Halloween Thoughts

Reader,

So now that it is the last day of September I can officially focus on Halloween. Truthfully, I've been thinking about Halloween 2010 since November 1st 2009! As soon as the makeup is wiped off, and the candy combined in to a communal dish (this is how I keep my kids from fighting about it), and tasted, my thoughts turn to my costume for next year.

I love to dress up in costumes. Always have. Probably comes from having parents who majored in Drama in college. Early on, my brother and eye would scour thrift stores for clothing to make our pretending more real. I didn't play princess or fairy, it was Sherlock Holmes or GI Joe for me. My parents were always into Halloween too. I remember watching them get ready for the holiday. They would hire a sitter and go to costume parties every year. Often they won top prizes too. My mom usually made our costumes and Dad made the props and did the make up. We'd head over to my oma's (that's my mothers mom) neighborhood and meet up with my cousins. Trick or treating was a family activity. Extended family too.

It's not the same for my boys. I have and older brother who has two children, one is 13 the other 3 months. One is too old to trick or treat with mine and the other too young! My sister is 20 and usually walks with us as we take the boys house to house. My mom too joins in whenever able. I wish I could create costumes for my kids to wear, but really, its hard to compete with store bought these days. Remember when it was just a printed plastic sheet and lousy mask. You couldn't ever see or breathe through those masks! But now, fake muscles and everything, I can't compete! Sewing or price wise!

Every year for the past 5 years (I think) my uncle (Dad's side) has thrown a wonderful Halloween party. It's very kid friendly. Not too scary and lots of treats. We love it. We all dress up, even my Grandma! There's chili and other snacks, pop and beer, and lots of funny costumes. My aunt and uncle spend a lot of time setting up Halloween decor. There is even a "spook walk". We walk a path decorated with creepy tombstones and scarecrows, waiting for the spooks to jump out (usually my cousins and brother). After the walk is a large game of hide and seek. We play in teams and it goes on for hours.

I think my boys are getting a different kind of Halloween than I did, but maybe a better one. The party is usually the weekend before the actual holiday so they still get to trick or treat. I get to dress up, play and see family. I also get to watch them trick or treat. It's great to have that special time watching them ring the doorbell, learn to say thank you, and then run to me telling me what they got. My parents missed that. With a crowd of cousins, we were always running ahead of the grownups. I get to hold my boys hands a little longer since it's just us. That's quickly becoming my favorite part of Halloween....okay, after costumes.

What about you, reader? How do you celebrate? What was your favorite costume as a child? Do you make your kids costumes? Let's share.

Once upon a midnight dreary,

Margo

Update

You may notice a new gadget on the sidebar. This is a little joy I wish to share with you all. My boys say the strangest things and I think you'll get a kick out of reading them, so take a peek every so often and have a smile!

$1 Craft!

Readers,

That's right, just a dollar. Yesterday I was in one of my favorite parts of Target, the dollar aisles! I came across this bag of silk leaves.

Don't ask me where there are leaves that purple. I did however love the red and orange leaves. Those were worth the dollar price tag. SOLD.

First step is to find a hair clip or headband you can use to attach the leaves to. Mine is a four inch hair clip. I know, its huge, I have thick hair so I was thrilled to find a clip that could hold my hair.

Next, grab your craft glue/hot glue and attach some leaves. What do you think?

If you pick up your own bag of dollar leaves I'd love to see what you come up with. I'm getting in the fall mood, finally. This is the first week in Kansas we haven't been up to 90. Now I've got the Halloween Fever. I love costumes and only need a small excuse to be in one. It's rubbing off on Things 1 and 2. I'm proud and worried at the same time. My sewing skills leave a lot to be desired and they constantly come up with ideas for dressing up.

I hope you enjoy this small autumn craft! Don't forget to sign up for my give away over at Live Large 4 Less! It is running until Friday, hurry!

Love and apple pie,

Margo

Giveaway!

CLOSED
It's my very first giveaway! Shout out to Emily over at Live Large 4 Less! She has given me an awesome review and you all a chance to win one of my items! Totally free, people. I'm springing for shipping and everything. Now is your chance to have a one of a kind statement necklace. The giveaway is for one of my awesome (if I do say so myself) spoon pendants. These items are a treat for me to make and I think it show. Head over to her blog to get the details and enter!

Earring Organizing

My Readers,

If your anything like me, you are constantly in need of organizing. Everything from the garage, to the refrigerator, to my jewelry box. I've decided to start with the simplest and least messy. The jewelry box.

I have a lot of jewelry. I admit it. One of the messiest items is dangling earrings. I can never keep them paired up and they seem to constantly get tangled. I've found a simple and stylish solution. Interested? You know you are. Here you go:

Start by getting your supplies together. We need an empty frame with no glass. The size depends on how many pairs of earrings you have (or plan to have). I happened to have a plain black 8x10 that wasn't being used. Dollar stores sell all different kinds if you want something more ornate. The other item you need is plastic canvas. It looks like this;

Most likely you've seen it but never used it. I picked mine up at a craft store, but I've seen it at Walmart too. It comes in various sizes and color, choose what works best for you. The only other supplies you need are fishing line (or other strong clear line) and scissors.

