Average But Inspired

Inspiring creativity with crafts, DIY, and home decor projects.

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Floral Candy Corn Topiary: A Unique DIY Fall Decoration

Fall is my favorite season for everything!  Decorating, food, clothing – you name it!  Oh and I can’t forget crafting, too.  I LOVE coming up with fun fall crafts like this Floral Candy Corn Topiary!

This floral candy corn topiary is the cutest DIY fall decoration! It's so unique and adorable, and easy to make! Get written instructions and a video tutorial in this blog post.

Love it or hate in, candy corn is synonymous with fall, so this darling topiary is the perfect touch for any fall space.

Supplies Needed to Make a Candy Corn Topiary

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Note: you can get all of these supplies at Dollar Tree except the floral foam cone.  That you need to buy at a craft store or via the provided link.

How to Make a Candy Corn Topiary

I made this candy corn topiary as a video tutorial for my TikTok page, so I don’t have complete step-by-step photos for you, but I do have all the information you need in video form, and also written form for added help!  (PS I LOVE TikTok and am praying that it isn’t banished from the U.S.!)

Candy Corn Topiary Video

Watch me make this topiary and then read the instructions below!

 

Candy Corn Topiary Written Instructions

Step one: cut yellow flowers short so that only a small part of the stem remains.  Press yellow flowers into the base of the floral cone, about 1/3 of the way up the cone.

Step two: repeat this process with the orange flowers, and then with the white flowers.  (Note: if any of the flowers don’t have stems that easily push into the floral foam, simply hot glue them to the cone like I did for the white flowers.)

Step three: push a dowel into the bottom of the floral foam cone.  Then, press the other end of the dowel into another piece of floral foam, which will rest inside the pot or container.

Step four: tie a bow on the dowel, just underneath the floral foam cone.

Step five: hot glue floral moss on top of the floral foam in the pot or container.

This floral candy corn topiary is the cutest DIY fall decoration! It's so unique and adorable, and easy to make! Get written instructions and a video tutorial in this blog post.

Let me know what you think of this cute DIY fall decoration craft!  And . . . do you love candy corn or hate it?  🙂

-Bre

P.S. Check out my fall DIYs and crafts project gallery!

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Spring Carrot Door Hanger Craft

Have you gotten the spring decorating bug yet?  It hasn’t hit for me, but I am feeling excited that spring will officially be here soon!  My crafty thoughts have turned to spring, and that’s why I just loved making this cute Carrot Door Hanger Craft!  This DIY Carrot Door Hanger craft is so cute for spring! Learn how to make this spring door decor in this post. This spring craft is a must make!

Before we go any further, I have a confession.  “Carrot” is a word that I ALWAYS struggle to spell!  “Are there two ‘r’s’, two ‘t’s’. . . two of both?”  The struggle is real, my friends!

Alright now that you know I might not be the winner of the school spelling bee, let’s get down to business!  I will show you how to transform a plain wood carrot cutout into this cute piece of spring decor!

What do you need to make a spring carrot door hanger craft?

I will show you what I used to make this project.  I purchased everything in-store at Michaels, but I’ve linked to similar products on Amazon if you prefer to shop online.  You can read my full disclosure about affiliate links here.

How do you make a carrot wreath?

This little carrot door decor project comes together really quickly, and the best part of it is that you can apply the techniques used here to lots of different projects going forward!

Start by spreading a thin layer of Mod Podge on the bottom part (the orange part) of the unfinished wood carrot.  Apply mod podge to the unfinished wood carrot.

Then, press the orange scrapbook paper onto the Mod Podge.  If you have a brayer, use it to smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles in the scrapbook paper.  If you don’t have a brayer, you can gently smooth out the paper with your hands.  Use polka dotted orange scrapbook paper to create an adorable carrot door hanger.

Let the Mod Podge dry for about 20 minutes.  When the paper feels like it is attached to the wooden carrot, flip it over and use the craft knife to cut the excess scrapbook paper from the outer edge of the carrot.  Trim excess scrapbook paper from the edge of the carrot cutout.

Flip it over and repeat this process with the green scrapbook paper on the top of the unfinished wood carrot.  Press green scrapbook paper onto the carrot cutout.

Trim the excess scrapbook paper from the top of the carrot.

After the base layer of Mod Podge has dried, spread a thin layer of Mod Podge all over the top of the carrot.  Cover the entire carrot hanger with Mod Podge.

Let it dry for at least twenty minutes.  Once the Mod Podge is dry, lightly sand along the edges of the carrot to remove any pieces of scrapbook paper that didn’t get cut off with the craft knife.

