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November Acorns

November 5, 2013 by decorvillage

It’s November and fall has even settled on us here in Southeast Texas.  There is a coldness to the morning air that wasn’t here a month ago.  With the Thanksgiving holiday only a couple weeks away it’s time to focus on decorating ideas that are fitting for the month and season.  We’ve always been fascinated by the simple and natural beauty of acorns so this post will focus on using acorns to adorn and beautify your home.

Here’s an acorn wreath by BHG.:

acorn wreath

Here’s  a twig and acorn wreath!  you can find the tutorial at Amaranth and Kale.:

twig and acorn wreath

One more beautiful example of an acorn wreath from Crafts Unleashed.:

rustic acorn wreath

Acorn napkin rings from bhg.com.:

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Acorns painted with metallic paints for a brighter appeal from The Good Weekly.:

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Finally, how about some chocolate and peanut butter acorns as a treat?

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Chocolate and Peanut Butter; need I say more? These are a perfect project for tiny fingers!

  1. Melt 1/2 bag of Mini-Chips {5 second interval in the microwave, stirring really good each time}
  2. Dip the flat end of the Hershey’s Kiss into melted chocolate and top with a bite-size NutterButter.
  3. Dip the flat end of a Mini-Chip into the melted chocolate and stick it to the NutterButter.

Source: http://sixinthesuburbsblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/chocolate-peanutbutter-acorns.html

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Make An Etched Glass Halloween Candy Jar

October 23, 2013 by decorvillage

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SUPPLIES:

  • Armour Etch Glass Etching Cream (available here: http://www.etchworld.com/ecom-prodshow/15-0150.html )
  • 6″ x 6″ piece of Contact® shelving vinyl
  • Glue (to adhere Halloween decoration to top)
  • Hobby knife
  • Glass cleaner
  • Masking Tape
  • Glass Jar with Lid (we used a mayonnaise jar)
  • Glass Paint
  • Black Gloss Paint for lid
  • Running water
  • Ball point pen
  • Halloween decorations
  • Paper Towels
  • Transfer paper (or carbon paper)
  • Black & white paint pens

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Remove all previous jar labels and glue. Wash jar thoroughly.
  2. Wrap shelving vinyl around the glass jar.
  3. Secure transfer paper to top of vinyl. Place design on top and trace design through transfer paper onto shelving paper. Make sure to press hard when tracing. Remove design and transfer paper.
  4. Using your design as a guide, cut out design with a hobby knife.
  5. Clean exposed areas of your design to remove remaining glue, if any.
  6. Apply a layer of Armour Etch generously and wait for 1-2 minutes. View the directions and How To Videos.
  7. Wash off all Armour Etch® cream under running tap water.
  8. While wet, peel off and remove all vinyl stencil pieces.
  9. Clean your project with glass cleaner and dry with paper towels.
  10. Paint the lid black and allow to dry. Decorate lid with pumpkin and bat.
  11. With black paint pen, paint bats on either side of the design.
  12. With white paint write Halloween sayings around jar.

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Wickedly Delicious Halloween Appetizers

October 20, 2013 by decorvillage

Witch Finger in a Bandage

Witches' Fingers in Bandages

Ingredients

  • 1 (12 oz.) package cocktail-size frankfurters
  • 1 (8 oz.) sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
  • 1/4 cup ketchup

Preparation

  1. Cut off 1/2 inch diagonally from one end of each hot dog, to create a “fingernail.”
  2. Cut puff pastry into 1/2 -inch-by-3-inch strips. Wrap each hot dog in a piece of pastry, overlapping edges slightly and leaving both ends visible. Place “fingers” seam side down on a baking sheet. Freeze for 15 minutes, or cover and freeze for up to 1 week.
  3. Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake until pastry is puffed and golden, 20 minutes. Spread ketchup onto each “fingernail” and serve hot.

Bat Bites

Bat Bites

Ingredients

 
  • 1 (4 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
  • 8 ounces soft, mild goat cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup pesto
  • 2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
  • 8 pitted olives, sliced
  • 32 peppercorns
  • 32 triangular blue corn chips or free-form wing shapes made from leftover tortillas from Ghost Chips

Preparation

  1. Mash together cream cheese, goat cheese and pesto. Chill for 40 minutes.
  2. Shape mixture into 16 2-inch balls, about 1 heaping tsp. each. Roll in black pepper and poppy seeds to cover. Press two olive slices into balls for eyes and place peppercorns in centers for pupils.
  3. Insert chip on either side of ball for wings; serve.

