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Inspirations can come from anywhere and anything, they tie together all the little loose pieces and ideas, bring out creativity, and help to motivate and guide you. The images for this autumn inspiration board came together from places I recently visited, things I have around the house, and what I’ve been thinking about.
The change in season has begun . . . . . Welcome Autumn!
I’ve been busy wrapping up the last bit of summer to do list:
1. drain, clean, and dismantle the kid’s pool
2. clear the garage of leftover items from our garage sale
3. finish up the last of bit of painting in the house
{white, off white, bright white, oyster white, and pure white}
4. put together Caleb’s 10th birthday party, just a bit late …over a month late -ooops
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Are you ready for the autumn/fall season?!
This is Ms. Ellie, one of our 7 chickens.
Ms. Ellie has been living in our house for the past few months. Still not sure what is wrong with her, but she is doing better. I have been trying to get her back with the flock, but not quite there yet. I am very hopeful, just one of the chickens still likes to peck her {any advice will be greatly appreciated on this subject}. She does go out and mingle with the other chickens during the daytime and at night, her home is in the our house. The first time I forgot to bring her back in, the search began with a flashlight and calling for her {I don’t think that helped} just to comfort my anxiety. She was nowhere to be found. Finally, my daughter Hannah called me to look out the back door to see Ms. Ellie waiting patiently to come inside. I haven’t had any problems finding her now.
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Although it’s late in the season, I finally started to clean the garden. These little green pumpkins are just some that I’ve collected, not sure what to do with them yet. I will keep you posted on that. 
It’s time to pick the last remnant of apples for my applesauce and put away my favorite old rickety ladder.
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Already made four batches of applesauce, one more to go and I will be done. I put a little twist on the recipe the last time I made it and substituted 1/2 pound of cranberries and added a little more sugar. It turned out great. {find the recipe Here}
It’s moss season, actually it’s moss season year round… just more now and into spring time. These branches are simply beautiful to look at, the variety, colors and textures in one area. I think a wreath may be a d.i.y. project in the near future. I love using them in decorations, but not so much when they completely take over the yard like unwanted weeds.
A drive around town to see the fall colors.
A view of farm lands and mountains in the distance.
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Ideas are stirring in my head while putting this post together. Can’t wait to try them and if successful, I’ll be sharing with other things this November!
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posted by: Kay
The inspiration for this paper pumpkin idea came from
Martha Stewart’s pumpkin favor pouches for Halloween.
These mini paper pumpkins are adorable and easy to make. I will be showing two similar methods with a slight variation using crepe paper or crepe paper streamers. This came about when I couldn’t find crepe paper at the local stores but they all had crepe paper streamers available. Eventually I got it, just had to drive a little further. If you don’t need it right away, order it online for the best color selections, or spend less money and use crepe paper streamers. Both methods worked great and as a result I wanted to share them with you.
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SUPPLIES
crepe paper / crepe paper streamers
green floral tape
white paper cupcake liners/cups
double-sided tape
ruler
scissors
pencil
paper plate {9″-10″diameter}
sweet treats
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step 1
Cut 4 long strips of crepe paper streamers {10 inches in length each}. On a flat surface, place one paper streamer down and stick a piece of double-sided tape on top and at the center. Take the second crepe paper streamer and place it on top of the first one to make a criss-cross pattern. Press the two middle sections together. Repeat the process with the third and fourth crepe paper streamers to form a circle.
step 2
Attach a paper cupcake liner to the center of the crepe paper streamers using double-sided tape. All the pieces should be attached to each other at the center of the circle {see step 2 image}.
steps 3 & 4
Fill the paper cupcake liner with treats.
