Happy Halloween!!!!!

Happy Halloween Everyone!   I can't believe that today is Halloween.  I'm so not ready for it to be over :(  As usual I just feel like I didn't have time to get to all the things I wanted to make and do ..... Oh well, put it on the list for next year :)

So yesterday I finally took some time to take pictures of the rest of my decor.  I figured I better hurry up and get it posted before it's too late!!   Lets take a tour and I hope you enjoy!

This is my Front Door.   I usually start decorating for Fall in early September... but that's way too early for Halloween.. but then who has the time to keep changing out the decorations for Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving...Not I!!!  LOL  So I will  typically try to incorporate my Halloween Decor into what I've already put out.   For my door pocket, I just added a few spooky pics that I picked up at Michaels on clearance last year.  Look at those fun hangy spider things!  I love them!!!

For my Barn Door, I took down the little Scarecrow Pot and put up this spooky cage and crow.. I replaced the vinyl "Welcome" with "Beware"... (that's easy to change out)   I also added a few scary pumpkins to the planter....So now we have a "Spooky Fall" look :)

For my Little Red Wagon:  the Mums and the Bacopa were reaching their end... which is just perfect :)  I added a tombstone and this creepy little skeleton guy..... and I think it looks great :) 

Here's a full view of the Barn Door :)  Still my most favorite treasure :)

I wasn't going to post this picture....LOL   I was trying to hurry... and decided not to worry about the "Tree's" that I potted to add to the spooky forest theme on the front porch... but as I was looking at it.. I thought  "What are those spooky glowing things in the window...  Well, if click on the picture to make it bigger and you look closely, it's my little Chloe girl :)   she's watching me out the window like... "mama can I please come outside... I promise I'll stay out of the pictures."   Love my girly dogs :)

The following pictures are of some interior decor:

This is right as you enter the foyer on a little shelf going up the stairs.  I made this "Boo" out of muslum. It's coffee stained and cinnamon soaked.. it's sooo much cuter in person!  The bats are black vinyl cut from Happy Hauntings and the Jar I will show you a little later... nearly impossible to get a good picture!!!

Entering the Hallway..... a creepy "picture" created with Happy Hauntings.

This is Brand New... hung just a couple of days before the party so it's not very decorated... LOL   An old window that I bought  and a shelf that I plan to paint white and distress... it will become my "Mantle" since I don't have one :)   It hangs above the couch.

a close up of the window... I love it !!!!

This hangs by my kitchen table.  I just cut a piece of tagboard from the dollar tree to fit inside the frame.. then created the "Picture" with Happy Hauntings.  I actually made this last year but I still love it and used it again this year... a fun, easy way to change out the pictures in your home for a spooky Halloween look.

A few more altered pictures:  so easy to do.  These hang in the hallway.

Now for the candle Jars.  These are nearly impossible to get a good picture of!  The glare from the Modge Podge is crazy!   These I made last year.. they are just regular ol jars that I covered in modge podge, rolled in coffee and cinnamon, placed a printed Halloween picture on and turned them into spooky lanterns.  They really are sooooo cute!  and give off this creepy "old" glow.  :)

So I think that's all for today! 
Thanks for visiting and I better get my booty in gear.  I have a very busy day in the Flower Shop!

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

Kim

Halloween Party

Our Halloween Party was last night and it was such a BLAST :)    As usual, time got away from me and I wasn't able to get to all of the crafting ideas that I had planned... but it was still a FUNtabulous time!

My camera is still acting up, but I did managed to get a few pictures of the buffet table last night before we started digging in :)     I'll get some more pictures of the decor posted this afternoon or tomorrow. 

Hope you enjoy :)

 This was the "centerpiece" of the Buffet Table.  It's hard to notice, but my "spooky candles" are next to the tombstone.  I told our guests not to take this as a warning about the food :)

 

 The setup before the food was put out

Caramel Apple Bites!  OH YUM!!!  I'll share this recipe later.  So easy!  So good!

