Christmas in the Kitchen Swap!

Cutest Swap Announcement Ever!

 

I just participated in a Christmas swap sponsored by Erica of Golden Egg Vintage.  The swap was one-on-one with Erica assigning the partners.  My partner was Marci of Parsley Vintage.  I like meeting new bloggers through a swap...they soon become new friends.  Marci's blog is a lot of fun...she has a wise-cracking sense of humor that I really enjoy.  I have a hard time being serious myself...as some of you have probably noticed. 

 

The point of the swap was to make two Christmas decorations with a vintage Christmas theme, along with a card or tag and a favorite Christmas recipe.  Of course we'd also send a treat and a few crafting or holiday goodies as well.

 

Marci's Fun Creations!

Such Festive Swap Goodies!

 

I am still in awe of this totally unique snowman scene.  I wish I had thought of it...lol!

 

It looks so cute on my kitchen counter.

Tart tins make the cutest decorations.  I have it on my curio shelves near the stove.

 

Marci included some German scrap Santas for my German Christmas décor.

This is one handsome fellow!

 

 

Yummy card from Pinterest!

 

Kitchen Treats for Marci...

This Spice Tin Santa was made with a large cinnamon tin...8 oz. size.

He's a shelf sitter.

Aunt Maurine's Sugar Cookies.

My kids' favorite Christmas cookies.

Toy Pan Snowman...simple but cute!

Some of the swap goodies...the treat box is filled with truffles.

 

 

Looks tasty enough to lick the computer screen...lol!

 

A Little Bit Country Porch

 

Front porch on a 65 degree December day.

This is the second year I have done a rustic/country kind of thing.

 

Baker's rack by the front door.

 

 

I put my little red truck outside this year. 

Every thing is wired to the rack so it won't blow away

I found this wooden sled at a new thrift store in town.

The packages are chunks of wood left over from building the pergola.

Not much else is new.

 

I love this darling Candy House cover.

 

Thank you, Marci and Erica!

May visions of Sugarplums dance in your head!

Love,

 

Late Summer Crafting....Howlets and Ghouliwogs!

I Heart Howlets!

 

You may ask...What is a Howlet?  It's an old Scottish word for owls or owlets that I discovered during my "I Heart All Things Scottish" phase...lol!  I think I first saw it in the lyrics in the liner notes of a  Dougie MacLean CD...either that or it was in a Robbie Burns poem...I forget.  But I really, really like it!  I thought I would make some "Howlets" for my front porch. 

 

I usually turn to my old stand-by crows and sunflowers for late summer.  When I dug out my "remarkably realistic crows wearing plaid scarves" I noticed that their feathers had faded even more than I remembered.  It was time to send them to the Old Crows Home in the Sky.  Or I could give their feathers a dye job with some black paint and give them another year...we'll see.

 

Kitchen Junk Windchime 

Used a four-sided cheese grater for the base.

The large holes look like feathers.

Rusty wire and odd bits make a face.

 

Jar Lid Howlets

I got the idea for these from Pinterest...of course.

Super easy...the hardest part was finding the old lids.

The red and yellow things were from my pal Paula's booth at Treasures.

 

 

Late Summer Door Décor! 

Sunflowers and Howlets.

 

Wreath with Ghouliwog.

"Gouliwog" is my new made-up name for whatever that is.

Old rusty cheese grater and assorted junk.

I love the toothy mouth.

I am making a few more for Halloween.

 

More Mushrooms...

I was a little late to the "Toadstools in the Garden" party.

But they look really cute under the lilac bush.

Tallest is about 24".

Found wooden bowl at thrift store and red pots at Hobby Lobby

for 80% off.  Too lazy to paint spots...they're vinyl.

 

The kids in the neighborhood went back to school yesterday.  I don't know why that makes me happy, but I'm already feeling my "Fall into Halloween" good crafting mood.  Of course it's rained for two days...but the acorns are starting to fall off some of the scrub oaks in the Highland Glen park.  I will be picking up pocketsful on my walks around the "wee loch" in the glen.  Maybe I'll see some Howlets with insomnia...it's been known to happen.

 

Happy Fall Crafting!

 

A Few Interesting "Howlets."  For Whoooo?

You!



Pinterest Inspired Pot Lid Pumpkins!

Cute Pumpkins as Seen on Pinterest...made by Organized Clutter

 

Front Door...Under Construction! 

My front door is a work in progress most of the Fall season.  I start out by taking down the ivy and sunflowers...or whatever I've got hanging around.  I replace the lights...if needed...then get out the hose and drown all the spiders!  They had the great plan to pre-decorate my front porch with nasty cobwebs.  If I want webs I'll put them there!  Once I get the leaves up, I can take my time with the rest.

 

Pot Lid Punkins...

Definitely...a work in progress!

 

Every year I try to make something new for the front door.  My favorite Halloweenies are Black Cats and Jack-o-lanterns.  So I really loved the "junk" pumpkins I saw on Pinterest.  They looked fun and easy.  When I went to the thrift store I didn't see any old cake pans...but there were plenty of pot lids without pots.  What I loved about them were the handles...they would make the best little black noses!  Then all I would have to do is find some old hardware and rusty gizmos.  My husband's work garage is full of crap...but do you think I could come up with any great old hardware?  Of course not!

 

 

Then there was the quest to find spay paint that wasn't bright orange.  I found this lovely cinnamon color at Home Depot.  I am totally inept at spray paint...so George sprayed them for me.  I cannot leave things alone...I keep playing with them, too impatient to wait for paint to dry.

 

Since I didn't have any cool sprockets or gizmos...I painted some wooden discs black and glued on buttons for eyes  Then I had George cut up some 25 cent Walmart rulers for mouths.   I admit they are a tad strange...but it is Halloween after all!  Best thing is that I spent about $6 total to make them. 



Tied to the grapevine garland with polkadot ribbon...they will look fun with the rest of my decorations...to be added later!

New Circus Toy...and Front Door!

More Circus Summer Fun!

 

German Tin Litho Ferris Wheel

I found it yesterday at Sandy Antique Mall.

Now I have to collect more...lol!

 

Detail of Riders...the colors are so bright and happy!

The key was included and it works...turns like a charm!

Patriotic/Circus Front Door 

Still a work in progress...lol!

Lots of burlap and red/white/blue thingamajigs.

Closer View

Circus Wreath.

Antique Elephant Bread Board was a gift from my fun friend

Paula @ Pollyanna Reinvents

Burlap ribbon...and bows made from torn strips of fabric.

Mod Podge paper mache stars.

Kinda busy-looking...but I'm getting fond of it.

I made four circus poster plaques...

...and four clown plaques. 

No scary clowns allowed!

Aren't these the tackiest flowers ever?

And don't you just love them?

I have a hard time finding red/white/blue flowers...these were from Walmart.

 

Happy Summer Decorating!

 

Some Circus Posters...Enjoy!