JACK-O-LANTERN TOPIARY



Why yes! It is another pumpkin project for today! I seem to have pumpkins on the brain this week.... and with good reason. There are so many great project ideas and things to do with pumpkins, (real or artificial) that I want to share as many as I can with all my Halloweenies!

This is a fab-boo-lous idea and it comes from Jen at the Tatertots & Jello Blog. Check out Jen's step-by-step instructions.... is so easy, you won't believe it!

 

Supplies: 

~5 Halloween lighted (artificial) pumpkins

~A 1″ in circumference wood dowel

~A pot

~Flowers

~Spray Paint (black and white) Gloss or Matte finish, whichever you prefer

~Primer

~Extension Cord

 

Directions: 

Prime each of the pumpkins.Spray paint three of the pumpkins white, and the other two black.

 

Also, be sure to spray paint the dowel black.

 

Drill 1″ holes in the pumpkins. Be sure to tilt each one, alternating sides. (See the photo above) Then mark the spot with a sharpie marker and drill.

 

Once that's done, and the paint has dried, then plant soil and flowers in the pot, and put the dowel in the middle.

 

Alternated the pumpkins, white, black, white, black, white black. On the last pumpkin don't put the second hold through the top, so the dowel rests against the inside of the top pumpkins.

 

Then thread the lights down through the back of the pumpkins and plugged them into an extension cord. You may want to tape the cords together with electrical tape so they wouldn't show as much.

 

What a great idea! That Jen is a pretty crafty one.... you need to check out Tatertots & Jello for more awesome ideas!

 

PUMPKIN LOVE!

Even though today is officially the First Day of Summer.... I can't help but get excited about the idea of all of those glorious pumpkins that are starting to grow in pumpkin patches all over!

You all know how much I just adore pumpkins.... they're not only fun to carve, but really fun to decorate too!

And there are so many great ideas out there, especially if you want to tackle something stylish, instead of scary. People are decorating their pumpkins with lace, beads, quilt patterns... and even a Tinkerbell pumpkin! Oh my!You just may need to start planning your pumpkins soon, to make sure you stock up, when they become available.

And to get those creative pumpkin juices flowing today, here are 11 great ideas from Decorating Your Small Space.com to get you started!

With a few ideas, some supplies, and a bit of creativity.... I guarantee you'll have the best looking pumpkins on the block this Halloween season!

MAKE A SKULL CHEESE BALL

You know, I get asked a lot for a simple and super-quick recipe that a proper Halloween Homemaker can bring to a party. Well, if you need something in a flash.... you can't go wrong with cheese and crackers. And how do we make plain old cheese and crackers, look like something spooktacular? You make it into a skull, that's how!

Choose your favorite cheese ball recipe, and form it into a skull for your next ghoulish gathering. Or make this for your next family movie night, and I promise the little monsters will go bonkers over it!

It's really quite simple.... once you form the skull shape, then hollow out holes for the eyes and nose. Be sure to add  few extras like olives (either green or black would look great!) for eyeballs, and some sliced almonds for teeth, to make the look complete.

Pile a bunch of your favorite crackers around the skull cheese ball, and you're ready to party!

R.I.P. COUNT DRACULA

Christopher Lee, horror master and renowned film villain, dies at 93

(CNN) — Sir Christopher Lee, the British actor who mastered horror and Dracula roles before his turns as a Bond villain and the wizard Saruman in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, died this week, a London borough spokesman said Thursday.

 

Lee, 93, died Sunday, the spokesman for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea said. Lee initially made his name in horror films, playing Count Dracula and Frankenstein in a series films for Britain’s Hammer studios from the 1950s until the 1970s.

He had numerous movie and TV roles beginning in 1948, including more than 150 on film, often as a villain. In one such role, he appeared as James Bond’s nemesis Francisco Scaramanga in 1974’s “The Man with the Golden Gun.”

His more recent film credits include the menacing Saruman in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and fallen Jedi knight Count Dooku in the “Star Wars” prequels.

In his last few years, the white-haired actor took to a tongue-in-cheek heavy metal career, releasing the holiday albums “A Heavy Metal Christmas” and “A Heavy Metal Christmas Too” in 2012 and 2013.

He earned a number of high honors in a film career reaching nearly seven decades, including being named a knight of the British Empire in 2009.

Christopher Lee was the best ally evil ever had.

He battled on behalf of the forces of darkness against Obi-Wan Kenobi and James Bond, Dr. Van Helsing and Gandalf, Sherlock Holmes, Victor Frankenstein and the Four Musketeers.

 

Real classic horror fans will remember him fondly.

 

 

You'll be truly missed Count Dracula!

 

 

DIY SPOOKY VILLAGE PROJECT

Where on earth can you get a Halloween Village for $10? The Dollar Store... that's where! You need to start being on the look out for those cute, little Christmas Village houses and start buyin' 'em up!

This BRILLIANT idea comes from Desiree from The 36th Avenue, ...... and with a little imagination, some black spray paint, a few tubes of craft paint, and a little play-dough.... you too, can do this amazing DIY project!

Here's the step-by-step instructions from Desiree herself. So read on, Halloweenies.... I'm off to the Dollar Store!

HOLY HALLOWEEN PANCAKES!

Every Halloween Homemaker knows that almost everyone loves pancakes for breakfast, and what Halloweenie wouldn't love these fluffy, bright-orange pumpkin pancakes with a spooky black cinnamon syrup on top?! This amazing recipe comes from Stephanie at Girl Versus Dough, and it's a keeper!

 

According to Stephanie's recipe, here's what you'll need:

 

Ingredients for the syrup:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup water
• Black food coloring

For the pancakes:

• 2 cups original Bisquick® mix
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• Pinch nutmeg
• Red and yellow (or orange) food coloring

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, bring sugars, flour, cinnamon, vanilla and water to a boil, stirring constantly. Slowly add enough black food coloring to completely dye the mixture black. Stir constantly while boiling for a few more minutes until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, stir together Bisquick mix, milk, eggs, pumpkin puree, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and food coloring until well combined. Spoon batter onto hot greased griddle; cook each side until golden, about 2 to 3 minutes each side.
3. Transfer to serving plates; top with syrup and serve warm

 

Thanks, Stephanie!

 

This recipe is just fab-BOO-lous, and is sure to be a new weekend favorite.... and they're so good, they're not just for Halloween!

 

 

LET THERE BE LIGHT!

All of my faithful Halloweenies know how much I adore the Bride of Frankenstein..... she's one of my closest gal pals, of course! And how adorable is this?

I found this super-fun Esty shop called Spooky Shades, and I just fell in love with it!

Handmade in France since 2009.... Spooky Shades makes lamp shades, pillow covers and coasters!

 If you like skulls, vintage horror movies, comic books or Victorian gothic decor and want to have this cool and original item nobody has, Spooky Shades is here for you!

 Most table lamp shades can be made in larger sizes to be used as ceiling pendants or floor lamps. Custom orders are welcome too!

Shades run from about $54.00 to $108.00, so you can find a custom shade in just about any size!

Spooky Shades is a must-have one-stop-shop for all our spooky home décor! If you're a Halloween Homemaker, you'll want to check them out today!