Fall is the season I wait for all year. The air chills, comfort food comes in large pots of soupy goodness and it is finally acceptable to wear boots and scarves with my skinny jeans.
Wreaths are one thing I’ve never experimented with until this year. I’ve always been a “buy it at Home Depot and toss it on the door” kind of gal, but embracing my inner craft diva I thought this lovely little accessory was something I should start experimenting with.
I, like many DIYers, am addicted to Pinterest. I take full ownership of my addiction, and find no shame in the hours I spend searching for the perfect recipe or pumpkin decoration.
Late summer, I began stalking fall decorations on Pinterest.
My goal was to have the snazziest front step on the block. One the trick-or-treaters would count the days until they could raid it for candy. I would be the cute, young wife with the awesome front steps.
I found several ideas on Pinterest that I thought could be doable, so I started collecting materials.
I found a lovely twig wreath at the trusty old Dollar Tree and some fake flowers, per my inspiration wreath. I also collected an adorable black and orange letter “B” for $2.50 and added it to my “Wreath Stash”.
Unable to wait another second, I collected all of the items in my “Wreath Stash” and started compiling my dream wreath in early September. This was merely the first step to my amazing front step transformation.
I worked frivolously for the first hour, and as the project progressed, I became less enthused. By the time I finished, I basically hated this stupid wreath and I couldn’t believe I’d spent all of $3.50 for the materials on it.
Pressing on, I hung it on our door for size. Maybe, once I hung it up I would enjoy it more. The following morning I stepped outside to snap a few photos as Hubby did yard work, and there it was. My stupid wreath.
“Why is it hanging so low on that one side? Didn’t you anchor it with anything?” Hubby questioned.
Sure enough, the “B” was so heavy, the fake flowers had nothing to counter-weight the wreath. Then, I thought maybe if I just tied it to one side, it would help. Wrongo. Now it just looked embarrassingly bad.
I took it down for the month of September, but now that October has shown up, Hubby said it’s time for the wreath. And you know what? I don’t care that some may think it’s horrible. Though I was so embarrassed by it originally, now I have started laughing every time I see it’s crooked face hanging on our door. It’s hilariously bad and I love it.
This year I may not have the front step kids will countdown the days to trick-or-treating. I will probably have the front steps that kids mock. The little ones will stop with their mommies to ask for a treat, and as Mom sizes up my decorations, she will stifle a giggle and I will smile with pride.
Because you know what’s behind the door the wreath is decorating? A whole house full of love.
Sometimes the “hilariously bad” craft projects we do go on to become family treasures. In my family, it’s ceramic turkey that opens to become a gravy boat. My grandmother made it, and my grandfather originally used it to tease her (the way people who’ve been married forever often do), and it really is incredibly – forgive the pun – fowl looking.
But with my grandparents now long-dead, and my parents residing in Mexico, that stupid ceramic turkey gravy boat is a precious reminder of family connections and special memories.