Hi Friends! Have I got a fun post for you today! It’s time once again for Swap it Like It’s Hot hosted by the very fun Charlotte of Ciburbanity! This challenge is where we go to the thrift store and find a bunch of crap, then send it to another blogger to make over. In turn we also received a box of crap, only my crap was good. Real good, y’all.
Here is what the talented Kimm from Reinvented sent to me this round:
More great stuff!
I’m guessing the metal thingy was maybe a salt and pepper shaker holder? Anyway I thought it was pretty cool. There’s so much you can do with a sweater (I actually tried it on…thought about keeping it to wear 😉 ), and a tray is always a good makeover option.
My plan was to use all three pieces to make a Fall vignette.
One didn’t make the cut, but the other two did.
Here’s what I came up with…
Cute right?
The sweater provided endless possibilities! Can you see what else made the cut?
That’s the metal thingy…it became a simple Fall arrangement!
I added floral foam to the bottom, covered that in moss and added floral stems left over from my Fall Lantern Centerpiece. I topped it off with a mini white pumpkin from my Mini Pumpkin Garland supplies.
The owl is probably my favorite though.
I used some fabric scraps and pieces of an old crocheted table runner along with the sweater to create him.
With what was left from the sweater, I made this big pumpkin:
I had never made a sweater pumpkin before, but this was pretty simple. To make it, I cut out a circle from the sweater, and gathered it all around the edges using a large needle and crochet thread.
Then I stuffed it with polyfil, and pulled the thread tightly and knotted it. I couldn’t get it to close super tightly because of the thickness of the sweater, but luckily the stem I stole from a not-so-pretty pumpkin was large enough to cover the opening. I used the crochet thread to make the divided areas evenly all around.
The owl was pretty simple to make as well.
If you’ve got an old sweater and want a little hooter of your own, here’s how I did it…
First I sketched a pattern and cut it out. (You may want to use fabric scraps first to test out your pattern before cutting into your sweater, to make sure you will like the look and shape of it.)
Here’s a quick pictorial for the rest:
I left an opening on the side to fill it, and stuffed the top with polyfil, then added popcorn kernels to the bottom, to give to give it some weight so it would sit easily.
He’s the star of this neutral Fall vignette.
Unfortunately the tray did not make the cut. I was planning to use it as is for the base of this vignette since it was kind of a Fall color already, but it was too small (or I made my pumpkin to dang big!) and I just couldn’t make it work.
The grapevine pumpkin came from Walmart a few years back. It was part of my Thrifty Fall Décor last year.
Guess who I got to send to this year? Shanna! She was pretty easy on me last year, so I tried not to be too hard on her.
Here’s what I sent her to makeover:
Check out what she did with it here! 🙂
Want to see what I got from Shanna last round?
Um yeah…a little more difficult to make over, but I did it! See what I did with the lamp HERE, and check out the basket now HERE!
And here’s all the makeovers from this round from my fellow swap-it friends:
MONDAY
That’s My Letter / DIY On the Cheap / Run To Radiance / The Gathered Home
Two Thirty Five Designs / Chaotically Creative / Decor Adventures / Homemade By Carmona
TUESDAY
Thoughts From Alice / Reinvented / Confessions Of A Serial Do-It-Yourselfer / Restoration Redoux
Always Never Done / I Am a Homemaker / Black and White Obsession / Windgate Lane
WEDNESDAY
Town and Country Living / brepurposed / The Charming Farmer / 58 Water Street
Designer Trapped In A Lawyer’s Body / Year of Serendipity / White House Black Shutters / Desert Domicile
THURSDAY
Two Purple Couches / Like A Saturday / Finding Silver Pennies / Artsy Chicks Rule
Something to Be Found / Shades of Blue Interiors / Simple Designing / Our Southern Home
FRIDAY
Evey’s Creations / Dragonfly and Lilypads / Weekend Craft / Ciburbanity
A Designer At Home / Polished Habitat / Blue i Style / Addicted 2 DIY
XO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Robin Stephens says
So….after following along for a couple of years….I’ve just realized why you’re so amazing. You got all the creative genes God made. Yep. You. Have. All. Of. Them. But, you wear them well! One more attagirl to you! (LOVED the owl!!)
