fall crafts for under a dollar

this week i have been working on a lot of crafts using things i had just laying around the house.  this pumpkin is probably my favorite thing i have made. ever.  all you need is an old book, scissors, hot glue and an object of your choice to use as a stem.  i used a pencil wrapped in wire because that is what i had but anything could work: a twig, pipe cleaners, a pretzel...be creative.  the point is not to spend a lot of money on this. 

 these are easy peasy to make.  it took me fifteen minutes.  i had an old book laying around.  (i actually used Little Women which is my favorite book of all time and had a couple copies of).  if you don't have a book you want to cut up you can get one at a thrift store for a quarter.  for starters remove the cover of the book.  next use your scissors to cut the corners off the top and bottom of the pages to give your pumpkin a rounded look.  depending on how good your scissors are you can cut a pretty decent chunk at a time.  at first i was obsessed with getting each section to be the exact same size but i think i actually like it better when they are slightly different sizes; it gives the pumpkin a more natural looking texture.  once you have finished cutting glue the front and back pages together.  stick your stem in the middle and done!  i ended up gluing a few sections together because my book was kind of stiff.  if you don't have a hot glue gun it would even work to paper clip the front and back page together.  remember, be creative. 

 my next craft originally started from an idea i saw to make jack'o'lanterns out of painted tin cans.  i started on this idea but had some issues with my drilling.  i was too lazy to paint new cans so i had to think of something to cover the hideous holes i had drilled.  for this project i used tin cans in varying sizes, craft paint and brushes, fabric strips, twigs and hot glue.  again if you don't have some of the objects find a replacement.  the pumpkins would also looked cute wrapped in ribbon or twine.  again, get creative!  to begin paint your cans.  make sure you let the paint completely dry between coats otherwise the wet paint will just smear around.  once you have all your coats and the paint is dry tie the fabric strips around the pumpkin and hot glue on a stem.  see how easy that is?

and there you have it!  two quick, easy and inexpensive fall projects!  happy crafting!

enjoy your weekend,
k

harvest

i'm getting my craft on over here.  when hazel naps i explode with creative energy.  it can be pretty scary.  today i think i will put down the sand paper and paint brushes and turn on the oven.  this cooler weather has got me craving pumpkin cookies.  david will be so excited when he gets home.  what is your favorite fall food? 

before and after

 yesterday i found an eight-dollar bookcase at a thrift store and today i went to work...

what do you think?
the paint ended up being a lilttle darker than i thought it was going to be but i still really like how it turned out.  hazel's room is quickly becoming my favorite room in the house.  now to fill those shelves...

hazel's room thus far

moving right when hazel was born made nursery decorating very difficult.  no sleep + little one to take care= no desire to decorate.  before hazel was born i had several things picked out for her room but after getting to know her little personality changed my mind.  she needed a bright colorful room to match her bright colorful personality.  i decided to make some nie inspired fans to hang above her rocking chair.  the rocking chair is vintage which my mom and i re-painted and then antiqued.  

 these picture frames i got from a thrift store and then whitewashed and filled with scrapbook paper.

 this hutch was first in my older sister's bedroom and then in mine.  my mom never got rid of it and gave it to me for hazel's room.

 on the shelves left to right.  top shelf: my first ever oil painting made about 6 years ago, a card that came with one of hazel's gifts, vintage sheet music. middle row: stuffed animals, anagram i made using buttons, glass jar filled with headbands, bows and jewelery. bottom row: lamp, stuffed animals, baby lotion and vase.

i found this print online and loved it.  this was my starting piece which i used to pick out the rest of the items for her room.

i still have a lot of work to do: curtains, a rug, more items for the wall and a crib skirt but i thought i would share what i have done so far!

thanksgiving is over, christmas is here

i don't care that it isn't even december yet...i have decked my halls!

happy monday,
k

creepy cute

i don't know how to crochet {yet} but these have inspired me to learn. i want to start a new tradition of making one of these little guys every year for halloween. they really are creepy cute.

inside the asay home

dave and i did not start out with much when we were married, but our little apartment is starting to feel like a home. we were blessed to receive a dresser from my sister and brother in law (thank you sarah&dylan!) and an entertainment center from dave's sister (thanks jas!) for wedding gifts. we were very blessed to find a couch and table and chairs from a second hand store for amazing prices and in great quality! the gift cards we received at our wedding helped us to fill in the blanks with pillows, a rug and coffee table. a once empty room is now a family room!

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hope you all are enjoying your weekend,

k

colorful kitchen

i am in completely in love with elsie's kitchen over at beautiful mess. i love love love all the different colors. i have always been a fan of bright happy kitchens. it kind of reminds me of this recent purchase i made.

yellow

photo via

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howdy. i hope you all are having a lovely march so far. my march has come in like a lamb compared to the way my february finished. i was ever so lucky to be blessed with both strep throat and the flu last week. not a fun combination. but this week i am feeling much much better.

this week i have had my eye on yellow dressers. they are just so cheery. what a great way to brighten up a bedroom. i am dreaming of a refinishing project in my near future.

here's to a happy tuesday,
k

it's time to deck the halls

halloween is over and we all know what that means...christmas is here! yesterday i attended the greenhurst nursery christmas open house...a must do in order to officially ring in the christmas season. i love sipping on their oh so delicious hot cider while walking around the quaint shop browsing at all things christmas. trees. ornaments. gifts for both child and adult. wreaths. bubble lights galore. you.must.go.
you simply must.
.
happy saturday,
kira

making my space my own

i spent all day yesterday on this nie inspired project. i am making fans just like these ones to cover the bare wall above my bed. stay tuned for a peek at the final result!

enjoy your wednesday,
kira

bringing outside in

inspired by mother nature and my dear friend m's front yard decor i decided to make a fall centerpiece using only things from my own yard. (the vase excluded). i filled the bottom half of the vase with pebbles and water and then added branches(?) from our front yard bush. the lovely mahogany colored display now decorates the dinning room table.

family tree

i love love love this family tree over at red envelope.

i might just have to make me one.

trying a little freestyle

yesterday i was watching freestyle on hgtv.

it is show where a designer comes into a home,

and without spending a cent

redecorates using things he finds in the home.

my living room was looking a little drab,

so i decided to try it.

here are the results:

l

before:

l

after:

i hung some shelves to hide the bare walls,

brought in a chair to fill the empty space

and added a pillow for some color.

i also threw a blanket over the couch to blend the blue in with the rest of the room

on the other side of the entertainment center,

i brought in a bookshelf,

and moved the lamp next to the love sack

to create a little corner to read in

it feels a lot better to be in the living room now!

friday's favorite things

IKEA

the cosco of cheap and stylish furniture.

i only wish there was one in idaho...