This Halloween, if you want to go beyond your standard Jack-o-Lantern carving on a pumpkin – have I got some ideas for you!  Below are some of the beautiful ideas for decorating pumpkins that I have been collecting on my Fall Inspiration board on Pinterest.  Here are nine different ways to purty up your pumpkin – enjoy!

1.  Paint Them with a Pattern

These painted patterned pumpkins (say that three times fast!) from Lolly Jane Boutique are so cute!  I think I may HAVE to do this! 

Photo via Lolly Jane Boutique

2.  Add a Band of Beans

These lentil studded candles and pumpkins would make such a great centerpiece. 

Photo via HGTV

3.  Stuff them with Christmas Lights

Create twinkling pumpkins with some white lights!  Magical aren’t they!

Photo via Martha Stewart

4.  Turn them into Planters

Use your pumpkin as a chic pot for your fall flowers!  Don’t these look cute lining the stairway?

Photo via Habitually Chic

5. Spell out a Message

These are so pretty and I love the lace details!  I can think of all kinds of cute sayings you could put on a set of Pumpkins!

Photo via Seeing Inkspots

6.  Gild them with Gold Paint

Shiny metallic paints can really make a statement on your gourds!

Photo via Country Living

7.  Put some Bling on it!

Get that Bedazzler out and stick some rhinestones on your pumpkin!  I love the spider web detail on this one!

Photo via BHG

8.  Carve out a Monogram

These are so classy!  I love the script initials.  Leave it to Martha to do something so elegant.

Photo via Martha Stewart

9.  Tattoo them with a Vintage Print

I freaking LOVE this idea that I first saw on Holly’s blog, 504 Main, last year.  Silhouette makes printable temporary tattoos and as Holly figured out – they affix to all kinds of skin, including the skin of pumpkins. 

 Photo via 504 Main

So there you go!  Nine different ideas on how to make your pumpkins pop this Halloween!  See any ideas that inspired you?  I wanna know what you loved!

As I said the other day, I am ready for fall.  And being ready for fall always makes me think about being cozy on cooler nights.  Last year I did a “Fall is Cozy” post and this year – since it is still on my mind – I thought I would do a similar one.  So for today – I want to feature some cozy living rooms for you to enjoy!  Hopefully – you can snuggle up with a throw and grab a cup of tea or cider and get yourself into that cozy mood too!

Pops of bright colors can help a room to get that cozy feel.

Photo via I like it, I love it

Cozy rooms don’t have to be dark – but they do have to have plenty of pillows!

Photo via Pottery Barn

Cozy rooms typically have a lot of texture.  And the more they look like sweaters – the cozier they get!

Photo via Desire to Inspire

Dark wood tones and leather furniture will always be cozy!

Photo via Stephen Saint-Onge Blog

One comfy chair can be all you need to make a space cozy.

Photo via My Home Ideas

Fireplaces and furs ooze cozy!  Careful not to make your home look like a hunting lodge though!

Photo via Elle Decor

There you go!  Feeling cozier?  What is cozy to you?  How do you incorporate cozy into your home?  I wanna know!

 

Ok – the heat has finally gotten the better of me and I am ready for the cooler weather of Fall!  Is it too early to start thinking about leaves turning, crisp mornings and the general loveliness of a mild clear day?  No – I think not.  In fact I have been collecting a ton of inspirational ideas for decorations, crafts and other goodies in my Pinterest “Fall Inspiration” board.  Here are some of my favorites!

Love this fall vignette from Sugar Pie Farm House.  Those leaves really pop against all the creamy whites!

Photo via Sugar Pie Farm House

Make a simple display of the fall foliage to accent a wall.  Beautiful and rustic all at once!

Photo via Bloesem Living

Need some fall printables?  Colleen @ Mural Maker and More has 12 reasons why you will want to download these for yourself!  (You have to read this post – it is hysterical!)

Love this mantel from Happy Together.  The Thankful pennant really makes it!

Photo via Happy Together

These DIY Fall Tiles are adorable and easy to make!  Visit Erika’s blog for a full tutorial!

