Still at it

 

And I'm having WAY too much fun to stop!  Bwa ha ha :) 

I picked up one of my favorite magazines at Wal-Mart over the weekend and after reading it while the kids napped and Tom fished on Saturday, I had to run to Michaels to grab some foam pumpkins for a craft they featured.  Seriously, that magazine has so many neat ideas and for $1.97 it's right up my alley. 

I spent part of the day yesterday decoupaging pumpkins and spray painting dried flowers black to create this little display for my front entry table.  I picked up that fun jack-o-lantern and gauze runner from Target.  The jack-o-lantern had a red light inside that I took out and replaced with a battery operated tea light - much less scary for the kids (who are not into scary Halloween stuff, and really, neither am I). 

I might have to make some of these, too (since I just found a stack of them in one of the kitchen drawers).  I cut out a bunch of bats for this project last night, but they aren't sticking with regular scotch tape, so I need to try again with something stickier.

And then I need to tackle the outside.  I made a good start by de-weeding the beds last night (and getting eaten ALIVE by mosquitos).  Just need to put my plan in place.  So nice to be ahead of myself this year - aside from not having those costumes ordered/made yet.  Eek!

Here are some instructions for the polka dot/striped pumpkins - easy peesy!

Decoupaged Pumpkins

Materials:

Foam or real pumpkins

Black and orange tissue paper

Circle punch (I used a 2" punch)

Mod Podge or Decoupage medium

Foam brush

1. Cut circles or strips out of tissue paper by stacking several sheets at a time.  Cutting individual sheets is very difficult so stacking will be more effective and faster. 

2. For circles, brush decoupage medium on one side and very carefully stick to pumpkin and smooth out with finger.  Then very lightly brush decoupage medium on top of circle to coat and protect.  (The wet tissue paper is extremely delicate and I threw away several that ended up tearing or folding on to themselves, so don't be a bull like me :)

For stripes, cut long strips that will wrap around entire pumpkin.  Then paint decoupage medium in a strip on pumpkin and put strip on top of the painted decoupage.  Continue around pumpkin then brush a coat on top of the strip.

That's it!  It was a super quick project that turned out much better than I anticipated.  I had originally planned to have the girls help me, but it would have been a disaster.  The tissue paper was way too delicate.  I think I'll have them help me with some outdoor projects instead.  Or these - so cute!!

Comments

[Angie]

We are so there with you on the not scary. Last year for Trinity's Bday party we had a "NOT-SO-SCARY Haunted House" worded exactly that on the invite :)And those bat pumpkins SO will need to be in our bat cave! LOL!

[christinew]

polka dot pumpkins are so cute!

[Jessi]

I can't wait to get out my fall stuff to decorate.....I just wish it was easy to access and I had a free moment to do it!

[Susan]

So cute! Love the bat-o'-lanterns and your white pumpkin with the face! Connor can't wait to get started at our house!

[Raven]

Those are so adorable! I am in LOVE with white pumpkins... and the polka-dots make them even cuter!

[josie]

Great ideas, I will have to look for that magazine. Love your floral display in the pumpkin. Have you signed up for Martha Stewart's Halloween Idea of the day? They've had some fun stuff so far.

[Kris]

VERY cute! Love your display!!!! I love Halloween!

[Julie - On the Dot Creations]

Oh my. Those polka dotted pumpkins make me smile. Your ideas and creations are always so fabulous! :)

[Maegan B.]

Oh my goodness. You are killing me! I cannot WAIT to be able to drive so that I can go buy crafty Halloween decorations. Maybe even buy some mums since I killed off the other flowers on my porch in the matter of a week. Oops.

[Emily]

So cute! I love the idea of adding something to the pumpkin as opposed to carving it--I never do so well with that! Not into scary here either--cute, I can do, though!

[Kasie]

I love your entry table, Heather! Very festive! I'm so with you on the "not scary" Halloween. I went into Michaels and they had an extremely gruesome lifesize "headless bride", holding her head and moaning. I have NOT been able to get THAT creepy image out of my mind!! WHO buys that?! LOL. Anyway, your decorations are so inspiring!

[Julie L]

wow--Heather--how inspiring! I have to get out my decorations! My two DDs decorated Halloween lanterns this weekend--but I feel very behind! :) Thanks for the great ideas!! Uggh, wanna come de-weed my flower garden--I really am dreading that part of fall!

[Heather D]

Your display looks great!! LOVE the white pumpkin with the face and the black flowers. You are getting me in the fall decorating spirit! I'll have to pick up that magazine the next time I'm out.

[Michelle Davies]

Love how you've decorated with those pumpkins! very cute.

[Candice]

Wow!! Those are darling! I am so going to do that!

[Courtney]

You are so darn crafty! KILLING ME!!!

[Anne]

So stinkin' cute! I'm going to have to try those decoupage pumpkins. I need to get out and buy the stuff. Just subscribed to the magazIne too. You can get 2 free issues online.

[Jennifer]

Hi Heather! My name is Jennifer from Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas. I'm a blog reader of yours and saw all the cute projects you were doing. I'm taking a class this Saturday for "Mr. Spooktacular" and thought you would love it! Here is the link: http://www.cre8joyworkshops.com/mrspooktacular.html Isn't he cute!

We had our kiddos about same time last year. I had a girl though! June 8th. Little Jack is such a cutie!
I'll let you know how it goes and send you the info if you would like!

Take care and have a great Halloween!
Jennifer

[Rana McIntyre]

Hi Heather, I was referred to your blog via Shelley Calisto (I'm her next door neighbor)! And I am so so excited that I'm visiting you here. You have a lot of fun stuff on here...and I'm now in love with the polk-a-dot pumpkins...I'll be incorporating these in my home too ;)!!!! Thanks for the post.

[Candice]

These are sooo cute! After viewing your blog, I had to do some pumpkins too. I credited you with the inspiration on my blog. Thanks for the great ideas!!!

[deb]

How festive!!