Antiqued Pumpkins

I know Halloween is over, but Pumpkins make fabulous decorations through all of November, too.

What you'll need:

Pumkins

Painter's Tape

White Spray Paint

Stain (whatever color you have handy)

ribbon

A really cute helper (I prefer ones named "Sunny")

Tape off the stem like this:

Next, Pray paint it white. Cover it well.

Wait for it to dry...duh :)

Use a damp cloth and carefully (and lightly) wipe the stain on.

Careful so you don't rub the white spray paint right off.

I let Sunny wipe the stain on (which was a mistake because she FREAKED when she got it on her hands and arms. She panicked thinking it would never come off. Then she said "UGH! Now my arms are gonna look like yours!!!")

Tie a ribbon around your stem.

Easy Enough:

Thanks to SweetPea for another FABULOUS idea!!!

Fabric Flowers. LOTS of fabric flowers...

My creative and talented sister, Gina, was in town all week and she showed me what she has been making lately.

I loved them. And have ALWAYS wanted to attempt them.

We made several different styles. All of them were cheap. And all of them were VERY EASY.

You'll need:

scissors

Hot Glue Gun

varying shapes of circles (cups, mugs, whatever)

Needle and Thread

Remnant Fabrics

Buttons

Felt

Optional: tulle

Here is the first one. Super Easy. Just cut about 8 layers of circles. Varying fabrics. Big to small. Do mostly fabric, but mix in a layer or two of felt and you can also add in a layer or two of tulle. The differing textures add a lot.

Layer the circles (as shown below) and then sew the button in the center. Let the fabric pucker a little when you sew your button, it adds uniqueness. :)

The next one needs just 3 layers. Small, medium and big. Cut a circle in the middle also. Like this:

(This picture doesn't show the size difference, but there is a difference)

I saw similar ones HERE.

I used a plastic cup, the big end, upside down, for the largest and just found cups smaller and smaller.

Stitch around the center circle with a needle and thread, pull it tight, so the circle scrunches closed and puckers up and repeat with each layer. Add a button. And your done. I didn't mind when the layers weren't completely centered. Still darling.

The next one I found HERE. I love this one. A little bit more work, but that means 10 minutes instead of 8... So worth it. They look fabulous. Follow her instructions. I printed the pattern and pinned it onto the fabric. I love these ones. I don't love the buttons I used, but it was what I had.

Besides the cute headband, how cute are these two?!?

This one TOTALLY needs a button with Red in it. But alas, I did not have one...

This last one I hope I explain okay. These are really easy, but I learned it best when I sat and made them with Gina. So cut out 8 CIRCLES OF FELT. We used the thread spool for our pattern. You will need 8. Fold them in quarters and stitch 4 circles (folded in quarters) together. Stitch it about 2/3's out toward the edge...

So you will have 4 of your circles stitched like the picture above. Are you following this? It is so easy, but tough to explain.

Then you will start the next layer of 4 CIRCLES. You will off center it from your first layer. Stitch this one just at the point...

When your done, shape it as needed and your done. On this headband Gina is wearing, she made a second flower with smaller circles and hot glued them both on next to each other.

I have been loving these ones. Some of them we put buttons in. All of them we loved. Most of them we made with Felt, one we made with a regular cotton fabric.

Hot Glue any of the flowers on a headband, stitch it to a bobby pin or I used a safety pin to pin it to a cardigan. Glue them onto your favorite flats. OR: I have a very plain pair of tan flats. I think I will attach velcro to the shoes and then velcro to the flowers, so I can change the flowers to match my outfit. You could also put them on a purse. I pinned one to the end of my scarf and it looks pretty dang cute, too. The possibilities are endless and so much fun.

I bought the cheap goody fabric covered headbands (at Target they were a 5 pack for $2.99) and cut the fabric and pull it off. It is the cheapest route.

Have Fun!!! I promise they are ADDICTING. You need one in every shape and color. Right???

Addicted...

I have stayed up every night this week making something.

I have made several.

Every night.

They are cute.

I can't seem to make enough.

I will write up a post about it tomorrow.

Because tonight?

I have to make one to match my outfit for church tomorrow.

Wait for it....

Leave a message...

My kids love these plates. Their favorite thing to do with them is write how many days until their birthday. Sometimes the number on it is over 100. :)

It is easy. Not kidding. I buy my plates at Hobby Lobby. I think they are between $2.00 and $4.00. I string ribbon through. Then I write on it, with Dry Erase markers. That's it.