Photo via Little Miss Crafty Pants

Love this trio of wreaths that Tricia @ The Sweet Survival made!  So pretty!

Photo via The Sweet Survival

Aren’t these lanterns gorgeous!  These Pottery Barn beauties have me scheming how I could knock them off. 

Photo via Pottery Barn

Love these ideas?  Hop over and check out some of the others I have saved in my Fall Inspiration board!  I will also be sharing more of my favorite finds on my Facebook page for the month of September.  Make sure you “Like” Frugal with a Flourish to make sure you don’t miss a good one! 

Trellis patterns are all over!  The pattern of overlapping lines can be as simple as just diamonds and as complicated as the imperial pattern.  How can you use this classic pattern in your home?  Well, I have come up with seven ways to incorporate it into your decor below!  Enjoy! 

1. Overlay it on a Mirror

The contrast of trim over a mirror is a great way to feature the pattern and can really add some great layered texture in a room.

Photo via HGTV

2. Frame Fabric and Hang on Walls

This is a quick and easy way to incorporate different trellis patterns into your decor.  Bonus points if you get your fabric from the remnant bin at your fabric store.

Photo via Pinterest

3.  Use it to Tie Together Accent Pieces

The use of the imperial trellis pattern on the pillows and the ottoman is a great way to add in a vivid pattern and tie the accent pieces in the room together. 

Photo via Decor Pad

4.  Alter an Basic Accessory

This simple DIY lamp makeover is a great way to add a little trellis pattern into your room.  You could also extend this idea to other accessories like a tray, the top of a table or a vase. 

Photo via Caitlin Wilson Design

5.  Use it in your Window Treatments

If busy patterns make you a little nervous – contain them to just your window treatments and leave the rest of your room fairly neutral like the photo below. 

Photo via Decor Pad

6.  Accent the Back of a Bookcase

Love this idea!  Again this is a great way to add a little punch of pattern into a room and create a visual focal point.  

home office design by Minneapolis showroom Martha O'Hara Interiors Showroom

7. Stencil it on a Wall

I think everyone was in love with this stenciled wall that Kate @ The Centsational Girl did in her Master Bedroom.  It was even shown when she was on the Nate Berkus Show!  Stenciling can be subtle – like Kate’s – or more dramatic.  All you have to do is adjust the contrast of your stencil color from your background color!

Photo via Centsational Girl

So there you go!  Seven great ways to add a beautiful and classic trellis pattern into your decor.  So I wanna know, do you like this pattern?  Have any in your home?  Any of these ideas inspire you to add some? 

Linking this up to

Weekend Bloggy Reading with Amanda @ Serenity Now

Pinning and Singing Party with Natasha @ Five Minutes for Me

Hey guys!  Sorry for the extended absence – we have had a ton of family and friends rotating through and I haven’t had any time to hop on the computer.  I haven’t even been on Pinterest for weeks until today!  And I know I owe you guys some updated pics of the Lil Man – stay tuned for some of those soon!

However today I am back with one of my favorite bloggers – Leslie @ The Design File.

Leslie writes a fantastic blog all about design trends, ideas, and advice.  I love her blog because she writes about such great topics including DIY tips (check out her article on tips for choosing a chair to reupholster),

features fantastic home tours,

and great products and shopping advice. 

Last year she did a series on 30 days of design ideas for under $30 that you just have to read – I loved this one! 

Leslie also does great thoughtful commentaries on design trends – and she has been kind enough to share one of these with us today!  So with out further ado – here is Leslie!

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Over at The Design File we’ve been talking recently about design trends and my favorite discussion has been about the use of little fur rugs on sofas, ottomans and other furniture pieces.

I love this trend and I remember that the first time I noticed it is when my mom threw a small IKEA sheepskin rug over an ottoman several years ago. It looked fantastic.

Now, I see them everywhere.

The photo at right is a pre-Design Star room from winner Emily Henderson.

Henderson, who now is the host of the show Secrets from a Stylist, loves doing this.

Below you’ll find two more of her rooms.

