Every year about this time, I start missing "home," - the midwest, that is - or anywhere, really, that has four seasons a year. I grew up in the midwest, and fall has always been my very favorite time of year. I never did like the hot, humid summers...but come mid- to late-September, the temperatures started to drop, the evenings began to cool, we could start wearing jeans and sweaters again...and soon the leaves would start to turn. I loved the crispness of the mornings, the crunch of the fallen leaves under my feet, and the warm scents of cinnamon, cloves and ginger in the kitchen as my mom began to bake fall treats.
Living in a southern California desert for over a decade now, I have never forgotten what fall feels like - even though we never really get to experience its glory here. Each year, when this time rolls around again, I start chomping at the bit to bring out my fall decorations and make the inside of my house feel like fall - even if I can't do anything about the outdoors. And this year, I decided I wanted to make a banner to go along with my ever-growing stash of decorations. So this past weekend, one of my crafty friends (who also grew up in a 4-season climate, though doesn't miss it *quite* as much as me) came and spent an entire day getting inky and glue-y and crafty together, and we each made a fall banner...each of which turned out completely different, I might add - totally reflecting our personalities. :)
One of my FAVORITE parts of this was that I learned how to make not one, but TWO different kinds of paper flowers - which you can see on both end pieces of the banner...the rolled flowers, and the roses. Aren't they gorgeous??!! I LOVE them and will be making LOTS of them, I just know! Also loved using Glimmer Mist on the burlap - SO cool! And loved, as usual, using my Distrezz-it-All (on the cardboard backings of all the banner pieces)...giving the banner a grungier look. Oh yeah - and my newest tool - my hot-set jewel-setter - SOOOO cool!! That is FUN! So easy to add gorgeous crystals to any project!! I finally finished adding my final ribbon touches to mine tonight, and had a really hard time getting good pictures of it (right now, it's just hanging from some wall hangers above my blinds on my slider - it won't be staying there). I REALLY need a DSLR with a wide-angle lens!!!
5 comments:
This is beautiful! I wish I had more of a decorating bug...and felt more confident when I do have the slightest inclination :-)
Thanks, Sally!! I still haven't gotten out my boxes of fall decorations...but hopefully this weekend, I will. I promise you, once you START expressing your creativity, it WILL increase!!! Ever since I started playing in my inspiration journal, my creative impulses have been exploding like crazy - I can hardly contain myself! I have so many ideas I can't keep track of them all (and certainly don't have time to bring them all to fruition)! :)
I REALLY like this Jen! It's so pretty and "fallish"!!!
Thanks, Kristi! I have been wanting to do a fall banner (and a Christmas one, and a Spring one, and a...) for years, but just haven't ever gotten around to it. SOOO happy I finally did it, b/c I am in love with how it turned out!! Right now it's just hanging out over the blinds on my slider, until it finds it's more permanent fall home - so it's right across from my craft station/desk - so I get to look at it all the time - and I can't stop looking at it!! :) You should come over so you can see it in person - pictures can't do it justice!!
I just saw your fall banner. I LOVE it! The colors and textures are so beautiful, and there is so much interest in the variety of shapes, colors, textures and dimensions. Now I have the bug to get out my fall decorations:-)
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