A DIY fall wreath.

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383714211284967874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmNw0PaESI8VrJGIfmIsMe8l_FmUQPsDDV6LFPr-OBHWJ4BJsylCARH9y_lSp6X7oIhrSMmlwe60cqCh1XDM_PRNFiAT-UvJP83D8O46pyzejvrZgNSoZiX9SG67zz4EWx4sZAy-XW2l2/s400/230.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /><br />Well hellooooo there! Hope you had a great weekend! First of all -- I want to announce the winner of the fall goodies!! <strong>April in CT</strong> -- you are the winner, so e-mail me and I'll get the items out to you this week!<br /><br />I still haven't heard back from a couple previous winners -- the Bomobob art winner is Erin from Home is Where the Heart is and The Sheet Boutique pillow winner is Julianne Hendrickson. E-mail me soon so I can get you in touch with Bob and Cara!<br /><br />O<em>kay </em>do<em>kay</em>...so I highlighted this wreath from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=132552302555&h=eQNBr&u=ve4Ym&ref=mf">BHG</a> on my Crackbook page the other day:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_0yMqUfLfEIDfYOIIRY8pKo5AEMbkAXhVBd33H1tDkssa_DKtaWNc8hjSBrCEvQ71eI_8qNjRBknt4sWf39AW7qpvUd885a5CNRslMFT4huFXQW_uDKpcRES-xUIZjspgC04yCb8aU9c/s1600-h/wreath.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383716484400511714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_0yMqUfLfEIDfYOIIRY8pKo5AEMbkAXhVBd33H1tDkssa_DKtaWNc8hjSBrCEvQ71eI_8qNjRBknt4sWf39AW7qpvUd885a5CNRslMFT4huFXQW_uDKpcRES-xUIZjspgC04yCb8aU9c/s400/wreath.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I just fell in love with it and decided it. must. be. mine. Well...a slightly different version must. be. mine. I couldn't find the rectangle shape, of course. Then, I wanted a large circle, but the only place I've found those is at The Flower Factory, and that's a 45 minute drive for me...sooooooo, a small circle it was.<br /><br />I am not a patient person, have I mentioned that? Hmmm?<br /><br />I got my foam wreath at Joann's for $3-something (coupon). I spray painted it black, just a bit. I only did this so if I didn't get every little part covered with leaves, the white wouldn't be peeking out. (It's face down in this picture.):<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjebiF23Fq4YprYWOO_glHJnyz46RRbTe2PAUxOLVgxTUsd9LbuoVHpubuyveEhjizwpIeRDUoq4dtc4-KVCBsbjuPtZJV5NCaBKFIGITJpAVCsaUrxHSz8aggiH-RrSn4uCoceM8uQWeE/s1600-h/152.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383715166369478162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjebiF23Fq4YprYWOO_glHJnyz46RRbTe2PAUxOLVgxTUsd9LbuoVHpubuyveEhjizwpIeRDUoq4dtc4-KVCBsbjuPtZJV5NCaBKFIGITJpAVCsaUrxHSz8aggiH-RrSn4uCoceM8uQWeE/s400/152.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I took my kitty:<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383715123552618850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxaP501jbF_DyUhZtF-RVT_adDLb0hpoUPD-QI5CQQ4TLrW7warxJuAfRul4do2F1c0dGJUkSKTfiAAWDs-JDeJCZ31GwSmJFplaRgHDhRWc2dDhZJkL_H5Jkza2SOCfo80HMmzk8JQM-/s400/158.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />I mean, my <em>LEAVES</em>:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDvWHNrqIDxMKZFmzFgTLH0wyBDu0QW3EdUa2Ja20iQnsbI_DJVSnb5dv878nSpGPg5TRe3Afmt3F_-loTGZ62XAJq2IBK9dzRco5-O79fKkE1wOarRWDK9d6zoMLh0tiYrCVwdG9HQbM/s1600-h/153.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383715152240312338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDvWHNrqIDxMKZFmzFgTLH0wyBDu0QW3EdUa2Ja20iQnsbI_DJVSnb5dv878nSpGPg5TRe3Afmt3F_-loTGZ62XAJq2IBK9dzRco5-O79fKkE1wOarRWDK9d6zoMLh0tiYrCVwdG9HQbM/s400/153.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> The cats must find themselves into <em>every shot possible. </em>Yet again, I just purchased garland and snipped the leaves off. This one was $6. I got some beady things to stick in after but didn't end up needing them, so this whole project was less than $10. <strong>Score!!</strong></div><div></div><div>I just started covering the foam here and there, using the hot glue gun:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfXXKrqlc6Lm8lpxaJTEaGNdUd1R7WFUcS-Pzfd7u1jSqudwcHRvYXkOxxVc3rtahyphenhyphennrF0Xy4F5Om2nCABch8EDe_Qj6cUtYr4TYw1ZRO_6bkEBkNz-5ZtIeDr52HGDqU-1VJ698KkHqH/s1600-h/154.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383715146489487570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfXXKrqlc6Lm8lpxaJTEaGNdUd1R7WFUcS-Pzfd7u1jSqudwcHRvYXkOxxVc3rtahyphenhyphennrF0Xy4F5Om2nCABch8EDe_Qj6cUtYr4TYw1ZRO_6bkEBkNz-5ZtIeDr52HGDqU-1VJ698KkHqH/s400/154.