CANDLE COUTURE!

so...if you're like me...you kinda get tired of the same 'ol gift bag for odd shaped presents...well...with a trip to the "i don't wear anymore but can't seem to get rid of" pile in my closet got me thinking of a super cute way to dress up a candle!...

that's right...this guy is now sporting the the lastest fashion in winter wick wear...oh you didn't know?...teeny tiny toboggans and scarves are the rage!...and with just a couple of easy steps...you can have this candle couture too!...


take an old sweater and turn it inside out...then cut about 6" inches off the sleeve...



gather up the rough end and wrap a rubber band around there...



turn right side out and flip up the finished edge...now isn't that just the cutest darn thing?...pretty brrr-illiant if you ask me!...



plop on top of your candle and finish 'er off with a ribbon scarf!...now it's all ready for gifting!...but you don't have go running to your closets and start cutting up sweaters...the more i thought about it...using socks would do the trick too!...

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A TART-WARMING GIFT

so...had some leftover wax i had from candle making that's been staring at me...after some thought...gathered up what supplies i needed and got my tart on!...i must say...i'm pretty darn proud!...they came out great and smell so amazing!...

now...the hardest thing about these little cuties is actually bringing yourself to melting them!...because if you keep reading...you'll see that making them is quite easy!...



you'll need some wax flakes...got mine at michaels...they're soy...but normal paraffin would work too...and some fragrance oil specific for candles...it will be in the same area that the wax is...you really want to use the candle fragrance because it has a higher flashpoint...and although there won't be any flames near it...you still don't want the chance of fire...



grab a measuring cup...then some type of silicone mold...



fill 'er up with the wax flakes...



then pop in the microwave according to the instructions...



when all melted...add the fragrance oil...



start pouring in the molds!...i filled each cavity half way up...



keep going until you run out of wax!...then sit aside and let cool...



look at the finished product!...that mold had tons of detail!...a tiny work of tart!...lol...



packaging couldn't be easier...grabbed a tin and just stacked 'em in there!...didn't even have to decorate since this one's festive enough already!...



i kept mine on the simple side...with no color...you can buy the chunks of color wax and make 'em however you want....but for me...the snowflake mold and jack frost scent made the perfect holiday combo!...at least the house smells christmas-y...because it's certainly not looking it!...lol...

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FAST AS FAST CAN BE

you'll never catch me!...or at least that's what the gingerbread man thinks!...because it sure looks like i did!...well..at least in treat form!...rice krispie treat form that is!...

picked up some of these yummy gingerbread flavored marshmallows and got to thinking...that i could totally whip up some rice krispie treats!...just used them in the recipe instead of the regular ones!...



didn't want to cut into boring 'ol squares...so i grabbed a shaped cookie cutter and got working!...here's all the little gingies!...



then packaged up in some cello baggies and topped off with a festive striped ribbon!...now...of course...you can decorate up these little guys more if you want...

these ended up being such a fun festive twist on the rice krispie treat...and are oh so rum pum pum pum yummy!....

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GIFTIE GALLERY

maybe you've noticed that i've been gone for a couple of weeks...i know...i know...i'm a slacker...but i have a good reason for my absence...i've had a major case of the ickies!...it started out as allergies...then turned into a sinus infection...as if that wasn't enough...i can't take any meds that help...'cause the bean's allergic!...which means i just get to suffer through it...and suffer i have...but slowly getting back to my beanie self...

so...while you're waiting on my full recovery...thought i'd do up a little giftie gallery...you know...some goodies from last christmas!...just click on the pics and magical internet elves will take you to the original posts!....

 

{ho ho ho handscrub}

 

{glamour gloves}

 

{sn"oap" balls}

 

{mess free glitter ornies}

SCRUB A DUB DUB

so...seems that my hand scrub post from last year has been pretty popular...and i thought it was time to take it to the next level...that's right...how 'bout a body scrub?...that will bubble up when you rub rub rub in the tub tub tub!...or shower...lol...



grab some sugar...and then your shower gel...mmmm...banana nut bread....



fill up your container with some sugar and start squirting in the shower gel...



that's about enough...



mix 'er up!...now if at anytime...you feel it's too thick...then add some more shower gel...if it's too runny...add more sugar...



all done!...



since this batch is for gifting...i'm putting it in a purtier container...this is one i had on hand...but you can pick these up at almost any craft store...just take a looksie in the soap section...oh...and i'd suggest using plastic...because glass and the shower don't really mix...



just spoon it in until it's all filled!...and if you're lucky...you made some extra to keep for yourself...



here's a test run on the arm...see all that scrubby goodness?...yeah...imagine that every where!...that's the reason for using the shower gel!...



i did some really simple decorating by doing just a stripe of patterned paper tape around the container...then found a great little flower to add the finishing touch!...



now remember...this stuff isn't just for gift giving...this is fab to have on hand all the time!...

