Halloween Projects and Tutorials from Around the Web

As you can imagine, I've been steadily trying to catch up on. . .everything since dealing with vision issues and moving and whatnot. In going through my feedreader, I've stumbled on some cool, creepy, and neat Halloween ideas that I thought I'd share with you before the actual day gets here. You know, give you enough time to make one of these projects or at least think hard about them.

These pumpkins with the doorknob tops are so cute and vintage-y. And, they look pretty easy to make too - BONUS!

Vintage Doorknob Pumpkins from Finding Home Farms

I'm obsessed with Tim Holtz products and have always wanted to make a little Halloween collection of apothecary/witches jars so this Undertaker's Parlor that combines both totally appeals to me.

Undertakers Parlor from IGIRLZOE

More pumpkins and upcycling! Again, these are made so easily and from thrift store finds. I might just have to make a few.

Pumpkin Candy Jars from Craftbits

Now for a few projects on the spooky side. . .
This first one is kinda labor intensive, but it looks like the results might be worth it! Seriously, a full-body ghost in your front yard!? Want!

Packing Tape Ghost from The Crafty Geek

A friend of mine actually made a set of these floating crystal ball candlesticks before I even saw the link in my feedreader. She did different images in hers but I like that the tutorial includes printable images to make it easier for you. I think they're pretty awesome.

Spooky Crystal Ball Halloween Candlesticks from Flamingo Toes

Lastly, something a little less spooky. . .and yes, pumpkins again. But these are faux quilted pumpkins.  For real, they are NO-SEW patchwork pumpkins. So adorable!

No-sew Patchwork Pumpkins from Crafts n' Coffee

That's what I've stumbled across so far. I'm sure there are tons of other amazing projects and foods and costumes and gosh knows what else that I've missed and haven't gotten to yet. But, I did need to share these. Remember that if you want to pin or save these projects, I ask that you go to the original source to do so.

What are some cool projects that you've made for Halloween? Help me catch up!

WOYWW (a day late)

I have been up to my eyeballs in paperwork and computer work and I haven't even started gathering the 2014 tax stuff yet. I've been so busy, I actually took all these photos yesterday for What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday but never got around to editing them. So, I'm a day late. Le sigh. Here's what my workdesk has been looking like.

No beads or paint. . .how sad this is.

Now that my big paperwork-y project is close to done, I can hopefully pull out some of these

Paints and pens

Or these

Spray inks and markers

Or some of these

Stamps

Or some of the fun stuff on this shelf

All kinds of goodies (paints, inks, sprays, powders, etc.)

And, I especially want to play with these!

Beads! Glorious beads!!

I guess I need to stop writing about it and go ahead and get to it if it's going to happen today. Where would you start with all these options?

I'm sharing this late link on Stamping Ground's What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday (WOYWW)

Pinning with Purpose | Week 15 (the last one)

Because of lack of interest in this endeavor (others as well as my own), this will be my last Pinning with Purpose entry.

I definitely want to thank Jenna at The Painted Apron for her almost weekly participation in this linky party. THANK YOU! Here are the two recipes she shared last week.

Cold Weather Comfort Bowls

Spinach Ravioli Alfredo with Chicken and Asparagus

These seem perfect now that the weather has turned more chilly.

As for what I had on my list. First was this cut-out skully tee for Halloween from my HOLIDAY | All Hallow's Eve board. It's based on this original skully-tee tutorial. (for some reason I can't get the original picture to share with you, please click over to see it.) Here's how I went about making it.

I bought a plain, black t-shirt at the thrift store.

Using some templates that I made from thick paper, I traced out the features with chalk.

With sharp sewing scissors, I roughly cut out the facial features.

I layered the black shirt over a white one to make sure the face could be seen.

I got a few compliments on the shirt as well as a few weird looks, but I really like how easy and interesting it was. I even had one lady tell me about her friend who made a similar pumpkin one layered over an orange tank top. Cool beans.

Secondly, I planned on making this Skinny Tuna Noodle Casserole (from my FOOD | Healthy-er Eats Board).

Skinny Tuna Noodle Casserole

I was a little worried before I made this about how it would go over at my house since my husband informed me as I was in the process of making it that he doesn't really care for tuna casserole (despite liking my tuna noodles). Gah! Seriously!?

my version

 It all worked out in the end as he ate 2-3 helpings of it. However, the leftovers are still sitting there. (One of the downfalls of no microwave). I might just make this again.

Since this is my last PwP, I haven't selected any new Pins to work on, though I do encourage you to link up. I'll leave the link open a little longer than usual just in case you do have something to share. Thanks to those of you who have played along with this. I thoroughly appreciate it.

