That Point Has Hit

You know that point in the summer where your children are bickering with each other or complaining about nothing to do.  We have reached it.  Nathan and Ella are either the closest BFFs around or they are literally slapping, scratching and tearing.  I have put kids in their bedrooms so many times this past week or so.

When this time of the summer comes, it usually means that we are ready to be back to school.

I just uttered those words, I realize.  Don't get me wrong.  I love this pace, how productive or non productive I can be.  I love the low stress and the freedom.  But the restlessness is here.

These two need some separation and a new routine.  There are many good things to look forward to in the fall.  Halloween being one of them.  Lately, it is a fright night...

This is the new Halloween collection, Masquerade by Teresa Collins.  Great line!  Chipboard stars and banners, layered stickers, awesome brads...

Funny thing is that once we actually return to school, I will be missing all the free time within minutes.  Then I might be slapping, scratching and tearing out my own hair.

Such is life.

At Home: Cobwebs and a Halloween Front Porch

Fall hits and I always get the decorating bug.  Who doesn't like to make the home cozy and warm during this season.  I have a particular affection for pumpkins and all the colors of Autumn.

I decided to decorate my front porch for Halloween this year.  Truth be told, it is my autumn front porch with a bit of cobwebs.  Little tweaks and tips and you have a pretty entryway into your home.

 

I keep this black chair and table out through spring, summer and fall. A few mums add the color I want.  I wrap my plastic mum pots in burlap to make them look prettier.  It is easy to do and is inexpensive.

 

 

I was surfing on Pinterest recently and saw pumpkins with custom designs and writing.  I decided to use a good Sharpie marker to write the word, "Welcome" on mine.  It was super easy.  First, I wrote in pencil and then I traced in black.  It wasn't dark enough so I used a marker that was made to write on CDs...it was waterproof.  To get the marker to set, I used the blowdryer. 

Then the Halloween part.  I picked up a bag of cobwebs for $1.49.  I have to admit this stuff wasn't that easy to work with.  But it does look cute....and so real that my nephew was afraid to enter my house last week.

 

It says this stuff should catch onto any edge.  It didn't so I had to be creative.  I adhere the top of the web to my porch roof using sticky clips...I do like the way it scallops.  I also had to use some push pins to catch the ends.  I just simply wrapped extra webbing around the pin to hide it.  I also used a butter knife to tuck the webbing under the siding.

Now my porch is festive.  I may have to ask a relative to dress up like a witch and sit in that black chair for Halloween.  That will finish off the spook.

Hopping Halloween: Webster's Pages

 

 

Welcome to the Webster's Pages Halloween blog hop!  We are sharing projects that are sure to get you excited about the upcoming holiday!  You should have come from the talented Emeline's blog!  If not, go back to the Webster's blog and start from the beginning!

 

I am sharing a Halloween inspired layout that celebrates a tradition many of us take part in...carving pumpkins.  Except that in our house, we decorate with markers.  I caught photos of my daughter coloring in her jack-o-lantern while sitting on our front porch.  It was easy to create this design using the Once Upon a Halloween collection.

 



 

I started with three photos...be sure to take many pictures this Halloween and capture the small details.  I hand cut this chevron owl and placed her on a perch.  I cut the fabric circle from the trim and layered in underneath.  The Pumpkin Carving title is from a sheet of paper in the collection...talk about easy!

 

I added a bunch of circles to show off all the patterns and placed charms or rosettes in the centers.

 

I added some texture by layering the orange trim under the strip of green paper.

 

 

This Halloween, be sure to capture all the traditions and details, even those that don't take place on the actual day.

In order to celebrate, we will be handing out our own Halloween treats!  To be eligible to win one of our special treat bags, be sure to leave a comment on every blog, including this one.  Prizes will be chosen next Friday!

Thanks for hopping by...be sure to move forward to Jaz's amazing blog!

 

Thursday Trending: Tilted Patterns

So every now and then, I find a technique or embellie that I love.  (Think banners!) I might have a tendency to use it over and over.  I switch it up a bit, but you can tell that I am in love. 

Such is the case with using tilted, patterned papers overlapped in a diagonal fashion.  I love how it adds a bunch of colors and patterns, but doesn't become overwhelming.  The only drawback is that it is recognizable...maybe too repetitive?  Hopefully, not boring.

I used this techique to make a Halloween layout using Teresa Collins Haunted Hallows.  I love this collection!  Awesome for the holiday and fall!  I have loved adding red to this collection through embellies or alphabets.

This technique is quite easy..I just layer strips of paper, some thick, some thin using a diagonal approach on a sheet of paper about 11X 11 or smaller.  Then I adhere the strips and cut the ends off.  For this layout, I actually tucked the ends under the frame.  

As always, I love to create clusters near my photos.  I hand cut the pumpkin shape and the word tags, popping them with foam squares from Thermoweb.  I layered with Teresa's Blingage!

Speaking of Halloween, I shared a couple of layouts over at the Teresa Collins Design Team blog.  I offered some tips about capturing Halloween!  Here are some sneaks:

Go check them out!

Then, remember to create something you love today...predictable or not!