And our Goulish Spread.... One thing I usually do, but ran out of time for,  is to label the dishes with spooky names... My "theme"  (which never pans out like it does in my brain) was a spooky forest~  Hence the tree limbs in the background ~  We had Stuffed Mushrooms, Layered Taco Dip, Spicy Chicken bites, BBQ Ribs,  Hot Crab Dip, Hot Pizza Dip, Caramel Apple Bits, Caramel Snicker Mini Cheesecakes.  I'm afraid to step on the scales this morning!!  LOL

 

  One last look :)   I'm happy with how it all turned out... I think it slightly resembles a Spooky Forest spread :) What do you think? 

And this is my baby Sister, Brandy and I.  I'm the Fairy :)

Be back later with a few more decor pics :)

Have a GREAT Day!

Kim

Spooky Candles

Hi everyone, thanks for joining me today for another Craft Day project.  You're going to LOVE this one!  :)
It's an AMAZING craft project that turned out so stinkin cute!  I can hardly believe how a few simple items... (some of it trash!) Can be transformed into something so cool!  Prepare to be amazed :)

So, the other day I ended myWitch's Spell Book post with this picture~ 

And asked you~ "What could you make with with this stuff???" 

Well, can you believe... that a few Empty Toilet Paper Rolls,  Hot Glue , Black paint, White Ink and a flickering tea light can be transformed into.......

 

 I KNOW, Right!!!  ~ Seriously!  Toilet paper rolls and Hot Glue!  Can you believe it?  

I found the tutorial "Here" several weeks ago and I knew I had to give this a try...  She has some wonderfully creative variations and examples on her sight!  What a very talented lady!! I couldn't believe is how super easy it was to make these.  :) 
Here is my own tutorial for ya.

First, tape up the bottoms of your toilet paper/paper towel rolls and add something to help weigh them down.  I used a few decorative stones from a bag I bought at the Dollar Tree.   I also cut my TP rolls down so that they were staggering heights.
Next, use  masking tape to make a little indention for the tealight to sit down inside the roll.   Now comes the fun part!!! 

 Take your hot glue and just squeeze out your drips..  You can do a few drips... a lot of drips... double drips...long drips, short drips... you're in charge.  :)  Have fun.. I did them all different.  Just be sure and let one layer dry  before you go back and do a layer over the top.   I made 6 candles and I think I used 5 or 6 shorty glue sticks.

 \

Next (when the glue has completely set and hardened) I used black acrylic paint and painted the entire "candle" black... Use your brush to get into all the little crevices.  It did take 2 coats.   You could probably use black spray paint and it would work fine, too.  (By the way... the Craft Mat I use.... MUST HAVE!  they are so handy and NOTHING sticks to them!)

When the black paint had dried, I took a very soft brush and lightly brushed over the drips.  This gives it that aged and creepy look.
 After the ink had dried I sprayed it with glitter spray hoping that they will shimmer in the candlelight for my Halloween Party.    Now pop in your tealight and, Ta Da!  some really spooky candles :)

I am SO thrilled with how they turned out :) and can't wait to use them in a fun Halloween setting on my table :)   I'll be sharing pictures of that next week when I start really decorating for the party.

That's all for today.  Thanks for visiting!

Kim

Witches Spell Book

Hi Everyone!  Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!!!
I had a fantabulous weekend with lots of crafting time.  I've been working on several projects and I can't wait to share them with you.  :)
But first, I must apologize about not posting the "Spell Book" pictures last week.  My camera is acting up and I was having a tough time getting pictures.  It's still acting crazy....(maybe it's haunted) Whenever I turn it on and try to focus on something to photograph the image stabilizer goes out.... and then in.... and keeps doing that over and over.  It almost acts as if it's turning off and on but it never really turns off...   but I think I have figured out a way to work it so I can get my pictures. 
Anyhoosh.... I want to share the pictures of my spell book :)  I just LOVE this!  I think it turned out so cute!!!  in a spooky way, of course :)

So, because of the camera issues, I didn't get a tutorial made, but I would be more than happy to send the instructions to anyone interested.  Just shoot me an email and I'd be glad to walk you through it.  It's SUPER easy!

So without further ado....  Here it is :)

  Ta Da!!  Doesn't it look sooooo spooky!  (Sorry for the glare.  I coated it with Modge Podge to protect it)
The skeleton charm/key thingy is something I picked up on clearance at Michaels last year. I  Love how it makes it look so Witchy and spooky!

