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Showing posts with label Thanksgiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thanksgiving. Show all posts

Friday, November 13, 2015

6 Inspiring Fall DIYs


DIY Craft Pumpkin Ideas
Homemade Apple Sauce Recipe
Harvest Napkin Rings
Burlap "Give Thanks" Banner
Maple Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe
Harvest Inspired Tabelscape


Tuesday, September 1, 2015

#MichaelsMakers: Harvest Inspired Tablescape Using Craft Pumpkins

I'm not even going to acknowledge the fact that summer is over.  I love fall, but, this year, I feel like I need a little more summer in my life.  This challenge of using craft pumpkins seriously was a challenge, just because I had to break out of the summer mentality to get the autumnal feeling in order to find proper inspiration for this.  I cheated a little, though.  I kept things green and did away with the traditional red and orange colors that find their way into most fall decor.  I really really really love the look I came up with for my mom and dad's dining room table.  They always host our gigantic family Thanksgiving dinner, so I figured it was the perfect place for this.  

For my craft pumpkin DIY I kept it simple.  I drilled a pattern of holes all around them.  Then one bigger hole in the bottom.  I stuffed a bunch of twinkle lights inside and voila.  I think it adds the perfect amount of shimmer to the table without being too obnoxious.  

I also made this adorable little bunting with doo-dads I found near all the scrapbooking supplies.


These little flags that I used for place cards were also near the scrapbooking supplies.

I grabbed a few hay bunches and log slices and a bunch of eucalyptus, as well.  I placed the eucalyptus into pottery I had made in high school that my mother, so lovingly, still keeps displayed all over her house. (Do you see the little unicorn that photobombed my shoot???)


For the big centerpiece, I picked a bunch of fake flowers from Michaels that I thought would give this the perfect rustic-ish, harvest-ish, fall-ish feeling... there are even some feathers in there, too.  Oh, and a little wooden owl hiding in there for the kids to find.  This was so much fun to put together with my mom!  She's definitely the one I get my craftiness from.  

Here's my project from last year, that I still adore!




Now go check out all the other incredible craft pumpkin projects from the rest of the Michaels Makers team and GET INSPIRED!




Monday, November 17, 2014

'Thankful For You' Neighbor Gift and Free Printable

Eighteen. That is the number of loaves of apple bread I've baked in the past month. With November being a prominent month to show thankfulness to others, I wanted to really focus on the people I'm most grateful for and give them something to show my gratitude. And what better way to do that than with something edible, amirite?

My kids and I took a trip with some friends to a local apple orchard to pick apples for the first time recently. It was SO much fun to wander the rows upon rows of apple trees in search of the perfect, juicy apples. We even did a little tree climbing to reach the ones at the very top. Well, mine was more of a slipping-shimmying-desperately grasping branches-thing, but my limbs remained intact, so that's a win in my book. We all had a great time, and I ended up walking away with a huge bag of every variety of apple you can imagine.


In my quest to figure out what to do with all of the lovely apples I stumbled upon this recipe. I made a couple substitutions (no nuts, 1 cup white sugar and 1 cup brown sugar, added vanilla, made 2 mini loaves instead of 1 big loaf) and crossed my fingers that it would turn out well. As I'm sure you gathered by the 16 additional loaves of bread that followed, the recipe was amazing. Moist, flavorful, and apple-y. Which, thanks to this recipe, is now a word.

I spent the next week living in the kitchen baking and eating apple bread, which is a pretty great life if you ask me.


Apple-y goodness like this must be shared, so when I eventually made it out of the kitchen, I made some free printables (go here to download) so that you can share some yummy apple bread with your neighbors too. Or just keep it all to yourself, I won't tell. I made 2 versions to choose from - a chalkboard tag and some in pretty fall colors.



Just print these babies up, add some kraft paper and twine and you have a treat that your neighbors will love you for.

Also, I can't be blamed for any subsequent addiction that you may develop to the apple bread.


Friday, October 17, 2014

Trick Your Pumpkin with Michaels



Being a Michael's Maker has been AWESOME.  Honestly, these monthly challenges get me to craft and create things I never would have considered before.

This month they asked us to participate in their Trick Your Pumpkin sweepstakes.  

Crafters just submit their pumpkin creations via Instagram any time between October 4th through October 31 for a chance to win a $250 Michaels gift card and Plaid products each Friday throughout the month of October.  We think you should  enter the sweepstakes by uploading your own projects to Instagram using the hashtags #TrickYourPumpkin and #sweepstakes and tag @MichaelsStores.  Make sure you use the craft pumpkins from Michaels!

Here is our entry for this super fun contest!  ( let me add that these pumpkins are SO COOL )


Supplies:
Craft Knife
Battery powered pumpkin candle (purchased at Michaels, not on website)
Flower pot
Pencil

Use the flower pot to determine the size of the hole on the top.  Make sure to cut as straight down as possible so you can get the pot inside.  In the other pumpkin, the hole on top can be a random size, whatever will fit the battery candle.  Cut whatever designs into your pumpkin you choose.  (go figure, I chose triangles.)


Now it's time for the spray paint!  This Make It Stone stuff is AWESOME.  The time it takes to dry in between coats is NOT awesome.  It's non-negotiable, though.  I tried, trust me, you have to let it dry.

Next, do THIS while you wait for it to dry!





































After the paint is dry and you have sufficiently tortured your pet to death with love, it's time to doodle on your pumpkin.  I quickly decided mine were going to be fancy with gold and silver adornments.  




Now, put your plant in it, the candle or whatever you decided to do and create your fabulous table scape!  Ta-Da!  I also think that these would make pretty wonderful hostess gifts for Thanksgiving.  




Don't forget to tag your project on Instagram using #TrickYourPumpkin #sweepstakes and tagging @MichaelsStores!!







Friday, November 22, 2013

13 Pretty Thanksgiving Place Settings


I love all the wonderful food, family, and joy that Thanksgiving brings. Thanksgiving is all about the coming together of friends and family to give thanks for everything we have been given. Rather than jumping right into Christmas, why not savor fall and Thanksgiving before it ends? To help inspire you, we've rounded up 13 pretty place settings perfect for your Thanksgiving table that you can easily replicate yourself. Some are as easy as gathering some spray paint and fake fruit, while others involve displaying fresh flowers and fall veggies in creative ways. Whatever design you choose, you can't go wrong with any of these beautiful tablescapes.








Check out our Link Party Page to see where we link up each week!
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Friday, November 1, 2013

7 Tasty Twists on Thanksgiving Traditions


Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  There's no pressure of buying gifts or even decorating... just eating, being with family and being grateful.  As a kid, it always meant seeing my cousins that lived so far away, putting on skits and dances, playing football and eating... so so much eating.  Of course, things change as you get older.  Thanksgiving signifies the beginning of Christmas shopping... the madness, the anxiety.  I've decided, though, that this year, Thanksgiving day will be only about counting my blessings.  And making sure that everyone I love knows that they're considered one of them.  That's going to be my kickoff to the holiday shopping season... giving my gratitude to those I love.

Now, I'm always looking for new ways to do old things, so I rounded up some AMAZING looking recipes that I am most likely going to give a shot this holiday season!  Check out 7 tasty twists on Thanksgiving traditions...


The Cranberry Sauce Twist

The Mashed Potato Twist

The Green Bean Twist

The Mac & Cheese and Dinner Roll Twist

The Pumpkin Pie Twist

The Brussel Sprouts Twist

The Sweet Potato Twist


 
 


Check out our link party page to see where we link up each week!
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