Happy Halloween...and a Little Treat Too

Hi everyone! I found this little pumpkin pretzel treat idea on Pinterest and made them a couple weeks ago for the kids. My didn't turn out as great as some of the pictures on Pinterest, but they sure were yummy. That salty sweet combination can't be beat! I thought I would share them today in honor of Halloween.

Pumpkin Pretzels...

 
You will need...

• small pretzels (traditional shape)
• orange melting chocolate
• green M&M's (you can use a skinny pretzel stick dipped in green chocolate if you had them)

Easy steps...

• melt the chocolate in the microwave
• dip pretzels
• place on cookie sheet with waxed paper 
• stick on M&M before chocolate hardens
• place in refrigerator until chocolate sets (only a few minutes)

Mine look a little rough, lol. The chocolate wasn't as smooth as I liked, but they were literally eaten seconds after they hardened so looks didn't matter much!!

Enjoy!!

Happy Halloween!
~Karen~

Quick and Inexpensive Halloween Gift Wrap...

Halloween is a few weeks away and I wanted to mail a goodie package to my daughter Kelsie in Disney World. The box was filled with all sorts of things, but one box of goodies was for all her roommates. I wrapped that box with a few things I had around the house and wanted to share the ideas with you.

Easy Halloween gift wrap…

Plain white craft paper you buy on the roll, black tulle (the kind on a 6 inch roll) and plastic fangs!!

I bought these fangs at Walmart…12 for 97 cents. That's 8 cents a piece

 I tied the bow and then just slipped a couple loops through the teeth.

Scary chic…

Add a spider in there too!

I also wanted to make gift tags for all the goodies. I found this book of scrapbooking paper in the clearance rack. It's perfect for Halloween, because it's all black and white designs.

The best part is the paper is 8 1/2" x 11" which is standard paper size and great for a printer.

This paper has  the design on one side…

and white on the other.

I used Word to insert a circle the same size as one of my paper punches…2 inch circle.

The black arrow is pointing to the "insert shape" button.

I copied and pasted 12 tags.

Used my punch to cut them out.

Quick and easy tags.

Just add it to the gift with a ribbon.

Here is one idea I used in the goodie box.

Inexpensive cups (4 for $1) from Walmart filled with candy and more fangs.

Wrap them in cellophane bags and tie off with a bow.

Don't forget the tags.

You can also add a skeleton…

or a spider for a scary treat!!

Thanks for stopping by,
~Karen~

Happy Halloween...Pumpkin Tower Tutorial

Happy Halloween everyone!! I made a pumpkin tower yesterday for Halloween, but I'm hoping it will last until Thanksgiving when we have everyone here for dinner. Thought I would share the tutorial with you!!

This year must have been a bumper crop for pumpkins, because they were fairly inexpensive. $2 - $6 each, even for the big ones. We buy them at Walmart for the best price.

Here's the creation I came up with...

This only took about 30 minutes to put together...

DIY Tutu Tutorial...Black Swan Costume

Hi everyone! I wanted to share a super fast way to make a tutu (if you are ever in the need for a tutu) and the things you'll need for a Black Swan costume!! Thought this week would be a good time to post it for those last minute Halloween costumes.

My daughter Kelsie is a senior in college and this past Saturday was their Fall Festival. We went to visit and brought up a few things she needed for some Halloween costumes. She is a dance major and there are several events this week...some for dance and some for fun. The dance costume will be the Black Swan and the fun costume will be Princess Leia. I brought up her light saber from when she was younger. Lol

Here is her Black Swan costume...it's not the finished picture with full hair and makeup, but I asked her to send a picture from school for this post. She still looks fabulous.

Come on in and see how easy it is to make...

Inexpensive Halloween Decor...

Hi everyone! Now that our daughters are all grown up, decorating for Halloween is down to a minimum. I do decorate more for Fall which lasts longer to the end of November. I did find a few little Halloween items at Walmart and The Dollar Tree which I thought were cute.

My husband bought me this cloche for Christmas last year. We only exchange one gift for each other and he remembered me mentioning this one in TJ Maxx. They sell them in different styles and price ranges.  I use it for every season and holiday and change out what's inside.

Pop in and see the inexpensive decorations you can add to your home too...

Tool Time Tuesday...Summer Trick To Halloween Treat!!

Here's a quick and easy transformation with a sale item from the summer clearance section...

I found these plates at Walmart for 75 cents for 4 plastic plates. Plastic plates can be found any where, in any color, so this idea is great for any holiday.

Just add scrap booking letters and you have a quick wall decoration.

One word on one plate...or...

Spell out the word on several plates. This would be great on that long narrow wall that you don't know how to decorate.

