DECORATE: Colorful Winter Wonderland Dining Room

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live inside a SNOW GLOBE? Well that's how the inspiration for my Dining Room's HOLIDAY decor all started. I've always been a HUUUUUGE fan of everything that reminds me of a retro/vintage Christmas, especially BOTTLE BRUSH TREES! I almost purchased some last year but I decided to wait because all I could find were green, white, silver and gold ones. If you haven't learned by now... I like COLOR, lots and lots of COLOR!!! So when Target released their new HOLIDAY collection this year, I guess you could say I was literally DROOOOOLING over the COLORFUL BOTTLE BRUSH TREES that were available in so many different COLORS and sizes. So of course, all of them "accidentally" fell into my shopping cart. And that's when my COLORFUL Winter Wonderland Dining Room decor plan began.

Then I stopped by Dollar Tree Store and found tons of GIGANTIC SNOWFLAKES and mini snowflakes for only $1 but they were only available in clear/white. So of course, I broke out the handy dandy SPRAY PAINT to add a burst of COLOR to the middle of each SNOWFLAKE. They were hung in front of both windows kinda like a SNOWFLAKE curtain. I hung some GIANT ICE CYCLES that I already owned on the chandelier. The centerpiece base was a disco mosaic mirror on top of a lazy susan. The modern triangular mosaic printed table runner and chair cover fabric was a DIY sewing project I quickly made that was originally a fabric shower curtain from Target. Tiny disco balls were scattered everywhere and some were hot glued together in the shape of a SNOWMAN for the inside of my DIY SNOW GLOBE made out of giant fish bowl.

When everything was almost finished, I still felt like something was missing... which I later realized was extra mood lighting. So I did one last DIY craft project which was my "SNOWY SPARKLY CANDLE LIGHTS" (click for DIY TUTORIAL here) plus I added tiny string lights to all my palm tree plants. Finally, it was all finished! It turned out soooo DREAMY, if only it would actually SNOW outside, then my living SNOW GLOBE vision would be complete. Below is the REVEAL of my mini home tour featuring the COLORFUL Winter Wonderland Dining Room!!!

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PRODUCT SOURCES:

• Bottle Brush Trees, Outdoor Ottomans, Plastic Cups, Shower Curtain Fabric, Curtains, Floating Shelves, Fake Snow, Silver Plate Chargers @ Target
• Ceramic Plant Stands/Stools, Tropical Plants, Style Selections 18-Light Chandelier, Valspar Brand Spray Paint, Modway Paris White Side Chairs @ Lowes Home Improvement

• Decorative Miniature Disco Balls, Mirrored Decorative Gifts, String Lights, Ice Cycles, Silver Glitter Ribbon, Shiny Silver Bead Rings @ Hobby Lobby

• Gift Wrap Supplies @ HomeGoods & Target

• Snowflakes, Glass Votives, Fake Candles @ Dollar Tree Store

• Napkins and Round Placemats  @ Bed, Bath & Beyond

• Disco Mosaic Mirror, Lazy Susan @ IKEA

• Dark Gray Ottoman Bench @ JC Penney

• Plastic Melamine Plates @ Kohl's 

• Decorative Scotch Tape, Blue Faux Fur Blanket @ Walmart

• Vintage Drexel Declaration Dining Table & Chairs by Kipp Stewart @ Craigslist.com

CREATE: Snowy Sparkly Candle Lights

Tis' the Season for a HANDMADE HOLIDAY!!! Do you like adding HANDMADE touches to your HOLIDAY decor? These DIY Snowy Sparkly Candle Lights are a beautiful blend of sparkle and elegance that would make anyone's HOLIDAY decorations shine! In the evening, their little candle lights assist in setting a cozy WINTER mood by spreading a warm golden glow over your HOLIDAY tablescape or vignette. The idea for this DIY project developed while I was decorating my dining room for the HOLIDAYS. Although everything was looking good so far, it was still missing something extra special to make the ambiance twinkle at night. One go-to item that almost always seems to finish off any tablescape is candles. Unfortunately, I can't use "real" candles with an open flame due to safety reasons, so I have to use "kid-friendly" battery operated faux candle votives instead. But I was still determined to make fake ones look GLAMOROUS!!! And I feel like I succeeded! If I can find time this week during this busy HOLIDAY season, I will try to give a mini HOLIDAY Home Tour of my dining room, featuring these DIY Snowy Sparkly Candle Lights that were scattered throughout my tablescape. Take a glance at the photos below, then please let me know what you think of the final results?

