Thursday, October 30, 2025

BFF Open House

 


Happy All Hallows Eve, Eve! It feels like it was just August when I started working on Halloween projects and all of a sudden the day is here! Whenever Halloween is on a Friday, that usually means even more weekend fun. I wish everyone a happy and safe Hallow-weekend. 

In my neck of the woods, the weekend will be filled with Halloween and three days of Dia de los Muertos festivities everywhere. 

As the Makers we are, of course I'm a season ahead when it comes to my craft room. This week I shared: 



But before we fast forward, let's take a look at some of the great Fall ideas shared at last week's party! 



Petticoat Junction (grew up watching reruns of that fun show!) shared how she turned a find from a junk shop into a fabulous Metallic Tiered Tray, perfect to change out seasonally. 


Outside it may still be in the 90s by me, but inside, it's sweater weather! Sonata Home Design has a great way to repurpose an old one to make a Cozy Candle Wrap


Need a quick and easy Halloween treat there's still time to whip up? Drugstore Divas has you covered with these adorable Halloween Glow Stick Party Favors


Finally, there's always time for one more Halloween treat, and these Cookie Cutter Spider Cookies from Crystal and Co. are perfect! 

Thanks to everyone who linked up! 

Again, wishing everyone a 







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Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Holiday Making: There's No People Like Snow People

 


I had so much fun with these! Mr. Chocolate was prescribed something during his health issues this year that came in a glass bottle. When he finished the first one, he immediately asked, "Do you want this?" Like a good Maker, I said, "Of course!" so he saved more of them for me. These Snow People are what my brain came up with! 

Supplies:
  • Empty Clear Bottles (Glass or Plastic)
  • Styrofoam Balls (Dollar Tree)
  • Tissue Paper
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Acrylic Paints
  • Glitter
  • Tacky and Hot Glue


The hardest part of these was getting the labels off. I'd like to know what adhesive they used because it will apparently hold everything. After soaking, alcohol, and Goo Gone...


For the heads, I used styrofoam balls from Dollar Tree, covered with tissue paper. 


I poured some Mod Podge into the bottles, then added two different glitters I had on hand. Rotate each bottle until fully covered and let dry. I find that the gloss formula takes a little longer to dry, and since I was gluing the heads on, I didn't want any moisture to build up, so I let these sit for 24 hours to get good and dry. 


After using the Mod Podge to cover the styrofoam balls with tissue paper, I mixed white acrylic paint and fine glitter and painted each "head". 


I got the idea to make the noses from aluminum foil. I cut the pieces and twisted into a carrot shape. I intentinally made these longer so I could hold them as I painted them, using Waverly No Prep paint. 


You can see here what I mean about having room to hold them while I painted. Then I trimmed the noses to size. 


I used hot glue to attach to the heads. 


I used a combination of clear Aleene's Tacky Glue and hot glue to attach the heads to the bottles. 


Waste not, want not, right? The caps from the bottles made perfect hats! I debated painting them. I was initially thinking I'd use this garland I bought after season at Walmart for scarves, but decided I'd use it to trim the lids instead. 


Another after-season find: Metallic Pom Poms! 


Pulled out some of the white ones and used these atop the lids. To finish, I used a little tacky glue to attach some black rhinestones for eyes. 



Meanwhile, it's supposed to be 89 degrees today. 😢





Sunday, October 26, 2025

Christmas Decor: Winter Wonderland Cigar Box Diorama

 


Welcome to my first Christmas creation of 2025! I had so much fun with this and I already have ideas for another. Or two. 

Supplies:

  • Cigar Box (I get mine at Total Wine)
  • Coordinating Acrylic Paints and Scrapbook Papers
  • Misc. Embellishments
  • Hot Glue and Tacky Glue

I've gotten cigar boxes at Total Wine since forever. At mine, the cardboard ones are $.99 and the wood ones $1.99. MUCH better than the prices I've seen at flea markets or thrift stores. 


I'd already decided on the papers I was going to use for this project so I selected a paint that coordinated. It wasn't as dark green as I wanted, so I mixed in a few drops of black to deepen it. 


I covered the insides and back with the green. 


I used Waverly white paint for the outside of the box, covering the front and the sides. I was fine with a bit of the green showing through around the edges. 



I measured and cut the papers I chose. I have so many papers from different packs over the years and these coordinated. 

To apply the papers, I grabbed some Mod Podge. I love these little bottles from Dollar Tree because here in the dry desert, I've found that once I open a bigger bottle, if not used quickly, they dry out QUICKLY. 


The white left a frost-like appearance around the inside of the box. Now for the fun! I went through my stash and pulled out some goodies, including something I'd made for a previous project but didn't use, and some ornaments and trees I picked up on an after-holiday shopping trip last year, and some Dollar Tree lights I picked up with Halloween supplies but hadn't used.


Half ornament snow-globe and snowmen ornaments. 


I had this metal frame in my stash, so I painted it with the Waverly white and dry brushed it with a bright gold. I picked up the tree ornament at Dollar Tree this year. 

I love this quirky little tree! They come in sets of two, so the other one will be used in another project.

 


I hot-glued the frame to the inside left of the box and the ornament to the frame. Oops. I'm going to add a button or rhinestone atop the tree to cover the hole. 


After putting batteries in the lights, I glued the casing to the back of the box, then threaded the lights through the side. 


I glued the lights around the inside of the right side of the box with a combination of Aleene's clear tacky glue and hot glue. Once that was done, I glued the snowmen and trees as shown, along with the "Merry Christmas" ornament. 


To finish, I grabbed a bottle brush wreath from my stash, ironed one of the ribbons I saved from last year's wrapping with my Cricut mini heat press, made a bow, and done!


"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..."










Thursday, October 23, 2025

BFF Open House

 


EEK! We're one week out from Halloween! It feels like it was just August when I started working on Halloween projects. And once we hit Nov 1, it will be a race to the finish with US Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and and more. Take your vitamins and get your rest. We're MAKERS. We were made for this!

This week I shared a couple of fall-themed projects. I also started and finished my first Christimas project which I'll share next week. 


Let's take a look at some of the wonderful ideas shared at last week's party! 


The Apple Street Cottage shared this Little Bit Spooky Vase makeover. 

There's always time to add one more thing to decor when it's a printable, and Hunny I'm Home DIY has Halloween covered with this Halloween Printable Sign

Whether you make your own or want to dress up store-bought cupcakes, these Halloween Skeleton Cupcake Toppers from Ann's Entitled Life will definitely give them a spooky glow-up! 

Finally, as we start to think about Thanksgiving in the US or fall celebrations elsewhere, these DIY Wood Pumpkin Placecards from Steph Creates would be a lovely addition to any table!


Thank you to everyone who linked up and can't wait to see what you've been up to this week! 




















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