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> You need to work fast -- the glue will melt the foam just a bit, and you'll need something to hold down the leaves while they adhere. Don't use your fingers. Just trust me on this. </div><div></div><div>I just filled and filled and filled...</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT1Hcx3HICvRBCWkHJc9OhbsJbMmABhmL4EdEn_CAzYQdFS90zJMHPJQFhuHKuGUmvj8Ewi_klKB-eYs0yewqVMGMM-B1iwOfhgyeAFB39Iysrt-pH7MLVYuyKb3tyzmAh4-7t3AQPixv/s1600-h/155.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383715137877220578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT1Hcx3HICvRBCWkHJc9OhbsJbMmABhmL4EdEn_CAzYQdFS90zJMHPJQFhuHKuGUmvj8Ewi_klKB-eYs0yewqVMGMM-B1iwOfhgyeAFB39Iysrt-pH7MLVYuyKb3tyzmAh4-7t3AQPixv/s400/155.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I covered as much of the foam as possible to make it as fluffy as possible. Fluffy wreaths are a good thing. The garland had a few beady things already on it, so I just snipped those off and glued them in. </div><div></div><div>It wasn't big enough for the spot I made it for, gah. But it was PERFECT hanging in front of our family room mirror:<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUEH1SNhOUMgMNlw07iAOqUy4tHFwKnbipEOFMFigzXQ4OaS-10Qn6simyK-YbONUBq3k6p1OvK0NlF3CXk4CdOj9FMgroHv0LY8RpQkP7VfGQ7S3gWBeT1glwPtnUV3CgdwgJM_yh1YW/s1600-h/226.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383714248261108434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUEH1SNhOUMgMNlw07iAOqUy4tHFwKnbipEOFMFigzXQ4OaS-10Qn6simyK-YbONUBq3k6p1OvK0NlF3CXk4CdOj9FMgroHv0LY8RpQkP7VfGQ7S3gWBeT1glwPtnUV3CgdwgJM_yh1YW/s400/226.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>I made sure to cover all the sides, even the back. Stink eye sister was the one who pointed out that -- <em>DOY</em>, you could totally see the foam on the unfinished back when it was hanging in front of a mirror.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMhpVvAX1VHEBkGoOqf6PqxuX_YiXDVAhp4GoYO6dRTDm5k8P-esoqnBSf36jQpOppHByiwn_eP43AB7ieq9YkmpVKbS0zsSPqqJU7-krwGZfSKHJBoCDQAv4AhLqBWA8kWRL1-wKmxDa/s1600-h/235.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383713671267407906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMhpVvAX1VHEBkGoOqf6PqxuX_YiXDVAhp4GoYO6dRTDm5k8P-esoqnBSf36jQpOppHByiwn_eP43AB7ieq9YkmpVKbS0zsSPqqJU7-krwGZfSKHJBoCDQAv4AhLqBWA8kWRL1-wKmxDa/s400/235.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>These pictures kinda suck, because I forgot to take pics today...took them when it was getting dark -- sorry about that. Bad blogger!! I'll try to replace them tomorrow.<br /><div><div><br />I really love it in this spot -- and yes, you can still see yourself right through the middle of the wreath:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAzw6JETSsQYzjxLfZwkLurmaM6x5fKeJ6LtRIqe01dDKR1BkzuorTtRkSiGNE7TBBVqKQzJ-JCQA_8OuG-b-7YpMD9GtOBCKLgntiA7mm9wYWkSXRt17XbpFc7aZyEgQvhJkl0T81p9U/s1600-h/244.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383713632976962114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAzw6JETSsQYzjxLfZwkLurmaM6x5fKeJ6LtRIqe01dDKR1BkzuorTtRkSiGNE7TBBVqKQzJ-JCQA_8OuG-b-7YpMD9GtOBCKLgntiA7mm9wYWkSXRt17XbpFc7aZyEgQvhJkl0T81p9U/s400/244.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 342px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>That is, if you are exactly 5 foot, 9 1/2 inches tall. ;) </p><p>P.S. If you purchased a consult and have sent your pics, I have listed everyone in order on the bottom left side of my site. (Only your first initial and first couple letters of your last name are there.)If you have sent your pics and info, and don't see your initials, please let me know! </p><p>P.P.S. I am honored to have been chosen for the last Before and After Project of 2009 over at <a href="http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/before-after-kitchen-island-makeover-by-sarah-thrifty-decor-chick/">One Project Closer</a>! If you haven't seen enough of my beadboard kitchen island, go over and take a look. ;)</p><p>P.P.S.S.P.S. I forgot to mention that I wrote a guest post at my friend Rhoda's place (Southern Hospitality) last week about my corner fireplace. Go take a look <a href="http://southernhospitalityblog.com/sarahs-fireplace-revamp/">here</a>!</p>