They make great gifts. This particular one was a Thank You gift, in case you couldn't tell...

I have only found about 3 plates that the Dry Erase Markers don't work on, one from Cost Plus and 2 from Target. Just test the marker on the back of the plate. If you really love it but you can't erase the marker, paint it with a spray paint, clear lacquer. You should be fine writing on it.

Happy Writing!!

Ice Cream Sundays

My husband has a calling at church that requires me to sit alone. Hardly alone, actually. More like parent alone. So every Sunday morning I get the kids ready and to church with plenty of time to sit close enough to the stand that Dad can give a threatening look if necessary.

My kids are young. 11, 9, 7, 6 and 4. They are okay at church. But when I am going it alone... okay doesn't always work. They need a little motivation.

My kids love ice cream, so every Sunday they start with 3 scoops of ice cream. During the hour+ meeting at church, if they are naughty, they do not get a threat from me. They do not get taken out. They get something much worse. They get 1 scoop taken away. THE HORROR!!! I made a little folder to take to church with velcro ice cream scoops. So when they are naughty, 1 scoop goes. If they get mad and even NAUGHTIER because I took a scoop, it's easy. I take 1 more.

At night when Ryan gets home, we sit down and enjoy whatever amount of scoops each child managed to keep. Sometimes, they earn chocolate sauce or sprinkles.

Today at church was day 1. My kids were angels. They have never sat so still, so straight and tall with arms folded and mouths closed. It.was.awesome! I sat in church, listening. Actually listening! I wondered why on earth I had not ever done this before. Why didn't I make this years ago?!?

Front

Inside

Creative Writing

I had so much fun with the Window Chalkboard a few weeks ago, that I decided to do another chalkboard paint project.

So forgive me. This is not an original idea, I saw a picture of this somewhere on the internet when I was blog-hopping and I do not know where. But I filed it away in my brain and when I was shopping this weekend at TaiPan Trading Company, I saw a plate I loved and new it would be perfect.

Step 1: Find a plate you can't live without. :)

Step 2: Tape it off. Leave a square in the center

Step 3: Go grab that Chalk Board Spray Paint again. I did 2 coats. Waited about 20 minutes in between coats. Let it cure again. 24 Hours.

Step 4: Remove tape. Wrap the chalk in a damp paper towel for a second before you write on it so the chalk is soft.

Step 5: Remind your family how awesome you are. Display it for all to see.

Voila!!

That's it. So easy and super cute. I really wish I could find the picture I had seen somewhere. I have no idea. But thanks, random picture, I love it.

It is a great gift idea, I already gave 2 away for birthdays.

Well, it only took 2 years.

I tend to procrastinate. Just a little.

2 years ago, I bought an armoire from my sister.

She was going to sell it on Craigslist, I needed an armoire.

So I bought it with intentions of painting it and doing all kinds of cute stuff with it.

Then we moved. Like, 3 times or something.

Then I tackled the kitchen cabinet redo. It was a big job.

So I swore off painting anything.

...that only lasted about 2 weeks.

But I swore off painting anything big with a brush.

So I bought a paint sprayer. Which I am totally in love with.

This is the armoire before. It is big. And as a side note, aren't my nieces and nephews the cutest?

I loved the shape, but it was not really my style. I ditched the side pieces (well, I put them in the garage, where they are waiting to be ditched. still.) because I had NO room anywhere for such a big piece.

So I painted it. With the sprayer I purchased for the project, I painted the whole thing in about 40 minutes.

Done.

Then it sat.

For TWO YEARS.

Which actually turned out to be a good thing. I had all kinds of plans for it. And then they kept changing. Color schemes changed a few times, too. Then we bought our new house. It was supposed to be a home for the television in the family room in the basement. But the beast would NOT fit down the stairs and around the corner.

Pooh!

I wasn't willing to get rid of it so it made it's way to the kitchen.

Where it sat. Still unfinished. Until today.

There was a giant hole cut out in the back so that a big TV could fit in there.

Here it is midway. Painted black, sanded a little and needing beadboard. Waiting for curtains and drawers.

I made curtains for the bottom. I put new drawer pulls. And added the bead board. And here is the finished project......

Voila!

Now, all I need is some cut stuff to put in there. I think I am also going to put a shelf in there. I am going garage selling this Saturday, so it should be full of old, new to me, stuff!!!

Feels good to finally have it done.