Some fall decor

I posted on Instagram that it seems like everyone is decorating for Christmas, but I’m still tweaking fall decor. So I gave myself a deadline to have it all done this past weekend. Didn’t matter where I was, I had to stop on Sunday. So, here is what I finished…

A couple years ago I posted five fall mantle ideas, and I’m still using a couple pieces from that mantle design. I don’t know why, but the mantle is never an easy project for me. I always draft and revise it several times.

This year’s round 1:

Round 2, when I realized there weren’t any candles to light at night.

Then I realized my chalkboard was competing with my other frame, so I had to change up the design. I liked this design, but it was too much writing.

So, I simplified with “happy fall, y’all” on the chalkboard. And I removed the candles because I decided it was too much, but I left them close by so I could put them back up at night to light. Or I would forget and just leave them out all day as well.

Center pumpkin is a new one from Hobby Lobby, and the two outside pumpkins I got on clearance at Crate and Barrel last year.

This is the bunting I made a couple years ago. It’s SO easy. Got fabric from Hobby Lobby, then cut triangles and liquid stitched them.

These are this year’s new pieces: I got the print from Jane.com and the frame from Hobby Lobby. The pumpkin is also from Hobby Lobby and the candle and holder are from Pottery Barn.

I was supposed to make this into a thankful tree last year, but we never got to it. I’m determined to do it this year.

This is my entry with some painted pumpkins and a throwback to our fall DC trip with my journalism students (photo in the frame). I switch out the photo in the frame for every season. I keep the photos inside the frame so it’s an easy switch.

I made this wreath last year so it needed at least one more year on the door, right? Still good.

This was my newest fall decor addition. I included a tutorial in case you’re interested. I found the unfinished “wreath” on Jane.com and then finished it off with some paint and made the bow for it.

I toyed with the idea of putting burlap on the back at first.

I used these three paint colors (regular craft paint) and sponge brushes to give it the distressed look. I really need to take a chalk paint class, but for now, this method will do.

I just kept putting coats on and sanding it. The sponge brush works really well for putting on light, streaky coats.

I ended with the light brown, but you could still see some of the white and dark brown coats. I sanded it to give it a little more texture. It seemed a little too monotone so I painted the initial black.