Decorating With Unusual Unique Pumpkins for Autumn and Halloween

Its common to decorate for autumn and Halloween with pumpkins and Jack O Lanterns, 

but how about doing something a little bit different this year?

Take a look at these unique and creative pumpkin decorations and maybe youll be

 inspired to try something new too!

Sugar skull pumpkin

Pretty monogram pumpkin tutorial by The Butlers blog 

Spider pumpkin from Budget Wise Home

A collection of uniquely carved pumpkins in different sizes makes a nice display

Leaf-decoupaged white pumpkin

Glitter pumpkin by swelldesigner.blogspot.com

Carved pumpkin from Marthastewart.com

Create a beautiful pumpkin planter. By Circa Dee




Unique carved pumpkin via pinterest




I love the unique look of this black painted Jack O Lantern.

Add glitter to pumpkins for a sparkly, festive look

Pumpkin and gourd ghouls from Marie Claire Fr

Lace covered pumpkin idea from BHG

Carve a basket from a pumpkin via Martha Stewart

Create outdoor hanging candle lanterns with pumpkins

Owl pumpkin from BHG

Another variation of a carved pumpkin vase

Painted pumpkins by Alisa Burke

A very pretty carved pumpkin




Black cat painted pumpkins from Sunset




Owls from Marie Claire Fr




Heres a unique idea for a white pumpkin from A Vintage Holiday




How about a talking Jack O Lantern? 

Hide an old baby monitor inside to spook friends!  from Martha Stewart


What do you think?

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The Perfect Autumn Craft Painting Leaves

After painting acorns a few weeks ago, we were ready to move on to painting leaves! 
This is a simple project that has beautiful results, is a lot of fun, and everyone in the family can participate. I think the variety of shapes of leaves combined with the different paint 
colors is what was so appealing to me about this project. Check it out and let me know what
you think!

First we collected fallen leaves that were mostly brown, but not too dried out. Our leaves
were still a bit pliable but not crumbly. After we collected a nice variety of leaves, I 
placed them between a stack of heavy books for over a week to completely flatten them out. 
The longer you leave them between the books, the better your end result. I recommend 
leaving them between books for at least a week. I flattened a few for three days, and later 
found that after we painted those that they curled up a bit once the paint dried. If your 
leaves are still green, you will want to press them in between sheets of newspaper in between
the books. This will help absorb some of the moisture from the leaves as they dry out. 

Next we gathered our supplies: a variety of acrylic paints (I used whatever I already had at 
home), some newspaper to protect our table top, a few plates to serve as palettes, a variety 
of craft paint brushes, a cup of water to clean our brushes with, some wax paper to place
our leaves on while they dried, and a few paper towels.

 We used a variety of acrylic craft paints

A few fine-tipped brushes were great for painting thin lines and detailed designs

 I started with this leaf. Nice and dry and flat and ready to paint!

I began by painting a thin line just inside the edge of the leaf. I loved the way this 

metallic gold craft paint contrasted with the rust and brown colored leaf. 

Simple lines and dots

I love the vibrant autumn colors

Beautiful end result

I loved seeing everyones unique, individual style come out when they painted their leaves

Duanes fancy leaf

I think our leaves would look fantastic framed behind glass in a picture frame and hung 

on a wall...

What do you think?
Which is your favorite?

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Colorful Mixed Media Butterfly Necklaces Made From Vintage Ephemera Illustrations

Newly listed in my Etsy shop...

these necklaces are made from beautiful vintage butterfly illustrations that have

been copied and applied to paper. The paper is then adhered to thin wood and then

laser cut and then sealed. The reverse side of each one is painted black. Each has a 

brass chain that measures between 19 and 20 inches long, and each has color

coordinating beads or crystals. Check them out!

Check them out here in my Etsy shop!

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My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

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