A DIY fall wreath.

Well hellooooo there! Hope you had a great weekend! First of all -- I want to announce the winner of the fall goodies!! April in CT -- you ...

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How I accessorize.

ACK! I'm so thrilled at your response about my centerpiece! Yippee, I'm so glad you love it as much as I do! :) I love that WalMart and Target are going to <em>sell out</em> of mirrors this weekend. ;)<br /><br />Awhile back when I showed you my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/09/inspired-by-ballard-designs-again.html">Ballard Designs shelves</a>, I promised to show you how I accessorize. I struggle with filling spaces with <em>stuff</em>. I usually like the end result, but it takes <strong>much</strong> running around/fluffing/rearranging. There are a few basics I know work when accessorizing that I wanted to share with you. Cause you are my Squee-zays.<br /><br />You may have heard the odd number suggestion -- that is using one, three, five, seven, etc. of items. For some reason it just appeals more to the eye. That's what "they" say anyway. Sometimes I listen to "they," sometimes I tell them to shut it. I happen to agree on this one:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiem_RFEGiSc3LKUaV5JTBvjV09mKhkVGUl8-zIKZDLsvTZyV9eHThrVXnLT86qGYN3wxreXywo8d7WgFQoB8zsQPb7jV4hWRwnLieu8kxDR3r0xeAAU4oqi_X6-wvTPitzj5aBut3uMHC-/s1600-h/DSC01782.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382560882308992386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiem_RFEGiSc3LKUaV5JTBvjV09mKhkVGUl8-zIKZDLsvTZyV9eHThrVXnLT86qGYN3wxreXywo8d7WgFQoB8zsQPb7jV4hWRwnLieu8kxDR3r0xeAAU4oqi_X6-wvTPitzj5aBut3uMHC-/s400/DSC01782.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> My <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/04/make-sofa-table-for-under-20-for-real.html">homemade sofa table</a> in our living room is our living room is one arrangement I really like. You'll notice the three finials (Goodwill/Hob Lob finds, spray painted black). I like the little cabinet in the middle because it gives the table something weighty to hold it's own in the middle.<br /><br />Balance is something else I think helps big time -- when you have something tall on one side, even it out with something tall on the other:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXsQvAUseG0gF-rSwykD-EAwhMrDuum-nJZFE5rOXgk6PfNrwsiG09gwSxhyznIJTlEiKTkloPwR3L5Ld5me7iM8Poad2bL-SngggBHLNcdAqurDmP_FlfxZWaSNKFSN8FGXIrAUQ8FUK/s1600-h/DSC01786.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382560869686342130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXsQvAUseG0gF-rSwykD-EAwhMrDuum-nJZFE5rOXgk6PfNrwsiG09gwSxhyznIJTlEiKTkloPwR3L5Ld5me7iM8Poad2bL-SngggBHLNcdAqurDmP_FlfxZWaSNKFSN8FGXIrAUQ8FUK/s400/DSC01786.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 281px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>The lamp on the left is up on books to mimic the tall rattan vase to the right of the sofa (that you can't really see here) and balance that area.<br /><br />The same goes for shapes. The two candlesticks are the same shape as the finials and balance them out on the other side. The large square print on the right needed something to balance it out, but so I used a smaller ceramic square on the left:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6AUMXNp63k2KZpX9p5d2alQ6LpbUvrjoi-larG4jQsID65f0YbU1pGnuv3yG4af1ausfsUwDyBKxME1iYqvJGwW97eCniUns0ya9FiUCLZAlBFLINt13q3YexJAI8QvbAPmKt_Peo_aS/s1600-h/DSC01787.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382560857886516546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6AUMXNp63k2KZpX9p5d2alQ6LpbUvrjoi-larG4jQsID65f0YbU1pGnuv3yG4af1ausfsUwDyBKxME1iYqvJGwW97eCniUns0ya9FiUCLZAlBFLINt13q3YexJAI8QvbAPmKt_Peo_aS/s400/DSC01787.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Let's see if I can say "balance" one more time. Umkay...balance. I also lurrrrve easels -- I use them everywhere to bring items up just a bit higher.<br /><br /><div>I love how the Ballard shelves look right now, but it was a process. This was the start:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOVBwymNkjTNn_258RM3iSX4QnMcBQS8nvQov4xD1XOpSgMJ0xE13SpAxn8jJbPsosXbjTuFT-U4-x2aSlz3t3p8LgahMthoHeLz1Yc6Fye19CE_-72wzMAZAjLIpB01JXtL_lzAxlzR3/s1600-h/DSC01403.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382560362787239314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOVBwymNkjTNn_258RM3iSX4QnMcBQS8nvQov4xD1XOpSgMJ0xE13SpAxn8jJbPsosXbjTuFT-U4-x2aSlz3t3p8LgahMthoHeLz1Yc6Fye19CE_-72wzMAZAjLIpB01JXtL_lzAxlzR3/s400/DSC01403.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I <strong>heart</strong> leaning frames against each other. I do it all over the place. I knew I wanted that look here, but the mismatched frames weren't doing it for me. The balance (No. 324) on the top shelf was not right, so I moved on to this:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqmqO4CRCNB6AgdLDbo-J50G6qKldFCXLsOW2y1DkY1FugIdeYpBtWRmr4UcXaia1USfFbYa3JtFl5JF4jZlwWDa6uf6mrbrf-TmRiE6wwQy497cNWSpz5uuH_SjHPvwhjU6tppJkr3L7/s1600-h/DSC01405.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382560348757194098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqmqO4CRCNB6AgdLDbo-J50G6qKldFCXLsOW2y1DkY1FugIdeYpBtWRmr4UcXaia1USfFbYa3JtFl5JF4jZlwWDa6uf6mrbrf-TmRiE6wwQy497cNWSpz5uuH_SjHPvwhjU6tppJkr3L7/s400/DSC01405.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I loved my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/09/before-and-after-party.html">cut up art</a> much better than the frames -- much simpler but a much bigger impact than the frames. Something was bugging me though -- you may notice, the left side of both shelves were both high. You want the eye to travel up and down when it looks at something like shelves. The way it was, the eye started up and went down on both levels. So I simply flipped everything on the bottom shelf:</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiQ65UJGHms0Hwm31Ay3fgOVUm2hc66dbgdEZDvG6s01sYwN4k18KbymRhyphenhyphenroCG5CAM8fTuNU73YL0IHsWTRHTpqSfu-6nGlv6fGX1JiNWdUNWtpDNCiKcqxGcQBH-LURaGBpp9ihq96c/s1600-h/DSC01406.