DIY Pumpkin Bookends

Yay! It's Monday!

I've lost it. 

Okay, so I'm not exactly pumped for Monday but I am pumped to share with you my Pumpkin Parade project.  I whipped up these pumpkin bookends in approximately 62 minutes.  42 of those minutes were paint/glue drying time. 

I mentioned last week that I am teaming up with some lovely ladies to host a pumpkin parade plus link party (on Friday!).  

I shared my fall mantel a couple of weeks ago.   I decided it could use a little more fall in it's life.  I'm not big on things screaming HOLIDAYS!!! so I came up with this simple bookend idea.

These bookends are super simple to make.  Nate cut me some 1x4s to a size that seemed bookend appropriate.  I used wood glue to hold them together.

I gave them a quick coat of brown paint that I found in my basement paint stash.  It's embarrassing the amount of paint that is down there. 

I purchased two pumpkins from the dollar section at Target.  They were an atrosish gold.   I spray painted them.  Poorly.  Because I have zero patience. (They were pretty shiney and I should have ruffed them up a little.)  The dripped look is "in" now though. #trendfollower

When everything was dry, I placed the pumpkins on top of the bookends.  Done.  Just in time to watch the Amazing Race. 

I think these guys are quite charming. 

Remember to share your pumpkin projects with us right here on Friday, October 11th.  (That's this week.  Get to pumpkining! (that's a verb).)  It's a joint link party so your project will be seen on all of our blogs!  Anything pumpkin will fly. Crafts, recipes, etc.  I look forward to checking out your pumpkin-ness! 

Need some pumpkin inspiration?

That good looking group above is sharing their projects all week.  Be sure to check out their pumpkin wonderfulness! 

Monday:  Shift Ctrl Art, Primitive & Proper, Decor and the Dog (that's me!)

Tuesday:  A Little Bite of Everything, A Swell Place to Dwell, NewlyWoodwards

Wednesday: Boxy Colonial, Wills Casa, Cuckoo4Design

Thursday: Bliss At Home, Go Haus Go, Interiors by Kenz

Good Housekeeping Feature

Happy Friday!  I've been a little under the weather this week.  Nate knew I was ill when I told him I wasn't really into the internet.  I'm lucky that I have a cute nurse that has me almost back to well.

I thought I'd drop in quick and share that my craft room was featured over at Good Housekeeping last week! 

As you can maybe see from my screenshot above, my chevron wall is part of a slide show titled "DIY Wall Art: 8 Creative Ways to Decorate Your Space."  Very exciting! 

Head here to check out the slideshow.  The other projects are fantastic.  Thanks to Good Housekeeping for sharing one of my favorite rooms in our house!

Happy weekend!  Do you have big plans?  We are headed to Iowa City tomorrow.  It is my 5 year pharmacy class reunion/University of Iowa Homecoming.  We are hoping rain doesn't ruin our plans!  

Thrifting Finds

Nate and I are on a mission to find eight old chairs that we can redo for our new dining room table that Nate is building.  Our mission appears to be an impossible one.  Well, impossible for people with little patience. 

On Saturday we set out on a thrifting adventure.  No chairs came home with us but I found some awesome things at great prices.  I had previously been striking out so it felt good to finally be able to bring some cheap junk home with me.  

I found a beautiful crochet blanket that is perfect for the upcoming cool weather. It was only $8 and in perfect shape.  I kind of felt like I should pay someone more for it. I mean, someone spent a decent amount of time making this thing.  I'm a weirdo. 

Unfortunately my new blanket has been claimed by another member of our household.  I don't really want to mess with him or his fox. 

There has always been a blanket on the couch and he hasn't ever really cared.  He's constantly stealing this one.

If you've been reading for awhile, you may know of my Pyrex addiction.  I was going to seek help but my Pyrex addiction only slightly interferes with my daily activities.  Every time we'd see a piece of Pyrex, Nate was all like "Nope. No. Seriously. No.  Step away.  Moving on."  And then I found this piece for $3.  He had no longer had a say in the matter.   

I've been on a baking spree lately.  Muffins, cupcakes, cookies.  All of it.  Must bake.  I'm super pumped to try some recipes out of this cookbook.  I have another Better Homes and Gardens Pie book which I love.  I figured adding cakes couldn't hurt.  Nate was very pro this purchase. 

I bought a suitcase.  For my next trip.  Or DIY project.  Whichever comes first. 

Ike appears to be stealing this purchase too. 

I have a soft spot for ceramic Christmas trees but they are usually too pricey.  This guy was $10 and he now has a loving new home.  Nate thought it was cool until I sang "Oh, Christmas Tree" for the rest of the day.

Have you found any amazing finds lately?  Anyone in the Quad Cities have some chairs for me to buy?