Fall Decor: Make Fall Acorns and Pinecones from Plastic Easter Eggs

 

While Halloween hasn't even arrived yet, I think my house is sufficiently haunted so I've started in on some Fall decorations for November. I'm so excited about how these came out and I hope you like them! 

I've always loved acorns for no reason that I can put my finger on. I just think they scream Fall. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, pinecones were literally everywhere. Now living in the desert, I don't have either so I did what Makers do and made my own versions! 

Supplies: 

• Plastic Easter Eggs (had some in my craft stash)
• Acrylic Paints ( I used Craftsmart Dark Brown and Martha Stewart Rust Metallic)
• Scrapbook Paper ( Pinecones)
• Jute Cord
• Coordinating Sequins (I love the Kids Craft section at Michaels) 
• Copper Beads
• Glue Gun and Hot Glue 
• Aleene's Turbo Tacky Glue

I wasn't sure how well the paint was going to stick to the plastic so I coated a couple with Mod Podge to increase the adhesion and then I decided to try directly on the egg which worked fine. It was easier to open the eggs to paint vs paint them whole. 

I used a bamboo skewer to help hold the eggs in place as I painted. I started with a coat of the plain brown paint and then went over that with a couple of coats of the metallic rust. I made some "egg holders" from scraps of paper glued together in a circle. 

I'm a "figure it out as I go along" person so initially I didn't think I needed to paint the tops of the eggs since they would be covered with sequins but after I could still see a little of the color when I did the first one, I decided to do that w/ the rest. 

Once your egg is completely painted ( you can see here I reached my decision to paint the tops after I'd already added the twine to one, so it's shown here w/out paint) then add a drop of hot glue on the seam, wrap around the egg as shown and when satisfied, glue then trim the end. 

For the acorn stems, I just folded some of the jute twine over itself 2 or three times and sealed the ends w/ a dab of hot glue and then glued to the middle of the top of the egg. Then, using the Tacky Glue, start gluing the sequins around the egg, starting at the top edge of the twine. Work up to the top and voila!

I had some copper beads in my stash so I added on sequin to the bottom along with one copper bead. 

Pinecones:

For the pinecones you will need an oval craft punch or a digital cutting machine. I used my Cricut Explore 2 and created an oval shape in Design Space for my pine cone parts. 

I had some silver polka dot foiled kraft papers in my stash and I liked the way I thought they'd look with the acorns so to coordinate, I used silver sequins around the small end of the egg. Starting around the sequins, start gluing the ovals around the egg. I did use the hot glue for this. Continue until you get to the top of the egg, slightly offsetting each row of petals. Once you get to the other end, decide if you want them more open or closed and glue the petals down accordingly. 

I hope you've found some inspiration! 

Eclectic Red Barn

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Welcome Spring: Floral Egg Wreath Under $10

I didn't do any Easter / Spring decorating last year since we were in the middle of moving, but this year since I get to decorate of course I had to make something new. I started out thinking I was gong to do a wreath full of plastic eggs but as projects go with me, it morphed into something else. HA!

Supplies: 

• Plastic Eggs ( Target $1 per package). Bought 5 ; used 4
• Wreath Form ( Dollar Tree $1)
• Felt  (on hand)
• Drop cloth scraps (on hand)
• Ribbon (JoAnn $3 on sale)
• Cuttlebug
• Tim Holtz Tattered Floral Die
• Scrapbook paper ( on hand) 
• Glue Sticks
• Glue Gun

I knew I wanted an ombre look so I laid the eggs around the wreath form to make sure I liked it. 

I also learned from a previous project that I didn't want any of the wreath form to show so I wrapped it in strips of drop cloth I had on hand. 

Then it was glue, glue, glue around the form. I left a space where I knew I would put the ribbon and which was just that much too tight to fit one more egg. 

I kind of made this up as I went along and my brain said "leaves" so I cut a leaf  template from paper freehand then used it to cut leaves from felt with pinking shears. 

I put a dot of glue on each leaf, pinched it together then glued to the form. Now, what to do to finish? 

I cut 16 flowers using my Cuttlebug and Metallic Yellow and Cream Scrapbook papers ( 8 from each color). I debated about alternating them or alternating the layers of each and ended up as shown doing half and half. 

Finished with a bow!

