Happy Halloween! Getting crafty

I wanted to show some simple Halloween/Fall designs I have done and am doing. I have had a few people say they don't have any decor for this season. I wanted to show fast, simple and most importantly INEXPENSIVE!

Pumpkin, Ghost and Frankenstein Jars.

I like to use large and odd shaped jars. I bought my husband some pickled asparagus in a glass jar. He only ate 2 and then they just sat in the fridge (I admit...picked asparagus...doesn't sound all that great. Apparently, it isn't.) The jar has a rather square shape to it. I was thinking of trying a Frankenstein jar.

The Ghost jar was made out of a large pickle jar.I Used white tissue paper. Someone I know is a Janitor in the medical Field. She had a roll of the tissue paper that is used on the exam tables. She asked if I wanted it. At the time I had no idea what I would do with it, but said yes. The mouth and eyes were cut from some Scrap booking paper I had. The bendable wire is from the craft store. I noticed the dollar store sells some also. But they did not have the plastic coating over the wire like the craft stores did. It was also 3 times the price of the dollar store. I used Decoupage to make the tissue and the construction paper to stick. I have been told Elmer's glue is the same and cheaper. I have not tried that however (future project). I ripped the tissue into little pieces and then wadded them up to make them have a wrinkled look to them. I them painted the glass jar with the Decoupage, added the tissue to the wet surface, then finished with another coat of Decoupage. I then cut the wire to the handle length I wanted. Then cut another piece of wire to around the jar. I twisted the wire snug. With the end pieces, I twisted then around a small paint brush handle to give them a curly look.

For the Frankenstein jar. I bought a packet of tissue paper at the Dollar store. I have only been to the Dollar store once! That was last week. At first I was frustrated because nothing had prices on them! (I know...I know.....a very Blond moment. I admit, I have them at times) So after I saw the huge 'EVERYTHINGS A DOLLAR!" sign......I shopped with less restraint. I learned from My shopping trip to the dollar store that the LARGE package of paintbrushes are AWFUL! You loose half the bristles on your project as your painting it. HOWEVER....the large pack of different colored tissue paper is a deal! I bought this tissue not knowing I was going to be doing these jars. So what a great surprise to look in the pack and see this prefect Frankenstein green. I did have to make a quick trip to Target to buy a package of black tissue paper though. The end result was very much so worth it though!! I love the Frankenstein one the BEST!!

Completed first eye

Step 1. Black circle

Step 2. Half white circle

Step 3. Small black circle

Black tissue paper for hair. 2 screws for his bolts. I have seen pictures where they are on his head or on his neck, I did the head because they would be easier to attach to the wire handle. 

Candy Corn Candles
After Christmas I buy all the taper candles I can find. They average about .10 cents a piece at this time. I will buy them in boxes. I had a few friends say they didn't have Halloween decorations. So I thought about what I could do that was cheap and fast to make them just a few things to give to them. I came up with these Candy Corn Candles. I took white taper candles and painted the bottoms yellow. The middles orange. I noticed that because of the wax, the acrylic paint wanted to separate a little. I ended up using about 3 coats of paint on these candles. When they were dry, I sprayed then with a clear sealer. I would not burn these candles just use them for decoration.

Styrofoam eye Balls
These pretty much explain them selves. Styrofoam balls, wiggly eyes, hot glue and fishing line.

Hang these from fishing line and hang around the house.

Picking TJ up from his Mission.

On Febuary 17th 2011, Chris and I flew out to Kansas City, Mo. to pick TJ up from his 2 year Mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was called to serve in Indpendence, Mo. However he spent most of his time in the state of Kansas. The next day we drove to Independence, Mo Mission office to pick him up at 500pm. As we were sitting in the parking lot, mind you, I havent seen my son for over 2 years, we get a phone call that the van dropping TJ off will be 30 minutes later than planned. I was devestated. I even said to my husband "They have had him for 2 years,,,,,,cant they just get him back to me on time!" My husband suggested we go visit the Visitors center next door. I was pouting and he literaly had to drag me in the center. As I was begurdgling following behind him, a Sister Missionary asked us where we from and what brought us to the visitors center. I poutingly told her we were waiting for our Son who just finished his mission. She asked who he was, when I said "Elder Patterson" I was surrounded by 6 Missionaries. They all started telling us funny stories about TJ and how much they enjoyed Elder Patterson. My heart warmed. I even felt bad that I had been pouting and I knew we were lead to the Visitors center for a reason. I needed to be reminded of why we shared our oldest Son for 2 years. I was humbled by the impact our Son had made on people. It was getting close to the time the Van would be pulling into the parking lot. We went into the mission Office, as we were waiting..we were told that the Van just drove past. I went running to the door.....my husband thought it would be funny to hold the door closed so I couldnt open it. I said as serious as I could "I will run through you!" He must have known I was serious, he moved right away. I went running out the door. I could see him way at the other end of the parking lot unloading his suitcases. I screamed and started to cry. The only way to describe what I felt was it was like every single Chirstmas I have ever had rolled into one moment. TJ screamed also and came running to me and we literaly ran to each other.

