A Quick Copy ~ Fall Table

I found this picture on the Pottery Barn website and after taking a really good look at it, realized this centerpiece would be so easy to recreate.

I already had two of these open-ended hurricanes.  I also had some Fall filler.  I put my hurricane on a small dish {one of those little cheese ones that come with a gift basket} in a Fall color, because I have to remove mine from the table or move it around quite a bit.  I added my filler trying to recreate it similar to the PB picture.  You can see there are gourds, pumpkins and leaves. 

Inexpensive and easy!  You could probably just use your "extra" or left over decor to fill these.  I used the leaves I still had left over from the dollar store hurricane project I did here.  I already had the filler.  Mine didn't cost me anything to put together because I had it all on hand, but you can get the leaf bundles from the dollar store and probably the filler, too.  I think I got my filler from Michael's last year.

This would work well on a tabletop vignette, dining table, shelf, or a countertop. 

Yellow leaf dish came in a Fall themed basket I won from a raffle {along with a reddish one}; the dishes are from Kmart's Country Living collection; the charger is from Pier 1; placemats from Pier 1; napkins made by moi; glassware from Kohls.

Leaf bowl also came in raffle basket; candles are from Kohls; faux Mum bouquet from raffle basket; leaves on table from Dollar Tree; and the candleholders are glass pieces found at Goodwill that I glued together.

Don't forget to enter my Birthday Giveaway!  It ends at midnight on October 31st!

Linking up with:

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps On The Porch
Vintage Inspiration Friday:Setting A Fall Table at Common Ground
Vignette Friday at Color Outside the Lines
Make It Yours Day at My Backyard Eden

Fall Fix-Ups On A Budget

The newspapers weren't interested in my Fall Tips article, so their loss is my blog's gain!


As Summer comes to an end thoughts turn to cozying up our homes. It’s always nice to save a little money. Here are some tips on getting the best bang for your buck and a great look to boot.


Bring in some baskets. Not only will they add texture and warmth to a room, they can be utilized for storing anything from firewood to games to keeping the remotes corralled.

Savannah Baskets, Pottery Barn, $24.00

Havana Baskets, Pottery Barn, $27.00


Rather than purchase a whole new bedding set, purchase a patterned flat or fitted sheet to dress up a current solid set.


Waverly Garden Images, JC Penney, $19.99


In addition, pillow shams are sold separately and can bring a secondary color or pattern into the bedroom as well. Check out Bed, Bath & Beyond and JC Penney Outlet.


Montreal pillow sham, JC Penney, $9.99


Change out throw pillows in your living room and den for a quick update. Even better if you can find them with a different pattern on each side. You can even make your own pillow covers to cover up existing pillows by using napkins, tablecloths or placemats. Fabric glue and hem tape can be used if you don’t sew.


Existing floral arrangements can be changed up by simply adding pinecones, leaves or branches. Instant Fall arrangement! Look in your own backyard or these filler pieces can even be found at your local dollar store.


Change out your artwork using scrap booking papers, wallpaper or fabric in frames. It’s also a good way to use what would otherwise be an expensive wallpaper or fabric purchase, but still give you a taste of it.


Scrapbook Paper pad, Walmart, $17.88



Inexpensive frames can be found at yard sales, thrift stores and even in your own basement. A little black or white spray paint and you’ve got a whole new frame!

Finally ~ Fixin' Up For Fall

I had to make a return to Michaels today, so, of course, I prepared a list of things I wanted to get while I was there. I decided to splurge and get the white pumpkins I saw a few weeks ago. After seeing all the inspiration pictures from the different blogs I've been reading the past two weeks, I knew I wanted to try stamping, stickers, and all that other great stuff to dress them up. Luckily, they were on sale.

I bought these stickers and the smaller size pumpkin to work with.



Within a few minutes I had this:



That's one pumpkin in front of a mirror. I did a different design sticker on the back so that after Halloween I can still have it out until Thanksgiving. A multi-functioning pumpkin ~ love it! I will probably move it from that spot, unless I add some other decoration to hide the reflection.




Fall side:




First thing this morning, I moved my large planter from between the two garage doors to the back for painting. This planter is so old and, as you can see, these coleus are begging to be put out of their misery! I gave the pot two coats of black spray paint before I headed out to Michaels, figuring it would be dry and ready for me by the time I got home.

Here is the after {with my crazy Siberian Husky, Misty Blue, managing to get in the picture}. Whenever I bring flowers or plants home she comes over and smells them. She thought these were real ~ crazy dog.

And here it is back where it belongs, with our house number on them.

I also bought these items to put together something for my front door. I got a half horn, one bush of flowers, one bush of grasses, three filler pieces, a half round of foam, some Fall wire-ribbon, and a 3M hook {those easily removable ones}.

Within a half hour I had this. I have no talent for making bows so I just did a regular bow and wired it onto the front.

Quick and easy projects. That's me done, except for some Halloween decorations that I still have to find in the attic and drag downstairs. I'm more of a decorate-like-crazy-for-Christmas kind of gal!

Freshen Up Your Home For Fall

Gas at $4.00 a gallon, food prices rising, pillows costing $7.00 on airlines, is it any wonder that "staycations" and "cocooning" have become buzz words recently. With our current economy, more and more people are choosing to stay at home and making do with what they've got. Decorating your home is more important than ever now. With Fall just around the corner, our thoughts turn back to sprucing up the inside of our homes.

While you may not feel you need a full interior decorating job, many decorators can work with you on an hourly basis for such things as: window treatments; paint color selection; accessory shopping and placement. Interior redesign utilizes furniture and accessories you already own but perhaps placed in a different way so that you see it through fresh eyes.

Some fresh tips to get you started:

• Toss pillows and throws in the dryer on a "fluff" (no heat) setting with a fabric softener sheet.
• Clean your windows, inside and out.
• Have your carpets cleaned.
• Change out your artwork.
• Paint a white room a warmer color using one of this year's new colors, such as a golden yellow or a browned-down orange.
• Purchase a few new throw pillows in Fall's warmer colors to cozy up your seating pieces.

Photo courtesy Pottery Barn

Our homes are truly our sanctuaries from all that is going on in the outside world; why not make it that place you can come into, close the door and go "Ahhh".

Copyright 2008 Creative Home Expressions ~ Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions are located on Long Island, New York and offer interior decorating, home staging, interior redesign and color consultations. Please visit our website at http://www.creativehomeexpressins.com/ for information on our services and fees.