Fall Garden Flag

I found this really great fall plaid material on sale at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago. At the time, I wasn't sure what I would do with it, but I loved it too much to not pick up a few yards of it. After I finished my fall wreaths, I knew the next step in 'fallin' up' my front yard was to make a new garden flag....and this was just the right fabric for it.

{For more detailed instructions on how to make a garden flag click HERE.}

I started with a rectangular piece of material. I use an old flag as guide, then I cut the length twice as long and folded the material over so that both rights sides of the fabric are out. I sewed the around the top and two sides just to finish it off a little so the material didn't fray.

I used some coordinating ribbon and my hot glue gun to add a design to the front.

I applied the glue to the ribbon and the placed the ribbon on the material in the shape of a W.

I ended up doing a double width of ribbon because my ribbon was kind of thin, but if you use thick ribbon, one piece would be big enough.

After I had my decorations on, I used this great product to turn my fabric garden flag into vinyl. This is the first time I have use this Heat n Bond Vinyl, and I have to say it is amazing! I simply cut two pieces {one for the front and one for the back} and then ironed on the vinyl following the instructions on the package.

After I ironed on the vinyl, I sewed the top edge over about 2 inches to make the hanger for the flag.

Now my yard is ready for fall!

SUPER Smart Scrapbook Paper Wreath

This is one of the cutest wreaths ideas I have seen in a long time...and I love how inexpensive it is to make!

Go check out Coley's blog and see how she made this SUPER smart and SUPER cute Halloween wreath!

Two Tulle Fall Wreaths

Summer is officially over, which means it is time to take down my fun summer plaid wreaths and put up something with a little bit of fall flair!

I decided to try using tulle on my fall wreaths...I was looking  for something different and I found some great fall colored tulles to use. Plus this stuff is only a little over $1 a yard!
I started with 2 wreath forms and 4 yards of 4 different colors of tulle: orange, green, yellow, and brown.

 I unrolled my tulle and cut each color into four long strips of material. Then I gather all four colors into a really long bundle. I was going to do a step by step tutorial, but I didn't think pictures of me tangled up in 16 yards of tulle would be very helpful:)

 For the first wreath, I cut the bundle of tulle into 12 inch pieces. I wrapped the cut pieces around the wreath form and then tied them into a knot on the back of the wreath.

 For the second wreath, I kept the bundle of the four colors of tulle long and simply wrapped them around the wreath form. To add a little interest to this wreath, I added a little bit of orange felt that I then covered with some of the brown tulle that I tied in knots facing the front of the wreath.

 For now, I have both wreaths on my front doors. Kind of different since I usually make two of the exact same wreaths for my front doors. I think they are fun and quirky, though my OCD may get the best of me and I may have to move them to other doors and put something else on the two front doors!

 For now, I am just excited that my front porch is finally looking more like fall and less like summer....even if the weather isn't cooperating!

Guest Post: Lizard & Ladybug

Hi everyone...I'm Staci from Lizard & Ladybug.  

I can't tell you how excited I am to be here!  

I a huge stalker fan of Kelli so I was THRILLED 

when she asked if I would 'guest blog'.   

What The What..was my first thought :)  

After I told everyone I knew that someone else was interested in what I had to say...

I had to come up with something to share.

I don't know about you but I LOVE Halloween.  Having 2 little ones really pushed me into "Halloween crazy town".  This year, my son began preschool (& loves it) so he wanted to invite his entire class to our Halloween party.  I decided that this year's theme would be 'Halloween Carnival' complete with games (sack races, eyeball toss, pumpkin bowling etc) and lots of treats (candy, candy and candy).  

I wanted something a little extra but I didn't want to spend too much extra moola.  

Candy skewers are what I really wanted for the carnival..and even though they are SO cute, it doesn't really fit in my budget when I need 25+.  

So I made my own!  And here's how you can too.  

So easy (and so versatile). 

Start with your supplies.  Candy (preferably gummy candy) & skewers 

(I intended on using the 10" ones but went with the 6" skewers).

I wanted to do a 'creepy' candy skewer and a 'gross' one.  

I bought gummy worms, bugs, spiders, body parts and sour gummy dots.  

Then it's time to get to work.  Slide your gummies onto the skewer.  

*I will tell you that the gummy worms were the easiest to slide.*

Here's a shot of the 10" skewer...

I realized that a longer skewer meant MUCH more candy..

I switched to the shorter one...

Here are the shorter ones with eyes, a finger and worms

I am really happy with how they turned out.  

