Fall Decorating..Quick & Easy

Since Fall is such a quick season I usually only decorate a little here and there.  I pulled out my seasonal box of  Fall decorations but really ended up using only a few items. I usually do use most of the things in my box but this year I am a bit time challenged. Here are a few things that I ended up with that were quick, easy and cheap. I decoupaged  a small wood sign I had that I was tired of. I found a cute picture of a pumpkin in a magazine and used my handy dandy mog pog, glued it on and dry brushed some white paint and distressed some. I have it sitting on a pretty stand and really like the way it turned out. I love using Mercury anything so the cute owl and pumpkin went up on a table in my entryway. I bought the owl at Salvation Army a few years ago and sprayed it with looking glass spray paint. Looks like I could have bought it at Pottery Barn:) Stick a pumpkin in a lantern, I need to embellish this alot more! Chalkboards are great for every season. Here I attempted to draw a cute pumpkin. The chalkboard with the Pumpkin sign on it I made from a frame I bought at Habitat, actually I bought 3 of them for $1.50 each. I painted the insert, which was a cork material with black chalk board paint and then painted the frames with a Valispar paint, soft wool. I think my favorite is the chalkboard that I keep in my dining room. I bought this beautiful frame a few years ago at an a local antique shop, painted the frame and distressed, then AS dark wax. I took out the glass and added a chalk board that you can purchase at Home Depot, they will cut it to size for you. Add a pretty wreath and write something seasonal inside. My house feels very Fall and very cozy!s

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The Bar Tray

For all of you who love the Bar Cart but don't have one or don't have room for one, the solution is a Bar Tray. A pretty tray on a table with some bottles, a vase with a flower, some crystal glasses and Viola..Instant  Bar for a quick Cocktail or glass of wine for company. They will love how special it feels and so will you! If your not into alcohol you could make an Italian Soda Bar or Coffee Bar. I have a mix of items here and always love to use Pellegrino bottles. They are so pretty. Have fun!

Vintage Bakery Sign..on the cheap

Another store I really love is World Market. I like to go and walk around enjoying all the beautiful things I see here. If you go in the back where the food isle's are you can have a coffee too..for free:) I saw this bakery sign recently and was tempted to buy it until I decided that I can make it at home for no money at all. I had an old picture frame that I was going to get rid of. Instead I took the glass out and used some large vinyl letters that I had used for some other project. I used a round plate to get the curve for fresh and pies. For baked I had a smaller letter stencil that I traced with (yes) a black sharpie. I added some white highlights with a white paint market for added depth. That's it! It took maybe 20 mins from start to finish. Really easy project that was basically free, using stuff  I already had. Pretty cute:)

My Inspiration Room

Plumage by Martha Stewart

This is my guest room, I am giving it a makeover and decided to take a big color risk and go dark. This color is Plumage by Martha Stewart. Very dark but with a very warm feeling and looks beautiful when the light hits the wall. Ambient is what I think when I look at it. I have lots of light come in this room, it has a big window with white shutters which helps if your going to paint your room a dark color. Not a cave at all but very..very cozy. I am going to make an upholstered headboard in here with the help of my talented husband. I will post an inspiration picture to show how I want the finished room to look like. Missing some pieces like side tables and lamps, oval gold mirror. Guess it's time to go to GW:)

A New baby and an Old dresser

This is for our new baby Grand daughter coming soon, my husband and I found this cute dresser at our church rummage sale. It was marked for $60 but we got it for $45.. It needed some structural help which was my husbands job and then it got painted by me.  This is Annie Sloan Old white with some distressing and clear wax. Just added some pretty glass knobs to girly it up some. I found this frame at GW and decoupaged it with some pretty flowery paper.  We filled the drawers with stuff for the baby and this was our gift to our children. Can you tell we are a little excited:)

Lamp Love

If there is one thing to know about me, it's this. I love pretty things, I could look at pretty pictures on Pinterest all day long. Another thing about me is that I don't pay (won't) pay a big prices for anything. I am a deal girl. Always on the lookout for something special for a great price. Sometimes I have to wait awhile for these special things that I need (mostly want) to show up. These lamps are my special find. I found one lamp a few years ago and wished that it had a partner but alas it did not:( so I waited and guess what!!! A few months ago while perusing through GW I found it's soul mate. Wow!  That is so amazing, I guess this is my reward for being patient. Always remember good things come to those who wait. About the lamps, these are Baluster lamps because they have the shape of a curvy Baluster like furniture, ie legs of tables and such. If I bought these lamps at Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware they would be very expensive. I also found the 2 matching lampshades at GW, so total price of these lamps is about $10 each, give or take. Paint is Annie Sloan Paris Grey, dark and clear wax finish = Happy Girl:) ...