Fall Festival Blog Hop

Welcome to the

Today's hop will give you all kinds of awesome fall crafting ideas. So let's get started!

I've been rather busy lately. Who am I kidding? I'm always busy... I moved the older girls' stuff out of their room (as written on "It's Ma Birth-day..." in early October), and the hubster finished up the new craftroom, so I had to "move" everything on over. OMG! I have so much S-H-*-*!  It took several days (and nights) to complete this project (the craftroom/s), and since I was put on a deadline, it didn't all come over organized, not that it was really organized in the other space. But I did know where everything was. As for now, I'm not quite sure where everything is, so my first project for this hop is somewhere in the unorganized new space blitz that is my craftroom. It was a cute skinny little tri-fold card, in an accordion style, using a sunny marigold paper. Seriously. I looked for it to take quickie-pics, but nothing was to be found.

New Room pics...

All the stuff I had to move...

 

After an hour of searching really you have NO idea how much stuff I had to look through, I gave up. But.. Since I did just move a room, I found lots of "lost" treasures and decided to do another project. Yup. Really truly lost. But that skinny little card had acorns with really cute Peachy Keen stamp faces. And I will find it.  I will find it... but it'll take a bit of time. I'll re-post it then.

So... I found this:

And decided to add LOTS of color to it...

 It took two coats to cover the "craft" color...

Then I added the green stem.

Then topped it off with some green ivy...

And decided it looked pretty good, so I put it on my table amongst other little pumpkins... I love it!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Please visit all the blogs in today's hop and don't forget to leave comments to be entered into a drawing for a wonderful prize from Kathy Moran, Independent L'Bri Consultant!

Kathy is giving away this fabulous gift basket.

The gift basket includes: body wash, daily moisturizing hand and body lotion with a loofah, body butter, eye repair gel, facial masque, and hand soap. I'm also going to include a travel size facial cleanser, freshener and moisturizer and will be matched to the winner's skin type. The retail value on these items is over $120.00. The scent of the lotion, body wash, and lotion is cucumber, which is the faintest scent. I'm also including a set of brushes and a cosmetic bag with mirror.
Check out our sponsor at: www.morank.lbri.com

Here's the lineup!

Theresa - scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com
CADC Designers - http://cardadaychallenge.blogspot.com
Haidee - http://created2bunique.blogspot.com
Alicia - http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com
Kim - www.katydidcards.com
Angela - www.crazy3monkeys.blogspot.com
Lisa - http://lisaslittlerascals.blogspot.com <======= YOU ARE HERE!
Jearise - http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com (NEXT UP!)
Daphne - http://craftyscrapsofstuff.blogspot.com
Holli - http://Sunflowerholli.blogspot.com
Tristan - https://www.facebook.com/TinstarDesigns

Remember, HAPPY FALL Y'ALL! Just have a good time and hop!

Creepy Cricut Creations Blog Hop!

Hi Everybody!

Welcome to the Creepy Cricut Creations Blog Hop!  If you're here from Angela at 3 Crazy Monkeys, then you're in the right place.  If not, then you may want to start at the very beginning HERE.

We're celebrating our Cricut machines, and Halloween in this amazing hop!  Here's my creepy Cricut creation:

I usually completely decorate my door for Halloween... I intended to "mummy up" my door with these great big google-y eyes I got from Michael's (saw something similar on Pinterest...), and just didn't get around to it. So... I was doing something else and Jenny (@ Crazy About Cricut) happened to post openings for a blog hop. I love Halloween... and thought I needed THIS to kick my mojo back in gear. And make a banner for my front door, I did! Whoop, whoop!

Before you look any further... Let me apologize for the bad, BAD photos. I took them with my phone. I know... not a great excuse. I could've done better, but I was already frustrated from not being able to find my regular camera (um... I "hid" it so a kid wouldn't mess up my favorite settings again... and can't seem to remember where my hiding spot is. Hopefully... it'll turn up soon...)

Moving on...

The little ghosts are cut from Paper Doll Dress Up (Cricut, of course!). They were slightly distressed with Black Soot (Tim Holtz), glittered eyes with fairy dust and Stickles.

The letters B-O-O are from Blackletter (Cricut). The "blackout" is done in white and the actual letters in a cute black candy-ish print (got it from a swap... all these items were from my stash!), all done at 5.76" height. Fairy dust glitter is again used in the white openings.

I did add another ghost down at the bottom... Couldn't leave the first one alone (he might've been scared!)...

This wonderful roll of burlap-type orange-y and green-y distressed stuff cost a whole $.40 at Michael's on clearance some time ago.  I finally quite hoarding it and put it to a good use! Hahaha!

 

If you notice all the cuts are slightly raised, I used silicone gel. The stuff from Home Depot. Love it!

 

Now... Jenny only asked for ONE project, but when I saw what one of the blog candy prizes was... I couldn't resist making this cute little card:

He's one of the pumpkin cards from Mini Monsters. I absolutely love this cartridge. It's so versatile... Plus, It's the closest thing I have to any of the Halloween-y carts. I use it all. the. time.

I gave him some google-y eyes (different sizes to add to his quirkiness) and Black Diamond Stickle-d his zig-zag mouth (I didn't want to follow the original mouth line...). His leaf is done in green, then distressed in Tea Dye (Tim Holtz). His cute edges of his polka dot face are distressed (can you tell I absolutely LOVE Tim Holtz Distress Inks?) with Peeled Paint.

Then, you open him up... and BOO! (in Christmas Red Stickles...) a Mini Monsters ghost jumps out at you, floating on an ACTION WOBBLE!!!! He's a little glittered and glammed from the pumpkin mess within, but he's all mine. Gotta love him.

I tried to post the video of him wobbling, but... I'm not that tech-y. Bummer.

