The leaves are changing color and I am wearing some of my favorite cozy clothes again. I love this time of year and I also love crafting for it. Today I am sharing some of my favorite DIY fall craft ideas and also how to display them!

You know that I love to share vintage crafts with you. If you have been following me for awhile you probably have a whole slew of projects and ideas. But do you know what to do with your beautiful creations once you have made them?

Today I am giving you some DIY fall craft ideas. Then I am showing you a few different ways that you can display them in your home! I show you how to mix different elements and textures to get a beautiful fall display that is uniquely yours!

DIY Fall Craft Ideas and How to Display them

Below are four of my favorite fall crafts. You can click on each project for the supply lists and full tutorial. There may even be a couple that you have already made! Once you have your completed creations in hand, watch the video below for inspiration on how to arrange them in your home.

Making Fabric Pumpkins

Every year as I start to put out my fall decor, I fall in love with these adorable pumpkins all over again. And I can’t help but make more! Each one is so uniquely beautiful and fun. And they tuck so well into your existing decor that it seems like I can never have enough.

In this post I show you how to make fabric pumpkins that are the perfect addition to your fall decorations. I show you how to make the pumpkins and then I show you a bunch that I have made in the past. That way you will have lots of ideas on hand when you go to make your own. This is a super easy project and the results are just so pretty!

DIY Spooky Halloween Bottles

If you have been with me for a while you know how much I love to decorate old bottles with vintage items. These DIY spooky Halloween bottles are a twist on my normal creations. I am showing you what to use and how to make your own collection of ingredients for a witch’s brew!

I have been making a few at a time and now have quite the witch’s ingredient shelf. These bottles are a little spooky and a lot of pretty. I hope you love them as much as I do!

How to Make Concrete Pumpkins

If you are looking for a new kind of fall pumpkin craft, learning how to make concrete pumpkins may be perfect for you! I love crafting for fall and have made lots of different types of pumpkins. These have such a unique look and no two turn out the same. So, if you’re like me and have already made lots of pumpkin crafts and want something new, you’re in the right place!

How to Make Fabric Acorns for Fall

You probably already know that sewing is not my thing. I am always impressed by those of you who can sew and the beautiful things you create. It’s just not something that I’m great at or really enjoy. But, projects like this I can totally do! It takes a needle and thread but the stitches can be messy and uneven and it doesn’t matter. They will all be covered up in the end so you’ll never know. That’s my kind of sewing! These fabric acorns are adorable and can be made from just about anything you have on hand.

How to Display your Fall Decor

Supply List of Items I Showed in the Video

In the video above, I show you lots of really great items that you can use for your fall displays. If I have a link for them I have added it for you in the list below. That way you will be able to easily snag the items that you love!

• Hops flop greenery
• Hang down greenery pick
• Small dough bowl
• Large dough bowl
• Black lift stand
• French gray goblets
• Candles
• Scarves
• Door knob
• Decorated vintage bottles
• Fall pumpkin greenery

The Wrap Up…

So there you go, friends! Some fabulous fall craft ideas for you and some beautiful ways to display them. Of course you will have your own special items that you will want to incorporate. I just wanted to show you some different methods that you can use to get the most visual appeal out of your decor.

I hope you got some ideas that you are excited to try. And I hope you love them as much as I do! Happy decorating and happy fall!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

I have a really fun Halloween project for you today! I am showing you how to make DIY spooky Halloween bottles and they are so cute. If you like spooky but pretty decorations, this is the perfect project for you!

If you have been with me for a while you know how much I love to decorate old bottles with vintage items. These DIY spooky Halloween bottles are a twist on my normal creations. I am showing you what to use and how to make your own collection of ingredients for a witch’s brew!

I have been making a few at a time and now have quite the witch’s ingredient shelf. These bottles are a little spooky and a lot of pretty. I hope you love them as much as I do!

DIY Spooky Halloween Bottles

There are so many great ways to decorate these adorable Halloween bottles! Some of mine I covered in old book and music pages. Others I filled with different ingredients from the super market. I even put feathers in one of them because any good witch’s brew needs feathers, right?

