{ Easy Halloween Planter Craft }

Oh. My. Goodness! It is October! My favorite, favorite, favorite month of the year! I LOVE Autumn. Fall is everything that is good and wonderful rolled up into one season. I mean, if we want to be technical about it, even nearly all of the Christmas season is in Fall!

In the wise words of Anne of Green Gables:

Now, honestly, I am not much of a Halloween decorator. I AM a Fall decorator though. I love things that will work from late September through Thanksgiving (I'll get to that at the end of this post). I have had the idea to make this planter for quite a few months now, and so, here it is.

This is everything you'll need:

2 Jack o Lantern Trick or Treat buckets
1 can of plastic adhering spray paint- your choice of color
dry sand or gravel
Mum or other fall flower

Remove the handle from the buckets and throw away. This is optional, You can leave the handles if you like them.

Paint buckets and allow to fully dry (a few hours) before proceeding.

Fill the bottom bucket with gravel or sand. This will keep your buckets sturdy, otherwise, once you add your flower, it will become top heavy.

Hot glue around the bottom rim of your top bucket (no photos, sorry, hot glue is hot). Stack buckets together. Glue around the outer rim once you have them together. Spray paint over exposed glue, or you can put a ribbon over this part if the exposed glue line bothers you.

Plant your flower!

*You CAN drill holes in the bottom of each bucket to allow for draining, but I didn't I just plan not to over water ;)

That's it, folks!

This is about a $15 project max  ($1/each for pumpkins, gravel/rocks or $2-$3 for play sand, $6 for spray paint, & about $5 for a mum).

Now, for the late Sept-Thanksgiving decoration that I mentioned, just turn this around and place the faces toward a wall and you'll have something you can use for months!

Happy Crafting!

Tina








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{ Christmas Look Back, Post One }

Now that Thanksgiving is done and dusted, I'm so ready for Christmas, aren't you? Ok, not ready for CHRISTMAS, but ready for the festive, wonderful season.

I'm going to do a few "Look Back" posts. A post full of things I've done in the past.

Here we go with number one!


Gingerbread houses are so much fun to make, but the kits are super expensive and making them from real gingerbread is, well, it's just plain hard. So, try my tips for making them from graham crackers. Cheap and easy... lots of tips and illustrations in this post.

Gingerbread House Tips & Tricks

Next up is a super fun ornament idea. Here I've used it for Bible verses, but you can use this for numerous ideas. Memories from the year, Baby's firsts, favorite book quotes, etc. Ideas are limitless and I've listed more in the post itself.


Bible Verse Ornament

Here's an idea for Christmas breakfast, inspired by my favorite Christmas movie, Elf.

Maple Coffee Crumb Cake

If you aren't into crumb cake, how about waffles? Liege waffles are, in my opinion, the BEST waffles on this green earth.

Vanilla Bean Liege Waffles

My favorite Christmastime drink is most definitely Wassail! I just love saying it too. Wassail! (Learn about the history of Wassail along with an awesome recipe for it in this post).

Wassail

And to wrap this post up, a delicious winter time treat, Cocoa. You'll find the recipe for several different cocoas in this post. Yummeh.

Homemade Cocoas

That's all for now. Stay tuned for more merriness :)

Tina

{Pumpkin Pie Place Cards}

Well, hey there! I haven't seen you in forever!

Really, I have no excuse for my lack of posting other than... life. You all know how that is, right? Life just gets in the way sometimes. Life moves FAST, doesn't it? Can you even believe that Thanksgiving in in just over 2 weeks? Crazy.

Today my friend Darla (of Bakingdom) is winging her way off to Spain. Spain?? What?

I'm over here all like, "Hey, I'm going to Target!". It's the glamorous life that I lead, folks. The worst part about it? My friend Lori and I are way excited about going to Target! We don't have one close, so we are road trippin' it (about 45 minutes) for a girls day out. Target and lunch with my awesome bestie friend? It may not be Spain, but it will be a great time.

Also, Darla doesn't have Target over there, so *sticks out tongue*

When she goes to London next month, I may NOT be able to contain my jealousy. It may end our friendship. I'll reconsider this if she buys me awesome presents though, so, Darla. Ball? Your court.

We will be getting some Christmas shopping done hopefully, and yes... Thankgiving foods will be purchased.

As I've mentioned in prior posts, I was a Blog Ambassador for Walkers Shortbread. My time is up with them, but I still choose to post about them because I love their all natural and delicious products. When I got the Shortbread Triangles out of the package, I loved their little pie shape. I decided to use it to it's full advantage and make them look even MORE like pies.

This was quick and easy and will be so festive on my Thanksgiving table.

All you need for these are the Walkers Shortbread Triangles, peanut butter candy melts (by Wilton) & white chocolate (candy melts or almond bark).

Melt some white chocolate (double boiler, microwave, or a chocolate pot like I have), and allow to cool slightly. Snip a tiny bit off the end of a ziploc baggie (heavier freezer bags work better) or a piping bag. Squeeze out in a circular motion working upward to make a little spiral of whipped cream. Allow this to harden.

Melt the peanut butter candy melts and spread on the top of the cookie and part way down the side. I use a baby spoon for a lot of my chocolate work. Work carefully and try not to get any on the 'crust' at the top and leave a bit for a bottom crust. Add one of the hardened "whipped creams" to the top while the peanut butter melts are still wet, then allow the coating to cool completely.

After that, simply make up little tags with everyone's names. Done!

Aren't they sweet?

And guess what?? They taste good too! Bonus!

You can also use Petticoat Tails (below), they don't turn out quite as clean, but they are still adorable!

