Autumn Wreath and Centerpiece

Decided that it was time to make a nice autumn wreath.  Usually we are so busy prepping for Christmas wreaths my Thanksgiving/Autumn decor is overlooked.  I am more used to working with live materials but artificial items also have their own unique bonuses (easy to remove and relocate or fix stems and flowers, can stay outside in bitter cold weather, not necessarily as costly as live floral supplies).  

Below are some of the materials I use for putting together artificial arrangements.  Dry foam, needle nose pliers/wire cutters, pliers, floral wire, floral tape, floral pins and a glue gun.  I keep all of my supplies (except the foam) in one of those handy see through totes (I also keep my live floral arranging materials in there).

For the wreath- started with a grapevine wreath (pretty cheap at Hobby Lobby) and added the large features first.

Then filled in wreath with flowers.  I like to put all of the floral items that I will consider using in a large bucket and set on a stool - this way I can see them easily and they are at a nice height for cutting.

Finished off by making the bow.  I like to make the bow to match the size of the wreath but ready made bows are easy to use too.  When making my own bows I prefer to use wired ribbon - this allows some play with the fluffing and arranging of the ribbon.

Ah, this wreath makes me smile - it also counts as an Iowa State Fair Entry!  

This will go in the Creative Arts Department.

Total Cost: ~ $15 (most of the items bought on sale or clearance)

Moving on (coincidently to Iowa State Fair Entry #2 for the day) - an artificial floral arrangement.

I liked the shape of these two pieces but not the finish.  Really can't stand the bamboo teapot, plus it has a chip in it.  It was one I picked up at an auction to use for the 2010 ISF (part of my teapot quest) but ended up finding something better.  I now have lots of teapots thanks to help from many people :)

So - spray paint!  I love Rustoleum's Oil Rubbed Bronze!  These are much prettier.

Cut my floral foam and put in the pot (be sure to leave at least a 1/2 inch above the top).  Wrapped with moss to cover the foam.

Secure moss to foam.  I start by gluing it to the base and then wrapping it more securely with floral pins.

Repeat similar steps as for wreath and VIOLA!

I also made up some mini arrangements.  These are super cheap and easy.  I have prepped a tutorial for these that will post tomorrow - get your faux leaves ready!

Here is what I did with all the leftovers - pretty much threw them in my second container (no foam or glue) and arranged them until I thought it was a pretty mix.  Although after looking at the arrangement from my chair last night there is one flower that needs removed - sticks out like a sore thumb.

Now it's starting to look like fall in my home!  Starting to feel like fall too - it was 57 degrees in the house this morning so we broke down and finally turned the heat on.  For the grandparents' piece of mind - Grant had a space heater to keep warm at night.

I'll be linking up to:

Crafty Ideas?

The positive spin on the basement flooding is that it has forced my hand to clean, purge and redesign, refinish and refurnish our basement.  This is a good thing - really.

As I was sorting I came across these old cards.

When my husband was teaching we cleaned these out of his old classroom.  They have some interesting photos and are very simple since they were ID cards.

I refuse to toss them as I know I can find a creative way to repurpose them - I'm just not sure how.  I don't want them to just sit on shelf anymore either.  There are literally hundreds of these cards: tools, agronomy, breed ID and meat cuts (not sure about the "color" meat cuts).

I have a few ideas (not sure how great they are) but would love to hear ideas from others if you have any.  And if anyone wants a handful to play with themselves send me an e-mail (you can find the link in my profile from the left side of the page).

"Gramma" Crackers

Snack time today consisted of Hot Cocoa and Graham Crackers (or as Clark refers to them - gramma crackers).  It's really cute.  No matter how many times I say graham - he says yeah - gramma crackers.  Not sure what brought on the hot cocoa but it was Clark's choice today so we made some up.

Lots of playing in the sandbox outside again today.  This time I took photos!

Clark helping Grant into sandbox!

Purple wanted in on the sandbox action.

We have been working on cleaning up the house this week.  Today all of Grant's 12 month clothes went to the basement.  As did all of his shoes that are smaller than size 6.  The bibs and burp clothes are all packed away; as are the teethers and baby toys.  I guess this makes Grant an official toddler now.  sniff, sniff - he's not a baby anymore.  Moving on - we put all of the FP Little People playthings and vehicles in his room and made room for his blocks to store in his room.

With the calendar quickly turning to October the end of this week my mind also turns to wreath making efforts.  This means cleaning out the garage - and clearing out dad's trailer so he can take it home only to return with lots of greens.  So, I brought in these two bags of old clothes that have been doing nothing but sitting around for years.  (yes, I think they moved with us from the last house).

These are old clothes that have holes or stains or special meaning (or a combination of these things).  Anyway many aren't good enough for Good Will and others hold sentimental meaning or were made with such pretty fabric I didn't want to part with it.  So, I started cutting it all up today!  Cut what I could into large chunks of fabrics and cut some into little squares.  Saved buttons and zippers, etc.   The scraps have been bagged up because I even have a great idea for using those!

These bags also contain lots of our FFA t-shirt collection that we have been collecting for over 20 years now.  I started cutting those too.  Large squares of the graphics to make into quilts (yes, plural).  But there was so much left over.

On a completely unrelated note as I was reading through my blog reader today I came across this post.  I had never considered making boys underwear (very bottom photo in the second photo set).  I decided to try it.  After a few sewing blunders tonight I think I almost have it - but before showing my finished product I need to pick up some elastic tomorrow.  Ha - they are so soft (and I save a mint in buying underwear).  Now my left over t-shirt material has a purpose.