Ack, we’re painting the hall bathroom, and we can’t wait to finish, shoot pics, and share them with you guys! But since that’s still in progress, I thought this stellar example of things not always working out might make you guys smile. We always get asked “what happens if you try something and it doesn’t work?” and I always say “we blog about it, of course!” You know, like this and this and this. We love sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly. And we can totally relate to a failed craft project or ten. So here we go…
In Richmond it has been raining men. If by men I mean acorns. Seriously, those little buggers are everywhere.
So I got a wild hair and decided – most definitely inspired by all the crafty acorn projects on sites like Martha & Pinterest – that I would do a cute little acorn craft. So I gathered up some acorns with my trusty assistants (those would be Clara and Burger, who actually worked against me the whole time by throwing/kicking/chasing them away from me) and put a few dozen into a bag.
Then I froze those suckers because I remember hearing a few horror stores about bugs or other odd things “hatching” from acorns, and those I did not want.
I left them in the freezer overnight, which I hear is all that it takes to kill off anything suspicious (although I did think to myself “self, doesn’t it get that cold outside? what is superior about a freezer that makes it better?”).
Then a day later I took them out of the freezer and let them thaw out. Later I poured some leftover craft paint (a little tube of acrylic paint that was originally like two bucks from Michaels) into a bowl. Then I took all the “hats” (you know, those little top parts of the acorn) off and dipped the end of them into the yellow paint.
Then I realized this was a terrible plan since I had no way to keep them from rolling all over the place and smearing, until I looked over at the pretzels that we keep in one of those big glass containers on the counter next to the cereal. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Yup, I totally made little pretzel stands so they wouldn’t roll around. Oddly enough it actually worked. I know, I was just as surprised as you are at this fortuitous turn of events. Don’t worry, things go bad later.
After dipping a bunch of acorns and setting them in their little pretzel holsters to dry I turned my attention to the $2 faux flowers that I’d grabbed at Michael’s (50% off thanks to those ubiquitous mailer coupons). When I got them… yeah- not so hot. But it wasn’t anything a little trimmy-trim and a cute vase couldn’t solve.
Ah, much cuter. And kinda fall-ish in that not-putting-fifty-gourds-everywhere way. Understated and easy, if you will. And then a few hours later when my little yellow tipped acorns were dry they came into the picture too. See them chilling in that glass container?
Here’s a panned out shot of the console with a few other tiny fall tweaks. I switched out the blue and gray books for some leaf-colored yellow and red ones…
… and grabbed some old vase filler from my fall tupperware bin in the form of some tiny faux apples, that I shoved into a clear cylinder vase leftover from our wedding (it’s the same one that held lemons and limes on the table).
Then I felt very chuffed (that’s my favorite English word along with “the till”) until about a day later when I saw this. What the…?
I popped the top and looked a little closer and it was totally mold. Boo! And I know you guys get a kick out of the what-didn’t-work projects just as much as the ones that did – so there ya go. My name is Sherry, and I somehow made beautiful yellow tipped moldy acorns. I’m not quite sure what went wrong, but I’m pretty sure that mold is not the new chevron, so it’s not going to be sweeping the DIY world anytime soon. Just say no to mold.
Actually, to say that I don’t know what went wrong is a lie. I totally know what went wrong. I’m just not adept enough to dabble in acorn crafts. The stakes are just too high. Glue guns? Sure. Paint? Ok. Drills and power saws? Yes please! But acorns? They send a shiver down my spine. I’m clearly not ready for them yet…
So I did the loving thing and threw those moldy paint-dipped acorns away and whipped out some fun old printing letters for a rustic fall-ish feeling without the threat of mold (we have a ton of these with all of our initials, our wedding date, and even “YHL” thanks to a sweet friend who sent these three our way).
So other than a few tiny and cheap (well almost all of them were actually free) fall tweaks in the form of some leaf-colored books, a few cut down fake-blooms from Michael’s and some cute little apple vase filler, we’ve learned one thing. I’m clearly not attentive enough to master the delicate eco-system that is an acorn. So I’m leaving them to Martha and you crafty folks on Pinterest who can manipulate them into wreaths and decorative orbs and all of those other wildly creative things without so much as batting an eye. I’ll stick to cutting down faux flowers and popping them into a bright little vase thankyouverymuch. Eh, who am I kidding, I’m totally going to try my acorn luck again next year. It’ll be like an epic annual battle that keeps no one on the edge of their seat but me.
Has anyone else mastered the acorn or done any especially cute and not-at-all moldy fall crafts? Do tell. I promise I’ll only pout a little…
Meaghan says
Not sure if someone mentioned this already, but maybe try soaking the acorns in a bleach/water solution for a bit and then allowing them to dry. My mom suggested I do this with the mini pumpkins I bought to prevent them from molding. I think the bleach solution will fill in all the cracks and kill any bacteria lurking around.
-m
Elizabeth@ Food Ramblings says
I put gourds out and I didn’t pay attention to them for a while— they were covered wit fur- yuck!