First step is to cut your canvas to fit your frame. After you do that it's time to affix the two. I cut four inch lengths of fishing line. I think I used eight of them. Place your canvas in the frame and simply thread the fishing line through your canvas and tie the ends together around your frame.

Sorry about the photo. By nature, fishing line is hard to capture. I tied the line

twice on each side. Trim off the excess line and your earrings are ready to hang! That's it!

I also added some large jump rings in places so that I could attach my hoop earrings

too. I hope this gives you some relief of life's clutter! Thanks as always for reading!

Love,

Margo

Eco-Chic!

So I was browsing around the other day/week and came across this lovely idea on Aunt Peaches. Want a brilliant idea! Right away I ran out to dollar tree to get some plastic cups. I did mine a little different then her and thought I'd share both styles with you.

On Aunt Peaches she used regular scissors to cut her cup into large pieces. I used scrap booking scissors that had a wavy blade. I also snipped mine to to smaller pieces and didn't punch as many holes in mine as she had done. Once they were in the oven mine did not melt as quickly as I had thought they would. I cranked up the heat and they turned to puddles. My husband pulled the tray out and told me, "Looks like we should have left them alone." I left them on the tray overnight and sulked about my own mistake.

Side note: Don't you hate it when you spend hours on a craft and the result is blah?

Two nights later I decided to sift through the mistakes to see if anything was salvageable. Surprise! I didn't think they were ruined any more! I began adding jump rings and the necklace just took shape. I really do love it.

My next plan is to try multiple colors. Don't you think purple and blue would look lovely mixed together? And maybe earrings? I also have a star punch I bought in a dollar bin. I'm going to see if it will punch through the plastic.

WARNING! Many plastics do release toxins when they melt so be careful and make sure you have windows open!

In other news, I have a give away coming up at my friend Emily's blog. She's a hip lady who knows how to save money. Check it out and save big!

For the little kitty...

Reader,

Here is a little craft to keep your skills sharp. It also makes your cat/dog look hip. Side note for me, it makes my husband shake his head and say, "really?" Start with your run of the mill pet collar. I think mine was a Dollar Tree find. Make sure your collar is sized to fit your pet.

Now search through your collection of buttons (we all know about mine now). I decided to make mine in the same color family, and green really makes his yellow eyes pop. ;) I also chose a variety of sizes and styles. Don't choose buttons that are too big, otherwise your pet might get it caught on something!

Now sew. Sew like the wind! (Three Amigos joke, anyone?) My cat is small enough that the stitches are hidden by the extra material of the color. I sew them all on with one shot, but you certainly can tie off each button.

All done! Now find your pet and enjoy that look of contempt they give you now that you've made them pretty! I hope you enjoy this little how to! Thanks as always for reading and following. If you are reading but not following...why not? That's semi-piracy. Not really.

Love and Whiskers,

Margo

small inspiration for today

My Reader,

I want to share these little friends with you. I am falling in love with Shrinky Dinks all over again!

Button, button, who's got the button?

Darling Reader,

Time to do some online research. What is this horrible compulsion I have with buttons. I constantly buy them, I already have an obscene amount. I spend hours pouring through them. This strange euphoria pours over me when I see a basket, jar, or bowl full of buttons. Does anyone else suffer from this affliction? I say suffer, but I'm not suffering. I love buttons. On a shirt or a sweater they are invisible to me. But once the thread is snipped, ohhh, so pretty!

I can honestly say I never buy brand new buttons. Only the used and discarded

ones for me! I have found so many uses for buttons over the last few years. Rarely, if

every have I used them for their original use. Here are a couple examples of uses I found.

I have been putting buttons on headbands since I first started making jewelry. Its such

a simple craft to do. Take a dollar store headband and hot glue or heavy duty craft glue.

Done! The hardest part is letting the glue dry before trying it on! I've done them in all

matching buttons like the above. I've done shades of ivory, all miss matched, the

possibilities are endless. See why I love buttons?

On to purses! These lovelies I have done several times. Hot glue is usually best. I

look at thrift stores for flat back clutches. Usually these are less then $5.00! Wipe it

down with soapy water and glue away. Tell me this isn't an awesome update to

existing clutches.

Oh buttons, I love you. I even have favorite buttons I've hung onto. Shhh, don't tell

the other buttons.

These sweethearts belonged to my great grandmother, Baba. They are so precious

I can't decide when or how to use them. They sit in a box and I take them out and

hold them. I look at them, smile over them, then decide they are too wonderful to use.

Kinda sad, I know.

When I get a new batch of buttons, I pour them out. Just like my boys do with Legos.

