Kitsch decorating on the Cheap!

It is Easter Weekend, and I’m enjoying a little time to myself. My husband has various appointments with friends over the next couple of days. So I”m vegging with my cat, and pondering how to spruce up my space a little bit.

Easter baskets are on sale, now that Easter is only a few days away. So I bought a few to use around the house. I wanted to create some little reading nooks throughout my home. The book baskets will come in handy. I always wish I had a book to read when I’m in the bedroom, and I’ve been wanting to set up an area to read books while chilling out in my leather chair. I always joke that the chair is like something out of “Beetlejuice”! I got it on sale from West Elm about four years ago. It was an open box item, so I saved around $600 on it!

I also got some paper baskets, made with recycled paper and fabric. I’m honestly blown away by the number of products that are created with recycled materials in regular stores nowadays. (If I could find a store that sells hemp jeans and harem pants in plus sizes…don’t get me started!!). I would I define kitsch as retro maximalist…think bold bright colors and playful accents. Vintage, modern and retro are all part of what makes kitsch fun. While I appreciate the look of minimalism, my favorite decor is loud and whimsical.

My sewing room is absolutely trashed! My cat has is finally on the mend after surgery, but in the meanwhile a lot of stuff got stored in there that Indy wasn’t supposed to jump on. Meaning…I haven’t had a good workout or craft space set up in a while now. I wanted to share photos of my space, but it is absolutely trashed. My home is a work in progress…like I am.

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter, and that you get the chance to find fresh uses for the decor you surround yourself with. Just because an item is normally used for a holiday doesn’t mean that you cannot use it year round. KItsch decor is all about mixing and matching holiday items, especially but not exclusively retro or vintage, and just enjoying yourself in the process of decorating. Make your space feel good to you! Impressing other people with your decor happens when you love your home. Let your authenticity shine through.

Thrifty Holidays for When You are Broke

This post is probably not something you will see very often. But I wanted to write this, because a lot of people in the USA are struggling financially. It is totally cool to have a thrifty Christmas! Giving pre-loved items to others, or giving items you bought but never used is a great way to share what you have. It is also eco-friendly and an Earth conscious way to show people you care without dropping tons of money on stuff they might not even need. I have gifted items I bought for myself that didn’t work out. Some of them still had tags, and some didn’t!

One thing that is huge in my family is “regifting”. That is when you receive a gift, don’t like it, so you give it to someone else. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. But be sure that the giver doesn’t find out! I have given my Mom many gifts, only to later see one of my sisters using the gift! And that kind of hurt a little bit. So be thoughtful with “regifting” and give and receive graciously.

Some items that are great for giving when you are broke are things like pre-loved books, art and craft supplies you bought but never got around to using for the makers in your life, candles from your collection if you have too many, handbags and fashion items you bought but then never wore, pre-loved jewelry, items like semi-precious stones from your collection, ornaments or other small decorative items.

Another idea is to just buy some jars, and fill them up with the necessary ingredients for a cookie recipe. Include the recipe with the jar. Or make some homemade granola and gift that! Christmas cookies with a card are pretty much always a welcome gift too, unless someone is on a diet.

Yet another idea is to get some small tins, and fill them with a vial of essential oil along with some small items that remind you of the recipients. You can prime the tin with gesso and paint it, or collage paper onto it.

In the past, I was especially thrifty with gifting. I’m not sure it was always appreciated, but I was working with a meager amount of money. Do small touches with the gifts, like include a bookmark with a pre-loved book, or add other little touches to the gift to make it more thoughtful.

Christmas is about sharing and caring, and when you give with love, it often doesn’t even matter what the gift is. Sometimes it is the thought that counts more than anything else!

Sewing for the Holidays

Anyone who sews will tell you how busy it gets when November rolls around! Because if you are anything like me, that often means the Christmas sewing begins! This year I’ve decided to sew a couple of gifts, and I’m making some gifts for my Mom to give to her friends. I also sewed a Christmas tree skirt for my Aunt a month or two ago! So I’ve been merrily creating a festive season for myself and others this year.

