Pillow Pumpkins

A few years ago, I fell in love with these stuffed pumpkins and posted all about the original tutorial {here}

This year, I decided to have a go at them.

I found a bunch of fabric remnants and put together five coordinating fabrics, then got some pretty ribbon, and some curly cues from a past grapevine project and I was set.

The tutorial I linked above is amazingly easy to follow, and after making one or two, I didn't find it necessary to even measure anymore.

The hardest part was stitching up the bottom with the beanbag inside, but it was only hard because it took a while.

I was super happy with the result!

And love the way they're looking on my mantle right now.

Pumpkin Faces

My newest creation.

 

I saw this on Pinterest and thought, what a cute idea!  And a decoration that the kids can actually touch and mess with to their hearts content - bonus!

 

Thought about making it, but it wasn't until I saw these:

At Target that I really put my plans into action!  They have 3 different felt face sets for $1 each and I loved them most because I didn't have to make them myself!

 

So, the supplies I used all of which I already had:

a black frame

black pokadot fabric

a sheet of orange felt

tiny piece of brown felt

some batting

black embroidery floss

black ribbon

spray adhiesive

and of course these pumpkin faces from Target

 

You are about to see one of the worst documented tutorials ever seen in the blog world.  Sorry.  I got carried away and didn't remember to take my camera with me.

 

Step 1: Cut a piece of fabric to fit inside the frame.  Make sure you cut it so it is much too big - this way you have a way to attach the fabric to the back of the frame insert so it won't come off if pulled on (which I guarantee will happen if you're going to let kids play on it.)

 

Step 2: Cut a pumpkin shape out of the piece of felt.

Step 3: Pin the pumpkin to the piece of fabric sticking batting underneath to give it a 3D look.

Step 4: Using embroidery thread, stitch around the edges of the pumpkin to attach it to the fabric.  Probably would be much easier with a sewing machine, but I like the way this looks better so I did it this way.

 

Step 5: Stitch lines down the pumpkin to give it those grooves all pumpkins have.

 

Step 6: Stitch on a little brown piece as the stem.

 

Step 7: Cut a piece of the background fabric about 10-12 inches long and as wide as the background fabric piece you're using.  We are using this to make a pocket to put all those face pieces in.

 

Step 8: Fold this new piece in half and attach it with all the raw ends together to the background piece, so the fold is laying in the middle, just below the pumpkin.  Once you stitch it on, you should have a pocket.

 

Step 9: Cut out felt pieces that say Happy Halloween and stitch them onto the pocket.

 

Step 10: because I didn't have enough extra fabric around the edges, I lined the pocket with ribbon that I could tie around the back of the frame insert so the pocket wouldn't get pulled on too hard that the whole thing came off the frame.

 

Step 11: Spray the frame insert and attach the fabric to the frame.  Then fold the edge pieces around to attach them to the backside.

 

Confused!?  Sorry.  I wish I would have taken more pictures.  I'm not cut out for this whole tutorial thing.  I just make things up as I go along.

 

But here is where it sits at our house.

I love the way it turned out!

And it has lots of fun face pieces that can be mixed and matched whenever we want to mess with it.

My son likes the scary ones the best.

Happy Halloween!

Bowl of Bones

Love this idea!  It's just pretzel sticks with marshmallows stuck on each end, dipped in white chocolate.

Super cute and something the kids would love to help make!

Visit {inspire co} for more info.

Boo Button Pumpkin

I wanna make this with a fake pumpkin to bring out every year.  Super cute.

Farewell to Fall

Are you ready to say goodbye? 

to the harvest? 

to the colors? 

to the warm chill? 

to the beauty? 

Before you do, make sure you check off every item on your fall bucket list.

Happy Halloween

here's some {Halloween Inspiration} for ya

Q-tip Skeleton

Thought these were a cute idea for a kid-friendly Halloween craft!  Super fun and easy!! 

Visit {Brassy Apple} for more details.

Pretty Autumn Vignettes

I'm kind of in love with this white and cream scene.  LOVE the hydrangea!  So autumn. 

Another pale color scheme for fall.  I love the metallic pumpkins and the antique look of everything!  So pretty and elegant! 

Lovely little place setting.  I especially love the little branch laid across the plate.  Love the use of pumpkins, too.  Pumpkins are my favorite fall accessory. 

Lovely fall vase fillers.  I love the ring of leaves tied around that small one with twine!  Cute idea.  Love the layered look in the large one, too. 

The terracotta pots in this set get me every time!  I love the warmth they bring into this white kitchen!  Loving those bright flowers, and the urn filled with gourds.  And pies just speak of autumn to me.

Carmel Pears

Carmel apples are one of my favorite fall treats.  But, I saw this and I thought why not?  How about carmel pears too!  Yum!

Candle Apples

Do you see them? 

Cute little apple votives.  Floating in water, no less!!  Adorable and very festive!

Get the how-to from {Martha Stewart}

Halloween Costumes

Here's a collection of costume ideas from my archives.

cutest little cherub. 

love the headdress!! 

Curious George and company - The Man in the Yellow Hat and a banana - this is a really cute idea for the whole family!

And here's a really easy monkey costume!!

Thought this was a cute idea - just cut out the bottom of a laundry basket and fill it with bubbles! Bubble Bath. 

Cute little octopus. 

Another great family idea - Peter Pan and company - Cap'n hook and Tinkerbell.  I think Wendy, Mr. Smee and Tigerlilly would be great additions as well. 

Love this robin hood costume!! 

And super fun Where the Wild Things Are little boy.

For some of these ideas and more visit {Parenting}

Thread Ball Pumpkin

I'm not exactly sure what these balls of thread are called, but I think this is a super cute and easy idea!  Just stick a stick in the center of it, wrap some twine around to create the pumpkin "stripes" and attach a leaf and some curly wire to the top.  Voila!  Pumpkin!  I think it would be super cute with a ball of yarn as well.  Love fun and easy ideas like this!

Pumpkin Pops

Love this cute idea from {The Idea Room}!  It's just oreos, white chocolate - dyed orange, mini chocolate chips and pretzels!  So cute.

Beautiful Fall

It's here. 

That most beautiful time of the year.

When the world turns into gold. 

And I fall in love all over again.

Time to enjoy the cooler weather.

Time to go for a drive.

Time to soak in the vibrant light. 

Time to step outside

And take walks in the beautiful glow. 

When everything feels cozy. 

And we are reminded of earth's bounty. 

Time to enjoy.

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all."

-Stanley Horowitz-