Before and After pictures and 3 Fall Makeover Tips....

Hello friends.

The other day I shared this picture on Instagram; it was two of my recent thrift store finds that I'd transformed, and afterwards I thought it would be fun to share more Before and After pictures with you.

I think it's fun to see the transformations that can happen with those cheapo items that others pass on, don't you?

Here's a few pictures from a little Fall makeover I did on my front door. I wanted to switch my color scheme this year without spending much

(sound familiar?)

and here's how I did it.

Tip 1: Shop those thrift stores

Before

It's hard to see the cool looking basket in this shot but that's why I paid a whole $5.99 for it.

Plus, all those fake leaves and berries and pumpkins. If you're a crafter you know how those artificial fall stems add up, in fact when I was in Hobby Lobby I saw tiny, fake pumpkin stems for $2.99 each and look here, 4 big ones ready to be sprayed for Halloween.

Ok. Enough said, I snapped this up at ye old Goodwill store. 

I completely dismantled it.

And here's my After

...now filled with real pumpkins, moss and pinecones.

(See what I mean about that basket?)

for this year's door...

I decided to switch from last year's traditional orange shades and go with mostly white and muted colors.

So I decided to use this plain wreath I already had for my door.

My inspiration?

1. I found the last two stalks of cotton at Michael's. 
2. I added a few stems of white berries 
3. ...and a pack of little pumpkins. 

I chose the stems for those silvery leaves and the shades of cream...

helped along with a little Chalk paint...

First thing I did was to cut up all my stems and add them around the wreath.

I didn't buy any flowers, instead I tucked in some dried hydrangea from an old flower arrangement

(tip: save your hydrangea!).

I made a quick Welcome sign

that I cut from some leftover wood.

After I added a few leaves from my new 'thrift store collection'... it was finished.

Tip 2: Use Paint

Next I re-painted last year's big Welcome pumpkin (from Michael's) so I could put it inside an urn next to my door. I originally had this pumpkin in a pot and it had bleached out from the sun so it was time for a paint job anyway.

More chalk paint...which I blended with a dab of leftover yellow for a touch of realness.

After

This year I didn't have time to hunt for the perfect white pumpkins so I just bought the cheap orange ones from Home Depot and spray painted them. Afterwards I touched them up with chalk paint because I noticed the spray paint came off a little too easy.

I added more of the raffia inside this old window box that I planted with white Mums....

Here's the After

Tip 3: Shop your house

I know how it feels. Sometimes it's hard to start a new project without buying something new. Even I started looking on Craigslist for a old bench I could use for this front area until I remembered a rickety old chair, an empty window box and a few urns in the garage.

I hosed the chair down and stuck it next to my front door with these thrift store rain boots I sprayed with gold paint and planted with Mums

These boot were originally pink and black....

I'll probably add more color but for now I'm using white Mums...

and pots of Dusty Miller with white pumpkins...

Well, I hope I gave you a few ideas you can use

and whatever decorating project you tackle, I hope you remember to relax and not get hung up on those little imperfections.

It's all about enjoying the process, don't you think?

I'm so grateful for your visit.

xo

Leslie