Acorn Frame - Bring A Bit of Mother Nature Home!

If you're looking for a fun and easy Autumn craft then this is it!

It's the perfect way to welcome in Mother Nature into your home this fall!

Acorn Frame

Supplies:

Acorn Caps
Frame
Strong Glue or Hot Glue
Glimmer Mist or Perfect Pearls Mist
Leaf
Dictionary Page
Distress Inks
Ink Blending Tool
Raffia or Ribbon (optional)

Instructions:

1. You will need to gather several acorn caps as well as a few oak leaves.  Collect more than you think you will need because it's almost like a puzzle to get the acorns to fit neatly on the frame.  You'll want lots of extras for options.

2. Remove the caps from the nut section of the acorn.  If the nuts are pretty dry they should just pop off with a gentle pull but if you find you have a tough nut ;) use a paper piercer/pick to pry it off.  I only had a couple caps I couldn't remove using these two techniques. 

3. If desired (or necessary) you may want to wash the caps and let them dry overnight depending on how dirty they are.  Mine were pretty fresh and mostly fallen on a bed of leaves so I didn't have any issues with dirt/mud (specially since it hasn't rained here in weeks!). 

4. Arrange the acorn caps along the edges of the frame.  When you are arranging the caps don't let them hang too far over the edge for they could be easily knocked off when finished.  You may need to swap out larger/smaller caps until you find just the right combination to cover the frame yet not have them hang over too far.

5. Glue each cap down to the frame using either a heavy duty glue or a hot glue gun.  I left the caps on the frame and carefully glued one down at a time so I wouldn't mess up the arrangement.

Notice I added a second layer of smaller acorns to the wider area... I thought it looked nicer than the large open areas where the caps met.

6. Ink the acorn caps with your choice of shimmery mist.  I used Cinnamon Glimmer Mist but you could use whatever you have on hand.

Let the ink dry completely...

7. While your frame is drying, mount a sheet of dictionary paper (or sheet music, vintage map, book page, etc.) on a piece of light weight chipboard.  My page is a bit off center due to the configuration of my frame window.  Now mount this to your frame back.

8. (optional) If desired ink up the dictionary page with Distress Inks and the Ink Blending Tool. 

9. After the ink on the acorn caps has dried, replace the glass, place your leaf in on the glass face down and gently place the frame back in it's correct position.  Secure to the frame.

ENJOY!!

You could make several of these types of frames to create a beautiful Autumn arrangement either on the wall or a desktop, mantel, etc.  I tried to show how great the shimmer is on all of the little caps but it just doesn't show up as well as it does IRL.    If desired, you could also affix a ribbon or raffia bow for a bit extra zing :)

HAPPY AUTUMN FRIENDS!!!

Be sure to come back and visit tomorrow...

It's my Birthday

and

I'm going to celebrate by giving away some of my favorite goodies!!! 

Do you know what they might be?!?!? 

You'll have to wait till tomorrow to find out ;)