Promoting VBS at Trunk-A-Treat

     Last year during a VBS clinic for Agency D3, I learned of a great idea about using Trunk-a-Treat as a creative way to promote your church's VBS.  (Last year's spy theme would have made a great trunk!)  The idea is simply to decorate your trunk in the theme of the upcoming VBS theme your church will participate in the upcoming summer.  Hand out "Save the Date" cards for your church's VBS. This year, I decided to try it! 

     Lifeway's VBS theme for this year is Journey Off the Map.  (Think Swiss Family Robinson.) There were no posters to be found, so I made my own with a transparency and overhead projector.  I covered my back seat with burlap, added tree branches and a walking stick.  Hanging from the van are fireflies.  We tried putting glow sticks inside, but it didn't show up too well.  I got the idea from Pinterest.  My dad had made a really cool shellacked stump, so that is what the candy is sitting on.  We handed out invitations for our VBS coming this summer.  

 

As a bonus....now I've got props ready for the VBS clinics I'll be teaching this winter/spring as well as for my VBS classroom!

Eat-in Kitchen Re-do

      I haven't shared in a while the updates we have made to our new-to-us home.  Today I want to share my almost completed eat-in kitchen.  There were a few details I wanted to finish before sharing...a few got finished, a few have not.  I thought I'd share anyway!

This is the BEFORE picture.  Two things I loved about this room when we first looked at our house: the great wood floors and the cute retro (truly retro) chandelier. 

About one hour after signing the papers...I set to work! 

Already feels better!

See?  Chandeliers are making a comeback....I just happen to have one from the 60's that's hip again! 

AFTER picture...I added gray beige paint to the top and white to all the trim and lower half.  Painting the windows was a bear...but love how it feels in the room now!  My theme for the room is French Country Bistro/Coffee/Bakery shop.  That will hopefully all jive together when the entire kitchen is done.

One of my projects for the room was to get this chair painted.  It has been in the family for years.  It belonged to my Mammaw.  This chair makes a perfect stepping stool for me around the kitchen. 

How about some delicious coffee colored paint?  I got if FREE with a coupon!

Voila!  (Notice the unpainted cabinet nearby...yuck.  Gonna paint those white!)

I recently added some fall decor. (I love having woods near our home!)  No, our new home is not crooked.  Just my picture-taking ability!

Owl-Themed Trunk-a-Treat

Our church had a Trunk-a-Treat and Fall Festival last night.  Here is my trunk. 

 

 

 

Most of what I used is from my trunk last year.  I did add a few new things.  I made a bunting from fabric scraps I had on hand and sewed them to some twine.  I happened to have orange ribbon that worked great and added that "pop" of color it needed.  I also added a wood slice and a pumpkin.  I wish I would have added some cut branches like I did last year.  It would have made this picture look a lot better. (But probably would not have made much difference in the dark last night!)  I put buckets for "lifts" under the burlap for the candy and pumpkin. 

Go HERE to read a similar post from last year...and more pics.

My Autumn Mantle (and Candlesticks Re-do)

I had a lot of fun putting together my mantle for fall this year.  I loved having something new to incorporate...my new candlesticks.

My dad made me these great candlesticks for Christmas.  I was so excited to get large ones like this!

I decided white candlesticks would better fit my decor.  It took 3 or 4 coats of white paint. 

A close-up of the finished candlestick and my decoupaged pumpkin from an earlier post.

I added a quote from Emily Bronte to my plate.

These were two Pinterest pins that inspired the idea:

Decoupaged Pumpkins

     Five years ago my children painted plastic pumpkins at an art class.  We enjoyed displaying them  for a season or two.  After that, I just couldn't find a way to incorporate them into my fall decor.  (I know, I should be able to work something out with a brightly striped pumpkin and an FSU pumpkin, right?)  But, like most moms, I just couldn't bear to get rid of them.  Until this year. Well, sort of.  

     The minute I opened the fall container full of all my decorations I saw the pumpkins and thought, "decoupage!"  (I think I've been on Pinterest a little too much. hehe!)  I asked my boys if they were okay with me covering up their art work.  They said, "Oh, sure, mom." 

What I started with: scrapbook paper, Modge Podge, a brush and a pumpkin.  The best part: I had all these things already on hand!  FREE!

I covered sections of the pumpkin with Modge Podge.  I then painted torn piece of the paper on top of the wet sections with glue.  I definitely recommend tearing the paper and not cutting it.  It looks so much better, and lays better.

Ta-Da!  My pumpkin!  I painted the stem to match the green on my fireplace screen. I'll show you my entire mantle decor soon!

This is the other pumpkin.  I gave it to my mom.  This is how she displayed it.  Cute, huh?

     In doing this little project, I discovered something.  I love decoupaging!  I'm wondering what I could decoupage next?  Decoupaging is a great way to take something that has "good bones" and make it look new again! 

Fall Decor at My Mama's House

Last week we went to visit my parents for a "Fall Break" of sorts.  I just had to do a feature on all my mom's fall decor.  There was something in every room....but here are a few highlights.  Enjoy the tour!

A crow atop a tower of old crocks

One of my favorite pieces my mom has (maybe because I bought it for her...hehe!)  I'm still kicking myself for not buying one for myself the same day.    I purchased it at an end-of-season sale for around $7.  Now you know why I'm really kicking myself! 

My mom has a knack for using stuff she's had forever and using it in a new way.  I had not seen this light-up ceramic owl since my childhood.  I love how cute it looks!  And owls are BACK!

The butcher block in the kitchen is always decorated with the seasons.  I love how my dad made the rolling pin towel holder.  Underneath is a crock full of old rolling pins.

Duck decoys on wood slices

I love  the scarecrow nestled in with the quilt and old school book reader. 

At the backdoor: scarecrow, pumpkins on wood slices, old wooden crate decorative cabbage and mums

Don't you just love the cute little pilgrim boy carrying a pumpkin? 

Thankful Garland

 Yesterday I took a little time in between cleaning the house and raking leaves to make our "Thankful Garland".  I used materials I already had in my craft closet, so this was a "freebie"!  All that's left to do now is to write what we're thankful for on the leaves.

  

 

Give thanks with a grateful heart...



Harvest/Thanksgiving Decor Switch-out

I shared with you in my "Autumnal" Nesting" post some of my harvest decorations.  With just a few switch-outs I'm now ready for Thanksgiving.  (I also took down my "Harvest Blessings" flag outside and replaced it with my "Happy Thanksgiving" flag.)

 

 

If you squint your eyes, the Viking ships look like the Mayflower!  HA!  (This is our school corner...so the ships stay!)

I purchased these pilgrims last year at major clearance.  I don't even think I paid a dollar for them.  My little pumpkin plate was a Bingo prize from a Fall Festival.  :)

I re-purposed the fall leaves from my Trunk-A-Treat.  They are kinda cheapy, but look much better when bunched together a bit. 



I changed my Bible Verse...and that's all I did to my mantle.




 

There's more I'd like to do, like add a "Thankful" tree or maybe a "Thankful" garland.

  I found this on Pinterest today....nice and simple so I can remove it when we build a fire...
Maybe I'll give it a go...