Create a beautiful heirloom pumpkin arrangement using items from the Dollar Tree!

I purchased this pumpkin sign from The Dollar Tree with plans to transform it into something different. I wanted it to work with some of my heirloom pumpkin and farmhouse style decor. So I sought out to recreate it using some pretty colored paints, small pumpkins, a white plastic wrapped wire basket, and some faux greenery. Most of the items were purchased at The Dollar Tree.

First, I removed the jute hanger, the metal leaf, and the raffia bow. Then, I lightly sanded the front of the pumpkin. Next, I began to paint the pumpkin. I mixed my own paint, using Apple barrel cobalt blue, two drops of Apple barrel yellow, and then I mixed in Waverley white chalk paint.

Next, I began to mimic the grooves a real pumpkin has by painting lines onto the pumpkin. I used a shade darker paint here, again using the same paint colors to mix it. Then, I spray painted both a metal leaf, and a white plastic coated wire basket (also purchased from The Dollar Tree) in antique pewter. See the can of spray paint in the image below.

Next, I am antiqued the pumpkin using Folk Art Home Decor Wax in brown. Then I wiped it off with a damp paper towel.

I also antiqued the painted wire basket (also bought at The Dollar Tree) with the Folk Art Home Decor Wax.

Next, I dry brushed the pumpkin with Waverly white chalk paint.

I also dry brushed some of the aqua “cement” colored paint on top of the Waverly white chalk paint, leaving some of the white still showing through.

Then, I outlined the pumpkin lines in a darker aqua “cement” colored paint.

I lightly painted some texture onto the stem of a pumpkin.

Next, I used a printable image from sincerelysarad.com. Thank you Sarah! I used some of the font from this printable to hand letter my pumpkin.

I attached the wire basket to the pumpkin by drilling two holes on either side of the basket. I used jute twine to tie the basket to the pumpkin.

I attached the metal leaf to the front of the wire basket using superglue.

On the back of the printable, I used my pencil to scribble on the font that I want to transfer to the pumpkin.

I used a mechanical pencil to trace over the lettering, which transfers the font to the pumpkin.

I then traced over the pencil lettering with an ultrafine black Sharpie marker.

I purchased these white mini clip pumpkins at The Dollar Tree to use inside the basket.

I used superglue to glue the metal leaf to the front of the wire metal basket.

Next, I arranged the greenery that I purchased at Joann and the mini pumpkins in the wire basket.

I’m so pleased with the final result! Please let me know in the comments if you decorate for fall, and if so, what color scheme you use! Please feel free to like, comment, and share! Please also follow my blog! And see my how-to video and also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for some fun future projects and delicious recipes!

Thanks for joining me! See you next time!

Carla XOXO

My family loves warm chocolate chip cookies. Who doesn’t? Yum! They are the ultimate in comforting desserts. Something about the perfect combination of butter, sugar, vanilla, salt, and chocolate makes them one of my favorites! And warm out of the oven can’t be beat. I like them soft and chewy.

These chocolate chip cookies are a doctored up version of the classic Nestle Toll House recipe. I like to add extra vanilla, extra chopped up semi-sweet chocolate, and I like to use cookie scoops and bake them on parchment paper.

First you cream the butter and add white sugar.

Next, add brown sugar.

Next, I add two teaspoons of pure vanilla extract.

Next, add in two large eggs that are whisked.

Cream together the butter, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and eggs until fluffy.

Measure out flour, baking soda, and salt. Combine in the same bowl.

Here’s the recipe:

Ooey Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar (I used light brown sugar)

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large eggs, room temperature and whisked

3/4 package of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 Ghirardelli semi-sweet baking bar, chopped into pieces

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, and salt, set aside. In another large bowl, cream together the softened butter, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Once creamed, slowly mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt mixture. Use a slow setting on your hand mixer. Do not over mix, it will result in a tough cookie. Lastly, fold in the chocolate chips and chopped chocolate baking bar. Use a cookie scoop, large and small, depending upon what size cookie you would like. Scoop onto parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 9 to 11 minutes until slightly brown on edges. Let cool slightly on baking sheets before removing. Enjoy!!!

I love the last bit of batter that has no chocolate chips. I bake that too and save that cookie for myself. I am wondering if I am the only one who loves the last cookie that has no chocolate chips? Please let me know in the comments!

Please see my DIY: Ooey Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie how-to YouTube video below. Please Subscribe to my YouTube Channel!

I hope you make these cookies. I know my family loves them and yours will too!

