whatmorganmakes, Author at Vintage in Bloom

October 12, 2020 by whatmorganmakes

DIY Ironstone Fall Centerpiece

This step by step blog will show you how to use an Ironstone chamber pot and artificial pumpkins and florals to make a beautiful Fall centerpiece.

This centerpiece is a super simple, inexpensive, and beautiful. I was super proud of myself for this one because it is another one of those “trust the process” kinds of projects, so I was very doubtful until it was complete.

Here’s what you’ll need:

A vessel for your centerpiece – I chose an antique ironstone chamber pot. You could use anything that is relatively shallow. I found one similar using a dough bowl on Pinterest.
A piece of floral foam for artificial flowers like this.
Any Fall florals/greenery – I used a Fall floral spray pick from Joann and just used a wire cutter to cut it apart. It had mostly greenery and eucalyptus. The key is to make sure they are vining a bit so they will lay nicely over the edges of your centerpiece.
Small faux pumpkins – I got mine from Joann.
Mini Acorns and Pumpkins – I got mine from Joann.

1. Cut your piece of floral foam into random sizes to make it fit into your vessel.

It doesn’t need to cover every single bit, but you want to get as close as you can, like this:

2. Add in greenery/florals so that they vine over the sides of the vessel.

I started going around the edges of the piece of Ironstone like you’ll see below and then added just a few more to the middle. You do NOT want to add in all of your greenery/florals at this stage.

3. Put your larger pumpkins into the vessel.

I liked the look of one or two turned a little on their sides so that they didn’t look so perfectly placed. Remember, this is all about finding perfection in imperfection.

As you can see, some also sit higher than others. That is because when I put my floral foam in I didn’t cut it evenly. Embrace it! 😉

4. Start using the rest of your greenery/florals to fill in and cover up the floral foam you can still see.

At this stage, I also added some in the middle of the centerpiece between all four pumpkins.

5. Add in acorns & mini pumpkins

If you’re like me, you like the idea of neutral Fall decor. But then reality sets in and what is fall really without some COLOR? You can totally skip step 5 or you can just add in acorns or white mini pumpkins but I felt like I needed some orange. When you add in the acorns and mini pumpkins, you should try to add it to spots where you might still see a little foam. That was the strategy I used and it worked perfectly for me.

Here is the finished product:

October 10, 2020 by whatmorganmakes

Our Fall Front Porch: Festive Ideas to take your Porch to the Next Level

This post will give you ideas for incorporating vintage, handmade, and nature into your ideal festive Fall front porch.

One of the best things about all this time at home lately means I have time to actually decorate for Fall.

Our front porch is finally ready for its close-up. Here is the finished product:

Here are a few tips and tricks I came up with to get your front porch Fall ready quickly and easily.

Incorporate Vintage Items into your Seasonal Decor

Use vintage items and crates to create depth and height on your front porch. This Cape Cod Cranberries crate is absolutely one of my favorite finds ever from Boxwood and Grace. I typically keep it on my hearth throughout the year, but this year it made its debut on the front porch. I mean, come on. Mayflower? Cranberries? Can you find a more festive crate?

There is no bottom in it but the hay bale I purchased at the Kinsey Warehouse Sale (along with the fantasy and heirloom pumpkins) fit in perfectly.

This incredible industrial antique stool also came from the Warehouse Sale and I am in love. It will stay on the porch through all seasons with different potted plants on top.

Add a few items you made.

There is something incredibly cozy and endearing about things you made with your own hands. They do not have to be perfect. They do not have to be without flaw.

I made these two signs and they are perfect for our front porch this year.

We tried twice to get it to hang on the siding without putting a screw through it. No such luck. So now there is a screw hole in our siding. The small price you pay for cuteness, #amirite?

This one is double sided.

That way, we could add a touch of Halloween without being too intrusive with the rustic Fall colors.

Buy ALL of the pumpkins and mums. All of them.

I’m not gonna lie. The pumpkins weren’t cheap. But I’ve dreamed of this porch for basically ever now.

Also a friend left her pumpkin to rot in her yard out of pure laziness last year and this year she harvested something like 12 pumpkins from that. And I can be pretty lazy, so basically what I’m saying is next year I’m going to have my own pumpkin patch. So it was an investment. At least that’s what I’m telling my husband.

What are your best tips for decorating your front porch for Fall?

October 10, 2020 by whatmorganmakes

DIY project: Update your Front Door with Paint

Painting your front door is an easy and affordable way to instantly upgrade your curb appeal.

We’ve lived in our home for 6 years now and I’ve painted our front door twice. I think this one is going to stay awhile.

Step 1: Choose a color and paint brand.

This is the hard part for so many. I can tell you that it was for me as well. My number one tip for choosing your door color is to make it one that will look good in any season. I didn’t want to go super neutral with my choice, so I chose Naval by Sherwin Williams. Sherwin Williams categorizes Naval as a neutral, but I like to think I went a little bold.

I wanted a satin finish so I did not use Chalk Paint for this project. I used Sherwin Williams All Surface Enamel paint in Satin. Pro tip: You only need a quart and luckily my online order warranted a call from Sherwin Williams so I didn’t waste money on the gallon I had originally ordered.

Step 2: Gather your supplies.

In addition to paint, you’ll need: a good paint brush (I used a two-inch Purdy Flat Brush) and/or small foam roller, a drop cloth, painter’s tape if you aren’t changing out your doorknob, and maybe like an hour and a half. (Most of that is drying time.)

Step 3: Clean your door, stir your paint well, and tape off any windows/fixtures.

Also, make sure you take a before photo!

My first paint job on this door was rather lack luster. I mixed up my own shade of Chalk Paint® (which I am ALL ABOUT for so many projects – including front doors if you do it right) but I failed on two levels: (1) I never sealed the paint, causing it to mark up with every touch and (2) I didn’t mix quite enough paint so you can see at the bottom it is a different color. Eek.

I will also mention (and my mom has told me MANY times) that I know this door needs replaced completely. It’s bubbled and old. But that is not nearly as affordable as a quart of paint. We are talking $20 (don’t forget your SW coupon!) vs $400-$1200.

Step 4: Apply your first coat of paint.

You can use the brush or roller for this. I used both. I used the brush for the nooks on the panels of the door and the roller for the flat parts.

This should be its own step, but alas, it is not: Don’t freak out if this is how your first coat looks.

Go ahead and just trust the process. 😉

Step 5: Apply your second coat of paint.

After you wait the recommended time for the paint to dry (or if you are like me and get paint all over the can and can no longer read how long it takes to dry – you can just go by touch), it’s time for your second coat of paint.

And if you are like me – you will be shocked at the coverage of your second coat compared to your first!

Step 6: Step back and admire your work.

I completed this project in the Fall so I was so happy to see how it looked with our Fall decor surrounding it. *insert heart eye emoji* (Why aren’t there emojis in Word Press?)

So as you can see, the door is still not hiding its age, but what a difference a little paint can make. I encourage you to get out (in?) there and update your front door from drab to FAB.

Time needed: 1 hour and 30 minutes.

DIY: How to update your front door with paint!

Step 1: Choose a color and paint brand.
I used Sherwin Williams All Surface Enamel Satin Paint in Naval.
Step 2: Gather your supplies.
A good paint brush (I used a two-inch Purdy Flat Brush) and/or small foam roller, a drop cloth, painter’s tape, and an hour and a half. (Most of that is drying time.)
Step 3: Clean your door, stir your paint well, and tape off any windows/fixtures.
And don’t forget your before photo!
Step 4: Apply your first coat of paint.
Make sure your stir it well first!
Step 5: Apply your second coat of paint.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Step back and admire your work.