TJ took us to 3 different wards on Sunday. By the second ward my husband told me "I am so sick of being called Brother Patterson." We got to meet some of the families that touched our sons life. We had Tempur pedic beds in our Motel room. The first night TJ climbed into bed, he said he has never slept in such a comfotable bed. the next morning I woke up at 800 and TJ was still asleep, Chris was laying in bed a wake playing a game on his phone. I asked him how long should we let TJ sleep. He said that it was his first day off his Mission, to let him sleep in. By 1100, we were running out of games to play on our phones and decided to wake him up. We then loaded up our rental car and headed to the airport.

We had a welcome home party a few days later. I found a really cute Return missionary cake idea by googling "return missionary cakes". Instead of making a fondant name tag. I just used his name tag from his Mission. we also had an awesome "Butterfinger cake" is favorite candy bar.

In 3 months we were going to be sending our second son off on his Mission. I was so thankful the brothers would have 3 months together after not seeing each other for 2 years, then to be seperated for 2 years again. I am so amazed at how close they still are given the time apart. Tj has said they are "Brothers forever.....no matter the distance and time apart." How did he get so wise. I love these two  pictures of them. They were taken just after TJ came home and Christopher left.

Dallas turns 14!

After much pleading from my "almost 14" year old Son, we decided to have his Birthday party at Grandmas house in Discovery Bay. Dallas is the last of 5 children. His older siblings birthdays start off in March, then we are over run with Birthdays starting with 2 in July and 1 in August. By the time his birthday rolls around on September 4th, we are getting finished with summer and ready for school and fall. So the past 2 years we have given him great birthdays (call it parental guilt...but whatever it is, he has had great birthdays these past 2 years). We invited around 30 kids. 25 showed up. It was a beach themed party. I found the cutest beach cupcake idea just from googling "beach cupcakes". They showed a peppermint ball however when I went to Bobs Oldtimecandy.com (I am the candy expert after searching for almost 200 pounds of candy for the candy buffet at my daughters wedding in May) I found a cute striped cherry flavored ball instead of the red and white striped peppermint ball! Funny how as I get older...little things like that just excite me. I used graham crackers for the sand and ordered little cocktail umbrellas from eBay. (hind site...I would have gotten them from Cost Plus/World Market....25 for $2.00. I bought 100 for 10.00 and only needed about 40. So now I have a ton left over and I don't drink so no Pina Colads in my future)

 The kids had so much fun swimming, eating, playing darts, eating, paddle boating, eating, kayaking, eating......well you get the idea. 25 Teenagers can eat!

The Birthday Boy

We had Watermelon Otai, a Polynesian punch.
1 ripe Watermelon (seedless)
1 can of crushed pineapple
1 can of coconut cream or coconut milk (I prefer the cream)
1 cup of shredded coconut (I use dried organic from whole foods..but you can use the baking kind)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Sugar to taste (optional)
3 to 4 cups of water (depending on how thick you want it)
cube and mash the watermelon in a big bowl with a big spoon, add the pineapple juice and all, empty coconut can in the bowl, add coconut and empty sweetened condensed milk in bowl. Add ice and enjoy. It is not a smoothie because it will have some pieces of fruit (pineapple and watermelon).

The kids ended the night with S'mores. We don't do your NORMAL S'mores, we go all out. We use graham crackers and sometimes flat fortune cookies. (I find them at Rite Aid) Now with Marshmallows coming in such a variety, you can get coconut, strawberry and even chocolate. For the chocolate we use Rolos, Hershey's miniatures, mini peppermint patties, mini Reese's.

 I am dying to try a chocolate bar from World Market in a S'More. It is Chipotle Chili Dark Chocolate. It has a little bite to it. I think it would make a great S'More. Ill have to keep everyone posted.

 All in All...I would say Dallas entered into the ripe old age of 14 with a great party. At the end of the day I asked him if there were any girls he liked. He answered with "theres 2" I told him good...but I need him to like 4. See that is smart Mom thinking..because if he likes 4, then he isn't thinking too much about 1!