Here is the little "Scene" I set up on my door shelf.... I'm still working on getting it fully decorated so I'll share a full  picture of it all decorated up later :)    Do you just love the purple balls?... like little crystal balls!  They are just 2 left over glitter balls that I didn't use on my Halloween tree!  :)  I turned them upside down and set them in 2 little candlesticks from the dollar tree and Walla! So cute!!   I think they just added something kind of mystic to the whole setup :)
The Spider Candle holders were purchased a couple of years ago and I don't remember where, sorry :( They're pretty cute, though!

Here is a little closer picture of the book and without the charm.  You should be able to click on the picture to make it bigger.  The "Spell" is the Double Double toil and trouble poem.    I just printed it out on distressed paper and glued it to the pages.

Here is another another setup that I experimented with.... I can't decide which I like more.   I do love the moss and candlesticks in this one.  Hmmmmmmm   I'll have to give it some more thought and decide later.

So that's all for today.... Next I'll show you a project I worked on yesterday.....

 Hmmmmm Now what can you make with this stuff ????   
Something Fantabulously spooky!  :)  You'll be amazed! 

See you next time!

Kim

More Halloween Fun~

 I've been working on getting the rest of my Halloween decorations out and getting the house ready for our Halloween Party!  Eeeekkk  only 18 more days!  I can't wait.!!
Today I worked on decorating my door shelf.  I love my door shelf... have I said that before?  :)
I think I'll break the decorations up into a few fun posts rather than one long one... it's more fun that way :)
So for today.......

This~ is the "Ghostly" version of Live Laugh Love.... :)  I saw this saying on a sign at a craft fair years and years ago and thought it was the cutest thing!   Cricut and Happy Hauntings to the rescue and I now Have my own... but I think it needs a frame... put that on the list :)  ~
Movin on..... 

And This~  is some good old fashioned "Spider Cider".....  it tastes suspiciously like Root Beer :)
Wish I was better at taking pictures!  Its so much cuter in person.  You can "Brew" some of this up for all your favorite goblins this year

  Here they are with a cute paper cone filled with Halloween treats. So cute!!    They would make great favors for a kids' Halloween party.. don'tcha think? 

So that's all for today... tomorrow... the Spell Book.. Ohhhhh you're gonna love that one. :) ( I love love love it and it was so fun and easy to make.)  

Thanks for visiting!    See ya tomorrow!

Kim

My Halloween Tree

Hi!  Thanks for stopping by today!
I am Sooooooo excited to share my little Halloween Tree!   I just love how cute it turned out! It's a little busy.... But I still love it!

I actually wanted to make one like this last year, but because of some time constraints and elusive supplies (clear glass ornaments~Glow in the dark glitter)  the one I ended up making was not NEARLY as cute as I'd planned.  Plus, I SCORED big time on this little tree at JoAnn's!  30% off already, plus another 20% off entire purchase coupon!  Yay Mee!!!!!   I wish it was a little taller... but I still love it!

 So, I started with my glitter ornaments.  You can find tutorials online for this, but if you have any questions I'd be glad to help.   

 They are really easy to make and they're so much prettier than the pictures show.  

I used my Cricut , black vinyl and the October 31st and Happy Hauntings Carts  (Love that spooky font.) to cut out the words and spiders.  I tried a few other little things like ghosts such, but they didn't want to form around the curve of the ornament very well so I just stuck with the words and spiders.  I think that's enough anyway, don't you?

Look how Stinkin Cute!!!  I just love them!  I think this little spooky green one is my favorite...

Or maybe these are my favorites .. Love them!

I used Martha Stewart glow in the dark glitter for the white ones.  Let me tell ya....I looked all over for this stuff last year and I could not find it ANYWHERE!  I don't live close to any major craft store chain, so I am always a step behind,  :(  Something good comes out and by the time I get to the store, it's always gone!   Anyway, I found it this year... so I bought 2! ~ I'm not gonna take THAT chance again...Phew!!
**  (Like I'm ever gonna need THAT much Glow in the Dark glitter??? ) ** 

Lovin the spooky little graveyard scene... whhhoooooooo 

Wonder what happened to that guy? 

Beware Of The Black widow!!!

Are you a little scared?

