Autumn Decorating: Pumpkin and Gourd Mantel

I decorated my mantel this past weekend, just in time for the first day of autumn.  This year's theme is pumpkins and gourds, with a color palette of browns and greens, and touches of orange, yellow and white.  I combined both crafted decor and natural elements, including pinecones, acorns, leaves, and dried hydrangea blooms.

On the left side of the mantel, I displayed my cornhusk and fabric covered pumpkins, and a twine wrapped foam pumpkin that I made last year.   I added fresh gourds, pinecones, and acorns that I collected from the backyard.

At the center of my mantel, I hung a hydrangea wreath which literally took five minutes to make.  My hydrangea harvest was pathetic due to the drought this summer.  I was ecstatic when I discovered a few nice blossoms hiding on the backs of the bushes where they were protected from the blazing sun.

Two years ago I decoupaged photographs of each girl's first trip to the pumpkin patch onto 8 x 10 canvas.  Both are ten months old in the photos because their birthdays are exactly one week apart.

Here is Miss Juju......

.....and this is Miss Imp.

I included several dollar-store ceramic pumpkins that I spray painted silver and gold in an "attempt" to mimic mercury glass. They don't look like mercury glass, but I still like them.

Moving on to the right side, you will see a dictionary page decoupaged pumpkin that I made last fall, dollar store ceramic pumpkins spray painted white and displayed in a glass vase, and a twig pumpkin I purchased on clearance for $2!

I used oak leaves as filler throughout the mantel. It's still green around here, so I plan to replace them when the trees become more colorful. Something to remember if you decorate with acorns or other nuts that you collect......bake them in the oven to kill any insect eggs inside. I know one person whose acorn decor became a wiggly pile of larvae!

Whew! With the mantel finally done, it now feels like it is officially fall!