If you would like to see more DIY HOLIDAY IDEAS follow #createholidays on Instagram!

DIY TUTORIAL

SUPPLIES NEEDED: 
• Small Glass Votive (available at Dollar Stores, Craft Stores, etc.)
• Battery Operated Faux Candle (available at Dollar Stores, Craft Stores, etc.)
• Elmer's Multi Purpose Glue-All (available at Craft/Office Supplies Stores)
• Flat Tip Paint Brush (available at Craft/Art Stores)
• Faux Snow Flurries (available at Craft Stores, Menards, etc.)
• Fine or Extra Fine Glitter (available at Craft Stores/Craft Departments)

DIY DIRECTIONS:

STEP #1:  Carefully DIP the Paint Brush inside the Glue bottle. Then BRUSH Glue all around the bottom area of the Glass Votive. Cover about 75% of bottom half but be sure to leave at least 1 inch untouched at the top half. Promptly SPRINKLE Faux Snow Flurries over all the areas of "wet" glue before the glue dries.

STEP #2:  Carefully DIP the Paint Brush inside the Glue bottle AGAIN. Then BRUSH Glue in circle shape on the bottom area inside the Glass Votive. My *pre-used glass votive had leftover melted wax inside so I just BRUSHED Glue over the top of the wax. Then promptly SPRINKLE Glitter over the glue inside and swirl the glitter around until glue is entirely covered. POUR out access Glitter. Let DRY completely.

STEP #1:  Carefully DIP the Paint Brush inside the Glue bottle AGAIN for the final step. Then BRUSH a thin coat of Glue all over the entire outside perimeter ONLY of the faux Candle. Do NOT paint the top inside or bottom areas. Let DRY completely. After EVERYTHING is DRY, gently place the Sparkly Candle Light inside the Snowy Candle Votive. That's it! You're DONE!!!  

*UPCYCLE TIP: I had tons of pre-used Glass Candle Votives left over from a friend's wedding. Instead of throwing them away, I kept them "just in case" I could upcycle them some day. Good thing I did!!!

CREATIVE IDEAS:
Here are a few creative ideas for your DIY Snowy Sparkly Candle Lights to get you inspired...
- Scatter them throughout your HOLIDAY tablescape.
- Add them to your HOLIDAY fireplace mantel/shelf vignette.
- Place them on a vanity counter to use during a bubble bath while trying to relax during the hectic HOLIDAYS.
- Use them as a centerpiece at a WINTER Wedding Reception, School Dance or Anniversary Dinner.

- Incorporate them into a dessert table/buffet for a New Year's Eve celebration.

- Surround the outside of a cake stand with them for a WINTER ("Frozen") Themed Birthday Party. 

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CREATE: Artsy Autumn Leaves

Have you ever wanted to stray from the "traditional" COLORS of Autumn for your FALL home decor or Thanksgiving event? If so, these DIY ARTSY Autumn Leaves might be exactly what you have been looking for. When I originally started thinking about decorating my home for FALL and needed some inspiration, I must admit I felt underwhelmed by all the same "traditional" stuff that I see year after year. The majority of examples online, decorations in magazines and products in stores always seem to have a very similar style and color scheme to me. I was feeling a little stuck and uninspired. But I decided to go shopping anyway just in case there was something out there that could get a custom Creative Orchard makeover. Then, I came across some plain burlap leaves in the DIY FALL section at Hobby Lobby. At that moment a CREATIVE IDEA came to mind... what if I hand painted these boring khaki leaves with all my favorite bright COLORS of the RAINBOW? If you can't FIND what you are looking for, CREATE IT!!!

So I went home, busted out the craft paint and started painting small areas with each COLOR all over the leaf until it was completely covered. The abstract painted pattern kinda resembles RAINBOW camouflage. Then I went one step further by outlining the indented veins and outside edges of the leaf with gray craft paint to add more contrast. WOW!!! The ARTSY Autumn Leaves turned out more beautiful than I imagined! I liked them so much that I rushed back to the store and found a burlap pumpkin, burlap leaf clusters, burlap flowers and GIGANTIC burlap maple leaves. I repeated the same exact paint process as before on all the new burlap products I found. I scattered the ARTSY Autumn Leaves all over the dining table for my FALL tablescape and also placed some inside a modern bowl with my DIY "Eggcorns". SUPER DUPER HAPPY with the results and I am positive that I will ENJOY them for years to come. Please leave a comment if you CREATE your own ARTSY Autumn Leaves to let us all know how they turned out and how you chose to decorate with them for FALL. Below are step-by-step pictures of my painting process which are pretty self explanatory and I also included some decor INSPIRATION... 

