Plaque Pumpkin Set

I found a stash of leftover blank plaques my husband gave me...
In just a few minutes, I was able to transform them into these:
One of my favorite fall decorations YET!
I have an extra set available HERE in my etsy shop!

Linked to:
Shabby Nest

Juice Container Fabric Pumpkins

I've seen a lot of fabric pumpkins lately around the blog0sphere! So I thought I'd try my hand at some.

I saved a few juice containers, and instead of using up the little bit of fluff I had in my stash, I thought I'd use the containers as a 'frame'.

Materials:
Empty Juice containers
batting
fabric
scissors
raffia
cinnamon stick for stem
I cut the containers in thirds (throwing away the top)
I used two different containers for different sizes of pumpkins.
Cut a larger square of batting to cover the sides of your container...
THen cut an even larger square of fabric. Enough to gather at the top of the pumpkin and tie off.
Gather the fabric, and batting up around the container, and use raffia to tie it up. If you chose to use a cinnamon stick, it is better to insert that before tying the raffia. Cut away extra fabric.
I didn't insert the cinnamon sticks when I should have, thus, it was late, and I didn't want to untie them all just to have stems. Sorry.

What I've been working on...

Here's a little preview of something I've been working on. I hope to have it done in the next day or two. Stay tuned for the final results!

Twine Pears & My First Linky Party

I made these on a whim the other day... and I was so excited to see how they would turn out I didn't take a supply picture.
I used medium sized round styrofoal balls, a bundle of colored twine from Dollar Tree, and cut up cinnamon sticks, along with a glue gun.
I started by gluing the end of the twine at the base of the ball. Then started gluing it around in a swirl...
And just kept going all around the ball until I got to the top...Now to be honest, I originally thought I was going to do apples.... BUT... a little light bulb went off above my head as I got to the top and I decided to do pears instead... So as I completed the ball, I started making a swirl on top of my first layer and went out far enough to start a pear shape, then went back on top of THAT layer.... so this would be a third layer of twine (are you with me?)

I just went back and forth, making each layer a little smaller until I got the desired height and shape of a pear! Then I stuck a piece of cinnamon stick on the top!
How fun would it be to have a green set as well, along with some red apples? Might have to make a little trip back to Dollar Tree to see what colors they have left!

Yellow and Green Pears NOW AVAILABLE in my Etsy Shop HERE!

This is my very own Linky Party Debut! I'd love to see what you all have been up to!

Here are the basics:

1) Follow my blog, then leave the link to your blog POST, not the main blog
2) Link up anything you have been up to; craft, recipe, DIY project, etc (but please no direct links to etsy shops or sale sites)
3) Link back to me in your blog post or grab my button if you'd like ----->
4) Check out the other linky participants while you are here and leave them a friendly comment or hello!

I'll post some of my favs! I can't wait!

Giveaway at Craft-O-Maniac

I follow this amazing blog called Craft-O-Maniac. If you go there now, you can enter for a few chances to win everything you see to the left here.... but if you don't that's okay too, because then my chances of winning will be better! Ha!

Okay fine, go check it out HERE, because she also has ANOTHER giveaway going on too! PLUS, her blog rocks. Seriously.

FALL Blocks Redo

I got this set of 5 lovely framed flowers in lovely colors... at a yard sale for $1...
I wanted to make a "FALL" block set.
So, I originally planned to take out the flowers and do a 3D type letter blocks. No go. The back of the frames WOULD NOT come out! So, plan B... cover them up! So, I started by painting the outsides brown.
Then I cut scrapbook paper the same size as the inside of the frame... to cover the glass.
Goodbye flowers!!!!
And after a few 'wardrobe' changes... I settled on my colors.
With a quick cut on the cricut machine, and a rummage through my fall 'stuff'.... I came up with this!

Fall Leaf Topiary

With my leftover wreath items, I wanted to try to make a fall leaf topiary. I already had everything else I would need on hand:

Terra Cotta Pot
1 1/2 styrofoam balls
large cinnamon stick
glue
leaves
moss
paint/brushes
I cut all the stems off the leaves
Pierced the cinnamon stick into the styrofoam ball (which already had a small hole in it) and then stuck the other end through the half styro ball. Then I started gluing the leaves on the ball before putting the stick into the pot... just so it was easier to handle.

I just layered the leaves enough to cover the ball... working my way around the ball.
Once the leaves were in place, I glued the bottom of the cinnamon stick to the bottom of the terra cotta pot
With the final touch of covering the base of the topiary with some moss, the topiary was complete, and ready for placement!

Fall-ish Entryway

My fall wreath

I made a trip to Michaels and Dollar Tree Sunday afternoon. Michaels had 40% off most of their fall decor, PLUS I had an additional 15% coupon! So I stocked up on some things I've been wanting.

I already had this wreath that I got at Dollar Tree a while back for $1And then I got some leaf stems and some picks to put on the wreath... and dug up some fall things I've had in my stash...
And after hot glue-ing all the things to the wreath, this is what I came up with.
I also bought a few craft pumpkins to put out until it's later and we can put out real ones! I've started seeing the pumpkin patches setting up all over.... I'm so excited! Check back tomorrow to see my pumpkin display just inside my front door!

Tri-Color Cupcake Icing - How To

I frosted some cupcakes for a friend of mine we went to visit today...

How did I do it? Easy. And I'll show you how....

First you'll need:
Cupcakes
Icing, colored in your choice of colors
Parchment triangle or icing bag
Icing Tip of your choice

To get the triple color swirl, you'll need to fill the icing bag with all three colors. To do so, use a knife and scoop up a long narrow blob of icing and scrape it on the side of the icing bag. Be sure to leave room for the other 2 colors so only fill about 1/3 of the bag...

Then do the same with the 2nd color, making sure you leave room for your third color.

Slide your last color in as far down into the tip as you can. So your icing bag will look like this... with equal amounts of colored icing.

Next, I recommend squirting out your icing until you have all 3 colors coming out.

Then, you are ready to ice your cupcakes. I start on the outside and work my way to the middle.

And there you have it! A fun colorful cupcake! Have fun with this. Use more colors if you want! Or just go with 2.. and create some festive cupcakes for your favorite football team on game day!

If we hadn't been visiting my friend today, these cupcakes would have been decorated GOLD and BLACK!

GO HAWKEYES!!!