Halloween: Dollar Tree Dollhouse to Haunted Mansion

 

Boo! I might be late to "Summerween" but I'm here, and it felt SO good to be back in my craft room really getting to play with some stuff now that things have settled down a bit at Casa Chocolate. I have a few projects I'll share this week and next, getting ready for one of my favorite times of the year: Spooky Season! And no, I will not be climbing on any countertops this year. The scar from last year's Humpty Dumpty fall is the only reminder I need, but trust...friends and family have been a united chorus. 

Supplies: 

• Dollar Tree Doll Houses (2)
• Rustoleum Black Spray Paint w/Primer (Black)
• Acrylic Paints in Silver and White
• Silver Paint Pen
• Embellishments (Details Below)

If you see these at Dollar (Fifty) Tree, don't wait to get them because they come and go! So of course, I got more than two because...

I picked up this matte black Rustoleum paint specifically because it bonds to plastic. As much as I hate spray paint, this covers like a dream. I saw where someone popped out the windows and doors to paint separately. I did one. NOPE. More of a pain (to me) to put back in. NEXT! Those suckers can stay put. You may also be wondering why I used two. Because they're a facade, and half a house with the back open. I wanted a whole house, so...two!

They do come with little hinges so you can attach them in a row. I decided to remove them. I thought my craft knife would work. Ended up using some heavier snips...tin I think...I had in my scissor stash. Snipped right off. 

I ran glue around the back of one house and glued the two together using Loctite Super Glue Gel after I dry-brushed white acrylic paint on the roof. 

Once my house was built, I went over the raised areas with a silver paint pen (Craft Smart, Michaels) and a little more dry brushing. 

I had this sheet of self-adhesive rhinestones in my stash, left over from a Design Team I was once on. I cut a strip of it and adhered it across the roof line, using a little hot glue for extra adhesion. 

On one of my DT excursions, I found these sheets of "Disco Tiles" and used a strip of them on each side of my Haunted Mansion. 

I had some Tim Holtz embellishments on hand that were PERFECT for this project, so I used the canes and buttons to embellish, along with some charms I picked up last year at Michaels, and of course, some bling! 

Displayed here on an as yet unconstructed stand which is a DT mirror and candleholder. Since I haven't actuall started decorating yet, I haven't glued these together, but you get the idea. 

Squeeeeee! I'm in my happy place! Stay tuned...

BFF Open House

 

Happy August and Friday Eve, Creative Peeps! This year's been a blur, but I've actually had time this week to organize my Halloween craft supplies and start a couple of projects I look forward to sharing next week. Back to school is underway around me, as I was reminded when we saw the parade of school buses yesterday while out and about. 

Here are some of the fun ideas shared at last week's party to Pin, Share, and Try!

Crazy Little Lovebirds shared this Tiered Metal Tray that's easy to DIY. I love tiered trays for holding and displaying collections of things and this is perfect for Fall! 

Steph Creates shared this fun Coffee Canvas Tutorial. I pretty much run on iced-mochas or hot-mochas or mochas, period...you get the drift. 

If back to school hasn't started for you yet, here's a very Sweet BTS M&M Teacher's Gift from Hunny I'm Home DIY. 

Finally, how fun are these Lego Brownies from 24 Hour Family? Perfect for lunchboxes or after-school snacks! 

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

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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BFF Open House

 

Happy Friday Eve and last day of July. Yikes! It was a busy month at Casa Chocolate so I'm not rurprised by how fast it went by. Mr. Chocolate continues to heal ahead of schedule. 

Be on the lookout for holiday workshops from Halloween to Christmas! 

Paper Glitter Glue has a wonderful Halloween Spooktacular I've signed up for. Twenty days of fun projects! 

Even though it's been a minute for me, I still love seeing all the back to school supplies which have become a great craft stock up! As a kid, I loved being able to get brand new notebooks, pens, etc. for the school year. Now, I stock up on glue, glue sticks, and still...PENS! 

Let's take a look at some of the fun ideas shared at last week's party, including some fun BTS ideas!

Sonata Home Design has a great way to use a map to make up a Travel Journal (pick up a composition book at a back-to-school sale!). Yes I know we mostly use GPS in our cars or phones but visitors centers sill carry maps, or in this case, a bucket list trip to England!

Press Print Party has a perfect idea for Back to School with these Grade Based Back to School Signs. All grades! 

