Christmas Pumpkin?

Is there some unwritten law about using pumpkins only in the fall?  If so, call the pumpkin police, cause I'm breaking all the rules.

I had every intention of painting my orange dollar store pumpkin last fall.  Yeah...right. Didn't happen. It was one of those ugly stryofoam pumpkins with a seam right around the middle.

 So not attractive.

As I was putting away the few fall decorations that I had out, I spotted this bad boy in my fall tote.  It had been there since the year before.  I couldn't let the poor thing wait another year. So he has become a Christmas pumpkin.

 A little white primer, white paint, mod podge and glitter, and this humble pumpkin is fit to take Cinderella to the ball.

 He still had an unsightly belly though.  What was his designer thinking leaving a seam right smack through the middle of his tummy?  He needed a belt.  A little sheer silver ribbon was just the ticket.

A couple of tiny silver bells and this little ruffian has turned into prince charming!  Cinderella get your glad rags on!

We're heading to the Christmas ball.

Don't forget the Reason for the Season. Merry Christmas!

Join me at these awesome parties:

Get Schooled Saturday at Too Much Time on My Hands
Sunday Showoff at Twigg Studios
Silver Pennies Sunday Link Party
That DIY Party at DIY Showoff

Candlelight Tray

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Jack Frost nipping at your nose...

That song has been going through my head for two weeks now.  After we got our tree up the other night, I lit the candles on my tray that I put together on the coffee table.  I love to turn the lights off at night and just have the tree lights and candlelight on.  It so relaxing and quiet, especially after my 14 year old is in bed.  I love him to death, but he is noise in motion.  Mom needs her quiet time late at night!

This is what it looks like during the daytime.  That would be my husbands foot peeking into the picture. I thought he had pulled it far enough back that it wasn't in the shot.  He was giving me the look.  You know, the "I am all relaxed here and you are going to disturb me to take pictures," look.  I wasn't asking for a retake :P

So while I was relaxing by candlelight, all by myself later that night, I jumped up and took these pictures.  I know...relaxing right?  I don't do relax very well.  But I did sit back down and enjoy it after that.  So now you go relax, turn on some Christmas music, or hum Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire to yourself, and enjoy the candlelight.  I'll shut up now and let you enjoy.

 Isn't it peaceful.  I know, I know...I don't do shut up very well either.

Hoping you enjoy this Christmas season and take some time out to relax and remember the Reason for the Season.  Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

This post was featured by:

Join me at these fabulous parties:

All Things Thursday at Posed Perfection

Thursdays Are Your Days at 52 Mantels

Treasure Hunt Thursdays at From My Front Porch to Yours

Share Your Cup at Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs. Olson
Get Schooled Saturday at Too Much Time on My Hands
Sunday Showoff at Twigg Studios

What We Accomplished Wednesday #36

Want to be a pin-up girl?  Join the party, and if you are featured, I'll pin your project to my Green Willow Pond Features Board!



If you missed it, I posted my antique rocker that I recently refurbished.  You can see it here.

Are you ready for Christmas yet?  I'm not, but I am getting there.  I gave away a lot of my older stuff so I've been making new decorations.  There are still gifts to wrap, some gifts to make, and candy to make.  The clock is ticking!

The next two weeks I will be taking a break from the party as it will be Christmas Eve, and New Years Eve and you all will no doubt be partying with family and friends, not little ol' me, as it should be.  I will leave this party open during that time however, so please come back and keep linking up your projects. I will not impose a limit of posts during this time.  Link up as many as you like!

The party will return after the New Year.  I will still be posting projects during this time, but in case I we don't connect before then, my prayer is that you truly celebrate the Reason for the season.  Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

With all the inspiration from last week's party, I will not be lacking for ideas and recipes!  This weeks picks start with this beautiful cabin style tree by Katie, at Upcycled Treasures.  I love the burlap and plaid ribbon she made by gluing the two together!

This upcyled vase, made by Linda, at Crafts A La Mode, is gorgeous with a coat of chalk paint and adorned with a vintage brooch!

Christine, from Little Braggs, decorated her lovely porch with natural and rustic elements.  I think it is so cozy and welcoming!

Laurel, from North End Loft, revealed her new kitchen.  I just love everything about it from the preserved and moved glass door hutch to the wood laminate counters!

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best.  I just love these sheet music curls that Dana, from The Starfish Studio, added to her cute reindeer centerpiece.

I have a huge chocolate tooth, and this Chocolate Yule Log made by Ellya, from Curiositaellya, has my mouth watering.  Her presentation is so beautiful too!

