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Splatter Screen Fall Decor

October 02, 2019

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Turn a dollar store splatter screen into an elegant home decor pumpkin accent for fall with a napkin and a metal decal.

It's a quick and easy craft.

And you won't believe the gorgeous results.
Dollar Store Splatter Screen
I have been a crafter my whole life. Whether it was finger painted puppies or mud pies, I've always loved creating things.

When I was small, it was all about the process, no one really expected much from a child.

However, as I got older, there was considerable more attention paid the product.

My dirt cakes were inedible and who in their right mind wanted framed rainbow colored blobs with tails in their living room.

Well. Maybe my mom...but really...no.

While I continued to dabble in high school, once I got to college, and switched my major away from art, I have to say that I abandoned the craft ship altogether.

It didn't serve any purpose or feed me in any meaningful way.

Of course, when I got married and moved into an apartment and then a home of my own, crafting came back with a vengeance in the form of DIY.

What started as a necessity, restoring flea market and curbside finds to furnish my home, turned into a full blown passion as time went by.

And this time it was all about the product.

Half as good as store bought wasn't going to cut it. Either it looked like we purchased it or it didn't come in the house.

The Exquisitely Unremarkable mantra was born decades before the blog. I was all about cheap and easy crafts and DIY that didn't look like crap.

My particular brand of cottage style has always been one that {hopefully} exudes a warm and welcoming, cozy elegance.

It's what guides my decor choices and my craft projects. I don't pick accessories as much as they call to me.

Which I suppose is why I don't do a ton of dollar store crafts.

Some, sure, like when I painted their styrofoam pumpkins, or made a banner from their candy treat bags, but overall, I struggle to see elegance when I walk in the store.

I'm not a snob, hey I love Dollar Tree just as much as the next guy, it's just that most of their items don't speak to me.

Don't hate.

I'm just being honest.

Well, the other day this all changed. I belong to a Facebook group where I saw a woman use a few splatter screens to make a pumpkin and I thought, hmmm, I bet I could do something like that.

So I grabbed one, challenging myself to come up with something tasteful and unique.

And then it sat for weeks.

I had no idea what I was going to do with it until the other night, in the middle of a fall crafting frenzy, it all come together.

Fall Harvest Pumpkin Guest Towels

These pretty guest towels were my inspiration. You may remember them from my glass cutting board makeover.

I had tons leftover so I decided to use one to create a pretty wreath of sorts with my dollar store splatter screen.

Frying Pan Splatter Screen

Here is where I started, boring, a buck, meant for cooking not art...but a little glue gun action changed  all that.



How To Make A Fall Splatter Screen Pumpkin Wreath


I started by painting the screen itself with orange craft paint and a foam brush. I had no intention of spending anymore money on this project, so I wasn't running out to Home Depot for orange spray paint.

Plus it was late on a Sunday night.

Painted Splatter Screen With Orange Paint and Foam Brush

I wiped it away from the metal parts of the frame. I only wanted the paint on the screen.

Then I grabbed one of my guest towel napkins and placed it behind the screen to see how it would look.

Spatter Guard with fall Napkin underneath it

It was fabulous, so I pleaded in the hot glue gun and glued the towel to the back of the frame. I did pull on it a teeny bit so the folds in it smoothed out, but very gently so it wouldn't tear.

Crafty sidebar ~ clearly, napkins are not the sturdiest of materials. Since my piece wasn't made for outdoor use, I wasn't worried.

If I were going to use it outside, I would probably use a patterned vinyl placemat, a festive kitchen towel or at least laminate the napkin.

Hot Gluing Napkin To Splatter Screen

When I had secured it all the way around, I cut off all the excess getting the scissors as close to the frame as I could.

Spatter Guard and Napkin trimmed to fit

At this point, I was very happy with the progress. I liked the way the screen framed the pretty fall scene and the orange hue cast over it from the paint.

My little splatter screen was certainly on its way to elegant, but it wasn't quite there yet.

It needed more. Luckily, I had some metal words left in my stash from last year's half a wreath fail.

Metal Word Ornaments

They were from the dollar store, as well. I decided that one word glued across the front would add some necessary flair, and since it was shiny, a little sparkle. So I glued the word Harvest across the front.