At this posting, I am the end of the line... But, if you'd like to hop around and look some more, here is the lineup. Remember... I'm already the end of it...

1. Jenny - http://crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com/
2. Lori - http://scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com/
3. Cheryl - http://cardsbycg.blogspot.com/
4. Wandy - http://greenapplescrapper.blogspot.com
5. Sarah - http://sarahvaitstamps.blogspot.com
6. Tracy - http://lovesbuggin.blogspot.com/
7. Carol - http://www.workmanscraps.com
8. Elizabeth - http://www.ejoym.blogspot.com
9. Amanda- http://amandascraftsandmore.blogspot.com/
10. Angela - www.crazy3monkeys.blogspot.com
11. Me! You're already HeRe!

There are some amazing and fun things to see... so PLEASE visit everyone. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you had a "Hoppin' Halloween!!!"

Blog Hop Prizes:

Please be a Blog Follower and Comment on all thru the blogs for a chance to win.

The more blogs you comment on the more chances you have to win!

5 PACK OF ACTION WOBBLES!

$5 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO JADED BLOSSOM!

 

Paper Hoarders Design Team Challenge: What Are YOU Thankful For?

I had to think a lot about this, and try to focus on one or two things... as I'm thankful for a lot.

Thankfully, I didn't have to think to hard, because... as I was perusing through my stash of Cuttlebug folders, I came across one that had LOTS of things to be thankful for on it! HA! (You'll see in a sec...)

I've been trying to utilize my stash, so I remembered this Debbie Mumm stack that I bought several years ago (unlike others, I rarely buy stacks...) and so, I cut out the stacked pumpkins. They are so sparkly and awesome. I just HAD to use them.

Then I ran some orange cardstock through a Pumpkin Cuttlebug embossing folder, inked up the Lots to Be Thankful For (don't really know the name of the folder, but that's what I'm gonna call it...) Cuttlebug folder with Walnut Stain Distress Ink (to make the words POP!), then ran some vellum through it.

I sprayed the vellum with a spray adhesive by 3M (love it!!! it SOOO doesn't show!), and attached it to my card; then attached my stacked pumpkins with a little ATG love, added the "Give Thanks" ribbon (another stash-y item), and called it a day.

And so Provo Craft did something right! They invented something that states ALL the things I'm thankful for when Autumn comes... well... if it ever comes, HERE, in Southern California...

Unfortunately, you can't really see the pumpkin embossing, but that's ok. It still gives it a little dimension.

Now... to see other peeps who are thankful, please check out Ms. Tanya's blog... and if you want to, let me know that YOU want to be a Paper Hoarder, too! We'll sign you up!

Lastly... join us for the challenge. What are YOU thankful for? Thanks for looking!

Pumpkin (Poo) Galore!

Ok, I know this is post Halloween and Thanksgiving, but these are really going to get used THIS season... I love sweet things made with pumpkin! I promise this week, I'll post something craftily Christmas and/or holiday-themed... moving on...

Pumpkins stay good for a long time, as long as they're not carved... And so... when the Kindergarten class had the local Pumpkin Patch come to our playground (with a petting zoo!) for "Fall" (I call it HALLOWEEN!), the kids each got a sugar pumpkin. I let the 5yo decorate it, but... no cutting... (lol!)

And after Halloween, I washed, cleaned, cut up and cooked and pureed it for future use.

Marissa's scooping out the innards...

freshly cut, small and sweet

CLEAN pumpkin!

I washed the outside free of all ink and glue and other goo. (Woohoo!)  Then I slice it in half and scooped out ALL of the pulp. Ooey-gooey!

fit for a Crock Pot!

Then, the pumpkin was cut, thick tough shell and all... into smaller pieces, fit for the crock pot.  I had a total of 4 small pumpkins, so there was A LOT.

(yes, I used TWO crocks!)

I did NOT cook it in the oven. First of all... been there, done that, have the scent (BAD bad smell that permeates the house for weeks) imprinted in my brain and nostrils from well over 20 years ago. (I was 15... you do the math!) Second of all, I don't like to watch it. And you really have to watch it in the oven, or else it will burn (and smell even worse). So, I crock-potted it.  Simple, easy. It took about 6 hours, as each crock was p-a-c-k-e-d! (Just cook until fork-tender.) And well, the smell is minimal. I can live with that.

Take the pumpkin out of the crocks (there will be liquid at the bottom... just get rid of it) and allow the cooked pumpkin to cool (you don't want the pumpkin to re-absorb the liquid, it could get mushy that way...). I let it cool to room temp (only because the first batch I chilled in the fridge and it was too difficult to scoop afterwards... kinda like rock hard ice cream...). And scooped it... into the food processor.



I processed it (with a blade) at high speed until it was smooth. Occasionally, I had to take out bits of shell pieces (luckily, these don't appear to puree) and scrape down the sides of the fp bowl. It will be thick and luscious. 

I put in in freezer storage containers in 2 cup amounts, ready, willing and waiting for various sweeteners, spices and combiners to be added to make my holiday confections. (Be sure to put the date on it, so it won't be "too" old or outdated.)

We made a homemade pumpkin pie out of one of the containers. (So Stacy dumped a whole bunch of cinnamon in there... life goes on...) We DID NOT make the crust. I bought a beautiful frozen crust (WinCo had Marie Calendar's pie crusts - 2/$1.88), how could it go wrong? Um... super tough, hard and flavorless - don't buy it!

And then... there were lots of extra pumpkins after Thanksgiving from the Kindergarten classes... and who do you think they gave them to? You guessed it! Me! And so... I will be crock-potting them next week, after the kids are on break, so I can use and/or freeze more pumpkin. Gotta love F-R-E-E... free!