Category Archives: thanksgiving

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Happy Thanksgiving!!

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Today is NOT Black Friday Eve!!!

I hope you’re spending the day with loved ones and spending some time thinking about what you’re truly Thankful for this holiday…and not in line at Target mad at the lady in front of you for cutting the line.

BUT- if you are out and find yourself shopping- maybe you could consider picking up something for someone less fortunate.   Here’s a full list of needed items that Toys-for-Tots is trying to accumulate to help victims of Hurricane Sandy: TOYS-FOR-TOTS LIST.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

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$5 DIY Googley-eyed Fall Wreath Tutorial

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I’m not sure what’s happening to me but I felt an overwhelming urge to make an Autumn wreath this year.  I’ve always been into decorating, and over-decorating, for the holidays but I usually keep it to giant fake spiders, severed hands and glittery skeletons.  Your standard October stuff.  So when I found myself shopping for a wreath making supplies, nobody was more surprised than me.  It was as if I blacked out and woke up at the register with a wreath form and fake foliage in my hands. 
So, I’ve accepted it, I like wreaths.  There, I said it.  
But that doesn’t mean I have to make a button covered, gingham scarecrow country crafts with a giant bow type of wreath.   I can like wreaths and still make them look like me.  It doesn’t mean I have to buy high waisted Mom jeans or run out and lease a mini-van.  Not yet anyway.  
So here is my tutorial on how to make a quick $5 Googley-Eyed Fall Wreath:

SUPPLIES (I got the $1 supplies from the dollar store)
$1 wreath form
$1 fall foliage x3
$1 5pk mini squashes
ball of twine (had on hand)
googley eyes (had on hand) 
wire cutters (had ’em)
glue gun/glue sticks (had ’em)

To begin, start by tying the end of your twine to your wreath form and wrap the twine around the wreath for a space about 3″ long.  This is purely decorative. 

Next, arrange your 3 bouquets of fall foliage and begin snipping them off of the main branch with your wire cutters.  Arrange the new seperate pieces so that you have 2 equal bouquets (if you plan on making 2 wreaths…which I did because I have a double front door.)

Now begin adding the plastic foliage to your wreath just under the 3″ band of twine.  I used hot glue to keep the plants in place and then wrapped more twine around the base of each one- mostly because it looks cute but also to secure it in place.  

When you reach the end add another 3″ section of wrapped twine to finish it off.  You can stop here and have a perfectly lovely Autumnal Wreath to hang on your front door but I feel like it’s just too regular.  It needs something. 
In my case, that “something” almost always ends up being googley-eyes.  Or “guurely eyes” as my niece calls them.  
From the 5 pack of mini squashes I scooped at the dollar store, I grabbed a couple of ’em and gave them life.  I am not unlike the good Dr. Frankenstein in this way.  

Take your freshly googelied squashes and arrange them at the base of your fallin’ foliage until you are satisfied and hot glue them into place.  

**Note: my squashes are made of styrofoam which means they basically melt when the come in contact with hot glue.  Turn your glue gun to the lowest setting if you have that option or put the glue on the wreath first and allow it to cool for about 3-4 seconds before placing your squash so that it doesn’t turn into a puddle.**

And finally, add a twine hanger to the top of your wreath and hang with pride from your front door(s).  

Together these wreaths cost me less than $10 and they can be left up through Halloween and all the way through to Thanksgiving.  I hope you like them as much as I do. 
happy fall!

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Shut Yer Mouth, Jive Turkey!

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Last week I went to two major chain craft stores looking for a turkey cookie cutter for this project.  When I asked if they had turkey cookie cutters both stores answered with: 
“Oh, all that stuff’s packed away to make room for Christmas.”
Shut your face!  What?  It was November 4th!!  Since when does Christmas start in October, take over all of November and get the full month of December?  Geezum crow!  Some of my most favorite people on the planet were born in November: my Mom, husband, nephew and my stupid brother-in-law who I love even though he always tries to make me think I have a lady mustache.  
Determined now to make turkey cookies and celebrate the crap out of Thanksgiving I tried to think of what else I could use as a turkey form.  That’s when I saw this flower cookie cutter.   By cutting of the bottom two leaves it actually makes a pretty adorable turkey.   

I also reluctantly made some flowers and some leaves.


 I used Wilton gel Icing Colors to get the colors super vibrant.  I can’t recommend it highly enough even though my tongue is totally red from taste testing a cookie (ok, 3 cookies).

Happy Thanksgiving!!