Lastly, every wreath needs a bow, so I got started on one using my Bowdabra Bow Maker.

Now, I don't have a lot of crafting tools.

I rely on the basics, but when I started blogging - a long time ago - I was given one by the company to create crafts for them and I have never stopped using it.

It's a foolproof way to get a symmetrical bow every time. Love that.

Bowdabra Bow Maker with tan plaid ribbon

With the bow affixed to my splatter screen, the transformation was complete. I had a beautiful new piece of decor to accent my home for fall.

I immediately hung it up on my fireplace and loved the way it looked against the stone.

Dollar Store Harvest Wreath For Fall hanging on stone fireplace

I was going to cover the handle with something like ribbon or jute, but once I saw it hanging there, I realized it didn't need it.

Dollar Store Fall Decor in the living room

Cheap, easy and elegant.

And not from a fancy boutique.

From the dollar store.

Go figure.

Are you a dollar store crafter?
Kim Signature


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  1. You've still got it going on, girl! What a creative and quick craft to make when the creative juices are flowing but time is an issue. Thanks for posting this great idea!

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    1. Judy, you put a huge smile on my face this morning!! Thank you for the kind comment. I'm glad you like this one, I have to say, it's a favorite of mine! 😊

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  2. I really love that you made this fall hanging decoration from a splatter screen. It looks great and i've seen this on some youtube videos where they make it into a pumpkin also. Have a great day and Happy October.

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    1. Thanks Julie!! That's what I saw on Facebook, it was two screens together, to form a pumpkin, so sweet...and triggered those creative juices. Happy October to you!!

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  3. LOVE it,Kim. I am not much of a dollar store crafter but I do like to pick up certain things in there...cards, glasses, etc. However, your piece does not look like it started at the dollar store. I love it! Have a great Wednesday- xo Diana

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    1. Thanks so much, Diana! I like the cards there, too. I'm still a snail mail kind of girl. And I'm on the brink of needing reading glasses...gosh they have pretty one for a buck! I hope your October is off to a great start!! Thanks for the visit! xo

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  4. Look at you with your crafty self! Love this! Gotta love the dollar store. Love that print on the ribbon too. I like the lighter fall colors in ribbon they have now. Have a great Wednesday.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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    1. Thanks Kris! I really have to go into that store with more of an open mind from now on. And isn’t that ribbon sweet? I picked it up at the craft store a while ago, but didn’t know where to use it. So happy I remembered it was in the cabinet! Happy October!

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  5. Such a beautiful creative idea!

    I bought a set of the metal words. I stuck harvest on the center of my large white serving platter. It sits on top of my china cabinet with some fall fluff around it.
    The word thankful is stuck on my white rectangular bread plate & is on a plate rack on the wall. I haven't used the Welcome yet. I suppose I could just stick on my front door.

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    1. Thank you so much, Jenny!! ❤️ Don’t you love those words?? I've yet to use the Welcome one, too. I’m thinking I may go out and pop it on my greenery and pumpkin wreath when the newness of it starts to fade in a few weeks. In the meantime, I have Thankful on a rose wreath that’s been displayed on a cake plate. I just like the reminder…and for a buck you can’t beat it!! Happy Fall!!

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  6. That's really pretty! And it especially is nice against the gorgeous stone of your fireplace. I grew up crafting too, mainly because of a favorite aunt who always took me to a hobby store when I visited her. And like you I was really into it during my young married days of making a first home. Wish I had kept some of the things I did then because I've come back to a love of homemade items. I don't craft anymore myself but I love nothing better than going to a country church's Christmas fair and buying things others have made. And I've about given up on any US decor magazines except for ones like Flea Market Style, etc. I love the personal taste in rooms featured in them, rooms that tell stories about the person who lives there. That's what it's all about, isn't it?

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    1. Thank you so much, Dewena! I started because of a favorite aunt, too. She introduced me to cross stitch and fabric crafts. I used to laugh when she would come visit our state and want to spend her days in quilting shops. Now I do the same thing in fabric stores…and I’ve given up on box stores the way you’ve given up on magazines. They all have the same mass marketed items with no story or meaning behind them. I love the hunt and the personal aspect. Otherwise our homes would all look like furniture showrooms and there’s not fun in that!! Thanks for the visit! Happy Fall!!

