Festive and Fun: Autumn

Showing posts with label Autumn. Show all posts

9/15/20

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!

7/14/16

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

12/11/15

Memorable DIY Handprint Tree

This supercheap DIY project may be inexpensive to make, but it will undoubtedly become the most valuable Christmas Decoration you'll ever hang. Great for the kids and grandkids!

What you need:
Foam brushes
Fabric Paint brown, green, yellow and colors for ornaments.
Canvas of some kind. burlap wrapped canvas Hobby Lobby.

How to:
You really have to be precise with where the footprints and handprints go! We practiced before on newsprint so that the kids knew exactly what to do.

The biggest tips are to just know exactly where you plan to place the prints, but as you can see, it is quite easy to do! The paint does dry fast, but you do want to wait between each set of colors to switch. Do the feet, wait for them to dry, then the hands and let them dry, then the star on top and you can do the ornaments while the star dries. But because it dries so quickly, this project was completed in less than 30 minutes! Also, this acrylic paint does wash off very easily, which makes it easier to use with kids.

see article by Amy Latta @ HGTV

11/21/15

5 Minute Autumn Centerpiece

8 quick yet beautiful centerpieces that you can put together in 5 minutes

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A walk in the backyard will show you that nature is a great source for table displays.Cut some fall foliage and spread them out on the table, then add a few candles and pumpkins.

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Pinecones set in a bowl with a hurricane lamp and candle.

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Cover an empty oatmeal container with a map, add some wheat and whalla!

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Separate store bought roses (flowers) tie them with twine and use various sizes of glasses or vases

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A beautiful store bouquet placed in a flower pot. Hallowed out apples with small votives.

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Tall vases filled with fresh fall branches.

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Cylindrical vases filled with birdseed give a sturdy base for branches.

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Beveled mirrors placed down the center with white candles. Add pine boughs and oranges.

11/20/15

DIY Pie Slice Box

Send your guests home with a slice of pie. See how to make these fun pie slice boxes

For complete instruction and template download lavenderbluedesigns.com

From Martha Stewart

Follow template instructions for cutting, and align edges of pie box to the left side of the Mini Scoring Board. Score. Align tabs and score as well.
Punch along the top and sides of the box with the Edge Punch.
Form box and adhere sides together with double-sided tape.
To make the tag, punch the full shape from off-white paper. Then punch an outer ring from craft paper. Glue the two pieces together.

From Bubbly Nature Creations

DIY Pie Slice Boxes! Perfect for sending home guests with a piece of pie or gifting for the holidays!

Not Your Ordinary Pumpkin Pie

What's Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie? Here are 4 unique and delicious ways to serve up this iconic dessert

Pumpkin Pie Sundae

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Tropical Pumpkin Pie

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Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake

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Pumpkin Pie to Go

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11/19/15

Turkey 5 Deliciously Perfect RECIPES

Gobble, Gobble...How do you like your Turkey - Spiced, Roasted, Fried, or Glazed? Look no farther, here are 5 perfect recipes that are sure to make the star of the menu a tasty work of art

Honey & Spiced Turkey

2 tsp. chili powder ,½ tsp. garlic powder, ¼ tsp. ground allspice, ¼ tsp. ground cumin, ¼ tsp. salt,⅛ tsp. ground red pepper, 2 tbsp. honey, 1 tsp. water, 1 (14 - 16-lb.) Fresh or Frozen Whole Turkey, thawed if frozen, 2 tbsp. vegetable oil

1.Preheat oven to 325°F. Mix chili powder, garlic powder, allspice, cumin, salt, red pepper, honey and water in small bowl until well blended; set aside.

2.Remove neck and giblets from body and neck cavities of turkey; discard or refrigerate for another use. Drain juices from turkey; dry turkey with paper towels. Turn wings back to hold neck skin against back of turkey.
3. Place turkey, breast up, on flat roasting rack in roasting pan about 3 inches deep. Brush turkey with oil. Roast turkey 3 to 3½ hours, covering breast and top of drumsticks loosely with foil after 2 hours to prevent overcooking of breast.
4. Uncover turkey breast and brush turkey with honey-spice mixture during the last 45 minutes of baking. Return foil to top of turkey and continue roasting until meat thermometer inserted deep in thigh reaches 180°F. Let turkey stand 15 minutes before carving.

