Final Posts... Halloween Platter

I am so sad!

My hosting (or whatever technical term belongs here) is up in February.  I could do a fundraiser and try to stay "on the air" and I may decide to give it another go.  I've really enjoyed getting this blog up and running!  It was quite a challenge considering I can't even program our coffee pot or get a DVD to play without my 10-year-old child in the room to show me how.  I have since joined the real world and gotten a job.  Which sucks!  It totally screws up my nap schedule and my blogging time!

I do have a couple projects that I've completed that I would like to share although they are for holidays past. Or future depending on how you look at it.  I know Halloween comes the same time every year and Christmas has always been December 25th but I didn't get my crafting done in time so I am running about two months behind or.....nine months ahead!

Dollar Store Halloween Platter

 This was so easy!  The hardest part was finding the black plastic skull trays right at Halloween.

Check out the Dollar Store trays I started with....

 Not bad as is, but I kicked it up a notch and spray painted them black then dry brushed some green metallic paint on them to give them a creepy, old metal look.

 See the difference....

Dry brushing is really easy.  Use a stiff brush (or one that wasn't rinsed well previously...oops), put the paint on the cardboard protecting your table, dip the brush into the paint and drag across platters to get the effect you want.

 I repeated the process on these two funky wine glasses I found at Goodwill for $1 a piece and some black beads I caught on sale at Walmart.

Everything dries quickly.  I glued the wine glasses upside down so the drinking part would be the base of the platter.  Next, I started glue gunning the beads at random spots along the bottom of the platters.  Some of the beads were even different sizes.  It adds to the randomness... I like randomness.

 I made two platters.  One to set on each end of the Goodie Table at our Halloween Party!
 

 
I also did two of these candlesticks the same way.  I found them at Goodwill for a $1.

So there you have it!  One of the final posts... :-(  but a fun, easy project for Halloween!

Glass Ornament Storage for $6

Have you taken down your tree yet?  If not, throw this nifty little project together for your glass ornaments!

Here's a clever idea for glass ornament storage from the Design a la Mod blog. Use a medium-large plastic storage bin and plastic punch glasses to safely store bulbs individually from year to year. Are you ready to take your holiday decorations down yet? You are now!

Project Estimate: $6

• 1 pack of plastic party tumblers, $1
• Corrugated cardboard, on hand
• Hot glue and glue gun, on hand
• Scissors, on hand
• Plastic bin, $5 and up

How do you store your glass bulb ornaments every year?  Send me your clever ideas or post at my Saturday BYOB Link Party!

Dr. Oz's Teeth Whitening Remedy-EASY!

Dr Oz Teeth Whitening Remedy Ingredients:

 

 

- Baking Soda (around 1/4 cup of baking soda)
- Lemon Juice (from half of a lemon)

Dr Oz Teeth Whitening Home Remedy Directions:

1. Squeeze the fresh lemon juice into the baking soda. Dr Oz did not mention if you could substitute the pre-bottled lemon juice for a fresh lemon, but if someone experiments with this, please share with everyone how it works!
2. The lemon juice and baking soda solution will bubble.
3. Dip a cotton ball into the lemon juice and baking soda solution and apply it to your teeth. I might even try a qtip to get into some of the nooks and crannies at the top of your teeth.
4. Let the lemon and baking soda solution sit on your teeth for around a minute.
5. Brush your teeth to remove the acid, because you do not want to leave the lemon juice and baking soda solution on for too long or it will erode your teeth.

Birthday Cake Shots!

Just in time for my brother's birthday or New Year's!

 

Booze Birthday Cake Shots!

What you need:

• 1 oz. Cake Vodka
• 1 tsp Dry White Cake Mix
• 1/2 oz. Whipped Cream Vodka
• 1/2 oz. Half & Half
• Whipped Cream
• Sprinkles

How to make:

Shake all ingredients in a martini shaker with ice and strain into sprinkle-rimmed (optional) shooter or shot glass and top with whipped cream and more sprinkles.

Getting Ready for Santa (Tips )

Letter to Santa ~ Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Santa's official address and you will get a letter back!  Postmarked the North Pole and everything!

 

Santa, North Pole, Alaska

North Pole Christmas Cancellation

Postmaster

5400 Mail Trail

Fairbanks, AK 99709-9998

 

Track Santa ~ noradsanta.org

 

 

Thank You Note From Santa ~ Last year, we got a Thank You note from Santa!  It was such a great surprise and he has wonderful penmanship, too....

 

 

Evidence ~ We actually had a reindeer leave hoof prints all through our house last year!  Come to find out my daughter had asked for Blitzen's "autograph"!  Other families I know, have found boot tracks near the fireplace or front door, scraps of red felt and white fuzz....

 

 

If you've experienced or know of any other "proof" of Santa, please comment and let me know!  I love hearing those stories!

DIY Crate Coffee Table

Materials Needed:

• (4) Wooden Crates 12.5"W x 18"L x 9.5"H (I used crates from Michael's and used their 40% off coupon. Each crate came to a little over $7 each.)
• (2) 2"x4"x8'
• Stain of your color choice

Final Dimensions: 27"W x 27"D x 17"H

Our first step was to build the base of our coffee table with the 2"x4"x8's.  My husband put this together for me.  See picture below.  I'll have him explain this part....Figure out the outside dimentions by arranging the crates the way you want them.  I started with the outer square frame first, cutting the boards on a 45 degree angle.  Then I cut two pieces for cross supports.  I used 2 ratchet strapes to hold it together while I screwed the pieces to each other.

 

 

 

We then stained all of the crates, the base and the feet.  The feet were leftover triangle pieces from the frame.  My husband turned them point side down and attached to the bottom of the frame. Genius!

 

 

 

When you screw the crates into place, make sure the crate extends slightly past the edge of the frame. (We made our frame slitly smaller than what the crates measured.  We thought it would look better)

 

 

After everything is stained, the crates and feet are screwed into place, you will notice the gaping hole in the middle.  We took scrap wood and made a small shelf. 

 

 

You could put a plant or some nice stones in your shelf. We currently have a decorative plate with candles over ours.

 

 

 





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