A Stitch – Just in Time, Some More Halloween Stitches

So it’s Halloween!!

I’ve explored a few different Crafts and creative exploits this past week, from cards and decorations, to goodies in the kitchen and I hope you have enjoyed them! …But as you all know, I am a cross-stitcher at heart. So here are a few more stitchy treats for Halloween from around the web! If you know any others do leave a comment with a link  :) 

I instantly liked this cute little pic from http://www.crossstitchworld.com/cross-stitch-kits.php  OH even pointed out this little gem from http://onceuponastitch.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/more-prairie-schooler-halloween-stitching/ would be a great project for coloured fabric if you didn’t want to stitch in all the background work.I have also been looking for some more patterns online, and found loads, here are three that really caught my eye…

Starting with this fab one of Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas… which I may have to watch later!! (Got to love it, it’s a film I get to watch twice a year!!) This is from: http://krissay20.deviantart.com/art/Jack-Skellington-Cross-Stitch-137533444?moodonly=69 Here is a nice simple one, great for beginners, or if like me you like making cards! From: http://graysonsdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/05/halloween-cross-stitch-ornament-freebie.html  And finally here’s a great chart of a few little designs, which could make cool ornaments or patches/badges for kids! Found at: http://happythreads.com.au/2009/09/28/cross-stitch-something-for-halloween/  So there we are, quite a short one today, I have lots to do, and have to prepare some photos for the grand unveiling of THE BIG PROJECT!  Yes folks the day has finally come! All my private cross-stitching (so far, and there is lots more to come believe me) has come to this! I’m very excited, and I hope you’ll like it too!

Also I still need to upload a photo of my new scrap-booking stuff that came the other day! (Honestly I have had such a lazy weekend haha!) I have a busy day ahead of me by the looks of things!

Hope you all have a wonderful (and safe) Halloween,

Happy Crafting!

Some Tasty Halloween Treats

Hello!

So it’s Halloween tomorrow, and the perfect time to talk about the fun goodies you can make in the kitchen!

 Even I got baking yesterday! I made some tasty bat biscuits (cookies)

 Also OH and I were given these cute pumpkin cakes yesterday made by the children of a lady that runs a dance class his mother goes to. All this inspired me to do a post on some Halloween goodies!

  I am a big fan of the BBC Good Food site, so I chose a selection of goodies all to be found on there! First – Chocolate Spider Cookies: 

 These Malloween Ghosts are simple to make - I love the look of these Toffee Apple Cookies -  If you have  kids, these Monster Cupcakes could be really fun to let them get involved – and decorate their own with icing and different sweets! Even after Trick or Treating!  There are loads more, but it’s the weekend, and I’m spending some quality time with OH, not even doing any crafts myself for a day!! (Yep the scrapbooking, card-making and cross stitching is all waiting til tomorrow morning!)

 Remember everyone, have a great time whatever you’re doing this Halloween!! 

Happy Crafting!

Going a Little Batty

Hey,

So Halloween weekend has arrived, and we shall soon be expecting little ghouls and goblins on our doorsteps! Which has really brought to mind something I haven’t yet talked about! (Sorry folks a break from the crafting, though still cross-stitching away in preparation for the first!) As I mentioned yesterday I am a big fan of fancy dress, not that I tend to do as much these days. Though continuing with amateur dramatics, at least I get to dress up every now and again! 

Through different ages, fancy dress changes, and Halloween has become something of a fancy dress party – with people not just dressing up as something scary, but in fact sometimes choosing to don the outfits of a favourite character, or other weird and wonderful things!

Top costumes this year for kids and adults include:

Vampires

 

 

 

Witches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zombies, cheerleaders (or both!) Superheroes 

 

Movie Characters                                                                                                                                                                                                                              and many more!

 I have to say, I really love the choice available these days when it comes to fancy dress!

 There are LOADS I haven’t mentioned! But I thought I’d do a  google in case people hadn’t thought of a costume yet!

My advice – BE CREATIVE – it’s Halloween, it’s fun, just enjoy yourself!! Anything goes!

I’m off to prepare for tomorrow! (watch this space!!!)

Happy Crafting!

(BTW for all you Brits here: British Summer Time is officially over – clocks go back an hour tonight! Finally that extra hour in bed!!) 

 

 

 

 

 

Witch-Craft

Hi there!

I was going to talk about something almost completely different today… well… kind of, but I was doing my usual morning blog-read and I came across a couple of things that totally changed my mind!

So, still on the Halloween theme (getting closer now folks!) 