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382560340049427634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiQ65UJGHms0Hwm31Ay3fgOVUm2hc66dbgdEZDvG6s01sYwN4k18KbymRhyphenhyphenroCG5CAM8fTuNU73YL0IHsWTRHTpqSfu-6nGlv6fGX1JiNWdUNWtpDNCiKcqxGcQBH-LURaGBpp9ihq96c/s400/DSC01406.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>My next tip -- use BOOKS! They are FAR-REE!! Take the covers off, and stack em! But don't stack em on the same side of each shelf!! Again, too much weight over on the right -- you <em>KNOW</em>...the BALANCE is all off. Gah. </div><div></div><div><br />I put the books on the top shelf under the pitcher instead, and propped up the "art" with an easel:</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382560851765013682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawVAu_zjuDKLlBLWCgswG-0l7T1qmZH2_H7_XDo6JtRFRvNH8XSP5e97knDyiqPscGZonU5ltL9VCaCJepm2_1Pz0G9ZrnIoDi_1QFzw0hfWmfPv_Qkly9yu7IYaICySSJwwHf6xCYlym/s400/DSC01798.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> Add a few sprinkles of fall-y stuff, and you're golden. Yesssssss...</div><div></div><div><div><div><br />In our office, I have a few treasured items I want to have out, but not a lot of space to put them. One of the shelves on this bookcase is busier than I like, but I tried to even (Ha! I didn't say balance! Dang, yes I did!!) it out by making the other shelves simpler: </div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382561301422040834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjyTAtG1TS_NSmQpagVg3c9RUKadWwuCOgWgL9t1tuz_Hc2vEeVveJckhMhMiuTHSpppoYtWwAAZGJkNr2I-GhZNXS6iP79kCOsbUcU9u_BoR2DRmCGFwyyY4ec2S1bNaW72-SdcXPaKY/s400/DSC01194.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>Books are key, stacked on each other or upright. Love me some stacked books. Hee. My bookshelf is <em>stacked</em>. Totally. </div><div></div><div><br />The large frame has an easel back, and if you don't have room for it to stand up, just lean it! I probably wouldn't put some of these accessories in any other room, just because they wouldn't <em>go</em>. This room is a tad bit more eclectic, so it works. (At least I think it does.)</div><div></div><div><br />All it took to make me completely happy was to run the cord down the back of the shelves so the horrible thing was out of my sight:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawC7UZcxucYmrcD1HjqSrDScwVUf63gZZoacxfY96EKn6xSPbmhYCnVL0c-2y-yUty3QgTSjyMseScT6dnc3Kwg7-HrFvJmqCXmHe_LhUpCL0eB5kWXzkjF0KCKxDztPrWCkFyH_s_QM0/s1600-h/DSC01196.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382561313945980338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawC7UZcxucYmrcD1HjqSrDScwVUf63gZZoacxfY96EKn6xSPbmhYCnVL0c-2y-yUty3QgTSjyMseScT6dnc3Kwg7-HrFvJmqCXmHe_LhUpCL0eB5kWXzkjF0KCKxDztPrWCkFyH_s_QM0/s400/DSC01196.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>Whew.<br /><br />Umkay, after explaining all of this, it sure does sound like all these steps go through my head every time, like some freaky OCD chick, and they so do <em><strong>not</strong></em>. OK, I'm lying, they totally do. But in the span of, like, five seconds, not the 20 minutes it took to write this all down. ;) </div><div></div><div><br />One more tip -- take a pic! (Anyone know the insanely <strike>annoying</strike> cute show that is from?) Take a picture of your space, and it will give you a different outlook on it. I don't know why, but you notice things in a picture you wouldn't otherwise. </div><div></div><div><br />To reward all you Squeezies who stayed with me through all of this rambling, I've got a saahweet little giveaway for you! I really mean it, it's little, but <em>saaahweet</em>.</div><div></div><div><br />These little white Dollar Store pumpkins were all the rage last fall! I found some a few weeks ago and had to pick up a couple for one of you!</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUD1mye-parhq6SPDErATnR4-41E-9W8usQUlKLG430pXrNphH9kRFm-4s9K2IQdOZpqU9qH9ngjFK3D6yfcY0v1fOyuYvvwiQqoNZjP7NznP23szN5fx3OnHTXyr6ljB89BTZPPxsIMM/s1600-h/DSC01415.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382558731934278722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUD1mye-parhq6SPDErATnR4-41E-9W8usQUlKLG430pXrNphH9kRFm-4s9K2IQdOZpqU9qH9ngjFK3D6yfcY0v1fOyuYvvwiQqoNZjP7NznP23szN5fx3OnHTXyr6ljB89BTZPPxsIMM/s400/DSC01415.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>Remembering my "rule of threes" -- I went back for a third this week and they were GONE! Already!! I bet could sell these things for like, FOUR DOLLARS on eBay right now peeps -- they are a hot commodity.<br /><br />When I went back, I noticed the fun black crows I had grabbed for myself weeks before were pretty much gone too, so I grabbed one for you! He's a little worse for the wear, but he's got one good side:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2kYk_BeJtniB-1I3dMTiPwQDyjyE5O2YeGNF9ES6MTE-uF_bcFc76b-Em-n8_7NfhL2EhueHPRrNqs_nA589pfrxaOwqLMthoQePjS9xrvsG3jj2E-dtrSe8KiS0lCzaDhjY41vhFfn1/s1600-h/DSC01794.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382558730688954210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2kYk_BeJtniB-1I3dMTiPwQDyjyE5O2YeGNF9ES6MTE-uF_bcFc76b-Em-n8_7NfhL2EhueHPRrNqs_nA589pfrxaOwqLMthoQePjS9xrvsG3jj2E-dtrSe8KiS0lCzaDhjY41vhFfn1/s400/DSC01794.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> The little leaf spreaders were at the dollar spot at Tar-jay the other day, and I couldn't resist them (for you).</div><div></div><div><br />Just leave a comment here this weekend (till 8 p.m. Eastern on Sunday!) and I'll announce the winner Sunday night! Have a great one!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