Ghostly Pizza

Ghostly Pizza

Ingredients

 
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound frozen pizza dough, thawed
  • 3/4 cup jarred tomato sauce
  • 8 ounces sliced low-moisture mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tablespoon capers

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 475ºF. Brush bottom of a 16-by-11-inch rimmed baking sheet with olive oil. Press and stretch dough evenly to cover bottom of sheet. (If dough resists at first, let it rest for a minute and then continue.)
  2.  Spread sauce in an even layer over dough, leaving a 1-inch border around all sides. Bake until underside of dough is golden (lift up pizza with a spatula and take a peek), about 15 minutes. Use a ghost-shaped cookie cutter to cut ghosts from cheese. Place ghosts on top of hot pizza and bake for 5 minutes. Place two capers on each piece of cheese for eyes. Let stand 5 minutes on a wire rack before slicing and serving.

Devils on Horseback

Devils on Horseback

Ingredients

 
  • 24 pitted prunes
  • 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
  • 12 strips of bacon, cut in half crosswise

Preparation

  1. Preheat broiler to high. Soak 24 toothpicks in a small bowl of water for 15 minutes. Mist a large, rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray and place a wire rack on top.
  2. Halve prunes lengthwise, taking care not to cut all the way through. Place a small amount of cheese in center of each prune, in cavity left by removed pit. Wrap each prune with bacon, securing with toothpick.
  3. Broil for 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway through.

Eyeball Punch

Eyeball Punch

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pint blueberries
  • 1 qt. water
  • Yellow food coloring, optional
  • 1 1/4 cups fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup fine sugar
  • 1 cup orange liqueur
  • 1/4 cup raspberry liqueur
  • 2 (750 ml) bottles dry Champagne, chilled
  • 2 lemons, thinly sliced, for garnish

Preparation

  1. Place 1 blueberry in each compartment of iceball tray. Mix 1 qt. water with few drops of food coloring. Fill tray; freeze.
  2. Combine lemon juice, sugar, and orange and raspberry liqueurs in a nonreactive pitcher; stir until sugar is dissolved. Chill, covered, for 1 hour.
  3. Pour lemon juice mixture into punch bowl. Add Champagne and stir to combine. Add lemon slices and frozen blueberry eyeballs to bowl. Serve in stemmed glasses.

These and more delicious recipes can be found on Allyou.com

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Autumn Leaf Luminaries

October 15, 2013 by decorvillage

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What you need:

Dried, pressed fall leaves, regular Mod Podge, a jar and a brush.

Instructions:

1. Gather and dry beautiful, colorful fall leaves. Drying should take only about two weeks.

When going out to gather leaves, keep a few newspapers in the back of the car.  Wherever  you go to find your fall leaves, place them between the sheets of the newspaper.  Place another group of papers on top to provide just enough weight to flatten the leaves gently and prevent them from curling. 

When you get home, carefully move your stack of papers to an area where they will be undisturbed for a couple weeks. We recommend that you place the newspaper with the leaves under some heavy books for better pressing as they dry. 

 

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Use ONLY dried, pressed leaves that have NOT been previously coated with Mod Podge when you make this candle jar.

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2. Spread Mod Podge all over the sides of the jar.  Do not apply Mod Podge to the bottom or the grooved lid area. You can use a foam brush but a regular brush is recommended for large areas like this.

3.  Next, place your dry leaf right onto the Mod Podge and press into place.  Brush over the leaf with more Mod Podge.

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4.  Continue adding leaves and Mod Podge until your jar is covered with leaves.  Overlap a few for a more interesting design, but be aware that overlap areas do reduce the light that can pass through. Lighter colored leaves work best for this project.  Use the darker leaves as accents.

5. Once you have finished placing your leaves around the jar surface,  use the flat end of your brush to create a stippled pattern in the Mod Podge areas NOT covered by leaves. This step will create a more pleasing pattern than will brush strokes when light shines through these “open” areas on the jar.

6.  Let the candle dry thoroughly and then apply a second coat of Mod Podge, again “stippling” the open areas.

7. Let the jar dry several hours or overnight.  Finish by applying a coat of acrylic spray. When dry, pop a tea light in the bottom and you are done!

An arrangement of several of these, in different sizes, make a beautiful table setting.

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a special thank you to http://gingerbreadsnowflakes.com/node/102 for sharing these instructions and photos.

