Spooky Garland + Giveaway [CLOSED]

I just love me a cute bunting/garland/banner. Whatever you like to call them. I have them for almost every season/holiday.

I made this spooky ghost garland simply by sewing through the tops of these cute sparkly ghosts with white thread on my sewing machine. Easy peasy!


I think they look pretty creepy hanging under our family silhouettes!


I have a tutorial on my blog for this autumn bunting:


They're also easy to make with paper-I used some twill tape and paper triangles for this one-from the Spooks line.

Just had to share the bunting/garland/banner love. What DO people call them?

Thanks for having me this week-I had a blast! :D
Jess

Thanks a million, Jess! You so talented and we have enjoyed having you this week. We really appreciate all of the great ideas you shared with us.


Readers, be sure to stop and visit Jess at her blog, Craftiness is not Optional for more fabulous ideas. Would you like a chance to win an assortment of some of the Spooks goodies, including the glittering ghosts Jess used? Then leave a comment on this post by Sunday, October 17th at midnight MST. All you need to do is tell us which post was your favorite this week. We will announce the winner Monday. Be sure to check back to see if you are the winner because if we don't hear from the winner within a week we will pick a new one.

Although the giveaway is now closed, you are still welcome to leave Jessica comments.

Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread

1 15 oz can pumpkin
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
3 cups sugar
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp ginger

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 bread pans. Mix all ingredients together and pour into greased pans. Bake 50 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. (Also makes 5 mini loaf pans and one regular size loaf)


I wrapped the load pans in wax paper and then cut strips of paper to pretty them up.

The larger strip was 3.5 inches wide and the skinnier one was 2.5 inches wide, both by 12 inches. I used paper from the Spooks line-which was perfect for the pumpkin bread-since it has little pumpkins on the paper. Ah, too cute!

Add a little label and you have a cute little neighbor/friend gift!

Make Your Own Silhouette

Silhouettes are so hip happening these days-and so easily customizable! well, here's the way i like to do them. simple, easy, and quick.


you'll need:

a piece of thin white paper
pencil
black paper
frame

first, take a picture of the person's profile. (or your pet-even a favorite piece of furniture would look cool) then, print it out to the size you want.

trace the outline on the white paper (holding it up to a window works great) around the head and shoulders, make sure to get little hairs, etc. this makes it look awesome.


staple your tracing to the black paper-don't staple inside of your tracing!


then, carefully cut around your trace, catching all the little hairs and details.


tada, a cute silhouette!


then pop it into your frame of choice. soo cute, huh?


This is Sadie's baby one. aww my little conehead.


for reals! thank goodness her head looks normal now.

Costumes Galore

I love Halloween costumes. I love thinking of an idea, and hunting through thrift stores, my mom's attic dress up, etc for the perfect pieces to a costume. Sadly, the hubby does not get as excited-but he will still dress up as long as he's wearing "regular clothes". (so no giant crayon or whoopie cushion costumes, darn!)

I start pretty early thinking of ideas-like mid September ish. I've already got plans for this year-as long as the hubby ok's it. ;)


Last year we were a couple of cow folk and our little herd of one-my daughter Sadie. Our costumes cost a grand total of $3 or something like that. We borrowed most of the pieces, and I got her cow costume for $1. Gotta love that!


The year before that, we were a family of candy. I know, we're wearing t shirts. Give me a break-I had a new baby. lol. Sadie was a Hershey's kiss. adorable!


One of my favorite costumes to put together was this Hannah Montana outfit! I shopped around trying to find the most rock star-ish clothes I could find, and then made my hubby a I Love Hannah Montana shirt. That was his costume-he was my #1 fan! (said so on the back of his shirt)


Our first year as a married couple we went as Daphne and Fred from Scooby Doo! I made my outfit, and found some blue polyester pants for Rory. We added a stuffed Scooby Doo toy and were good to go. It only made sense as a couples costume I think though....the next year I wore it to work and people thought I was a stewardess. haha.