I’ve seen a few things here and there, that I was thinking about mentioning, but I didn’t really want to have whole posts on specific items, just because I’d seen one or two I like online! Here are some… “Misc” crafts I just had to add in here!!

http://deedeecampbell.blogspot.com/ has made this gorgeous paper Witches Hat! Which I love! 

I have to admit, if I’d been doing anything for Halloween this year, (due to OH working a lot we’ve decided to give it a miss). I would have been tempted to make my own costume. I’ve always been a fan of fancy dress! 

When I saw this hat, I couldn’t believe how simple (ish)  it would be to make, even swapping the paper for some sturdy fabric,  and to be honest, there’s something great about making your own costumes. I’ve seen a few tiny hats on headbands this year, but I really may have to make one myself next year! Using this as inspiration!  

 

 

 I found this adorable bag  on http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/ and just couldn’t resist  putting it on here! There are several designs, I want one of these just  for going shopping! 

 

Another little find, I think these are totally cute, I don’t knit, seriously I’ve tried a couple of times, but I just can’t get the hang of it (I guess you can’t have everything) but if I did, I’d want to make these Trick or Treat bags from http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/10/knit_trick_or_treat_bags_from.html 

There really so many different craft projects around, for adults, for kids, for those of us somewhere in between… I have been asked a couple of times “where do you find this stuff?” And quite simply, as I am unemployed right now, and I spend a lot of time online (both looking for work, and recreationally) I look for it. I google things, and click… and yes I do find stuff that I’m not interested in, as much as I’m sure what I blog about doesn’t interest everyone – but at times I find some wonderful creations!

On a side note, my bargain scrap-booking paper arrived yesterday and is GORGEOUS! Sometimes you really have to love eBay! When I get the scrapbook (hopefully today or tomorrow) I shall post a little pic to show you! Though it’ll be a while before I get started on it because I have so much to do elsewhere!

Big project coming along slowly, getting there though, just trying to keep going along with it – not long before I can show you all what I’ve been up to! I’m so excited! Though cross-stitching is made that bit more difficult when it’s been so dark and grey (even had a friend of mine saying she was going to buy me a lamp at this rate!) I know, I know – wouldn’t be so bad but there are other places I could sit – I just choose not to!

Hope everyone is having a good week!! 

So yeah, a short one for today (as I have lots to do)

Happy crafting!

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween Screamers and Banners

Greetings, 

Another rainy day here in Cornwall, I don’t usually mind the rain, but when trying to tackle a BIG cross-stitching PROJECT and it’s grey and dingy (and of course it’s most comfy where the light isn’t so great) it makes it virtually impossible. Still, it’s getting there…

I was a bit stumped yesterday when I was thinking about todays blog (I really don’t plan these in advance… well maybe a day before) but I really enjoyed writing up about the decorations I found the other day, and as much as I had found loads more, I wasn’t going to spend another day writing about it. But I’ve changed my mind!! 

So, streamers screamers… and banners….

If you’re throwing a Halloween party, you might not know where to start. Do you buy decorations, or make your own? There are loads around, both crafty ideas and shopping wise, seriously, but here are some of my favourites…

Firstly, this, in my opinion, is gorgeous:  From: http://www.reesedixon.com/2010/10/halloween-banner.html

To make your own banners, streamers or garlands, which is a simple idea if you have the supplies, what about these Pumpkin, Cat or Ghost Garlands, from http://www.allfreecrafts.com/halloween/ghostly-garland.shtml

or what about this beautiful offering from http://www.allfreecrafts.com/halloween/ghostly-garland.shtml If you’re going  for something a little simpler, (or more child friendly) how about this door hanger from http://www.allcrafts.net/fjs.htm?url=www.crayola.com/crafts/detail/creepy-spider-web-doorway–craft/  and banner from http://www.bakerross.co.uk/src/ADWORDS/cat_id/HALDECO/product-Pumpkin-Halloween-Banner-YH124.htm I have to admit though, I am still all in favour of the old coloured crepe paper streamers, I think its about as cost effective as you can get, and if you use your imagination elsewhere, (eg the ghost balloons in my previous post) then they really work. On the other hand I cannot stand that horrible spider web stuff. And I think I’d much rather use something else, such as a cut out.

I tend to find, decorating does depend on your guests, if you’re having children around, you don’t want anything that could potentially be dangerous (more fragile items for example) and you’d possibly go for the LED candles, rather than actual flames. That isn’t to say they can’t be just as effective, in fact if I wasn’t such a fan of the real thing, I’d use them. Because they are normally independent  LED candles are definitely a cool alternative to flame especially for pumpkins if it is windy!

So, there we are, just a couple more decorating ideas!  

Happy Crafting!