Cozy DIY Ideas For Autumn Decorating

Hello G45ers,

There's a beautiful quote by Albert Camus that says, "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." This is such a wonderful way to look at this colorful time of year! With such bright and beautiful Autumn colors all around us, it's impossible to not get inspired! Today we're going to explore some gorgeous ideas for Autumn and Thanksgiving crafts. You will see a delightful handmade wreath by Clare Charvill that features our collections French Country and Steampunk Spells. Then we will share a stunning table setting by Nichola Battilana that also features French Country. Today's blog is a true celebration of all the breathtaking inspiration of the season! 

We begin by giving a quick shout out to all of our friends on the Graphic 45 Facebook page! If you want the latest news on Graphic 45 products, daily inspiration and a way to connect with your fellow G45ers and upload your Graphic 45 creations, then check out the Graphic 45 Facebook page! Here is an incredible Mother Goose layout that Chris Lim recently uploaded to our Facebook page. Just look at all of those incredible fussy cut elements! This LO definitely captures the fun and adorable spirit of Mother Goose! We encourage you all to check out the Graphic 45 Facbeook page for fun and fabulous inspiration!

Graphic 45 Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Graphic45

And now it's time for some fun Autumn crafts! We begin with Clare's dazzling handmade wreath! This is the perfect project for Thanksgiving home decor. It's also great for adding festive Autumn color to any room of the house! Handmade wreaths are so much fun to create and they also make fantastic gifts. Here Clare explains how she created this vibrant work of art. The colors of Autumn really come to life in this joyful craft. Take it away, Clare!

Inspired by the autumnal colours of some of the papers in the French Country and Steampunk Spells patterns and solids pads I thought I’d make an up cycled Thanksgiving Wreath using left over chipboard as my base.

I started off by drawing around a large dinner plate and then used a side plate for the inner circle.  Once cut out I sprayed the piece with ink and cosmic shimmer and when dry used Versamark and UTEE to give a textured finish. 

I had lots of left over papers from the French Country and Steampunk Spells patterns and Solids pads from earlier projects so decided to put them together to make the decoration for my wreath.  They worked really well. 

Once I’d cut out the leaves I curled and creased them to give some dimension and then inked them.  I stuck the twigs together to make branches and then covered them in Versamark and UTEE.  All were arranged and stuck to the wreath with tacky glue.

To finish off the wreath I added some pumpkins cut from the 12 x 12 Pumpkin Power paper, a small Thanksgiving chipboard piece, stamped metal brad, rustic bow and ribbons.

Why not get out your collections, find some autumn coloured papers amongst your offcuts and have a go at one yourself. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and happy crafting.

Supplies: 

Patterns and Solids 6 x 6 Steampunk Spells

Patterns and Solids 6 x 6 French Country

Pumpkin Power 12 x 12 paper Steampunk Spells

Place in time Chipboard Piece

Stamped Metal Brad

Chipboard 2mm

May Arts Ribbons

Dylusions Chocolate Ink Spray

Cosmic Shimmer Goldfish

Versamark & UTEE

Distress Inks Walnut Stain, Spiced Marmalade, Crushed Olive Antique Linen

                                                                                     Tacky Glue  

Next up we have a beautiful French Country project that's just perfect for Thanksgiving or other special occasions! Here is Nichola's dinner party place setting! This is such an elegant way to add charm and sophistication to your dinner table. Let the beautiful colors of your favorite Graphic 45 collection bring festive style to your next party. Follow along with Nichola's fun tutorial to create this pretty craft! Here Nichola explains how she came up with this dazzling idea!

My grandmother turned 80 recently and she’s kind of a big deal. We’ll be hosting a big fancy dinner party in her honor soon and I wanted to gussy up the table. I wanted something elegant and pretty that wasn’t going to be overwhelming to create on a large scale. This trio of menu cards, embellished candles and napkin name cards created with the G45 French Country collection and Petaloo flowers is just the thing. (P.S. Please be extra cautious when embellishing candles with ANYTHING, your safest option is flameless candles.

