Tutorial Tuesday!

My best friend Danica and I love any excuse to get together and craft.

I'm a crafter by nature and she has become one over time and has become quite the crafting buddy!

 

So, we decided to get together to do a Fall/Halloween craft. After searching around pinterest, I found these cute Halloween inspired mason jars. Danica was on board so this was going to be our craft of choice.

I have what is referred to as the "craft cave" with pretty much every craft supply known to man BUT I DID have to go out and buy the mason jars (they were about $10/case which is less than a dollar a piece, not bad). I got two different sizes because I feel like varying sizes makes it more visually interesting.

 Other Products Needed:

Mod Podge

Tissue Paper (orange for pumpkin, green for Frankenstein)

Gauze (if you'd like to do a mummy... white tissue paper could work too for a ghost)

Paintbrush (we used the sponge kind)

Black construction paper

Scissors

Pencil (optional)

 

So, I started by cutting the tissue paper into strips about 1.5 inches. You can measure your jars to see how tall the strips need to be and cut them accordingly.

 

Here is where we did things a little differently... The original tutorial (found here) placed the Mod Podge and tissue paper on the OUTSIDE of the jars, while we chose to put it on the INSIDE. I think that it proves to be a little more difficult that way but makes for a cleaner look in the end.

 So, as you can see we did a coat of Mod Podge on the INSIDE of the jars and placed the strips on the inside. We used the eraser on a pencil to help flatten it out and ensure that it was down. Then we put another layer of Mod Podge over to set it.

**For the mummy- we DID to the gauze on the outside to give the effect of it being a mummy but the same technique was used. Paint a layer of Mod Podge. Wrap the jar with the gauze (being sure that it sticks) and then added another coat of Mod Podge to set it. **

Then we got creative and made faces for each jar. I decided to do just a pair of eyes for my mummy (which I guess could also pass as a ghost unless you see the gauze up close. haha). I did a standard pumpkin face for the pumpkin (and as you can see I went a little crazy with the Mod Podge and perhaps put a little too much on his eyes). And lastly I created a little Frankenstein face, bolts and all, for Frankenstein. To apply the face parts, the same technique was used, putting a layer of mod podge on the jar, placing the face and adding a layer over top to set.

 I was pretty pleased with the results. I'm a liiiiittle bummed that I went so Mod Podge happy on the pumpkins eyes, but I'm still happy with the way they turned out. Plus, it was a fun excuse to hang out with Danica! :)

On a side note, since this was a crafty post, I just have to share my latest crafting toy.

So... to give a little back story... Yesterday while I was at work, my boyfriend sent me a craigslist link for a vintage sewing machine. I thought it was so sweet of him to see that and think of me. I even sent the link to Danica and we both agreed it was a really cool piece. After work my boyfriend calls me and asks if I can go in the garage to look for something for him. I turn the corner and what do I see?

The vintage sewing machine!

 

He contacted the seller and went and picked it up to surprise me! How lucky am I?! I literally almost started crying. Haha. He sure knows the way to my heart... ANYTHING CRAFTY! Haha.

 

The seller told him that everything works and I'm looking forward to testing it out. I mean, truth be told, even if it doesn't actually work I still LOVE it!

 

If you have any question or comments about the tutorial feel free to let me know and be sure to check out Danica's post on it as well!

 

xoxo,

shea

Happy Halloween!

Welp, it's officially Halloween. I can't believe how fast this year has gone. I say it every year but I swear this year has gone faster than all the others. I'm just getting used to the idea that it's 2011 and before we know it it's going to be Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then it'll be 2012 already!

I'm getting a bit ahead of myself here, back to the point. It's Halloween! As promised I stopped by my parents house on my lunch break the other day and rummaged through some old photo albums. Now, my mom was never great at taking photos and especially not good at organizing and storing them properly so, I wasn't able to find everything, but here's what I came up with:

My brother (Superman), Me (a bunny), my mom, my grandma and her dog. Note the fact that my whiskers are smeared because my dad, that Halloween, bought a Yoda mask and scared me half to death and put me in tears. Boys never grow up do they...

This actually isn't even a Halloween photo and my brother would probably kill me if he knew I put this up, but when I found this I knew I HAD to share it. One of my FAVORITE things to do growing up was watch Richard Simmons videos, put on some sort of "leotard" and "work out". Yes, I'm not kidding. Haha. I'm assuming this is one of those times. Looking up to his older sister, my brother would join me, letting me dress him up (yes in my clothes). If I could find a way to put some of the home videos of us "working out" on here, I seriously have to do it. It is some of the funniest stuff you will ever see.

Stating the obvious, this was me as a bride one Halloween. Don't know why I have that angry look on my face but I DO remember that this was for a party at my school. We were ALWAYS late for school functions so I'm assuming that's why I'm mad. I was probably thinking something to the tune of "hurry up and just take the picture, we're already late". haha. Very typical of me.

Not sure exactly what I was in this one but I'm assuming a princess of some sort, my brothers smile in this one kills me.

I remember this being one of my favorite costumes. I was a "Southern Belle". I don't know if I convinced my brother to be a cowboy or if it was just coincidence but either way, our costumes definitely corresponded that year. Gosh, that "bonnet". Seriously? Haha. My friend Stefana says I still make this face which doesn't surprise me.