If you were giving them as 'takeaways', 

put them in a clear cello bag & tie with a cute ribbon.  

If you want to display them..stick them in a floral foam brick covered with candy.

I tested these out on the kids...I passed with flying colors.
Looks like I'll be making more :)

Thank you for letting me share these creepy/gross little treats with all of you.  

BIG Thanks to Kelli for trusting me with her SUPER blog!!

Your bouquet of eyeballs, spiders and worms is on the way :)

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Thanks so much Staci for sharing such a fun {and kind of creepy} Halloween idea with us!
Make sure to head over to Staci's SUPER cute blog Lizard & Ladybug and check all of her other really great ideas!
Here are just a few of my favorites:
Sq'eek'y Clean Soap

 Candy Corn Pinecones

 School Spirit Bucket

 Dollar Store Spiders

Candy Corn!

I love decorating with stuff that can be used for multiple seasons and holidays. I love that instead of sitting in the attic for 11 months out of the year, that I can change some of my decor up and use it year round. So when I started working on new decorations for Halloween/fall I knew I could figure out a way to makes something that would work for Christmas, Valentine's Day, and maybe even Easter.

I started with some clear glass bottles that I have been saving for three years. I knew at some point I would find a good use for them:)

 I used my Cricut and cut out some vinyl letters.

 I used some transfer paper to attach the letters to the clear glass bottles.

 I lined the bottles up to make sure that the letters were even...the "d" is a little high, but not enough to worry about.

 I spray painted the lids white so they would match almost any holiday decor.

 Then I filled the bottles up with CANDY CORN...

 ...and lined them up on my kitchen counter.

This was a SUPER inexpensive project...all I really bought was the candy corn. Now when fall is over and Christmas decorations start going up, all I will have to do is empty out the candy corn and add in some red, green, and white M & M's!

Easy Halloween Decor

After making my SUPER easy Halloween frame, I decided I really needed to add a few more fall decorations to my house. I started with my SUPER easy sign that I change out depending on what holiday or season it is. It has been THIS for Valentine's Day and THIS for Easter...plus a few others too!

Now, my sign is all dressed up for Halloween!

I cut out the letters BOO with my Cricut and used spray adhesive to attach them to some black paper. I added a cute fuzzy spider that I got at The Dollar Tree...and now I am ready to pull out all my fall decorations and get busy decorating my house!

Quick and Easy Halloween Frame

Halloween decorations are everywhere right now...and I am having the hardest time getting in the fall mood when it is 90 degrees outside! But I decided that despite the high temps, my house needed to lose the summer decor and get some new fall/halloween stuff in it's place.

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This is a SUPER easy craft project that even the kiddos can help with. I used an unfinished wood frame that I picked up at Micheals for $1, a can of black spray paint, and some really cute Halloween stickers. I spray painted the entire frame black.
Then simply embellished the front of the frame with my SUPER cute Halloween letters. You could spell out a ton of different spooky words, or even add your kiddos' name or the year.
And that is how you make a quick and easy Halloween frame!

Crafty Way to Organize for School 2

Last year in an attempt to get a little organized for school, I made these SUPER easy folders. I planned to keep track of all the important papers and notes that came home with the boys from school...and the folders actually did their job really well! I think I only lost maybe two papers all year:)

This year, Henry is participating in his school Accelerated Reader program. The kids read books, take tests on the books, and earn points. At the end of the year there is a celebration for all the kids who earned 100 AR points. I knew that in order to stay organized, we needed a place to keep all our library books and the master list of AR books.

I picked up a pack of magazine boxes at Ikea this summer. I got five boxes for $3, which is an awesome deal...I really wish there was an Ikea closer to us!

Anyway, I knew these magazine boxes would be great for holding library books, they were just a little too plain. So, I got out the Mod Podge and some scrapbook paper and got busy making the boys some SUPER cute library book holders!

I measured the paper and cut it to size. I also traced the little circle on the front of the box so that it could be cut out.

Using my circle cutter, I cut out the circle in the paper to just the right size.
I added a layer of Mod Podge to the box with a foam brush.
I adhered the paper to the boxes and the coated the paper with a thin layer of Mod Podge.
After the first layer of Mod Podge was dry, I added the boys' initials to the bottom of the book holder. I used my Cricut to cut the letters, but any chipboard or scrapbook letter would work too. I added another layer of Mod Podge and made sure to coat the letter well.
I also added a little bit of paper to the top just to emphasize my color coding system:)

Now the boys have a great organized place to keep their library books, and hopefully this will help Henry met and exceed his AR goal for the year!