How I accessorize.

ACK! I'm so thrilled at your response about my centerpiece! Yippee, I'm so glad you love it as much as I do! :) I love that WalMart ...

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A new dining room centerpiece.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GG0xZsFCQvRoAQHC_wMBygym-BVHmd_jz73809SlW5U3qk9e7M3dizZ8KCp_d5ukQzFCZywDZzgVnzthnSAFJQyP_wVpRdOkc4_ZFNLf2yn71niqtNqQdUDsW2mTnp_iy6U6omDqNxlx/s1600-h/DSC01632.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381810123128826914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GG0xZsFCQvRoAQHC_wMBygym-BVHmd_jz73809SlW5U3qk9e7M3dizZ8KCp_d5ukQzFCZywDZzgVnzthnSAFJQyP_wVpRdOkc4_ZFNLf2yn71niqtNqQdUDsW2mTnp_iy6U6omDqNxlx/s400/DSC01632.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>**The night picture has been added. ;)<br /><br />I have mentioned before that there were many things I didn't love about our dining room before:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381813759481099106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-XuW6J0fxaayxG4glI1vPsk4Mz8fVovBuJ2YQ8xLI4OUhm7NPdRAOdZaN3r7NSVCDG2uNYYOJHv5AyGMTmOFClNie7y8_urwQlLsa-1jFRS6XlnwQoVtFbCsOqgNdxMnlLUpRNgn0Ynn/s400/DSC00991.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />One of the biggies was the centerpiece. I don't do centerpieces. I'm OK with the little kitchen table, but big, long-A dining room tables I am totally at a loss for. I always imagine some gorgeous expanse of something...just never knew what that something was.<br /><br />Then I saw an idea on HGTV a few months ago, and I started gathering up my supplies over time. More on that later....<br /><br />A few weeks ago while walking through Target, looking at the back to school stuff (and wishing it was fall decor, puhleeze), I saw a $4.50 mirror, and it hit me. I knew exactly what I was going to do. I grabbed the mirror:<br /><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaw4XzZ-vzelKivq1Faf-rbcq5TfSYzC_SwH7Uz0ATZhxlSIxaCSmj2sBPdmoG8jT-eMb-4e-qXyVZ78RU4mzgd6o78g2KbpFiMFlXOY3zWKmoVXBc7iZQA7w5kEonSOWNmyNUYvcAkEE/s1600-h/DSC01454.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381805986397403234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaw4XzZ-vzelKivq1Faf-rbcq5TfSYzC_SwH7Uz0ATZhxlSIxaCSmj2sBPdmoG8jT-eMb-4e-qXyVZ78RU4mzgd6o78g2KbpFiMFlXOY3zWKmoVXBc7iZQA7w5kEonSOWNmyNUYvcAkEE/s400/DSC01454.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 215px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> It was CHEAP, flimsy, easily breakable. So I carefully pulled off the craptastic frame:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEbvFiwnQFgYLM9fKmIhXbdaXHuulzGAYT1I4C7ahbpg-cHqJx3QYaxuzWMg5YhUKWChF_C3gKIIpbQ8Lc92gISjWYmBkcXdxkSPPkqe0NDBPd7D-34VcKnA29oCP_oGfPATF-VJkbALT/s1600-h/DSC01455.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381805974275446594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEbvFiwnQFgYLM9fKmIhXbdaXHuulzGAYT1I4C7ahbpg-cHqJx3QYaxuzWMg5YhUKWChF_C3gKIIpbQ8Lc92gISjWYmBkcXdxkSPPkqe0NDBPd7D-34VcKnA29oCP_oGfPATF-VJkbALT/s400/DSC01455.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 190px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I was left with the flimsy mirror and the paper backing. I left that on, just so I wouldn't have to risk breaking the glass. Or maybe it's that I was lazy. I don't know. </div><br /><div>Anyhoo...I found some extra plywood in the garage and went to Lowe's to have it cut down to the size I needed -- one foot by four feet. </div><div><br />I used this handy dandy glue all over the plywood:</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381815873741542546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRd-PCdKLcMaGBQOGO6dUP8Y-gY7EKOyEdKPeKRAfbqf2RDC2xzutKmW5vYMm6lXkaZ2y855eigrGV_yXkElD530_4ZJBm9hB3d7srlK4LJrM3Dp1FM7p0n01QzkFZ9LtGKkeZI_9AKfO/s400/DSC01399.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />And just set the paper-backed mirror down on it. I wiggled it around for a bit, to make the glue smoosh around and adhere, and then turned the whole thing upside down so the weight of the plywood would create a good seal. I did all this on the floor, so everything was level. </div><br /><div>Then, I took some of the fab, chunky molding from my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/09/inspired-by-ballard-designs-again.html">Ballard Designs shelves</a> (I swear this stuff is going up all over my house!) and cut it with my precious compound miter saw to fit right over the mirror:</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381810078067414418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWNfQhSOtSctCOLSolcEU6P4fuWg1s7K4JS9hzp0nyQ_OMiZR0kpFU86sOr4jDBz5g9gvjOI272Xdvgqm62B4ji2M61K21lJrO2YVNtZesfdwqgNwEdzVpDU9IVTZTSbKmPQ-SjyzCIM_/s400/DSC01639.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /> It was a bit too stark for me at first, so to get the distressed look you see above, I used my handheld sander, and scuffed up the edges just a bit:<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381804536586563650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhum7adtTy7OWiLbIbJhAG5gH3a4Q289wD04ehJ8TJaY1fpMhXSh-HDW4QV6XQEY-sTniUE9apINgsYeKmf7YUEROlTK3D__UT3H-SY7-gj1BRW9zjGDIu_v-7M44x2rB13b_TQi4iMBOmO/s400/DSC01499.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></div><div>I wanted the distressing to look like the color of the table, so I took my itty bitty can of walnut stain:</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381804517129789554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yaMex3jUojh85N0LoIypsqGaL33GhxKt0PTpjsCQuNw8RztL5kb6nYKUyaqVaCeyfOgdxU78w_FbNIeTxbZQNlJra6Ca_m3rC7XoYBbehyphenhyphenuOR_XbkM-QeO_x3tpA2T6M1G085QRh-vrS/s400/DSC01504.