Okio B Designs: September 2013

This teacup and saucer once held a scented candle. I picked up two of them at Urban Outfitters ages ago. Once the candle was done, I cleaned them up and they sat in the garage for a couple of years. They were just too pretty to donate or use at a garage sale.

So I cleaned them up and decided to make them more functional.

What's neat is the teacup is already glued to the saucer so I didn't have to break out the E-6000. I did, however, print out the word miscellany on clear label paper to add to the front of the teacup.

Then I filled it with random pieces including these great, vintage French flashcards. I add them in with my Etsy "thank you" bags and use them for tags.

It's also a great spot for odd buttons and some keys. Now I can easily grab what I need without having to dig through piles of stuff in my craft room. Now I just have to figure out what I'm putting on the other one.

Linking to the Creative Home & Garden Blog Hop.

Jeanine

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Yes, I have already started decorating for Halloween. I just couldn't help myself. Since October starts next week, I figured it can't be that bad. Right?!

I found this wood tote lurking in our basement. I don't remember buying it and it's identical to the one I got at AmVets last month.

I gave it a couple of coats of black paint to start. Then I printed out some Halloween images on label paper. This one is from The Graphics Fairy.

The side ones are from Pinterest. I've used them several times already and they never get old. Well, at least not to me!

Believe it or not, this is in our bathroom. Ordinarily I have a pink wood tote in there but for Halloween, this fits quite nicely on the toilet tank (of all places!).

I tucked in lots of spooky and autumn-inspired treats.

The boys love it, and so do I!

Jeanine

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Remember those books I picked up last week at our local thrift store? After a couple of coats of black paint and some creepy stickers, here they are now:

I found the images on both Pinterest and The Graphics Fairy.

I printed the images out onto label paper and simply peeled and stuck to each book once the paint was dry!

I have them displayed in our corner cabinet with some other Halloween goodies.

Jeanine

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While on our way to my Mom's for Sunday dinner, we came across a bunch of curbside garage sale loot. Best part, it was free for the taking!

I grabbed this cute little concrete statue. It had not one, but two old wasp nests tucked inside. Gross! But still a sweet find.

These plates are Limoges and there were six of them just sitting there. Mine!

I found this great French/English dictionary after digging through loads of boxes of books.

My parents were kicking themselves because they had been there the day before and paid for their goodies. Mine were all free! The hubby also picked up a glass terrarium.

Jeanine

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Remember that wood thingy I picked up on Friday at our local church thrift store? Here's what it looked like before:

And here is the after:

Excuse the lighting. I took my photos around dusk. I thought I was going for a neat, artistic lighting effect, but what I got were some dark photos. Doh!

Still, you get the idea. I used this great French graphic from The Graphics Fairy and the Mod Podge technique. I have to admit, I'm not as polished at it (Mod Podge technique) as my sister is, but I still like the look - even if I still have to get off some little paper nubs.

And I'm still not sure what to call it? Wood crate? Wood couch (c'mon, doesn't it look like a miniature couch to you?!)? Wood display? Whatever it is, I'm going to use it to display something pretty in the house.

Jeanine

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Just sharing a few thrifty finds I picked up this morning at our local church thrift store. I spent a whopping $1.75 on everything!

I'm planning to give the books a spooky touch for Halloween.

The little pumpkins are from Michael's - probably from the $1 bin but I got them for a quarter! I love the glitter!

I'm not quite sure what this wood box is/was but it's already in the garage with its first coat of white spray paint. I'm so proud of myself. I actually used my husband's sander to get off the glittered writing and leaves! I can't wait to brag to him later that I found it all by myself in the garage which is pretty much his domain a.k.a no woman's land.

Jeanine

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What do you do when you have thousands upon thousands of acorns and their caps in your yard? If you're me, you scoop them up and use them for some autumn-inspired candles!

Yes, I actually went around the yard scooping up these little acorn caps that seem to fall day and night thanks to our mighty oak - and some squirrels and raccoons.

I added them to some small Mason jars with pumpkin-scented (yum!) votives to create some super easy autumn-inspired candle holders.

I finished up by adding some orange tea-stained seam binding. Perfect for fall!