Christmas sewing can be really fun if you prepare ahead of time. And making gifts for friends can feel fun, save you lots of money, and you can be sure your gift will be original and well appreciated. This year, if I have time, I will also be making some Christmas decor for my home. Truthfully I’ve never had much by way of holiday decor, so it sounds fun to deck the halls and walls this year!

A work in progress for Christmas

Here’s a quick list of some ideas to make for the holidaze on the cheap! If you don’t feel like sewing gifts this year, consider supporting small shops on Etsy! There are so many great gift items available that have been thoughtfully created by makers everywhere.

1. A basic fleece blanket-There are sewn options and no sew options…I’m making one for a friend!

2. A simple wall quilt-You could even paint a wall quilt with acrylic paint for a no wash option, or get some fabric markers and paints to deck out a bit of fabric. Add a little applique, lace or small touch. Pop it in a frame, and you are good to go!

3. Sew some Christmas ornaments or other holiday decor.

4. Simple fabric baskets filled with some self care items like lotion and aromatherapy scents.

5. Make a wall pocket for storing smaller items.

6. Plushies for the kids, or grown ups who love collecting!

7. Pillows are a great gift for the home decor enthusiast, or you could even do a bedroom set for your child.

8. Make fashion accessories! Sew basic scarves with fabric squares or upcycled clothes. Or make some basic drawstring backpacks. These items are great for the fashionistas in your life!

9. Make emoticon pillows or other felt plushies. These are so easy to make, felt is really easy to work with because it doesn’t fray. Get creative with it!

10. Sew a pj set or sexy robe for your partner! Or embroider some bathroom towels with funny sayings on them. I did this one year and my husband and I got a huge laugh.

Basically the list is endless, and I hope some of these spark your imagination. Put some thought into what your recipients could use or what they already love! The best gifting advice I have is figure out what “they” like, instead of buying things “you” like. That way your gift will be super specific to the person you are giving it to.

Gifting is my love language, and I think that’s why I love Christmas so much! It can be a wonderful time to show someone how much you care. Happy gifting!!

Decorating Shenanigans!

My history with decorating is a sordid one…mostly because I’ve never been that into decorating at all! In college I had black curtains and scarves hung up on my windows. The curtains were a cut up sheet! In my college days I didn’t have money. And over the years I lived in squalor a lot of the time, so decorating was the furthest thing from my mind.

My Mom had always decorated in the house I grew up in. But that decor felt like it wasn’t meant to really be used or “lived in”, with adult spaces off limits to me and my sisters. After I got married, my husband and I had wealthy friends who lived in suburbia, and their home was immaculately decorated. I hated walking in to be overwhelmed by all the chemical perfume aromas and knick knacks that seemed trivial and meaningless.

Our wall of photography, all shot by my husband! We used to do adventures around our city and neighboring countryside. This wall commemorates our adventures. We were together when he took each of these photos!

Decorating used to seem like it was something only for the women with picture perfect lives and lots of money! And I didn’t have either. When I started sewing, I started making my own soft furnishings like pillows and blankets. And that started to give my space something of a cozy warm vibe. I collected knick knacks slowly over the years, usually gifted to me. And I developed a love of collecting stuffed animals and Eighties dolls like Cabbage Patch Dolls and Care Bears…nostalgia from my youth.

My living room soon after my husband and I moved into our current home. The desk in the far corner is where I do all my art and spend much of my time! This room has changed some since we initially moved in.

I moved from rural Iowa to downtown Des Moines about eleven years ago. Before that all my furniture was hand me downs from my husband’s and my parents. When we moved we decided to just not have furniture, so we could start fresh. We dreamed of being able to buy our own pieces. And in time we bought our first couch! It was exciting, I still remember when we got it!

I displayed these tapestries in the sewing room right after I moved in. The elephant symbolizes family to me! I have since changed the decor in that space nearly a dozen times over the course of a few years.

