Halloween witch: DIY style

It's that time of year where I'm busy making Halloween decorations for our Halloween party.  This year I decided to make a witch for our apple bobbin' station.  Halloween decorations can get expensive, especially the large ones, so I gathered some things I already had around the house.  I thought I'd share with you how I made my DIY witch.

First I started with an tomato cage turned upside down.  I used a soccer ball for the head. I glued on a $1 witch mask to the soccer ball. Trying to figure out how to attach the soccer ball to the tomato cage was a bit frustrating at first.  Then I broke out the handy dandy duct tape.  It's not pretty but it got the job done.  I also used the duct tape to attach a piece of pipe insulation for the arms.

I bent the pipe insulation to make an elbow and wrapped it with duct tape to hold it in place.

I used landscaping fabric for the dress.  I measured it to where it would hang about a foot below the bottom of the tomato cage, then doubled that.  I draped it inside the tomato cage using several pieces all the way around.

I made a scarf out of the landscaping fabric to cover the top of the tomato cage.

Then wrapped her arms with... landscaping fabric.

For the hands I cut out a piece of cardboard and attached wire for the fingers.  Then wrapped it all with duct tape.  I attached the hands to the pipe insulation with the duct tape.  Duct tape, duct tape, duct tape, Yep it was the go to for this project!

I covered the hands with glue using a hot glue gun.  Then added a layer of green paint.

I used green yarn for her hair.  I cut the yarn into 2ish foot sections. Then used a hot glue gun to add small sections at a time.

Then I glued small sections of the yarn down at the base of her "neck" , so the soccer ball wouldn't show.

I didn't like the fleshy tone of the mask so I added some green paint to match her hands.

I'll be adding a stir stick to her hands once we get her set up in the apple bobbin' station.  

You may also like; Gum boo machine

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Until next time,

Revamped wall art

Redecorating continued....For the last couple days I've been hard at it.  I try to give myself a cutoff time to in order to get my other chores done.  It's easy to get lost in a project, then BAM, 4 O'clock and your running around the house like a chicken with your head cut off.  I had just finished cleaning up from a painting project when this idea started bouncing around in my brain.

Continuing the farmhouse style into the living room, "Bless our nest" is the look I'm going for in here.  I'm currently refreshing a silhouette tree, and this just didn't fit.  I almost donated it a couple times, until this idea came along.

I removed the backing from the frame.

I carefully removed the top (card stock), leaving the foam spacers attached.

I gave them a coat of white paint using bullseye primer. This stuff is IT, if you haven't tried it you should.  It's my go to on a lot of projects.

I chose the branches I wanted to use and laid them face down on the card stock.

Using black spray paint, I sprayed over the branches.  I held the can about 6 inches from the card stock, so the  leaves wouldn't move around too much.  Then reattached the card stock to the foam spacers.

I love the finished product and it fits perfectly with my other decor.

You may also like these picture frame ideas: piecing it all together, Key to my heart picture frame.

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Until next time,

Gum BOO machine

It's the time of year where I'm impatiently waiting for the acceptable time to dig out my Halloween decorations. To me, Halloween is the most fun of all the holidays.  Every year we have a Halloween costume party and I always try to add a few new decorations.  So I thought I'd share this cute little idea I put together for the kiddos.

We had this gum ball machine sitting around forever collecting dust.  Just perfect to be upcycled into a Halloween decoration.

I wanted my lettering orange, so I painted that area with acrylic paint.

I put stickers over the area that I painted orange.

A few coats with black spray paint, then I carefully removed the stickers.

Then I simply added some skulls and candy.

You may also like this holiday idea: coffee can give a gift .

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Until next time,

Key to my heart picture frame

Another day, another project.  Right now I'm working on redecorating three rooms and my front porch.  I really never know what I'll be doing from day to day.  It's really wherever my mood takes me.  I'm redecorating my bedroom with shades of blue, and this is the project that jumped out at me today.

I sanded down this picture frame, and gave it a light coat with white spray paint.

I used a lace valance and some shell stones.

I cut out a piece of cardboard to fit inside the picture frame and gave it a coat of paint.  I cut the lace large enough to be wrapped around the cardboard, then used a hot glue gun to secure it in place.

I glued down the shell stones into the shape of an heart.

This decorative skeleton key had a stamp on it that I didn't want to show.  So I wrapped it with jute twine.  

Then glued it under the heart.

Then simply glued it into the picture frame.

You may also like this picture frame idea: piecing it all together

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Until next time,

Coffee can give a gift

It seems like just yesterday that the kids were let out for summer break.  Now in less then two weeks the new school year is about to begin.  This year is just flying by!  I was in Wal-mart a few days ago and fall decorations are already being set.  Before we know it Christmas will be here.  I know for us after we get the immediate family gifts bought, there just isn't much money left.  Try this cute little budget friendly gift for friends and family, or as my niece suggested to leave cookies for Santa!
Save your coffee cans now!

You can find templates on the folgers website under the promotions tab.  

I dug out some wrapping paper from last Christmas.  Cut out the template, and traced it on the backside of the wrapping paper.  Then simply cut it out and used a glue stick to attach it to the coffee can.

I pushed the eyebolt through the top of the lid.

Then used a nut on the bottom to hold it in place.

I painted the lid with some glitter paint to give it more of a christmasy look.

Then gathered some ribbon and ornaments.

I attached each ornament with piece of ribbon. Then added more ribbon to cover where the ornaments were attached.  to curl your ribbon pull the ribbon across the blade of your scissors while continuing to press with your thumb.  Or buy curly ribbon for an easier option.

Then simply add your favorite home baked goodies!

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Until next time,

DIY Moss decor

I've been wanting to use moss decor in a arrangement of some kind.  The problem is I live quite a ways from town.  The closest Wal-mart didn't carry the moss balls I was looking for.  I did find them online, but I am not the most patient person.  I decided to try my hand at making my own.  I tried a couple different techniques, and thought I'd share how it went.

I bought some styrofoam balls and spanish moss at Wal-mart.

The first technique I tried cutting the moss into small pieces.  I used a glue stick to put the glue on the ball, and pressed the moss down firmly as I went.

Glue stick technique.

On the second one I used a hot glue gun and glued down small sections at a time.  When I had the whole ball covered in moss I used a pair of scissors to snip off any moss that was sticking up.

Hot glue gun technique.

I thought the hot glue gun technique looked the best and did the last one the same.

If you're the do it yourself type, you might just want to give this project a try.

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Until next time,