Welcome back to this month's All Things Creative.  This month we are focusing on FALL Decor.

Decorating your home for fall doesn't have to be difficult.  We've collected 100 different decor ideas to inspire you this autumn.

You all know I have a new Facebook page just dedicated to crafts right?  If you don’t follow me there, you are SERIOUSLY missing out because I share the funniest and most sarcastic crafts I can find.

Well earlier this week I shared an image of this TOTES ADORBS tank top that had a crocheted collar that appeared to be made by a giant spider.  I LOVED IT.. and apparently all my Facebook followers did too, because that post has recached more than 200,000 people in the last 2 days.

This summer I made a trip out to my parents house and I spent a little time going through their basement.  My dad always has new and interesting treasures that he finds at flea markets and junk shops. 

Over in one corner I found this filthy wooden tripod, originally used for surveying.  I knew immediately that I wanted to turn it into a lamp so I packed it up and brought it back home with me.  (I stuck it in my suitcase.. I wonder what the TSA thought!) 

I have wanted one of these tripod lamps for-EVER.. since seeing them in the Pottery Barn catalog. 

My version looks pretty darn close! 

If you aren’t lucky enough to find an authentic vintage tripod, you can actually buy wooden tripod reproductions on Amazon for about $50.

Of course, they won’t come with the patina (or cobwebs) that are found on the authentic deal found in your dad’s basement but they are still cheaper than a $470 floor lamp. 

To turn this beauty into a light, it is pretty straight forward.  You just need a make-a-lamp kit and a lampshade.  (You could buy the rewiring supplies individually but the kit makes it easy.) 

I removed the center threaded washer from the tripod and added a threaded rod though (I used a longer one than the one that came with the kit, because the original was too short.. I secured the rod to the washer using a pair of nuts.  

I replaced the washer into the tripod and made sure the threaded rod was high enough to support the new light. I added the light kitAnd then attached the wires. Finally I added the shade and it was time to test It out! It worked great

 

This was just one of a series of amazing DIY projects.  You don’t want to miss them: 

The Kim Six Fix Vintage Surveyors Tripod Lamp

Virginia Sweet Pea DIY Candlesticks Using Upcycled Bedposts

H2OBungalow Upcycled Metal and Wood Table

Create and Babble Little Round Stool

My Love 2 Create Small Decorative Caddy

My Repurposed Life Easy One Pallet Project

Designed Decor Build Your Own Tufted Bench  

 

Did you know that the average lifespan of an heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is 15-20 years? Many systems can (and often do) last much longer, especially with proper maintenance, but in the U.S. many homeowners choose to replace or upgrade their systems more frequently. If your system is older than 20 years, you may want to consider replacement, even if it is still in good working order.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of JOANN. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you ever seen one of those cute appliqué shirts at boutique shops and think “I love this but I can’t sew”?

Well, today I am solving that problem for you.  There is a super quick and easy way to create appliqué and all it takes is your IRON.  Yes!

For years and years and YEARS I have been trying to learn crochet.  I have always admiring my crafty friends who could whip up the most adorable crochet projects. I’ve take at least three in-person classes and watched countless youtube videos, but I just never got the hang of it.

That was UNTIL recently I signed up to take Kim Werker’s “Crochet: basics & beyond” on Craftsy.  She went so slowly and explained WHY you need to do certain stitches and what they all mean.  For some reason, a light just went on!

And now I’m OBSESSED.  (Seriously.. On craft store trips I’ve been hanging around the yarn aisle for way too long!)

I love encouraging my kids to be creative and make things, which is one of the reasons I have the kids’ artwork gallery wall, to display all their fun artwork.

I recently took the free embroidery class on Craftsy and I wanted to try my hand at a quick project, but instead of using some stock embroidery pattern, I thought it would be fun to use my kids’ artwork.

Bloggers have always been cutting edge creatives with fresh ideas and amazing artistic talents.  Many bloggers started blogging as an outlet for their ideas and projects, wanting to showcase their originality and ingenuity and inspire their readers to do the same.  Over time the creative blogging community has become so much more.

Bloggers' project ideas and designs are now what set trends and influence consumer opinions. They are no longer sharing their personal creativity, but instead have become digital influencers. Therefore  it should come as no surprise that frequently large retail stores and commercial brands use bloggers' ideas (sometimes identically) for their own products.

There are countless cases where this has happened (it has even happened to me) and so I'm sharing some examples to demonstrate how prevalent it really is.

Original Projects Duplicated Without Permission In Retail Store

This was one of my most popular pallet wood signs.  I came up with the idea of the little Christmas light stars after seeing it done on a piece of canvas art.  I featured it on my Christmas mantel back in 2013.

Having your projects replicated (and profited on) by a brand or store is NOT FLATTERING.  It is theft.  And sadly, it is not unusual. There are too many example to count, these are just a few: 

Etsy


Some other examples include:

• Mandi from Vintage Revivals and Target
•  Kiki & Company and Target
•  Etsy Seller Melissa Lay and Target 
• Winnebago Diaries and Target
• Mommy Needs a Cocktail and Target
• ModFire and Target
• Peaches & Keen and Target

• James Soares and Urban Outfitters
• Etsy Sellers and Urban Outfitters

• Dozens of Graphic Artists and Zara
• MommyGyver and LulaRoe
• SugarHero and Food Network
• Lisa Congdon and Cody&Foster (West Elm, Nieman Marcus)

   

If you are a blogger and have had a project or design duplicated (uncredited and without your permission) I’d love to add it to this post.  You can submit your project HERE.