I decorate the sewing room, because I have free reign in there. My husband likes to approve of things that go in the main areas of the house, and we have a different sensibility about what belongs in our spaces. I love color and art everywhere, and he loves more of a minimalist vibe. He bought me a bunch of picture frames to frame some of my artwork for the living room. Yet we still can’t agree on which of my thousand works to frame.

My home is a work in progress, and I love moving stuff around to see how I can shift the energy in the space.

I’ve decked out my art table with some Halloween things that I got on a 70% off sale at Michaels right before Halloween, and I have a vision board on my art table. Somehow I’ve become really partial to Halloween because it is a low pressure holiday that is just meant for fun. I’m also creating some little spaces of joy here and there in nooks and crannies.

What does decorating mean to you? Are your spaces comfortable for you, or inviting to the people you share your spaces with at all? What could you do to make your space more functional or more of a soft place to land?

Spring Equinox is HERE!

Ahhhh, it has been a long wait, but Spring is officially here!!!! Usually Winter is my favorite season because the city gets really quiet and there is a cool calm which can be felt all around. But this Winter was not one of my favorites. About a month ago the Antique shop across the street from my home had a fire. It has devastated the neighborhood and it just doesn’t feel the same sitting on my porch anymore. The building has a really interesting history! It used to be a Zen center, but originally started out as a Piggly Wiggly at the same time my house was built in 1916. The fire was so traumatic, and unfortunately my husband, kitten and I breathed in a lot of smoke when it happened. My lungs ached for a few weeks afterward, and now I’m just left watching the antique dealers trying to salvage the remains of their precious antiques.

My husband and I purchased our home in 2022, so we are fairly new to the neighborhood. What I love about this neighborhood is that it is multi cultural and there are people from all stripes living here. Our neighbors are refugees, and they have been very kind to us! They help us out in so many ways, and we return the favor.

My white roses…hopefully they will bloom again this year!

Rose hips from my rose bushes

I spent some time in the yard today, to celebrate the Equinox! My husband and I have a nickname for our house, the Bird Haven, because he is into feeding the birds. We are getting huge flocks of birds at the moment because migration patterns have begun! All manner of wildlife come through my back yard. There are opossums, lots of rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, hawks, neighborhood cats. I even saw a coyote dart out of my yard and trot down the center of the road one night!

When we moved in here there was an old rotting tree back here, we had to have it removed because it was on the verge of falling down. I wanted to give back to the Earth, because we took from it. And that was how the bird area was born!

I got these statues for the front porch when we moved in…they turned out to be a sign of the Bird Haven that was to become of the back yard!

The wildflower patch needs raked, the front flower beds need planted. I am hoping to plant some veggies in containers this year, and am still working out the details to make it happen. If there is one thing I know, it is that the wheel of the year is constantly spinning…bringing fresh signs of life season by season.

Vintage plate with a depiction of Jesus…it was discovered in my yard!

Go Handmade for a Frugal Holiday

If you are a seamstress or crafter, the holidays are the PERFECT time to dust off your supplies and get creating! There is something so special about a handmade holiday! You can create decor for your home and make gifts instead of shopping for everything. It is a perfect time to focus on what really matters to you! Why not create a meaningful holiday season instead of allowing consumerism to lead the way?

Here are some ideas for projects to try! They will only cost you some elbow grease and supplies you probably already have. If you stick to using materials you already have in your stash it will be a great way to keep the holidays affordable and cut down on wasteful holiday shopping. Just about everybody is trying to save money this year with the economy the way it has been…but you can still have a special holiday season! Of course some people will want specific items from the store, but you can mix in handmade when possible to offset the costs and level up your gifting!

1. Decorate your home for holiday parties with handmade goods! Everything from table runners to placemats, banners and more can be sewn to add that special touch to your holiday gathering. If you are going for an elegant look, get out your collection of candles for ambiance and use neutral tones for the place settings. Or chose a pop of color like green, blue or gold for a special touch. If you have an embroidery hoop, tie scraps of fabric on it to create your own wreath!

