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Autumn Crafts & Frugal Decor

Fall is a beautiful time of year & nature offers an abundance of inexpensive decorations, allowing you to enjoy the full beauty of the season, indoors or out.

Here are a few Ideas to get you started:

• Centerpieces
• Candles
• Candy Corn Air Freshener
• Floral Ideas
• Front Door & Entry way Decor
• Preserve Beautiful Fall Branches; Make your Own Swags
• Essence of Fall Nature Luminaries

Floral Ideas

Place some Cut wheat or sunflowers in a small wicker basket, attach a bow Make Corn Husk Dolls & Flowers Dried Apple slices make beautiful wreathes or garland. To prevent browning, dip them in lemon juice prior to drying. Add Cinnamon Sticks & bow or ribbon Hang Indian Corn on the front door & Near entry ways Fall Mums are easy to grow & last several weeks in various colors. Preserve Beautiful Fall Branches & Create your own Swags. Mix 2 c. water and 1 c. glycerin in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer on low heat 10 min & Cool.  Carefully cut each well chosen branch at an angle (like you'd cut flowers) for easier absorption. Place the cut branches into the solution and allow to set for 7-10 days in a cool dark area, until all or most of the mixture has been absorbed.  (There will be beads of glycerin on the leaves). Carefully wipe each leaf with a damp washcloth or paper towel & then pat dry. Arrange your branches into swags or Heavy Vases. These arrangements will last for years.

Centerpieces

Ceramic or Wooden Bowls lined w/ Pretty Cloth or Napkins & filled with fruit or gourds Hot Glue Acorns & Cinnamon Sticks to a pretty jar or glass and place a votive candle inside Place a row of apples in the center, carve out just enough to place a green tea-light candle and set it down into the apple. Makes a beautiful addition to the table Place a small wicker basket in the center on a pretty placemat, add pinecones & a couple oranges & apples Pint Size Mason Jars: fill the bottom with cracked corn and place a (colored) candle in the middle Make Mini "Vegetable" People out of turnips, gourds, or small melons. Use mini Terracotta pots for "hats" The kids love to make these! Place a small decorative plate in the center of your table, add several candles of varying sizes & then cover the bottom of the plate with Candy Corn. The candy will glisten when the candles burn.

Front Door & Front Porch

Gather Corn stalks in small bundles & tie to the railings at the foot of the stairway or entrance to front porch. Place a pumpkin on either side for additional decor Have Grape Vines? Cut loose vines and braid them make your own wreath,  add acorns, bows, pinecones or dried apple slices for variation. Make a  friendly scarecrow & prop him up at the entryway: use old clothing, corn husks for stuffing or newspapers (you can put them in trash bags once they are gobbled up to keep your scarecrow plump- even in the rain) A bale or 2 of Hay makes a great base for a porch or deck display. Simply add a couple small pumpkins or gourds