Decorating with Natural Accents

Because of tight budgets and a desire to make a pretty home, I’m no stranger to using natural accents and being creative with plants and natural elements from our back yard by incorporating them into our decor from succulents in teacups to a nature-themed baby shower to my husband working on creating a log-handle for his beloved Big Green Egg as I’m typing up this blog post.

summer beach mantel @diyshowoff

There’s just something “real” about adding bits of nature to my decorating that make it feel alive.

rustic glam woodland centerpiece at diyshowoff.comDIY succulent planter tutorialtea cup succulent planters at diyshowoff.comspring twig centerpiece tutorial @diyshowoff

So I was so super excited when a) our sweet friend, Stacy from Not Just a Housewife, was publishing a book and b) when I found out it was all about bringing the outdoors in with natural accents! Beautiful, natural budget friendly decorating inspiration?! Yes, please! 

Natural Accents by Stacy Risenmay

My summer has been crazy but I finally had the time to enjoy flipping through the pages, losing myself in gorgeous staging and decorating and discovered so much inspiration.

diyshowoff

I loved that it’s more than a decorating book. It’s filled with beautiful photos, helpful tips, 35 tutorials and fresh new ideas. Natural elements can add texture to design and Stacy’s thoughts, memories and writing add an additional beautiful dimension to the pages of this helpful book. I love it! I think you’ll love it and want to add this book to your collection too!

I have my favorites DIY projects bookmarked and I’m already referring back to it for tips on keeping cut flowers and houseplants in tip top shape! 

You can get it here on Amazon (affiliate link) or here at Barnes & Noble or Books & Things

 

DIY Burlap and Spool Key Keeper Tutorial

Michael's Raw Bar

As a part of the Michael’s Makers team, I have the opportunity to participate in monthly craft challenges. This month’s project is a DIY burlap and spool key keeper tutorial. 

DIY Show Off key holder

I don’t know about you but I LOVE craft supplies like cork, burlap, unfinished, twine, jute…all things “natural and earthy”. I feel like I could just start a collection of natural materials with no crafting plans…they’re all just so pretty! But since this isn’t blog isn’t titled  “Hoard Show Off”, let’s get to the ‘how to’!

DIY Burlap and Spool Key (or jewelry) Keeper Tutorial

(Because we all have a habit of misplacing our keys on occasion, right? Some more than others. Ahem, “Mr. DIY”)

DIY key holder supplies at diyshowoff.com

Materials:

  • stretched burlap canvas
  • natural wood cutout (I chose a key but I saw the cutest bird cage cut out at Michael’s too)
  • cork letter
  • wooden spools
  • twine and scissors
  • optional: acrylic craft paint (black) and foam paint brush
  • hot glue and hot glue gun
  • picture hanging hardware or 3M strips

What I did:

1. Paint the accessories and let dry. I painted the wooden key decal and spools black. 

DIY key holder tutorial at diyshowoff.com

2. Wind twine around spool. Cut twine and secure with hot glue. 

DIY key holder tutorial at diyshowoff.com

3. Attach accessories (wooden key decal, cork monogram and spools) to stretched burlap frame using hot glue. 

DIY key holder tutorial at diyshowoff.com

4. Hang and display near door. I nestled mine inside of a regular picture frame.

DIY key holder tutorial at diyshowoff.com

Keep keys within easy reach or hang in a in closet, the bedroom or bathroom for hanging necklaces, beads, bracelets, hair ties, etc. 

DIY key holder tutorial at diyshowoff.com

It doesn’t get much easier than that, does it? Perfect for your own home (and sanity) or a great handmade housewarming gift idea. 

DIY key holder tutorial at diyshowoff.com

On August 8th, you’ll find these and MORE fun accessories at Michael’s new “Raw Bar”. Tons of unfinished, natural craft supplies for your next DIY craft project. 

Michael's Raw Bar Michael's Raw Bar

I’m a member of the Michael’s Makers team which means I receive a gift card to complete and share fun craft challenges.

Michaels.com: Your 24-hour Arts & Crafts Store

See MORE ‘raw’ crafts from these blog friends:


DIY Fall Festival – 12 Natural Fall Decor Craft Highlights & Linky Party

I’ve done absolutely nothing DIY fall related this past week. Life happens. 🙂 But last every week there have been some awesome (you all are SO creative and crafty) fall projects shared. Here is a collection of neutral, natural, burlap fall and Halloween craft projects:

Karah created a pumpkin using palm frond leaves. SO cool! Of course you can use a similar material or … you know where Karah lives {a tropical vacation destination}, visiting her to collect supplies sounds like a better idea. See her leaf pumpkin tutorial at The Space Between.

palm leaf pumpkin

I don’t sympathize with Karah’s lack of craft supplies in the Caribbean. I love that she comes up with creative solutions using what she has on hand (and free), like the pumpkin above and her fun fall leaf wreath

DIY leaf wreath

Wait! There’s more. Karah’s fall centerpiece ideas are so inspiring…

5 fall centerpiece ideas

Debbie from Confessions of a Plate Addict shared her super cute, super easy DIY Indian corn candle. This is a great last minute project to add in to existing fall decor…

DIY Indian corn candle holder

These girls are so good! Just when I got done visiting one of their links, I move on to the next and it’s them again with another natural fall decorating project! Debbie also shares a tutorial for making this gorgeous dried corn garland – how clever and so fall-festive!

DIY dried corn garland

One thing I’m missing in my decor this year is a fall wreath. I’m so inspired by the neutral natural wreath made with canvas, burlap, dried roses and dried hydrangeas at Craftberry Bush…

dried fall wreath tutorial

Fall means being cozy and all snuggled up. How about some candlelight for added warmth? Love this idea from Doreen at Hymns and Verses: floating candlelit apples…and hey, if you’re hungry but too warm all wrapped up in your cable-knit throw blankie and pj’s, there’s an apple within easy reach. 😉

DIY floating apple candles

Amanda from Small Home Big Start has some awesome & NECESSARY tips for drying acorns for fall decorating and fall crafts (and some acorn projects). Our yard gets filled {you could surf and will down the little downhill slope if you’re not careful. I imagine the squirrels up there snorting with laughter when it happens}. Tips for drying…

tips for drying acorns

All of those dried acorns are perfect for the natural DIY fall project that Laura from Finding Home shares…gold leaf pine cones and acorns (which I think is perfect for fall and Christmas):

DIY gold leaf acorns and pine cones

Gail from My Repurposed Life dried and dyed her hydrangeas and shares the tutorial on how you can do it too. So pretty!

Dry and Dye Hydrangeas

dried dyed hydrangea

And since my DIY yarn pumpkins are 50% (materials: yarn + real pinecone stems) I’m including them in the round up too. 🙂

decorating for fall

I love fall colors and fall decor but fall also consists of my favorite scents of the year. Lovely Charley shares her recipe for natural fall scents for the home

fall scents for the home

Got something AUTUMN related to share? Time to show off!

DIY Show Off Fall Festival Party

<div align="center"><a href="https://diyshowoff.com/category/holidays-seasonal/fall-festival/" title="DIY Show Off Fall Festival Party" target="_blank"><img src="http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac195/Roeshel/DIYFALLFESTIVAL.jpgnofollow" alt="DIY Show Off Fall Festival Party" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
  • Link YOUR NEW FALL DO-IT-YOURSELF projects only please! If linking an old project, please reintroduce in a Fall 2012 post to share.
  • Please link back to this party in some way.
  • By linking up you give permission to be a favorite fall DIY feature {with a link back your site}.
  • I will share links to your post on Facebook, Twitter, G+ and Pinterest. Feel free to do the same! Thanks!