Paper Mayflower Centerpiece

Make a mini Mayflower centerpiece: A sheet of torn-edged watercolor paper becomes the main sail, and a blue burlap tablecloth replicates the waters of Massachusetts Bay. Hat kits are ready for each young master (boy) and goody (girl).
Get step-by-step instructions.
Thanks Martha Stewart!

Cornhusk Flowers

In November, the blossoms of summertime are little more than a distant memory. But you can bring some of their delicate beauty to your fall decorating by fashioning flowers from the husks of dried Indian corn -- a farm-stand staple at this time of year. Inspired by the early American craft tradition of making dolls from cornhusks, our cornhusk flowers -- mimicking cosmos, daisies, and sunflowers -- are both elegant and simple to create.
Click here for step-by-step instructions.
Thanks Martha Stewart!

EASY Trick or Treat bags!

These clever trick-or-treat bags are simple to construct and help keep children safe because they glow in the dark.

Tools and Materials
Templates (bat, ghost, ghost window, spider, spider web) Brown paper bag (approximately 13 by 10 inches long and 5 inches deep) Glue Glow tape, 1/2 inch in width Craft knife Mini Slinkies White duct tape Martha Stewart screw hole punch Reflective fabric Black fun foam Black duct tape Chip board

Bat Trick-or-Treat Bag How-To 1. Cut a circle out of reflective fabric. Glue circle to bag.

2. Download and print bat template. Trace bat template onto black fun foam. Cut out bat from fun foam using craft knife.

3. Take a mini Slinky and cut off a section of approximately 6 coils. Stretch the Slinky so it pops out. Attach Slinky to back of bat with black duct tape. Placing chip board inside of bag for protection, take the Martha Stewart screw hole punch and punch through the center of the yellow moon. Feed other end of Slinky through hole and tape with duct tape inside.

Ghost Trick-or-Treat Bag How-To 1. Download and print ghost and ghost window templates. Take brown paper bag. First, make the ghost window by cutting one black rectangle, about 8 1/2 by 4 inches. Place rectangle on a piece of wax paper.

2. Start peeling strips of 1/2-inch glow tape and stick around window to make frame. Then, using scissors, cut the 1/2-inch glow-tape strips into 1/4-inch glow-tape strips. To make the window sill, cut a 1/4-inch strip of glow tape about 5 inches in length and apply to window frame. Then peel and stick 1/4-inch strips of glow tape horizontally and vertically to form window. Using rubber cement, paint back of completed window and paint brown bag where window will be placed. Let rubber cement dry for approximately 3 minutes. Stick window onto bag.

3. Take sheet of white fun foam; trace ghost template. Cut out ghost using craft knife.

Thanks Martha Stewart!

Zombie Pumpkins

Creating your own googly-eyed monsters has never been easier. Just don't get too close -- these guys look hungry.

Tools and Materials Miniature saw Small pumpkin (For a petrifying pale complexion, look for a white pumpkin) Plastic eyeballs Thumbtack or pin For the eyes, hold saw at an angle and cut 2 cone-shaped holes into the pumpkin. The diameter of the holes should be slightly smaller than the eyeballs' diameter. Print mouth template. Lay template on pumpkin, and poke tack through, all along outline, to transfer design. Cut along that outline with saw, and remove excess flesh. Wedge eyeballs into holes. Thanks Martha Stewart!

Halloween Treat Bags and Favors

These stamped muslin bags delight, and not just because of the candy inside. You can print the design yourself using a Lady apple.

How-To 1. Cut apple vertically, avoiding core and seeds. Using a craft knife, carve out a face. 2. With a foam brush, apply a thin layer of orange acrylic paint to surface of apple. 3. Lay a bag on a washcloth, and stamp with apple. 4. To create a stem shape, cut off the tip of a triangular makeup sponge; dip in green paint, and stamp.

Thanks Martha Stewart!

Glowing Ghosts

These apparitions may seem friendly at first, but in the darkness their scary side comes out. To summon a ghost, snap one or two green eight-hour light sticks so they glow, and insert them into a white balloon. Inflate the balloon and tie it closed. Use a black marker to draw a wide-eyed visage. Repeat to make more, then affix ghosts to a wall with transparent tape and lower the lights.

Thanks Martha Stewart!

Candy Corn Pots-Cute!

I don't know about you, but I love crafts of all kinds. These adorable Candy Corn Pots are so cute and so easy to make. I have come across pots at garage sales so this can be a very cute and inexpensive decoration!!

