Wreath Transformation

I wanted to make the wreath from here and since I recently received some birthday money and a gift card to Jo-Ann's I decided to use it to buy supplies to make a fun Halloween wreath for us.

I started with this "lovely" wreath that I bought at the thrift store.

I bought it for the wreath form only I assure you.  Although I must say that I feel a little bad about taking this wreath apart as some grandma put a lot of time, effort, pins and lace into making this. 

Oh well....there were about 5 more similar to it at the thrift store. 

Once I removed all the old embellishments it was transformed into this fun Halloween wreath.

I thought about hanging it outside, but was a little leery.  I haven't ever had anything stolen while in our current home, but I've had other decorations stolen off our door while we were students at BYU.  Nice!  Even hanging in between the screen door and the front door wouldn't work as it would get smashed some. 

In the end I decided to hang it on my "new" mirror (scrounged from the biannual city clean-up day) by my entry for just our family to enjoy.  Excuse the pile of shoes.  They really should be in that toy box on the left, but obviously we have issues with that.

To hang it I just used one of those 3M hook things and put it on top of the mirror.  It is high enough that no one can see it, not even my 6' self.  This way I didn't have to put a nail in my mirror.

Little "Hootie" is everyone's favorite part of the wreath--glad we found him. 

We like him better than the crow and spider we were thinking about.

Details:

Wreath -- 12" form for $2.69 at thrift store

                             (cheaper than any of the floral wreaths or other wreath forms I found, even with a coupon, at Jo-Ann's or Michaels).

Tulle -- 4 spools of 25 yds. each for $2.99/spool

Ribbon -- 4 different spools 3 x $2.39 and 1 for $1.99 (you can get 3 good size ribbon roses out of 3-4 yds.)

Owl -- Michaels $2.99

Flowers -- Jo-Ann's clearance $2.39

Squiggly stick picks -- 4 at $.49 each

TOTAL:  approx. $31

Thrifted Fall Wreath

I have this large mirror hanging just inside my front entry and I try to change it up with the seasons so that it has a little more character.  I found it on the curb for free and have had plans to paint it, but so far haven't done it.  Maybe I don't want it painted that bad.

Anyway, last year I just kept my Halloween wreath up thru Thanksgiving, before putting up the Christmas decorations.

However, I found this pretty wreath on Pinterest early this year and wanted to do something similar for my house.


I lucked out at my thrift store and found a cream-ish version of those berries for about $2.
Bought burlap ribbon from Jo-Ann's. $2.50/roll after 50% coupon.
Cut out and painted my own initial from hubby's scrap wood and this is what I ended up with.



I may change to a cream/gold/sparkly "K" for Christmas and New Year's....because I can.

This is how I attached the letter.
3M reusable hooks and a couple rubber bands.


It was a small moment of genius for me.
My kids were thoroughly intrigued as to how that letter was just hanging there so perfectly.

I am enjoying the pretty wreath and the pop of color.
Rustoleum 2X Ultra Color Paint and Primer -- Satin finish in Fire Orange

Friday Finds

Here are some of the recent items I've found while thrifting.

Pretty 2 yd. piece of paprika colored faux suede for $1.49 that I turned into a Fall tablecloth and a spiderweb print piece (also about 2 yds. worth)  for $1.12 that I can use as a table covering, make into a couple pillows or maybe a piano seat covering for the season.  Not sure yet....

Added the decorative hemming using an embroidery stitch off my machine.

Wire pumpkin/squash (or pear if you ask my kids) for $1.99

Measures 13 1/2 inches tall

$.39 candle

Debating on spray painting it orange, but I think I prefer it as is.

Metal base for $.69

Here is how I have it arranged on my little table.  

Canning ring pumpkin idea from here.

Halloween sign for $.74 that I added to last year's wreath I made for Halloween.

Measures 2 1/2 by 6 inches

 

Twiggy pumpkin for $1.21

I'll probably put this on my piano with a couple other items.

Unrelated for the season but a pretty rose wreath for $1.06

Measures about 13 inches tall.

The roses are light pink and I'm thinking of spraying them a darker color--sort of 2 tone look 

and then I'll use this near my front entry in February.

These are coasters.  I think I got them for $1.49

I have ideas of either turning them into a small wreath for fall or spray painting them white/sparkly and using them as tree ornaments.  Or even leaving them plain and using them as ornaments.