Fall Porch Makeover for 2023

With summer coming to a close this week, it was time to get our front porch ready for fall, but I needed a change for 2023.  This was the set-up I'd done year after year and, besides the bits getting worn out, I was bored with the same old thing:

So we went from this (aka before):

To this (after):  Such an improvement!!

The best part is that is was so quick to pull it all together, I actually got my fall porch all decorated on time this year!

Back in the spring Our Tiny Nest linked up this gorgeous Easter door basket project: 

I fell in love with it and re-created my own (but never got around to doing a post about them).  The empty door baskets were a bit of a $ splurge for me, since I had to buy two, but I really loved how they looked.  I justified it by telling myself I'd re-use them for other seasons, so it was time to put my money where my mouth was for fall.

I made them over, autumn-style, for less price & effort than doing up entirely new wreaths:

I got this fall floral stem, mini pumpkin & buffalo check ribbon at Hobby Lobby - all on major sale to keep costs down:

I left the florist foam & faux greenery from my spring version in place, pulled out the bunnies & carrots and added my new items in.  I cut 49in lengths of ribbon and wrapped them around each basket.  I didn't want them to sag over time, so I attached a wire twist tie on the back for extra support.

I tied the ribbons in a double bow, fanned out the loops and curled the tails:

It's a really different look, but with minimal changes and is easy to dismantle and change up for the next season's version:

I got a big buffalo check cotton rug off Amazon and layered it with a new themed coir doormat:

I stacked my outdoor crate with a bale of straw, my trusty old foam pumpkins, potted some fresh mums, added a watering can with flowers and a new garden flag with a hint of the check print to tie it together:

It feels so good looking at our front doors and seeing things look festive and colorful.  Now I can start enjoying it and look forward to working on other fall projects!

Easy Spring Decor: April Showers Door Umbrellas

Time to craft has been minimal around here.  With a two-room remodel that has stretched weeks beyond its timetable, the past few months have been full of boxes & random stuff splayed everywhere, workmen in the house at all hours, dust, dirt & bits everywhere and my craft room hugely ignored.  Yet, I had time for this project: April Showers Umbrella Door Decor.  So flippin' easy and quick.  I LOVE things like this right now.

I saw this idea over at One Good Thing By Jillee a while back and pinned it as a to-try for Spring.  Every time I see my doors now they make me smile.  So bright and sunny!



There's really no need for a tutorial, it's that simple.  Get a curve handled umbrella, ribbon and silk flowers.  If the flowers are in a bunch, cut them into single stalks:

Unfurl the umbrellas and tie the ribbon at the halfway point.  

Insert flowers into various sections until you like the way it looks.

Cut another bit of ribbon and knot it and loop around the umbrella handle.  Hang and step back to admire the loveliness.

That.Is.It.  Literally the perfect Spring decor craft.  The hardest part was actually finding umbrellas that weren't black or covered with a licensed character.  I lucked out & found the exact one Jillee had on Target.com.  Serendipitously, there was a BOGO deal, so they were just $9 each.  Flowers were 50% at the craft store.  Way cheaper than other seasonal door decorations and much more striking.

The best part?  These are simple to take apart, so all the elements can be repurposed the rest of the year.  Way better than storing some bulky wreaths for 9 months until next Spring. Now, if only doing Spring yard work was this easy...