Apple Glazed Roast Turkey
1 cup apple jelly,1 cup apple juice, ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar, ¼ cup honey, ½ tsp. salt 1 (16-18 lb.) Fresh or Frozen Whole Turkey, thawed if frozen
Preheat oven to 325°F. Combine jelly, juice, vinegar, honey and salt in small, heavy saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until reduced to 1-¼ cups, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reserve ¼ cup mixture for gravy. Set remaining mixture aside for basting turkey.
Remove neck and giblets from body and neck cavities of turkey. Refrigerate for another use or discard. Drain juices from turkey. Pat dry with paper towels.
Turn wings back to hold neck skin against back of turkey.
Place turkey, breast up, on flat roasting rack in shallow roasting pan. Spray turkey with cooking spray. Place small pieces of aluminum foil over skin of neck cavity.
Brush turkey with some glaze mixture. Loosely cover breast and tops of drumsticks with aluminum foil to prevent overcooking. Bake 2 hours.
Uncover turkey breast and brush turkey with additional glaze mixture. Return foil to top of turkey and continue roasting until meat thermometer inserted deep in thigh reaches 180°F. Let turkey stand 15 minutes before carving.
Roast Turkey Spicy Rub
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3 tbsp. firmly packed light brown sugar, 3 tbsp. kosher or sea salt, 3 tbsp. chili powder, 2 tsp. black pepper, 2 tsp. roasted cumin, 2 tsp. garlic powder, 2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, 1 tsp. ground coriander,1 (12 to 14 lb.) Butterball® Whole Turkey, thawed if frozen, 6 tbsp. canola oil.
Combine all ingredients except turkey and oil. Blend well. (May be prepared 2 to 3 days in advance. Store mixture in an airtight container at room temperature.)
Remove neck and giblets from body and neck cavities of turkey; refrigerate for another use or discard. Turn wings back to hold neck skin in place. Return legs to the tucked position, if untucked. Place turkey, breast side up, on flat rack in shallow roasting pan.
Brush outside of the turkey with half of the oil; rub outside and inside cavity with spice mixture. Cover and refrigerate 12 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Brush spiced turkey with remaining 3 tbsp. of oil. Bake approximately 3 hours*, or until meat thermometer reaches 180°F when inserted in the thickest part of the thigh. Remove turkey from oven.
Let turkey stand 15 minutes before carving.
Spiced Seasoned Turkey with Mango Salsa
1½ tbsp. ancho chile powder,1 tbsp. ground coriander,1½ tsp. brown sugar,1½ tsp. ground ginger,1¼ tsp. kosher salt, divided,1⅛ tsp. ground black pepper, divided,1 tsp. garlic powder,1 tsp. onion powder,1 tsp. ground cinnamon,1 tsp. ground allspice,½ tsp. ground cloves,1 (12 lb.), Fresh or Frozen Whole Turkey, thawed if frozen,Non-stick cooking spray,4 medium mangoes, peeled, pitted and finely chopped,3 green onions, sliced,3 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro,1 jalapeño pepper, seeded, finely,chopped,3 tbsp. lime juice,3 tbsp. canola oil,¼ tsp. salt,⅛ tsp. ground black pepper
Get directions here

B rown Sugar Brined Deep Fried Turkey

3 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1½ cups Dijon-style mustard
¼ cup salt
2 tbsp. cayenne pepper
2 gal. cold water
1 bunch fresh thyme
1 head garlic, separated into cloves and crushed
3 gal. peanut oil for frying
1 (10 - 12 lb.) Butterball® Whole Turkey, thawed if frozen

get directions here

11/17/15

Entertaining Made Easy

You don't have to be a professional designer to bring artful elegance to your holiday table. Watch these two video's to learn how to set a special holiday table and how to welcome your guests the minute they walk in the door.

11/16/15

Holiday Entertaining

Tis the season to entertain. This video is full of great entertaining tips and tricks to make your holiday party fun and festive.

11/7/15

DIY Ambient Paper Lanterns

Add ambience to your next dinner party with these fun and festive lanterns

Place them on the mantle or dining table. You probably have the materials hanging around the house. What could be easier?

What you'll need:

Clear plastic water bottles from your recycle bin! Those with grooves are fine, they don’t show when lit.
white paper
LED tealight candles. For a really bright glow, use Supernight LED Lights like these
Clear tap
X-acto knife or Silhoutte Portait