Please let me know your favorite type of cookie in the comments, maybe I’ll work on that recipe next! Also, feel free to share a recipe with me, maybe I’ll feature YOUR favorite recipe on my next video!

Thank you for joining me, please comment, like, and share this post. Most importantly, please FOLLOW for some more fun recipes, craft projects and more!

Until next time!

Carla XOXO

I purchased this wood pumpkin from The Dollar Tree and planned to redesign it once I got it home.

First, I removed the raffia bow and any dried hot glue around it. Then, I lightly sanded the front. Next, I painted two coats of Waverly White Chalk Paint.

I wanted an antique look, so I used brown Folk Art Wax to give the pumpkin an aged look.

I made a vinyl transfer that reads “Hello Pumpkin” on the Cricut. Once the pumpkin dried, I carefully transferred the vinyl to the pumpkin.

Next, I added black and white bakers twine that I also purchased at The Dollar Tree to the stem of the pumpkin and secured it with hot glue.

I added some burlap florals from the Dollar Tree next to the stem of the pumpkin. I secured them with hot glue to the back of the pumpkin by attaching a patch of burlap ribbon to keep the flowers in place.

The pumpkin turned out great! I like the combination of the fonts used, they are festive and easy to read.

Let me know in the comments what text you would put on your Pumpkin Redesign and what color you would use!

Please comment, like, and share. Please follow for some fun future projects!

Here’s my how-to video. Please Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for some fun upcoming projects!

Until next time!

Carla XOXO

First, I removed the sunflower and raffia bow from the front of the pumpkin.

Next, I sanded the front of the pumpkin using sand paper also bought at the Dollar Tree.

I then painted the front of the pumpkin with Waverly white chalk paint.

Once the paint dried, I drew faint pencil lines on the pumpkin to mimic the grooves of a pumpkin.

Then I painted the pencil lines in with brown Folk Art Wax.

Then, I antiqued the pumpkin by using a fairly dry brush with the wax on it and brushed it over the pumpkin. Then I quickly wiped it off with a damp paper towel.

I decided a lot of the grooves I had painted on the pumpkin got too faded when I antiqued it, so I quickly painted the lines again. Live and learn, LOL!

You could still see the Friends part that the previous pumpkin had, so I decided to use burlap ribbon that I purchased at The Dollar Tree to cover it.

I made a stencil on the Cricut that reads, “Hey there, Pumpkin”. I didn’t have stencil sheets, or card stock, so I used the back of one of my daughter’s old workbooks to create the stencil.

One key to stenciling is to try to keep the brush sort of dry with paint. I use a paper plate to dap the brush on before I paint the stencil. A round stencil brush helps too, which I don’t have, ha ha. I painted the burlap ribbon with Apple Barrel Black Paint.

Then I used a black sharpie to fill in any spots that didn’t have the writing. It helped to fill in any bald spots underneath the burlap.

Next, I wound some garden twine around the pumpkin stem, and secured it with some hot glue.

Then I added a piece of cotton stem, that I also purchased at The Dollar Tree, to the top of the pumpkin. I secured it using some hot glue.

And here is the finished pumpkin. I think it turned out awesome! The cost was about $3 to make, minus the cost of paint and garden twine. It has a nice, rustic farmhouse decor look. I hope you like it too! What do you think? Do you like the before or after better? Please let me know in the comments. Thanks for joining me! Please follow my blog, and Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, DIY Happy Home, to see my upcoming future home projects.

Please check out my step-by-step how-to video on YouTube below:

Until next time!

Carla XOXO

I have always liked sweater pumpkins when I have seen them at the store and wanted to try to make them for less money. I have never made them before, so I was unsure how they would turn out. Sweater pumpkins are the perfect mash up for when the seasons change, sweaters AND pumpkins! A sweater pumpkin is a perfect reminder of cool, crisp, fall days with some warm hot chocolate and a cozy sweater or knit blanket to bundle up in! Can you tell that I love fall?

To make the sweater pumpkins, I purchased three pumpkins at The Dollar Tree.

I decided the darker two pumpkins might show through the knit of the sweater. I decided to paint the pumpkins with Waverly white chalk paint. The Waverly white chalk paint dries pretty quickly and only one coat is necessary.

Once the pumpkins were dry, I made larger holes in the top and bottom of each styrofoam pumpkin. I happened to have the sleeve of a sweater left over from another craft project. You could get a sweater at the thrift store, use a stained sweater, or one you simply don’t like anymore. A stained sweater would be perfect for this project. So don’t throw out those old sweaters!

Carve the center of your styrofoam pumpkin out. It needs to be large enough to fold and tuck the fabric inside. You also need room to place a stem.

