Happy Halloween!

Halloween is such a fun time of the year to spend with little ones. My grandchildren each picked out a pumpkin this year and last night (just in time) I finally got around to helping them carve them. They each found a carving pattern online that they wanted to try and recreate. And might I say they both were very ambitious patterns but somehow we got them to turn out pretty close to the original. Pictures of the finished products soon to follow.

 {I saw online that opening a pack of silica gel and putting it in the pumpkins would keep them from molding}

{My daughter working hard on my granddaughter's Hello Kitty pattern. I think it turned out pretty well considering we didn't have the proper tools. I will have to invest in pumpkin carving knives for next year}

Fall/Winter Catalog 2012

To request your copy of our Fall/Winter catalog call us at (800) 575-0170 or email us at products@champaignplastics.com

Friday Inspiration: Revisit Your Roots

Favorite people,
Favorite places,
Favorite memories of the past.
These are the joys of a lifetime....
These are the things that last.

Found this on a calendar, thought it was appropriate for my trip back to my grandma's house in KY. Many happy memories going to her house. She had a country store which I just loved, couldn't get there fast enough for her to give me some bubblegum and candy. Sitting by the warm wood stove and listening to all the news in the area. Years later the store burnt and this sign was erected to show where it was located.

 {Grandparent's house}

 {Watched my grandma making rag rugs at this old loom. Still sitting in the loom house where it has been for many years}

 

{Tobacco hanging in the barn}

DIY Garland

To spruce up my mantel and get it ready for fall I used this tutorial on how to make a fringe tassel garland. The garland was very simple to make using just string (to hang it on) and tissue paper. I recycle tissue paper so I always have a stack on hand to use for gifts or packaging boxes. I chose four colors that seemed the most fall to me and positioned the colors in an ombre (light to dark) pattern.
The only difficult thing about making this garland it was very tedious to cut each sheet into half inch strips. I really love the first picture on the tutorial of the different lengths and overlapping of the garland which I would love to recreate on the wall of my office one day.

Halloween Candy

While getting ready for Halloween I thought I would pick up a few of my favorite candies (in black & orange wrappers) to start enjoying now. Living out side of town we don't get many (if any) trick-or-treaters so I thought I should at least pick up a few of my favorite just in case I get stuck with all the candy. What are some of your favorites?  

{Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses}

{Love the way the chocolate on Reese's holiday candies is smooth all the way around}

{Heath milk chocolate english toffee bar}

Friday Inspiration: Fall Bouquet

{Fall bouquet given to me by Sue as a hostess gift}

I think flowers are one of the best gifts to give or to receive. There is just something so special about them the way they add warmth, life, and beauty to a room. Also the fact that they are a fall bouquet makes them even more special. I've never thought about picking up a seasonally inspired bouquet before but it's a great way to get excited about the fall season and also bring a little bit of nature's beauty into your home.

Paper Lanterns

I wanted to add more outdoor lighting to my Halloween decorations besides just the traditional Jack-o-lantern. While searching the internet I came across this article for how to make your own paper lanterns. They are so cute and easy to make perfect for any out door gathering. They came in quite handy for my party over the weekend and I just love seeing them glow in my tree where the leaves are just turning red. For my cut outs I used a few of my Halloween stamps but I also had some stencils that I found worked even better. I filled my lanterns with a little bit of sand to keep them from blowing away and they worked just perfectly.

Party Central

Ask any of my friends or family and you will hear it's been party central over at my house. Over the weekend I hosted my grandson's first birthday party which I think marks the last of my entertaining for a while. That is until the holiday season comes upon us. The day before the party I cooked dinner for a friend I hadn't seen in years who I went to high school with and now lives in Arizona. And last weekend was spent with some old friends from Ohio and another girlfriend stopped by (also from Arizona) who I haven't seen in years.

 {My homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream cake}

 {The Birthday Boy with his Elmo cake}

{Not really interested in any desserts yet besides ice cream}

{Getting ready to open presents}

Friday Inspiration: Autumn

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
― Albert Camus

Image found on my Pinterest site

Homemade Caramel Sauce

I just love the mixture of caramel and apples together. I bought some large juicy apples from the grocery store and thought they would make the best carmel apples. Since there was so much carmel left over (I only made 6) I saved some for dipping apple slices using smaller apples left over from our tree (yes we still have a few). I also poured some into a pie tin and refrigerated it. After its cooled I will slice into squares to eat as candy.
This recipe make the most delicious caramel sauce (I could eat it by the spoon full) and it comes from the Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book.

Caramel Apples

Ingredients:

14 small tart apples
14 popsicle sticks
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 14 oz can (1/2 C) sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions: 

-Wash and dry apples; remove stems. Insert a wooden skewer into the stem of each apple.
-In a heavy 3 quart saucepan melt butter.
-Stir in sugar, corn syrup, and dash salt; mix well.
-Bring to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly.
-Stir in condensed milk.
-Cook, stirring constantly, to 245 degrees for 12 to 15 minuets (mixture should boil gently over entire surface)
-Remove from heat; add vanilla.
-Dip each apple into carmel mixture; turn to coat.
-Set on a buttered baking sheet; chill

Makes 14 coated apples

Linen Aprons

{Cloth Apron #001}

New in our store (and a first for us) we now offer cloth aprons made from 100% white linen. These aprons are hand made and hand screen printed in the USA by DarkPlum. Aprons feature a red lobster across the pockets that correspond with our plastic lobster bibs. We are also offering the apron in plain white linen. Apron has two large pockets 6"w x 9"h & 11"w x 9"h and removable adjustable ties made of cotton twill tape. Apron measures approx. 31"w x 25"h 8" across the top.
Slight variations may accrue from apron to apron due to the fact that they are hand sewn and screen printed.

{Cloth Apron #002}

Friday Inspiration: Holiday Manicure

{Wet N Wild black nail polish, Martha Stewart fluorescent black loose glitter}

Get into the spirit of Halloween (or fall) with a festive manicure. I followed this tutorial for a glitter accent nail. I love having an accent nail on ether my index fingers, ring fingers, or both my index fingers and thumbs. 

I did however find that the glitter chipped off quickly but it was very easy to touch up and add more. I also would recommend painting on a couple of clear coats over the glitter to keep it from (coming off) snagging on your clothing. I think I might try out a black/orange glitter combination to pass out candy on Halloween.

My next DIY manicure will probably be something more fall inspired in red or orange (now that the trees are changing color here) with just a hint of glitter on the tips of my ring fingers.