In the recipe below I give you a list of bottles fillers that I’ve tried and loved. There are tons of other things you could use though. I’ve thought about using dried oregano or leaves to add some color variety to my shelf. If you like things extra spooky you could even fill a bottle with those little candy eyeballs that are used for cookies and cupcakes. They could be your “eye of newt”!

I use muslin shreds and stained cheese cloth on my bottles. The cheese cloth adds some fabulous texture and creepiness! If you have never made muslin shreds before check out my post Making Muslin Shreds to see how it’s done. In that post I also show you how to stain your shreds. You can use that exact method to stain your cheese cloth too!

The stickers that I use for this project are ones that I found on Etsy. You can search for “spooky stickers” or “Halloween stickers” to find some great options. I love the aged look of the ones that I found! If you don’t have access to stickers you could search for images online. Then print them out and use Mod Podge to attach them to your bottles.

DIY Spooky Halloween Bottles Supply List

• Old bottles
• Halloween stickers and poison tags (I just typed in spooky stickers on Etsy and found mine)
• Bottle filler (feathers, mustard seed, large pearl tapioca, coriander seeds, baking soda, etc…)
• Bottle toppers (curtain finial, brass fixtures, old door knobs, metal casters, glass bottle toppers, etc…)
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors
• Muslin shreds
• Small metal tags or coins
• Stained cheese cloth (I steep mine in tea!)
• Candle and torch lighter

Step by Step Instructions

• Start by adding your sticker to your bottle. Then fill it with whatever filler you choose.
• Next use hot glue to attach your bottler topper to your bottle.
• Then thread a metal tag onto one of your muslin shreds. Wrap the neck of the bottle and cover the spot where your topper meats the bottle. Then tie a bow with the rest of your muslin shred and trim the tails.
• Next take a section of the cheese cloth and fray it a bit by pulling it apart a bit. Then tack it onto your bottle using the glue gun.
• Then use the torch lighter to melt the wax inside the candle and drip it over the bottle and it’s topper.

The Wrap Up!

Oh you guys, I just love the way these spooky bottles turned out! There are so many fun ways you can make and display them. And you can use this method to branch out to other things too. I made a cigar box to go with my display! I would love to see what you come up with for your bottle decor and filler. Be sure to leave me a comment below or tag me on social media if you post a picture of your own bottles! I hope you have a lot of spooky fun, have fun creating!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

I am really excited to teach you all how to use the German Schmeer technique on a fireplace! This is such a great way to dress up your brick fireplace and get it ready for decor.

If you know me, you know that I love trying different painting techniques at home and in my business. While this isn’t technically painting, it achieves similar results. The bonus is that using the ceramic tile mortar gives more depth and texture than paint. In the video below I show you how to use the German Shmeer technique on a fireplace. I hope you love it as much as I do!

How to use the German Shmeer Technique on a Fireplace

I really love the finished look of this fireplace! It gives new life to the fireplace but in an old world sort of way. This method is perfect for those of us who love vintage. It also works really well with farmhouse or rustic decor. Even if you just prefer whites and brights in your home, this could be a great fit for you!

We did think about painting the mantle to match the black insert but decided against it for now. Either way you decide to go, the white backdrop is going make a fantastic backdrop for your mantle displays! All the colors, textures, and details will stand out. You will be able to appreciate your favorite pieces even more!

German Shmeer Supply List

• Ceramic tile mortar
• Mortar bucket
• Stir stick
• 1 cup measuring cup
• Painter’s tape
• Drop cloths
• Gloves (optional)
• Trowel

Here’s How We Did the German Shmeer Technique

How to use the German Shmeer Technique on a Fireplace

For this project I used ceramic tile mortar. I used a one cup measuring cup and put four scoops into a container. Then I began adding water. Just stir and stir until it is smooth and there are no lumps. I just kept adding a little water at a time and stirring until it was right.

Before getting started, make sure you tape off the side walls and the flooring very well. Don’t forget to also protect your insert and mantle. The more you protect in the beginning the less cleanup you will have. And I am all for less cleanup!

Start by using a trowel to apply the mortar to the bricks. I started at the top and worked my way down. Just keep spreading and spreading until it looks consistent and even. We thought the mortar joints would look better if we ran our finger across them and made them all white. It’s very easy to wash off of your hands but be careful to not put too much down your drain. You could also use a glove if you’d rather and then just toss it when you are done.

