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{Easy and Fun} Foam Halloween Crafts

September 29, 2015 By Katie 2 Comments

This post has been sponsored by FloraCraft® Make It: Fun®. The views and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. To read my disclosure statement, click here.

Whether you need a fun craft to make in your classroom or you’re just looking for a kid-friendly activity to try at home, FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Discs not only make crafting easy, they’re also inexpensive. Sophie and I had a ball coming up with Halloween craft ideas. We threw around a bunch of different ideas–spiders, a witch, a ghost–but decided a Jack-O-Lantern and black cat would go best with our Halloween porch.

Here’s what we used:

FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Discs

FloraCraft® Smooth Finish®

FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Cutter

Glitter

Glitter Glue

Googly eyes

Acrylic Craft Paint

Hot Glue Gun

Ribbon

Felt

Directions:

Cut the FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Discs into the desired shapes using the FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Cutter. (I made the cat ears by cutting a small disc into quarters and turning them outward on a larger disc.)

Once you have cut your shapes, coat them with FloraCraft® Smooth Finish® to create a smooth surface for painting. FloraCraft® Smooth Finish® is a lot like icing–I used a spatula to spread it over the FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Discs.

Once the FloraCraft® Smooth Finish® dried, I attached the stem to the pumpkin and the ears to the cat. Then, I painted them using craft paint and covered them with glitter while the paint was still wet.

Once the paint dried and the glitter set, I attached a bow and googly eyes to the cat and finished out the nose with a felt triangle and glitter glue for the mouth. For the pumpkin, I made a bow with ribbon and cut out the face from felt. The result:

Aren’t they adorable? I can’t wait to add these two to my Halloween porch decorations! For more Halloween craft ideas, check out the Holiday & Seasonal page.

Deco Mesh Halloween Wreath

September 23, 2015 By Katie 2 Comments

Halloween is such a great time to add some sparkle and glitter where you normally wouldn’t. That’s why I went with a Deco Mesh wreath this year. Let me just say, this was my first ever attempt at Deco Mesh and I am so happy with how it turned out. Ever seen the women on YouTube who can just whip one of these wreaths out in like 5 minutes? Yeah, no. I had to revisit it over several days. Deco mesh can be tricky, but I’m so glad I made one. I love it and now that I know how to do it, I will definitely be making more wreaths like this. Here’s what I used:

Supplies

I roll of 20″ wide Deco mesh (Walmart)

5″ wired ribbon (Walmart)

Black pipe cleaners

Scissors

Halloween embellishments and floral (Michael’s)

18 inch working wreath (Michael’s)

Here’s the tutorial I used to learn how to do a deco mesh wreath.

This is how I started–make poofs with the deco mesh, secure it with the pipe cleaners. Then go over it with a wide ribbon, securing it with the same pipe cleaners. Once I was done, I just tucked the pipe cleaners back behind the wreath.

The embellishments were the fun part for me. I found all of these at Michael’s.

Deco Mesh clings to everything so when I placed something , it stuck the first time. Right where I wanted it.

Once everything was placed where I wanted it, I went back, fluffed up the ribbon, and hung my Halloween wreath!

Once I figured out how to make the mesh behave, it was a fun wreath to make. I’ll definitely be making one again for Christmas. What about you? Have you ever tried making a Deco Mesh wreath?

For more Halloween and wreath ideas, check out the Holiday and Seasonal page!

Round-Up Monday–10 DIY Halloween Ideas

September 21, 2015 By Katie 3 Comments

With it still being warm outside, it doesn’t seem like Halloween is just a little over a month away. But it is and let me tell you,I feel like this year has just flown by! Are you getting your Halloween stuff out yet? If you’re looking for inspiration, you are going to love these ideas! (Links and sources below the pictures)

Black White and Metallic Fall Banner by I Should Be Mopping the Floor

Black Cat Wreath by Shaken Together

Halloween Scene in a Jar by Yesterday on Tuesday

[Read more…]

Fall Crafts–Glitter Candy Corn

September 16, 2015 By Katie 2 Comments

Whether you’re looking to add some sparkle to a Halloween centerpiece or you want to do a fun fall craft with your kids, Glitter Candy Corn is perfect (and really, really easy.) My 7 year-old helped me make these and she loved every second of it. I’m not a huge fan of glitter, but we had a lot of fun. Here’s what you need:

Supplies:

3 styrofoam cones, various heights

Large containers of orange, yellow and white glitter (I used extra fine)

Elmer’s School Glue or Mod Podge

Paint brush

Spoon

Disposable Roaster Pans

[Read more…]

Fall Crafts–DIY Pumpkin Crayons

September 4, 2015 By Katie 8 Comments

Remember the DIY crayons I made for Valentine’s Day? My daughter loved them so much that we made them for fall too! DIY pumpkin crayons are so easy to make AND they put all those broken crayon pieces to good use. The best part–making them is SUPER easy. Here’s what you need:

Supplies:

Silicone pumpkin-shaped candy trays (Michaels)
Broken crayons in fall colors
Cookie sheet

Directions

Peel the wrappers from the broken crayons. If the crayons are full size or in big chunks, break them or cut them into smaller pieces.

Place crayon pieces in the silicone candy tray. You can make any color combo you like!

