Sweet and Simple

If you're like me, in the autumn you like decorating with pumpkins, cornstalks, chrysanthemums and sunflowers. Take your usual seasonal displays up a notch with simple embellishments from your stash.

Dress up pumpkins with some Burlap Ribbon. Add a stamped tag with Baker's Twine. This pumpkin looks adorable sitting on a mantle or as part of a table centrepiece.

Create a spooky pumpkin with Moonlight Felt Shapes and Bitty Sparkles. A little bit of Black Tulle Ribbon and pins from the Bling Assortment finish off this pumpkin. For a little more ambiance, display with a chipboard sentiment.

Most of these items are no longer available, but if they're not in your stash, stock up on some current items to create the same look. Try Opaque Licorice Gems, Black Shimmer Trim, Black Striped Grossgrain Ribbon, Mini-Medley Accents Black Collection, or Base & Bling elements like Base & Bling Floral Accents and Base & Bling Black Jewels.

These mini pumpkin projects only take minutes to make and add a lot of impact to your display!

If you have a little more time, get out your My Creations Mini-Banner (you know, the one you received for free a few months ago and haven't gotten around to using yet), the new Huntington Workshops on the Go kit and some more of your favourite stamps and embellishments to create a Give Thanks banner.

To create this banner, I began by inking the entire surface of the mini-banners with Cashmere ink then stamping with the chicken wire stamp from the Distressed Backgrounds Stamp set in Cocoa ink. Next, I added a scalloped circle punched from Huntington papers to each banner. I dressed up each circle with assorted stamps, rub ons and corrugated shapes from my stash. The sentiment, Give Thanks, was stamped in Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta and Cocoa inks with the Token Alphabet stamp set. To make the letters look like epoxy buttons, I covered each with a thick layer of Liquid Glass. I tied the banners together with White Hemp Twine and Burlap Ribbon.

This easy project only took a couple of hours to make and I'll have this beautiful banner on display for Thanksgiving for many years to come.

Visit my website for more ideas on Home Decor and project items you can create easily and quickly. The Project Inspiration area has videos to inspire you to create special, personal projects for yourself.

Sneak Peek: Day 2

Fabric Necklace Kit

Undoubtedly you've heard me talk before about taking scrapbooking out of albums and into your world. This fall, CTMH is showing you a new way to take your crafty skills to the next level: making jewellery!

Base & Bling (wearable crafting projects) allows you to create beautiful adornments that reflect your scrapping personality.

Start with the Base elements (necklace, cuff, hair clips, rings or headband) and add the Bling with five different assortments (in teal, black, red, pink and purple) and two different accents (words and floral). There are also adhesive dots and strips to make sure your creation is easy to assemble and lasts.

Add textiles to your jewellery to create rosettes and flowers. There are four textile sets: Chantilly, For Always, Sarita (new) and Sparkle and Shine (new).

Want to try making your own jewellery, but not sure how to start? Try the new Fabric Necklace Kit! Use the fabric from the Sarita textiles and Base & Bling products to create your own beautifully embellished necklace. The kit includes the following: Outdoor Denim/Twilight Dots fabric, Base & Bling necklace, adhesive dots and strips, selected teal and black jewels, floral accents and word accents.

For only $14.95, the Fabric Necklace Kit is an excellent way to to try out crafting your own jewellery. It's also a great project and affordable project for a Home Gathering! Your crafty friends, scrapbookers or not, will love making this beautiful necklace.

Don't wait until the Idea Book comes out! Book your own Home Gathering now!