If you would like to see more DIY FALL IDEAS follow #createfall on Instagram!

 If you would like to see more pics of the DIY ARTSY Autumn Leaves, you should check out my DIY "Eggcorns"!  Click HERE!

  

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PRODUCT SOURCES:

Burlap Leaves, Burlap Pumpkin, Paint Palette and Big Blue Ceramic Planters @ Hobby Lobby 

Martha Stewart Paint, Brushes, Chalkboard Paint and Natural Wood Napkin Rings @ Michaels Stores

Flimsy Cutting Board Placemat @ Dollar Tree Stores

Large White Ceramic Pumpkin and Striped Rug @ HomeGoods 

Succulent and Cactus Plants @ Lowes Home Improvement 

Multi Striped Plastic Tumblers, Napkins, Silverware and Round Placemats  @ Bed, Bath & Beyond

White Ceramic Butter Dish, White Ceramic Salt n' Peper Shakers, Chalkboard Plate Chargers @ Target

Small White Ceramic Owl @ Joann Fabrics

Various White Ceramic Containers, Gray String Placemats, Basket and Stainless Ladle @ TJ Maxx 

Various USA Fiesta Dinnerware @ Kohl's Stores

White Plastic Retro Modern Eiffel Tower Dining Chairs @ Overstock.com -or- Amazon.com

Vintage Drexel Declaration Dining Table by Kipp Stewart @ Craigslist.com

CREATE: Mosaic Sponge Painted Pumpkins

What can you CREATE when you PIECE together SPONGE wedges, craft PAINT and a PUMPKIN? A MOSAIC masterpiece for FALL of course!!! I must admit that originally I was planning on going a slightly different direction and this idea was actually plan B. My first idea when I started planning this pumpkin, was to make a modern geometric triangle design but then when I examined the wedge sponges up closer, I realized the triangles were kind of horizontally stretched out which was not exactly what I wanted. So, then I started to come up with a plan B... I wondered what they would look like if I cut the sponge wedges into random trapezoids, triangles, etc.? At that moment the shapes reminded me of a mosaic pattern so that's when I decided it would become a Mosaic Sponge Painted Pumpkin! After seeing the finished results, I am so happy with it and I think that the other design wouldn't have had as much of a design impact that this one does. Yay for HAPPY ACCIDENTS!!!  Have you also been busy Decorating Pumpkins this FALL? Be sure to add #createfall to share your designs! I hope you enjoy making these MOSAIC pumpkins as much as I did, below is the DIY Tutorial...

DIY TUTORIAL:  Watercolor Painted Pumpkins

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

1 Large Pumpkin/Funkin 

1 Can "Satin" Finish Spray Paint (White)

1 Pack (8-16 Count) Sponge Wedges (Located in Make-up Department)
Scissors 

Craft Paint(s) (Your Choice of Amount of Colors)

1 Plate or Paint Palette (Plastic or Heavyweight Paper)

1 Can "Matte" Finish Spray Protector

DIY DIRECTIONS:

STEP #1:  SPRAY the entire Pumpkin/Funkin with White "Satin" Finish Spray Paint. Let paint DRYcompletely!

STEP #2:  SQUEEZE a small amount of craft paint onto a plate or palette.

STEP #3:  Gently PRESS a sponge into the craft paint, then double check that one side is entirely lightly covered in a thin coat of craft paint.

STEP #4:  Carefully PRESS the wet paint sponge onto the Pumpkin/Funkin in your desired location, then slowly release. Let paint DRY. VIEW PHOTO EXAMPLES. 

STEP #5:  REPEAT Steps #2, #3 and #4 until the entire Pumpkin/Funkin is covered completely with the mosaic design. It's your Choice to use multiple COLORS. 

STEP #6:  To give a protective finish, lightly SPRAY a coat of CLEAR "Matte" Finish Spray Protector. Let DRY completely! Now your are DONE and ready to DECORATE with your NEW MOSAIC Sponge Painted Pumpkin!!!

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