The weather has turned cooler here in North Carolina (hooray!), and I'm finally starting my fall decorating.
I love to make things look festive starting right at the front door. Here's my first project for this autumn:
I found these large lanterns at Hobby Lobby for 50% off:
Actually, the red one was a little too large, so I exchanged it for a smaller blue one. I wasn't wild about the bright colors, but a quick coat of Rustoleum's Oil-Rubbed Bronze spray paint fixed that issue with no problem.
My plan was to use the lanterns to display gourds for Autumn, so I raided my boxes of fall decor for every decorative gourd. I soon found that these lanterns were so big that my bags of gourds filled them only about one-quarter full! Not wanting to purchase lots more gourds, I found a solution in these ugly carvable pumpkins from the dollar store:
These made the perfect filler for the middle of my lanterns. Surrounded by prettier, smaller gourds, they practically disappear.
I'm quite a ways from having the front porch all decked out for Fall, but these fun lanterns give me a nice start, I think!
Now I need to get a lot more fall decorating done. I'm thrilled to say that next week I'm participating in a Fall Home Tour with All Things Home. 25 bloggers are opening their homes to share all their Autumn decor. I'm so excited! (Update on 9/27: click here for my full home tour!)
Have you started decorating for Autumn at your house?
I'm joining Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
Melissa at The Inspired Room for Fall Nesting Party
They are so pretty. I bought a stand at World Market that will hold my black lantern, and that will look great to put around my candle. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteAnd btw, your plants are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great inspiration! I bought two huge lanterns at IKEA but since the sun melted the candles that were inside, they have been sitting empty. LOVE this idea!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea! I love your lanterns too. I've spent the entire morning getting out my fall and Halloween decor. Now I can see I'm going to spend the entire afternoon trying to convince my cat to stop playing with all the new "toys" she sees everywhere. She's fascinated with the raffia on the pumpkins. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful way to begin your fall decorating! Those lanterns are just adorable! I can't wait to get mine out of the garage and get started. I was waiting for it to finally cool down...and it has! Hope it sticks around :)
ReplyDeleteVery smart thinking, Richella! I always enjoy seeing your front porch area for every season -- always so pretty!
ReplyDeleteRichella, your lanterns look great! Can't wait to see all of your Fall decor. You always do such a great job!
ReplyDeleteI love it Richella!! I need to go add some lanterns to my front porch now! :-)
ReplyDeleteVanessa
Nice start on the fall decorating - love the lanterns and the gourds! I haven't done any fall decorating yet - I just can't get into it with the temperatures still in the high 90's here in South Florida it will be awhile before we have any cool weather. But high temperatures or not - October 1st I start some decorating!
ReplyDeleteCarol
Such a great job and what a welcoming entry! Love the idea of filling the lanterns that way. I'm starting to work on my porch this week :) Enjoy your cooler temps!
ReplyDeleteHello Richella, Very cute and fun idea! We have a huge amount of real pumpkins this year. They are picked and in the garage till things cool down a bit. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Roxy
I love this idea! I plan to try it! I may add a flameless candle with a timer too! Thanks! Susan
ReplyDeleteVery cute lanterns Richella. I've been too busy to even get into my box of Fall stuff yet! Happy to be back at your party after a few weeks off. Have an amazing week.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Patti
I love it! My heart beats a little faster when I see fall decorations!
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of filling your lanterns with fall gourds and pumpkins.
ReplyDeleteMary Alice
Beautiful idea! The porch looks so pretty and ready for fall!
ReplyDeleteLove, love your lanterns! Gorgeous idea! I have a new weekly link party which is live now and I would love if you stop by and link up this wonderful post! Hope to see you there! http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com/ Hugs, Maria
ReplyDeletelove it all, but am ready for bed, too tire to read. can I ask, if your lanterns have glass in them? I recently bought a large lantern at a small local flea market, and it was cheap, but I DID NOT notice that the back pane of glass was missing until I got home? what? well I need to get my eyes checked. but I am making good use of it, so I was just wondering, 'cause your photos are so clear that I can't tell. thankyou!!!!!!!!!!!
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