2. Make Christmas ornaments! Homemade Christmas ornaments are a fun accent to tie onto gift packaging, or make a bunch to give out at work. I have a stash of eco felt that would be perfect for ornaments. Look through your craft stash and get creative.

3. Cut out furoshiki wrapping, or use bandanas or decorative scarves to wrap gifts. I actually love this idea so much and I have a stash of scarves and bandanas that will work great for gifting! Another neat idea is to sew drawstring bags for gift giving. You can tuck the gifts inside the bags and tie a handmade ornament on the top. If you do drawstring bags or bandanas and scarves, they will be the kind of wrapping that can serve another purpose after the holidays are done.

4. Sew eco kits to give to family and friends! I love this idea so much, and I’m planning on making a few to give away. Whip up some cloth napkins with a silverware pouch and lunch bag, unpaper towels with some eco friendly cleaner like Mrs. Meyers or felted wool dryer balls. For the beauty enthusiast you could do fabric face pads with a little drawstring bag and pair it with a natural facial product. (I would steer clear of sewing hankies as gifts, because ever since Covid it isn’t the most health savvy to reuse tissues.) You can pair the kits with a few eco friendly products and put them into drawstring bags or even make some handmade baskets to put items in.

5. A fun project for paper crafters is to create a photo album for loved ones, or even a recipe book of all your favorite recipes. Make junk journals to gift, or even create and print out a zine instead of the typical annual holiday letter.

6. Make your own Christmas cards! If you look on Youtube, there are tons of tutorials for card making. Some of them use intricate folding methods, and you can customize the cards to each recipient. Use paper from around the house, get out paints, markers and pens and just have fun with it. Or even do collage cards where you collage on something as simple as a note card.

7. Gather pinecones, acorns and stones from your yard and paint them. You can use them as is or paint them to use as a centerpiece for your table. Or even grab some foliage from your yard as everything is drying for the fall season, clean it off and use it as a neat accent in a vase or homemade wreath.

8. For kids, there are so many things you could create to gift! Whip up some dolls or fun decorative pillows with a secret pocket so kids can stash items in it. You can even create some wacky dolls for the groovy grown ups in your life! Look up “F*ck It Dolls” on Etsy or on the web and make some to gift to coworkers and friends.

9. Coasters make savvy gifts to give out! You can pair them with a bottle of wine or cider as a fun hostess gift. Making fabric coasters is a lot of fun! Just whip up a sheet of scrappy patchwork and then cut into squares. Pin to batting and backing and then zig zag stitch around the edges for a contemporary look.

10. Macrame ANYTHING is really hot right now! Even a simple weaving in an embroidery hoop or banner displayed on a wooden dowel would make such a chic gift! Try making your own rope with cut up t shirts. T shirt yarn is excellent for weavings and I bet it would look tres chic in a simplified macrame project.

I hope these ideas get you thinking ahead for a frugal Christmas! Get a brainstorm session going, make a list and start soonest…the holidays will be here before you know it!

Alternative Halloween Ritual

I didn’t get too much into Halloween this year. Not because I don’t LOVE Halloween, but more because I’ve been busy working on my book project. Lately I’ve been trying to churn out art for my upcoming book and it is going really well! I’ve also been sewing a little here and there…hemming pants and doing light upcycles to tweak my wardrobe a little bit. I’m also planning a personal glow up to feel more confident in my skin! I gained a few pounds since the Pandemic hit. So initially I focused on weight loss but then became completely anemic! So now I’m focusing less on weight loss and more on health and self care. It is a fall/winter project I’m working on to bring some harmony to my mind, body and spirit health.

I’ve wanted to develop some of my own traditions for holidays! I’ve never really been that into traditional holiday celebrations all that much. Slowly I’ve been integrating some ideas I love for the different seasons. Halloween is a time when ancestral veneration is practiced in many cultures throughout the world! So I did my own ritual to honor my family of origin. First, I printed out photos from my childhood…pics of me and my sisters, and my folks. I got out my altar boxes because I have created some for my most cherished family members. I lit some incense and cut out the photos of myself and my family. I hung up the photos on my wall and said a prayer for my family.

