Monday, October 12, 2009

{Fall}ing for Autumn Decor

{Editing this post to link to Julia's fun and fabulous Fall Tour at Hooked on Houses. Check out Julia's party for some wonderful Fall inspiration!}



I finally got my rear end in gear last week, and set to work at painting some faux pumpkins that I purchased from Michaels at 50% off.

My inspiration was Amanda at Imperfectly Beautiful. I fell in love with her adorable personalized pumpkins and knew I had to give that project a shot.

Here's (part of) my first try at a "T" pumpkin. I just free-handed my letter on the pumpkin with pencil, and then used black acrylic paint to trace with. I've never painted anything decorative before, and I'm sure you can tell!

Here's a look at the top of the TV armoire in our Family room. I really do like how the polka dot pumpkins turned out. I found a set of little round stencil brushes and just dabbed those polka dots right on.


I used my made-over, yard sale pedestal to make a little arrangement on the Kitchen sideboard.
I worked on the striped Dollar Tree pumpkin after I did my polka dot pumpkins and paired it with two little pumpkins I found in my Fall decorations bin. They still had tags on them, so I must have found them at the end of last season. Two thumbs up for me for having foresight!


Close-up of the cutesy faux stuff on top of the pumpkins:


Here's the top of my Kitchen hutch. I am not so much into the rooster craze anymore, but I do bring them out when Fall rolls around. I added one more "T" pumpkin.

Natalie herself helped me with this little arrangement for our Kitchen table. She calls the big pumpkin the "Mommy" pumpkin. Hmmmm.....(??!)

If you can please pretend you can't see the tsunami of toys in the background of this picture, I'll show you my dining room centerpiece.
I think my burlap table runner transitioned into the Fall season quite nicely. I used two books to give my cardboard/twine pumpkin some height.


Glittery pumpkins and pine cones!

Tiny urn with mossy stuff and a leetle bitty glitter pumpkin....

I have a bookcase in one corner of the Dining room that I never know what to do. My friend Shawna found the most adorable black tinsel cat at CVS and I knew I had to have one.
I added a festive Fall bow and some apothecaries with candy and mini dried pumpkins. Michaela Byrd thinks it's a real cat. I hate to break her heart and tell her otherwise.

Other side of the bookcase top. I used whatever candy corn T has not eaten to fill up a large candle holder.
Mmm...what a close-up. I have a love-hate relationship with candy corn. A few pieces are not so bad, but overindulging in this stuff makes you feel like a pumpkin past its prime.

I'm ending this post now to go see if T ate all the rest of the candy corn.

Go see some more fun DIY projects at Kimba's A Soft Place to Land. (online tonight after 10pm)

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32 comments:

  1. I love the personalized pumpkin! I'm bad at fall decorating, I'm so lazy and waiting for Christmas stuff. But, I did get inspired by Martha (you know her, she has a TV show? We're tight :) ). I'll post it to Kimba's party too.

    Yay for not letting blog stealers get us down!

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  2. GREAT job....everything looks very festive and FALL ish!!!

    Suzanne

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  3. Such cute fall decorations! This makes me want to decorate some more places around my house for fall...thanks for the good ideas :)

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  4. Your painted pumpkins turned out really cute, I need more fall decorations - headed to dollar tree and goodwill today, maybe I can find a few little things.

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  5. It all looks so nice! Your painted pumpkins turned out really well. I was curious to see what you'd do!

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  6. You are so cute. And prepared. I've done a bit of fall decorating, but my house is such a huge mess you can't tell. Great job!

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  7. VERY CUTE decor of Fall and Halloween!

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  8. It's very cute! Love the polka dot pumpkins, and you did a good job on the painted initial.

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  9. Everything looks so festive! I'm jealous- I've been such a slacker with autumn decor!

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  10. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!! Your polka dot pumpkins turned out great. I'm envious of your letter painting talents, I can't do anything without a stencil.

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  11. Well now Amanda! You DO have a very creative side. I KNEW it! Love those pumpkins and your yard sale pedestal all dressed up for autumn. It all looks just great!!!
    Donna

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  12. ummm, I LOVE the polka dot pumpkins. That is the cutest thing, and I haven't seen a yellow and black painted pumpkn anywhere else. It looks so fresh and fun!

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  13. Methinks it's time to get some white pumpkins and get some polka-dot paintin' a'goin on!

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  14. These are so cute. You cant go wrong decorating with pumpkins. I cant wait to get mine started this year.

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  15. YOU go GIRL!!! I love it. I bet your house is so cozy and festive :)

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  16. Your painted pumpkins are adorable!! Great job!

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  17. Your painted pumpkins look great. I haven't painted any yet this year. I guess I should get busy. Thanks for sharing.

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  18. Great job with all of your Fall Decor! Isn't it amazing what a little paint will dress up?!

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  19. Your home is just LOVELY! Everything you did turned out so good. I love the apothecary jars filled with candy and goodies. And I love that black cat. How cute! Your place looks wonderful and I bet everyone enjoys seeing it when they come over!
    Blessings,
    Debbie

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  20. Amanda, Those are too cute! I haven't done any fall decorating, but I am stocking up on ideas for next year! Thanks for sharing!

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  21. Those pumpkins are just precious. I love polka dots! All your fall decor is wonderful.

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  22. I like the little striped pumpkin in the bowl and the candy corn jar was adorable!

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  23. You have such pretty fall arangements around your house, very festive. I love the personalized pumpkins, I might have to try that!

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  24. Hi Amanda! I love your polka dot pumpkins and that kitchen table arrangement~LOL at your curler lockout too :)

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  25. Everything looks fabulous! I'm already bored with my fall decor and can't wait to decorate for Christmas!

    I think I have some serious decorating ADD.

    Speaking of, just between you and me...I now LOATH my Halloween blog decor and can't WAIT until the end of the month so I can change it back...I'm tired of looking at it!

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  26. So inviting, love the little pumkins placed on the tray...enjoy! Janell

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  27. You continue to ooze with creativity!! Love it all!

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  28. You make me wish I had bought extra pumpkins again this year so I could paint them. Very cute :)

    rue

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  29. OMG ~ your painted pumpkins are awesome. They are personal, beautiful, and fun! I am exploring Julia's Hooked on Houses Fall Tour and I am loving it. I've link to Julia before but this one really hits home for me! I am doing an Interior Design Giveaway on my blog. All that is needed to enter is a Halloween or Fall decor photo and a story. Well, I'd say you more than qualify. Hop over and give it a try. Here's the URL: http://paulagracedesigns.blogspot.com/2009/10/final-entry-day-for-edesign-giveaway.html.

    I'd love to see one of your painted pumpkin photos submitted!
    Paula Grace

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