[Read more…]

Round-Up Monday–10 Fall Craft Ideas

August 31, 2015 By Katie Leave a Comment

Happy Monday everyone! After a week of gorgeous, cool weather, it got a little toasty over the weekend. Oh well. Tomorrow is September (yay!) so I can deal with a little bit more of summer. Are you looking to add a touch of fall to your home? Then you are going to love these 10 fall craft ideas! (Links and sources below the pictures).

Painted Acorns by Home Stories A To Z

Gold Painted Pumpkins by New House New Home

Easy Sweater Pumpkins by Confessions of a Plate Addict

[Read more…]

DIY Fabric Wrapped Fall Wreath

August 19, 2015 By Katie 23 Comments

This project was featured in House Beautiful!

Fall is so close!!! It’s already getting darker and cooler in the mornings here…I can’t wait. I love it…the colors, the smells, pumpkin spice lattes, football, you name it. It’s my favorite season. So of course, you know I had to go ahead and put my fall wreath up.

I went with a cute chevron fabric in fall colors that I found at Hobby Lobby. Then I found some really cute burlap flowers there too and they just fit perfectly. With all of the pretty colors in this wreath, I’m going to have no trouble at all decorating the rest of my porch. Can’t wait to get it all finished!

[Read more…]

Haven Conference 2015 Recap

July 21, 2015 By Katie 2 Comments

I remember seeing posts about Haven Conference when I first started and thinking ‘what the heck is that?’ and then thinking ‘why does anyone care about what you learned at some blog conference?’ I didn’t get it then. But now having been, I get it. For real. Haven was awesome. And if you’re a design/home decor/DIY blogger or thinking about becoming one, you need to go. I learned so much, made some great friends, connected with some awesome companies and had the best time.

I can’t tell you how nice it was to be surrounded by people who get me. Who are in or who were in the same boat I am in and know the demands, the joys, and everything in between about being a blogger. Being around so many creative people was energizing and I came home with a renewed sense of who I am as a blogger and where I want to go.

I wish I could fill you in on everything but it would take a week. So here are some highlights of my 3 favorite sessions:

Creating a Meaningful and Stylish Home

Bre, Rooms For Rent and Jen, City Farmhouse

Bre and Jen are so talented, it’s almost unnatural. But whatever, I love them. Anyway, they shared with us how their styles have evolved and how to embrace your own unique style and make it work in your home.

1. Don’t worry if you don’t fit into one style. Most people are a combination of 2 or more styles. How do you know what your style is? When you sit in it , you feel peaceful and comfortable.

2. It’s ok to change your mind and try new things. Like Jen said, “It’s just paint.” Go for it!

3. You can completely change the look of a space by changing out artwork, pillow covers and accessories.

Turning Your Blog Into a Brand

KariAnne, Thistlewood Farms, Jenna LaFevor, Rain on a Tin Roof and Laura Putnam, Finding Home

Talk about helpful. These 3 ladies are all very different but all 3 of them had fantastic insight about crafting your blog into a brand.

1. Know who you ARE NOT as well as who you are. Once you know who you are, create a style that conveys your brand clearly.

2. Your brand is how people will come to recognize you so don’t deviate, even on something as simple as color scheme. Be consistent across the board.

3. There’s not one way to skin a cat. Every blogger makes money differently but pretty much all of them do multiple things, i.e. ad revenue, affiliates, e-books and traditional books, sponsored posts, sidebar advertising, speaking, contributing to other blogs, etc…

Instagram Tips and Tricks

Liz Marie Galvan, Liz Marie Blog and Jennifer Robison, Stylehouse Interiors

Liz Marie is adorable. She’s also insanely creative and smart. So is Jennifer and both of them had great tips about building your Instagram following.

1. Be consistent with your pictures and filters.

2. Let your blog Instagram be for your blog. Pics that aren’t relevant (including the millions of pics we have of our kids) belong on our personal Instagram profile.

3. Use hashtags and be sure to comment on other people’s pics. That’s how you get to know them and they get to know you.

In a nutshell–Haven was awesome. I’ll definitely be going again next year!

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Introducing–Fun Home Things COMMUNITY!

June 30, 2015 By Katie Leave a Comment

There are so many talented crafters and DIYers out there who are dying to share their creations but have no place to do it. Maybe you, your friend, sibling, spouse or parent has a world-famous recipe that is a hit at every holiday–you know other people would love it but you aren’t quite sure how to get it out to the world.

Introducing–the Fun Home Things Community! I want to see what YOU have been up to. I want to feature YOUR favorite recipes. I want you to be able to showcase YOUR holiday craft or DIY project to the rest of the community. No blog necessary. No photographer-quality pictures needed. Just email community@funhomethings.com and include the following:

Your name (That’s right! You get the credit.)
City or Town, State or Province, Country
At least one picture of your creation
The recipe or the description of your project (like what supplies you used, etc…)

If your creation is chosen, it will be featured here on the blog, on the Fun Home Things facebook pages and on the Fun Home Things Community Pinterest board!

I can’t wait to hear from you!

Patriotic Scrap Fabric Garland

June 2, 2015 By Katie 1 Comment

Scrap fabric garland is such a simple craft but a great way to add some dimension and color to your decorations. I wanted the garland for the ladder on my patriotic front porch. Using some different fabric, it would also be a cute addition to Christmas or birthday decorations. And it is SO EASY. Here’s what you need:

Supplies

Twine
2 or 3 coordinating patterned fabrics (I would get about 1/2 yard each)
Scissors

Directions

Cut several strips out of your fabric, making each strip about 1 in wide and 3 inches long.