So Sweet Doily Fireplace Swag

I saw a darling fireplace swag on another blog (can't remember which one ... sorry) and knew I wanted to create something similar for my fireplace. Using twine, doilies, and handkerchiefs I came up this this. I absolutely love it ... it turned out so cute and was so easy. I just hung the twine then randomly draped the doilies and hankies over it.

Best part about it is the items I used. Most of the doilies and all of the handkerchiefs came from my mother. They originally belonged to her, my Grandma Frantz, or my Grandma Prescott. Thank you Mom for these precious items.

I love my doily/hanky collection and use them all the time as part of the decor in my little apartment. Here are a few examples ...

Is this not the cutest thing ever ... It's like a little clothes line - wooden clothespins included!! I got the idea from daughter Michelle when I visited this past summer. It hangs on the wall in my bedroom. The quilt square was given to me by my mother - pieced together by my Grandma Frantz. My Grandma Prescott made the gold and white pot holder. The picture you seeing is my Grand-Daughter Kaitlin. It is her Baptism Announcement. I just love all the fabulous things hanging from my little clothes line.

My Warm and Cozy Fall Decor

I love pulling out my decorations for Fall and Thanksgiving even though those items are only up for a few short weeks every year. I also love to decorate with lots of "found" objects - Items that I have collected over the years or found as I make my many thrift store stops. In the past few years I have used a scarecrow theme for Fall ... but this year I changed it up a bit and followed more of a warm fall colors theme. I have loved coming home from work every day - lighting a spicy smelling candle from B&BW and relaxing with a cup of hot apple cider. YUMMY!!

This plate holder is from Southern Living. It is hanging in the entryway. I was stumped on how to decorate it for Fall. I hung the fabulous pilgrim head from it (a gift from my sis Sharon) and everything else just kinda fell in to place. That's what I love about using "found" objects as I decorate - it's always turns out different and unique. I love using lots of textures, shapes and color when I decorate. I loved how the silver tray looks behind the white serving platter. The little sign that says "corn" was made by Matthew when he was in Kindergarten. I have a hard time parting with my kids school projects so I went through them and put them away with my seasonal decorations. I love the memories as I pull out those boxes each season and use them around my home and office. :-)

I made these little pilgrims as part of Thanksgiving Wreath - it looked so dated when I pulled it out this year - so I pulled it apart. I attached pretty ribbon to the pilgrims and hung them from the plate holder. So-So CUTE!!

I have had a hard time parting with my "book page" eggs that I mod podged at Easter time - but don't they look great in this display in front of my fireplace. The wooden turkey is at least 10+ years old ... it is made to hold suckers as tail feathers, but I think it looks just great without the suckers. (Which can be hard to find!!!)

Once again more texture and color. I pulled out the Spanish Moss "nests" that I used with all my birds nests last Spring ... I think the Dollar Store pumpkin looks fabulous on top of the moss.

This is one of the TP pumpkins from an earlier post. Notice the tie around the glass cylinder - it's an old T-Shirt. I love the way it looks next to the other glass objects. The tray is from Southern Living - I use it year round. I have used it on my table and as a breakfast tray on my bed ... LOL

This leaf is made out of twigs. When I saw it at Home Goods last year I just had to have it! Notice the opened picture frames. I'm totally obsessed with those and have used them in several difference mantle-scapes this year. The also love the smoothness of the glasses next to the little turkey carved from some type of pod (?) I received as a gift from a friend about 10 years ago ... it's such a unique piece and reminds me of her when I pull out my boxes of decorations every Fall.

TP Pumpkins

This is a very easy craft that can be used as a decoration or gift throughout the Fall Season. A cute pumpkin made using a roll of toilet paper, fabric and ribbon. Kevin and I made them in just a few minutes (he made some as a surprise for Ashley ... sweet!!) We used torn fabric strips, ribbon, and raffia for the bows. I had an old stick in my craft stash in the garage ... Kevin cut that up for the pumpkin stems. They turned out so-so Fabulous!! I love the colors of Fall and Halloween!!!

Stash Busting Faux Feather Wreath

I have been obsessing over a fabulous black feather wreath that I saw at Home Goods a few weeks ago, but keeping to my stash busting pledge I stayed away from the store ... (talk about hard to do!!!) Anyway - I remembered this no cost alternative that I saw a while ago on a crafty type blog as I was digging through my stash busting box. (I don't remember the blog ... so sorry that I can't give credit were due :-(

I took white plastic grocery bags, cut away the printing. Then cut the remaining bag in to squares about 5 x 5". I then took a Dollar Store Styrofoam wreath, punched holes in it - then gathered 3-4 squares of plastic, put a little bit of hot glue in the hole and shoved the plastic squares into the holes. (Sorry ... no pictures of this process...) I then spray painted the whole thing black.

No it's not a fabulous feather wreath ... but I think it turned out darling and cost me nothing ... all thanks to the September Stash Busting Challenge!!! (I know ... I need to use a better camera!!! LOL)

More Dotty Flower Fun

Had so much fun making the super simple "dotty" flowers -(and had plenty of supplies in my Stash Busting box) - that I made another wreath.

I think it turned out so cute ... and it will look great on the entry table until I get out the Halloween decorations. :-)

Used up more of the burlap and fabric scraps that I used on the 8o's restyle wreath -but I am starting to run out of glue sticks. (YIKES!!!) Guess it's time to move to the Stash Busting sewing projects!!!

Stash Busting Update

I have been busting stash like crazy ... here is the short version of a few more finished projects. (Forgive my bad photography ... I am too lazy to get the camera so I just grab my phone ...ugh!)



From old frames to fabulous neat looking file cabinet display - (remember frames from previous post ... don't they look great in my office!)







From old (like totally 80's ...LOL) wreath to cute new dotty flower fall wreath. (Look at those ugly bows ... ick!!)







From boring binder clips to fun Halloween giftee for co-workers,

These were so easy to make. Just apply scrapbook paper to the clip with Modge Podge. I used distress ink on the edges and added a cute Halloween emblishment that I had in my stash. You can use them to hold pictures, place cards, love notes. So darling and so quick and easy to make.

Starting to Bust Some Stash ....

I have actually finished several projects thanks to the September Stash Busting Challenge at The T-Shirt Diaries blog. Theses projects are not anything new or innovative. They may not even be creative to most of you, but I am happy cause they are now finally done and crossed off my list.

Tin Can Office Supply Organizers:

I save tin cans ?!?!? Look how cute these turned out. I covered them with burlap and jute, added fabric bows and flowers. They look so cute in the teacher's workroom at my school.

Bathroom Rules Sign:

I have had these vinyl letters for over two (2) years (Yikes!) but take a look now. Sprayed the recycled frame with black paint, covered the matting with burlap, and added a few fabric flowers. So-so darling (can you use the word darling and/or add flowers on something hanging in a bathroom used by boys ... LOL)

White Serving Tray:

Spray painted this blue tin serving tray Heirloom White. Then took a piece of cardboard, covered it with burlap (see the burlap theme here ... had 2 yards of it in my stash!!) and added a black bow. When I get tired of the burlap I can just change it out by removing the cardboard piece. It put the tin can supply organizers on it and put it in the teachers workroom at my school ... it looks so-so cute and will keep all those supplies teachers use within arms reach.)

Also spray painted several picture frames ... took them to work to help organize the photos on the side of my file cabinet. I will share pictures in my next post.

Thanks Robin for your blog!!! Loving the challenge of not purchasing anything new .... checking off projects everyday!!!