Twisted Paper Pumpkins

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Yesterday was the first day of school for Miss A and with that, we officially close the door to summer and start ushering in fall at our house.  This means back to a normal routine instead of the hub bub and craziness of summer days and bringing out all the fall decor.  I love this part - putting all the vibrant colors and textures in our home to make it a cozy little retreat for those cool days that are coming.
I have been working on several fall projects the past few weeks and will be sharing them with you soon but, today I thought I would reshare a cute little pumpkin that I made a few years back.  It's a quick and easy project you might enjoy making and will get you in the mood for fall.


          DIY  Twisted Paper Pumpkins

Vintage Vignette for Fall

Hi everyone.  Can you believe Halloween is this Saturday - my how these days are flying by.  It will soon be time to start getting things ready for Christmas.  I'm not sure I am ready for this as it seems January was just last week.  However it is still Fall and today I am going to share a Vintage Vignette for Fall that I did in our hallway.

DIY Book Jackets

I love using old books in my decor.  I think they just give it a little more of that vintage look I love.    I also like to use different techniques to make them fit into the style I am using at the time.  Today I thought I would show you how to do a DIY book jacket that I use to change those books up in all sorts of ways. This jacket gives you the ability to customize those old books to fit your decor no matter the color or style.

DIY Valentine Mantel

As I said in Thursdays post I really don't do too much decorating for Valentines Day.  If I had my way I would probably skip it all together but Miss A likes to see the different holidays decorations and enjoys helping with them. So I do just enough to satisfy her and no more.  Today I am going to show you our very simple Valentine mantel.

Giant Pinwheel Flowers

Today I have a cute little project that you can use for your Valentine decor.  It's quick, easy and quite budget friendly. 

Hometalk - DIY Paper Organizer Board

Last summer I made a paper organizer from some cereal boxes I recycled and a bit of scrapbook paper I had on hand.  I loved this project and so did all of you because it has been quite a popular project.  I posted it to hometalk.com . Liz from hometalk saw it and asked me to put together a board on paper organizers.  I was so thrilled to do it because I still have a lot of papers that could use some corralling. 

Paper Bag Wreath

Written by Cathy Carroll

Hi Everyone,
If you have been following me for a while you know by now that when I find a technique or a medium I really like I kind of go overboard using it.  Well, this past week I introduced you to a fun project using brown paper lunch bags and made some of the cutest little rustic pumpkins with them.

How to Make Lunch Bag Pumpkins

Written by Cathy Carroll



Hi Everyone,
We are finally getting a little fall weather here - thrown in among some still very summer days. Today we were able to open the windows and let the wonderful fall beach breezes blow through the house.  I have been busy getting a couple more fall projects done to show you but am winding down now.   I thought I would bring you the tutorial for the lunch bag pumpkins I shared with you earlier this week as I have had several requests for it. ( It took me awhile to get the pictures taken and retaken as we have been having so many dark cloudy and rainy days.  I had to get them as I could.)

Lunch Bag Pumpkins

Written by Cathy Carroll


Hi Everyone,
Today I am going to show you my pumpkins I have been working on.  If you follow me on on Facebook I have been  teasing you with a couple of pictures of paper lunch bags cut into strips.  Well, now it the time to show you what I have done with those lunch bags....(drum roll)

Paper Strip Pumpkins for Fall

Hi everyone.

Has Fall found it's way to where you live yet.  Even though it's officially Fall some areas just haven't heard the news and are still in the throws of some very hot summer temps - we were until this morning when the rains came and the temps finally dropped down into the mid 60's.  This won't last long but, I am loving it while it does.

Paper Leaf Wreath

Last week I showed you my Fall Mantel and told you that I would be posting a tutorial about the paper leaf wreath I made as the feature of that mantel.  I had gotten the idea that I wanted to make a wreath out of paper this year when I was awake in the wee hours one night and my mind was working overtime as it does then.  Paper is one of my favorite mediums - next to paint and I love to create with it.  I love how this turned out and how it contrasts with the black chalkboard I mounted it on.  So without further ado I will tell you how to make this very simple wreath for yourself.

Fall Mantel

It's beginning to look a little like fall around here.  I finally got everything done to put my Fall Mantel together this weekend.  I really didn't have to do much because I already had most all these things but, with the temps and humidity we have been having I just was not motivated to put out pumpkins and fall leaves yet  This year I decided to go with the traditional colors of fall.  I love the oranges, golds and browns. that are so prevalent now.  Last year I did a more neutral design and although I liked it I wasn't in love with it.  

DIY Paper Organizer

I was in definite need of a paper organizer for my desk.  I am constantly putting papers that need to be attended to in small little piles all over my desk - thus they get in the way.  When I went in search of one they were so expensive I decided I could live life without a paper organizer or find a way to make one myself.  Then one morning Miss A left an empty cereal box on the kitchen counter for me and the wheels in my head started turning.  

TBT - July 4th Mantel

Since I decided to not to do a Patriotic vignette on my mantel this year and July 4th is just around the corner; I thought I would bring a couple of pictures from last year's mantel back to share with you.  The pictures are dark because it had been raining for days and our living room is quite dark - almost like a cave, it seems.  

DIY Decorative Box Storage

Written by: Cathy Carroll, Vintage, Paint and more...

I love decorative storage boxes.

You know those pretty ones that just make you drool when you see them.

I would need a truckload to get all my stuff organized into them
and
I just can't see spending that much money on something I can make myself. 

So, I decided to make my own decorative storage boxes.

Tissue Paper Valentine Wreath

Written by: Cathy Carroll

What about a hot pink tissue paper heart on a very black front door..... It definitely stands out....but, I like it.

So, today I am going to tell you how to make this really very simple bright heart wreath.

Fall Paper Crafting

Today I want to show you a few of my gall paper crafts.

I love working with paper.

Any kind of paper from

book pages to the elaborate scrapbook papers

just speak to me.

And, I absolutely am in love with words on any

form of medium.

I think there is nothing that can take it's place.

So, I would, of course, have to have paper crafting

included

in my Fall decor.

This little vignette is full of paper crafting.

It starts with a stack of books - no covers.

And on top is a dollar store pumpkin that I decoupaged with

book pages.

Then inked it to make it look rustic.

Then I glued some faux flowers and leaves on top.

The pumpkin on the left is a book page pumpkin made from

an old paper back book that I added a stick stem

and a piece of burlap to.

The subway art is a piece of plywood

I painted with black chalkboard paint

and

then applied a rub on sticker to that I had from years ago.

All three of these items I made last year.

The owl came from Michael's this year

and I love it sitting here looking so cute.

This wreath I made several years ago.

The flowers are all cut with the Cricut from scrapbook papers.

The centers of the flowers

are large brads, buttons, ribbons, whatever I had on hand.

Faux leaves were added to the cardboard base

before the flowers were glued on.

This is a very simple project

and I love the bright colors in it.

This simple paper vignette sits on top of our bookcase.

How appropriate book page crafts

above books -

quite thought provoking don't you think....

What is your favorite go to medium for crafting with?

Do you use old paper books in any way?

Until next time

have fun creating something you love...

Click here to see the parties I am linking to this week.

Please visit them and see all the great projects and inspiration found there.... 

July 4th Decor

Written by Cathy Carroll for Vintage, Paint and more...                                           

Hi, everyone....

Today I am going to show you some of our July 4th decor.  I don't decorate very much for the 4th...We are usually traveling or so very busy I don't have the time.  But, this year I decided to do the mantle and the entryway.