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></div><div>(This little can has lasted for<em>eva</em>.) I used a foam brush and wiped it on the bare wood, then used a wet paper towel to quickly wipe it off. This was the result:</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381804525868824594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsycki2pO3csvs-oXzB-ktvecc3wEp1l9RxVvrkxodz-PQoVRLEholAbZm3c1Swse3SHfHG7SGn0wuxuyMLe5IcmNz4QnCTmLAdpl2jYqS53lsOpynrN1w_MEFwAROwu8U7mKZAOPiF1ql/s400/DSC01503.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />The items I have been gathering for months are simple glass candleholders, in all different sizes:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381825048288381442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfMKulDt0_d58qv1LGv5NS_9WEcG8oHYxOf-9bM7YCWttdLJ1SJZed7YCkaeUYPZEPtZv1VzqQIgpMDkSilWumPGML1wMxlOmenqL3xGRhTO6Ak60dh1_i17PyO5_sHF8rEnaKBGLurHO/s400/DSC01457.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 396px; CURSOR: hand" /> Most of these I got for $1 and $2 at Goodwill. I think only three I actually purchased at Hobby Lobby, for half off. The most I paid was $10 for the largest one in the middle. It was freaky weird that I ended up with almost exact pairs of sizes over a span of a few months. I didn't plan it that way, but it worked out perfect!<br /><div><br /><div>My inspiration was from an HGTV show where they wrapped similar holders with gauzy fabric, and it created such a pretty glow. So I got fabric for just a few bucks in white, and using double-sided tape, I wrapped all of them:</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381810086732296930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZR0y10NAu285QedwVkfBhySG49bO4Dgw8nMQnuX3HLE3TbD0aS5HjpxGpNUSIHArMs3GGlFO2mTztvB5MBUmf37SiV6MFHTY_1PLhxSbAkyN5P5yweOG9ZYB1_JcIvdLPOqum5nrtJup/s400/DSC01644.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /> They aren't perfect on one side, but if anyone ever noticed that in person, I'd give them a gold star, for real. Or a cookie. Whatever they'd rather have for being insanely observant. ;)</div><br /><div>You'll notice in this picture, even though I had painted it all out, the plywood was really noticeable on the bottom:</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381804502523725426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7POqWar2ck7hsoTD-9tFKgtQcHA_Fag0WxrOR-17TKe1Z0kQFOPLj_I4P8s6h0bjDxJTo9B9Q4cYSJqHwHRTrQtftr_N8dQPa9XEOYOFVy3XXvC9TcVCRHqKpD-dW3VlfpSTc1owYjXgK/s400/DSC01511.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />I tried to live with it, I did. For about a week, I did! But it looked so unfinished to me, it was giving me the heebies. I struck gold yesterday in the garage when I found extra molding I had used in the room. It was perfect to wrap the whole thing:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381810107681599186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQdn1H98b09fMjDb_xAH0kcWmPduvihhyR_AKOEN683zG7yQv-KZ0SZ2XvSIMIlgKiE4Qc6WX6Vom3C6tBXMQdqplXL4nKtqfJ7WDJtTCvNjPaEVzJ9e3fw9XPWZ-mNCtYGsxlAXYe6Qh/s400/DSC01638.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /> Ahhhh, yes. I can stop itching, the hives are gone.<br /><div><div><div><br /><div>It is beautiful on it's own, but I crave WARM, so luckily this is just the time of year to get that. I added more beady thangs: </div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381810492501965314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzvP7Ofx0lanyzBAEpNStaci4U5ZEZImTgVSNd1rtNV5Fxg62r2JQvD2o_i8tNrieCOtvSM9brx9HJYKN2bZdgk1zemh9IxXzEkAyC0quaUQV_OI1poUO9w-18GEK6nFwzA24fzc4jy8X/s400/DSC01642.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></div><div>Some cutie little smell-good pinecones:</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381810478167957618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uFaZ94cxb2mQ9MqFElNAFeL1ce9BzKkoPI1K74kFp8mrS9EBbvfpp1oMfZd_rWfcScPp3aryitsA2JJ89LvZibHBFYV5-OzZTiktzfEPHM66uTjDbZWmlMtaSm2JOOadPiV1KuekLX4R/s400/DSC01633.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /> And it's really, really lovely:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381810506670573154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5poO8dh5f1B5gmOb2L7EZbFuz_0TLdb2uo35gbz4eCja7Xf295bB4rZO-gLEwYpdCNNqOMALo3Z66c5Fj_8hgJIMM84XsK5gc4HyYhwDtxTP_IY-QuPHXJmdZsDVZepzN32_OvsNp3i11/s400/DSC01628.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />Here it is as I peek around the corner:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381810515916410434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rHQR3h04rdJwSD6W1mGzpCvU0ScaKXoavYB5-_GsLOCjt1KN-61uyFB5s9UJBysIaKlBEDQAw-2iaSlLgMw59Fo9ybGVJ9BcZYeg7mZvCywaHi7KES5NegJdxjTTzXokrAayv7cJzlwB/s400/DSC01647.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />Can't show you the windows just yet -- that's next. ;) I really adore this. It's simple, it's clean, but it can be dressed up so easily. And this isn't just for the table -- when I was working on it, I held it up to the wall and realized how gorgeous it would be hanging too...I may make another to do just that! </div><br /><div>Although it's pretty during the day, it is <em>just stunning</em> at night. I was going to wait to post this so I could take one final picture tonight, but I know how mean that would be, since I've been <a href="http://twitter.com/Thriftydecor">tweeting</a> about it constantly lately. </div><div></div><div>And here. you. go:</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381877427680020498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZCVBKacgACq11ZDgsyejv41jpcQgyS3cgRYSETsbT-px8o_M1QXMDxt8c93z8wuZNcl4ONceMEo5D3lxR3FWOhN1gXIarQCK64kk10EnTs-1QUPDuPket-6YWqVMacdygoI91I7_CY-3/s400/DSC01649.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /> ;) </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

