Pumpkin Mummy

My office decided to have a pumpkin decorating contest (no carving) so I did a quick search online for inspiration. 

 

My first thought was some kind of gold metallic pumpkin.

 

 

Pretty, but maybe a little boring for a contest.  Then I saw a cookie monster that I thought was pretty cute and unexpected, seeing the pumpkin in blue.

 

 

But, I'm not an artist - I was pretty sure my attempts at painting cookies would not turn out so well.  I considered ninja turtles.

 

 

Again, cute, but not sure about my abilities to draw...on a pumpkin.  My next thought was to make Olaf from Frozen, using two pumpkins.  I never saw this picture, but it's exactly what I had in mind.

 

 

Really well done, but, I work in a law firm...I'm not sure the attorneys would really get it.  Then I saw a Mummy Pumpkin from BHG.com.  It was perfect - no drawing needed, Halloween themed and unexpected!

 

For this project you'll need:

a pumpkin

cheesecloth

fabric stiffener

2 googly eyes

black paint/brush

exacto knife

hot glue gun

glow in the dark paint (optional)

Cut the cheesecloth into strips measuring 12x4 inches.

Fold in half VERTICALLY. (Emphasis on the word a result of my not paying attention and folding horizontally and wondering why it looked weird.) Spray with the fabric stiffener and wrap around pumpkin.

Let dry.  Then hot glue googly eyes on.

Cut 4 strips of cheesecloth to 6x4 and fold in half vertically.  Then spray fabric stiffener on and arrange across part of the eyes.

Using your exacto knife, cut out a small mouth.

 

Paint the inside of the mouth black.  The final step is to brush glow in the dark paint over the mummy!

 

 

Color/Texture Book for Baby

I saw a DIY color book for babies online and was inspired to make one for my nephew.

 

 

Since my nephew Henry is 3 months old and is at the earliest stages of discovering colors and textures.  I wanted to make him a personalized, soft book.

 

 

I had fun going to the fabric store and choosing a variety of fabrics and I knew I had probably 3/4 of the needed fabrics at home in my scrap fabric box.

For this project you'll need:

iron-on transfer paper

computer/printer

3 different 3.5x3.5 squares of fabric in the following colors (30 total):

 -red

 -orange

 -yellow

 -green

 -blue

 -purple

 -pink

 -brown

 -black

 -white

10 3.5x3.5 squares of fabric in white

8 other 3.5x3.5 squares of fabric (different colors) for the cover and back

rotary mat/cutter (optional)

sewing machine

I used this tutorial from stitch/craft to make this project.

Step 1:  Print the colors listed above on iron on transfer paper, being sure they will fit onto a 3 in. square, as well as any title or back cover words you want, .  Also they have to be printed as a mirror image.

 

 

 

From this point on, iron after each step.

Step 2:  Cut your squares and lay out your design.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3:  Iron on the words to the white squares.

 

Step 4:  Sew two squares of each page together (bottom two and top two).

Step 5:  Sew the top and bottom of each page together.

 

 

Step 6:  Sew the title onto the cover page.

 

 

Before the next step, I evened up my squares - if you are a good seamstress, this probably isn't necessary!

 

 

 

 

Step 7:  Sew the pages together by placing right sides together and sewing 3 sides together (not the left/binding side.)  The pages to sew together are as follows:

front cover/red, orange/yellow, green/blue, purple/pink, brown/black, white/back

Step 8:  Turn pages inside out so right sides are facing out.

 

Before binding, I decided to add crinkly plastic (I cut up my takeout bag from McAlister's!) to the inside of the pages.  I know Henry will enjoy that - hopefully it does ok in the washing machine!

Step 9:  Cut a strip of fabric to serve as the binding.  Press the top and bottom edge under.  Place right sides together of the book cover and the binding and sew raw edges.  Note: This step was CRAZY hard.  The tutorial I followed made it look like an easy last step - it isn't!  my stack of fabric was about 3 inches thick and it was almost un-sewable, if that were a word.

 

 

 

 

 

 It's a little rough, but I think baby Henry will enjoy it!

 What a cutie, reading his new book!!!

 

DIY Harry Potter Wand

(Disclaimer - I know this project makes me a nerd, but it was so fun!)

This project is great for any Halloween costume that needs a wand, any fan of the Harry Potter series, or any Harry Potter theme gift or birthday party.

 

Another cool thing is that this is made of stuff you already have around the house.

 

For this project you'll need:
1 piece of copy paper

double stick tape

glue or mod podge

hot glue gun/glue

paint
gold or silver leaf pen (optional)

 

I saw this project online here and thought it was so cool.

 

First, put a piece of tape diagonally across the paper.

 

 

 Then paint on the glue or mod podge beyond the tape.  Then roll the paper from the bottom left corner, the tape will secure it and then hold the glue until it dries.

 

Next, cut off the two ends to make them straight.

 



Then use your glue gun to fill in the top and bottom and to add decorative features on the wand.

 

 

Then spray paint any color - I guess it forms a base.

 

 

Then paint with acrylic paint.

 

 

I was just playing, I used a mix of ivory and copper.  Let dry between coats.  Then make a "wash" of black paint and water.  As you paint it on, wipe it off, to give it an aged look.

 

 

Then use your finger to add metallic gold or silver paint on the raised glue areas or use a gold or silver leaf pen.  In my examples, the gold is metallic paint and the silver is silver leaf, which I really like how that turned out.

 

 

Then, you can pretend to go to Ollivander's where your wand chooses you!  And unlock doors by saying Alohomora and duel with your friends (Expelliarmus)!