It was a super quick ritual, but I love the way it connected me to my heart and to the people who mean so much to me! I decked out the sewing room with photos of my husband and my family. I got out my stone collection and placed stones here and there. Some went into the altar boxes and some are on a little moon shaped shelf. I’m not entirely in love with how things are organized so I will be moving things around as time goes by!

If you love holidays but are sick of the traditional celebrations, do some research and come up with your own ways to celebrate! It makes a holiday special to you and will bring some personal significance to holidays you might not normally get into all that much.

Get Your Closet Ready for Winter!

Fall is HERE! I love the colder months so much, and am lucky enough to get to experience four seasons in the Midwest. Fall and winter are my favs, and I especially love to transition my wardrobe for those cool days and breezy nights. This year I’m having a predicament though, because I bought one too many t shirts over the summer. It was one of those summers where t shirts with wacky print just seemed to call out, so now I have an abundance of t shirts!

I’ve gotten all my fall and winter tops out, but they just aren’t calling out to me! I mean I have a couple of turtlenecks that feel perfect for this year, along with some sweatshirts. But my old sweaters did nothing for me last year, so why would I wear them again this year?

Fall is in full force here and it has been really cold! At night it has already dropped below freezing on a few occasions. So I’m needing some warmer tops like pronto! And I don’t want to buy ALL THE THINGS! So I’m challenging myself to remake a few pieces to weatherize my wardrobe.

Here are a few steps to get started, along with some tutorials I found both on my own site and on Youtube!

1. First, adding long sleeves to some t shirts is a must for me. I bought one too many wacky t shirts, and if I just spruce some of them up with long sleeves it would really benefit my closet for winter. Here’s a tutorial on Youtube that I love, that shows how to add some long sleeves!

2. Next, if you have t shirts with quirky slogans on them…you know…all those shirts you bought trying to look young or hip or sarcastic…(hey…don’t look at me! You KNOW I didn’t waste money on any stupid t shirts like that…LOLOL!)…well, grab those shirts and add some applique to them! If they have slogans on them you will not want to use heat and bond, because the iron might melt the design already on the fabric. But try some quick and simple applique with this video!

3. Here are five ways to upcycle sweatshirts! I only have a few sweatshirts, but one thing I’ve noticed about a lot of sweatshirt upcycles is that most of them are about creating a crop fit or taking in a sweatshirt that is too big! BORING! I love the video I shared because the ideas are more creative and something I might actually feel comfortable wearing.

4. What about those boring sweaters in your closet that you might never wear again? Check out this distressed sweater tutorial, or this one right here!

5. Here’s a great video about glamming up your fall wardrobe on a budget! Check out all the Blueprint DIY videos, cuz she has a lot of great projects to try!

I found so many great projects while putting together this list! I think I’m finally ready to get sewing soonest! The change of seasons is a great time to donate, remake and restyle your wardrobe! Just be sure to set aside some warm weather clothes for when Spring rolls around!

Simple Holiday Decorating

The Holiday Season is well upon us by now, and some of you might feel swamped under the pressure to procure a meaningful holiday for your loved ones. The truth is, Christmas decorating and wrapping paper are not always that great for the environment. Even just small touches can add so much warmth to your space, without going overboard.

I have never gotten into the decorating aspect of Christmas because my husband and I don’t have people over for the holidays and we don’t have children. This year I’m feeling more nostalgic, and I wanted to begin to create our own traditions. Over the last few years we have begun rethinking Christmas and how we can make it special for us. Things like drinking Old Saint Nick’s on Christmas Eve and watching our favorite Christmas movies…slowly we are developing some of our own traditions.

Here are a few ideas for decorating and making the Holiday special, without harming the environment…and without adding too much to your already busy plate.