A new dining room centerpiece.

**The night picture has been added. ;) I have mentioned before that there were many things I didn't love about our dining room before: O...

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Creating a warm fall glow.

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381134072469204018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKaTk-hmvViHaeFiFPfyhd_JVREbQOv3xmSJoRQu1cfBgeYdLyvuUFM0eoNcpgr9SU7C1D7XpJfpouJQOYGYMz6YXi0Ucpxx-KGQUQCETCAasT7hZbWAsYIM4X_g58V0XaBnvWix1NYk/s400/DSC01582.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />When it comes to decorating for fall, there are three things you need for a fabulous result: different textures, layering of the textures and it's gotta smell <em>gooooood</em>! You can't go wrong if you incorporate all of these.<br /><br />I like to take items I already have and change them up for fall. For this display, I used a tray (Southern Living at Home, I love you!) I already had:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381134594153354178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6gmC3WRWApRDwEVWnBdWvsh3tRqyDIFl-qWTg4pBIYyOsOCqyTQZb29SVdRCbudujDgyD60QRQKcFdXdJBgGHmqjAZoFM6Q6bkjeB4h7EOx-zYguq9OGHi_rDTteS3TNbSTLUKOpxIZP/s400/DSC01566.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />I had the two larger candleholders, and purchased the three smaller ones for $1.50 each at Hobby Lobby. I placed them so the sizes were layered, and and filled in between with my go-to fall filler:<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTPQsmrnzRVbVS5kjU3xQFu2ZaYi-yPeHFRyjw3yKkRBQVRjiPXKoMmk-Fw1_xNg1pj-SRvXtYJB3IfhV_abacpe6p-3P2sAKo_I_B1GDor3NvPAkLUm4BjovsRzzhkxyjw3L69fr7d8/s1600-h/DSC01572.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381134472614838082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTPQsmrnzRVbVS5kjU3xQFu2ZaYi-yPeHFRyjw3yKkRBQVRjiPXKoMmk-Fw1_xNg1pj-SRvXtYJB3IfhV_abacpe6p-3P2sAKo_I_B1GDor3NvPAkLUm4BjovsRzzhkxyjw3L69fr7d8/s400/DSC01572.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I got this stuff at Z Gallerie a couple years ago and it's still my favorite filler for this time of year. It's got glitz, it's got natural, it's got warm. Awesome. </div><div><br />I fluffed it all just so and added my candles -- the large ones were $5 from HomeGoods, the smaller were $3.50 at Hobby Lobby:</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31-LAJdxkeJW3SRRS_gSJbNDkIwSEeWvvt4bWssfWsFAgFLW4itVab-_yTH7lMWoEbVy9E8Ah9rc5sZeX8XOQ-y_eB8cwRKdHsyko3G7xG9N6z7QKQkdzvzT9mZx_maRRJsJQvHDFBkg/s1600-h/DSC01577.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381134458942967570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31-LAJdxkeJW3SRRS_gSJbNDkIwSEeWvvt4bWssfWsFAgFLW4itVab-_yTH7lMWoEbVy9E8Ah9rc5sZeX8XOQ-y_eB8cwRKdHsyko3G7xG9N6z7QKQkdzvzT9mZx_maRRJsJQvHDFBkg/s400/DSC01577.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>It took all of five minutes to do. I bet you have items laying around you could use too!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YcJs-ugixdvTqDznW98h413ZrHLY9cE-Kf4NJTW3LC0hIgBjCW6-X_WsUGqRCqgn9aN0xzgdaa0TfAQ_aNAaGcIj90rj51bXCVAwDfF0Ptgm1-RFGa4HTZ7OYFnhkYtoLiyHuzvqSbk/s1600-h/DSC01578.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381134448796858882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YcJs-ugixdvTqDznW98h413ZrHLY9cE-Kf4NJTW3LC0hIgBjCW6-X_WsUGqRCqgn9aN0xzgdaa0TfAQ_aNAaGcIj90rj51bXCVAwDfF0Ptgm1-RFGa4HTZ7OYFnhkYtoLiyHuzvqSbk/s400/DSC01578.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I wish they had scratch and sniff computers. The scent of cinnamon and apples is wafting through our house.<br /></div><div><br />This is my view while I blog tonight:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjacExgVKPdc_N0So7Br3FZwMskX2Gn2O9d8By69y2tSVEtKmiPbcEF2zjuSeWUAVybOSqc-EMr46F45ruAAEBsILl7p6RIypv2xlBQRyZcyZ-SpsAAsLXRTk5zxgasFyvqlxBRLjwJw/s1600-h/DSC01621.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381134436202299122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjacExgVKPdc_N0So7Br3FZwMskX2Gn2O9d8By69y2tSVEtKmiPbcEF2zjuSeWUAVybOSqc-EMr46F45ruAAEBsILl7p6RIypv2xlBQRyZcyZ-SpsAAsLXRTk5zxgasFyvqlxBRLjwJw/s400/DSC01621.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Loverly. Have I mentioned yet how very much I <em>ADORE</em> fall? Just in case I haven't, <em>I. ADORE. fall</em>.<br /></div><div><br />Our family room mantel has been warmed up as well. Last year I found some scrap wood, stained it and it serves as the perch for simple red and brown candles:</div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixs2GUliJJ6P3-Mlt6jN5XPy0aBnfeab2FvNKnqT1YKL1iB6IYSiwoSHbsjxDpT4vXkwwTKdZBszySb17QP_dVGR188WTGEE3PotewNGKaQA5OfV-mLnjqyDNN-gVWwjFwbmC8VlvtxB4/s1600-h/DSC01583.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381134057099235858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixs2GUliJJ6P3-Mlt6jN5XPy0aBnfeab2FvNKnqT1YKL1iB6IYSiwoSHbsjxDpT4vXkwwTKdZBszySb17QP_dVGR188WTGEE3PotewNGKaQA5OfV-mLnjqyDNN-gVWwjFwbmC8VlvtxB4/s400/DSC01583.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> You'll soon realize I am a bit obsessed with these beady things. I think they are GORG. You can find them at Micheal's. (I always get them on sale, they are $7 each before the discount.) I weave them through the candles for texture:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NcPjM0UvHbZKWAsxxNttgFBNGLTNqkysGl2JwhoR78FVsemE7JZBTg6I3NpgFbvZ5qo-f0I6gA_4r_Z4sRwwjfe_FkSAb1p3RZdpNlO3eCEmjiiz92tJuJK9VfiBp6pJsi2u8v8qVgY/s1600-h/DSC01586.