Pumpkin Candlestick Decorations

This was a FUN project and I am super thrilled with the final result!  While at Hobby Lobby awhile back, I saw some really cute decorations:

Cute, huh?  But the price just didn't seem as cute.  So, I set out to recreate them in my 'own way'.  I personally think mine turned out even better!

I LOVE spray paint!  These guys were a very mis-matched group of misfits when I purchased them at Hobby Lobby!  The one on the far left was clear glass, second to the left was silver and the two on the right were wood!  I spray painted them all glossy black and then added a little black glitter to the wooden ones.  

My Punkins.... also purchased at HB

This sad guy on the right needed some glitz and glitter to 'fit in with the right crowd' so I gave him some sparkle!

with some spray adhesive and pretty orange glitter

and added some gold glitter glue to his stem

I picked the WORST time to glitter!  It was super windy so now there is a fine coating of orange glitter all over our back patio... oops!  :)

Now this guy fits in!  I did spray some clear coat spray paint over the top so the orange glitter wouldn't shed so much.... we'll see if it works!

The assembly:

Not sure why I didn't take a pic - but I cut two scalloped edge circles out of black felt and hot glued them together (the one on top is a bit smaller).  Next I hot glued this fringed crepe paper around the base twice.

to get this!  (See the scalloped circles?  NOPE - not even close to perfect...) 

then I added some of that awesome fringe to the base of one of the punkins

to get this!   

then I glued it all together!  Candlestick to scalloped circles to fringed punkin!

for another of the candlesticks I added a ruffled flower and for a bit more stability I also glued a square of black felt.  What it ended up looking like:

This guy also got a ruffle base as well as a jaunty little burlap flower 'hat'!

and my glittery guy?  He got some fringe and worked perfectly on the shorter candlestick

I'll do a post soon on my Halloween mantle so you can see how they look 'in their natural habitat' soon!

Custom Owl For An Owl Themed Nursery

Owls are in!  Haven't you heard?  :)

A local friend asked me to do a custom owl for her.  A friend of hers was/is having a baby and picked the cutest owl themed bedding from Target:

Source: Target


So I made this little guy:

and here's a look at the little guy in the nursery - so cute!

I think this little guy is RIGHT at home!  :)

Holiday Decor For A Friend

Last Spring, a good friend here in FL asked me to make some holiday decorations for her home.  It was right around Valentine's Day (wow - guess it was last WINTER, then?) so I was able to make her some garland, a wreath and a bunch of other great things.  Soon after, I did some Easter decorations (another wreath, candy containers, etc.) and then a HUGE space of time went by.... summer and not many holidays but now with Fall I was able to make her a few more items.  

She's hosting a baby shower brunch next weekend for some lovely ladies and wanted some more autumnal items to dress up her home.  I was able to put together a really gorgeous golden yellow yarn wreath similair to one she'd found on Pinterest as well as some book pumpkins.

Here's a look at how they turned out:

The inspiration behind the wreath was initially spotted in this cute Etsy shop:thechicadeeshop

My version!  I used a more square wreath form to get the larger size wreath since my friend's front door is big.  Then, I wrapped with a golden yellow yarn and added fabric & button flowers!  Some of the fabric flower parts are made with fabrics I had in my stash but the more home decor/tweedy fabrics were ones I found 50% in the JoAnne's remnant section!  :)

next up, book pumpkins!  I purchased these books for a $1 a piece at the Dollar Store and then added some green ribbon.  I told my friend to maybe swap out the green for orange - for some reason they're reminding more of apples!  ;)

It was such a huge compliment for my friend to like how my home was decorated enough to ask me to make some items for her.  :)  

Have you done any DIY Fall decorating this year?  

Halloween Trees

I have become a little obsessed with decorating for Halloween.  There are so many fantastic ideas out there for DIY decorations and crafts....  It also helps that my three year old daughter has recently decided that 'scary stories' and things like witches and spiders are all fun and exciting - she thinks it's great!

I have a good stash, including a lot of the items I made/found last year (Halloween garland, fabric runners, etc) and a few clearance items I picked up at Target after the holiday.  I even came across a few cute things at TJMaxx earlier this season and my goodness, the ideas on Pinterest lately have been FANTASTIC!

This idea came to me when I was perusing the witches and owls and bats at Hobby Lobby a couple weeks ago.  They had these gorgeous black feather trees but they were a bit spendy.  Instead, I was reminded of these trees that I did a few years ago for Christmas decor:

Holiday Christmas Tree Tutorial

and figured - heck, I could easily adapt them to be for Halloween!


SO... I searched the store and luckily found two kraft paper cone trees (that were also 40% off - score!) and purchased some really fantastic Halloween scrapbook paper.  I also invested in a 'normal-size' stapler since we've been using a mini version for as long as we've been married.....  still felt like folding and stapling a hundred-plus little strips of paper gave me carpal tunnel but it helped a bit.  :)

Here's how this version turned out:

These are great Kraft paper trees!  I painted them black to begin with....

a closer look at my paint job - doesn't need to be perfect!

I found some really awesome holiday papers at Hobby Lobby - that chevron is amazing and the owls slay me!

the cause of my carpal tunnel (does anyone know how to spell that?  I'm too lazy to Google it!)

more loops of paper!

then start gluing!!!  and gluing and gluing and GLUING!

the taller tree - finished!

I added some crepe paper fringe at the top - LOVING IT

the cute pair

and a closer look....

I'm linking up to:

Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

I owe you (my faithful readers) a HUGE apology!  I just sort of 'dropped off the face of the earth' but didn't really tell anyone.... so for that I apologize.  When we moved from Washington to Florida last year, I didn't really know WHAT to expect for Pursewna.  What shape it would take being in a new state with different laws governing small businesses and rules about taxes.... whether or not I'd even HAVE time to sew or craft with TWO children instead of just one.... how to develop a new fan-base in a new city where I didn't know anyone.  The odds were stacked against me in a lot of ways and I was just tired by the time we got here.

I was three million months pregnant (at least it felt that way during the hot FL summer) and the hubby was gone a lot so I figured I'd slow things down a little and focus on trying to be a Mom full-time.  I did get the opportunity to meet a WONDERFUL Etsy shop owner named Kim and we have bonded a lot over Etsy experiences and market stories.  She was a wonderful resource in the beginning, (when I was still considering doing Pursewna full-time) and quickly became a great friend.  (Her shop is www.etsy.com/shop/brownowldesign and you should DEFINITELY check out her stuff!)

I also attempted a holiday market in our neighborhood last Fall - I sold enough to make the entry fee worth it but it was also a good wake-up call to say "yep, it's time to take a break".  So.... I sewed or crafted when I had a moment - some custom orders for friends, but mainly decorations and clothing and accesories for myself and my girls.  It was fun to do some stuff 'for me' and it kept me from getting rusty.

With that said, this blog has definitely been the last thing on my list.  :(  It's hard coming up with ideas to show you and since I wasn't really adding new items to my shop, BUT - I've got my creative juices flowing once again and I HOPE to update you with new Pursewna happenings more regularly!

Thanks for being patient and for *maybe* still checking in every once in awhile.