Lisa says
Its a good thing they molded, because If I had stopped by your house and stood in the doorway unsupervised, I would have seen those delicious little homemade Halloween treats and popped a few into my mouth. One time (at Band Camp) I was selling dog treats at a farmers’ market and a human strolled by, casually grabbed a liver and peanut butter bone-shaped cookie, threw it in their pie-hole and got MAD at ME for leaving out such disgusting samples! Everyone Knows that stealth snackers should never get angry with (admit to) anyone who put out decorative acorns, or say, shellacked bread, because they didn’t taste great.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah!
xo,
s
amanda gail says
Agree with drying them out first. I collected a bunch last month and stuckem right in a glass vase with NO lid. Id never considered mold or bugs ….ewe…. but can only assume they were able to fully dry out. Though next time Ill be looking out for potential bugs. :p
Janet says
50/50 vinegar water rinse for 15 minutes or so before freezing them.
Laura says
I also decided to place acorns in a jar this year! I washed them in soap and water and let them dry on our sun porch for 2 days. Then I baked them in the oven at 175 for about an hour and let them cool. So far, no mold!
Maggie says
Certainly baking them will work. They actually then turn a nice, toasty color. I made a wreath (it takes a TON of acorns and hot glue!)
Good luck!
Carol says
I wondered about baking them initially to kill the buggies and to dry them out. We don’t have acorns here, so I have no experience with fresh acorns. Better luck next time!
Shelley @ Green Eggs and Hamlet says
Thanks for posting about your trials and tribulations as well as your victories and beautiful things. It’s so nice to know you guys are real people and have things go south from time to time as well.
I must say, I’d take the mold over other commenters’ descriptions of bugs and maggots. Ewwww!
julie s says
last fall bought a house with a beautiful oak tree – acorns included….i am now a not-so-proud member of Acorns Anonymous….mine went the way of worms – so gross
Annalynn says
I noticed that lots of people with problem acorns mentioned they were inside a container. Even if you bake them to kill the bugs, the mold spores are much tougher. Freezing doens’t do much to stop mold after the acorns thaw. Putting acorns in a glass jar with a lid is logical if you fear bugs, or just like those beautiful lidded glass jars. However, the lidded container also traps moisture and encourages mold to grow. Maybe freeze and/or dry them, then display in a basket… or a row of pretzels (lol)…
Cristina says
My husband recently took a trip to Mississippi and mailed home a treasure trove of goodies for the kids: a branch with acorns, holly and cedar boughs, a couple of huge beetles, a giant water spider, and some cicada shells (the kids like bugs – he did freeze them first). The bugs stank to high heaven, apparently they thawed in the mail, and when we dumped out the acorns some little white maggoty looking grubs came out, too. Everything went out on the porch to freeze (we are in Alaska – no acorns here). I did glue an acorn cap/hat onto one of my daughters little wooden fairy dolls – very cute!
Sandy says
“Mold is not the new chevron.” Ha! You just made my day!
Jillian@TheHumbleGourmet says
I just picked up some super discounted pinecones at Michael’s thinking they would make great fall decor in my new Nate Burkus woven tray (so cute!)
…then I got home and realized that overwhelming, choking me cinnamon scent was the pinecones. Crazy, crazy, CRAZY artifical cinnamon scent. My husband immediately sent them outside for me to return :-( Pout.
Steph R says
Well when I saw your pic of the acorns, I thought they were candy and wondered where you had put the acorns. Which means if I had showed up to your house while these were out, it could’ve been awkward and disastrous. It was a good idea though!
abby says
silly sherry you put them in a closed container! No duh they molded :)
I have had a huge handful of acorns sitting in an open (no lid) mason jar on my desk for weeks and they haven’t molded or had any bugs. Didn’t freeze or bake or anything :)
Alison says
Off topic, but I love the R Home cover and article! I’m in Jersey, but one of my colleagues in Richmond knows how much I love you guys so he mailed up the magazine. Also, love the bubble necklace!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Alison! They shot some without Clara and some with her so we’re so glad she made it!
xo
s
jeannette says
http://www.etsy.com/listing/82914102/acorn-ornaments-handmade-wool-felt
there’s an acorn box on page 81 of this book, typical martha overkill to die for.
http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Christmas-Martha-Stewart-Living/dp/0517884763
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh, amazing!!
xo
s
Selina says
This sounds like me! I had a cute serving dish in my china cabinet filled with chestnuts and candles for a fall touch. I was freshening it all up for Thanksgiving when I noticed this white powder in the dish! Get this, WORMS had crawled out of the chestnuts and into the candles!! Gross! Really Gross! Beyond Gross!
I am a faithful reader, you’ve given me great ideas! Thanks!!!
Lauren Moore says
I’m late to comment here… but I picked up buckeyes which were awesome fall decor in a silver dish…. they totally did the same thing and IT.WAS.GROSS. I guess we get A-corns for effort…
sara @ it's good to be queen says
#1 you are a hilarious writer. thumbs up. :)
#2 i just threw all of our acorns from our hike into an open glass container…so far no mold…i don’t think. it’s not super inspired or exciting but it says fall for about zero effort. ;)
Katie says
Last year I tried to do something acorny and I dried them in the oven forever and ever and ever and they STILL got moldy – but no other yuckies. Maybe it was the enclosed space thing like some have suggested. I’m just glad to hear it’s not just me!
Katie says
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/acorns/s278076
I just came across these while browsing the Crate and Barrel website. It made me think of you guys and this post. In case you want to try again you could always order these :) I’m sure they won’t become moldy.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Katie!
xo,
s