I like a little bling in my life. Sometimes a little shimmer can add that certain something that a project is missing.  So when I was working on my fall wreath - that is the direction I decided to take.

I started with these bunches of fall florals that I bought in 2008.  No cost there.   And they were beautiful - but I wanted to take it to another level.

So I invited a couple of friends out to help.  Psst - don't tell the others but Sparkling Canyon is my favorite.

So I gave the leaves and berries a couple light passes.  Just enough to give some shimmer without taking out too much of the color.

Added those to the grapevine wreath I already had and voila - we have wreath!  Wanna see the final result???  Here it is!

Squeel!!!  I LOVE it.  LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

Oh - I also took a white chipboard S (that I got at Michael's years ago) and spray painted it ORB.  Then tied it on with a little red ribbon (leftover from our wedding).

So if you are keeping track that is a total cost of zero.  Nada, nothing, zip!

Everything it took to make this wreath I already owned!  I don't know if I have ever loved a free creation more!  Looks great with our brick too I think!  Now I just need to get some great mums and pansies to brighten up the bottom of our porch.(UPDATE:  If you love this wreath - you have to see what I made for the bottom of the porch!  Hop over and check out my shimmery pumpkin topiary!)

But the top, well that is covered!   Here is one last close up to you before we go!  Sigh!  Did I mention that I LOVE it!

So what do you think?  Is a little bling a good thing? :)  I sure think so!

Linking this up to

Made it for Monday with Cindy @ Cottage Instincts
Metamorphosis Monday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Get Your Craft On with Kim @ Today's Creative Blog
Power of Paint Party with Maryann @ Domestically Speaking
Make it Yours Day with Carolyn @ My Backyard Eden
Fall Festival with Kellie @ My Blessed Nest
Frugalicious Friday with Jane @ Finding Fabulous
Frugal Friday with Gina @ The Shabby Nest
Weekend Wrap up with Jen @ Tatertots and Jello
Autumn Leaf Linky with Kate @ Centsational Girl
Falling Up Party with Rene @ Cottage and Vine
Fall Open House with Julia @ Hooked on Houses
Best DIY Projects of September with Traci @ Beneath My Heart
Saturday Night Special with Donna @ Funky Junk

Since Fall is literally knocking at our doors it is time for me to find a better way of organizing our entry area into the house.  See - summer isn't too bad.  Mostly all we bring in to the house are sandals and the mail.  But throw a couple of coats, umbrellas, gloves, boots ... well you get the picture.  We just end up with more stuff in the winter and if it is not properly contained at the entry - it ends up all over my dining room table. 

In my mind you need to have a couple things to have an organized entry 
1.  A place to store the little things (hats, mittens, etc.)
2.  A place for shoes
3.  A place to sit down and take off those shoes
4.  A place to hang coats and umbrellas
5.  A trash can for junk mail and a place to put every thing else
6.  A mirror (hey your entryway is also an exitway - you need to look good when your leaving the house)
7.  A place to leave messages or reminders

So here are some great spaces to get you inspired. 

Now my mind goes straight to built ins when thinking about organized entries.  This is a great one.  The built in bench has drawers!  Love it.

modern entry design by new york architect Dufner Heighes Inc

Be still my heart - I love this bench! The paint, the moulding ... everything is perfect.

traditional entry design by seattle architect Sullivan Conard Architects

Simple, efficient, and clean. Ah - don't you feel organized just looking at this.

entry design

Love this one - it has just about everything in my check list! The chalkboard is a perfect addition!

eclectic entry design

This one just goes to show that you can keep your style and still be organized. I adore the shabby chic look of this entryway. It isn't modern or contemporary at all but your still organized!

mediterranean entry design

Even if you don't have a whole lot of space, you can still create organizational areas. Think about grabbing a single cabinet that you could wall mount like this from Restore or Craig's List. Love it!

modern entry design by san francisco architect J. Weiss Design

Squeel! Board and batten in this one. (I think we are all obsessed with that right now in blogland.) Simple and clean! All it needs is a some hooks and perhaps an oval mirror hung on a chain! (Can you see it?)

traditional entry design by seattle architect David Neiman Architects

Love the lockers and the corkboard here! Totally from a magazine but full of great ideas!

traditional entry design

So what about you? What are your must haves for an entry? Do you have a place for all your coats and such in your house? Or do things end up just draped over chairs and tossed on tables? I wanna know I am not the only one living in that disarray!

Linking this to the Creative Organization Party with Melissa @ The Inspired Room. Hop over for more great organizing tips!

I want to share something with you guys that I have recently developed a small infatuation over.

Skeleton keys!  

Image via Pottery Barn

I am only slightly obsessed, so of course I have a whole range of ways you can use these in your home.

1.  Hang them on the wall
Skeleton keys look great hung in collections on the wall.  You can group them in lines.

Photo via Country Living

Or mix them into other collections.  I love this collection with the pictures of framed doors that Julie @ Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss did in her entryway.

Photo via Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss

2.  Use them as decorative tablescape elements
They are beautiful vintage accents that you can use in several different ways across your table.  I love these centerpieces tied with a ribbon and accented with skeleton keys.  These were done for a wedding but I could totally see these done on any tablescape!

Photo via New York Food Company

Or these beautiful place cards, also from a wedding but they could totally be repurposed for a vintage tablescape.  I could also see a key tied around a napkin.

Photo via Green Wedding Shoes

3.  Put them in frames
I love this shadowbox collection that Allison @ House of Hepworth's made.  My favorite part besides the keys?  She used torn pieces of brown paper bags and Mod Podged them to create the "background".

Photo via House of Hepworths

Or this one from Kate @ The Centsational Girl who made a stand out Restoration Hardware knock off!  Love the textured wall paper that she used on the back of hers.

 Photo via The Centsational Girl

4.  Make a wind chime

I love these vintage wind chimes that Justin @ The Artists' Sandbox made.  That would be such a perfectly beautiful addition to any porch and think how creepy you could make it for Halloween! 

Photo via The Artists' Sandbox

Now, I know what you are thinking now after all these great ideas!  Where can I get some beautiful vintage skeleton keys??  Well, I hear that they are easy to come upon at flea markets and antique stores.  But if thrifting isn't your thing, you can also pick up this set from HomArt in my Open Sky shop.  This is one of the most popular items in my shop!  Certainly it is one of mine! 

So now it is your turn.  What would you do with a set of Skeleton Keys?  Are you as obsessed as I am?