I can't wait to light them up on a cool autumn night!

Jeanine

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I've had to keep mum about this for 2 months but Real Simple's October issue is out and guess what? They included my Halloween sheet music!

I'm so thrilled and want to send a big thank you to Real Simple for including my sheet music and Etsy shop info!

Jeanine

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I'm slowly bringing out some fall pieces to add to the porch. It was sad taking down the beachy items that I had on there for summer. But as the seasons change, so too does our decor.

This is still very much a work in progress. Some faux flowers from the Dollar Store fit nicely in a vintage jug. The white pumpkins are from Home Goods. I think they are about 2-3 years old already.

I love oranges and yellows for fall! Another vintage jug and faux flowers. I'm still waiting to get some mums.

I think the red ottoman works for fall as well for summer. I added some faux orange pumpkins after I took the first two photos.

This basket is from the Christmas Tree Shoppes and is filled with faux gourds from Walmart.

I couldn't resist this autumn welcome sign - also from the Christmas Tree Shoppes.

This sign is from Michael's. It was 40 percent off when I picked it up.

Call me crazy but I'll probably starting putting out some Halloween decorations next week. It's my favorite holiday and I'm just itching to add some spooky touches about the house - in and out.

Jeanine

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This is another Pinterest-inspired project. And I, once again, had everything I needed to make these spooky Halloween bottles.

First, I gave each bottle a couple of coats of black spray paint. While they were drying, I printed out my labels (also found on Pinterest) onto label paper.

I gave each label a couple of coats of clear spray paint so they won't get wet or rub off.

Once everything was dry, I simply peeled and stuck each label onto a bottle. I swear I'm addicted to these and hoping to make a few more!

Jeanine

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When I saw Martha Stewart's black snake wreath floating around on Pinterest, I just knew I had to make one for Halloween.

I had a random wreath hanging around and some fake snakes (from the Dollar Store) left over from last year. I spray painted the wreath black and then used my hot glue gun to add the snakes (which were already black).

The snakes are a little bigger than I remembered. Either that or my wreath is a little smaller than I remembered. Ha! Regardless, I do like the look and am happy because I had everything I needed on hand for this quick Halloween knock-off.

Jeanine

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Here's a quick and easy banner for fall. All you need is some book paper, twine, clothes pins and a printer.

I used some of my leftover Romeo & Juliet book paper for mine. I picked a pretty font to spell out fall. After playing with the sizing (I enlarged my letters 250 percent!), I simply printed out each letter onto its own sheet.

Then I clipped the pages onto the twine using my clothes pins. See what I mean? Super easy! I also played around with some carnival tickets and stamps to make this cute, mini fall "banner."

I also did one that says Halloween but I'm trying not to put it out at least until the end of September!

Jeanine

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I was able to pop in to my favorite church thrift store this morning. Look at the goodies that I picked up for a mere $5.

I never ever pass up a bag of buttons! I'm not sure what the ceramic piece is supposed to be but I love the French writing so I grabbed it. It has a plastic topper?!

The cat head reminds me of vintage Halloween decorations.

The pyrex piece is definitely going to get a spooky Halloween makeover. I'm thinking something along the lines of a mad scientist. The little lantern is also scheduled for a quick makeover.

I couldn't pass up the wood pumpkin since I'm starting to put out some fall pieces on our porch.

Not a bad haul if I do say so myself!

Jeanine

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This little, vintage desk sits in a corner in our dining room. I change it out every season. I started adding some autumn touches to it earlier this week.

I'm still adding some pieces but here it is so far. I found the autumn printable via Pinterest.

What's wrong with this picture?! Can you see it? I didn't have an M Scrabble tile (thanks to my boys!) so I had to turn the W upside down. It's not terribly noticeable unless you look closely at it. Ha!

The white pumpkin was a garage sale find that I painted white last year.

I've had this little guy for years. I actually keep him out year-round.

The fabric pumpkin is from Home Goods and the metal shoe form I picked up at an outdoor flea market in Virginia over the summer.

As I said, I'm still kind of playing around with it but I'm so ready for fall that I just had to share!

Jeanine