1. Wrap gifts in fabric! This idea stems from Furoshiki, a Japanese art of wrapping items in fabric. Simply cut large pieces of fabric and tie knots to keep the fabric in place. You might want to use pinking shears or a zig zag stitch around the edges of the fabric if you are worried about the fabric fraying. The gifts above are for my husband’s birthday, and wrapped in fabric they look absolutely divine!

2. Make popcorn strands to display. This was one of my favorite projects as a kid, when my Mom would pop a bunch of popcorn and we strung it on thread to put on the tree. You can drape the popcorn strands on a mantle or down a staircase railing for a festive look.

3. If you aren’t into having a traditional Christmas tree, make one for yourself! The above tree is just a wooden dowel stuck in potting soil, and I sewed a little felt triangle top. If you look online there are endless ideas for making your own trees, or try my project for fabric trees out of old dresses and linens. Here’s the tutorial to give you some inspiration!

4. Put strands of Christmas lights in a bottle, jar, vase or lantern. You can even do a bunch of these for different spots around the house.

5. Gather holiday items together to create little vignettes. I seriously have a meager holiday decoration collection, but gathered together on my counter top table everything looks so festive! You don’t need all the things to make your home feel cozy and welcoming.

6. Make some homemade potpourri with pinecones and dried plants and put it in a bowl. Scent it with some essential oil and your home will smell divine!

Ok, I could go on and on here! The point is that there are so many simple ways to add some Christmas cheer to your space that are eco friendly and on the cheap! It doesn’t take a lot to create a warm holiday home, and just a little effort goes so far!

Changing Seasonal Wardrobes

I have put this off like the plague, but it is time to pack up some of my summer clothes to make way for Winter! During seasonal transition times, it can be so easy to just run out and buy a bunch of new clothes for the season ahead. But you can make the transition smooth when you take your time to rethink what you already have.

I’m washing all of my clothes, so I can go through everything. I get excited when it comes time to swap seasons because it means I can figure out what clothing items are working for me and what I could upcycle into something entirely new.

Here are a few tips for the changing fashion season!

1. To start, wash everything that is dirty and get it hung up or put away neatly to be able to go through with ease. I always gather seasonal items into a bag to store in my closet, or you could use a cardboard box or other storage bin.

2. Next, pull out any item of clothing that you didn’t wear over the Spring/Summer months…or things you only wore a couple of times that got pushed to the back of your closet. These items are perfect for upcycling into something new, so don’t throw them out. You could donate some of them if you want or give them to a friend to wear, but if you are like me…set those pieces aside to make into something new.

3. Anything that needs mended for the Winter months should be gathered up next! I have a dress that lost a button, so I’m going to sew the button back on. Also anything with holes or stains can go in the bag to be altered later. Those items are perfect for applique and lace, or mend tears with a zig zag stitch. Do you know I actually used to throw things away if buttons came off…when all I had to do was sew the buttons back on? SHAME!

4. Unpack winter clothing from last season and get it ready to wear. I am getting out my sweaters this week and washing those as well. I also just washed my old winter coat to be reworn. I bought it two years ago, and it is still in perfect condition! If you want to spruce up an old faux fur or wool coat, consider sewing on patches for a trendy look so it will be like new!

5. Another step here is to figure out what warm weather items you want to keep in your wardrobe for the cold months. T shirts can be worn in layers or worn as pj’s, or you could always add long sleeves or layer turtlenecks underneath. I stopped wearing shorts in my teen years, so my pants easily transition for year round wear. Pants and skirts made with super lightweight fabric might have to sit out the cold months though, so get them out of rotation.

6. As a final step, you could check for gaps in your wardrobe and pick up a few items. Thrifting is a great option, try Poshmark for a sweet deal. This year I bought a few basic long sleeve t shirts and turtlenecks for layering, and a couple of pairs of jeans. I also got a faux fur jacket for the mild winter days, because my old coat is really puffy and only works for those super cold temps.