I have prided myself these last few years on not buying a store bought costume but rather, creating something of my own. I know that Halloween seems to have taken on this new life of "Who Can Wear The Least Clothing" but I've decided to take a different approach and rather, be something creative, or that makes people laugh.

A few years back (before the costume was sold in stores) I had a somewhat unhealthy obsession with Lady Gaga. It was before she was as mainstream as she is today. I decided I was going to be her for Halloween and I wasn't going to do it half assed. I Gaga'd myself from head to toe, from the blonde wig to the studded heals, to the mirrored glasses, to even drawing a peace sign on my wrist. I was pretty proud of it. (Yes, it WAS a bit skimpy but that's because the costume called for it, after all, I had to stay in character. And, even though I DID wear tights, I had to do a LOT of drinking before I ending up going out in public in that costume.)

That same year I was working at a bar and we had to dress up at work. There was no way I was going to wear that Lady Gaga costume to the bar. A) I didn't want to get inappropriate comments made to me all night long B) I really didn't want to work an 8 hour bar shift in those shoes and C) I actually liked the costume and didn't want it to get ruined. SO, I came up with this costume for work. Yep, you guessed it, a pregnant cheerleader. The funny thing about this costume is that this was actually my high school cheer uniform. I just bought a girdle and put some stuffing in at and drew on a belly button. You wouldn't BELIEVE how many people said to me "I thought you were actually pregnant" to which I laughed, but in my head I was saying "It's Halloween you idiot".

Last year, again, I was working at the bar and was looking more for something comfortable and yet clever. So I came up with this "Mail Order Bride" costume. People loved it and it cost like NOTHING to make.

And then comes the icing on the Halloween cake. The most epic costume yet. My best friend and I are pretty much obsessed with a certain show on TLC called "Toddlers & Tiaras". We watch it religiously and I decided awhile back that this is what I wanted to be this year for Halloween. This month as been so busy so the costume didn't end up AS polished as I had hoped, but it was still pretty amazing. Anyone who watches the show knows how dead on this is. It's hilarious, cupcake hands, awkward smile and all. (A special thanks to Miss Kristy for the PERFECT tiara)

I was channeling one of my fav toddlers, Miss Eden Wood, as you can see...

Well, I hope that everyone has a fun and safe Halloween (and, of course, eats plenty of candy ;) )

Happy HalloWEEK

The countdown has begun!
Officially one week until Halloween!

Like most kids, I loved Halloween growing up. I loved the idea of not only getting to play dress up, but also getting REWARDED for it with CANDY! What a sweet deal!

I'm going to try to make it over to my parents' house at some point this week to find old Halloween photos of myself to post for a good laugh. My mom was never great behind a camera though so we'll see what I'm able to find.

As far as my costume this year I'm still keeping it under wraps until it's unveiled because I'm so excited about it and want it to be a surprise. Only a select few know what I'm going to be. I still feel like I have a lot to do on it so we'll see how it turns out. I've been coming across some really great costume ideas and thought I'd share some of them with you. Enjoy :)

Mary Poppins and Bert

From Keiko Lynn
SUCH an adorable idea. The Mary Poppins costume is great but then having Bert really makes it. I'm not sure I could convince my boyfriend to do that but if I can, I definitely want to try this look eventually. Plus, he would look SO cute in that outfit.

Flo the Progressive Girl

From my obsession Kandee Johnson
I've always found these commercials funny and everyone knows who she is, so it'd be a really relevant costume. Plus, my best friend Danica was Geico money a few years back so it would just be funny.

(and that's me as Lady Gaga if you couldn't tell.)

Hot Air Balloon

From Babble
How cute is this?? It would definitely be hard to wear this to any sort of party (which was a problem Danica had in her Geico money costume), and it's definitely not going to be easy to transport, but I still love love love it. It's the kind of costume that you wear to a costume contest type of party.

Jellyfish

From The Craft Begins
Yet another very clever costume. Again, one that might be hard at parties but one that will definitely get noticed.

Candy Corn

From I'm Your Present
A very adorable and yet very simple costume. I'm not a candy corn fan but pretty much all of my friends LOVE it so I'm sure they'll enjoy this even more than me.

This ADORABLE Cat in the Hat & Green Eggs and Ham

From Dana Made It
My roommate Stefana (@StefanaCupcake) is pretty much OBSESSED with all things Dr.Seuss. I definitely thought of her when I saw these adorable costumes, and they're surprisingly easy.

Paper Doll Costume

From Lauren of Busy Bee Lauren
This is definitely something I can see myself doing. I love these kind of costumes. Not only is it very DIY but, growing up, I LOVED paper dolls. I got books upon books of paper dolls from my grandma, it would be a great nod to my childhood.

Last Wednesday Danica, Stefana, Marisa (the newest roommate) and I had a roommate (old and new) Halloween night. We carved pumpkins, watched Hocus Pocus and I made us some yummy apple cider cocktails. Who says carving pumpkins has to be for kids right? haha :)

Well, that's all for now, hope everyone has a great HalloWEEK!