Continue spreading the mortar across the bricks and running your finger in the grout lines. Work your way all the way down the fireplace until you are done. Once you are all done, remove your tape and clean up! Sit back, take a break, and start planning your mantle display!

The Wrap Up!

I can’t wait to see this beautiful fireplace all dressed up! It’s going to look especially gorgeous at Christmas time. All the colors and details of the Christmas decorations are really going to pop! And the white will lend a hint of Christmas snow.

I hope you give this technique a try. It is a bit time consuming but actually easy to do! And the whole process gets completed in one go. No waiting for a next coat or next step. So you could say it’s actually faster than other transformation techniques! Let me know in the comments if you’re excited to give this a try!

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Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

I have a fabulous fall craft project for you today! My friend Julie and I are showing you how to make concrete pumpkins. They are really fun to make and turn out so cute. I hope you love them as much as we do!

If you are looking for a new kind of fall pumpkin craft, learning how to make concrete pumpkins may be perfect for you! I love crafting for fall and have made lots of different types of pumpkins. These have such a unique look and no two turn out the same. So, if you’re like me and have already made lots of pumpkin crafts and want something new, you’re in the right place!

And don’t let the idea of concrete intimidate you! It’s really very simple to mix up and use. Julie and I feel like we are pros already! You want your consistency to be like a Frosty or slightly more wet than cake frosting. Don’t worry, it’s easy to get the hang of it!

How to Make Concrete Pumpkins

So let’s talk about the tights you’re going to need for this project first. You don’t want to use pantyhose or thin tights for this project. If you can see through them, the concrete will leak out. We had a couple different pairs and the one we ended up liking the best were the sweater tights.

The ribbing on the sweater tights left a really pretty pattern on our pumpkins that we loved! Depending on the look you are going for, you can use smooth tights or any pattern that you like. How cool would it be to find some with pumpkins woven into them! As long as the pumpkins are raised I bet would work.

What to use for your Concrete Pumpkin Stems

Julie and I used a couple of different things for our pumpkin stems. I actually collect old pumpkin stems from year to year so I have them when I craft for the next fall season. I just stash them away and then pull them out when I am making things like fabric pumpkins. (If you want to learn how to do that, you can check out my post How to make Fabric Pumpkins!)

We used old stems for a few of our pumpkins and for three of them we used old railway ties that we we had found at the Springfield Market. I absolutely love how they look in the concrete pumpkins! You should definitely keep your eye out for old railway ties but in the meantime, you have other options!

You can use old stems like we did but, if you don’t have and, find bits of wood lying about. Large sticks work great! If you have any drift wood, that could be really cool too! I’m sure you can come with some cute ideas too!

But Wait, there’s More!

When you watch the video you will see that we actually made a few different kinds of concrete pumpkins. Spoiler alert: one of them was basically a fail. But! you will also see how we made adorable succulent planters with the concrete and a couple of balloons.

There was a bit of a learning curve with with planters. But I tell you what I will do differently next time so you can learn from my mistakes. I really love the way the planters came out and they were pretty simple to do too! We used succulents in ours and they really look adorable!

You could use real succulents like we did or you can go with artificial ones if you prefer. You can also use any other plant you’d like, just be sure you put drainage holes in the bottom. And don’t worry, I explain how I do that in the video!

How to Make Concrete Pumpkins Supply List

• Cementall
• Twine
• Scissors
• Thick tights (not pantyhose, if you can see through them the cement will leak out)

Step by Step Instructions

• Start by cutting 3-4 pieces of twine and laying them crisscrossed (like slices of a pie) on your work surface.
• Then combine your Cementall with water. I used about 4-5 cups with approximately 1/4 cup water. You want it to be a consistency that resembles a Frosty, a little wetter than cake frosting. If it still seems powdery and lumpy when you are stirring, add more water a tablespoon at a time until you get the right consistency.
• Next cut the heal and toes off of your tights and tie a knot to make the bottom of your pumpkin. Then fill the leg with your concrete mix, leaving enough space at the top that the concrete won’t leak over.
• Now set your tights in the center of your twine pieces. Once piece at at time, pull both ends of a piece and tie them together in a knot. Repeat this with the rest of your twine.
• Finally ,if you are using a railway tie or stick as your stem add it down into the concrete. If you will be using an old pumpkin stem, you can push it in a bit as your concrete hardens to make an indentation for it. Then, once the pumpkin is cured you can use E6000 to attach your stem.
• When the concrete is mostly hard to the touch but still a bit soft, remove your tights. Don’t let it set too long or you won’t be able to get your tights off. The sooner you get them off the better.

