Holiday Decorating Brings Warmth to a Home
It's a fact. I'm not sure why it's a fact, but I am sure that everyone would agree with me that when a home is decorated for the season or current holiday that it just feels warm, inviting, and homey. I believe it is our association of memories from growing up when holidays were (are!) magical and seeing the decorations added a feeling of excitement. Anticipation. Suspense. Waiting was always the hardest part!
I've gone through a time in my former life when I went overboard on holiday decorating. I loved it. Fall? Here I come Hobby Lobby! Halloween? Here I come Hobby Lobby! Thanksgiving? Here I come Hobby Lobby! Christmas? Now I'm moving in Hobby Lobby! And so on... The fun part back then is that I had a home and more space to decorate. Plus my precious babies (dogs) also participated in themed costumes for photo opportunities. I loved it. They might not have... If my family had a nickname for me, it was Becca (Betty) Crocker. If my friends had a nickname for me, it was Martha Stewart. In reality, I am not talented like either of those women are but I sure can replicate other people's ideas pretty well. Decent enough anyway.
As my new life unfolded post divorce and I have lived in an apartment, I've had to downsize my treasure trove of holiday decor. The spaces where I once put out fall colored leaves, pumpkins (and pumpkins and pumpkins), gourds, and other fall themed items now sit barren. It's rather depressing if you ask me. I felt good when I parted ways with it as I shared it with family and my youngest cousin was only 5 at the time. I gave away my fall and Halloween stuff, and a small portion of my mega Christmas collection. The good news is that Christmas at my apartment is NEVER depressing. I like to call it a "Winter Wonderland". But, I'll table that topic for a couple of months.
I have picked up a little steam over the past couple of years from having two young ladies actively in my life. It's allowed me to explore all of the fun decorating, baking, and projects I would like to do one day, if ever, I have my own children. It's rekindled the magic so to speak, and I love it! I have also gotten to re-live the excitement through them as I helped them pick out and decorate their own home for the holidays.
Last year I decided that September needed to be a transition piece to welcome fall into Houston's miserable heat. I wanted to make something that could also be used in November leading up to Thanksgiving. After some contemplation I decided to make a fall wreath for their front door. Why not my own front door, you may wonder? I don't have answer for that. Truly.
I went to Hobby Lobby strategically on a weekend that their ad said floral stems were 40 or 50% off. The trick I've found with Hobby Lobby is that whatever is on sale one week will be on sale again in two to three weeks. Buyer beware because you can save yourself some serious dough by watching for this pattern. Knowing this from my many years of crafting and holiday decor shopping there, I've timed out my shopping sprees and projects to best utilize this. *Note: I am plugging in the link to Hobby Lobby everywhere in this post so you can look at their ad if needed, but mainly so you can find their coupon. There's always a coupon there! Make sure to have this handy when you shop because you can always use it on an item that isn't on sale that particular week. Solid gold.
I am not opposed to Michael's in the slightest and very often do shop there as well. It's closer to me actually and has plenty of great things. They usually have great coupons if you sign up for their emails and you can last minute find one on your smart phone through their website as well. The selection is just not as large when it comes to faux flowers so I stuck with Hobby Lobby for this project.
I simply picked up an inexpensive grapevine wreath for less than $10, some burlap ribbon and a pre-made bow (grew up helping at my parent's flower shop and I still cannot make one), a bundle of golden wheat, and then selected the flowers and gourds I liked. I spent around $60 total I think, but also had to purchase wire cutters etc. It's hard for me to visualize things like this somethings so I made sure to get more than I thought I might need and assumed I would be making a return with any unused items. Make sure you have wire cutting scissors, floral wire, and a hot glue gun! **These are crucial.**
I've always been intimidated about making a wreath. I'm not sure why on that either. But, it was not difficult at all. I put on a great podcast from Pastor Jeremy Foster from Hope City Church from his 6 part Love, Sex & Dating series, lit a pumpkin-caramel type of fall candle, and got busy making it. All in all it was easy to do, though I am not convinced that it saved me any money versus just buying one. Either way - I can claim it to be my own creation so that's a perk.
I found that I needed to use some floral wire and/or hot glue to secure things into place. When I had it all adjusted to my liking I very carefully hot glued everything underneath to the grapevine branches so that it would be secure and not fall out over the years to come. All in all I think it took about an hour to hour and a half. Either I'm really slow or because it was my first time I worked extra cautiously. Maybe a little of both. But, thank goodness for that pre-made bow! I definitely could not have managed to create that.
I feel pretty good about the final product, especially for my first wreath. I haven't attempted another one yet...but something tells me I'll get the itch soon enough. Happy Fall Y'all!
XOXO