Then, to add a little depth to the project, dry brush a little white craft paint along the edges of the carrot.  Brush white craft paint along the edge of the carrot cutout.

While you have the white paint out, dry brush a little on the “Welcome” word, and then hot glue that to the carrot.  Paint the word "welcome" with white paint.

Next, cut pieces of varying ribbon and tie them into a knot.  Then, hot glue them onto the carrot where the orange part meets the green.  Hot glue ribbons to the top of the carrot door hanger for a cute touch.

And with that, your adorable carrot door hanger is finished!  (NOTE: If you purchase a different wood carrot cutout than I purchased, you may need to add a hanger to the back.  Simply staple or hot glue a looped piece of twine to the back!)I love this adorable spring craft! See how she made this cute carrot door hanger that is the perfect spring wreath for the whole season!

Hang it on your door alone, or add it to another wreath (like a plain greenery wreath) for a darling spring touch!  

I gave this carrot wreath to my mother-in-law, but I think I might need to make another one for myself!  This is such a cute DIY spring wreath! Learn to make this carrot door hanger for your home. It's the cutest spring craft I've seen this season!

Please pin this post to help others find this great springtime craft.  

-Bre

Carrots not your thing? How about these other spring craft ideas?

Dollar Tree Egg Tray Wreath

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Spring Bunny Planter Stakes

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How to Make a Jingle Bell Wood Bead Garland for Christmas

In my humble opinion, Christmas decor feels even more special when it’s handmade.  The time and care that goes into making the decor elevates it to a new level.  One of the simplest and most festive pieces of handmade Christmas decor you can make is a garland, and this Jingle Bell Wood Bead Garland is a versatile piece that can be used anywhere!  This is so pretty and easy to make! This DIY jingle bell wood bead garland is just perfect for Christmas decor! Get all the instructions in this post.

Wood bead garlands are a decor staple these days, but the addition of jingle bells and festive holiday ribbon to a regular garland makes this wood bead garland extra special for Christmas! 

Plus, it is oh-so-easy to put together, and it’s a great project to get your children to help with.  It’s really that simple!

Materials Needed for a Wood Bead Jingle Bell Garland

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.  

With these simple supplies - jingle bells, wood beads, and bakers twine - you can make a gorgeous Christmas garland!

How to Make a Wood Bead Jingle Bell Garland

Begin folding a long piece of bakers twine in half and threading it through a needle with a large eye.  (You want to fold the bakers twine in half to give it more strength once you start stringing the wood beads and jingle bells.)  I chose red and white bakers twine because it is so Christmasy!  Use a needle with a large eye to thread bakers twine through the beads.

Once the needle is threaded, tie a knot at the opposite end of the twine to hold the pieces together.

Next, begin stringing wooden beads onto the twine.  I chose to use a mix of sizes of wood beads, and I alternated them.  Use a needle with a large eye to thread the bakers twine through the wood beads.

Using a needle was essential for getting the twine through the beads.  I don’t honestly think you could make a wood bead garland without a needle!

Then, I also added in different sizes of jingle bells to the garland.  For my garland I strung four wood beads, then a bell, and alternated that pattern all the way down the length of the twine.  Add jingle bells to the garland to make it perfect for Christmas.

When I got to the end of the twine, I tied off that end.  Then I got to work making ribbon tassels to add to the ends of the wood bead garland.

Making the ribbon tassels was so easy!  Just cut four pieces of ribbon, stack them on top of one another, fold in half, and tie a piece of bakers twine around them near the top to secure and form a tassel.  It's so easy to make a ribbon tassel!

Once the tassels are made, loop the ends of the bakers twine through the loops in the tassels, and tie to secure. 

  Add pretty decorative tassels to the wood bead garland.

After that, the garland is complete!  

Depending on how long you make it, it would look beautiful on a Christmas tree or Christmas mantel!  If you opt for a shorter version, you could put it around a vase, on a tiered tray decorated for Christmas, or simply laid on a table as part of a Christmas vignette.  Make a pretty wood bead and jingle bell garland for Christmas! This DIY wood bead garland is so easy to make - click to view the tutorial on how to make your own!

The wood bead garland I made has 40 wood beads, 10 bells, and measures 34″ excluding the tassels.  Those figures might help you calculate how many of each supply you need to make a shorter or longer wood bead garland.

This is a beautiful Christmas craft! Make a wood bead garland with jingle bells and Christmas ribbon tassels for a beautiful decorative touch. It's such an easy craft!

So what are you waiting for?  Grab the supplies you need and get to stringing!  And make sure you pin this image on Pinterest so you can easily find this tutorial again when you need it.  

