Fall Decor Ideas

My sister-in-law and I made these out of a 2 by 4, we sanded them down and added some acryllic paint, lettering, leaves and the spiral ring out of a notebook for the pumpkin stem.  These were really easy and we had a great time making them.

This is another one of my wreaths I make out of tree or shrub trimmings from our yard this one was made out of a crab apple tree and about 5 clumps of gourd and leaf thingys from the dollar store.  Total cost to make one of these about $10.00.

I used a metal wreath form like this one and started cramming my trimmings into it and stabilized them with a little hot glue.  And then used the hot glue to add the sprigs of gourds and leaves.

This was supposed to be a center piece for my table but my kids just could not resist the candy, I really can't blame them. This was getting to be a  little dangerous for my 18 month old so I moved it up.

This one is pretty self explanatory I found my vase at D.I. for 50 cents SCORE!  Add some candy and a candle (I left the plastic wrap on the bottom so it wouldn't make the candy taste like perfume).

 

Decorating can be cheap and fun!

Preschool Free Printables

I have been attempting to do a little preschool for my little girl from home....we needed a little motivation and something to make it more fun for her, so  I found these cute little flashcards and am planning to laminate them soon.

I found these alphabet flash cards here.

And just for fun we are going to try these

We found fairy tale dress up printable here.

And just in case your little one needs to practice up on sewing skills then these vintage sewing cards are just what you need. 

There are five differents options available for download here.

Halloween Book Countdown

I am getting excited for fall I think it is rapidly becoming my favorite time of year I love the harvest smells and colors, a little chill in the air, pumpkins, kids in costumes, corn mazes, baking and the anticapation of the Holidays approaching.

Halloween Book Countdown

This is a fun idea I found over at brown paper packages, I think we will be trying it out this year.

It's a pretty simple idea you find a Halloween book for every day of the month until Halloween starting on October 1st.  What you don't have thirty Halloween books just laying around, this is a good excuse to visit the library and pick some up.

And if you really want you can make a cute little BOO! bucket to put them in.

Have fun and happy fall!

Child size toolbox

Crafty Grandpa Creation

My Dad and cute little nephew whipped up this cute tool box last weekend, he just went out to the shop grabbed some scraps and put it all together.  It didn't take very much time at all and I'm sure it will be well used and loved for generations.

If you just happen to have your own signature branding iron laying around, it's a really nice touch.

These two had a great time and were too cute together not to have a little photo shoot.

We had a great time hanging out with family, riding four wheelers, lettin the cousins play and play and play some more and if you're my kid you play and play until you either wet your pants or fall asleep in some random place.

If you're interested in making a tool box of your own there is a tutorial and pattern for a similar tool box here.

Castle Pullstring Pinata

What you need: 

1 regular size oatmeal canister

2 small sized oatmeal canisters

Pink paper (I used 18 by 12 size constuction paper it comes in 8 assorted colors, you can find it at walmart)

crepe paper streamers

princess pictures (I found mine here)

curling ribbon

tape and  hot glue

hole punch

First cover your canisters with paper I used double stick tape for this.

Next make cone shapes to fit the tops.  Need help with this there is a tutorial

here. 

Now cover your cones with crepe paper.

 I cut little sections of crepe paper

And cut slits in the edge then used a glue stick to glue them on.

You could also make some party hats.

Color and cut out your princess images and glue them on like they are looking out the castle windows I just drew arched windows around them with a marker.

Cut a half circle shape in the bottom of the big canister and punch a hole in the center of the flap, I put duct tape on the flap before I punched the hole for reinforcement.  While you have the hole punch put some holes in the side of your big canister and tie a long piece of curling ribbon to each hole this is how you will hang the pinata.   Tie some curling ribbon on the flap this will be the string that lets all the candy out.   Now tape it shut,  just so it's strong enough to hold up all the candy but not strong enough that a little kid couldn't pull it open.  Tape a bunch of other strings all around, remember don't make them to sturdy just a tiny bit of tape.

(I did a really crappy job of this so just look at the dashed line and do it like that, your candy will probably fall out a little better than ours did.  Most of ours came out then we had to shake it a little bit to get the rest out.

Fill  large canister with candy (the sides remain empty) and hot glue all of your cones on to the top of the canisters and you have an adorable little princess castle pinata.  I love the idea of the pull string because I know  no one at my party will be getting wapped in the face with a bat phew!

Have Fun!

I am linking up with http://www.houseofhepworths.com/,  http://www.katiesnestingspot.com/ and http://www.somewhatsimple.com/.

Kitchen Aid Bowl Barbie Cake

My oldest had a barbie cake for her birthday in January and little sister just had to have one too.  These do require some effort but it's all worth it when they pull this face.

What you need:

Kitchen aid bowl

2 cake mixes

frosting

barbie doll(with bendy knees)

Preheat oven to 350 grease with shortening and coat with flour(don't forget this step or your skirt will not come out). Follow instructions on cake mixes and add both to your greased kitchen aid bowl.  Bake for a loooong time I actually lost track but it was around an hour of baking and you know it is done when a skewer or stick of some sort comes out clean.  Let cool for 20-25 min. and dump out onto plate.  Wrap bottom of doll in saran wrap and  make sure her knees are bent and carefully cram her in.  Now you are ready for frosting,  I used a star tip for the pink on her skirt and the crescent shaped tip for the ruffles. 

Celine Dion Mother's Prayer

How have  I not heard this before!?! 

 I was listening to my usual station on Pandora radio and for whatever reason it played this song, love it. 

Have a great thursday.