Whoa! Follow me back to the early 90's will ya? We had some awesome costumes growing up-sadly none I could find in my photos. I'm the one in the white dress-fairy princess I think? Anyways-the best part is my wand-made from a fly swatter, cardboard, and tinfoil. My mom gets points for creativity for that one!

Well, hope you enjoyed my little stroll through costume memory lane. Obviously I'm not above posting embarrassing pictures of myself to get a comment or two. :D

Halloween Skirt Tutorial

Want to make a cute stripey skirt? I used the SEI for Robert Kaufman Eerie Alley line for this one-love the cute Halloween colors!

So...read on for a tutorial!

You'll need:

material-how much of each print depends on the size of your skirt-or your preference
3/4 inch non roll elastic
matching thread
sewing stuff (machine, scissors, rotary cutter is handy, etc...)


First, cut your strips-Mine were 13 inches long by 3 inches wide. You can make them longer or shorter or wider...depending on your preference and child. I ended up using 16 panels. Lay them out to figure out your pattern. Ignore that mine aren't lined up, please!


Sew all your pieces, right sides together, until you have a fabric tube, and press seams with an iron.


Now hem one side by ironing the edge over 1/4 inch...


and then 1/2 inch.


Sew around the bottom for your hem.


Now measure how wide your tube is, add 1/2 inch to that measurement, and cut out a piece of fabric that long by 3 inches for your waistband.


sew the short ends together.


make sure it fits your fabric tube, adjusting if needed.


now, pin the right side of your waistband to the WRONG side of your skirt piece.


sew around the edge with 1/4 inch seam.


now flip it up like so and press with iron.


press the top edge under 1/4 inch, and then fold over the seam on your skirt, like so..


tada all nicely pressed.


now sew along the edge, leaving an 1 1/2 inch space for the elastic.


cut your elastic to fit your child, then thread it through with a safety pin.


I like to secure the other end with a pin so it doesn't slip through. That's annoying!


sew the ends together, overlapping a little bit, with a zig zag stitch.


Sew the opening shut, and you're done!


pair it with a cute witch shirt-and you're in business!


I made this CA-UTE little witch shirt using the iron ons from SEI. They're insanely easy, you peel off the feature (eyes, legs, cauldron...) you'd like, and iron on a shirt-or bag-or whatever. You have to be gentle when you peel them off, but other than that they're super fun and easy to use! I chose to make a cute one instead of scary for Sadie cause I'm a wuss when it comes to scary things.

Even iron-on witches.

Guest Blogger, Jessica Christian

Today we are happy to introduce Jessica, next week's guest blogger. She is the creative talent behind the blog Craftiness is not Optional. Hop over to her blog and check out all of her amazing sewing projects. Then come back next week to see the spooky creations she has been making to share with you.

Helloo there. I'm so excited to be guest posting this week here on SEI Lifestyles!


My name is Jessica (you can call me Jess, cause we're tight like that), and I like lots of things.

I like to sew. That's an understatement. If I don't sew on something every day-I get twitchy and grumpy. My favorite things to sew are clothes for my kiddos! I didn't always like to sew. My mom tried to teach me while growing up-and that always ended up in some kind of argument, and tears of frustration from me. (I'm not a patient person) I'm now mostly self-taught and love to figure out how things are made.

I also love to scrapbook. It's gotten pushed to the back burner a bit since the Great Sewing Takeover of '08, but I still do it! (my 20+ albums full to the brim prove that) I love hoarding paper. and letter stickers.


I love my two A-dorable daughters, Sadie and Charlotte-and my awesome hubby who puts up with patiently supports my crafting/sewing impulses. We live in northern California and love it-both of us grew up here and our families are here-we love being so close to both sets of grandparents. (baby sitters galore!)

I love to watch TV and movies-but most of the time, only while sewing-two birds with one stone and all that. I love making tutorials. I love taking pictures but am only mediocre at it. I loooove chocolate. and french fries. But not together. I love to sing-but only in the car, with only my kids present. I love to pay bills. (not! just making sure you're paying attention!) I love the color teal.

I guess that's about it. ish. I'm looking forward to this week! I have some fun stuff planned-some tutorials and a yummy recipe...stay tuned. :)