Halloween Projects Repost - Banner

It's been busy around here and art has not been my pleasure for weeks. I was wanting to make beautiful Halloween items, much like my friend Audrey has been cranking out, to decorate my house but as of yet, no time. Until I can, I thought I'd repost projects from last year.

Halloween Banner. I really enjoyed making this banner and hung it on my door for the duration of October. I need to go dig it out and put it back on the door. For instructions see last year's post.

It's almost time for a pumpkin patch visit. I know the little one is looking forward to picking out some pumpkins for the front porch. I'd also like to visit a local store, Curious Sofa. I was visiting their blog yesterday and they have a fabulous Halloween display going on. Check out this creation! The owner said she picked up doll heads all summer just for this decoration! Now that's some good planning!

What plans do you have for this year's Halloween?

Ornamental Love & Food!

Yes, the Christmas muse is still visiting. But she is getting tired of the same hot chocolate and homemade ginger snaps I'm serving everyday so she is eager to move on to someone else's studio. Anyone willing to invite her over for a visit? She's hogging all the ginger snaps anyway. I'm partial to my dd's homemade ginger snaps (see recipe below.) *smile*


Red Lead has the most adorable Christmas collage sheets (just search by Christmas Collage.) Especially the vintage photos of children with Santa! I'm enthralled! And this trim they carry (blue trim above) is just like that sparkly icicle stuff you throw on the branches of your tree. I've been having fun playing with it!

New Christmas Ornaments for my tree. Is it too early to put it up, at least in the studio (if I ever get it cleaned?!!!)

The Little One's Ginger Snaps

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup cooking oil or shortening
1/4 cup molasses
1/4-1/2 cup sugar (according to your sweet tooth's preference)
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
+ 1/4 cup sugar (for rolling)

Instructions:
Throw it all in a bowl together (except the last 1/4 cup sugar) and mix with an electric mixer. Shape into balls. Roll in the remaining sugar. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes, depending on your oven (ours cooks it to perfection in 8 mins.) Cool cookies on wire rack. Arm yourself with a spatula to fend off cookie hogs, and enjoy! Makes 30-50 cookies.

Let me know if you try them, I wanna tell the little one. She loves to bake and always ruins my low carb eating when she makes these. We can't resist them!

13 Weeks & 3 Days

You can never start too early! Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat. Okay, he's still growing but you know what I mean. I've been into creating Christmas pieces lately. I don't know why the fall spirit and Halloween ghoulies haven't hit me yet but I'm enjoying the Christmas muse while its here.

A while back, Ms. Fanciful made snowflakes, or paper flowers, whatever you want to call them. I had those in the back of my head when I envisioned this Christmas garland. Let me tell you a little hint about making this. I used vintage sheet music, to really create a special garland. Problem is, the vintage paper starts to fall apart after a bit. To fix this problem, I glued all the snowflakes to clear transparencies (using spray glue) and cut the transparencies into circles (if you look real close I has to 'save' a few that had already started to rip!) I love how this turned out and can't wait to hang it in my living room when I decorate for Christmas. (Collage images and the word stamp on the red squares are all from Red Lead. The velvety ribbon is from Red Lead as well. The punch used for the red paper is from StampIn Up.)

Please excuse the mess in the back of the pics. It is that time again, cleaning time.

Time in my art room has been few and far between. However, I'm trying to finish up an altered journal that I'm passing around among friends on the Altered Gypsy boards. Hopefully I'll get that finished up this week and I'll share soon.