Non-Carved Pumpkin Round Up

Hello!  How has everyone’s week been?  I took a day trip up to Yosemite with a friend of mine which was super nice and fun. We had a wonderful time up in the mountains away from the heat so it was relaxing.

This week we are showing off some really cool pumpkins that don’t require any carving.  These are the kind of pumpkins I like because I absolutely despise carving.  I cannot stand gutting a pumpkin so I much prefer decorating them.  So here are some cute ideas if you are like me and can’t stand carving.  Enjoy!

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Crayon Drip Pumpkin from The Swell Designer

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Confetti Pumpkin from Cloudy Day Gray

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White Pumpkin with Flowers from Finding Zest

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Candy Corn Pumpkin from Craft Project Ideas

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Frankenstein Pumpkin from Plaid Online

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Painted Pumpkins from Think Make Share Blog

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Striped Pumpkins from Makely Home

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Thumbprint Pumpkin DIY from Handmade Charlotte

Glow in the dark pumpkins

Glow in the Dark Pumpkins from I Love to Create

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Fox and Owl Pumpkins from Home on the Corner

Sparkle

Thrift Store Pumpkin Makeover

Good morning! Now that’s it’s officially fall, are you experiencing fall weather? This week we have a few cool days, a couple hot ones, and then it cools down for the weekend. I do love the cool nights and being able to cuddle under the blankets!

I found this paper mache’ pumpkin at a thrift store this past week. I liked the size, but didn’t like the shiny finish on it.

cream pumpkin makeover

I took the stem off and then used some of the chalk paint I had on hand. I used what I thought was a cream colored chalk paint, but it was actually wax. I thought I would try it and it ended up working out.

cream pumpkin waverly and american decor chalk paint

I used a couple of coats of the wax and I like the chalk look much better.

cream pumpkin chalk paint

I used Waverly ‘Mineral’ and Americana Decor ‘Heirloom’ and used a small paintbrush to brush small strokes of paint all over the pumpkin. I made sure to add some in the recesses, to give some shadow.

cream pumpkin and stem with grey and tan

I also painted the stem with the ‘Mineral’ and ‘Heirloom’ paint and then glued it back on the top of the pumpkin.

cream pumpkin with lantern

I added the pumpkin to my mantel along with a couple of lanterns and a large pumpkin canvas I painted last year.

cream pumpkin mantle with painted pumpkin picture

Just a few touches bring fall into the room!

painted pumpkin fall mantlecream pumpkin fall mantle lanterns and candles

I also bought a new candle from Bath and Body Works, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin. Mmmm! It smells so good!

cream pumpkin fall mantle pumpkin candle and lanterncream pumpkin makeover fall mantle

I love when I can take a thrift store item and remake it to be usable again! I also love when I don’t have to spend a lot of money to bring something ‘new’ to my home. What items have you made over? I would love to hear about it!

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Mod Podge Crafts

Hello!  How has everyone’s week gone?  Did anyone doing anything exciting?  I just worked…thanks for asking!

This week we are getting crafty with Mod Podge.  Mod Podge is one of the easiest things to use for crafting and it isn’t super expensive either.  So here are 10 ideas to get your creative minds turning.  Enjoy!

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DIY Map Pumpkin from Home on the Corner

Flower Pots

Mod Podge Flower Pots from DIY Joy

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DIY Mugs from Pretty Life Girls

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Mod Podge Nautical Magnets form Crafts by Courtney

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DIY Tile Coaster from DIY Danielle

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Mod Podge Key Chain from Home on the Corner

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Star Wars Lampshade from Craft Your Happiness

(Short note on this:  You may notice the picture has a different website name on it.  The website Craft Your Happiness was formerly Our Peaceful Planet.  So the link does go to the correct website.  That’s all!)

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Wood Photo Keepsake from S&S Worldwide

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Sheet Music Mason Jar Centerpiece from Mod Podge Rocks Blog

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Decoupaged Flatware Box from Home on the Corner

Sparkle

Make Your Own Rice Bag Hand Warmers plus Free Printable

Good morning! Glad you stopped by today! I have a very simple project for you to make for yourself or as gifts. The holidays are coming!  I’m sure you have seen rice bags around and now you can make it yourself.

Hand Warmer Title

Supplies:

  • small pieces of cotton fabric
  • ruler
  • thread to match and needle
  • sewing machine or fabric glue
  • rice
  • funnel

I always wash my fabric before using it to make sure all the shrinkage is out. Then I cut my pieces into 4 inch squares. You need two matching ones for each hand-warmer, or four for a set.

hand warmer squares

Place your squares right sides together.

hand warmer square right sides together

I sewed my squares together, but you can also use fabric glue. I sewed around the edge, about 1/4 in. seam, leaving about 1 inch open at the end. Be sure to back-stitch the beginning and end so the sewing doesn’t come undone.

hand warmers sewing seam

Turn your square right side out, using the small hole you left open.

hand warmer 1 inch openinghand warmer turn right side out

I use regular long grain rice to fill my bags. I also fill my bags over a large bowl to catch any overflow.

hand warmers cup of rice

I placed the funnel inside the hole in the bag and used about 1/2 cup of rice for each warmer. You don’t want the bag too full or empty. When mine are filled, they lay nice and flat. There are no empty spaces and no bump in the middle.

hand warmer funnel and ricehand warmers pouring rice into baghand warmer filling bag with rice

Once the bags are filled, fold in the open edge and stitch, or glue closed, with coordinating thread.

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I tied up each set with baker’s twine an added a small tag with instructions.

hand warmer basket with tag

I’ve included a PDF so you can print your own tags too!  There will be a link at the end of the blog post to click on.

hand warmers in a baskethand warmers rice tag

You can warm these up in the microwave and then place them in your pockets to warm your hands. Sometimes I even place them in my bed to warm the sheets on a cold night. They can be used on sore muscles too. You can also keep them in the freezer for boo-boos or to cool you down when it’s hot. There are so many uses for these cute little bags.

hand warmers in a basket with tagshand warmer rice bag in a basket

Let me know if you have any questions and I hope you all have a wonderful week!

hand warmer tags

Hand Warmer Tag Printable

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Halloween Decor

Good morning!  How is everyone doing today?  Is it crazy that Halloween is 6 weeks away?  Does everyone have their costumes ready?  I have an idea of my costume but now I have to pull everything together to make it possible.  I’m crossing my fingers that it all works out.

Speaking of Halloween, I am reposting this from last year.  I might be using some of these to decorate my apartment.  I don’t have much room to decorate, but who knows!  Maybe I’ll come up something to decorate with.  But, there are a couple of printables at the end of the post, so feel free to use them in your Halloween decor!  Enjoy!

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DIY Nevermore Tree from DIY Showoff

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Trash Bag Spiderwebs from How About Orange

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Skeleton Dish from Four Front Doors

Spooky Village

Dollar Store Spooky Village from The 36th Avenue

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Halloween Tablescape from The Pin Junkie

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DIY Bat Cage from Eighteen25

Halloween Mantle

Halloween Mantle from Craftberry Bush

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Halloween Hand Soaps from Little Bins for Little Hands

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Halloween Hand Treat Bags from Queen Bee Coupons

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Floating Witch Hat Luminaries from Polka Dot Chair

Brains                                     Grim Grinning Ghosts

Sparkle