Autumn Decorating

Just a few basics will generate hours of seasonal fun, both in the creation and the enjoyment of these simple projects.

Center Piece

Autumn leaves and twigs make a lovely table center piece. If you coat the twigs and branches with flame retardant (sold at Paper-Source.Com) you can arrange votive candles to add a warm and inviting accent.

Tools:

Small pruning shears, Scissors, Xacto Knife, pocket knife, or carpet knife.

Materials:

Optional: Flame Retardent, floral wire, a carved pumpkin, staple gun

Glue

1" styrofoam circle, or substitute an embroidery ring, macrame ring, or even a carved pumpkin to use as a center form.

8-10 small twigs, 6-18" in length, no more than 1/2" diameter. These should have some felxibility left, not too dry to cut and arrange.

Colorful assortment of silk or fresh autumn leaves

How:

Simply trim the twigs to size and arrange on circle form. If using styrofoam, gently pare down the blunt end to point and insert into the foam.

(BE CAREFUL!)

The staple gun sometimes comes in handy for attaching twigs, too.

If using a ring, you can use floral wire and/or glue to attach the twigs to the ring.

Glue colorful leaves to the twig ends.

Another option: cover the styrofoam circle with aluminum foil, stamp printed with the motif of your choice.

(I made one of these for a friend with a photo transfer of her previous year's costume in the center.)

Demonic Doorman

This piece takes a bit more work, but is well worth it.

Tools: Shears, Carpet knife, staple gun

Materials: Black fabric, styrofoam, latex mask, sturdy cardboard, pillow stuffing, glue, floral wire

Cut two forms out of the cardboard, one for the head/body and another for the wings.

I glued some styrofoam to the head area of the cardboard to lend stability for the mounting of the latex mask, and pushed the floral wire through to make a hook on the back to hang it with.