Place your pumpkin into the sleeve of the sweater and cut. Make sure you have enough fabric to cover the pumpkin.

Begin to fold and tuck the fabric into the top of the pumpkin, tucking it into the larger hole you’ve created. Keep folding and tucking until all of the fabric is tucked into the hole at the top of the pumpkin. Next, do the same to the bottom of the pumpkin. Create a larger hole, then fold and tuck in the fabric until all of the fabric is tucked into the bottom of the pumpkin.

Next, I used some branches to create stems.

I painted the stems with brown Folk Art Wax. Then, once the wax was dry, I dry brushed some Waverly white chalk paint gently on top of the wax.

Then I adorned the sweater pumpkins with garden twine. One pumpkin I wrapped the stem, another I tied a twine knot around the stem, and the third I wrapped and twisted around the pumpkin, to make it look like the grooves of a pumpkin.

I loved the way they turned out! They were one dollar each, and quick and easy to make! I think gray ones would be so cute! Please comment and let me know if you make the sweater pumpkins, and if so, what color would you make?

Please follow my blog for some fun future DIY projects. Please see my how-to video below. Thank you for joining me!

Carla 😊

Create beautiful, on trend, Rae Dunn inspired Christmas ornaments, in a few easy steps!

I used to buy wood ornaments every year from a website that would put my kids pictures on them so that I could have a snapshot in time of what my kids looked like that year. Well last year I bought these wood ornaments from Amazon to make my own (this will be a future blog post, LOL!). They were $8.99 for a pack of 20 ornaments, so very budget friendly.

I didn’t get around to making my photo ornaments and wanted to do something different with the ornaments that I purchased. I decided I wanted to use my Cricut to make Rae Dunn inspired ornaments!

I started out by painting my ornaments, some in Waverly white chalk paint, and some in Apple Barrel Black paint.

While the ornaments were drying, I used “The Skinny” font that I downloaded from Dafont.com. Then I chose what words I wanted to use. I designed the words I wanted to use in Cricut design and printed them out on vinyl, matte black for some, and white black for others. Then I weeded the vinyl and put them on transfer paper.

Here are some of the words I did:

Next, I painted the tops of each ornament black. For the black ornaments, I painted the tops Folk Art Silver Sterling, by Plaid.

Next, I painted the tops silver.

I am super pleased with how they turned out! Since I don’t have a mini Christmas tree out yet, I displayed them 3 different ways. In a wood box, on a magnetic board, and the reindeer names I made were displayed in a galvanized basket.

Not bad for $8.99, plus the cost of the vinyl and paints.

Here is the link for the Amazon ornaments, in case you are interested:

20 Pcs Unfinished Wood Ornaments Wood Slice DIY Christmas Ornaments Hanging Decoration 2.75″x3.6″ with Pre Cut Strings

And some of the finished ornaments:

If you don’t have a Cricut or don’t want to create your own transfers, they are available in my Etsy shop. I can customize different words as well as different colors.

I hope you enjoyed this craft! Please follow my blog for future crafts. Also see my how-to video below. Please feel free to Subscribe, Like, Share, and Comment!

I was at The Dollar Tree the other day and picked up various pumpkins for fall. I decided that I would do a pumpkin make over. I like the look of heirloom pumpkins. The color of the heirloom pumpkins are so unique, some gray, some greenish gray, and some aqua gray, they are all so pretty, and it’s amazing that nature can grow them in so many shapes, sizes, and fun colors!

Here are pumpkins I bought for a dollar each at The Dollar Tree:

I removed all of the florals from the top of the pumpkins. Next, I mixed acrylic cobalt blue paint, and a tiny bit of yellow, to form an aqua color. To lighten the paint, I used white acrylic chalk paint. The result was a cement aqua color. I painted one of the three pumpkins in that color. Another pumpkin I painted a shade lighter by adding more white. And the third pumpkin I painted white using the white chalk paint.

I also bought a pack of fall scatters that had five mini pumpkins and gourds for one dollar. I painted them as well, in the same colors as I painted the pumpkins.

Next, I painted the grooves of each pumpkin in a darker shade for some dimension.

Then I dry brushed each pumpkin and gourd with the white chalk paint.

I then took some brown wax to antique each pumpkin and mini gourd. You basically brush it on and use a damp paper towel and wipe off as much as you want to achieve the look you want.

Then I carefully carved a little hole in the top of each pumpkin to add a stem. I used cut branches from my yard and secured them with hot glue.