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Get Lost in a Fall Corn Maze

October 10, 2013 by decorvillage

Corn mazes are a popular fall activity that is fun for the entire family and a great way for farms to create additional income from tourism. The point is to solve the maze by finding a route from the start to finish. Many have “activities” and “secret” coded clues on dead end routes setup inside the maze. There are usually bridges, overlooking the maze both for viewing and for those folks who are a bit lost and need a little help with directions. Corn mazes range from family-friendly with additional attractions like hay rides, petting zoos, pumpkin patches and play areas for children, to very scary, haunted-house-type corn mazes. The farms decide on themes, the designs start on graph paper and then are plotted over the fields before planting. Farms and orchards grow specialty corn that is taller than most and very dense. These temporary works of corn art are usually huge, up to 45 acres, and are harvested in November.   Here’s a small photo gallery of some unique corn mazes that we’ve seen over the past few years:

A 15-acre cornfield maze with over 4 miles of twists, turns and dead ends featuring a technology-theme with complex additives of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man,” from Treinen Farm near Lodi, Wisconsin.

Treinen-Farm-da-Vinci’s-“Vitruvian-Man”

Covering 12 acres,  David Archuleta’s likeness, along with the phrase “Archuleta 4 President,” was cut into the cornfield at the 2008 Cornbelly’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Fest located at Thanksgiving Point, Utah after finishing as the runner up in the  7th season of American Idol.

David Archuleta Corn Maze

Brown’s Farm Festival in Oxford, Florida has 10 acres of pure fun!!  They advertise 3 levels of difficulty and encourage you to try all 3.

browns-farm-festival-corn-maze-2012

 2012 corn maze theme at Server’s in Shakopee, Minnesota.

2012-corn-maze-theme-at-Severs-Corn-Maze-2012

NASA-themed corn maze at Cornbelly’s in Lehi, Utah. NASA explained that the theme highlighted the specific region’s contribution to NASA and featured space-related educational games and activities.

NASA-themed-corn-maze-at-Cornbellys-in-Lehi-Utah

Aerial photo of Alice in Wonderland and Cheshire cat corn maze in Hoosick Falls, NY.

Aerial-photo-of-Alice-in-Wonderland-and-Chesire-cat-corn-maze

Black Beard’s Revenge at Davis Farm in Sterling, MA.

Aerial-Corn-Maze-Black-Beards-Revenge

Posted in Family Ties | Tagged , , | 1 Comment »

Making Home Made Halloween Luminaries

October 14, 2008 by decorvillage

Everyone needs to find spooky and creative ways to decorate for Halloween. And what says Halloween more than a little fire? Flames from these tin can luminarias will cast an eerie shadow over your front yard, one that’s sure to lead all the trick-or-treaters right up to your doorstep.

Bucket Luminaries

Materials for project:

Tin/aluminum cans or buckets
Cookie cutters in Halloween shapes

Paper

Pencil, pen or marker

Hammer

Nails

Tape

Sand

Tea lights
Preparation:

1) Begin collecting cans from wherever you can find them. Ask your kids to save them from their lunches, take some from the recycling bin at your office, and of course save your own.

2) Thoroughly wash the cans as you collect them. If you let dirty cans pile up in your home you’ll attract bugs and you’ll have a big chore ahead of you when you are ready to begin the project. Once the cans are clean, store them in a dry location to prevent rusting.

3) Round up your Halloween cookie cutters from that storage box in the garage. If you don’t have any you still like, or if you never had any to begin with, go buy a few from any grocery store or kitchen supplier.

Step-by-step instructions:

1) Start by tracing around the inside of a cookie cutter on paper to make a template. It doesn’t matter what color or size the paper is. For example if you have a witch cookie cutter place the witch on the paper and with your pencil, pen or marker trace around the inside of the cutter. Remove the cutter and the shape of a witch should be on your paper. Repeat this process several times for each shape. Once you have finished with one shape, you can move on to the next and the next and so forth.

2) Wrap one paper template around each tin can and tape it in place. Make sure the paper is facing in a direction that enables you to see the shape you traced on it.

3) With a hammer and nails, carefully punch holes around the outer edges of the template. If you wish to also punch holes inside the template picture you can do so.

4) Remove the tape and paper once the can has been punched. The holes you punched should clearly resemble the shape of a witch (or whatever shape you used).

5) Fill the bottom of the can with sand. This will help stabilize the can in case of wind. But sand will also help muffle a fire in case the luminaria should tip over. Don’t fill the can too full with sand. You want the sand to give the can weight, but you also want the candle to stay near the bottom of the can so the flame stays protected from wind or rain. Also, Wal-Mart carries an alternative to candles for jack-o-lanterns and luminaries. They claim they won’t blow out.