Christy K. James says
Ha ha, Robin you are too sweet! Thank you!! So glad you like the owl, he’s my fav too! XOXO
Kimm at Reinvented says
OMG, I am IN LOVE with that owl! AND the pumpkin! Now, the next step in this party is that you have to mail back what you were sent, right?? 😉 Ha! Very creative, my friend!!
Trisha D. @Black and White Obsession says
Haha. That would be a great twist in the party Kimm!
Christy K. James says
There’s no way I’m giving up my little hooter now 😉
Christy K. James says
Ha ha no way…they’re mine now! You sent awesome stuff, girl! Thank you! 🙂
Brynne@TheGatheredHome says
Oh my goodness! You’re an absolute genius! That pumpkin is just about the cutest fall decor ever, followed close behind by the adorable owl!!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Brynne! XO
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
How fun! You nailed it with the sweater and love the pumpkin too, Christy!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Larissa! I had fun making these. 🙂
Bee says
So great! I love it all, but that little owl is the cutest!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Bee!! XO
Ange says
Love the adorable little owl.
Christy K. James says
Thank you, Ange! 🙂
Trisha D. @Black and White Obsession says
That owl is just so darn CUTE!! Whenever I’m hands deep in sewing projects I always seem to forget those little extras (like the popcorn) to make the project more polished. Such a good reminder! That pumpkin is beyond beautiful. Bravo Christy!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Trisha! He was really fun to make! XO
Jillian says
That owl! I think that was the most useful sweater in history!
Christy K. James says
Aww thanks, Jillian! I was super grateful and relieved to find that in my box of goodies! 🙂
rita says
Love it all. I want the details of the pumpkin. So adorable.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Rita! I did include a brief overview of how I made the pumpkin, but I just added a pic that might be helpful. 🙂
Rita Spittler says
OK, I’ll go and check. Of all the sweater pumpkins i’ve seen, yours are THE cutest.
Christy K. James says
Aww thanks, Rita!! After I added the crochet thread to create the divisions, it didn’t look quite right, so I added a bunch more and that was just what it needed.
Rita Spittler says
So adorable. I love it all. I would like to see more about how you made your pumpkin. I think they’re next on my list. So cute.
Maggie M says
Great upcycles! Love the owl and sweater pumpkin! As I have said before, you are so talented my friend:)
Christy K. James says
Thank you, Maggie!! So glad you like them… I was very relieved to find this sweater in my box of goodies! 🙂
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
Oh I remember this fun challenge! I was blown away by the creative ingenuity of each and every one of you. Okay, that sweater owl is just stink’n ADORABLE! Love the sweater pumpkin too. I would have never guessed hiding underneath all the Fall florals was that ugly thing-a-ma-jig holder. You’re one of my Thrift Store Reimaginer Rockstars!
Christy K. James says
OOH do you think I could add that title to my resume? “Thrift Store Reimaginer” ha ha! Thanks, Marie! Imagine my relief to open my box from Kimm…you just never know what you’re gonna get! XO
Christy @ Our Southern Home says
These are adorable! You were definitely blessed with creativity!!
Christy K. James says
Aww thanks, Christy!! XOXO
Charlotte @ Ciburbanity says
So so cute, Christie! The owl is beyond adorable… you should start an owl etsy shop. 🙂 Thanks for being part of the fun!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Charlotte! Ha yes..that would probably do well! Thanks for organizing this fun swap! XOXO
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
So adorable Christy!!!
xo
Nancy
Christy K. James says
Thank you!! XOXO
Christy K. James says
I should have said…Sure it’s not too country? lol!!
Tania // Run to Radiance says
….annnnd I’m off to go look for a sweater at the thrift store! LOVE.
Christy K. James says
Ha ha I might go see if I can find a couple more myself! 🙂
Emily @ Two Purple Couches says
Owls are one of my favorite things! Your sweater owl is so, so cute! And I love the pumpkin you made to go with him!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Emily! Aren’t you relieved you didn’t have me sending you things again this year ha ha? Although you rocked what I gave you! XO
Erin Spain says
Oh my goodness, adorable! I love that owl and I’m thinking I need to make one of those sweater pumpkins! Awesome job.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Erin! I’d love to find a another sweater or two and make a few more pumpkins too! 🙂
Michelle from Weekend Craft says
Brilliant! I don’t know what I love more the owl or the sweater pumpkin. I’m so impressed what a gorgeous transformation.
Christy K. James says
Thanks you so much, Michelle! 🙂