Mod Podge a Pumpkin Candle Holder

When you are in need of a gift and have just a little time to spare,
here's one that's fun and reasonably priced.

I found the glass bowl/candle holder, matches and candle at $ Tree...

I  Mod Podged orange tissue paper strips lengthwise over the glass.

Then I Mod Podged green twine around the top and added two burlap leaves..

MP is still wet in the picture...I also dabbed it around the leaves to prevent more fraying.

It lights up nicely.

(Light bulb: a baby food jar would be cute done this way! Maybe use a battery tea light!)

I used some scrapbook paper to cover the candle and matchbox!

Added some candy pumpkins and wrapped appropriately...

cute little happy!

 (Of course, a more expensive candle would be..well....more expensive!)

Now, I know you know somebody who needs a little pick me up!

No excuses,

The Snuggle Factor

It's here...can't you feel it?

 Temperatures plummeted to the 60's at night...crisp mornings...it's FALLLLLL, Ya'lllll!
My very favorite time of the whole year (unless it happens to snow some time during the 365 days!)

Pull out that yarn and let your fingers fly...if you can't crochet or knit...then do something!!

Don't just sit there...Let the Decorating begin!!

Because I've been more or less confined to the bed since early June,

I've tried to keep busy.

Crochet has been the best thing for me because it only involves

around 500 skeins of yarn and a hook.

Now, the bedroom looks a little fluffy, but painting, mod podging, etc. and bed rest do NOT mix well.

I began with a single color pumpkin...(see My Secret directions below*)

Then I tried a combined two color tweedy look...

and layers of two colors...

Before I knew it...I had a pumpkin patch!!

I added a candle tied with burlap...cute...what else could I use these for?

How about as place cards?
Maybe as a gift for a friend with some candy corn!?
Whatever you use them for, they are cute, fun to do and have kept these old hands busy!

Pictured below are get well flowers from a dear friend!
 Beautiful Columbian roses..
look at that fantastic fall color!
 I had just the right container...my redware pitcher...
I have enjoyed watching them "bloom" out a little more every day!

Snuggle up everybody, make an early morning fire in the fireplace...
(and if it gets warm again, turn on the air conditioner! But keep the fireplace going!)

My PT's said I'd be almost as good as new by Halloween!!!

My Secret Pumpkin directions:

With yarn and hook  of choice chain approx. 25 (longer chain makes pumpkin bigger around)

Row 1:  24 DC...chn 2 and turn.

Row 2:  24 DC (the more rows the taller the pumpkin). I did 5-6 rows of DC.

You now have a rectangle. Stitch two short ends together. You now have a tube.

Use a piece of yarn about 24 inches long and knot one end. Around the top, with this matching yarn and a large needle, make a running stitch that goes all the way around the  top. Pull tightly and tie off. Stuff with fiberfill.

Close the bottom by repeating the "running stitch & tie off" direction above.

I took a long piece of matching yarn and sewed down into the middle of the pumpkin from top to bottom a couple of times, pulling tightly each time to "form" a pumpkin shape.

Leaves: chn 5 and connect to make a circle. (Chain 5 and slip stitch in circle. Repeat two more times.)

In first "leaf" chain, (1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 trc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc and slip stitch into next "leaf" chain. Repeat twice until you have three leaves.)

Stitch the leaf topper onto the pumpkin (or hot glue). Use a small twig or stick for the stem and tie with green twine for tendrils.

* Live and Learn

You know what my husband says,

" It only takes one compliment on something you have made and you immediately make 100 of said item."

Somebody on FB said something nice about my pumpkins and I launched into an all out offensive.

We now have gone pastel pumpkin crazy!

Cute in a little girls's room or anywhere you need a spot of color.

Pardon the price tags :(

Then, of course, there are the more "dressed up"  non-pastel versions...below.

I had the old cutter quilt cut to ribbons, but couldn't bear to throw away

the raggedy squares...thus, the tattered pumpkin below.

(I believe I may be becoming a hoarder.) 

I found some of the fabrics to be easier to work with than others.

Burlap may look neat, but it's not neat to work with..achoo!

Linen, on the other hand, is. Painter's canvas is also difficult.

Nevertheless, I have given my customers a wide range of pumps from which to choose!

On to today's post!!

I have been reading a small book by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. entitled

Live, and Learn and Pass It On.

Funny little quotes from lots of different people from 5 years old to 90.

I decided that this is a great idea, so today I'd like to share some things I've learned.

(Some I learned the HARD way!

When you have a minute why don't you add your "learnings" in the form of a comment?

Let's begin:

1. There is nobody more intelligent than the following groups: those who have NO children or who are brand new parents; 9th grade boys; second semester 12th grade girls and boys; and parents who coach from the stands. (Just sayin')

2. If you love any makeup item, buy it in bulk, because they will surely discontinue it.

3. Drinking diet beverages and continuing to eat Ding Dongs does NOT equal a happy outcome.

4. When you laugh or make fun of someone about a physical feature, you will end up with that feature.

    (This applies to even "thinking" something unkind about someone.. like a double chin of theirs will turn into a triple on you. Remember those Ding Dongs?)

5. For every lie you told your parents, your child will surely look you straight in the face and tell the same whopper to you. (I don't care what church you go to.)

6. Parents who think that the sole reason they have a great child is because of their parenting skills will at some point in their life be taken down a peg or two or three.

7. When you want rain, you get sunshine and vice versa. Adjust and live with it.

8. Nobody is ever satisfied with what they have been given physically...blue eyes? want brown; short frame? want tall; muffin top? want a six pack; big eyes? want slanted with extra long eyelashes. Answer? Wear brown contacts, get acquainted with Spanx, buy false eyelashes and walk on stilts...uncomfortable but do-able.

9. If you want something very badly (like a new couch) and your husband says, "NO!" and you whine and pout until you get it, you will NOT ever love that couch. There will always be that thing running around in your brain telling you, that you acted a fool to get your way. Nobody enjoys anything that was gotten by acting a fool.

10. When you don't water the ferns, they die. When you don't cut the grass, your home looks like a jungle. When you don't pluck your eyebrows or shave your legs, you look like a cavegirl. Bottom line here is: everything worthwhile in life takes some care and time. Always depending on someone else to "take care of business" for you isn't very smart. Hairy legs  = gross. So is a life that could have been worthwhile with some tender loving care that was neglected.

Now what have you learned and want to pass on?





I am linking to Beverly's Pink Saturday...please, join the fun!

A Little Bling Has Entered the Pumpkin Patch!

I have been having a "running fit" to make some fabric pumpkins this year. Last year is just a blur and I didn't have the time nor the energy to research, gather materials, sew and fluff, but this year, I really didn't have an excuse. So it was to the garage I went...early in the morning...while it was still cool. Years ago, I bought a huge rolling garbage container and took it directly to the garage and promptly stored all my fabric in it.

Well, most of my fabric.

This time I was on the hunt for heavy upholstery fabric in seasonal colors for my pumpkins.

I had researched Pinterest for the quickest, most cost effective way to construct these little "pumps".

 Here are the "fruits of my labor"!

You know the first thing "the hubster" said, don't you?

"Whoever heard of a leopard pumpkin?"

Then..."Why can't you just make them look like regular pumpkins?"

Some people have NO imagination whatsoever!

I was showing a teenage girl these at the shop, and the first thing she said was,

"Oh, I looove the leopard one!" Yep.

Sparkly and shiny...I love these, too.

I am on a mission to see how many different types of pumpkins I can do this season.

I will post as I go! Next up...burlap...the new southern linen!

Hope you have a terrific week!