Have a Spooktacular Halloween!!!

Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

Halloween snuck up on you, so now what?

Here are some spooktacular ideas to save the day from things you have around your home!

• Flower Child - Dig out that tie-dye shirt, add a garland of flowers in your hair and you're an instant Hippie, Flower Child or just really cool hipster
• Julia Child - Put on an apron, tie kitchen items to a large collander or strainer (that's your hat) and carry a cookbook or tuck some veggies coming out of your pockets
• Artist / Crafter - You know the favorite shirt you wear when you're being creative?  Wear that (drops of paint and all), put a few brushes in the pockets and go! Wear some earrings you've made too!

Don't sweat it, if you don't have anything to wear, put on a Fall color blouse, some cute earrings and go as your busy self - people will understand!

Aleene's Glue

About a month ago I received a notification on facebook that someone recognized me in a photo Tiffany Windsor posted.  It's embarrassing, but I had to ask the person to refresh my memory as to who she was.  Turned out she was a former co-worker at Aleene's and as we got more reacquainted we found out we both live in the same small town about an hour from where we worked. 

Last night we attended a Meet Up group here in town and saw each other for the first time in 17 years!!!  She came over for lunch today and we caught-up, brainstormed and had a great time.  She brought me these delicious leaf shaped cookies and attached a wonderful gift tag that reads: 
glue: something that binds together

What a lovely and thoughtful gift!  Thanks Carrie!

Make a 16th Birthday Plate

Sweet 16 Party Ideas

Turning Sweet 16 is always a time to remember so make an extraordinary one-of-a-kind keepsake by having everyone at the party sign their names on a tissue heart that you later use to decorate this so sweet plate.

What You'll Need

• Tissue paper (pink and white pin stripe, white, medium yellow, silver, fuchsia, light fuchsia)
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Scissors (decorative edge)
• Permanent Pen (black, wide and thin)
• Paintbrush (wide)
• Platter (clear)
• Glue (clear)

Have guests sign their names on light fuchsia hearts using thin permanent pen.

How to Make It

1. Draw and cut out designs from tissue, using photo as a guide for color. Cake - cut a rectangle from pin stripe. For icing on top and bottom of cake, cut two pieces of fuchsia tissue slightly longer than cake rectangle x 1/4" wide, using decorative edge scissors. For center of plate, cut a circle the diameter of platter center from light fuchsia tissue.
2. Place cake pieces on tissue circle for placement.
3. Write desired saying around tissue circle, using wide permanent pen.
4. Brush a light coat of glue on tissue circle where cake will be placed. Place cake over glue. Lightly brush glue over cake. Add candle, flame, 'icing' and cake plate. Let dry.
5. On back of platter, brush a mediuim coat of glue in center area where tissue circle will be placed. Place tissue circle over glue with right side down. Brush glue over tissue from center out to edges.
6. For edge of platter, brush glue where hearts will be placed on back of platter. Place hearts right side down into glue. Brush glue over hearts.
7. Tear pink stripe tissue into small pieces. Brush glue over remaining exposed glass. Place pink stripe tissue pieces over glue, slightly overlapping until all glass is covered. Brush glue over tissue. For edge of platter, fold excess tissue under or after dry, cut excess.

NOTE:  Do not submerge the platter in water - clean with a damp sponge.

Floral Stickers

How to Make Stickers

These stickers are great way to accent stationery and you make them yourself!  This is a great way to preserve / use a special bouquet you've received!

What You'll Need

• Dried Pressed Flowers (You can even take semi-dried flowers, put them between paper towels on a wood cutting board and iron them dry)
• Laminating Plastic or Clear Contact Paper
• Scissors
• Permanent Pen

How to Make Them

1. Draw desired shape (heart, circle, etc.) on paper side of laminating plastic, using permanent pen.
2. Cut out.
3. Remove paper backing from laminating plastic.
4. Arrange flowers on slick side of laminating plastic.
5. Press sticky side of laminating plastic over flowers.
6. When ready to apply, remove paper backing and stick to envelope or stationery.

How to Make a Welcome Mat

Adoorable Decorated Doormat

It's Fall, so that means the holidays are right around the corner so make your guests feel extra-special with a custom decorated welcome mat.  These make inexpensive holiday gifts too!  Personalize for each person with a stencil that fits their personality.  You can even make your own stencil design with Contact Paper.

What You'll Need
Doormat
Acrylic Paint
Stencil
Sponge
Spray Adhesive

Plate

How to Make It
1. Spray adhesive on back of stencil, following manufacturer's instructions.
2. Press stencil where desired on mat.  
3. Place small amounts of paint on plate. Dab sponge into paint. Dab paint into openings of stencil until desired look is achieved. Wash out sponge and move onto another color. Continue stenciling. Let dry. NOTE:  If using reverse image (see angels in picture), wipe wet paint from stencil and apply adhesive on reverse side.

To make custom stencils, place design under clear Contact Paper. Trace with permanent pen. Cut out.  You won't need the spray adhesive. Start with step 2 above.