Hunny I'm Home DIY has a great back-to-school project teachers will appreciate with this Clorox Wipes Teacher Gift. 

Finally, how about a batch of these Chocolate Orange Shortbread Cookies in a back-to-school lunch? From Fat Dad Foodie! 

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

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

BFF Open House

 

Greetings and Happy Friday Eve, Creative Peeps! 

First, let me thank you for all your kind well wishes for Mr. Chocolate .🥰😍🥰

His surgery went even better than we could have hoped, which is to say, it went GREAT! There was a slight chance of him having to stay overnight which he didn't, and his recovery has been ahead of schedule with NONE of the things they say "could" happen initially. He's regaining his energy and my biggest challenge now is him not doing too much too soon. I'll take that problem! There's always duct tape. 

Let me give a special shout out to nurses, who are amazing! We had nothing but kind, caring, and funny nurses who helped keep a nervous patient calm and reassured him he wasn't a burden. 🙏🏽

You all were busy as usual, so features are an eclectic mix of Summer and seasons to come. 

It's peak Gardening season which means extra TLC for hands, and Ann's Entitled Life has you covered with this DIY Gardener Hand Scrub. 

Hunny I'm Home DIY shared this Dollar Tree Frame Centerpiece (this one for graduation) that can be adapted to any occasion. 

If you're getting a head start on Christmas (like we all should be) Master Pieces of My Life has you covered with a roundup of great Christmas in July projects! 

Finally, how about this ooey-gooey yummy looking Glazed Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookie Toffee Coffee Cake (say THAT three times fast) from Cindy's Online Recipe Box! 

Thank you so much for all of the support and can't wait to see what you've got to share this week!

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BFF Open House Two Week Party!

 

Happy Friday Eve once again, Creative Peeps! I hope everyone had a safe and peaceful Fourth with limited furbaby panic not to mention our Vets. It was very quiet here. It's been a light monsoon season so far, but every year I'm reminded how intolerant of humidity of any kind I've become. Then I talk to my son in Chicago and bestie who had to move to Austin for work and I shut up. 

I'm putting this party up as a two-week party. Mr. Chocolate's procedure is Tuesday, but short story long, it's being done up North because he kept his provider from when we lived up there. When this all started, it made sense to stick with them, and we had no idea we'd end up with surgery. So, we're combining it into a little getaway since he'll have to be seen the next day and in case of any issues. Plus, Summer rates at resorts here are great. Trying to work smarter not harder. Seems the easiest thing to do. 

OK let's take a look at some of the ideas from last week's party and then we'll have double features week after next. 

Steph Creates shared this DIY Fabric Bowls, which, let's face it, can't we always use more storage? Why not make it pretty! 

How much fun are these DIY Tooth Fairy Pillows from Creatively Beth?! 

Master Pieces of My Life shared a wonderful way to DIY Vintage Toleware.

Finally, a great way to beat the heat is with a refreshing Agua Fresca which literally translated means "Fresh Water", but are really fruit infused waters. VERY popular here in the Southwest and true to our Mexican origins. Cindy's Online Recipe Box shared this refreshing Watermelon Lime Agua Fresca recipe! 

Thank you for the supportive comments and understanding of my CLUMP (Crafting Slump). See y'all two weeks from now. Be safe. Be good. Be creative! 

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BFF Open House

 

Happy Friday and Fourth of July Eve! We live in "EXTREME" fire danger tinderbox country so I'm not a big fan of fireworks, I don't understand why they even sell them in these parts but...Our town is what's known as "dark sky" so we have minimal streetlights and other up-facing lights and the fireworks are contained to professional displays. 

THANK YOU for the kind and supportive words about Mr. Chocolate's upcoming surgery. We did the final pre-op tests and met with Anesthesiology this week to get the final sign-offs. Can't argue they're not being thorough! 

Since it's Fourth of July weekend, that's the theme of this week's features! 

Fresh Vintage by Lisa S is back with this Vintage Campfire Themed Vignette featuring faux marshmallows she shows how to make. PIN for next year! 

The way I loved sparklers as a kid! Our Tiny Nest has you covered with these festive Keep Calm and Sparkle sparkler holders. Download. Print. Use. 

Simple Everyday Mom shared this fun Statue of Liberty Connect the Dots Printable. This would be great to use as a pattern for string art too! 

Finally, these Fourth of July Fruit Skewers from Organized Island are an easy addition to your Fourth dessert table. 

Wishing everyone a SAFE Fourth and long weekend. 

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