The one on the left is from Secrets from a Stylist and was from an early version of the room. I don’t think the final design included the fur. The one below right is another pre-Design Star room that Emily submitted as part of her application to be on the show. I like it better!

But it’s not just Emily.

Sherry & John over at Young House Love have a little fur rug thrown over an ottoman in their living room. They’ve actually used these little pieces all over their old and new houses.

I found the beautiful dining room below at Apartment Therapy from a 2010 post about how faux fur rugs are showing up all over dining room chairs.

I wonder what you have to do to get the cushy chair for dinner?

Raina of Alberta, who has a blog called Raining Sheep and posts photos on Flickr, has sheepskin over the sofa in her cool, modern living room, pictured below.

Raina has used the throw the look with a cow-hide rug too. That may be too much animal fur/print for me but it seems to work well here.

What do you think of this trend? I love it but will it be over soon?

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Leslie – I think this is a trend that will keep making an appearance time and time again.  Furs have been around since the dark ages, and while then they were a necessity for warmth, they still provide the ascetic features of creating a cozy feeling.  I think this is one that we will see continue, especially as the weather turns cooler every year!  The size and shape may vary – but I think the fur look will always be with us!

So what about you?  Do you think fur as a design trend is one that will continue?  Leslie and I would love to know your opinion! 

Hey guys!  I am back again with another great guest post for you guys from one of my dear bloggy friends Colleen who blogs at Mural Maker & More. 

Colleen is a fantastic artist and painter who creates the most beautiful murals! Here are some of her works!  Love this trey ceiling!

And this beautiful nursery!

But she is also into DIY and decorating too!  Like this outdoor tray table!  So cute! 

So without any further ado – here is Colleen with some great ideas for decorating a room with paint.

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Hi! My name’s Colleen and I’m so excited to be here at Frugal with a Flourish while Jess’ ‘lil man’ enjoys his Welcome Home party. My blog is called Mural Maker & More. ‘Mural Maker’ because that’s what I do - I make murals. And ‘More’ because I love all things DIY and decorating.

I paint murals for any room, but my all-time favorite are babies rooms. Girls or boys, it doesn’t matter. Or sometimes both!

Safari Mural for baby boy

Here’s the thing - people think murals are really expensive. And they can get pricey, especially when the family is expanding. So I found some decorating ideas so you don’t have to hire an artist!

I know, I know - a lot of you are probably saying, “I can’t even draw a stick figure”! No worries! A little bit of creativity and thinking ‘outside the box’ and you’ll have a dream nursery you painted yourself!

Baby Boy Decorating

How about a graphic alphabet wall mural painted in subtle shades of the wall color? Looks a little tricky, doesn’t it? I’ll tell you how I’d paint this if someone hired me. I’d print off letters, maybe in different fonts, take them to a printer that prints oversized copies (like a blueprinter). Then I’d transfer some letters, paint them all in one color, then transfer some more, and paint them in another color.

No freehanding required! Now, you could also cut stencils if you wanted but, to me, that’s a lot of extra work. There are a lot of straight lines where you could just use good ol’ painter’s tape after you’ve marked your transfer.

BabiesBassinets.com

Here’s an idea - forget painting the walls and paint the ceiling! How fun is this?!? Then you’d have all of your wall space available to change as you please.

BabyBedding.com

Or maybe paint just the corners of the room.

KronBaby2

Ok, maybe your theme isn’t jungle animals, but you could still paint a trio of silhouettes and create an awesome focal area. These could be painted on canvas and hung, but I wouldn’t hang them over the crib then.

These are just a few ideas to spark your creativity. The cool thing about paint is, if you don’t like it, just paint over it! Not to mention, paint is really affordable. (I paint my murals with good ol’ craft paint - the 99 cent variety!)

I want to thank Jess for letting me hang out with all of you today. Jess was one of my very first blogging friends and has been incredibly supportive so I’m just thrilled to pitch in while she enjoys some Mommy & Me time.

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Great ideas!!!  Thanks so much Colleen for giving us some ideas!  And make sure you hop over and check out Colleen’s blog and give her some love – and if you ever wanted to learn how to paint anything – you have to make sure you check out her step by step painting tutorials!