To form the pumpkin, take two paper streamer ends opposite each other and bring them to the center above the paper cupcake liner. Hold them in place and repeat this process with the other paper streamers to form a loose ball-like shape.
step 5
To form the stem, twist the crepe paper ends together with one hand to enclose the treats in the paper cupcake cup. Use the other hand to gently squeeze and shape the body of the pumpkin while holding it in place.
step 6
Cut one 10″ long piece of green floral tape
steps 7 & 8
Start at the base of the stem, twist the floral tape several times around in the same direction as the twisted stem. Gently pull on the floral tape while twisting it around to make it stick together and to tighten the loose stem. Once the base is secured, start twisting the floral tape in a spiral up the stem to cover the orange paper streamers.
steps 9 & 10
To finish the pumpkin, take a pencil and wrap the stem around it to give the pumpkin a little curl.
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step 1
Place a paper plate on top of the crepe paper and trace around the outer edges with a pencil. Cut out the crepe paper circle.
steps 2 & 3
Place a piece of double-sided tape at the center of the crepe paper circle and attach a paper cupcake liner to it. Fill the cup with treats. Gather the outer edges of the crepe paper and bring it to the center above the paper cupcake cup to form a loose paper ball shape.
note: the stem on this pumpkin will be a little thicker than the pumpkin made from
crepe paper streamers.
step 4
To form the stem, twist the crepe paper edges together with one hand to enclose the treats in the paper cupcake cup. Use the other hand to gently squeeze and shape the body of the pumpkin while holding it in place.
steps 5 & 6
Cut one 10″ long piece of green floral tape
Start at the base of the stem, twist the floral tape several times around in the same direction as the twisted stem. Gently pull on the floral tape while twisting it around to make it stick together and to tighten the loose stem. Once the base is secured, start twisting the floral tape in a spiral up the stem to cover the orange paper streamers.
steps 7 & 8
Finish the pumpkin, take a pencil and wrap the stem around it to give the pumpkin a little curl.
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See All The Halloween Ideas {here}
1.printables/spiders & insects 2.printable labels & tags / spiders & insects 3.chocolate pretzel spider web treats 4.packaged treats in paper pumpkins 5.packaged treats in test tubes 6.packaged treats in paper bag
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posted by: Kay
Pumpkins are here! Every year there is a temptation to buy just one more pumpkin and add it to the growing collection at home. And I give in, one too many times! There are many varieties to choose from at the grocery stores and local markets. At this time of year, the local farms are bursting with fresh fruits, vegetables, and pumpkins. Out in the fields is where I love to go in search of pumpkins and squash, especially when they are still attached to the vines and ready for picking.
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This beautiful Cinderella pumpkin {Rouge Vif d’Etampes} peaked out from beneath the vines and dead leaves to reveal its bright orange/red color.
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What a sight to see, Green Goblin Pumpkins {Marina Di Chioggia} with knobby skin are quite a unique squash with yellow/orange sweet flesh. They are great for baking and a source of vitamin A.
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Have you ever seen a yellow pumpkin as bright as this one!
The Blue Hubbarb Squash is teardrop-shaped with a hard outer shell and orange sweet flesh. They are great for pies, and soups.
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Fairytale Pumpkins {Musque de Provence} originated from France, they will start out green and gradually turn brown/copper in color when ripe.
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The striped pumpkin {Kakai} is popular for hull-less deep green seeds. The seeds have a wonderful nutty taste for snacking and for oil to be used in cooking.
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A field full of orange pumpkins is a sight I never get tired of at this time of year.
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Arrival of the fall season brings with it pumpkins. Place them outside at the front door {see it here…} or scatter them throughout the house. A large bright pumpkin could stand alone as the center piece of the table or on a mantle. Group similar color/size pumpkins together in a bowl, platter or other containers to brighten a room. Here I’ve gathered some simple and easy ideas to decorate with pumpkins.
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Kim at Simply Domestic used little white and striped pumpkins to decorate her kitchen and dinning room . {see more…}
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A few orange pumpkins placed in the middle of the kitchen island gave this neutral kitchen a nice pop of color.
A collection of pumpkins and squash with other items of similar green color brought cohesiveness to the display on the shelves.
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This large wooden cake stand with two pumpkins stacked together created a wonderful display.
Have fun finding pumpkins and decorating with them!
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posted by: Kay