Tools and Materials Small, new terra-cotta pots Pencil Acrylic paint in yellow, orange, and white Paintbrush Paper Pen

Candy-Corn Pot How-To 1. Tuck handfuls of candy corn into giants of their species. Use a pencil to mark stripes on pots. Brush on acrylic paints between lines to make bands, letting each color dry before moving on to the next. When painting the top stripe, go over the lip of pot and paint inside (so it will look good even as it's emptied).

2. Tuck in a note or scary message.

Thanks Martha Stewart!

JoAnn's Last Minute Halloween DealsI

It's not too late...JoAnn's is offering big discounts on Halloween costumes and gifts.

Dog Christmas Stocking-Tutorial

CHRISTMAS DOG STOCKING

I thought this was such a cute stocking for my pet to have this Christmas.  It's so easy to make I made up one for all my friends pets, too!  

To get started, you will first need to make sure you have all the supplies!

Fabric of your choice.  About 1/4 of a yard, rick rack, matching thread, thin double-sided iron on interfacing, and pinking shears.

When you cut out the stocking use pinking shears, since you will not be heming the edges this will give it a nice decorative finished look.  You do not need to cut out the rectangle with pinking shears.  You will be heming this so just cut it out with regular scissors.  Cut out the stocking using this pattern. 

Cut (using pinking shears) two (2) of fabric of the large bone plus one (1) bone of double-sided iron on interfacing.  So you will have three (3) large bones cut out.....two of fabric and one of interfacing.

Cut (using pinking shears) one (1) of fabric of small ½ bone. 

Cut (using regular scissors) one (1) fabric of rectangle.  

Next, iron on one side of interfacing to wrong side of fabric of one bone.  

Now lets get our loop ready!  Fold rectangle in half with right sides together (long ways) and sew a small seam down the side.  Either using your machine or hand sewing.  It's up to you!  This is going to be the loop you use to hang the stocking with.  Don’t worry about sewing up the ends.  You are going to do that later when you sew the two bone pieces together.

After you have sewed down one side, turn right side out.  I use a thin stick to help push the end through.  

Iron the loop so it lays flat.

Now fold the loop in half so that the ends meet.  Place on the bone piece that you ironed on the interfacing to.  Place in the middle of one corner, with the loop extending outward so you will be able to hang it when you are finished.

Now, take the other bone piece and place it on top of the interfacing and iron in place (wrong sides will  be together).  

Now take your smaller 1/2 bone piece (I call it a pocket) and sew a 1/4 seam at the top.

Now get your rick rack and sew it across the top that you just hemed.  Be sure to extend a small amount of rick rack on each side so that you can tuck the ends under the back side, this will give it a nice finish.

When you are finished it will look like this. 

Now lets get ready to sew it all together!  Align the pocket, (1/2  bone) to the bottom of the large bone.  So that the edges are aligned, then pin in place. 

Now take your rick rack and start at one side beginning with the pocket (1/2 bone).  Leave a little extra  so that you can extend a small amount of rick rack and fold under the pocket. 

Sew the rick rack all the way around the bone edge.  Be sure to leave a little extra when you are done so you can sew the end under the pocket leaving you with a nice finish.

Taa Daa!

Fall Wall Hanging

I made this wall hanging last Fall. Sorry, I do not have step by step instructions. I bought a pattern and it was very easy to make. I made it in one day!

Wall Hanging Organizer

This was so fun to make and so very easy. It has several pockets to store things in like pens, envelopes, etc. I made it in one day!

Fall Pumpkins

I couldn't believe how easy this was to make and it was so much fun. I get so many compliments on it.

Cherry Apron

My daughter loves to cook so I made her an apron. I got the pattern from McCall's Easy Stich~n~Save.

Sewing Machine Cover

I'm a cat person so I love it when I find cat related things!

Dog Blanket

This is a blanket I made for my grand dog...Chewie.

Handbag

I love the Summer time....It's GARAGE SALES gaaaalore!! There is nothing better than finding something you need for only a buck, right?!!

I came across this fine German crystal for only a buck each! I looked it up on the internet and the vases sell on e-bay for about $69 and the bells were about $17 each.

When I saw this sewing shelve I couldn't pass it up....I got it for a whopping $3!

I found this cute shelve for only a buck!




This flower container was only .50 cents and the flowers were $1.50!



I found this bookcase for only $5!!


I also found this desk for only $5 too, what a steal!!

Tea Cup Pin Cushion

Sew easy!! I found this easy-to-make pincushion tutorial here. Thanks Larissa! I bought the teacup at a garage sale for a whoppen $1 and used a peice of scrap fabric for the cushion....it took about 30 minutes to whip up. I gave it away as a gift and it only cost me a buck!!