I found these chip board letters in a consignment shop, but I'm sure something similar is in craft stores.

The black chip board letters had stickers on them already!

Perfect for a little wall decor...just hot glue a hanger on the back.

Great in a plate stand too.

I know pumpkins decorated as witches don't say BOO, but I thought BOO was cute!!

Don't forget to look for some tricks in different places, so you can make some treats. Remember...think outside the box.

Happy Tuesday,
~Karen~

Accuquilt Go Tumbler Tutorial...Halloween Bag

Hello, hello! I can't believe how many comments I have already for the Accuquilt Go cutter give away. This is such a wonderful system, I'm not surprised. Don't forget...you must leave comments to enter on the Give Away Post.
space

Click HERE to enter.

space
But wait, don't forget to come back for the tutorials too. These instructional posts were too long to do with the give away.
space
Here is the tumbler die that I picked with my Go! cutter. It's 6 1/2" on the longest horizontal edge and 6 1/2" high.




Here's what the die looks like. Foam padding protects the blade that is embedded inside. You can just see the outline of the shape.



The bottom edge, where I've placed the ruler, is 6 1/2" long.

I cut a piece of fabric 7 inches square. Mine happens to have a folded edge, which helps with scraps (you'll see that in a minute) Place fabric over die shape. The most layers I've put through is 6 so far. It all depends on the thickness of your fabric. I wouldn't force too much.

Then cover with cutting mat (You need this cutting mat so the blade has something to press up against as it goes through the rollers)

This is the order. Die (foam up), fabric then cutting mat.

Put the die up against the rollers on either side...doesn't matter which end, the rollers turn either way.

Turn handle to start the rollers moving. Keep turning until the die is completely through.

Seconds later...you are done!

Perfect tumblers all set to sew or should I say...All Set To Go!

Here are the scraps left over from my folded edge...don't throw them away though .

I put them on my hexagon die, the medium size.

Tah dah...I see an I Spy Hexagon quilt in my future. Way in my future, but at least it will be cut out.

Here is the other MUST HAVE die. The 2 1/2" strip cutter. Not only is the strip cutter great for jelly rolls, bindings and sashings...how about bag handles for all your purses you're making. This is also great for making nine patches and strips for braiding fabric for rugs. This die is a big one...24" long by 10" wide.

For this Halloween project, I placed 3 different scrap fabrics on the die at the same time (only 4 layers thick for each).

Cover with die cutting mat and send it through the rollers...

and here you have all the strips needed for my candy corn tumblers.

Sew the three strips together and iron seams in one direction.




When I'm sewing long strips together, I always sew a Scant 1/4" seam. A scant means a little bit less than. See the close up of my machine mark for 1/4"? I sew a little less than that. This way when you sew multiple strips, you don't take up a big seam allowance and then the sewn strips aren't the right size. It's always better to have too much to trim away, than not enough to sew with.

Now I folded the striped fabric and placed it over the tumbler die. Make sure you put the white fabric up on the smaller end of the tumbler die.

Instant candy corn!!

Now you can take your Halloween fabric tumblers and your candy corn tumblers and sew them in rows. Then sew the rows together for a quick Halloween Quilt or wall hanging.

Or you can take 2 candy corn tumblers and sew them right sides together. Then take 2 Halloween fabric tumblers and sew them right side together. Sew down the side, across the small bottom and up the next side. Leave the large top edge open. On the black fabric, I left a small opening on one of the sides for turning.

Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance.

Don't forget, you're leaving the wide top open on both.

Here's a close up of the opening on one of the sides of the black fabric.

Now turn the lining fabric right side out (which is the black one for me).

Place the black (lining) fabric inside the candy corn, right side together. Match side seams, pin and sew the top edge together.

I placed it on the arm of my sewing machine and sewed a 1/4" seam.

Now, through that little opening in the black fabric, turn the whole thing right side out.

Poke out the corners and iron flat.

Sew opening closed.

Now take lining fabric and push it into the candy corn.

and here you have a little candy bag for your special Trick or Treaters. You can also add a little ribbon for handles at this point or when you were sewing the top seam.

Perfect size for all the candy and goodies you are handing out.

Like big Hershey chocolate bars!!

Fast, easy and oh soooo cute.

and reversible too!

I'll be back with more tutorials...maybe tonight or tomorrow...probably tonight...I love this machine. I have to catch up on laundry. The only negative about this machine is you will be using it so much your laundry backs up, dust collects and your poor dog begs you to feed her. Actually your family might beg you too, so get out the crock pot!!
spaceSee you soon,

~Karen~

space

Remember to click HERE to enter the give away for a chance to win your own Accuquilt Go Fabric cutter