Outlet Mount Candle Holders - Fall Centerpiece

I needed a new fall centerpiece for my table but didn't want to spend much money so I 'shopped' around through my stash of 'junk' and came up with this.  The porcelain sockets make great candle holders!  The candles were too small for the opening so I wrapped them in aluminum foil so they wouldn't wobble.

 To cover the foil, I made a little 'necklace' from an old pearl necklace in my stash and slipped that down over the candles.  I added a few old keys to the light pulls for some added interest,

The centerpiece itself was a wooden box someone gave me (don't you love it when people give you their 'cast offs'?!) and since it had leaves on it I thought it would be perfect for a fall piece.  I gave it a coat of chalk paint then lightly sanded to bring out the details in the wood.

The bird house is one I've had for years and it's been in a lot of different places in my home but at the time was in my box of 'stuff' so I gave it a wash of chalk paint and added it to the back section of the box.  Some sticks, silk hydrangeas (also gifted to me) and a 1.00 felt pumpkin from the Target Dollar Spot (a dangerous place!) completed the look.

I'm trying to embrace fall . . . it's hard for a summer-, warm weather-lover like me though!  Do you let your friends know to call you before they throw out their unwanted things?  If not, you should! It's amazing what you can gather for your makeovers, often at no cost to you!  What's the greatest 'freebie' you've ever gotten?