I was cruising Pinterest this morning and stumbled across these cookies by Sweet Sugar Belle. I had actually not seen these before making my own (believe me, I thought I was SUPER clever coming up with the idea). I wanted to give a link though because I think Callye is amazing and because these are a great alternative to my placecards if you cannot find the Walkers products in your store or don't want to order online. Also, the fact that I had an idea similar to Callye is making me feel super clever anyway!

You can check out my other edible Thanksgiving placecards here.


I've got some other recipes in the works, so hopefully I won't go as long without a post again. Plus, I might just find something exciting on my trip to Spain. What? Oh, yeah. I mean on my trip to Target. Riiiiiiiiiight.

Til then,
Tina

(Who is, sadly, still in Ohio)







Pumpkin Pie Place Cards


Walkers Shortbread Triangles or Petticoat Tails
Peanut Butter Candy Melts
White Chocolate Candy Melts or Almond Bark
Paper
Printer or Pen
Scissors

Melt white chocolate (double boiler, microwave, or a chocolate pot like I have), and allow to cool slightly. Snip a tiny bit off the end of a ziploc baggie (heavier freezer bags work better) or a piping bag. Squeeze out in a circular motion working upward to make a little spiral of whipped cream. Allow this to harden.

Melt the peanut butter candy melts and spread on the top of the cookie and part way down the side. I use a baby spoon for a lot of my chocolate work. Work carefully and try not to get any on the 'crust' at the top and leave a bit for a bottom crust. Add one of the hardened "whipped creams" to the top while the peanut butter melts are still wet, then allow the coating to cool completely.

After that, simply make up little tags with everyone's names & cut out. Done!

{Craft: Mickey & Minnie Mouse Pumpkins}

Ready or not, folks, welcome to October!

I love fall, it has always been my favorite season. I love the crisp air, the falling leaves, the scent on the wind. Love. Love. Love. I love hayrides, bonfires, and Thanksgiving.

Today, incidentally, is the anniversary of the Magic Kingdom! It opened its gates Oct 1, 1971. Happy 42nd Birthday, Magic Kingdom! (See my Magic Kingdom Tips & Walk Through Guide.)

Just over a year ago we were taking our first steps ever into the Magic Kingdom.

Here we are...

 I was so excited when I learned they would be decorated for fall.

I knew as soon as I saw the Mickey pumpkins that I'd really need to make some for myself. I didn't get around to it until this year though. When it came time for me to make them, I decided to go with the iconic black Mickey head.

These are really easy to make. They are not, however, weather-proof. That is because the ears are made of this:

Basically, all you need are 5 things.

Cardboard, bamboo skewers, hot glue, black spray paint, and a pumpkin.

You'll need 6 for Minnie, because she, of course, needs her bow.

You can also add sprinkles of glitter like I did (you can see the black glitter on the Mickey photo above. Minnie had purple, obviously). I was having a hard time deciding what color to make Minnie's bow and glitter. Life decisions of this magnitude are really, really difficult. So... I deferred to my lovely bestie, (and fellow Disnerd) Lori, who I was shopping with. She picked purple for a Halloween, but not TOO Halloween feel.


You know what? I think it looks perfect. Well done, Lori, well done.

You'll start, of course, with a pumpkin. Spray paint it black. I used cheap flat spray paint. I love the color it made them. A very cool almost bluish black.  Then, grab some cardboard. Mine, obviously, was a Cheerios box. Try to sort of match the ears to contour of the pumpkin after you cut them out. It's pretty hard to get them exact, and honestly, it doesn't matter, they still look great. You can see my Mickey ears aren't perfect. Attach a dowel rod to the back, allow to dry (be careful, hot glue is HOT, this step is definitely for adults only). Spray the ears black as well. Sprinkle both the ears and the pumpkin with a little glitter when they are still wet (if desired). Using a knife or ice pick (again, a step for grown ups), make a guide hole in the pumpkin for the skewer. The skewer is too weak to pierce its way fully into the pumpkin. If making Minnie tie and attach bow (I used hot glue).

Stand back and admire your work.

So cute!

Since you've pierced the pumpkins they will eventually go bad, like a Jack-O-Lantern.

As I said, they are not weather-proof, but I like to put them out on the porch on nice days.

I really like the simplistic, classic look of the black pumpkins. I've scoured the internet and can't find any like them, so I'm feeling pretty happy with my decision to make them like this.

I really hope you enjoy them too!


Peace, Love, and Disney,
Tina

See all my Disney posts here.

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Mickey & Minnie Black Icon Pumpkins
craft tutorial by Tina @ Sugar Bean Bakers

Needed:
Pumpkin
Black Spray Paint (flat or glossy, I prefer flat) OR
Black Craft Paint
Bamboo Skewers
Cardboard (I used cereal boxes)
Glitter (optional)
Polka Dot Ribbon (optional)

Tools:
Hot Glue Gun
Hot Glue
Scissors
Pencil
Knife or Ice Pick


Spray/paint your pumpkin black. It will take at least 2 coats.

Draw ears onto cardboard & cut out. Try match the ears to contour of the pumpkin after you cut them. It's difficult to get them exact, and honestly, it doesn't matter, they still look great.

Attach a skewer to the back of the ear, allow to dry (hot glue is HOT, this step is definitely for adults only).
Spray the ears black as well. Sprinkle both the ears and the pumpkin with a little glitter when they are still wet (if desired).

Using a knife or ice pick (also a step for grown ups), make a guide hole in the pumpkin for the skewers. (The skewer is too weak to pierce its way fully into the pumpkin)

If making Minnie tie and attach bow (I used hot glue).