The Beauty of Fall & DIY Fall Crafts- A Pinterest Poser Challenge

Summer is my absolute favorite time of year but Fall is a close second. Especially sunny Fall days.  It's on those sunny Fall days when the world seems to glow and feel warm and wonderful and beautiful and brilliant. 

My mother had a million and five problems in life but appreciating the beauty of the seasons wasn't one of them.  On those sunny Fall days growing up in Southwestern Michigan, if my mom saw a beautiful tree she would stop the car and pull over. She would ooh and ahhh and make sure we were all looking and noticing and really seeing our beautiful and brilliant world. My brother and sister and I soaked up the warmth of the glowing trees and the excitement and love of my mother.

I inherited quite a few of my mother's problems including her anxiety and over emotionality. But I'm so glad I also got her love of seasons and the glowing Fall trees. I cannot ever pass a beautiful Fall tree without taking a picture on my phone, pointing it out to my kids and oohing and ahhing and really seeing our beautiful and brilliant world.

I love to do crafts that capture that fabulous Fall beauty. For this week's Pinterest Poser Challenge,* I  looked up some inexpensive crafts that help me celebrate the beauty of Fall.

*In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,** every week-ish I detail a new project/idea/recipe inspired by Pinterest.
**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.

I love painting stuff. This summer I got really into painting sticks, it was like therapy for me. I saw a picture of painted acorns on Pinterest and fell in love. It is fun, simple and free.

I took the kids on a walk and we looked for acorns. When I took the dog for a walk, I collected acorns. It was fun. After I had my acorns, I baked them in the oven at lowest heat for two hours. I let the acorns cool and then started painting.

I used acrylic paint from Michael's because I had some left over from painting sticks. I used all sorts of colors, not all that Fall-y but I love how they turned out.

The kids helped. We painted glue on the tops of acorns and then dipped them in Fall-y colored glitter. 

We had a minor glitter spill, but no worries.

I originally put the acorns in a vase on the table on
my front porch.

But then I went to the Dollar Store and bought this acorn platter and put them all inside.
They are messy and colorful and imperfect...I LOVE them.

The next crafty project I did was a not so beautiful ModPodge Leaf Mason Jar Candle Holder thing-y. 

I modeled this after things I'd seen on Pinterest. But I didn't really look at the pins that closely. If I had, then I would have noticed that most (maybe all) of them used fake leaves which probably would have worked much better.  That is not what I used.

I collected leaves on my nature walks and then used ModPodge to try and stick them onto a Mason Jar I had in the house. It was frustrating.

The leaves broke apart and didn't stick. I snapped at the kids and got a little grumpy.  BUT I finally got a couple leaves to stay stuck.

I dropped in a votive candle that promised to smell like pumpkin pie and lit it.  It was messy and I would do it with fake leaves if I were you....but I still love my leaf candle holder thing-y.

I love mine, but if you want to make fancier (probably less frustrating) ones, click here. 

Sweet moment on the front porch that also makes me fall in love with the world. Father and daughter chilling out together.
Love it.

Have you made anything inspired by Pinterest lately? Does Fall kind of blow you away with it's beauty? Got any favorite Fall crafts? Let me know in the comments or over on my Facebook page.

Come follow me on Pinterest (click here).

Here are some of the Pinterest projects I've done/made/attempted:

Kale Smoothie- click here

Power Tools- click here

Painting Sticks- click here

Homemade Pesto- click here

DIY Map Craft- click here

Homemade Chalk Paint- click here

A Flower Crown- click here

The Rainbow Challenge- click here

DIY Trundle Bed- Click here

DIY Artemis Costume- click here

Taking Pictures of Your Kids- click here

Gluten Free Pretzels- click here

Cinnamon Sugar Doughballs- click here

Painted Lockers- click here

Melted Beads- DIY Suncatcher- click here

Tissue Paper Pom Pom Garland-- click here

A Delightfully Simple Birthday Party--click here
Make An Awesome Omelet--click here
Outdoor Lights Inspired by the show Parenthood- click here
Herb Garden with Chalkboard Pots- click here
Backyard Graffiti Art with kids- click here

