The last few fall touches are complete...

Here's an easy idea to bring more fall decorations to your door. I placed these outside, but they could easily be hung on the inside of your door handle.

They will add a wonderful look to your fall decorations.

You can make them in an hour or so.

Be creative the ideas are endless...

Moving inside...Take a mirror and glam it up for the fall. Add some wonderful fall ribbon and a wreath and you will have a whole new look for the fall season.

Another easy fall accent is to add some pizazz to you lighting fixtures. A stand of berries with a few jewels and you now have a new look. Adorne your table with some greenery and berries and there you have it... a fall look that will take you right through the Thanksgiving holidays.... Changing the look of your decor for the new season can be quick and easy. Just a few simple changes can get you ready for the cooler months. Once you're done you can snuggle up by the fire and enjoy spending time in the cozy home you created. "No spring nor Summer beauty

hath such grace as I have seen in one Autumn face".

Adding more Autumn decor...

Do you have a favorite piece of furniture? Maybe it's a special painting that makes you smile as you catch a glimpse of it as you walk by... Both the cabinet and the painting bring that smile to my face. These pieces are right in my foyer when you walk into my house. I have had the painting for years. I purchased it when my boys were small. It is was not expensive, but it is a treasure to me. Every time I see it I think of my boys, years gone by all to quickly. The piece of furniture was another bargain. I got it at a discount store. It had a few dings, which people now a days pay extra for! It is hand painted and with it's imperfections, it is perfect to me. During the holidays I love to accessorise with seasonal decor. The fall season is no exception.

BEFORE THE TRANSFORMATION

These two photos are special to me. I picked the cabinet to display them on. Then when I see the painting of the mom with her children my eyes are drawn to the photo of my family that I cherish so much, and sometimes take for granted. A few years ago I found this photo of my husbands family when he was a boy. Like our family, there were two boys. I just love the similarity....It makes me smile and brings joyful feeling to my heart. Photos are wonderful ways to get glimpses of the past.

AFTER THE FALL DECOR IS IN PLACE

These pumpkins were just to blah. I needed some glitz. I added my favorite gold craft paint. By just dry brushing some paint onto the pumpkins and leaves it made a wonderful difference.

Don't you think that the paint really changed it to a pumpkin with glam! The little crystals around the base of the candlestick and vase helped to add the sparkle. I love sparkle. I may live in a house with all men, but I've told you, I am a "Girly Girl"!

Can you See the gold paint on the pumpkins?

I added some berries and a few silk fall flowers. Now let me show you what I did with this frame. I by no means can take credit for the idea. I was on one of my favorite blogs "A little of this and a little of that", and saw a frame that Amy had displayed. That's where I got the idea.

I just glued some newspaper on a piece of typing paper and ran it through my computer printing out the words. For me the fall season is all about being "thankful". I am not into the witches or scary things, so I wanted to print out something about giving thanks...."GIVE THANKS ALWAYS". God deserves the thanks, He has blessed each of us.

I added my own decorative touch to the frame by once again using the gold paint and brushing it on the frame. Did I mention that I got the frame at the dollar store! Doesn't it look like it's came from a home interior store? I just love when that happens!!!

I hope that you can use a few of these tips and incorporate them into your fall theme. As you have seen, you don't have to spend a lot of money to display some "Thankfulness" in your home this fall season.

Thanks for stopping by to view some of my

"Creations From My Heart".

"Autumn is a second spring, where every leaf's a flower".

Moving the Fall decorating inside....

I love to decorate the mantel. This is one area of the house that goes directly into my kitchen. When I'm hard at work making meals or cleaning up the dishes I get the opportunity to enjoy the twinkling lights of my fall decor. This is the first year that I added lights. I have always reserved the lights for Christmas, but what the heck. Let's get the party started early this year! Have I mentioned that CHRISTmas is my favorite time of year. I can't wait to share my Christmas decorations with you. Well I'm getting ahead of myself, let's stick to fall. It's it funny that once you put up the decorations, the everyday decor seems kinda ordinary....

BEFORE THE FALL TRANSFORMATION

The painting above my mantel is one of my favorite things in the house. I found the painting before I had decided upon the color scheme of the room. I knew that it was perfect, so I worked everything around the painting. It's been up for 3 years and I still love it. The colors of my decor lend itself to autumn. Warm golds, brick red and moss green. Sounds like fall doesn't it. So adding a few pumpkins works out well.

AFTER THE TRANSFORMATION

I really like these pumpkins. They have crystals on them and this makes them shimmer. I have had them for about 4 years. I got them at the end the season for a steal. That's the best time to get a bargain. It's just a bummer that you have to wait an entire year before you can put them out! I do leave my fall decor up until thanksgiving. I put away the scarecrows, but all the pumpkins stay till out till Thanksgiving, then out come Christmas. YHIPPIE!! I switched up the mantel a bit from last year. You may have read on a previous post when I told you about the bargain I got on these vases. They were $4.99 each. I knew I would find a use for them. Aren't they perfect! I just plopped some flowers from Michaels right into the vase. (Well it was a little more work then just plopping them in) I always fuss way to much with arranging flowers!

Notice the twinkle lights. I even put them inside the vases. I am really picky about hiding extension cords. I use the greens and pumpkins to hide them. I think it gives a much more finished look when you can't see how the lighting is plugged in.

I decided to leave the lamp on the mantel to add a bit more ambiance...

The lights continue up and around the base of the toperies.

I keep these topiaries on the mantel throughout the year except for Christmas. I saw them at a design shop. I found the balls at a floral shop and then just went searching in the backyard for some branches from a tree. I put some floral foam in the pots and stuck the branch into the foam and inserted it into the ball. I glued some moss onto the top and sides of the pot and VIOLA.... for a fraction of the cost of the designer pot, I made my own.