****check out my linky party directory to see where i'm linking to this week!...

BRAIN FOOD

well...more like brain candy...lol...ended up making this spook-tacular treat that would be perfect for any zombie...just took some candy melts...microwaved per directions...tinted with a little red food coloring...and poured into brain shaped molds...



see...how great these turned out?...



yeah...there's a couple bubbles in there...maybe i could've tapped the mold a little bit to get the air out...note to self for next time....



decided to package 'em up to look like specimens in the laboratory...perhaps from young frankenstein's?....lol...



of course...chocolate can be used too!...but since i had the vanilla on hand...it was a no brainer to use that...insert evil laugh here....

****check out my linky party directory to see where i'm linking to this week!...

MISFORTUNE COOKIES

well...i was trying to decide if i was going to do halloweenie cards or not...then realized...i stink at making cards...lol...so...ended up doing a twist on my paper fortune cookies!...oh...you don't remember those?...you know why?...'cause i never showed them on the crafterole...but that's all about to change!...

so here you go!...my eek-citing misfortune cookies!...



package 'em up all up in a take out box...or just do singles...witch which ever way you like!...but make sure to top off with a boo-tiful mangled bow...



by taking some patterned paper and using THIS tutorial....you can whip these up in no time!...grab some spooky sentiment stamps for the fortunes...or just print out your own!...



i think they turned out pretty terror-ific!...what do you think?...can't wait to give these to zom-body special!...wow...could i use anymore bad puns?...

****check out my linky party directory to see where i'm linking to this week!...

BOO-LETIN BOARD

well...keeping in the halloweenie spirit...this project will keep you organized and spooky all at the same time!....introducing the boo-letin board!...



attach some googly eyes to plain 'ol thumbtacks with glue dots...



grab a 6 inch by 6 inch cork square...punch some holes and use a little festive ribbon to finish it up!...



eye i think it would be perfect for any little ghouls or girls door during the holidays!...

****check out my linky party directory to see where i'm linking to this week!...

SKULL AND CHALKBONES

so...huge fan of skulls here!...and i'm loving that it's the season for 'em!...well...here's one that i have displayed in the house right now...at first...looks like your average holiday decoration...



then bam!...is that really a chalkboard?...sure is!...



picked up a plastic skull from target in the halloween secion for five bucks...and slapped two coats of chalkboard paint on there!...as hard as it was to cover up the glow in the dark awesome-ness that the skull offered...the end result shows me i made the write right decision!...

****check out my linky party directory to see where i'm linking to this week!...

IS THERE SOMETHING IN MY HAIR?

yeah...don't know about you guys...but anytime a bug lands in my hair...i freak the freak out!...well...came up with a way to get the insect chic look without all the heebie jeebies of the real thing...

go grab yourself some bugus rubberi...rubber bugs for those who are not entomologists...



and attach to a barrette blank with some super glue...



if you want to cute them up...is that even possible?...anywho...you can cover the barrette with some grosgrain ribbon...then attach the bug...



i really wanted to show these barrettes in action...but my model (the dog) was more worried about getting her belly rubbed than doing a photo shoot...so you'll just have to use your imagination...

****check out my linky party directory to see where i'm linking to this week!...

POSTS OF HALLOWEENS PAST

so...seems that it's about time to start posting halloweenie projects...only problem...i haven't done any to share...i know...can we say slacker?...but they are in the works...i promise!...

anywho...thought i'd show some of last years posts...hopefully that will hold you over until i get my haunting hiney in gear!...just click on the pics and you'll be magically taken to the original posts!....

 

{severed finger magnet}

 

{hot glue window cling ghosts}

 

{chalkboard paint pumpkin}

 

{stamped tealights}

 

{"hand" soap}

 

{spiderweb memo board}

 

{eyeball pins}