Now you have a bag or bin full of clothes that are dying to be made into something new! And you are ready for Winter…bonus pack! I guess I better get back to my own wardrobe now…those clothes are not going to wash themselves! LOL! 😂

Full Moon Gratitude Cards

The Eclipse was amazing last night! If you did not see it, I can tell you a little about how it looked. The moon looked almost pinkish gray, not dark red like the blood moons of nine years ago. It was amazing because the eclipse went on and on, during the two hours I saw the moon last night it was covered in shadow with just a small sliver of shimmery moon showing through!

In the past I was really into doing little rituals at the New Moon mostly, but sometimes for the Full Moon too. Typically those revolved around what other people were doing or teaching at the time. After being so into spirituality for so many years I think I have finally graduated to be able to come up with my own little ceremony!

The Full Moon is typically about celebrating what you are thankful for! In the USA, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. But perhaps sometime over the next few days would be a most potent time to give thanks for how far you have come in this life. I started my ceremony last night with prayer, to thank God for guiding me into some fresh directions this past few months. Next, I grabbed a stack of magazines and flipped through, tearing out pages that represent things I’m thankful for.

The truth is, things that make you feel gratitude are really a part of you…the best part! Taking time to notice, name and honor those things is like honoring aspects of your higher self…your best self!

Today I’m arranging the images onto 5x7 notecards and gluing them down. I’m going to keep these little cards and add to them over time. If you want to try this activity, you could always collage everything together on paper or cardboard and then put it somewhere you can see it often. Because it will help grow even more things to be grateful for!

The Eclipse was really powerful, the energy can be felt by all whether you saw it last night or not. Take a minute and just notice something good in your life today! It has been challenging this past couple of years but God is always putting things in our life to be profoundly grateful for if we just stop to notice.

3 Painted Pumpkins That Create a Woodland Scene

3 Painted Pumpkins That Create a Woodland Scene

 *In this tutorial I used Liquitex Acrylics, because that is what I already had on hand. For an eco-friendly alternative try these Natural Earth Paints! They have a kit for kids that is affordable and should work great on most surfaces.

Hiking, camping and treks through the woods are some of my most cherished memories from childhood!  In the Midwest, the fall season brings trees bursting with vivid colors, chilly crisp nights and weekend afternoons best spent hanging out by the campfire with people I love.

In the spirit of the woods, these pumpkins create a fall scene that is perfect for the season.  Get out some paints and have some fun with these family friendly projects!  Each pumpkin would look great on its own or create multiples of your favorite design for added impact.  Add your own twist by using your favorite color scheme.

1.     The Artful Acorn Pumpkin

Materials: 

one small pumpkin, the one I used is a Lakota variety

acrylic or craft paint in dark brown, sea foam green and opaque white

1-inch-wide paintbrush or foam brush and cup of water

removable artist tape

q tips

paint palette

paper towels

paper pad or wax paper to protect your work surface

Step 1:  Dampen a paper towel and clean off the surface of the pumpkin, then blot dry.

Step 2:  Apply artist tape around the pumpkin in a horizontal line, about one-third of the way down from the top.  Next, apply a second row of tape about one quarter of an inch up from the first row of tape.

Step 3:  Put smaller pieces of tape along the top indentations of the pumpkin, starting at the stem and stopping at the uppermost horizontal piece of tape.  Be sure to press the edges of the tape down so that the paint doesn’t seep underneath for a crisp edge.

Step 4:  Grab your paintbrush and dark brown paint.  I went with traditional brown, but you could use purple, blue or green for a fun effect!  Just make sure to choose a color that contrasts with your pumpkin.

Step 5:  Dab the paint onto the open areas in between the tape, staying above the bottom paint line.  Try to work quickly because acrylic paint dries quickly, and you want to remove the tape before the paint has dried.  It is okay if the paint looks kind of splotchy, it will add to the overall effect of the design.  Once you have the paint coat down, remove the tape carefully.  Let the first coat dry.

Step 6:  Once dry, gather up two contrasting opaque paint colors and some q tips.  I used an opaque white and sea foam green, but feel free to go with any colors that sound fun to you.  If your paints are more translucent, simply mix with some opaque white which will help the paint color stand out against the dark brown.