Just another "Creation From My Heart"!

Home for me is definitely where my heart is. I truly enjoy decorating my home, especially for the holidays. I love to spend time with my family at my home. I think decorating for the holidays is a way of creating memories. Memories that my children will tuck away and remember when someday they share the holidays with their children . "In heaven it is always Autumn.

His mercies are ever in the maturity".

The voting as begun...Will you please vote...

This was the image for the Mind Wide Open October contest.

It was tiltled "All dressed up".

I have never entered the monthly contest, and this month I decided to take a risk and make one of my "Creations From the Heart". The artists that submit their work always do very creative and wonderful work. I felt a bit out of my element. Since the title of the photo was "All dressed Up", I decided to make an evening bag and embellish it with handmade ribbon roses, vintage lace, buttons and pearls. I wasn't crazy about the handles I used, but it was late last night, I had to finish before the deadline. I am never realistic about how long it will take me to complete a project. It always takes me much longer than I think. I am going to put on some gold beaded handles and add somemore embellishments. I want to submit the purse to Somerset Magizine, so I'm going to gliz it up a bit more....

The brush trim that was put on the bag I made by hand with some wonderful yarn. The fabric is silk, and I color copied the image onto a piece of fabric. When I saw the gold heart locket I knew it would be perfect item to embellish the image.

I am humbly asking that you go to Mine Wide Open and vote. Just click HERE and follow the voting directions by leaving a comment on who you would like to vote for. There as so many wonderful creations to choose from, it would be great if you would cast a vote for me.

It has been a blessing to have each and everyone of you stop by and see my creations. I am in awe at how many people have enjoyed stopping by. I truly enjoy sharing my creations with each of you. You have touched my heart!

"If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the HEART of a friend, that would be giving as the ANGLES give."

Fall is in the air....It's time to decorate...

Well the Michigan weather has taken a turn. No longer,are the days of warm weather. The sweaters and coats are coming out of the closets and so are my fall decorations. I just completed the fall outside decorations. A bit later this past year. With all the homecoming activities last weekend, I wanted to put the decorations aside and just enjoy the wonderful memories that we created. I want to share what I did to the front porch area. The most important thing to me on my porch is having a wreath. To me it says"Welcome Friends". So let me show you a before and after photo.

BEFORE

AFTER

I love making a wreath for every season. If you plan on doing this, get your flowers when they go on sale. Making a wreath can get costly once you buy all the supplies needed. Michaels Crafts is a great place to go and now the selection is still good. I have also found many "filler" flowers at Wal-Mart. I know some of you may be saying "Wal-Mart", but I am always looking for a bargain and when your "Creations from the Heart" is complete you will never know where the flowers came from. It would be great if you lived here in Michigan. I teach a class on "Making a custom wreath". This is something easy to learn and once you know the tricks you to could have a wreath that would greet your guests every season.

It looks pretty bare after taking out all my beautiful pink flowers and pulling down the wreath. I do everything the same day, I can't stand to have it look so bare. So as soon as the flowers come out I go up into the attic and start pulling down my fall decor.

BEFORE

Viola... Now here's the transformation.

It takes a few hours, 4 mums, 2 corn stalks, 2 hay bails, one flat of pansies and Autumn decorations I have made and collected over the years. You to can do this. Just start with the items you can buy at the local stand and draw yourself up a plan. I keep a journal, well it's larger than a journal it's a three ring binder with all my seasonal decorating in it. (I'll post about the journal this week, maybe you can start one!) I always take photos and then the next year I just look at the photo and recreate it. Isn't thinking of the plan the hardest part of any decorating. Executing it is much easier for me.

AFTER

I made this scarecrow about 8 years ago. For a girl, and a girly girl at that, I am pretty good with power tools. I use them a lot in my drapery business, constructing top treatments and cornice boards. When I see a craft project that may involve a jig saw it doesn't deter me.

He is made, so that he sits on the hay bails. Take a look at his legs and the raffia that comes out the bottom at his foot. I just love bringing him out every year and my guests enjoy him also. There is something so rewarding when you create something yourself rather than just going out and buying it.

I added a basket to his lap and placed 6 pansies and some straw inside. Don't you just the the little bird sitting on his shoulder.

A wonderful wooden cart I use in the backyard during the summer months makes it's way to the front porch to hold an old basket with a mum. The Autumn Greetings sign was something I painted years ago and thought it added a nice touch. Once again greeting my guests with warm Autumn wishes.

This scarecrow greets my guests when they approach the walkway. Years ago I seen one exactly like this on a front lawn. I had my camera with me (now I carry a small digital camera in my purse at all times) I took a photo of it and drew it out on some plywood. I got together some old clothes and a few days later he was complete and standing at my walkway.

Last year I added another detail to this Autumn greeter. I took a large safety pin and pinned his two fingers together so he could hold onto this basket. I cut out this little ghost a bird and once again added the pansies and straw. Now he has a wonderful basket of flowers to greet my guests with.

Why not take a plain metal grate that I purchased at the discount store, hang it outside.

Dress it up with Autumn colors.... I added this basket underneath. By adding the basket and flowers it looks like it is all one piece. I painted the basket the same finish as the grate so it would match. I have seen this idea in the Ballard's catalog for much more than I spent! Be creative and think outside the box. It's amazing what you can create.

My bunny is always there to greet my guests, no matter what season it is. I just dressed her up with some pansies at her feet.

Before the season passes, go and bring your Autumn decor outside so that your guests are greeted by something that you created to say WELCOME... to our happy home!

"There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven"

Ecc. 3:1