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  7. I had no idea where you were going with this but I'm so glad I hung out to the end because it turned out awesome!

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    1. Seems to be the overriding sentiment!! Ha! I'm glad you hung out until the end, too.

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  8. That is very clever Kim! I love it! The trouble with me is, I never think of how I want to use something I buy...until I give it away, that is.

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    1. Right there with you, Florence. I've given away so many things and then thought, oh no, I could've ______ (fill in the blanks!). Thank goodness for thrift stores.

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  9. Kim this turned out fantastic. I wasn't sure what it was going to end up like. When I saw the print on the napkins I had faith. Painting the screen orange was a great idea too.

    Enjoy your evening.

    Cindy

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    1. Cindy, you have echoed others with the not sure where she's going with this sentiment! It's honestly how I felt until I found those napkins!! Thanks for the visit!

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  10. When I saw the splatter screen I had no idea where you were going with this. But now I am pleasantly surprised by the glorious outcome. What a great upcycle.

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    1. I guess you all had the same thought! I love it...and I'm glad you all stuck around to see what it became!! Thank you so much!!

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  11. I feel the same when I go to the dollar store so no hate from me! But you sure created a winner with this one. It's perfect! And you could do them for different seasons - just need the right napkin. Thanks for sharing this!

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    1. Thanks so much, Mari...and I agree, different napkins will make a difference!!

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  12. As always .. you amaze me with your ideas and eye for what goes with what. :-)

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    1. Thank you, Carla. I'm glad you're amazed...I think some people think I'm crazy!! Ha!!

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  13. How clever and pretty. I have the metal words too. Could you show us the wreath to the left of your creative project on the fireplace ?
    Myrna

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    1. Hi Myrna! Thanks so much for the sweet words. The wreath in the picture is one I purchased long ago.

      It is featured here in this post(just copy and paste the link): https://www.exquisitelyunremarkable.com/2013/10/decorating-cheat-autumn-splendor.html .

      It's also listed for sale in my Amazon shop if you want a closer look. It's called the Autumn Hydrangea Peony Wreath, 22-Inch, Red if you want to Google it. Hope that helps!

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  14. So cute! As you know, I'm not a crafter at all. Never had it in my genes. So I'm always extra-impressed at what you come up with.

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    1. Thank you, Melanie! ☺️ I think it is in my genes...for better or worse!! Sometimes I'm not sure which. Happy Fall!!

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  15. Thank you, Teri! I like this one a lot. 😊

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  16. It just amazes me how some people (like YOU) are so creative! You can make something from nothing and make it look amazing! Just amazing! (I"m shaking my head in wonder!)

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    1. Thank you, Christine!! You are so sweet! Sometimes I wonder if I’m just plain nuts. I’m glad to hear you think I’m just creative! ☺️

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  17. What a fabulous idea! When I first seen it I was thinking a pumpkin project. So this was a surprise and I love how it turned out. It's suprising the cute things we can make from the Dollar store. 💖

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    1. Thanks Linda! I was thinking pumpkin, too, but then this just happened!

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  18. Wowza Kim, that looks amazing. The mesh in front of the napkin creates such a lovely, aged look. Nothing beats making something with your own hands that looks good. A one of a kind feeling.

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    1. Thanks so much! This was a fun challenge...a real trash to treasure kind of project and I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome!

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  19. I love Dollar Tree for candy and party supplies but they do have slim pickings for crafty items...unless you need wiggly eyes and Popsicle sticks. Your unique take on a splatter screen craft is elegant and perfect for Fall!

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    1. Thanks Audra, I was surprised it turned out so well, and well...elegant looking. Not bad for a buck!

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  20. Very nice. Since we are having Thanksgiving at our house this year, this would make a nice welcome! I will hit Dollar Tree this weekend.

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    1. Oh so glad you found some inspiration here...and Happy Thanksgiving!!

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  21. What a lovely and clever idea.

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