Easy DIY Cotton Wreath

Sunday afternoons always feel like the perfect time for a project. I get this sudden urge to bake or craft or re-decorate something. Today, I decided to try to make a cotton wreath with supplies on hand. And it worked!

I re-use grapevine wreaths often. Hot glued items can be easily pulled off.

After locating a wreath, my hot glue gun, some cotton balls, and a few brown paper bags, I was ready to tackle this idea.

Since real cotton pods look more like a cluster, I decided to hot glue two cotton balls together.

After cutting the brown paper bags (I used regular lunch sacks) into approximately 3 inch squares, I folded those squares into quarters.

Once I could clearly see the 4 creased lines, I used those lines to help me cut 4 petal shapes. I tried to make them all different in width and size.

This helped the pods look more natural rather than all identical.

Using my hot glue gun, I ran a line of glue down each petal and then pressed them down around the cotton ball cluster. I tried to leave the crease between the two cotton balls facing upwards.

When I glued the pods onto the wreath, I tried to tuck some under branches. I also applied the glue on the sides of most of the pods, so that the brown paper bag piece wasn't hidden.

The entire project took less than 30 minutes. Even if you didn't have the supplies on hand, this wreath would cost less than $5 to make.

I am happy to add this to my fall decor.

These pods could also be hot glued onto branches and placed in a vase or jar for a centerpiece. 

Thankful for this Group

Last night, our small group had our annual Thanksgiving party -

We usually have it at the beginning of November, before all the family get-togethers begin.

Everyone brings part of a traditional Thanksgiving menu. And it always gets me excited about the yummy meals to follow in the next few months as we celebrate the holidays.

This year, we had our party at the church playground. Kids were running everywhere.

While the adults were able to talk.

And although were aren't related to the people in this group, they have become our family. Whether it's the bond we have in Christ or having kids around the same age - this group is what has helped make Chattanooga feel like home. 

Time with Family

I cherish each moment that we are able to spend with our families.

This past weekend, we were able to go home for a quick trip to visit both the Coveys and the Cooks.

On the way to my parent's home, we were able to see my grandparents. I was blessed to grow up surrounded by such godly influences. I am glad that they can get to know my children as well.

I love that Hudson can now understand time (a little bit) and was eagerly anticipating this visit with his grandparents. We  had told him several days before our trip that we were going to Nana and PawPaw's house. All day, each stop that we made, he was sure to let me know that it was not Nana and PawPaw's house yet.

He pretty much lived in this little car for those two days.

We celebrated Nora's birthday with my parents (I'll share more birthday pics later).

And at Hudson's request, we spent lots of time outside enjoying the beautiful weather.

Hudson practiced push-ups, collected acorns and had sword fights with sticks.

Hudson was also super excited to take pictures with PawPaw in their matching glasses.

Minutes after our arrival at the Cook farm, Hudson was off exploring the equipment and following his Papaw.

I was so glad that we were able to attend the annual Cook Cookout - complete with a bonfire and hayride. (See pictures of the Cookout a couple years back here...Hudson was so little and round faced!)

Hudson and Nora got in lots of cousin time.

And we decided that Nora and Madeline could be twins. I think they are second cousins...I get all that confused.

It is such a blessing to have married into such a wonderful family. I love any time that we are able to spend together.

So many memories made. So much fun. Thank you, Lord for time with family. 

Pom-Pom Flower Arrangement

Last month, when I made this pine-cone wreath, I couldn't decide if I was really ready to decorate for fall yet or not.

I decided to make something fall-ish for the kitchen table. It didn't scream "SUMMER" but it wasn't pumpkins either.

At our first MOPS meeting (you can read about that here), I had decorated my craft tables with some pom-pom flowers in my milk glass vases.

I used the same idea on my kitchen table, setting the vases on my great grandmother's cast iron griddle. I love to use a tray as a base for a centerpiece. It can make a lot of little items seem like they belong together. It's also easy to move everything off the table for a meal or for cleaning.

I put rice in the bottom of the vases to help in the positioning of the flowers.

For the flowers, I used these pom-pom makers (large size and small size), I know there are tons of tutorials out there for making these on forks or your fingers. But these cheap pom-pom makers are one of my favorite craft tools. They make uniform sized pom-poms every time. I have made wreaths and bunting with these pom-poms too.  They also make adorable "bows" for gifts.

After making the pom-poms, I simply stuck a bamboo skewer into the center of each one. The rice helped me to be able to set the flowers at different heights in the vases. I love the contrast my table cloth offers as well (purchased here).

As you can see in this post, I have since embraced fall, setting pumpkins throughout my house. But I am still enjoying my mustard colored pom-pom flowers.