Supplies:

Graphic 45 papers

French Country > Sunflower

French Country > Montage

Antique finish cardstock (or bond paper)

May Arts 3/8 Inch Satin Reversible Ribbon w/ Stitched Edge Green/Olive

Petaloo Flowers in tea-stained green

ScorTape

Glue

Napkin

Flameless candle

Tutorial:

 

Napkin Name Card

On the cardstock or bond paper, create boxed name plates that are 2” x .75”. Cut out the boxes and handwrite the names or create them on the computer. I have used a font called Indenture English Penman which you can download a demo for here.

Next cut a 2” strip from a 12” sheet of Sunflower and a 1.5” x 2.75” rectangle of Montage.

Tear the bottom of the Montage rectangle to give a textured edge. Hint: tearing the paper towards you reveals more white paper.

Ink the cut (not torn!) edges of this and the 2” x .75” nameplate you created.

Assemble all pieces together. Placing all of the elements in the centre of the 2” x 12” strip of Sunflower, add a piece of ribbon 1.5” and cliped at one end diagonally and some pretty coordinating Petaloo flowers.

 

Overlap and affix the ends of the strip of Sunflower creating a loop. Press but do not crease the loop so that you have and elongated oval shape that slips snugly over your napkin.  Hint: Use a folded napkin as a guide to find the perfect size/overlap placement for your table setting.

Candle:

Cut a 2” strip from a 12” sheet of Sunflower and a 1.5” strip from Montage.

Tear the bottom of the Montage rectangle to give a textured edge. Ink the cut (not torn!) edges.

 

Wrap the strip of Sunflower around a Flameless candle  pillar candle. Overlap with the prepared strip of Montage. Wrap the coordinating May Arts Ribbon around the centre affixing with ScorTape

Embellish with Petaloo Flowers.

Menu Card:

On the cardstock or bond paper, print your event menu. My card measures 4.2” x  7.6” I have used a font called Indenture English Penman (download a free demo for here) and Goudy.  Hint: a general rule of thumb in design is to limit yourself to two fonts. Select from different categories of fonts: one script (fancy), one serif (letters with little feet like most book text), one sans serif ( blocky/squared letters).

From Montage cut a piece measuring 5” x 8.5” and tear the bottom edge. Ink the cut (not torn) edges. Ink the edges of your menu card as well.

Next, cut two pieces of Sunflower: one measuring 5.5” x 9” and the second 7” x 9”. On the larger piece score the short edges at .25” and fold. With ScorTape affix these folded edges to the edges of the smaller cut piece, this creates a domed shape which will allow your menu to stand.

 

Affix the Montage and menu card to the flat surface of the stand you’ve just created. Embellish with May Arts Ribbon and Petaloo flowers. Hint: keep your ribbon in exactly the right place by using tiny pieces of ScorTape to hold it just so.

We hope you all enjoyed today's cozy ideas for Autumn crafts. We had a lot of fun sharing these gorgeous crafts with all of you. We hope you'll stop by and see us tomorrow as we bring you more fabulous ideas, fun and inspiration to brighten your day. Big thanks to Clare and Nichola for their amazing work today. We also want to thank all of you for joining us! Have a marvelous day, G45ers!

Your Pals in Paper,

Team Graphic 45

Comments

[Amy Kluchesky]

I adore the wreath. I'm so excited that I have that Sizzix die and can try it myself. Love how the wreath isn't your typical circle. I think that makes it extra special.

[Deborah Cook]

beautiful projects again today and everyday, thanks for sharing :)

[Mj]

Beautiful colors in the wreath! And I love how turning "80" was celebrated in such a loving way...fit for a "Queen" :)

[Suzi Q]

Clare and Nichola have done some amazing work! WOW! VERY IMPRESSIVE....

