DIY Autumn Display How-To

I'm feeling so festive this year! The foliage is probably the best I've seen it in years and any time I'm out for a drive I want to stop every two seconds and collect. Leaves. Branches. Berries. Ferns. Everything :)!  So the other day I decided I was going to make a trip of it. I went out with scissors in hand and clipped oodles of goods for a Fall display.
I've had this wonderfully rustic barn-red milking jug and the wash basins for a long time and decided they'd be perfect to house all my finds. Maybe you'll feel inspired to go out and collect. Its so easy, gives a welcoming feel to your entry, and it's FREE.

Here's a little How-To.

What you'll need: 

-Containers (Depending on the plant, water may be necessary.
A vase can fit inside a container if too big.)

-Foliage, branches, berries, greens, etc.

-Scissors/Knife

I suggest dividing your goods separately for easy arranging. 

Fill your container/vase with water.

Start by filling your vase with a "filler" such as grass or leafy branches.

Then start adding the "accents"; Colored leaves, branches, cat tails,

and other special things you may not have as many of.

I added the colored leaves around the outside rim so they'd drape nicely. 

(Notice the little helping hands above... ;)! )

Then I put the cat tails and tall leaf branches in the center of the grass since they're tallest.

Once I got everything I could squeeze in

 I stood back and made a few adjustments.

Then I put a rock in the bottom of the milk jug to fill some space

 and lowered the vase in carefully. 

~

I did the same thing using an old mop bucket, 

but didn't use water for it as these plants dry out nicely...

I'm not sure what this plant is but it's a ground covering weed of some sort 

that smells really nice and has varying colors in the Fall. 

I used this as my filler.

Look at the nice variety of color..so pretty!...

Then I added some dried berry branches, tall leafy branches, 

greens, and a few pine-coned branches.

This bucket will carry through really nicely into the winter time.

~

Lastly I put my mum into a small wash basin and 

displayed it on top of a larger one for height.

Now you get to arrange them all.

(See my last post for pumpkin details.)

There you have it! 

Super easy, inexpensive and best of all, 

it looks soo cozy & festive!

I hope you feel inspired to try your own!

If so, I'd looove to see your pictures when done!

~Amy

Next post: Pressed Autumn ferns, so pretty.

Our Latest Fall-Inspired Projects and Happenings

My mom, niece Whitney, Avie and I had a little Fall craft day yesterday. I was eager to try this project that I saw on Pinterest....

Here.

So we went out for a nature walk, collecting leaves in our little red apple buckets.
Then we sat down to decoupage. So fun! Whitney painted a large pumpkin while we shuffled through the leaves finding the right color and shapes...

Avie helped out by eating... :)

Whitney proceeded to "paint" Auntie's door, with the unwanted help from Avie... Haha.

"No Abie....No."

After lots of decoupage, here's a look at the outcome. 

Mom had to leave early for Whitney's dance class ;) so hers is still in progress. 

I love the fern-like leaves she used, though, and wanted you to see it.

I loved these fuchsia- toned leaves. 

And here's Whitney's master piece!... 

I'm sure it would be worth millions if pumpkins only lasted... :)

All in all a great time together. 

Nothing like sharing these kinds of projects and fun with the ones you love!

OTHER FALL HAPPENINGS:

My hubby, Avie and I have done lots of Fall hiking..

The leaves were just starting to change and we came across 

multiple ponds and river openings that boasted beautiful foliage views!

Our little cliff hanger!

Each time we had a cozy picnic..

And Avie-girl had her first tootsie pop. :) Needless to say my hair was.... sticky.

Avie popped her first tooth and has pulled herself up to her feet!!

She's so close to walking!

We attended a friend's amazing Autumn wedding this weekend. 

Such a lovely view and perfect weather!

Little Whitney was a flower girl! And to the left my sister-in-law Kim and her adorable

prego belly! She looked amazing, and is due Oct 18th!!!!!! (BOY!)

(You can kinda see my ombre hair that I previously posted about having done. Very subtle reds.)

She is becoming a Daddy's girl! Forget Mamma. ;)

Her old-man face...Hehehe.

Coloring with Grammy and Grampy at the reception. These water-marker

books are GENIUS!!! 

And fun with Whitney including BUBBLES!!

(Jut look at Whitney. Can we say CUTE?!)

All in all a wonderful Fall so far, filled with family, friends, and lots of fun!

I'm a thankful girl!

~

A Look Back

I was looking through my shop's sold items and was feeling very nostalgic! I opened my shop during a really troubling yet powerful time in my life. Etsy was therapy. A good distraction. And what I had been wanting to do for so long. Now looking back it seems so long ago. While I'm so glad not to be back there, the pictures remind me of the good times I had despite and that so many wonderful things were waiting on the other end!

I'm posting some of my favorite items. Whether it's the item itself or the memory of how I came across it, they all have a little something special attached to them. Funny how objects can do that.

I also miss my old background. I think I may need to go back to it. Hmm.

We'll see. Hope all is well!

~Amy

PS "After" pictures of our new and improved ( I think..) living room soon to come. It's taken a little longer to pull things together than I would've liked but it's my own slow fault! Plus there's more woodwork trim than I know what to do with so I'm still painting that a little at a time after Avie goes to sleep. :) White. So incredibly unrewarding to spend so much time painting it the same color, just to clean it up.... 

though it has freshened up the whole space! I suppose a clean slate is always good!