Fall Apple Decor from Monkey Pod Bowls

Even though I had already upcycled some monkey pod wood once before, I decided that thrifting fate was telling me to do it again. You see, I came across these monkey pod bowls twice over the course of a few weeks. And, well– that’s a rarity for most thrift store “smalls”! After I saw them the second time, I decided they kind of looked like Fall apples, or rather, they could look like apple decor.

So, into the cart they went.

Believe it or not, I already had a wooden apple trivet in my garage from last year.

And since I had never created any apple decor before, I finally had a trio that was worthy of a makeover and blog post!

Apples are perfect as autumn decorations AND back to school decor. And besides, they’d be a fun alternative (and companion) to these painted wood pumpkins that started as similar bowls!

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Apple Decor for Fall

To keep things interesting, I decided to paint both red and green apples. So, I gathered some painting supplies in good apple colors and got to work.

After the red chalk paint and apple green satin paint had dried (two coats each), I set my sights on the “stems” of the monkey pod bowls.

Not quite leaves and not quite stems– it was a weird top, if you ask me. So, I was going to have to free-hand my way to make them look like fall apple decor.

With a little dark green paint and a small, rounded-edge craft paint brush, I was able to fudge some green leaves at the top of the monkey pod wood.

I also left the center of each top bare to replicate the woody stem of an apple.

Next, I set the apple bowls aside and worked on the trivet. Before doing anything else, I sanded it down with some flexible 220-grit sandpaper.

I did the same to the monkey pod wood bowl that I had painted with the red chalk paint, too. The green apple, which was painted with satin paint, didn’t need any sanding.

Finishing the Fall Apple Decor

Because of its flat surface, the apple trivet was begging for a little stenciling!

So, I bought a small Fall stencil, and gathered white craft paint and a small stencil brush.

Next, I stippled over the stencil twice with white paint (needed for more opaque coverage over the deep scarlet red).

When the paint dried, I removed the stencil and ran a piece of 220-grit sandpaper over the stenciling (lightly!) and that was it!

Now, I just needed to buff clear wax over my Fall apple decor to seal the chalk paint.

Fall Apple Decor from Monkey Pod Bowls

After buffing them to a smooth sheen, my apples were done! Super easy makeover, and now I finally have some apple decor in my arsenal of fall projects.

I’m so glad I didn’t pass them up the second time around! And I’m REALLY glad (and honestly, a little surprised), that I remembered that apple trivet hiding out in the garage.

I love decorating in “3’s” (or any odd number, for that matter).

I’m also excited to announce that my first book is now available! If you enjoy upcycling clothing and simple sewing projects, then you will love my book on flannel crafts! It even has an entire chapter on fall flannel craft ideas.

And if you enjoyed this upcycling idea for non-pumpkin Fall Decor, then you’ll love my fabric acorns made from tweed jackets, too!

Craft on!

S

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