What have you accomplished lately?  I'd be delighted to have you link it up below!  Come join the party!

 Da Simple and Easy Rules

1. Only projects you have made/accomplished pretty please. Items for sale are okay, as long as they are in tutorial form, and linked to your blog post.  No links to shops or Etsy stores, please.  Link up to 3 posts - please link posts new to this party.

2. Linking back to the party (text or button) within your post is very much appreciated . You can grab a button from the side bar if you like.

3. I have one teeny little rule change that I would be so grateful if you would make note of. I ask that you share new projects (new to this party) each week, rather than linking up the same ones. If you make a mistake, no worries.  I will not hunt you down and give you twenty lashes with a wet noodle :)

4. By linking up here, you are giving me permission to feature you here, on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and/or Pinterest.  I'll only use 1-2 pictures from your post and link back to you. Then people will be flocking to your blog to read all about it!!  Spreadin' the love around baby!    

*Note - After your first link-up, as a courtesy, I will email you each week to let you know when the party is up and running. If at any time you wish to be taken off the list, just shoot me an email with unsubscribe in the subject line. I use your email for this purpose only and never share it with anyone else.

A Rocking Chair With A Story

Yesterday was my son, Tyler's, 20th birthday.  I can't believe my little boy is not even a teenager anymore!  It seems only yesterday we were putting him to sleep in the rocking chair that we rocked all our babies in.  Sniff, sniff.

Once our babies were beyond the rocking stage, we got some different furniture and the rocker got stored in the barn.  A few years ago, my mom graciously stripped it for me, as I planned to restain and upholster it.  I never got that far, so back into rafters it went.  Sorry mom...I really did and do appreciate that!

Recently we bought a new sectional couch.  We also have this big, honkin', fat butt recliner that takes up a whole corner of our living room.  It is very comfortable, and very ugly.  I want to replace it. In order to put our Christmas tree in there, the recliner had to come out.  Perfect time to slip the little rocker back in!  For now the recliner is in another room, but I'm hoping to give it the boot soon.  I have a couple other chairs I want to recover, plus a footstool that would help replace the recliner. We shall see.  If I have my way, the recliner will disappear!

I was recently asked by One Kings Lane, to feature a statement chair in our home.  Immediately my rocker came to mind, but it was still in the barn rafters at the time.  No time like the present. Never mind that it was near Christmas, with a bazilion other things to do.  I had to refinish it now! (My words, not theirs)  I am so glad I did.  I am in love with my little rocker now.

One Kings Lane has a resource page where you can explore the style of chair you own.  I can't quite place my rocker.  It seems a little bit mission style and perhaps a little colonial.  Whatever it's style it makes a perfect accent piece in our living room.  I love the curvy back.

I sang "Hush Little Baby," to all of my babies...every verse, over and over again as I rocked them to sleep.

The number 3 signifies our three children.  All three brought home from the hospital to be snuggled, rocked and sung to in this chair.  I still remember their sweet baby smell like it was yesterday.  

Thank you One Kings Lane for giving me the little nudge I needed to restore my rocker.

I will write a step-by-step tutorial later...probably after Christmas.  For now I want to just enjoy the stories it whispers to me of times past.  It is waiting for a new generation of babies to someday be rocked in grandma's arms.  And I'll still be singing, "Hush Little Baby."



You can find the tutorials for this chair here:
Recovering and Stenciling the Seat
Painting and Stenciling the Chair


I recieved no compensation or product for this post, however this post does contain affiliate links.

This post was featured at:

Join me at these fabulous parties:

Sunday Show Off at Twigg Studios
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Take it on Tuesday at Romance on a Dime
Made by Me at JAQS Studio
From Dream to Reality at The DIY Dreamer
Fall into Fall by DIY by Design
What's it Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
All Things Thursday at Posed Perfection
Thursdays Are Your Days at 52 Mantels
Treasure Hunt Thursdays at From My Front Porch to Yours
Share Your Cup at Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs. Olson
Get Schooled Saturday at Too Much Time on My Hands
Silver Pennies Sunday Link Party
That DIY Party at DIY Showoff

What We Accomplished Wednesday #35

Want to be a pin-up girl?  Join the party, and if you are featured, I'll pin your project to my Green Willow Pond Features Board!



Christmas is inching ever closer! I feel like I am beginning to get a handle on things, although there is still so much to do!  I am making a lot of new decorations this year as my style has changed, and the things I've had for so many years, just don't fit in very well anymore.  Today I bagged a lot of items up and gave them to a friend who recently move from a trailer house to a much larger home.  It feels good that the things I loved will have a new home.

