Seasons of Life: Halloween Blanket

There is nothing more constant than change. Seasons represent that change. We measure the joys, sorrows, and milestones of life by seasons. Nature's seasons and life's seasons teach us, change us, and shape us. In starting this (my mom's Festive and Fun blog) up again I will feel closer to her through celebrating seasons of life in a way she always would. I have lived a full year of seasons without her now, and it seems poetic to begin blogging as if she will continue through the seasons with me. She was amazing! I plan to continue her work because it inspires me. 

To kick off the Fall season, I finished a festive Halloween blanket that my mom had started. Enjoy the video tutorial and steps. 

Festive Halloween Blanket: How To--

1. Find the fabric you want. Can be one solid pieces, two solid pieces, or several different patterns patched together. 

2. Figure out what size blanket you want. This on is 44.5" by 61".

3. Align right sides together. Pin in place. 

4. Sew edges together, leaving a few inches opening to pull materials through to turn right side out. 

5. Push out edges to make sharp edges. 

6. Hem the opening.

7. Iron blanket, flattening edges. 

8. Cuddle up for the season!

Four - 4th of July Centerpiece's

For a Patriot display, use a clear glass vase and tuck an American flag around the edges. Then fill with red, white, and blue flowers. Credit: BHG

This festive foam wreath centerpiece is so easy to make. Wrap a foam wreath form in crepe paper, then insert approximately 300 flags, until the wreath is covered. Credit: BHG

Attach festive and patriotic red, white and blue patterned paper to clear glass jars or candle holders using adhesive or two-sided tape. Drop a votive candle inside, light, enjoy! Credit: BHG

YOU'LL NEED:

Mailing tubes and plugs in assorted sizes (containerstore.com; 800-PAPER-01)

Red, white and blue construction paper

Glue stick

Scissors

Silver tassels

Star-shaped paper punch

Assorted ribbons and rickrack

1. Cover a tube in construction paper, using glue to secure

2. Use scissors or a knife to carefully make a small slot in one plug. Thread silver tassels through opening and tie in a knot to secure.

3. Decorate by gluing star-shaped cutouts and ribbons on tubes as desired. If you want to use them as party favors, fill with candy. Credit: allyou

Chocolate Zuccini Bread

Have an abundance of zuccini this year? Try this yummy bread

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 1/2 cups coarsely shredded, unpeeled zucchini

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

1 1/4 cups dark chocolate pieces

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of two 8x4x2-inch loaf pans; set aside. In a large bowl stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Make a well in the center of flour mixture.
2. In a medium bowl combine eggs, zucchini, sugar, oil, and vanilla. Add zucchini mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in nuts (if desired) and 3/4 cup of the chocolate pieces. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pans, spreading evenly.
3. Bake about 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on rack.
4. In a small saucepan cook and stir the remaining 1/2 cup chocolate pieces over low heat until melted. Drizzle melted chocolate over loaves. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.

Coiled Fabric Scrap Baskets

All you need to make these pretty DIY baskets is cord, fabric strips, and glue. Fill them with  candy and treats for a sweet and personalized Easter present.

Make it:
For each basket, you'll need 3/4 yard of colored print fabric (cut into 16x1-1/2-inch wide strips), 4 yards of cotton piping cord, and a hot-glue gun and glue sticks or needle and thread.

Hot-glue the first fabric strip to one end of the cord, and wrap it around the cord at an angle. Do this until the cord is covered entirely. Coil the cord tightly around itself, hot-gluing as you go, until you have a 2-inch spiral. Continue the spiral until the you've reached your desired base size.

Stack the next round atop the base, gluing as you go, until your basket is the desired height. Add tiny handles fashioned from leftover fabric.

Source/photo credit: bhg.com

Lemonade Cake

 

    No need to juice lemons to make this yummy cake, use frozen lemonade concentrate

 1/3 cup butter

3 eggs

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/3 cups sugar

1/4 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/4 cups buttermilk or sour milk

Yellow food coloring (optional)

Thin lemon slices (optional)

Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating on medium speed until well combined. Scrape sides of bowl; beat for 2 minutes more. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemonade concentrate and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. If desired, stir in a few drops of yellow food coloring. Spread batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Spread cake with Lemon Butter Frosting. If desired, garnish with lemon slices (slices should be removed before eating).

