Switching to Sunflowers!

Some people never hang anything on their front door ( with maybe the exception of a wreath at Christmas).  Some people will hang something according to the season with about 4 or 5 changes per year.  And then there's the rest of us!  I change my front door decor at least 7 or 8 times a year.  Often times I will hang the same thing but change it up just a bit.  What's that saying about a woman's perogative?  Something about the right to change our minds?  That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it! 

A few weeks back I changed my front decor to a beachy look (see HERE).   Here's a quick look if you want the condensed version.

Before...

That look was soooo last month!

I went back to my trusty baskets and raided my decorating closet for things to fill them.  I gathered my materials on the kitchen counter and went to work.  That's HGTV's Design Star on the television in the background.  I love that show and it's a must see for design inspiration.

I keep my fake sunflowers in a sunflower tin (that makes sense, right?).  The tin container is from Ross.

Here is one of the baskets.  You can read more about them HERE.

This is my first try.  I always hang them up and look them over to see if I should add more (and I always wind up adding more of something)

I decided they needed some orange colored flowers with the yellow.  I have bought fake sunflowers at several different stores and the ones from the clearance bin at Walmart look about the same as the more expensive ones at Michael's.  I'm going to pass on a tip from a very talented blogger,  Alycia Nichols from  Tablescapes at Table Twenty One, who told me she will observe the real flower, then try to make her fake flowers look as close as she can to the real thing, including how they grow in nature.  Try to avoid artificial looking colors and experiment with adding fake or silk in with the real thing. 

I hung them up outside to see how they look.

I think using the two shades of yellow makes for a more interesting arrangement.  In my previous post about these baskets, one of the tips I passed along was to place a fabric softener sheet inside the bottom to help keep the bugs (especially bees) away.  Trust me, it works and they smell pretty good too!

I found these garden tools at Goodwill months ago for less than $1 each. 

Aren't they cute?

I decided to add the sunflower tin to the potted plants I already had out on my front porch (a good example of mixing real with fake).

This little garden marker is from Dollar Tree.

I added a metal pick (Ross) to the top of my lantern (Old Time Pottery).  If you buy a plain lantern, you can change it up to match your decor.  You can add things to it inside, outside or even both.  Battery operated candles now come with timers and are perfect for these lanterns (best prices I've seen are on Amazon).

Add a few mini flags and you're ready for the Fourth of July.

So, go ahead and change it up for summer or the 4th of July.  Exercise your rights!  After all, it's your perogative!

My sunflowers will be blooming at the following parties...

Overflowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Spotlight Saturday at Classy Clutter

Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal

Saturday 7 at Positively Splendid

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage

Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming

Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Nifty Thrift Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Your Cozy Home Party at Cozy Home Scenes

You're Gonna Love it Tuesday at Kathe with an E

Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage

Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Creative Blogger's Party at Homemaker on a Dime

Tutes and Tips not to be Missed at Home Stories A to Z

DIY Project Parade at DIY Showoff

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Show 'n Share at Southern Lovely

Rustic Restorations Party at Homespun Happenings

Pinspired Rewired at Southern Lovely

Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits at Stone Gable

Grace At Home at Imparting Grace

Potpourri Friday at 2805