Fabric Owls & Burlap Fall Decor Blessing Reminder

Here's a little whimsical group of owls that I made this week.  I host Thanksgiving at my house each year. If we are blessed with the weather that we had on Thanksgiving Day last year, we will be spending a lot of time on our deck. I am trying to get some fun decor that I can use outside.  I share at the end of this post how I am going to use this on Thanksgiving Day!

                             

I covered a canvas with burlap, and attached a stick with floral wire.  Next, I drew a pattern on the back of the fabric for each of these little guys.  Cutting all those little edges was the longest part of this whole project. To make sure they kept their shape, I lightly brushed on fabric stiffener that was 1 part stiffener and 1 part water.

I let them dry over night, and then added the googly eyes.  I cut out a tiny slit in the back of each of the eyes, and added tacky glue so the eyes would stay in place.  

I didn't have any fabric that I liked for the beaks, so I used scrapbook paper.

After trying fabric several different ways for the talons, I decided to use the pipe cleaners.  I think those little feet are my favorite part of the whole project.

I hot glued the talons to the stick and the owls to the burlap.  

Since I have the owls eyes going in all directions, I wanted to use a saying that tied in the owls and Thanksgiving blessings.  I used a Sanford paint pen to write on the burlap.  Not real thrilled with my free hand, but it will work for now.  

                         

 I hot glued the leaves on the burlap, and added another small branch at the side.  

Now for the fun part of the whole project.  I am going to have a basket of  scrapbook leaves and a Sharpie.  Everyone will add what they are thankful for this time of year.  Just a way for everyone to take a moment to see the blessing that are all around us.  

  Thank you so much for visiting.  

Kathy

Time to Party! Bouquet of Talent Linky Party #8 & Awesome Features

It's hard to believe that this is already party #8!  I so appreciate each of you linking up each week.  I love checking out your great projects each week.  I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend.  It has turned cold here, and I am loving it.  I just hope it stays for awhile.  Prayers for all of our friends on the east coast as  Hurricane Sandy is approaching!!


I loved every single link up.  As always, you are all so talented.  It makes this part of hosting so difficult.  Also, along with the features each week, I would love to feature a new blogger.  If you are brand new to blogging and would like to feature a newbie feature, just let me know.  So many awesome bloggers have been there for me, and I would love to do the same for you!

                                                             



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Art is Beauty painted the beautiful autumn tree!  What talent!



The Country Home Farm shared her beautiful fall Pantry.  I love those felted sweater pumpkins.

                

My 1929 Charmer shared her burlap lampshade and fall corner.  I love the boa feathers with the pumpkin!




The Rustic Pig did a fabulous job on her French feed sack chair makeover.   I love it.

                

Timeless Treasures repurposed this beautiful pumpkin.  Can you guess what it was before?

                       

PJH Designs did a fantastic job on her side table makeover.  I love the transfer and colors.

Fall Faux Cupcake Designs

Do you wish you could keep cupcakes in your cupcake holders?  We have a problem around my house!  If I bake anything there's a very good chance it will not be there the next morning.  Food disappears over night around here.  I have these cute little mini cupcake stands that I love, and wanted to put cupcakes in them. First, let me share how I came up with this project.

To make a long story short, our front door glass was broken by a rock thrown from a weed eater by our HOA lawn service.  One tiny hole cracked the glass from top to bottom.  It crackled for 30 minutes.   Of course it was on a Saturday, and the glass service couldn't come until Monday.  We went to Home Depot, and found supplies to keep the 100 degree heat outside.  Here is one of the products we bought.  

It cost about $3.50 and will make a lot of fun projects.  I have found there is not one type of glue that will hold this foam.  Heavy floral wire works perfect, though!

Cut the foam, and layer it on top of each other until you get the shape you are happy with.  This is the tricky part, the foam can be stubborn.  Once you have the shape you like, run the floral wire through the inside of the layers.  I used four wires to make sure the shape stayed in place.

When you are happy with the shape, snip the wire and bend it back into the foam.  This secures the shape.  I left the wire longer in the photo for a visual, but shorter wire is much easier to use.  You just need a very small piece to bend back into the foam.

Repeat the same process on the top.  I made the top of each of these different.  Some I tucked the foam inside and the others I just left a layer with a slanted edge. 

 

Now for the fun part, decorating the "cupcakes".  I did use Folk Art paint for the candy corn cupcake, and it hasn't peeled.  I do plan on spraying it with a clear protective coat.   Spray paint for plastic works best on the foam.  I used Krylon spray paint that works on plastic for the others.  

I used Folk Art acrylic paint on this one, and added a sugar pumpkin.  