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381134044937815346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NcPjM0UvHbZKWAsxxNttgFBNGLTNqkysGl2JwhoR78FVsemE7JZBTg6I3NpgFbvZ5qo-f0I6gA_4r_Z4sRwwjfe_FkSAb1p3RZdpNlO3eCEmjiiz92tJuJK9VfiBp6pJsi2u8v8qVgY/s400/DSC01586.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> And wrapped them around the candles in the hurricanes for more texture and layering:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMDd-CAhYVWaVNO3kEvy5aePWoNW9yB1kIg9_4DbfPXpxg6uM7MUVeWr1Plquzangi3_WADh2NAG70chV8OGdhWLBtGu4lg6j2573YEh_zSAFCMEoG5jJk2xI3a6dY96a4Lkk1ryk6S8/s1600-h/DSC01589.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381134031330669346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMDd-CAhYVWaVNO3kEvy5aePWoNW9yB1kIg9_4DbfPXpxg6uM7MUVeWr1Plquzangi3_WADh2NAG70chV8OGdhWLBtGu4lg6j2573YEh_zSAFCMEoG5jJk2xI3a6dY96a4Lkk1ryk6S8/s400/DSC01589.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Yum. I could just eat it, it's just delicious. Well, not really, but you know what I'm sayin':</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTe28FgbkDJFWptRftvj76jfMUSkJmjvfgqpu1hJl5in48mBS-kri6e42xvfs2uZQGQ8nBbxOdfwIUwgziRRte_jMHqZVm-WvWHH0rRe_1pXOY65SZT3V9FRp3jV-qYlRZ6pEHhNHWV94/s1600-h/DSC01591.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381134021616461346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTe28FgbkDJFWptRftvj76jfMUSkJmjvfgqpu1hJl5in48mBS-kri6e42xvfs2uZQGQ8nBbxOdfwIUwgziRRte_jMHqZVm-WvWHH0rRe_1pXOY65SZT3V9FRp3jV-qYlRZ6pEHhNHWV94/s400/DSC01591.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a></div><div>Delish. </div><div></div><div><br />These candleholders are so fun to fill during the holidays. Funny how I can't figure out what to put in these things most of the year, but from now until early January, I'm golden:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4BMSoyA2xkFdS65TE54WW5XvXoAkeRmPFnym6UWn2zlQy9yU0GPe3JyGh-HJCbQb_KQJbLh3b8MrtmIASXT3YIVPGAfAVd3V5ua69DYb5VSNnbq796kIF-MA8Vw9ZZpyRqzO_Psngh0/s1600-h/DSC01599.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381133669045011906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4BMSoyA2xkFdS65TE54WW5XvXoAkeRmPFnym6UWn2zlQy9yU0GPe3JyGh-HJCbQb_KQJbLh3b8MrtmIASXT3YIVPGAfAVd3V5ua69DYb5VSNnbq796kIF-MA8Vw9ZZpyRqzO_Psngh0/s400/DSC01599.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I fill the bottom of each with leaves in different shades of orange and red:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381133642275264994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFM-SNlYQWQnRe-2Oa5MXcUVNBvozk3BgrfdyiRAOE_UCmV8zliI9VFjVzWgrC91gVeVqpz_O4tTbAEVr0hbIXA-cBfLnicH9CY-9ofr7NlS1IFSdZfjGdy_FYzeRg5Xl6OUoFKgylUQ/s400/DSC01608.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>I get my leaves by finding garland I like, then snipping off the leaves. This is much cheaper than buying packages of leaves. </div><div></div><div><br />I add my candles and then my "scatter" -- I love this stuff! This I found at Pier 1 years ago, and I think they still carry something similar: <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbKHAD7etG2lrUOa58UYGA4Fu3jzWaZd5rHJzXnMfdLX0I_RqVHceh0XV0454hncMFNwJW6JmwxhqDB-F50VqC6t3oQcTQNbeyLs-MeNc4Y9mlyJ3NbaaxHIqir9zA2UvaqmDb5C7JRc/s1600-h/DSC01602.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381133653227764674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbKHAD7etG2lrUOa58UYGA4Fu3jzWaZd5rHJzXnMfdLX0I_RqVHceh0XV0454hncMFNwJW6JmwxhqDB-F50VqC6t3oQcTQNbeyLs-MeNc4Y9mlyJ3NbaaxHIqir9zA2UvaqmDb5C7JRc/s400/DSC01602.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>Autumn-inspired ribbon is tied around and fluffed just a bit for a final touch. Sigh. Have I mentioned how much I love fall? </div><div></div><div><br />In the kitchen, I used another Southern Living piece and a clearanced plate from Pier 1:<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NtvP2SaiVR68TB_VQ9Dm4zGDnW0S-ItVoVkA-pHCABIWZ5NWjISN0-Yjokqg6VknySahZh8k1FDWUTxljDtjj0cQDHUIF11_5poiutetzNOjqev06H96f7O1r8EjvfWyEtd1zS3EI8g/s1600-h/DSC01612.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381133629234427730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NtvP2SaiVR68TB_VQ9Dm4zGDnW0S-ItVoVkA-pHCABIWZ5NWjISN0-Yjokqg6VknySahZh8k1FDWUTxljDtjj0cQDHUIF11_5poiutetzNOjqev06H96f7O1r8EjvfWyEtd1zS3EI8g/s400/DSC01612.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 289px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I wrapped the candle with more foamy beady things (I used double stick tape on the back to secure them). Again, layering and texturing (word?):<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJxXJMON_zK975iCPO8O5OzI5t5tOterz5SdDsdKhKbB77RTSCOOkbGGYmWzbgagFZSTCG9w-MHk5SNUF4jpAd0f_rARQlq2I0GUDaoC35Zk5Uz8XFqGgTMHrAZ1xfdfFijyxwg90W3o/s1600-h/DSC01619.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381133619870624914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJxXJMON_zK975iCPO8O5OzI5t5tOterz5SdDsdKhKbB77RTSCOOkbGGYmWzbgagFZSTCG9w-MHk5SNUF4jpAd0f_rARQlq2I0GUDaoC35Zk5Uz8XFqGgTMHrAZ1xfdfFijyxwg90W3o/s400/DSC01619.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>Oh yeah, and a yummy candle. Glorious! Try taking items you already have -- add a candle and then some texture -- whether it be pumpkins, acorns, apples, leaves, whatever! (Just make sure they aren't near the flame! Yikes.)</p><p>Have I mentioned how much I love... ummm... OK, I'll shut it. </p><p>I'm off to eat a caramel apple covered in peanuts, that should shut me up. Next up this week, my dining room centerpiece! </p>

Creating a warm fall glow.

When it comes to decorating for fall, there are three things you need for a fabulous result: different textures, layering of the textures an...

Read more »