Step 7:  Using the end of a q tip, put dabs of paint onto the triangle shapes you painted near the top of the pumpkin.  Overlap some of the edges of the dots for a laid-back look.  I alternated the two colors for a pretty effect.  Let dry and you are done!

2.     Woodland Mushrooms Pumpkin

Materials:

large white pumpkin

cup of water and paint brushes

white and brown acrylic paint markers

acrylic or craft paint in red, copper, dark brown, yellow ochre, sea foam green, raw sienna, white and purple

ponytail holders

small rectangle of thick cardboard

paint palette

paper towels

wax paper or paper pad to protect your work surface

Step 1:  Dampen a paper towel and clean the pumpkin, blot dry.

Step 2:  Grab a brown paint marker and draw the mushroom shapes around the pumpkin edges.  I drew mine at mostly the same height, but you could vary the heights of the mushrooms for a pretty look.  Let the marker dry before the next step.

Step 3:  Dip your brush in water and press it onto a paper towel to remove some of the water.  Then paint the mushrooms, rinsing in between colors.  For a sheer wash of color, put a dab of paint onto your brush and then dip it in the water.  Gently blot the brush on the top edge of the cup, and then paint.  Continue to dab the excess water off the paint brush in between colors throughout the painting process for a thicker coat of paint.  You may want to do two coats of the red paint for a more saturated hue.  If you go outside the lines that you drew, wet down the mistake while the paint is fresh and dab off the area with a paper towel.

Step 4:  I used yellow ochre and copper for some of the mushrooms.  Copper paint has a sparkly sheer look for a beautiful effect.  For darker accents I used a deep purple.  Add little smudges and accents within the mushroom shapes for a stunning intricate effect.

Step 5:  Paint a sheer wash of purple in between the mushrooms for a cohesive look.  Let everything dry at this point.

Step 6:  As an additional element, add some artful grassy spots.  Make a stamp by wrapping a few ponytail holders around the rectangle of cardboard.  Arrange the rubber bands so that they lay flat on the side you will be using for a stamp.  You can line the bands more straight up and down for a uniform look or put some to an angle. 

Step 7:  Dab some sea foam paint onto the rubber bands and then stamp in between the mushrooms.  Overlap some of the stems for a pretty effect. 

Step 8:  To finish, grab your white paint marker and add some details.  Outline some of the lines add accents to some of the mushrooms and stems.  Let dry and you are done!

3.     Moonlit Woods Pumpkin

Materials:

cup of water

paint palette

2 angled paintbrushes; one medium and one small

acrylic or craft paint in grey, black and sea foam green

white acrylic paint marker

removable artist tape

paper towels

Step One:  Dampen a paper towel and clean off the pumpkin, blot dry.

Step Two:  Choose the best side of the pumpkin to create your woodland scene.  Pick a side that is mostly smooth with few imperfections.  Apply horizontal lines of tape along the top and bottom of the pumpkin.

Step Three:  Apply vertical lines of tape that extend slightly past the top and bottom horizontal lines.  Vary the width between the lines and make some slightly angled.  Smooth out the tape, pressing the lines down for a smooth paint edge.

Step Four:  Using your medium paint brush, paint in between the tape lines.  Load your brush with a lot of paint for a nice thick coat of color.  Working quickly, rinse off the paint brush in between colors and blot the brush onto a paper towel so that the colors are saturated.  When you are done painting, carefully and quickly remove the tape before the paint dries.

Step Five:  When the tree trunks are completely dry, add some branches with the small angled brush.  My branches are mostly straight and about one to two inches long.  Starting with the lightest color, add a few branches.  Then work your way through the darker colors.  My branches are short, mostly straight lines to create a retro look.  Less is more, try to only add one to three branches per tree.

Step Six:  Once the branches are dry, add the moon.  Use the inside of your roll of tape as a template or find another small circular object to trace.  Grab the white paint marker and trace the template for a small circle.  Then fill in the shape with dots and dabs of paint marker.  Let dry and you are done!