Fall snack mix

I put together a little snack mix for all the kids teachers and helpers.  The only thing I had to buy was candy corn, all the rest was snacky stuff that we always have on hand.

Candy corn

Pretzels

Cheese-its

Peanuts 

Honey roasted peanuts

Dried cranberries

Golden raisins

Eyeball the amounts and mix together.   Enjoy!

Fall Burlap Pennant Banner {quick tutorial}

A quick and easy fall banner.

Supplies:

Burlap

Acrylic Paint and brush

Permanent marker (to match paint)

Jute

Sewing machine and matching thread or hot glue

How to:

I die cut my burlap, but you can easily cut the shape with scissors.  I used my computer to write "fall" then sized it to what I needed.  Print the letters in outline.  Using either a lightbox or your window, put the burlap over the paper and trace the outline with a permanent marker.  Paint in your outline.  Be sure to put a scrap piece of paper under your work, so it doesn't bleed through on your desk/counter.  Let dry.  (Crucial step.  Trust me.  I had paint all over my sewing machine because I was too impatient.)  Line up your pennants in order and sew the burlap onto the back of the pennant using a zig zag stitch.  (This would have been a bit easier if I had used a cording foot, but once again...too lazy/impatient to get it out.)  Optionally, hot glue or fabric glue the jute to the back.  Or hand stitch.

Here it is on my (undecorated) mantle.  Hey, its still September....for one more day.  

It was 90 here yesterday.  Not feeling too fallish yet.  

Tomorrow.  Tomorrow I'll decorate.  Then it will at least be October!

Thankful Tree {tutorial}

This is our Thankful Tree.  Each leaf represents something we are thankful for.  We all take turns writing something down.  One leaf per day in November.  After we are done, I will scrapbook the project so we can look back each year and see what has stayed the same and what has changed.  

 I have wanted to do this project for awhile, but since we live in a new neighborhood there are no trees, so no branches.  Apparently it took me a couple of years before I realized I could cut branches from a friends tree.  What's that saying...can't see the forest through the trees?  Um, ya.  Take a step back and look at the bigger picture? :)  I need to do that more.  

Supplies:

Tree branches

Vase

Sand (or rocks or marbles)

String

Paper (in various fall colors)

Leaf punch

Hole punch

Scissors

Pen

How to:

I bought a leaf punch (um, 6 years ago) for another project (family tree) that I have yet to do.  I love having supplies on hand to quickly whip up a project and I already had most of these.

Go out in the yard (or a friends/neighbors....but ask first!) and cut some branches.

Put a floral frog/foam into the vase and cover with sand.  (Yes, I actually had to go buy some overpriced sand at Wal-Mart.)

Punch 30 leaves in various reds, oranges, and yellows.  Mine are patterned, textured and solids. Then punch a hole in the top to hang.

Cut 30 pieces of string to about 6".

Every day write down something you and your family are thankful for and tie it to the "tree." 

(Once I scrap the page, I'll take a picture and add to the post!)

Pumpkin Cakes

Are these the cutest things or what? This looks like a fun after school project to do with the kids and something they can give to their teachers.

Fussy Monkey Business has a great tutorial.


(Post note: I finally made these.  Yes it's the 31st, but I did it.  I bought a mini bunt pan just for this!  They are sooo cute.  I'm giving them to my Steering Team (MOPS) and one to each of the kids teachers.  I wrapped them in pumpkin cello bags and had the kids make cards.  One piece of advice (might be a no-brainer to the bakers out there)...wait for them to completely cool before putting the chocolate bar in.  Even slightly warm the bar melts into the pumpkin. :)

Fabric Pumpkins

I am making these.

Luckily she has given a wonderful tutorial here.  In fact, 3 out of 4 kids are in school tomorrow so I am hitting Hobby Lobby for the supplies.  Will let you know how it turns out.