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BFF Open House Link Party

Hi all and Happy Spring!  A much calmer week for me workwise so this week's party is on time and with features! Hope you all have had a wonderful start to Spring and those of you in the Northeast aren't dealing with too much snow. 

My name twin Carol from The Red Painted Cottage shared how to bring some Spring inside with her gorgeous tiered tray. 

Crystal, from Surviving a Teacher's Salary ( hear hear ) shared this natural planter using a found tree branch,  moss, and air plants. 

Artsy VaVa is back with a gorgeous Easter Egg bouquet showing off her painting talents once again because she hand painted those eggs! Wouldn't these be fun to put with your Easter dinner table settings ? 

Sugar Spice and Family Life shared these Peanut Butter Cup STUFFED Chocolate Cookies ( drooling...not gonna lie). With Reeses PB Eggs everywhere right now thinking you could even use those to stuff these cookies! Not that I go overboard or anything. 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Blast From The Past: Spring Eggstravaganza

I haven't eggsactly been on a creative roll lately. I'll share why in a future post. But I thought I'd do a roundup of some past egg projects as we approach Easter and Spring!

Still one of my favorite projects is this one "Eggshells Under Glass" which used real eggshells that I painted to coordinate with the base of a cheese dome I picked up at Goodwill. 

In a similar color palette, are these Tissue Paper and Twine Eggs that are easily made using a combination of plastic eggs from the craft store, tissue paper, Mod Podge, paint, twine and misc. embellishments. 

Of course you know I love chocolate and what goes together this time of year but chocolate and eggs?! 

This Vintage inspired egg also uses a plastic egg, tissue paper, paint and misc. embellishments. 

This "Faux Oeuf en Chocolat" aka "Fake Chocolate Egg" is a different type of egg from the craft store , painted in chocolate brown, then speckled with gold and covered in a chocolate label graphic. 

Hope you've found some inspiration! 

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy Friday Eve all! Hope it's been a good week for everyone. Easter weekend is upon us so here are some last minute ideas to try or Pin for next year! 

This Spring vignette from An Extraordinary Day can stay up well after Easter. I love all the pussy willows and that big moss egg along w/ the golden eggs and birds. Wondering if that little bunny is chocolate? 

The only thing better than Pottery Barn is a great PB knockoff like this glittered bunny from Pugs and Paisley. Fess up. Who (else) walks through PB saying "I can make that". 

Speaking of Pottery Barn, this stunning floral table runner from Bird's Party looks like it could have come out of their catalog doesn't it? So pretty and and would be perfect for a Mother's Day or bridal shower table. 

If you need an addition to your dessert table, these Chocolate Cake Bites Wrapped in Coconut from Make Easy Cakes is just the thing. For me, chocolate and coconut is an irresistible combination! 

Now on to this week's party! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy whatever day of the week this is! It's been a whirlwind with some family stuff and work stuff and just stuff stuff! Hope everyone's had a less hectic week. 

Let's jump right into some awesome ideas shared at last week's party!

Spring is the time for eggs. Whether you are celebrating Easter or Passover or just the renewal of Spring,  egg symbolism abounds. I am in LOVE with these CEMENT ( yes I said cement) eggs from Kileen at Raven Would. Cement!And I love the nests she made for them as well. 

Speaking of nests, you how creative is this idea from Artsy VaVa? Look at that cool gumball machine! Swoon. 

How sweet is this Button Bunny from 3 Winks Design? Love the combination of buttons and colors. 

"How do you like your eggs?" .... "Covered in chocolate!" So these Vegan Peanut Butter Eggs definitely belong in my basket. From Sew Historically: 

Now, let's see what you've been up to THIS week !

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party Happy Spring!

Happy Friday Eve and Easter Weekend for everyone celebrating. Is it Spring where you are now that the calendar says it's official? Signs of it here between the raindrops.  Here are some fun Springtime ideas from last week's party. 

If you're dyeing eggs this weekend Practical Mom has a great tutorial on these gorgeous marbled eggs. 

I'm seeing lots of metallics in home decor and Lynda Creates shared this fun geometric metallic pillow along with the how to. 

Nothing says Spring like flowers and Twenty Something in the 2010s share a lovely way to dress up mason jars to hold your Spring blooms. 

If you're looking for another kind of egg this weekend, how about these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough eggs from Sugar Spice and Family Life? 

OK now on to this week's party! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up