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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Inspired by... praise

 

Remember the exhilaration you used to feel on the last day of school? Your summer stretching out before you, full of fun, endless possibilities and... sleeping in nearly every morning? The freedom of having TIME to do what YOU wanted! Okay, it might be a distant memory, but still...

{sigh}

These days I get excited if I have two hours together when there's not something I should do, have to do or want to do. Many weeks end up like this one where various appointments and commitments converge creating chaos out of what you thought was going to be a normal week. Wait, maybe chaos is  my normal week? Ha, ha, well, you get the idea.

The point is, in the midst of the chaos (normal or not) it's easy to forget to be thankful. To forget to praise Him from whom all blessings flow. But somehow, when I do stop for a moment, and remember to be grateful, the chaos suddenly seems a little less chaotic.

Stopping and remembering to be grateful is something my church does, as a family of believers, every year around this time. We call it the Fall Festival of Praise and it is a time when we come together to worship, praise and thank God for the "harvest" He has produced in each of our lives over the last year. As the scripture verse in my blog header says, we acknowledge that all things come from Him.

This year I had the privilege of making the centerpieces for the tables and I'm so pleased with how they turned out.

 

FFofP_Centerpieces

They were really quite simple and inexpensive to make. I spent under $20 for ten centerpieces, so that is less that $2 a piece!  Whoo-hoo!

 

Pumpkin_Gourd_Praise_Group

 

I used modge podge to apply the tissue paper to the clay pots, then added designs I'd cut from some scrapbooking paper I already had on hand.  Each pot is a little different. Unique.

 

Green_Gourd

 

I stuffed crumbled paper in the bottom of the pots to fill the extra space, then added the Spanish moss and nestled the pumpkins/gourds on top of the moss. I used one bag of moss for all ten pieces and even had some left over.

 

Gourd_From_Above

 

My friend M.E. cut the PRAISE letters out for me using her Cricut machine, which saved me a ton of time! I used burlap scraps left over from another project and my hot glue gun to glue the jute to the back of each triangle, then tied the pennants to bamboo skewers.

 

Purple_Praise_Pumpkin

 

Of everything, the pennants took the longest to make and I had to keep reminding myself to glue them together backwards... otherwise all my centerpieces would say:  ESIARP

Which would not be good.

 

Pumpkin_Cute

 

Aren't they darling? The mini pumpkins are my favorite.

As with (most) everything on this blog, these were a result of combined inspiration! I saw so many pumpkins nestled in vases and pots all over blog land that I couldn't possibly give credit to them all, but Kristol over at The Magic of Ordinary Things was definitely my inspiration for the pennants with her post about the reunion centerpieces she made back in August!

 

What's been inspiring you lately?

 

Blessings,

Blog_Signature

 

 

 

Sharing inspiration here:

Photobucket HookingupwithHoH

11 comments:

  1. Love this idea and can think of many fun variations for different theme parties.

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  2. These are very cute! Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea!

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  3. Wouldn't this be the cutest thing ever for a Women's Brunch at church or on my mantle or my front porch!?!? Hmm, you've got me thinking!!! Thanks for the sweet notes you left me on your last visit!!! You are SO PRECIOUS!!! I feel inspired each time I visit you!!!

    Aimee @ ItsOverfowing

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  4. I love these! Both the inspiration behind them and the cute little bunting (that's English for penants dont you know!) So cute! I'm pinning you (well them) to my pinterest!

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  5. Love these darling centerpieces. Very clever.

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  6. Aww, what a great idea....and so cute too! :> )

    There are so many different ways you could take this centerpiece...AWESOME!

    Blessings~
    Laura

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  7. I am inspired - beautiful!

    Love for you to link up at:
    "Made by ME" Linky Party at JAQS at http://www.jaqsstudio.com/2011/11/made-by-me-5-linky-party-and-features.html

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  8. Great Centerpieces! Lately I've been inspired by my daughter's desire to be a 'mommy just like you' I have found myself doing better because she is really watching closly.

    I'm your newest follower from Show and Tell Wednesday.
    I'd love if you came to visit me at http://thelifeofthiscountrymama.blogspot.com

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  9. I love baby pumpkins! So easy and cute! Come see my Jack the Ripper table.

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  10. Well, you're often inspiring me for one thing! Thanks for the reminder to feel & express gratitude! I love this wonderful idea & your darling centerpieces. And thanks so much for linking up to Fabulous Friday!

    Warmly, Michelle

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  11. Those are really cute. I really like all the different kinds of squash.

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If you read something here that inspired you, I’d love to hear about it. Please know I appreciate every comment! Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings, June