape, I'll create a photo tray using the same card stock. I also painted some wooden flower shapes in coordinating colors with the card stock that I will hang on the scroll work that hangs above the mantle. 

For the completed mantle scape, you will have to come back and check in later next week (I'm hoping to have it done by then). In the dining room, I usually create a small vignette on my side hutch. I will be using the word "HOP" I made last year and creating a small banner above that says "Hippety". For my dining table centerpiece, all I can tell you is that it includes the eggs painted below and green Spanish moss.  

I'm looking forward to both designs coming together and of course to the change of season they signify. 

Winter Home Decorating

I love decorating our home for the holidays and seasons.  

Several years ago, I was into collecting snowmen. After the Christmas decorations would go away the snowmen would make their appearance. Slowly my love of snowmen faded and I sold most of them in garage sales keeping only a few treasured little "men".  

This is the first year, in many, I decided to decorate for the winter season and snow.  

Because I didn't have much in the way of winter decor, I slowly started creating pieces for the season.  I started by first making the "Let it Snow" banner which I outlined in a previous post.  

My fireplace mantle is the main feature that I decorate in my home. Starting left to right are the mantle items.

1.) The wooden sled I used on my dining room table for my Christmas centerpiece. Here I have it leaning against the fireplace stone.

2.) Using a photo tray I created a winter/snow collage using pictures of Emily, Matt and Dave playing in one of last year's snow falls. The background paper I used in the tray coordinates with the paper on the word "snow".

3.) A snowflake cut candle holder.

4.) My snow "word". I painted the paper mache letters in a dark blue acrylic paint and then decoupage on a snowflake patterned paper which coordinates to the paper used in the photo tray. Also on each letter (which is not visible in the picture), I adhered some crystal snowflakes. 

5.) I used the white pillar candle holders I purchased from Pier One and placed pine cones on them in lieu of candles. I like the natural element this display brings.

Here is a close up picture of the sled & photo tray.

A close up of the word "snow" and the candle stick vignette.

Here is a picture of the full look of the fireplace and mantle scape.

The winter season decorating continued in the dining room. On the table, I have a long copper tray in which I placed two white glittered candle pine trees I purchased as Christmas decor. I added pinecones for a natural look and then poured bath salts on top of the pine cones and in the bottom of the tray to mimic the look of snow. On the buffet, I placed a large white candle in one of my wide candle holders. Around the candle, I poured the mineral salts and added small pine cones on top of the salts. Around the candle feature, I placed four white glittered pinecones that I purchased at Christmas. These pinecones are LED lit and cast a nice warm glow. 

When it comes to winter decorating, I like to keep it simple and as natural as possible. I do still have to decorate the branch feature I've used for Thanksgiving & Christmas.  I'm planning on doing some type of snow flake to decorate it with but have not decided what medium to use. 

 Here is a close up of the tray centerpiece on the dining room table.

The candle feature on the buffet. 

So far, I'm pretty happy with the decorating details. Now all we need is some snow outside.  

Seasonal Scape - Valentines Day

This year I'm really getting into celebrating the holidays. I was going to make a spot in the house where I would have my seasonal collage and then have our family initial but I changed it up and decided I would put the collage and a word created for the holiday/season on the fireplace mantel. "Love" tends to be the word for valentines day but I wanted to be different, so I decided to do "kiss". If you look closely, you will see that the paper on the word matches to the paper in the collage. The question is what season/holiday will I be "creating" for next. I'm thinking we may have an homage to Winter/snow even though there hasn't been much of that this month. After that I think we will move on to Spring/Easter.