There are lots of things in process, and a couple finished that I will be posting later this week.  One project I finished, but haven't blogged about yet, is this Christmas stocking that I made for our Secret Santa at work. I just found out about the party and had to come up with something fast.  I'd been wanting to make a sweater stocking like Diane's, at An Extraordinary Day.  At the last minute I decided to add some ribbon I had to make a ruffled top.

Now for the features from last weeks party!  I just love this Jingle Bell pillow that Patti, from Old Things New, created.  PB has nothing on her pillow!

Lisa, from Create Inspire Me, never ceases to amaze me with the creative finishes she comes up with for her furniture redo's.  This little vanity is a heart stealer!  

What guest wouldn't be delighted to sit down to this beautifully set table?  There are so many pretty touches that Linda, at Beautiful Ideas shares here.

Simone, at Art of 66, shares this awesome display piece built in the shape of a house.  It has three shelves for display and can be decorated for any occasion and season!  Isn't it adorable?

I'm a goner for Duck Egg Blue.  Sayuri, from Vintage Breeze, created a beautiful desk with this two-tone treatment.  

 Apple fritters are a favorite of mine and these don't disappoint.  Angie, from Shop Annie's shares her hubby's favorite recipe.

So what have you been up to?  Come join the party and share your accomplishments!  I have one teeny little rule change that I would be so grateful if you would make note of. I ask that you share new projects (new to this party) each week, rather than linking up the same ones. If you make a mistake, no worries.  I will not hunt you down and give you twenty lashes with a wet noodle :)

Da Simple and Easy Rules

1. Only projects you have made/accomplished pretty please. Items for sale are okay, as long as they are in tutorial form, and linked to your blog post.  No links to shops or Etsy stores, please.  Link up to 3 posts - please link posts new to this party.

2. Linking back to the party (text or button) within your post is very much appreciated . You can grab a button from the side bar if you like.

3. By linking up here, you are giving me permission to feature you here, on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and/or Pinterest.  I'll only use 1-2 pictures from your post and link back to you. Then people will be flocking to your blog to read all about it!!  Spreadin' the love around baby!    

*Note - After your first link-up, as a courtesy, I will email you each week to let you know when the party is up and running. If at any time you wish to be taken off the list, just shoot me an email with unsubscribe in the subject line. I use your email for this purpose only and never share it with anyone else.

Christmas decor #1: Christmas Sled

It's time!  Christmas decorating is underway.  I'm making some new things this year, mostly from things I have already, with a few new things thrown in.  I'll be posting all month long.  A couple days ago I teased you with this:

Today I want to share my little Christmas sled.

I picked it up at a thrift store for a song at least a year ago. It wasn't bad in red, but I had a different vision.

 I gave it a white wash with primer using the dry brush technique.  It took a couple of coats to get the coverage I wanted.  After letting it dry, I lightly sanded the edges (not shown in this picture), just enough to bring back a touch of red.

 There are lots of techniques I could have used for lettering, but since I have a Silhouette machine, I love to make stencils on contact paper.  It's so easy!  Not wanting stark black lettering, I used McCloskey's Aging Glaze in Asphaltum.  It looks green in this picture, but it isn't really.  It might have a slight golden tint, but when dry and lightly sanded it just looks like faded black.  I brushed on a couple of light coats, using my blow dryer because I'm so impatient letting them dry between coats.

This is what you end up with.

After rummaging around in my Christmas stash, I found this little swag that I'd also found at a thrift store, except it didn't look quite like this.  I ripped off some ugly stuff and added the red berries and angels. It came with this gold ribbon, which I almost left on.  I decided it was too fancy for my rustic sled. 

 To my scrap bin I went, and pulled out some muslin.  I ripped a strip off larger than I wanted and set to work.  I'll post the how-to's of making the ribbon later.

For now it is hanging on the side of a bookcase in my kitchen.  You see it as you come in the kitchen door.

Christmas decoration #1 done!  

Until next time keep craftin' and smilin'

This post is linked to these awesome parties:

Fall into Fall at DIY by Design
The Wednesday Roundup at Living Better Together
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Thursdays Are Your Days at 52 Mantels
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours
All Things Thursday at Posed Perfection
Christmas Extravaganza at French Country Cottage
12 Days of Junk Christmas at Funky Junk
Christmas Roundup at Sewlicious Home Decor