6) Once the sand is in, drop a candle in and light it at night for a fun alternative to the traditional paper luminaries.
Keep the candles coming to enjoy these luminaries for as long as you want to leave them up and glowing.

BHG.com

Posted in Home Decor | 8 Comments »

Vintage Halloween Decorations

September 30, 2008 by decorvillage

A Salvaged Halloween

 Search salvage shops, house demolition sales, and estate sales for creepy old architecture to add mystery to your Halloween lawn decor. Here, an ancient wooden post serves as a cheesecloth-covered perch for a faux crow.

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Touchable Decor

This papier-mache black cat by folk artist Jack Roads provides a game of chance as well as decoration. Hidden beneath one of the jack-o’-lanterns is a pea — take a chance and guess which one. The cat’s clown companion is by artist Cody Foster.

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One Frightful Ghost

Aim for at least one focal point in each room to spark conversation. This striking ghost wearing a top hat came from Disney World’s Haunted Mansion; only about 1,000 were made, so it’s a collector’s dream.

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Pumpkin Patch

A collection of American hard-plastic Halloween memorabilia from the 1940s and ’50s lines the shelves of this hutch. Unlike the mass-produced plastic creations of today, each of these collectibles is handcrafted. Most of the pumpkins, watermelons, and other vegetables have human features such as bright eyes and toothy grins. The effect is eerily fun.

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Skeletal Sentinel

A grinning skeleton holds court among cobwebby desserts. The homemade paper-pulp skeleton is held together with wires. The figure is surrounded by a permanent display case of antique bottles and jars, dressed up for the party with spray-on spiderwebbing. Dare kids and adults at your party to pick up candy and cookies at the skeleton’s feet.

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Scary Faces

This tiny 3-inch grimacing pumpkin is a collector’s favorite. Also on the table are rare lapel pins from the 1920s. Combined, they create an eye-raising tableau.

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Better Holiday Display

Majolica pottery — stored year-round in a hutch — complements the seasonal addition of Halloween decorations. The whimsical rectangular plates in back are paper pieces produced by the American Dennison Company between 1930 and 1950.

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Noises in the Night

The noisemaker on the left is a German antique. On the right is a reproduction made of tin and pressed paper and filled with beans.

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Treasured Decor

Rare 1940s pumpkins flank “The Sheepish Boy,” a one-of-a-kind reproduction. In back, a vintage Fairy Seed Company poster coordinates with the rich orange wall when the Halloween decorations are gone.

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Stacked Pumpkin Scene

A contemporary cat holds a lit jack-o’-lantern for the freeloading birds circling his tail. Their backdrop is a former doll’s chest made from old orange crates and filled with German papier-mache pumpkins. For collectors, the smaller the pumpkins, the greater their value.

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Dine with Scary Friends

The decor in this dining room is typical of 1920s party decorating with exotic paper lanterns, colorful streamers, and ghoulish pumpkin faces at every turn. The focal point of the dining room is a grinning Beistle black cat centerpiece that’s nearly 80 years old.

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Posted in 1, Home Decor | 9 Comments »

A Privacy Fence Can Make Your Yard More Private

September 13, 2008 by decorvillage

Privacy Fences

The most obvious — and fastest — way of creating privacy is to put up a fence.

Fences help keep your neighbors from seeing into your yard. They also provide a sense of enclosure and safety, making them a perfect option if you have children: Fences keep kids in and strangers — or animals, such as dogs — out.

If you choose to build a fence to add privacy to your landscape, select a material and style that complements your home.

Here’s a hint: If you want to create a private space in your yard, look around before you build a fence. You might be able to use existing structures to create privacy. For example, tuck a small patio or deck next to your garage or home. Screening just one or two sides may be all you need.

Wooden Privacy Fence

Wooden Privacy Fence

 

Hedges

If a fence is too stark, grow a hedge. There are shrub varieties perfect for using as hedges for every region.

For a natural look, mix it up a little and combine a variety of shrubs. Don’t be afraid to mix in a small tree or two for extra height, color, and texture. By planting species with different sizes, shapes, and colors, you can layer the plants into a beautiful mosaic.

For a more formal look, prune or shear shrubs regularly. Note: The best time to prune your hedge depends on what type of shrub you’re growing.