The Wrap Up!

So that’s how to make concrete pumpkins! It was definitely an adventure and a learning experience and I love the way they turned out. I love the neutral color of the concrete. I especially love the concrete with the railroad ties. But you could absolutely paint your pumpkins if you want to.

You could even add vintage embellishments or pretty fall leaves to them! If you give these pumpkins a try I’d love to see what you come up with for yours! Either way I hope you have a fabulous fall and a great time crafting!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-319-1546

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

With fall quickly approaching I’m getting really excited about diving into fall crafts. Today I’m making fabric acorns that are super easy, super cute, and perfect for your fall decor!

You probably already know that sewing is not my thing. I am always impressed by those of you who can sew and the beautiful things you create. It’s just not something that I’m great at or really enjoy. But, projects like this I can totally do! It takes a needle and thread but the stitches can be messy and uneven and it doesn’t matter. They will all be covered up in the end so you’ll never know. That’s my kind of sewing! These fabric acorns are adorable and can be made from just about anything you have on hand. In the video below I show you exactly how it’s done!

Making Fabric Acorns for Fall

There is so much to love about summer. Sunny days, family vacations, and flowers in bloom are some of my favorite summer things. That being said, I start to get really excited about fall this time of year. The often hectic pace of summer starts to give way to the slower season of fall.

Thoughts of curling up with a comfy blanket and pulling out my favorite sweaters are sneaking in. And the inspiration for fall crafts is all around. In the video below I am showing you how to make one of the cutest and easiest fall crafts out there.

Where to Find Acorn Tops

I am lucky. Where I live we have some big ole oak trees not far away. I can go and scoop up as many acorns as I need. And often the squirrels have already eaten the nut and left me the top so I don’t need to do anything to them. If you don’t have oak trees in your neighborhood though, you still have a couple of options.

You can head to your local parks and nature trails to gather acorns. Chances are you will find a good cache to collect from. If nature hikes aren’t your thing and you don’t know anyone with oak trees that’s ok too. You can find fake acorn tops on line and many of them look very realistic.

Design Variations

You probably already know that I like neutral colors for my own home decor. So, for many of my acorns I use white and cream colored fabric. You can use absolutely any fabric that you want to though! Dig through your scrap bag to see what you can find. Or head to your local craft store and choose some fun fall fabrics.

I use fiber fill to stuff my acorns because I always have some on hand. If you don’t have a big box of batting laying around though you can also use cotton balls. The fiber fill is cheap to buy but you don’t need much for this project. So if you don’t see yourself using it for other projects, I would just use the cotton balls.

Supply List

• Sewing needle
• Thread (doesn’t matter what color, you won’t see it)
• Fabric of your choice
• Scissors
• Polyfill
• Acorn tops
• Hot glue gun

Fabric Acorn Instructions

• Start by threading your needle and tying a knot at the end of your thread.
• Then cut your fabric into desired size. I like a 2″ x 2″ square for small acorns and 5″ x 5″ for large ones.
• Now start sewing around the edge of your square, gathering the fabric as you go. This can be very rough, no need to be exact.
• Once you’ve sewn most of the way around, take a little bit of polyfill and stuff your acorn. Then continue sewing and pushing your stuffing into the little pocket you’ve created. Once you’re sewn all the way around, pull the thread tight to close the acorn. Then add a few stiches to secure the top. Sew through your last loop to make a knot before snipping your thread.
• Then use the hot glue gun to attach your acorn top to your acorn base.

The Wrap Up…

These fabric acorns are just too cute! I can’t wait for you to try them and let me know what you think. They are perfect for sprinkling throughout your fall decor or displayed on their own in something like a small dough bowl. You can make them all from the same fabric or you can mix it up with lots of fall colors. However you decide to do it, I hope you have as much fun with this project as I did!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-319-1546

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!