I run my fingers through them looking for the most unique. Sometimes its a giant one

that I laugh at the idea of it being on a coat. Other times, I find the smallest button that

must have been on a sweet baby sweater.

I'm not sure if I am alone in this obsession, but frankly, I don't mind. My husband

doesn't mind, it's not like they take up lots of room! They make me happy. Sometimes

all it takes is one button to inspire an entire string of ideas and crafts.

Dear Reader, thank you for reading about my button collecting. It's a secret for us

to share. People who see me can't tell that I love buttons, or that I have a shoebox

full of them. It's my joy and I hope you have one too!

Lots of Love and of course, buttons,

Margo

Necktie Headband Tutorial

Beloved Reader,

Earlier this week I made a trip to the DAV and beheld a grocery size bag of neckties for $2.48! Had to buy it. This is the first project using them. I have one more finished and another in mind. So ladies, and I think there maybe one or two guys who read this (Honey, did you get milk on your way home?), grab a necktie and lets begin!

Supplies you need:

a regular necktie, no clip ons

small strip of elastic

needle and thread

a head to wear it on!

rough measurement of sed head

First step choose your tie. To me, most ties are sort of ugly when worn as a tie. But thinking of headbands there were countless to choose from. Lay out your chosen tie flat in your workspace. You'll notice most ties are thicker on the ends and taper towards the middle. This is the section we will work with. After measuring your head cut a length of the tie roughly 1 1/2 to 2 inches shorter then the measurement. This is to leave space for elastic.

Don't judge my head size! I need room for these ideas! After you've cut your tie, cut your elastic. I did mine at almost 2 inches.

Next step is to sew the tie and elastic together. Put your elastic on the wrong side of the tie (the side with the seam). Fold the edges of the tie around the elastic and stitch across. I went back across my stitches to make sure they would hold.

If you wanted to you could fold down the end of the tie for a neater look. I decided it would be under my hair so I wasn't going to worry about it. Now, taking the other end of the tie, secure it to the elastic in the same way. This is your finished result.

Done! Once I started, I could barely stop. I made 7 while watching TV for an hour. I hope

you like the project. As always, send me pics of your projects! Here is a peek at the other project

I made with the bag o' ties.

My dad was in the hospital this week, so instead of a girly bouquet of flowers I made him these.

What do you think? If you're interested in a tutorial, let me know.

Peace, Love, and bubble baths,

Margo

Flea Market Trip

So, here we are! Saturday I went with my dad, my husband and things 1 and 2 to the local flea market. I did my best to take pictures, but alas I think it is still a work in progress. I did find some lovely items, which you will have to tune in to see... There was also, of course, some not so lovely items.

What is up with this sign?! Seems like something a not so clever serial killer would put up, sort of a Hansel and Gretel type of trap. Naturally, my dad and I had to see what was behind this sign. Not much. No cages which is good, but no treasures either. I did see these lovely art deco salt shakers;

I didn't buy them as I have no real use for them. They were too worn to actually use as shakers and too large for any of my current work. I wanted to share them with you as I found them charming and hip. Sometimes as I am browsing through the shops and booths I am simply struck by how decorative simple objects can be. If I had the luxury I would love to decorate my home with these lovely spool holders.

Aren't they exquisite?

All in all it was a wonderful day. After bargain hunting we all went to lunch and visited. I am truly blessed to have such wonderful family.

I do have two items I recently made that I have to share with you. I'm not one to toot my own horn, but TOOT, TOOT! I found these tiny pewter figures at a craft supply store. I had an immediate idea. Do you like them as much as I do?

Little bunny in the grass

Be a Deer

I also have camel and donkey rings in the works! As always, thanks for reading! All I ask is that you read. And maybe tell your friends to also!

Emotionally yours,

Margo

My blogging woes

So after roughly one week, I've figured out a few things about blogging. The main problem I see with my blogging right now is pictures. I don't take pictures. I think about, promise to do it, then don't. I get in this strange zone when I am crafting and forget all about the steps and photographing them. Tutorials must have pictures. Today I tried to carry the camera with me everywhere just to feel comfortable snapping photos. I took three. Bad, Margo. I made a tuxedo onesie for my nephew's Baptism. I took NO pictures of it! Now I've sent it on its' merry way. Hopefully I'll atleast have some pictures of him in it to share. In order to make up for not taking pictures today, I hope to take many tomorrow. My dad and I are supposed to make a trip to the flea market. Taking pictures in public makes me uncomfortable, but I'm going to suck it up and do it. I do, dear reader have a few pictures to share with you, they aren't from today, but pictures none the less. Enjoy!

Thing 1 and Thing 2, ready for school. Their poor teachers.

Our outside cat, Charlie. He looks like a ghost cat! This is with no flash!

A recent purchase had arrived from Hong Kong! I can't wait to make a necklace with it!

A ribbon headband I made. This is my best modeling yet!

Love in a time of cholera,

Margo