I copied the idea for using this tray from my friend Amy... HI AMY!!!  :)    (This girl is seriously creative and she NEEDS to have a blog so she can share her talents.  :)

So that's my Spooky little Halloween Tree.  If you have one, leave a comment with a link to your blog so we can see.  :) 

Thanks for visiting today~

Kim

Chili with Cornmeal Pancakes

I had this interesting dinner idea come into my inbox from Betty Crocker.  I thought it sounded fun and easy and my guys LOVE Chili and Cornbread!! This afternoon was cool, overcast and very "Fall" feeling, so it was a perfect dinner choice.

I used my own chili recipe since I know that's what my family likes.  Nothing too fancy, Just 2 lbs extra lean ground beef (we raise our own beef) a large can of tomato sauce, 2 cans of Kidney Beans, and 2 Pkg's of
McCormics mild chili seasoning. Easy Peasy... but really good!

Then I got my trusty pancake griddle and my "Pancake ingredients"  and whipped up a batch of Cornmeal Pancakes.  :)
I thought the recipe for the batter seemed a little thin, so I added a bit more bisquick to thicken it up.

Here we go...... Looks like a pancake alright. 

Give em a flip~  Lookin good! 

Topped with  Chili~ added a little Sour Cream, Extra Cheese... Wa~La! Chili over Cornmeal Pancakes!

I think it turned out wonderful. My guys really loved it and said they'd DEFINITELY like this again.

I love finding new dinner ideas that don't take a lot of time, are wholesome and filling, and taste this good!

Thanks for visiting today!

Kim :)

I love Fall!

I do love Fall.  Fall is my absolute favorite time of year.  I love the feel of the air, watching the leaves change, the sounds of the Crows ( I think I just notice them more this time of year)  the sounds of the Blue Jays as they squawk at each other fighting over the hazelnuts, the feeling of "Nesting" that comes over me as I prepare my home for the winter months....canning, storing....and of course DECORATING!  This is the time of year when you get to gussy up your house with all the cozy colors of fall for 3 whole months... and then move right on to Christmas decor... love love love the decorating :)

When we built our house 13 years ago ,  (I know, right!  I can't believe it's been 13 years ago, already!), believe it or not, our search for the perfect house plan began with the porch.   I HAD to have a house plan with a big front  porch.  Why???  So I could decorate it, of course :)   I'd always LOVED old farmhouses with big front porches... there's that nostalgic feeling again :)

I spent this week dragging out the totes of fall decor and decorating my little heart out :)   Here is my front porch all gussied up for Fall.   I think I'll save the Halloween decor for a bit and just enjoy the "fallish" feel before I add the spooky stuff.  :)

THIS is one of my most favorite Fall pieces.  I bought one of these at a craft fair in Sisters, Oregon about 10 years ago.  It was one of those things that I looked at and said... "Ohhhh, I can make that"... and off I went.. but as I thought about it over the course of the day, I knew how often I said that and never got around to it, so I went back and bought it.  I've never regretted it!   I love it so much!   I hang it out in September, replace it mid October with Halloween, and then put it back out for November. I never tire of it.  :)   I've since made a few more for friends and they are equally in love :)

This little guy, I did make :)   I painted MANY of these for friends and family several years ago.  It's just a regular ol' terra cotta pot turned upside down and painted with acrylics.  The face was from a pattern in one of my tole painting books but I think it would be easy to draw your own.   Add a straw hat, some raffia for hair and ~Walla~  you have a cute little scarecrow guy.  I love his sweet little face. 

I love the way he looks hanging in the opening of my "barn door , above the "planter box"  filled with all kinds of fun fall foliage and sunflowers and a pumkin :)

And here is a full view of my "Barn Door" all decorated up for Fall.  I am so loving this door by my door!  LOL 

More beautiful, sparkly fall foliage in a metal pocket I got on clearance at Michaels last year. 

And finally, my "Twiggy Planter" full of pumpkins and leaves.  Another favorite treasure that I can change out for every season.   I bought this at the Portland Flower Market a couple years ago when I went to a flower show.
Also another one of those things I passed up the first go around and went back for. LOL  and still again, never regretted the purchase.  This is his 2nd year on the porch and he get's a new look for every season :)

So that's the porch.  :)   It makes me SO happy every time I look at it. :) 
I'm Working on some other fun things for inside the house that I can't wait to share.

Thanks for visiting today!  Hope you'll come again. :)

Kim