Colorful Aspen-Inspired Fall Wreath Tutorial

 When it comes to Thanksgiving, the first thing that comes to mind isn't composing what the big holiday dinner will consist of. No. No way. Lets get real here - I hate cooking. Cooking gives me anxiety. Just so you grasp how much I loathe cooking - I rather clean the kitchen, dishes & all, instead of cook! Instead, the first thing that comes to mind is how can I make my home scream unique, festive, autumnal decor? I want my guests to see things that that wouldn't typically see at a retail store. Today's DIY embodies exactly just that.You will need the following materials:

Aspen Leaves(Michaels); 6 Pine Cones(Hobby Lobby); Ornament Hooks; Glue Gun; Wire Cutters; Twine; Towel

An autumn bouquet of your choice w/lots of foliage at the top (Michaels); Long-stemmed flower of your choice (Michaels)

First you will prep your pine cones by removing their tops using wire cutters. Doing this will create a flat/semi-hallowed out surface for the pieces that will be glued there. Do this for 6 pine cones.

Next cut 6 strings of twine - each 16 inches long. Loop it around the top underside of the pine cone twice. Secure it tightly with a knot.

Next, cut 12 Aspen Leaves, paired & color-matched, and cut to the length shown below.

Taking your glue gun, place glue into the top-center of the pine cones. You will then place 2 color-matched aspen leaves on the left & right side. Looks like a cute & magical pine cone butterfly, right?! :P I went a step further & added a rose hip in between the leaves. This not only hides the glue that was placed there, but also adds a little extra flare :) Alternatively, you could use berries, mini-pumpkins, acorns, etc. 

While those are drying, take your long stem daisy and cut most of the stem off leaving 2 inches. Place the daisy in the middle at the base of your autumnal bouquet. Secure with 2 ornament hooks and glue.

Now we will secure our 6 pine cones to the autumnal bouquet. Lay the bouquet on the floor and place the 6 pine cones at various lengths for a cascading effect. Alternate sides and aspen leaf colors-pairs for dimension and color vibrancy.

Secure each individual pine cone to the branches on the backside of the bouquet with an ornament hook. Make sure they are not visible from the front and discard the extra twine.

Using 12 inches of twine, secure it to the top-middle and bottom-middle of the back of the bouquet. The support in these two specific places will prevent it from tipping forward. Doing this will allow the wreath to hang upright and straight.

And your wreath is complete! 

 

I hope this DIY inspires you to go beyond the Thanksgiving menu & to create an Autumnal atmosphere outside the kitchen. If you re-create this DIY, please leave a photo in the comment section below - I'd love to see them! See you in my next blog!

3 Ways: Distressed Autumn Mason Jars

It's no surprise that I have an obsession with distressed mason jars. Here's my super easy & affordable take on how to paint & style them for the Fall season :) I find that each one brings a different light & tone into the space it occupies. The beiges & browns add a coziness & home-y feeling while the more golden & cream tones brighten up the room. So if you're indecisive as to which one you should do, ask yourself what the room/space needs. No matter what you choose - beiges, cream, & browns go along with so many different colors that you won't have to worry about whether or not it will match the color scheme in your home.

Before you start painting your mason jars, first remember to clean them with soap and water. Wipe them down to dry and then apply rubbing alcohol on the outside of each jar with a cotton ball. This will ensure that all dirt and oils have been wiped away so that the paint will adhere to the glass surface. To distress, I used 150 fine grit sandpaper for each tutorial listed below.

#1: Halloween Mason Jar

Paint used:

Wheat used - Hobby Lobby $3.00 each:

 

Apply 2 coats of orange paint to a clean mason jar. I mixed equal parts Terra Cotta & Orange Spice.

When that has dried, apply 1 coat of Burnt Umber and let dry. Distress with sandpaper. As you sand, you will begin to see the orange color peak through Burnt Umber! Add some twine & wheat and you are done :)

I placed mine on my kitchen counter, next to my basket of lotions :)

#2: Beige & Brown Mason Jar

I have an entire blog post detailing how I painted this mason jar here >> http://jessicarosehomedecor.blogspot.com/2015/06/distressing-tutorial-easy-cheap-how-to-make-anything-look-antique.html 

Wheat used - Hobby Lobby $3.00:

After painting & distressing, add twine & the brown wheat, and you are done! I placed this arrangement in my bedroom. The brown tones make the bedroom feel so comfy & home-y :)

If you are curious about the Pottery Barn-inspired glass window, I have also done a tutorial on it as well. They were made using pictures frames from the Dollar Store! LINK HERE >> http://jessicarosehomedecor.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-to-diy-rustic-window-dollar-store-picture-frames.html

#3 Cream & Golden Mason Jar
Paint used:

Wheat used:

Apply 1 coat of White paint. Ley dry. Then apply 2 coats of Parchment. Using White as the base coat brightens up Parchment. When that has also dried, distress with sandpaper, add twine & wheat, and you are done!

I decided to place this on my kitchen bar :) The golden & cream tones really brighten up my living room!

 Add an heirloom pumpkin for a pop of color ;)

And there you have it - 3 different ways to paint & style mason jars for the Fall season!

Harvest-Inspired Rustic Wheat Tin - Under $10!

Every year around the best time of year (second to Christmas), my in-laws come to visit from Southern California. For them it's a chance to escape the 100 degree heat waves, smoggy air, and that horrendous 91 freeway traffic to actually experience a season other than hot-summer or cold-summer ;) It's a week filled with amazing weather, Fall colors, fly fishing, craft beer, Oktoberfest, autumnal candles & teas, pumpkin patches, and most importantly good quality family time. I want my home to feel cozy and seasonal for my family. So whenever the day of their arrival starts to get a little closer, my Fall decor inspiration is in hyper-drive and I become this crafting maniac for a solid 3-4 weeks.  When you take the concept that's in your head, make it with your hands, and have it bring life into your home, no matter what the room - that is the awe-inspiring moment that drives my creativity.

Today's DIY decor can be used in any room in your home & it is so inexpensive and easy! You will need the following items to complete this project:

FloralCraft Dry Foam - Link Here
Brown moss - $1.00 - Dollar Store
Wheat bushels - $6.99 Full Price; $4.19 with coupon - Michael's
Small bronze bucket - $2.99 Full Price; $1.79 with coupon - Michael's
Box cutter
Wire cutters

The piece that inspired this project were the beige and brown wheat bouquets I found at Michael's. You could use one particular color over the other, but using them altogether gives the decor piece the most dimension so that it doesn't fall flat to the eye.

Using your box cutter blade, you will first  take a piece of dry foam and cut it to the same diameter as the bronze tin. Then, slice the corners off a little bit at a time until it fits snug in the tin.

You don't want the foam to move around too much in the tin or else placing the wheat pieces will be difficult.

 Next comes the wheat. You can use wire cutters, the same box cutters, or any scissors you have handy. Cut them into small, medium, and long lengths.

You will be placing the wheat into the dry foam like so:

For the best dimension, place the longest pieces of wheat along the back third, medium length pieces in the middle third, and shorter pieces in the front as depicted below:

Long pieces in back

Middle pieces next

Short pieces in front

Be sure to intermix the colors for a lush, natural look! Now it's time to cover up that dry foam! Take your moss and simply cover up the perimeter and the spaces in between the wheat pieces :) 

 Don't forget to cover the center...

  ...And voila! 

Add some accessories to accompany the main piece and your easy, simple, & cheap Harvest-Inspired Wheat Tin is now complete! 

Happy Fall everyone! If you re-create this DIY, please leave a photo in the comment section below - I'd love to see them! See you in my next tutorial!