Housewreath with a difference...

Today I'm featuring a wreath with a difference. My friend Joann of the "Holiday Year-Round Tree" and "Holiday Room" fame has shared her creativity with me again. So with her permission I am posting it here today, hoping it may inspire others to try this lovely, novel and stylish idea.
This could have been a Wordless Wednesday post as the pics are very self explanatory but I had to give credit to my friend.
Thanks again Joann : ) Well done!

As an added footnote I'd like to add that Joann took last year's wreath and just re-arranged the flowers and added the numbers. The numbers are foam and she got these at the Dollar Store. We might need to get ours from a hobby store which would be more expensive or try to cut your own from stencils downloaded from a stencil site on your pc. She coloured the numbers and stuck them onto the wreath with glue dots and toothpicks. Have fun trying to make your own : D

Decorating for Year Round Holidays

My online friend Joann has given me permission to showcase some of the pictures she has sent me which show how she decorates her family room for Memorial through Labor Day. These are some lovely special touches with the red, blue and white colours and red stripes on white as well as white stars on blue. This same effect, which she incorporates into her Bears corner, brings harmony and warmth to the room while setting the pace and the place into holiday mood!








This White Christmas tree was bought as an after Christmas bargain and is being used as a Holiday Tree. It was already set with white lights and so red and blue lights were added to complete the holiday effect. Joann made all the beaded ornaments and added some store bought ones acquired from the sales after Christmas. That is a brilliant idea, don't you think?



Thanks Joann for letting me share these lovely pictures and wonderful ideas : ) God bless!

Pumpkin Carving Made Easy and Fun! ~Part 2~

If you have followed the first steps in getting your pumpkin ready, now you can start getting ready for the next step...

Carving your design.

Attach your own or printed design to the flattest side of your pumpkin by using thumbtacks or masking tape. **Tip** If your pattern is too big or too small for the pumpkin you chose, use a copy machine to enlarge or reduce the pattern size.

Once the pattern is in place, use a punch tool to outline each shape of your design. Poke the tool along the edge of each shape, spacing the holes about 1/8-inch apart. DO NOT press hard; all you want is a small indentation to transfer the outline.
Remove your pattern once you have made sure you have not missed any spots. Keep handy for visual aid.

If you have opted to draw your own or your kid's design directly on the pumpkin, work slowly as you copy each shape to avoid making mistakes.

In order that you can see the outline better rub some baking powder or flour over all your pin-point dot design so that the design stands out better. Now you can connect the dots with your sharpie or outliner and voila' you can see your design and it is ready for cutting.


Cutting the shapes

Use a long nail or punch to start your design thus making a starting point where you can insert the blade without cutting too much into the design. Turn and push until it’s all the way into the pumpkin, then remove. Do this every time you start a new shape (eyes, nose, mouth) in your design. This makes it easier for you to work your way through using your knife. Using this as your starting point now work your way through your design steadily sawing in an even direction.

Maintain light pressure and use a gentle sawing motion to cut through the rind. Steady the pumpkin with your free hand, which should be kept well away from the blade. When making curves, just slightly turn the blade. When making sharp corners, remove the knife and re-insert it at an angle.

To remove the pieces you cut, you may find it easier to push them out from the inside. If the cutout refuses to budge, check that all of your cuts meet at corners, and that the blade has cut all the way through the rind. In some cases, you may need to gentle pry out the shape with a butter knife. For larger pieces, you may want to cut them into smaller bits and remove them in sections.

Cleaning Up

For maximum effect of brightness, trim the inside walls of the cutouts so they are straight and even. Also remove stray fibers and strands around the inside edges of your shapes.

Safety First

Place desired candle inside or a pumpkin light which is safer, light and place lid back on top.

• Light the candle and place it on a piece of tinfoil inside the pumpkin. Put the lid on. Let it sit a minute...
• Remove the lid and there should be a smoke mark on it
• Cut a vent in the lid where the smoke mark shows
• NEVER LEAVE BURNING CANDLES UNATTENDED
  

Enjoy your pumpkin carving and
a Happy Halloween!

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

A Thanksgiving display in our hallway ~ can you see

the REAL Maple leaves my dear cuz brought us from their yard?

I know I am posting this a little late and our Sunday is over but just wanted to post to wish all my Canadian friends

A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

~ well, it is still Sunday in Canada : )

We had a lovely day with my Mum and my dear cousin and

her wonderful husband, on holiday here from Canada

...it was indeed very special

to have them

spend this day with us.

“Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.”
Edward Sandford Martin

Blessings to one,
Blessings to all,
Blessings especially during this fall!
Doreen : )

My First Item for sale on Etsy

This is one of the Flower Pot People I have made and which have become a favourite in Craft Fairs locally. I really enjoy making these and

seeing how they make people smile.

I am featuring it as the first item in my Etsy store. For more details take a peek here...

Kreattivita' by Doreen ~ My Etsy Store


I am offering free postage for delivery to Malta...so if you're interested email me or leave a comment here unless you would like to buy through my Etsy store.

Here is a picture of the items I use to make these cute Flower Pot People...as you can see there are many parts I used to create this decorative item with lots of patience and love.