An InLinkz Link-up

Pinning with Purpose | Week 14

After all the birthday merriment this week/weekend, I'm running bit behind on today's Pinning with Purpose. I do hope you'll forgive me.

As a reminder, here's some info on Pinning with Purpose. Each week, I pick out a few pins from my Pinterest boards and try to recreate them or use them for inspiration. And, I challenge you to do the same. Find a pin that gets your creative juices going; be it a craft tutorial, recipe, style inspiration, or organizational tip and run with it. I encourage you to share your results on your blog and then link it up here. I do ask that if you are going to link up here, that you mention it on your blog with a link back.  As well, if you want to pin anything seen here, please make sure you go to the original post to do it.

Big thanks to Jenna at The Painted Apron for sharing her super fun and festive Halloween tablescape last week. Thank you Jenna!

Halloween Tablescape at The Painted Apron

Once again, I was too ambitious for my own good and only managed to get to one of my picked pins. (I was too busy to make dessert. How is that possible!?) The one I did focus in on was this adorable bracelet.

Delicate button bracelet tutorial from Just Crafty Enough off my Jewelry Tutorials board

I decided to be less precise with my bracelet and went for my jar of white buttons and bowl of mixed jump rings.

First, I picked out some similar-in-size buttons. From there I sorted through my jump rings for larger ones. I wasn't concerned that they match in metal or size, just that they were big enough to work.

I'm really happy with the results of this project. I ended up wearing the bracelet all day and even my 14 year-old niece noticed it. Win!

For this next week, I'll be working on. . .

• Making this cute cut-out skully tee for Halloween from my HOLIDAY | All Hallow's Eve board. It's based on this original skully-tee tutorial.
• As well, after a week of indulgence, I want to get back to eating better. As such I'll be adding this Skinny Tuna Noodle Casserole to the menu (from my FOOD | Healthy-er Eats Board).

Now it's your turn to share what you've been up to with your Pinterest Pins.

An InLinkz Link-up

Menu plan and recipe review

I have been busy GETTING STUFF DONE today. . . or at least making lists of stuff I need to do. I even taped on a second page to my to do list.

There are fewer Xs on there than I would like, but I totally got some stuff accomplished (grocery shopping is important, yo.) Now for what I'll do with those groceries.

Breakfasts: Cereal, Smoothies, PB toast, Waffles, French Toast, Breakfast burritoes

Lunches: Creamy garlic pasta w/salad, Chicken finger wraps, Turkey paninis, Tuna noodles, soup w/grilled cheese, Chicken salad sandwiches, PB&J

Dinners: 

Baked sesame tofu sticks w/green beans & Parmesan potato wedges

Italian Chicken Soup

Kitchen sink homemade pizza on whole wheat pizza crust

Three cheese skillet lasagna w/salad

Of course, I'm linking up with Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

_________________________________________

Recipe Review

Pork chops with creamy mushrooms and dill:   Let me admit that I've made these many times before. It's one of my favorite ways to make pork chops. I do have to cook the chops longer than suggested in the recipe, but otherwise it's great. I'm sure I'll be making it again, and again, and again!

Roasted cauliflower white cheddar soup: This soup was so, so good. Instead of transferring some of the soup to a blender, I used an immersion blender for ease.  If my microwave wasn't broken, I think the leftovers would have been eaten. I'll make this again for sure.

Dinner's in the oven and there's still plenty left to do on that list. Though admittedly, I'll probably just watch Saturday's Alabama game (I was out of town). . .that's totally on my list though!

What yumminess are you planning on having this week?

Pinning with Purpose | Week 7

This week was even crazier than I expected so I'm relieved I only went with two Pins for this week's Pinning with Purpose.

If you're new to Pinning with purpose, here are the deets: each week, I pick out a few pins from my Pinterest boards and try to recreate them or use them for inspiration. And, I challenge you to do the same. Find a pin that gets your creative juices going; be it a craft tutorial, recipe, style inspiration, or organizational tip and run with it. I encourage you to share your results on your blog and then link it up here.

Did you see the link-ups from last week's Pinning with Purpose?

Lorraine at Clamco Cottage gave a facelift to brown wicker end tables.

Rosantia at Bairozan's Blog not only made this beautiful nest jewelry set

She also created this stunningly romantic rope bracelet

As for what I worked on this week (please remember to go to the original sites to pin or share any of these images, above or below), here's a reminder of what I had on tap:

Dark Chocolate Greek Yogurt Fruit Dip from Cook the Story off my Healthy-er Eats board

Beaded Toggle and Bar Clasp Tutorial from Beading Gem off my Jewelry Tutorials board

And, here's how they turned out:

The Chocolate Fruit Dip came together quickly, and I stored it in the fridge for a few hours before we tried it.

