DRYING YOUR GARDEN HYDRANGEA

I love hydrangea.  I have a hydrangea bush in my front garden, and every year it blooms and looks beautiful.

I have not been able to get them to turn pink or blue.  Anyone know how to do that?  Mine just start off white, and then turn into a beautiful green.

As the fall comes along they start to turn brown, and dry up and stay that way all winter long.  Winter interest display.....lol

Right now, they are a beautiful green, and I thought I would dry them so that I can enjoy them indoors.
I picked them, and just put them in a vase, and leave them there to do their thing.

Take a look at how beautiful they look.

When Christmas comes, you can incorporate them into a Christmas arrangement.  Add some ornaments into the arrangement, make them into a wreath.  The choices are endless.  Such versatility.

Linked to

http://www.houseontheway.com/twirl-take-a-bow-party-7/

MY FIREPLACE MANTLE FALL DECOR WITH LACE PUMPKIN TUTORIAL

I am so excited that fall is here!  Don't get me wrong,  I love summer, but the heat.....OMG I can't stand it anymore!

I picked up some supplies and also worked with whatever I had around the house.

I really like using what I have, and just add some new things.  I like re-arranging, and getting a totally different look.

So happy to share with you.

My mantle.

Wrapped my biggest pumpkin with black lace.  A romantic and sexy pumpkin.....lol
I also purchased some purple masks from the dollar store and some autumn leaves too.

I used some dried roses that I have had for over 2 years.
My pumpkin wearing some bling.....lol

Sexy Pumpkin

I adhered the lace by wrapping it around the pumpkin and securing it with a pin.  The pumpkin is a fake one, by the way.  

I made tiny little pleats on top beside the stem and put a pin to secure. I continued to do this all the way around.  Turned the pumpkin over and did the same on the under side.  Also, as you are pleating on the bottom, you can give it a nice tug to smooth it out.

And here is the completed pumpkin.

This is my hallway small table that I decided to decorate too.

I pulled apart the leaves from the branch that I purchased and just arranged them in the all year round fake flowers that I have on the table.  (The arrangement also  gets a Christmas makeover too)   I also added the tall centre arrangement which is real from my garden.
It is a weed, that grew so big, that it went to seed......now this weed I like.

Hope you enjoyed my fall decor.  Thanks for dropping by.  Have a great day!

This post has been linked up to:

http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.ca/

http://www.creativekristi.com/workin-on-it-wednesday-22/

<div align="center"><a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/fall-table-decorating-ideas-link-party/" title="The Lettered Cottage"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj29/LaylaPalmer/Linky%20Buttons/Fall_Link_Party_Layla-1.jpg" alt="The Lettered Cottage" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/

http://lilluna.com/lil-luna-link-party-98/

http://whipperberry.com/2012/10/friday-flair-link-party-black-velvet-edition.html

http://theinspiredroom.net/2012/10/22/holiday-nesting-and-party/http://www.homemadeginger.com/2012/10/ginger-jamboree-link-party-1.html

SO SIMPLE, DIY SUBWAY ART WITH TUTORIAL

I am so excited to share this art with you!  I have wanted to do this for so long.
I love this type of art!

I see them everywhere, and you can write anything that you like.

There are many ways that you can make this type of artwork.  I have seen them done by creating it on the computer and printing it out.  Stenciling it.  Free hand.  So many ways.

Of course, I chose the most time consuming one......lol
But so worth it, I think.

Take a look, and try one out.  You will love it.

My Kitchen

It goes perfectly in the corner of my kitchen.

These are subway stops in the city.

HERE IS HOW TO DO IT.

Get yourself a board the size that you want the art to be.  I had this 1/8inch board on hand and thought I would use this.  My board size is approx. 36 inches by 14 inches.   I used black acrylic paint.  One coat was enough for my board. 

I picked a font and a font size that I liked and printed the letters on plain old white paper.

Cut out all my letters that I needed.

Decide on spacing and measure and mark where you want to place the letters.
I used scotch tape to mark my line.  I did not want to mark the black paint.

I traced the letters on blank paper, and started cutting my little heart out. 

A lot of cutting!  But think of it as relaxing, and mindless.....lol

Podged the letters on.  I tried to evenly space them as best I could.  Continued on, and voila!  Done.
When I completed the whole thing, I put a layer of podge all over to seal it.  I used a matte finish.

My board is so thin that I could not screw in any hooks to hang it.  So I decided to put in these screws and I screwed it right to the wall.  I was going to paint them black to blend in with the background, but I think they look pretty cool the way they are.  So I left them.

So what do you guys think?

This post linked up to 

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2012/09/transformation-thursday-no-168.html

http://intheoldroad.blogspot.ca/

DIY COPPER PIPE CHRISTMAS TREE

A while back, I made  this Christmas tree made out of copper pipes!  Yes, copper pipes.

So easy to make.  All you need is a long copper pipe, a pipe cutter, and some copper wire.
That's it!

You need to measure out the pattern that you want to cut, and do some figuring out first.
In my case I wanted a simple tree pattern sitting in a vase.

Each pipe is cut 1/2 inch shorter than the previous one.  In order to get the classic Christmas tree shape.
So start thinking Christmas, and start planning all those wonderful projects.

Take a look.  What do you think?

During the off season, my copper pipe tree hangs in a corner stairwell going down the basement.

A close up shot of  the sides of the tree.

A hole is drilled in the center of every pipe and a copper wire is inserted so you can hang it.

Very simple hanging!

I will be moving it, and displaying it during the Christmas season.  You can place it in front of a fireplace, of course on any wall, in front of a mirror, at your front door, etc.  The choices are endless.  Even hanging it from the ceiling.

Even outside from tree branches, and if you leave it out to hang, it eventually will turn that wonderful verdi gris shade, as it tarnishes, and looks aged.  Really nice!