Happiness Notecards- click here

Gluten Free Rainbow Cake- click here

Fruit Roll-Up Fortune Cookies- click here

Make Your Own Magnets- click here

DIY Painted Clay Necklace- click here

Dixie Cup Lights- click here

DIY Ornaments-click here

Gluten Free Clay- click here

Make Your Own Stamps- click here
Birthday Shirt- click here

Gluten Free Pop Tarts- click here
Front Porch Kid Art Display- click here
Door turned into Table- click here

Summer Wish List Chalkboard-click here

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookie Sandwiches-click here

Painted Mason Jar Vases-click here

Cinco de Mayo Paper Flowers- click here

Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here
Nail Art-click here

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click hereThe Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Glitter, Gratitude & A Pinterest Poser Challenge

Ready for a couple Pinterest Poser Challenge* projects in one post? Here you go:

Wade and I spent the day crafting.  So. much. fun.

In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.   

**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.**

Glitter Falling Leaves Garland

I love glitter.  I admit it.  I mean what's wrong with glitter?  Sure it is hard to get out of anything.  But I kind of love that about it.  I mean it can make your carpet sparkly (why is that bad?).  It can make you laugh when you see a speck of it on your husband's forehead three weeks after using glitter in a craft project at home (when he wasn't even there).  Not everyone sees the humor or gets the whole glitter appreciation.  That's cool, we don't all have to agree on everything.  

If you happen to be one of those glitter-loving fools than this project might be right up your alley.  You might also like it because it only cost me around $3.  

After getting the idea on Pinterest from this site, I headed over to the dollar store and bought glue, glitter and a packet of fake leaves (all for $1 each).

Wade was more than happy to help.  Actually he did all the hard gluey, glittery parts.  

I poured glue onto a paper plate.  He dipped a leaf in the glue, then sprinkled it with gold glitter and let it dry.

I found some yarn and glued the leaves to it and hung it.

This project was simple, fun and I am surprised how much I love the way it turned out.  It is great for Halloween or even to dress up a Thanksgiving display.

The Gratitude Dinner

When I was a kid my dad took us to a fancy restaurant where we could draw on the paper tablecloth.  We used to have so much fun.  Then as a grown up my now husband and I used to go to a restaurant like that when we were dating.  But who says you have to go to a restaurant for that kind of fun?  And who says you can't tie a little life lesson into it?  Pinterest that's who (and this site).  And now me, because I am no poser.

Last night at dinner I laid out a piece of plain brown paper I got for $1 at my favorite dollar store.  I also sat out a bunch of Sharpies. 

After we all sat down, I informed the family that while we ate we could draw and write what we are grateful for right now. 

We had fun with it and each shared what we wrote.

Tim got fancy and drew pictures.

I love how Lucy is thankful for her brothers "sometimes" and how she is grateful for herself!

Quick, simple, fun, cheap and meaningful.  

Have you made something from Pinterest lately?  Had any great successes? Or advice?  Or warning about a project that's a total waste of time? Do tell.

Please share whatever you're working on in the comments here or over on Facebook.

Speaking of Pinterest, do you follow The Fake Pinterest on Twitter?  It pokes fun at all us Pinterest lovers and it's pretty funny.  Here are a couple tweets:

 

You should follow them, and me, follow me on Twitter (@AngelaYBlood).

Come on over and follow my Pinterest boards too.

Here are some of the projects I've already attempted, the good and the bad:

Birthday Shirt- click here
Gluten Free Pop Tarts- click here
Front Porch Kid Art Display- click here
Door turned into Table- click here

Summer Wish List Chalkboard-click here

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookie Sandwiches-click here

Painted Mason Jar Vases-click here

Cinco de Mayo Paper Flowers- click here

Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here

Nail Art-click here

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here.