While waiting for the pumpkins to dry, I started to paint the flowers and garden bucket that I also purchased from The Dollar Tree. I painted it using white chalk paint and made sure to put on a thick layer.

Once the bucket was dry, I dry brushed the antiquing wax on top and then used a damp paper towel to blend it in until I achieved the desired look that I wanted.

Then I added some store bags to the bottom of the bucket for height. Next, I used a sheet of moss from The Dollar Tree, cut it in half vertically, and hot glued it in place.

Next step was to decide on how to arrange all the pieces.

I decided to add some Dollar Tree nautical rope to the top of the bucket. I adhered this using some hot glue.

After they are arranged, pumpkins and gourds are then secured with some hot glue. I then took four cut branch pieces that I also purchased at The Dollar Tree and secured them to the bottom of the bucket for legs. This gave the bucket some height.

I made an “Autumn Greetings” vinyl transfer on my Cricut. I then transferred the vinyl to the front of the bucket. If you don’t have a Cricut and would like to make this craft, the vinyl transfer is available for purchase in my Etsy shop.

Here’s the finished heirloom pumpkin arrangement. It was about 7 dollars and change to make. The only items that didn’t come from the Dollar tree were the paints and the lamb’s ear that I already had.

I am happy with how it turned out! I hope you like it too! There’s a step by step video on my YouTube Channel, DIY Happy Home. Check it out, please subscribe to my Channel!

I hope you liked this craft project as much as I did creating it! Come back for some more fun fall and seasonal projects coming up!

Carla, DIY Happy Home

I decided to create a new Wreath for my for my front door. I haven’t had a Wreath on my front door for a couple of years due to house finches making a nest and having little babies. A couple of times a Mama finch got inside our house and we had to figure out how to get the her out. A web search helped us figure out what to do. We made the whole house dark by closing curtains and blinds. Then we put on a light where we wanted her to go. She finally got out, but not without a lot of fluttering about and panic by us! It wasn’t fun and it’s not something I recommend, ha ha!

I’m hoping that no birds will nest now that it’s mid Summer. Fingers crossed! It’s time for a new Wreath on my front door! I wanted a Wreath that was welcoming, so I picked up a carved wooden “Hello” piece at The Flower and Home Marketplace in East Earl, PA. I love that place! Tons of home products, florals, crafts, you name it, they have a ton of stuff. Here’s the Hello sign:

I decided to paint it a silver metallic color, using Folk Art Sterling Silver acrylic paint, by Plaid.

Then I aged the metallic paint by using Apple Barrel black acrylic paint by Plaid. I mixed it with a little water, painted it on and wiped the black off to make it look like aged metal:

Next, I used an 18 inch wide round grapevine Wreath as the base of my Wreath. I then chose faux lamb’s ear from Walmart’s floral section. I also used various faux succulents that I bought from Walmart, The Dollar Tree, and The Flower and Home Marketplace. I arranged everything first, then secured it all with a hot glue gun.

I then secured the wooden Hello sign with invisible fishing line. And here’s a picture of the finished product:

And here’s a how to video on my YouTube Channel, DIY Happy Home:
DIY: Hello Wreath

A house is made with walls and beams. A home is built with love and dreams.

— Unknown.

My name is Carla, I am excited to write about all the things I love that make me happy at home! 😊I love crafting, home projects, decorating for the holidays, cooking, baking, shopping, finding bargains, and sharing products that I love, and I will include some product reviews as well. I hope you will join me here at DIY Happy Home!

First, let me tell you a little about me. I am married, with 3 children; an 11 year old daughter, and 8 year old twin boys that like to keep me busy.

After the birth of my twins in 2014, I decided it wasn’t financially feasible for us to put 3 kids in daycare, nor did I want to. So, after 17 years working as a web content administrator, I decided (along with my husband) to give the company I worked at my two weeks notice to be a stay at home Mom. I will never forget the feeling I had when I was walking to my car on my last day at work after working there for 17 years. It was a feeling of happiness, excitement, nervousness, and some fear too, all rolled into one!

While I do not miss working at an office, I do miss socializing with adults and adult conversation. I have started to look for ways to use my creativity in a therapeutic way. It calms me and it works for me. I am hoping you will tune into my next post where I will be sharing my next kitchen or craft project. See you then!

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My name is Carla and I live in the suburbs, close to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I live with my husband and three children, an 11 year old daughter, and 8 year old twin boys, and I’m also a proud cat mom!

I have a passion for all things home; home projects, crafts, cooking, baking, shopping, and home products. I love sharing my home ideas with you! I would love for you to subscribe to be sure you receive updates on all things home.