This one is white Krylon paint that can be used for plastic.  I went a little crazy with the pumpkins!  :)

More Krylon paint with chocolate sprinkles.  

I used a gold glitter pen on this one and added one of my favorite fall pumpkins!  I spread glitter on the rest of it using a paintbrush.

Here's a little sneak peek of one that I made for Christmas.

I realize this is not your everyday craft activity, but I had way too much of this stuff to throw away.  :)  I also  have a guest post coming up soon in which I share some fun Christmas decorations that I made using the foam.  Can't wait for you to see those.  Thanks so much for visiting!

                                                                       Kathy

Party Time!! Bouquet of Talent Linky Party #7 & Features

                                                               

Party time once again!!  I just love seeing all of the amazing link ups each week.  I am so blessed and thankful for all the wonderful friends that I have made through blogging.  You are all so appreciated.  I love the opportunity to visit with you each week, even if it is through blog land!   I had the awesome pleasure of meeting one of my dear blogging friends in person a few weeks ago. She doesn't live that far from me, and personally delivered the awesome giveaway that I won from her blog.  Two special treats in one.  Please keep her daughter and precious new grandson in your prayers.  He was born prematurely yesterday.

No Carve Pumpkin Ideas

I wanted to share a fun project that we participated in at my school.  Our VA nursing home held a pumpkin contest as a way to decorate the home with pumpkins.  There were 2 rules, the pumpkin couldn't be over 14 inches wide and they could not be carved.  Only one pumpkin per class could be entered.  In order for all of our students to be involved, we decided to have a pumpkin contest within our classrooms and the winning pumpkin would represent our class.  The first few pumpkins are what my third graders made.  

  Although my creative little student doesn't know it yet,  I was told she won the contest at the nursing home with her Miss Piggy!!  We found out after school.  We also won $100 award that I can use in my class.  I am so excited about that!

                                               Peacock with feathers and jewels

Mr. Camo pumpkin.  He worked so hard on this pumpkin!  

My students had so much fun doing this, and it was so great to see their creative sides.  I'm thankful it's only a once a year thing though, because my room was a mess when they were finished.  We had paint on the floor, the desks, the students, and my favorite sweater!!! 

Those were the most creative in my class except for the jewel thief pumpkin.  I thought I took a picture of that one, too.   The photos below are the entries from other classes and the office staff.  I love, love, love the pink one below made by our talented fourth grade teacher.  I wanted to bring that one home with me!

A Fifth Grade student made this very original design. 

How cute is the frog prince by our first grade class??

Our awesome secretary made the adorable caterpillar pumpkins.  So creative and adorable! 

This pumpkin was made as a tribute for all who served our country!  Super creative!  They placed the army men everywhere there has been a war.

Thanks so much for visiting!  I hope you enjoyed our pumpkin patch.

                                                                          Kathy

A Bouquet of Talent Linky Party #6 & Best in Show Features

Wow, I cannot believe another week has flown by, and I'm left with the oh so difficult task of choosing the features.  You are all so amazing and creative! I'm so thrilled that our party is growing each week, and I have you to thank for that!  I appreciate you sharing your awesome talent each week.  You make the party special.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.  My hubby and I went to a few estate sales this morning, and then I got to spend some precious mother-daughter time shopping.

                                                                



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Still Woods Farmhouse created these fabulous decoupaged pumpkins!  I love the print she used.



MiMi's Meals and Deals made these yummy, and so cute peanut butter pumpkins!   So perfect for fall parties.  Check out her awesome lasagna recipe for busy moms, too!



Messy Roost created these adorable fall treat pots.  They are so cute!



Sweet Yarns shared her beautiful fall wreath!  Love the beautiful fall colors.



The B Farm made this absolutely awesome Thanksgiving sign!  Oh, I want to make one of these.  Cecilia did a fantastic job!



art is beauty did an amazing job on this  70's table makeover.  It is gorgeous!


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My sweet friend Peggy at PJH Designs did a fabulous job on this 100 year old pie safe!  If you have never visited her blog, you need to stop by.  Her blog is so inspiring with her beautiful furniture restorations.



Chocolate, Chocolate, and More shared her awesome recipe for these yummy chocolate pots.  So cute and delicious.  It makes me hungry every time I look at this pic.  :)



akawest shared this delicous Barbecue Shrimp recipe.  A great variation from your traditional chili recipe.



Penny from Penny's Vintage Home has an amazing fall setting in pink, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness.  Having lost a very special aunt to this disease, and  a mother-in-law who is a breast cancer survivor, I am in awe of her awesome decor.  Just look at that gorgeous table cloth and those beautiful pink pumpkins!!!  Every room in her house is amazing!