LOVE this DIY Christmas decor! Learn how to make a jingle bell wood bead garland to add a homemade touch to your Christmas decor this year. This easy Christmas craft is a pretty way to use simple supplies for a stunning decorative touch.

You May Also Like These Upcycled Tile Christmas Ornaments

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DIY Decor Tags {A Versatile Christmas Decor Craft}

Before you get mad and tell me it’s not even Halloween yet, let me explain why I’m sharing a Christmas craft in October.  I am moving (you can read more about that here), and as a result, a lot of my craft supplies are boxed up AND I can’t decorate my house for fall or Halloween because of showings, etc. 

Because of that, I’m limited in what creative muscles I can flex right now, and this easy Christmas craft was just right!  It’s a transformation of Dollar Tree printed chipboard tag ornaments into darling buffalo check decor tags that add a special touch to Christmas decorations!

Add a dash of charm to your Christmas decor with these dollar store DIY decor tags! Using only dollar store supplies, you can make these large tags to add to wreaths, vases, to use as ornaments, to put in tiered trays, or to hang from a doorknob! The possibilities are endless, and these are such a cute Christmas craft!

Large scale decor tags have been popping up all over the stores, and this project gave me a chance to put my own twist on the trend.  Everything I used can be purchased at Dollar Tree, so you know it’s also extremely budget-friendly! 

Where To Use Large Decor Tags

Before I give you all the details on how to make your own decor tags, you might be wondering WHY you’d make these tags.  What do you use decor tags for?  The answer is – just about anything!  They’re actually really versatile and add a pop of interest anywhere you put them.  Some favorite uses for decor tags are:

  • added to wreaths for a seasonal touch
  • in a tiered tray (these are all the rage over on Instagram and Pinterest. I might be the only person who doesn’t have a tiered tray to decorate.)
  • hanging on a doorknob
  • hanging from a vase or planter
  • tied together as standalone door decor
  • grouped in a basket as part of a larger vignette

Hopefully those ideas spark an idea for you of where you could use similar decor tags in your own home!

Add a dash of charm to your Christmas decor with these dollar store DIY decor tags! The buffalo check wrapping paper makes these tags on trend for Christmas this year! Using only dollar store supplies, you can make these large tags to add to wreaths, vases, to use as ornaments, to put in tiered trays, or to hang from a doorknob! The possibilities are endless, and these are such a cute Christmas craft!

Supplies Used to Make Large Decor Tags

Now, let’s get down to business!  Here’s what you need to make these cute Christmas decor tags.

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

How to Make Christmas Tags for Decor

To help you find in store the exact tags I used for this project, here they are!

Use these Dollar Tree tag ornaments to make adorable decor tags for your Christmas decorations this year.

Flip them over to the flat backside (the fronts have some raised glitter on them), and cut wrapping paper to be slightly larger than the tags.  Then, trace the tags onto the back of the wrapping paper.

Use Christmas wrapping paper to add a festive touch to these decorative tags.

Cut out the tag shapes from the wrapping paper.  Then, place a thin coat of Mod Podge over the entire chipboard tag.

Mod Podge is the perfect decoupage medium to attach wrapping paper to these decorative tags.

Carefully place the wrapping paper that you cut to the shape of a tag on top of the Mod Podge chipboard tag.

Buffalo plaid wrapping paper adds a festive touch to this Christmas craft.

Carefully smooth out any wrinkles and make sure that the wrapping paper is flattened all over.  Set the tag aside to dry.  This will take about 20 minutes.

Once the tag seems dry, gently rub the edges of the wrapping paper with sandpaper.  This will remove any wrapping paper that’s sticking over the edge of the chipboard tag.  

Use sandpaper to remove excess paper from the tags.

Next, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge over the top of the wrapping paper.  This will help seal the wrapping paper onto the tag, and it will remove the shiny finish of the wrapping paper.  

Add a layer of Mod Podge to the top of the tag.

Set it aside to dry.  As it dries, you will notice that the hazy finish disappears.  Yay!  

Once it’s dry, gently brush a bit of black paint around the edges of the tag to give it an aged look.  Adding black paint around the edges of the tag will help add an aged look.

Then, apply the poster stickers to write out words that fit on the tags.  I think four letters are the max that will fit with these poster stickers on these tags.  Dollar Tree poster stickers are an easy way to add lettering to these decor tags.

Use a pencil to poke a hole through the wrapping paper at the top, and then, for an added touch of authenticity, paint a silver circle around the hole.  Use silver paint to add a faux metal circle to the tags.