Lemon Butter Frosting

1/3 cup softened butter

1 cup powdered sugar

1/3 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

1 - 2 teaspoons frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

directions

In a large mixing bowl beat softened butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add the 1 cup powdered sugar, beating well. Beat in the 1/3 cup frozen lemonade concentrate and vanilla. Gradually beat in the additional powdered sugar. Beat in additional frozen lemonade concentrate to reach spreading consistency. Makes 2 cups.

source: midwestliving.com

DIY Fall Floral Craft

Follow these easy steps to make these festive and adorable floral pumpkins for your fall decorations

Materials needed

1. Make a crater in the top

2. Soak until wet

3. Stick a rustic branch for the stem

4. Cut down the flower stems

5. Cover the ball (pumpkin) with flowers

6. Tie rafia around

Soooooo Cute!!!!

Photo source and inspiration: jonathanfongstyle.com

See full tutorial here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_12341031_make-pumpkin-out-flowers.html

DIY Platter Gift

Make this personalized platter for Dad, it's simple and dishwasher safe!

• white ovenproof platter
• ceramic paint

• ceramic paint pen
• small artist brush
• oven
• 
  
• Before writing on platter, kids should practice writing their message on scrap paper using the ceramic marker. When their comfortable with marker and letter spacing, write Father’s Day message on rim of platter. Once paint has dried to the touch, flip platter over and sign and date the back of platter.

Source:hgtv

4 Festive Patriotic Projects

Show your Red, White and Blue Spirit with these easy to make Patriotic projects

• What You'll Need:
• Eight to ten sheets of newspaper (for each baton)
• Transparent tape
• Scissors
• Red ribbon
• Crafts glue
• Shredded crinkle paper
• 5-inch silver cardboard star
• Star-shape foam stickers
• Get directions here

source: BHG 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

 This is my go to recipe to bring to a party...Lucious Chocolate Cupcakes with a Creamy Peanut Butter Center

Ingredients

1 1/2

cups All Purpose Flour

1/3

cup baking cocoa

1

cup packed brown sugar

1

teaspoon baking soda

1/4

teaspoon salt

1/3

cup Pure Vegetable Oil

1

cup water

1

tablespoon white vinegar

1/2

teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1

egg

1

package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

3/4

cup Creamy Peanut Butter

1/3

cup granulated sugar

1/3

cup powdered sugar

1/4

cup peanut butter chips

1/4

cup semi-sweet chocolate baking chips

Steps

• 1Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 18 regular-size muffin cups.
• 2In large bowl, mix flour, cocoa, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Add oil, water, vinegar and vanilla to flour mixture, stirring just until smooth (do not overmix).
• 3In another large bowl, beat egg, cream cheese, peanut butter and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add powdered sugar; beat until creamy.
• 4Spoon 1 level tablespoon chocolate batter into each cup; evenly spread 1 level tablespoon peanut butter filling on top. Repeat layers. Sprinkle with peanut butter chips and chocolate chips.
• 5Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (do not overbake). Cool in pan 15 minutes. Remove from pan to cooling rack; cool 15 minutes. Serve warm or cool.
  
  
  Source: Pillsbury

  
  

  
  

  
  

Plant a Fairy Garden

The little fairies will love living in your garden amongst this delightful collection of enchanted miniature garden homes. Tuck them between the plants and flowers and bring a little magic to your garden

These highly detailed Miniature Fairy Garden Solar Flower Pot Homes feature wonderful details, including windows, doors, flowers and ladybugs. It's the perfect way to start your first or complement your existing miniature garden. Your garden fairies will love it! 

See the collection @ Plow & Hearth.com

Colorful Spring Wedding Ideas

Festive and Fun Spring Wedding Ideas 

Word Collage Artwork

Create a unique work of art. This is a great project for the kids

Use a frame, foam-core board, tissue paper, and cutout letters from scrap paper or recycled magazines. Decoupage pieces of tissue paper around the foam-core board as a border, then glue your letters directly onto the foam-core board. When dry, frame the inspirational artwork.

source: BHG