Here’s a hint: If you shear your shrubs, keep them looking good for years by ensuring the bottom of the shrub is wider than the top.

Hedge Privacy Fence

Hedge Privacy Fence

 

Top Trees & Shrubs for Hedges

Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), Zones 6-8

Columnar juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Skyrocket’), Zones 4-7

Columnar white pine (Pinus strobus ‘Fastigiata’), Zones 3-9

English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), Zones 6-9

Pittosporum tobira, Zones 9-10

Privet (Ligustrum vulgare), Zones 5-8

Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria), Zones 8-10

Yew (Taxus x media), Zones 5-7

Top Trees and Hedges for a Privacy Fence

Top Trees and Hedges for a Privacy Fence

 

Berms

Berms are basically miniature hills in the landscape. They add height to plantings, which can be an effective way to create privacy. A berm is also good for highlighting smaller plants, as it can bring them to eye level.

Because of their sloping sides, berms drain better than flat beds, so they’re well-suited for rock garden plants and any species that prefer dry soil.

Plant trees and shrubs on berms to form a useful physical and sound curtain between the street and yard. Include rocks and stones to give the mound stability.

Here’s a hint: If you make a berm, a ratio of one foot of height to every four feet of width is usually suitable to keep mulch from running down the slope.

Berms as a Privacy Fence

 

Pergolas

While a pergola probably won’t block out your entire yard, it’s a great solution for adding privacy to a smaller space.

A vine-covered pergola creates a private, shady nook underneath — perfect for a secluded bench or patio. A pergola also adds year-round structure to the landscape.

You can create different levels of privacy with pergolas, too. A simple vine-covered pergola provides a little privacy; running lattice panels between the pergola columns will add even more. Hanging sheets of outdoor-friendly fabric to act as curtains will give you even more seclusion.

Pergolas as a Privacy Fence

Pergolas as a Privacy Fence

 

Lattice Screens

If you just have a spot or two you want to block from view (or where you want the view blocked from), try setting up a few inexpensive lattice panels and planting a small garden bed around them.

Tidy vines will give the lattice panels extra interest — and help them feel integrated into the landscape.

Lattice as a Privacy Fence

Lattice as a Privacy Fence

 

Top Vines

Be sure you have the right vine for the right spot. Big vines can easily crush a lattice panel, arbor, or even small pergola as they grow.

Small vines, on the other hand, may not grow large enough to adequately cover a large arbor or pergola.

Top Small Vines

Black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata), Zone 10, but usually grown as an annual

Cardinal vine (Ipomoea x multifida), annual

Clematis, Zones 3-10, depending on type

Hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus), Zone 10, but usually grown as an annual

Morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor), annual

Top Large Vines

American bittersweet Celastrus scandens), Zones 3-8

Chocolate vine (Akebia quinata), Zones 5-9

Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris), Zones 4-9

Hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta), Zones 3-8

Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans), Zones 4-9

Wisteria, Zones 5-9

Wisteria as a Privacy Fence

Wisteria as a Privacy Fence

Posted in Around the House | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

I Can’t Believe it’s Been Almost a Year!

September 11, 2008 by decorvillage

Wow, it’s been almost a year since I’ve posted in this blog. Tons of things have happened, too numerous to mention. I have relocated back to Salt Lake City, Utah and hopefully I will be able to keep up with this blog with the most recent updates and hints for your home, yard and family. I’ve missed posting fun things for you and I’m looking forward to jumping in again!

Posted in Home Decor | Leave a Comment »

Father Christmas Collection

November 15, 2007 by decorvillage

It’s my favorite time of year, I love the Holidays! Each year I offer the Father Christmas Collection from The Hen House by Ditz Designs. These life like Santa’s stand 57″ and will be a wonderful addition to your home during this special time of year. Your children, friends and family will LOVE the new addition to your family.

Holiday Cheer III

Holiday Cheer III Father Christmas

Bountiful Woodsman

Bountiful Woodsman

Christmas Cordial

Christmas Cordial

Christmas Sage

Christmas Sage

Christmas Shepherd

Christmas Shepherd

Christmas Trails V

Christmas Trails V

Cranberry Cringle III

Cranberry Cringle IIi

Christmas Poinsettia

Christmas Poinsettia

Glacial Greetings

Glacial Greeetings

Golden Noel

Golden Noel

Please email me at [email protected] if you are interested in purchasing any of these beautiful Santas. 2 to 3 weeks for delivery so order now. Happy Holidays!

Posted in Home Decor | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments »

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