String twine through the hole, and add decorative elements to the twine.  I used the cutest little red truck ornaments from Dollar Tree and silver jingle bells.  But, you could get creative and add whatever embellishments you like!

These darling decorative tags were created with Dollar Tree craft supplies!

See how easy it is to upgrade the look of these Dollar Tree tags with just a few simple tweaks?  You get a totally adorable look for hardly any money at all.  I just love when decor works out that way!

-Bre

Here’s Another Great Dollar Tree Christmas Craft! Check Out This Dollar Tree Christmas Cloche! 

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Pool Noodle Pumpkins: A Fun Fall Craft!

While cleaning out my husband’s car this weekend, I found a pool noodle left behind after a trip to our local swimming pool this summer.  A jolt of inspiration hit and I grabbed the pool noodle, ran inside, and got to work making some adorable Pool Noodle Pumpkins for my fall decor!  Cute! These DIY POOL NOODLE PUMPKINS are super easy to make and oh-so-adorable! This is a great fall craft for groups because it's so cheap to make!

I wasn’t totally sure if pool noodles transformed into pumpkins would be cute, but I gave it a try anyway.  And thankfully, they’re darling!  Pool noodle pumpkins are the cutest craft in the patch!

Pool noodle pumpkins are also extremely easy to make and very, very cheap.  These would be a perfect fall craft for large groups (I bet you could make ten pumpkins per pool noodle), and even for the least crafty people around.  They are SO easy to make!

Pool Noodle Pumpkins Supplies

  • Foam pool noodle
  • Fabric (I used a Halloween scarf from Dollar Tree)
  • Wood blocks (I used pieces from a Dollar Tree Jenga game)
  • Raffia or other ribbon
  • Scissors
  • Knife

How to Make Pool Noodle Pumpkin Crafts

 


The first step is to cut the pool noodle into pieces.  I used a serrated knife and the noodle cut very easily.  If children will be making this craft, please make sure to cut the pool noodle ahead of time; do not give the children knives!  Cut a foam pool noodle to make pool noodle pumpkin crafts!

Next, lay the pool noodle piece on top of a piece of fabric.  Cut the fabric so that there is enough fabric on all sides to wrap around the pool noodle and tuck into the hole.  Cut fabric to wrap around a pool noodle to create a cute fall pumpkin craft.

Once the fabric is cut, begin pulling the fabric upwards toward the pool noodle hole, and then tucking the end of the fabric into the hole.  Wrap fabric around the pool noodle to begin creating the pool noodle pumpkin.

Continue wrapping, pulling, and tucking until the pool noodle is completely covered with fabric.

Then, take the wood block and stick it into the hole where the fabric is tucked.  The wood block will hold the fabric in place, but if you want a more secure hold, you could hot glue the block into the hole, too.  Use a Dollar Tree Jenga block as the pumpkin stem.

Finally, tie some raffia around the wood block “stem” to create the look of a vine on the pumpkin.  Tie raffia around the wood block pumpkin stem.

And that is all it takes to make the cutest pool noodle pumpkins in the patch!  Transform foam pool noodles into adorable pumpkin crafts! This blog post shows you how. It's easy!

This craft was perfect for me right now since I can’t really decorate or work on large projects due to our move.  I love how quickly it came together and how cute these pumpkins turned out!  Cute! Grab your kids' pool noodles and turn them into darling pumpkins! This fall craft could not be easier! Love this pumpkin craft and pool noodle upcycle.

 

Modern Vintage Dining Room Makeover

It took me almost three months, but I’ve finally finished putting together the dining room in our new house!  It is no longer being used as our virtual learning classroom (thank goodness!), but instead is a beautiful modern vintage dining room that we love! This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, […]

Our 1970s House Exterior Makeover

As desperate as we were for a house back in November, when the one we bought came on the market, my husband didn’t even want to go look at it.  He really disliked the 1970s look and the all-brown exterior.  I promised him the first thing we’d do in the summer is update it, and […]

How to Get a Weathered Wood Look With Paint

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon a new-to-me thrift store, and I was like a kid in a candy store.  My son . . . not so much.  He couldn’t wait to get out of there.  But I had really good luck and found this AMAZING end table from Ethan Allen for a […]

My Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Review: Luxury Vinyl Plank Pros and Cons

Last month we installed Tranquility 5mm Copper Ridge Oak luxury vinyl plank flooring from Lumber Liquidators in our living room and basement.  We replaced white carpeting in the living room and some composite flooring in the basement that had been damaged when our furnace leaked.  Because vinyl plank is increasingly becoming a popular flooring choice, […]