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 Has Sprung - In the Dining Room

Earlier this week I told you that I was laying the "foundation" for spring decorating in our home. Well, I did get a few areas completed, others are still in progress.  Sadly, our weather here in northeastern NJ is not indicating spring has arrived. My hope is these decorations will set the mood for the season of renewal that is hopefully on its way. 

The first area completed was the sideboard vignette in the dining room. I used the word "HOP" decorated last year and hung over it a small banner that says "hippety" which I created using my Cricut machine (Pretty Pennant & Lyrical cartridges). The eggs are paper mache that I painted in coordinating colors. The candy in the jar was changed to pastel colored jelly beans.

My second task was to make a display for the artificial Gerber daisies also purchased last year. The tall green pail was a sale purchase made at the end of season last year. In the bottom, there is a layer of stones securing the daisies and twigs in place. A layer of green Spanish moss was added at the top of the pail to cover the stem area. Of course, a green bow completes the look. This display is on a table in my living room and adds a nice pop of color to this corner.  

In the picture above, you can see on the wall next to the kitchen pass through the twig wall hanging that I've decorated in seasons past (Thanksgiving, Christmas). I decided to give this a little spring touch. I found small wooden flowers and tags at Micheal's and painted them in coordinating colors to the card stock being used on the items for my mantle scape. The letter tiles were glued on and I use fine twine to attach those and the flower pieces to the twigs.

Next week, I will have the mantle scape completed and also have flowers in the dining room centerpiece, so come on back! 

Happy Spring!!

Spring? Really?!!

Its hard to get "into" decorating for spring when snow is still falling here in northern New Jersey. Last night, we got a light blanket of the white stuff. Thankfully, the temperature today and the sunshine have  helped in melting this white blanket. 

This afternoon I decided to lay the "foundation" for the spring decorations I will be using in the dining room. My living room decorations are still in the process of being completed, so I haven't started that room yet.

My first task was to "dress" the dining room table.

I found a "runner" roll of burlap fabric at Michaels which I cut to fit the length of the dining room table. In the pedestal vase, I inserted a smaller vase that I will use for spring flowers and put green Spanish moss around the base of the vase. I will be adding another feature to the vase, once I've completed it.  You'll just have to stay tuned to see what that element is.

Next, I worked on the side board. 

I used more of the burlap "runner" on this unit. The rest of the elements are in the works. Stay tuned!

Finally, I worked on the front window sill.

Several years ago, I purchased a long tin "tray" that I use on this window sill (and sometimes on my dining room table) to display seasonal decorations. This time, I placed some of the green Spanish moss in tray. My plan is for the kids to display their colored Easter eggs on the moss.  

My goal is to have the rest of the decorations, minus the Easter eggs, in place by the weekend. Come on back and see how it all looks!!

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. 

Spring is Coming Up at the Wessel House

We have started with our Spring/Easter decorating here at the house.

The first task was the centerpiece for the dining table. The vase is filled with Sweettart jelly beans and Peep bunnies. Emily chose the daisies which are dyed these beautiful bright colors. As we get closer to Easter, the flowers will be changed to my favorite, tulips - or maybe hyacinths. Next on the agenda, Peep wreath topiaries. Stay tuned for a picture. :)