Today...

Today is my niece's 1st Birthday!

A year ago she was this big:

And that little cutie is now this cutie:

She is such a doll!

Pumpkin Silhouette

I realize pumpkin silhouettes are hardly a novel concept.  In fact I had a different idea about it in mind up until I got to the craft store to pick up what was in my head.

It turns out that Hobby Lobby doesn't read my mind so the cute, faded tans & blues with a white pumpkin silhouette were trashed.  But I saw the houndstooth paper and thought - why not?

So I made sure I had the following:

1.  Plaque/ Frame of your choice

2.  Paper of choice

3. Mod Podge

4.  Foam paintbrush for mod podge

5. Foam Pumpkin

6.  Good knife to cut said pumpkin

7.  Paint/ Spray Paint in color of choice

8.  Glue for Pumpkin - that holds!

To Begin:

Spray Paint your Plaque/ Frame the color of your choice.  If you bought paint - I would just give a couple coats to the outside edges since they're the only ones that will be seen.

 Step 2:

Once your paint has dried, you will want to cut your paper of choice so it fits nicely in your plaque/ frame and mod podge/ glue it onto your plaque or place it in your frame.  Like so:

When using Mod Podge, I've always noticed that it bubbles like mad.  So I stuck a book on there while I waited for it to dry:

Step 3:

Once the glue/ mod podge is dry, give a nice coat of mod podge to the top as well.  Unfortunately you can't stick a book on to avoid bubbling.

Step 4:

While you're waiting on your Mod Podge to dry, cut your foam pumpkin as evenly as possible.  I used a serrated knife and hoped that it wouldn't just break off into weird angles.  Luckily this little pumpkin was pretty dense and cut fine, with a little elbow grease.

Step 5:

Once your Mod Podge has dried completely, it's time to glue your pumpkin on.  I have no idea how anyone else gets their pumpkin on, but I know foam stuff never wants to cooperate so I used super glue.  Warning: don't glue your finger to itself.  It makes crafting kind of hard.  Yes - that is from experience.

Stick the pumpkin where you would like it on your frame/ plaque and then while it dries, weigh it down with something.  I used my book again.  In case you're wondering that's "I am Number Four" by Pittacus Lore.

After your pumpkin is good and dry, remember, it's still foam - don't pick this up by the pumpkin - foam sticks to nothing and no one and you'll be lucky it has some stickiness because you used the strongest glue you could find!

That's it!  Simple enough.  I am in the process of looking for a picture hanging...thingy to nail into the back so I can display it from a wall somewhere, but for now - it's sitting on my shelf:

I like the color and I like how it can be both Halloween and Fall related.  I think it's going by my front door.

Linking up:

See "I like to Party" tab up top

Best of Lately: Fall/ Halloween

You guys...it's cooling down!!!

Last weekend I was in Denver - where it just felt like Fall was rolling in.  The temperatures were lower - we're talking in the 70's.  I know that doesn't sound very low - but compared to the 90's it's been here in Utah - it was a very welcome change.

While I was there we did some shopping at the nearest outlet malls where I got a great deal on this jacket:

Levi Denim Jacket

Except I spent WAY less than that because it was Outlet pricing and there was a sale on denim jackets.  I stole this for $48.  And truthfully, I mean this chick no offense, I totally wear it better.  (Is it just me or does this chica need to find better fitting clothes?  Or maybe eat more hamburgers.  I'll go with the latter.)

I also bought this sweater from Abercrombie & Fitch:

Blythe Sweater

It's on clearance already - so I snagged it.  What is clearance for Abercrombie, is usually about where I feel comfortable paying full price for something.  I don't think I've ever bought anything full price there.  It's an "I'm kinda cheap and sticking to my principals" sort of thing.

Now I just need the weather to drop about 40 degrees and I get to wear them!

