I have to say, Summer was far too short in the Northwest but now that Fall has arrived, I’m thrilled that it’s here! I got an early start on my Halloween costume over the weekend and tonight I’m attending my first ever Halloween craft class.

I’ll be sure to share details soon but in the mean time, I’d love to hear what all of you have planned. Any great costume ideas or special decorations you have in store? I adore the simplicity of these colorful gourds arranged on a mantel and the hang tags are a nice touch.

Things are moving fast and furious now as we get closer to the holidays and this week is the third leg of the Better Homes & Gardens contest. For this round, I, and the other three bloggers, were tasked with using either real or fake pumpkins to create a home decor item. I ended up creating large and small candle holders out of foam pumpkins.

I would have loved to use real pumpkins for this round but sadly due to the unseasonably cool summer here in the northwest, there were no pumpkins to be found in early September. I had never used a fake pumpkin so carving into foam was a bit nerve-wracking but I’m thrilled with the result! The best part, this project will last for years and seasons to come.

To add a little sparkle, I ended up coating the pumpkins in simmering gold glitter before placing the candles inside. I love the charm they add to a tablescape and how the light reflects off the glitter. Paired with the DIY Pumpkin Place Cards I shared earlier, you’ve got an autumnal table fit for entertaining! Check back tomorrow for the complete how-to instructions.

And don’t forget, you can see the rest of the projects and vote for your favorite at bhg.com!

It’s been a while since I’ve done a DIY just for Twig & Thistle, so today I’m doing something about it! These place settings are super easy and a great way to add a little festivity to your next autumnal get together. All you need are mini pumpkins, card stock and floral wire.

Instructions
1. Download and print the Leaf Template onto green card stock, then cut out using scissors or an x-acto knife.

2. Take a length of floral wire and wrap it around a pencil, slide it off and stretch it out a bit to make it look like a vine.

3. Tape one end of the wire to the back of the paper leaf and wrap middle of the wire around the stem of the pumpkin. Enjoy!

Also, today is the last day of our Silhouette SD giveaway so if you haven’t entered yet, times a wasting!

Yesterday’s post got me hooked on carveless pumpkins so I did some searching and found some more amazing examples. The sky really is the limit for what you can do! I also like the idea of decorating with plain pumpkins, they just so perfectly evoke the spirit of the season. I’m definitlly going to have to make some time next week to do some pumpkin inspired projects of my own!

From top, left to right: Country Living: Black & White Painted Pumpkins by Liz Demos, Ladies Home Journal: Stenciled Pumpkins, Rick Rac Pumpkins by Eddie Ross, Decorate for Fall with White Pumpkins, Martha Stewart: Homespun Pumpkin, Country Living: Autumn Harvest, Better Homes and Gardens: Black & White Painted Pumpkins

I love Halloween, I know I say that about every holiday, but I have a special place in my heart for any celebration lets everyone get hopped up on sugar and act completely silly.

So with the date rapidly approaching and I ran across this great tutorial at Better Homes and Gardens on how to stencil a pumpkin. It looks so easy to do and the results are absolutely fantastic!