Fall wreath

Thank you, Pinterest, for yet another awesome idea. The weather's starting to get cooler (hallelujah!), leaves are just starting to turn, and you almost need a jacket when you go out in the morning. Bring on long-sleeved shirts, Ohio State football, and fire pitting in the backyard!

To celebrate the beginning of Fall, I'm sharing my latest project - a festive wreath!

My sis (in law), Jasmine, is getting married in a month!

Last weekend was her bridal shower in Indy, and as much fun as small kitchen appliances are, I wanted to go for something more personal. Then, I was browsing around my favorite blogs and found this awesome wreath on FreshHomeIdeas.com. It seems so very Jaz -- and for her Fall wedding, it was perfect; she and Jose Carlos definitely need something fun and personal in their new apartment. Not only that, but her wedding colors are very festive for fall - reds, yellows, oranges. This pretty wreath on the front door can be an exciting reminder that their big day is coming!

via

So, off I went to Hobby Lobby & Jo-Ann Fabrics. I took a regular wreath form -- one of those straw ones you can get for $3.99 at HL or Jo-Ann. [Get it with a 40% off coupon for an additional score.]  I unwrapped the wreath halfway and then started to realize it was puking pieces of straw all over my freshly cleaned floor (ugh!!!)!! I ended up pulling out some saran-wrap and wrapping it all back up again. Since it was all covered with yarn, it really didn't matter, so if I make another one again, the plastic wrap is staying on. (Is it supposed to stay on anyway?)

Then, I wrapped yarn around it for what seemed like forever... I thought I was going to die still wrapping that yarn around the wreath! Once that was finally done, all I had to do was start cutting and hot-gluing. Jo-Ann even had a bunch of cool buttons on sale for $0.25 each from $3.99 for some of those things, so this was a fun and enjoyable project. Just like we used to do in first grade, I folded and folded and cut pieces of fabric like paper snowflakes. It's easy - just cut, glue, stack, and put a button on top. Sorry, I was on such a roll I spaced on taking in-progress photos.

If you look closely, the fabrics on this wreath are lots of different textures -- the green fabric is corduroy, yellow is felt, orange is felt, and others are printed textures or linen-look. Like the inspiration wreath, I also positioned the flowers around on the sides of the wreath so it'd have some dimension.

If you attempt this, I recommend hot glue.... lots and lots of hot glue!

Since Jaz's new apartment is still crying out for some personal touches like wall decorations and accessories, I also gave her a set of 3 small frames to include in a frame gallery - all featuring cheese (one of her proclaimed favorite things). I'm so glad this wreath turned out. Trust me guys, it took a LOT of restraint not to post a Facebook photo or blog post about this thing before I gave it to her! :)

Only a few more weeks 'til the big day...Congrats girlie!

I linked up at:

Color Envy

I started painting the green bedroom walls grey a few weeks ago and decided to abort mission after I realized how much I hate painting, especially a room that size. They're staying green! It was fun to imagine them as a dark grey while it lasted... someday I'll get the guts to paint the whole room. Someday (not today)! Yeah, I still have something up my sleeve, so it's not a lost cause. Think green and bright whites. More on this later.

As we sat awake at 1am with power flickering in and out during last week's tornado watch, I decided that the bathrooms deserve an overhaul. No more beige walls! So, this afternoon I went on an epic journey to find  things to make over both bathrooms, which were inspired by these two rooms below. After drooling over both of these for months, it's finally time to do something about it!

Exhibit A (via DecorPad):
I. Am. In. Love. With. This. Room.
The pink and pear-green accessories add a fun element to this entryway without being obnoxiously pink (I really don't like rooms looking super girly... I'm not the only one who lives in this house!) And the paper boxes! Who doesn't love storage?

And Exhibit B (via House Tweaking)
Yep, still digging the grey-yellow look. I have to have a grey room! ...In the upstairs full guest bathroom.

Drumroll please...

I'm really trying to avoid painting at all costs. I would rather run the painfully hilly IU Mini (Half) Marathon TWICE OVER before I paint my room. I think it's inevitable. I am getting to the point where I can't work around the green bedroom walls any longer. So what new color gets to grace our walls?  Drumroll please.....

It's grey! I'm thinking grey with a little yellow mixed in would be "us," and after spending some time at West Elm and Ikea this week (more on that later), I was inspired by my first West Elm store purchase, which currently resides in the black-walled master bath. You know I can't resist a good zig zag pattern. I bought the one on the left, which is a gold/yellow color. This photo does it no justice!

[Photo: West Elm]

Never, in a million years, did I expect to appreciate yellow. It's growing on me, and I can't fight it anymore...
And on a side note, grey is not just grey. Here's a screenshot from the Valspar website (gotta make sure to find the non-VOC paint):

Who knows the difference between "Quaking Bog" and "Steel"? Or "Garden Stone" and "Aspen Grey"?!?! Not this girl!! (Paint color selection might be hell on earth for the indecisive!) 

Here are a few inspiration photos to add to the scrapbook, which include grey, yellow, or both:

1. Not too overhwelming with yellows and greens. Like the use of white to keep things light.
This room also shows that a taupe/beige rug can work reasonably well with the grey without looking boring.
It doesn't look staged while looking complete and warm. Well done!

2. Possibly a little much on the neutral and whites, but a great chandelier.
This one's a little too hotel-esque and need more personality!

3. Living room. I'd go a little darker with the grey because the walls seem like a

 dirty white next to the yellow flower canvas. It just seems like there's something missing here...
I don't get that warm-fuzzy feeling!

4. Ikea. I loved this room before I even knew who designed it. (Is this even grey? Let's pretend it is.)
Picture ledges are an awesome idea, and the few darker pieces/frames with yellow
accent throw and rug seem just right. I'd have to do something about those curtains,
though... too bright! Get me some thermal curtains and we're good!

5. Kate Spade. A little eclectic, but clean. This shade of slate grey might be perfect!!
I also wish I could see more of the yellow  ottoman/bench at the foot of the bed-
I bet it's the perfect amount of preppy.

[photo: Kate Spade]

6. (Left) Grey entryway. I never thought I'd like the way the red and grey go together... and I would bet that the bench was DIY-ed! Beautiful shade of grey for this space.

6. (Right) I think I'm in love with the wall hanging above the bed. Plus, the geometric Greek key pattern had

me hooked at first sight. I'm not committed enough to buy chairs or lamps that are yellow yellow, but I like
where this designer's going. The mirrors behind the lamps are an interesting idea I'd like to try.

[Photo: Decor Pad]

 7. If there was a bathroom/bedroom I could live in, it'd be this one. That is one awesome chandelier in the bathroom! (never mind the barn door)
The barn door is also genius... I found myself referring to this photo for inspiration as I was trying to
put together the bedroom. I want that shade of grey! Heck, give me this whole room. 

[Photo: Decor Pad]

But wait-there's more! Have you seen my grey and yellow bedroom designed with Photoshop? See it here.