We can kind of feel the cold weather coming thought.  Even though it'll be in the 80's this weekend - it's something you just know - cold weather is rolling in.  (See, already 10 degrees cooler!)  And before you know it, it'll be time to go see the changing leaves in the canyon and do the Alpine Loop.  (Scenic drive here in Utah - if you're all about Scenic Drives and you haven't been - I highly suggest it.  Also - bring a camera.)

It might be WAY too early, but I'm already cracking out the fall scents this week.  My warmers have this scent in them:

Autumn Sunset

For those of you who are up to date on their Scentsy Products - this isn't discontinued - look for it again on September 15th.  (My SIL is my consultant - she kind of loves me since I can't stop myself when it comes to the catalogues.  I currently have 6 bars on order, but I'm waiting until the 15th to put it through.)

Also super cute from Scentsy:

Pumpkin Warmer

Guys...I want it BAD.  And it's all...on sale this month.

But aside form the fall shopping and smells and drives, I have been inspired to do some fall crafts.  I've gone through my blog roll - a feat, I can assure you because that list is LONG.  And I've found some unbelievably cute crafts that gave me some ideas.

We'll start off with Eighteen 25:

SUPER cute Skull Art & Tutorial.  Lolly Jane guest posted, however I can't seem to find this post on Lolly Jane yet.  So I'll link to both pages.  

I don't decorate for Halloween...yet.  I know I will when I have kids old enough to appreciate the fun.  Right now I just decorate for fall.  But this gave me an idea - so stay tuned.

I LOVE how adorable these turned out.  You should see the girl skull up close - it has cute feathery eyelashes and everything.  And I LOVE the stache and bow tie on the boy skull.  Super cute!!

Craftoholics Anonymous posted this cute tutorial on a fun Witch's Hat that would be adorable on any shelf or mantle.

The best part - it seems relatively simple and the outcome its super cute.

Crafts Unleashed posted these cute Baker's Twine Pumpkins.  These are definitely more my speed with my current Fall themes.  And from what I've seen - Bakers Twine is everywhere.  You just have to google search and you can find some reasonably priced.

Bat Frame from A Pumpkin & A Princess

This is super cute.  Also a good idea if you have a little boy who is obsessed with Batman.  Halloween Decor for a month and for the 11 remaining months it goes back in Jr's bedroom.  I love it.

You can totally steal this Halloween Printable over at Craft-O-Maniac.

It's free!  And she has all sorts of themes as well.

And this cute Houndstooth Pumpkin wreath was made by Jen over at Tatertots and Jello.  I wonder if that woman has ever had a craft fail.

This makes me want to go make a wreath - pretty bad.

Well that's all for right now.  There are still about 30 different things I'd like to do to my house including pretty fall pillows and pretty fall wreaths and accents but I have to cool it because, believe it or not, I do not poop money.

Hopefully you're having a fantastic weekend.

Seriously?

So someone hacked into my PayPal account last week.

I got an email letting me know that I just spent $100 at Walmart.  Considering I didn't, I had to go through the fun of notifying PayPal - still no word from them, by the way, and calling Walmart.  Both "put in an inquiry."

Since my account has my visa information just sitting in there, I had to get a new card too.  Luckily I didn't have too many bills automatically linked to my card, but still - hassle.  My bank also put in an inquiry as well so we'll see how that goes.

I was told by Walmart that the thief bought two $50.00 iTunes gift cards.  Which automatically went to a yahoo account.  And here's the fun part - Walmart wouldn't tell me the the yahoo account - because clearly it wasn't mine and clearly that's privileged information.  Yeah - Walmart protects their thieves.  Had she told me, I would have posted it publicly, sent a few nasty emails that mostly center around the theme of "If you're so technologically savvy, here's a thought: GET A JOB!"  And encouraged everyone I knew to send this tool a strongly worded email as well.

But the likelihood that this was just a temporary email, made special just to steal from me with, I'm assuming my rant would have fallen on deaf ears.

I hate people sometimes.