New Fall Mantel

It's Fall again! I love Fall! Love the colors and the cooling off of the weather. Love the Fall fashion too! It's all good!  Did something a little different this year on the mantel. Some new, some old.

Now you know my favorite season, what is yours?



Linking with these great parties:
Fall into fall
Wow us Wednesday
The Girl Creative Link Party
DIY Showoff
Trash 2 Treasure
Tutorials & Tips Link Party
Inspire Me Monday
Tutorial Tuesday
Wow Us Wednesday
Treasure Hunt Thursday
October Pretty Preppy Party

My own Thankful Garland

I just loved this idea from tatertotsandjello. I had to make my own. I am a simple girl and so mine is simpler but just as effective.
I went to JoAnn's with a coupon hoping to find a fall garland. I found one that was already 60% off. I got it for $7.Then I picked out 5 different fall colored scrapbook papers.

I already had clothspins so I just put them on a jute sting and spray painted them brown. I didn't worry too much about covering them completely, I just wanted them to not show up in the garland. (This is the first coat, I did two.)
I cut out 5 very simple leaves from each color paper. There are five in my family and I thought 5 things to be thankful for was a good start.
During family night we talked about gratitude and all that we should be thankful for. We each wrote 3 things we are thankful for and pinned it on the garland.

I put the extra leaves and clothspins in a bowl with a pen and encouraged everyone to add more leaves throughout the month. Who doesn't want grateful kids. I don't care how old they are this is a great idea. Don't you think?

2x4 Pumpkins

Thanks to you bloggers I have a little less stress in my life. I was asked, at the last minute, to come up with a simple, cheap, craft for our Super Saturday craft day in our ward. Well, I remembered a darling, simple, cheap craft made by Krystal @sassy sanctuary. Hers were darling. She actually went a step farther and put scrapbook paper on the front. Mine were simpler. But I love them and am actually glad I was asked to do this because it made me make some for myself to display. Here are mine.

They are so simple. Made from a 2x4 which costs about $2. Krystal gives a step by step tutorial so head on over there and get the complete tutorial. (Krystal does great blog design too, you have to check her out.) I made both of these for $5. Great craft, hu?


I'm gonna be linkin' with these parties...

My package

Everybody loves to get a package, right? I sure do, especially if it was free. Thanks to Katie @ Chirp in the forest
I actually won her drawing for that cute pumpkin. I have never won anything so I was thrilled.
This is what I decided to do with it. I have this candle lantern thingy.
I took out the hanging candles.
I just put them in the closet because I am sure I will put them back in sooner or later.
I gathered some bead garland, cut some leaves off another garland, gathered some pine cones from the yard and found some fall ribbon. Here is the finished project.
To make the pumpkin sit up a little higher I put a small scrap piece of wood in first to set the pumpkin on. I rapped the bead garland around and around the piece of wood. Stuck a couple leaves with pine cones in with the pumpkin on top. Tied a ribbon on the handle with another pine cone and WaLa!

This little vignette was free. I just used things I already had. Don't you just love free?
Thanks Katie!