Pumpkin Acorn Lineup

When nature gives you something beautiful for free, I intend on using it for every possible project that I can.

Nature has indeed given us something beautiful this season.  Acorns, Acorns, Acorns.  They are beautiful little things with amazing details.  And each one is unique.

My first acorn project, the turquoise acorns, have been followed up by yet another pinterest project.

via pinterest

I fell in love with these little bitty pumpkins.  Aren't they adorable?!  I knew I had to try them with my massive abundance of acorns laying in the yard.  And while this website suggests doing it with your kids, the idea of giving my 3 year old a permanent marker didn't sit well in my stomach.

Here is my version of the pumpkins above :o)  

This was an incredibly easy project.  And one that I would definitely do with my kids if they were about 2 years older!

I started with an old picture that I got from my grandmothers attic (the same time I got my new Hope Chest!)

Man the sun is harsh in my backyard around 3 o clock.

I took out the back and covered it with a little burlap using hot glue (I would have used spray adhesive, but I couldn't find it!)

I used some black spray paint to cover the frame and 5 paint stirrers.  I am aware that there are 6 there... I promise I can count!

Next I laid out the acorns and sprayed them with a can of pumpkin orange spray paint. (perfect color choice, huh?)

TIP~  When you are laying them out and taking 30 minutes to balance them all perfectly on the top, make sure you don't do it under the tree that they all fell from.  More will fall and knock all of them over and you will have to start all over.

When they were dry I used a black sharpie and got creative on my faces :o)  I then glued them in rows onto the paint sticks.

The reason I have no pictures of the next part was because it took some trial and error and lots of hot glue to figure this out.  I ended up making "shelf supports" out of toilet paper roll slivers and colored them with the sharpie to match the paint stick.  I also hot glued the back of the sticks to the burlap.  It's pretty strong, believe it or not!  

I glued the back onto the frame and ended up with this.  Isn't it fun!?

 

Of course, every time I look at it...  this is what I imagine is going on.

I know this totally overlaps the sides which is tacky, but otherwise it wouldn't have made any sense :o)

I put it on my fall mantel (which I have yet to show you completed.) You can see the completed mantel here!

I am havin' some serious fun with all these acorns!

What do you have in your yard that you can decorate with?

Linky Love:

Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo Toes

Sunday Showcase Party with Under the Table and Dreaming

Metamorphosis Mondays with Between Naps on the Porch

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative

Made by You Mondays at Skip to My Lou

Market Yourself Mondays by Sumos Sweet Stuff

Tuesday Confessional Link Party at Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy

Show Me What ya Got at Not Just a Housewife

What I Made Wednesday at Sweet Peas and Bumblebees

A Crafty Soiree at Yesterday on Tuesday

Hookin'Up with HoH at House of Hempworths

Show Your Stuff Party at Fireflies and JellyBeans

Fingerprints on the Fridge