[Yvonne Boucher]

beautiful projects for the most beautiful time of year.

[Linda from Lockbourne]

What wonderful ways to celebrate Thanksgiving. Thank you for the inspiration.

[Dorothy McCarthy]

Awesome projects!!

[Jan Elmore]

G45 has nothing but their 'A' game going on!!

[Mary]

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." This quote is beautiful as are the projects displayed today.

[Marilaine Fontenot]

I am so in the mood now for Thanksgiving! Bring it on!

[Shirley Flowers]

This all turn out beautifully. Love it

[Sue B.]

Love it! Very nice!

[Sleigh]

Just love the wreath and decorated candle... a great way to decorate for the holidays! TFS :)

[Barbara Diane]

Hello!

The way the Mother Goose collections makes me smile each and every time I see it and the way it inspires me to start a project with it is intense! I love it! All of the fall projects are beautiful! Wishing you a happy day!

Hugs,

Barbara Diane

[Lliz Russell]

Beautiful projects all around! Your blog is always my first stop in the morning, great inspiration. TFS

[Mary]

Beautiful projects!!

[Debbie Craine]

Just Beautiful. Thanks for sharing and inspiring.

[Katie Steinmeier]

Gorgeous projects Graphic 45 DT!

[marylouh]

Love the way Chris put the girls pictures in the layout. So cute. It's too bad that fall is such a short span of time (Halloween takes away a lot of the time). the wreath is beautiful. Love the fall colors. The napkin ring makes the table very elegant.

[{vicki}]

Another day of
M
A
Z
I
N
G

projects!

[Karen Foy]

Inspiring ideas - makes me want to get creating some festive projects!

[Jennifer Cardwell]

Love the dinner set! Nice, simple, & pull together in about an hour! Love!

[Dorina D]

Fabulous. The Mother Goose layout is out of this world and so clever. Such a great idea and so cute. The wreath and tutorial are fabulous and gives me so many ideas and the celebration menu and other party elements are darling. Great proejcts today

[linda ann murphy]

The wreath is so pretty. Iove the fall colors. Your site always makes me feel like I need to get busy! Thank you for the inspiration.

[Judy D.]

Well, it's snowing here this morning, so these fall projects are especially welcome!! The wreath is beautiful, and the table setting is gorgeous!!

[lexi]

very pretty! good for using up leftovers and it's inspiring me for my decoration of the christmas dinertable :)

[Diane Ritchie]

Clare's wreath is wonderful, and the Mother Goose layout is nicely done. Would love to win that collection!

[Melissa Divelbiss]

GOR-G-EOUS!!! Love the work of these two very talented ladies!

[Alma Jean King]

Great holiday ideas!

[barbara macaskill]

MIND-BLOWING projects today! Love the Mother Goose layout (my favorite new collection)! The wreath is a definite must try immediately and the napkin name plate, candle and menu are simply stunning! I am picking my jaw up off the floor after seeing today's projects! Thank you for sharing!

[Karen Wedding]

The layout looks great with the photo fussy cut and added in the background. Looks like she's part of the activity. The wreath is wonderful and very inexpensive.

[Patricia Molnar]

Fabulous projects as always! Look forward every day to see what the DT has created next! Never disappointed!

[Sue K.]

I love the table decorations. That would make such a beautiful Thanksgiving table. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Martie Rollin]

Love Clare's fall wreath tutorial! And I had no idea there were free fonts out there on the Internet...thanks! Always love the daily blog entries on this site!

[Shelley Mucha]

Beautiful inspiration as usual. Thanks G45 and design team.

[Wendy Orme]

Lovely wreath, menu and candle!

[Elizabeth Eheridge]

A cornucopia of great holiday ideas for Thanksgiving from the wreath to the menu. lovely.

[Pam]

More amazing projects!

[Kelly Massman]

i really love the colors of fall! TFS!

[Jackie QH]

Beautiful projects ♥