Book Page Wreath

The last several weeks have been busy as usual, but I caught a small decorating bug. If you've ever done some decorating in your home you know what happens when you start one project... it snowballs. The above cabinet space in the kitchen needed to be revamped after Easter, as did the shelves in the dining area, the art above my couch has been screaming at me for months, and so has the family picture above my piano. Rearranging and repurposing items from around the house creates even more projects.

Soooo, instead of doing all those other things, I began with a craft project that I knew could be finished started and finished within a couple of hours. Those other projects would take much preparation and planning.

Here is the idea I found online. Read her blog for directions and tutorial on putting this wreath together. Here is the list of supplies needed for this project:

1 9 inch foam wreath (I used a wicker 12 inch wreath)
1 pack of mini glue sticks (and glue gun)
1 paperback book (I got a big hardcover book) 300 + pages
black, gray, gold paint (I used whatever spray paint I already had in my garage)

TOTAL COST: $2 + glue sticks

I purchased the wreath and book at the Dollar Tree. The small difference in the inches of the wreath made a HUGE difference in the end. And the size of my book was pretty big too. A paperback would have been easier for ripping out pages too.

Total time to complete this project. 2 hours (including a break for visiting with neighbors). Perfect for a Sunday afternoon.

The wreath I made turned out really really big. Much bigger than I imagined. It is nearly 2 feet across! I should have known this would happen - start with a 12 inch wreath and all that paper will double its width. Lesson learned. You want a small wreath...use a small wreath to begin with. I am happy with the results. And the enormous size has grown on me. I like it. It makes a statement.

As much as I like my new handmade decoration, I still prefer the look of the inspiration wreath. Mine is very fluffy while hers is more compact and scrunched looking.

Here's what I'd do different next time:
1. use a smaller wreath
2. use a smaller PAPERBACK book with words that stretch to the edge of the page
3. paint the edges of my paper even more
4. make my paper more scrunchy

For now, my paper pleasure will delight visitors as it greets them on my front door. (I have nowhere else to hang something this large.) And if you make one, please post pictures somewhere and leave a link so we can compare notes.

It's the little things that matter...

All those small details are what go into all that wedding planning. It took a year for Jordan and Stephanie to see their vision for their wedding, make decisions, and carry it out. We got to help out with some of the decorating and desserts at the ceremony and reception. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy (and for us to remember!) all of those details:

The Ceremony

The Wedding Clothes
(Check out those rhinestones that line her veil and Jordan's black & white shoes!)

Notice how the rouching on Stephanie's gown is repeated in the dress that Lizzie wore. Details details!!

Jackson felt so handsome in his bow-tie and boutineer, and all the guys (Jeremy too!) got to wear a HOT PINK tie!!

The Bridal Party

Maid of Honor, Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Trevor as Best Man, Logan as Ring Bearer, Lizzie as Flower Girl

The Reception & Decor

This last bit of fun was a treat for everyone! The candy table was a hit! The table itself was darling - complete with tag labels and little scoopers for each candy. We saw more adults coming back for seconds and thirds than children!

It was a beautiful day that ended with a rockin' fun party. The wedding itself was the most meaningful part of the day, but what made it feel even more special were all those little things that were all in the details...

I do believe in spooks. I do, I do, I do...

Walk up to our home and you will be greeted by a cheerful sight. (The spooky stuff will come later, I promise!) A pumpkin patch on our porch! (CVS was sporting some $5 off coupons on Halloween decor - we scored $15 worth of FREE pumpkins!) Come Halloween week, all of these pumpkins will be carved in to masterfully creepy creations...

Now, step through our front door and enjoy my take on a Halloween wreath. A dollar store sparkly skeleton encircled with some black dollar store garland. Oooooooo... spooky....

Enjoy a few Halloween touches in our front living room. This "skulls in a jar idea" came from a blog I stalk. As you can see, the dollar store has been very good to us this year...

Atop the piano you will find one of our favorite skeleton friends, Jack Skellington. He takes the place of honor above the focal point in this room. Notice he is encircled with more of that awesome black garland.

Creative inspiration comes from anywhere. This year, I happened across several ideas on random blogs linked through other blogs. I stumbled upon this blog and instantly fell in love with the candy corn candles. Since we had about 12 pounds of candy corn sitting in my living room (thank you Jordan & Stephanie's wedding reception!) I figured it would be an inexpensive and super cute decorating item.

Come into the kitchen and see the fall festival above our cabinets. Mr. Jack-o-lantern is peeking out from the other pumpkins in the patch.

For Family Home Evening we scared up some little ghosties out of suckers, rubber bands, and basic white napkins. Our kids have the best time crafting these small spookies. They are quick and easy and are age appropriate for our crowd ages 4 - 35. :)

And finally, the piece de resistance, my favorite little vingette this year, hiding behind glass in the TV cabinet, the skull with spooky clock and melting candle.

I don't know what it is, but the skulls and skeletons are speaking to me this year. Maybe they're speaking to you too? Happy Halloween decorating!

"Fall"ing in love...

Kari and I got the chance to decorate for a wedding last weekend. It was a fall themed reception, which we both LOVE, and brought back so many memories from when we did Kelly & Julio's wedding 2 years ago this month! (Happy Anniversary guys!) All of the pictures were taken in the evening so they will not give you the full effect of what it actually looked like in person.

The entrance was flanked with pumpkins and candles. Such a beautiful prelude to the indoor decor.

The guest book sign-in area was complete with a refinished bench (a gift to the happy couple from the bride's daughter), a GOLD tree, and more pumpkins!


On the sign-in table you'll notice the beginning of a common thread throughout our decor - our "flower" of choice was real cornstalks. Their form is so rustic and beautiful - perfect for a fall wedding!


Upon entering the cultural hall you were greeted by our most genius creation - the cornstalk spray. These babies stood almost 7 feet tall! The bases were wrapped in lights and gold toulle, gold berries, a little greenery, and fruit was skewered to add a punch of color.


The centerpieces were a flameless flickering candle (we were in a church building - no fire allowed), wrapped in ribbon, surrounded by a grapevine wreath wrapped in a fall leaf garland, some gold berries, and tons of real fruit. The tablecloths were chocolate brown, with olive green runners, and a gold ribbon accent.

From above, we hung gold ribbon, with tealight lanterns (flameless flickering again here) - they were so beautiful in the darkened room! The lowered ceiling made just the right amount of intimacy for this event.

This final picture does not do justice to our most favorite bit of creativity - the floral arrangement done for the food table. The jar itself stands about 3 feet tall. It was filled with more fruit, tealights, and all the same goodies as our tall sprays. It weighed close to 75 pounds once it was full.

Special thanks go out to so many friends and family members who helped out with the setting up, creating, and taking down of all this beauty. We couldn't have done it without you! It was a beautiful evening and we owe you countless thanks for being a part of it all.

Congrats to the happy couple - we wish you all the best in your new journey together. We were so happy to be a part of your wedding celebration.