How to make a "Make Do," Scarecrow

You hear "Make Do," thrown around a lot in the Prim Decor world. What does it mean? Many people who make prim dolls will say it is scraps around the house people used to construct a doll and basically make do with little they owned.

Not so fast...I guess it sounds romantic thinking about a little wood house deep in the woods of the Appalachian mountains, curling smoke from its chimney. Thinking a petite, poor Granny is rocking in her creaky, wood chair sewing bits of scraps from worn out work clothes next to a warm pot belly stove.

Believe it or not our Grandparents and beyond recycled in general because they did not believe in just throwing useful things away. They also repaired things and these things many times end up in antique shops. They are sometimes beautifully gnarly and the prices outrageous. 

So here is my, "Make Do" scarecrow. Just think you can teach your kids to use their imagination, recycle and give a history lesson.

Supplies

1. Overalls and a shirt.

2.Plastic grocery bags, anything that does not soak up water.

3.Rafia or straw. Just 4 hand fulls.

4.Orange mesh or light weight cloth for the head.

5. Left over craft supplies for eyes, nose and mouth. Or use stuff from nature.

6. Twine, scissors and a hot glue gun.

Start stuffing! Lay out the shirt and stuff to desired puffiness with grocery bags etc. Next you are going to trick everyone with the rafia. Stuff long uneven ends of rafia into ends of sleeves and tie off with twine. Tie off bottom of shirt with twine. Now put shirt into overalls. Fill legs and tie off with rafia.

Construct the head. I did this very simple as I tore my scarecrow down at the end because it was in the weather. I simply made a light weight ball of plastic and draped mesh over it and tied the bottom off like a balloon. I also added a few hot glue spots around the ball before draping. I had a nice bit of material at the end of my head so it looked like a scarf and made it look good setting on the body.

Next hot glue the facial features. Hot glue a doll hat if you want too! Now you are ready to prop your scarecrow and add the head. Once in place set the head on the body and cover attachment with extra material tied at end of head. I added hot glue to my shirt opening and then placed head.

Add anything else you want. Have fun!

Let Nature Be Your DIY Decor

I wanted something natural and whimsical for the entrance to my camper driveway. It just made sense to me because I am surrounded by trees and I love camping because of Mother Nature's gifts.
I have a heavy, Victorian green plant stand I purchased at a garage sale this year. This piece probably set on the porch of a grand home in the 1940's. It was practically being thrown away for $5.00. You can't buy this type of quality at an average store. Anyways I used it as my base to get started on my project.
I took a basket, scissors and went for a walk. The first thing I saw was deep red berries on thin woody branches. I clipped a handful in different lengths so I had dimension within my display. Next I grabbed an aged piece of bark with beautiful shades of brown. If you are not using water you may want to stick to hardier pieces. Twigs, pine and nuts are other useful pieces.
Now it was back to the camper to lay everything out on the table and add some new and upcycled craft pieces. I purchased small gourds from the local farmer and I had mesh ribbon and a felt witch hat from a previous craft.
📌When you are working a display envision a pyramid. The middle of your display should be the tallest and fan outwards. Think about a color and/or a theme when you are gathering for any project. It keeps you focused and creates a display with rhythm, depth and complementary colors. The web has so much information. Buy a color wheel at the craft store or find online. Color wheels are one of the first things you learn as an art student. The wheel shows you colors that work together. These are called complimentary colors. For instance burgundy's compliment would be dark green. It helps you create crafts pleasing to the eye. You will in fact notice the colors on the wheel make sense in nature when you really look around!

So I took my biggest piece which was the bark and placed it in the middle and worked around it and moved it as needed. I feathered in the mesh ribbon to add color and depth amongst the berries and gourds. I had to step back and keep reworking. I added the witch's hat to really get the theme across and the Happy Halloween flag. I was able to place mostly everything in the basket without glue. I did add hot glue here and there to stabilize. Notice my display is not tight and perfect. It does not look like a topiary. I was trying to make it a bit whimsy.

Easy Halloween DIY

Don't sweat it if you are not that "crafty." Corn stalks are easy, cheap and transitional Fall decor. Add to each side of the front door, lamp post, tree and more. Buy directly from a farm and get as low as $2 each.
You will need twine to attach to a fixture, tree etc. Twine is also handy for attaching decor pieces to the stalks. Attaching with twine will make an easy change out from Halloween theme to Thanksgiving.
I purchased pre-cut foam ghosts at the craft store. You can add gem eyes or just use a black permanent marker. Wrap twine around body or make a whole to thread twine and attach to stalk. Honestly I am not the best ribbon maker. I always buy double sided ribbon. This way when you make loops it is easy as the design does not flip.
Pipe cleaners are handy to tie off the center of bows. They are also great to crinkle and hot glue to back of ghosts or other shapes. It gives a spring effect and the other side easily attaches to the stalk.
Extras to think about: Thread lights thru stalk. Add glitter for effect on foam pieces. Add a witch hat, cat etc. Create a theme so your stalk makes sense. Also the pieces need to be light weight.
Transition: Since you attached with twine or pipe cleaners this is an easy change up! Take down and add a foam turkey or just a simple Thanksgiving or orange ribbon. I like to add Indian corn and ribbon after Halloween. However the squirrels like when I add it too!

London to Dover and My Deceased Grandfather

So, my "ghostly," encounters have been a hit on the blog so here is a short and sweet one.
My Mom's father died when I was around five. I vaguely remember him. I now feel I remember him more by pictures as time passes. He had black, thick hair and was tan. He was part Native American. My Mom did not know about her Native heritage until a couple years before his death. He just told her one day.
Anyways I took a trip to London. I was on a tour of the country side.  We were going to the White Cliffs of Dover and later a castle. My Grandfather fought in the war and lost his hearing during the Battle of the Bulge. I can proudly say he helped liberate the Jews and all else Hitler hated.

The bus we were on had really high seats. You could not see the people in front or back of you.
I am sitting in my seat with a smile because I am just so delighted to be in England. I'm on a dream trip. I am kind of in my own happy world when I hear, " young lady where are you from?" It is a deep voice that brings you to attention. I pop up and peer over my seat and I tell him I'm from Pittsburgh with a big smile. He smiles at me. I then retreat down into my seat like some wack a mole trying to hide. I say nothing else to him and yet again I uncharacteristically do not say anything else. Although for a very fleeting second I think the man looks familiar.

I was seriously chased back into the bus when we got off at the castle by a black swan. Swans and I have a long hateful relationship. This was a small bus tour. I never saw the man again after my wack a mole encounter.

So upon my return from Europe I received a box of family pictures to store. In the box were pictures of my Grandfather when he was young and vibrant. It also included his platoon at the front of the Arc De Triomphe. When I saw my young Grandfather I immediately realized the familiar face on the bus was him. I sat quietly for a moment staring at the pictures. I was a little shocked but, soon was washed over in happiness. I got to meet him as an adult.  It was quick and memorable. I walked in front of the Arc De Triomphe. I was where he walked. I went to the White Cliffs of Dover. A military stronghold. Perhaps he is always watching over me and just wanted to make sure I was safe in Europe.