The consistency was thick like pudding, which I liked. We both thought the dip was good. However, we both noticed something a little off' about the taste. I definitely want to experiment with this recipe since we did like it. We think it could be the amount of cinnamon used or maybe even just old cocoa powder. I'll be referring to this recipe again to adjust it to my liking. It's a great base though.

Since I was just learning the technique for the Beaded Toggle and Bar Clasp, I used some cheaper wire and beads.

Though these aren't perfect by any means, I like the simplicity of the technique. I'll definitely be keeping this idea in my wheelhouse for when I need a matching clasp.

I'm hoping to feel better and get more done next week (wishful thinking?), so here are the Pinned links I have planned for myself.

• Since my amazing husband got my Photoshop up and running again, I want to install some fonts off my Online Tips and Such board. Here are the ones I'm starting with:
• Favorite Font Combos from Yellow Bliss Road
• Favorite Free Halloween Fonts from Ella Claire Inspired
• Lovely Fonts from Ann Meer Design
• I know I've got some potatoes in the pantry that need to be used, so these Parmesan Potato Wedges from MyRecipes off my FOOD | Veggies board sound tasty and practical. 
• With my newfound love of mixed media art, I'm going to make the yarn-wrapped block for stamping shown in Print & Pattern's review of Print Workshop. 

It should be a great week! I hope yours will be fun and inspiring as well.

An InLinkz Link-up

Pinning with Purpose | Week 4

It's the end of another long week. I hope yours has been better than mine. Despite illness, I was able to get to the Pins I picked out two weeks ago, dust them off, and actually use them. I apologize for last week's lull.

As always, I encourage you to play along: weed through your own Pinterest boards; find a recipe, a tutorial, or some other source of inspiration that you've been saving for just the right moment and make THIS the moment.

Here are the pins I worked on this week: (If you also want to pin these, please go to the original source.)

All Natural Strawberry Ice Cream Bars from Happiness is Homemade off my Healty-er Eats board

Homemade Laundry Soap from Natural and Thrifty from my Good Ideas board

Button Bobby Pins from Christina Homemaker off my Just Do It . . .Yourself board

Here are my results:

The strawberry ice cream bars were super easy; just dump, blend, pour, and freeze. In addition, they were super tasty.

I will say that you have to like the taste of coconut as it is strong, but I don't mind that at all. Yum!


I have made the homemade laundry soap previously, but I liked it so much I made it again. It really only takes three store-bought ingredients and lots of water.

With just the two of us, it does a good enough job cleaning our clothes and seemed to last forever (8+ months). You also might want to know that once the mixture sets it's kinda gel-like and gloopy.

I recommend putting in in an old detergent bottle and shaking it before each use to break up some of the gel. This hasn't been an issue for me at all as the low cost and long life of it  totally outweighs having to shake it before each use.


The Button Bobby Pins are just too cute. It was a perfect way for me to use up some of my button supply, and who doesn't have some extra bobby pins stashed away?

I was skeptical about the use of the needle, thread, and glue to make these accessories as wire would have been a more natural choice for me. However, I found a way to make it work and feel really good about it over the wire.

Please know that the shank buttons were a booger to steady and get to stay, those took quite a bit more time than the holed buttons. However, they did work and I like them all!

I even put one in my hair!

I'm so glad to have gotten to those pins on my board. Here are the ones I'm looking forward to this coming week:

• Pencil eraser stamp from Creature Comforts blog off my Just Do It. . .Yourself Board
• No bake energy bites from The Recipe Critic off my FOOD | Munchies Board
• Braided Bead Necklace from Live in Art off my Jewelry Tutorials Blog

I do hope you take this opportunity to be inspired by what you have saved on Pinterest, share your results on your blog, and link up here. You are welcome to use the Pinning with purpose image at the top of the page or this one (below) for your reveal if you'd like. I'll work on creating actual code buttons later. Sorry about that.

Thanks for taking a peek and/or playing along.

An InLinkz Link-up

Mouth Watering Macro

My I Heart Macro post today is a little scattered (go figure.)

First, I want to let y'all know that I am still working on/contemplating getting the craft room reorganized and designed. I've got paint chips of the colors I like sitting around all over the house and even in my car. Since I won't be painting the walls, these are my color picks for the furniture and accessories.

What'cha think?

Secondly, Pat and I went to a the Tin Top Restaurant in Bon Secour. We happened to luck up and hit the place right at lunchtime when it was crazy packed. We sat at the bar and just chilled. Apparently, because of "our patience", we received a complementary half dozen of their "Dirty Dozen Oysters." 

Typically, I'm not much of an oyster-eater. However, these oysters that were baked, covered in crawfish sauce, ham, and cheese were DELICIOUS. I may be a convert!

There's lots more I Heart Macro going on over at Studio Waterstone