diy: carving forever pumpkins

halloween is just days away. just tonight my kids carved their real pumpkins up for our front porch. while i love the traditional pumpkin carving, i also love the idea of having fake pumpkins specially carved for use every fall. my parents are the experts in this category and have carved "forever pumpkins" for each of their grandkids. 

this year i have seen these popping up everywhere. several businesses are now charging quite a bit to make a custom pumpkin of your own. if you go purchase the fake pumpkins (most likely on sale at the end of halloween season), some inexpensive stencils and a carving knife, you can make these for yourself at a fraction of the cost. the steps are simple and the results are adorable. 

the steps for making a forever pumpkin: 

1. purchase hollow, fake pumpkins, 3 inch stencils and a hot knife (pictured).
2. stencil the letters or drawings on the pumpkins.
3. use the narrow, sharp blade of the tool. carve out your letters being careful not to create a narrow space that will break off. (this means that you may have to adapt some of the letter shapes.)
4. cut off the lid of the pumpkin. clean out the pieces inside. use a small battery operated votive candle to light the inside of the pumpkins. 
5. enjoy!

this heated carving tool can be found at most craft stores.

needed tools

finished pumpkin

friday fun finds: fabulous throw pillows

if you are thinking of redecorating or just need a change--- buy some throw pillows! throw pillows are an easy way to change the look and feel of a room without breaking the bank....plus, they are a fun way to show off your personality. here are a few of my favorites. enjoy!

yellow gotcha pillow cover-- $16.95

girl and boy pillows--$22

amy butler chinese lanterns throw pillow--$25

personalized burlap pillow cover--$25

imperial trellis designer pillow cover--$80

baby silhouette/name pillow--$32

scrabble letter--$31.50

amy butler pillow set-- $45.95

halloween costumes...the horror!

i love the fall. i love to decorate for the fall. my house is currently full of pumpkins. some people love to decorate for halloween. i'm not one of them. my decorations have to last until i pull out the christmas decorations (this usually happens before thanksgiving.) still, somehow i have gotten caught up in the throws of dressing up my kids for halloween. i don't just let them pick out a costume. no, i let them pick out a costume as long as it fits into my pre-picked theme. i can see the years of therapy lining up already.

last year, my kids were all characters from "the chronicles of narnia..."prince caspian, king peter, lucy, the baby was the lion. seriously...so stinking cute. i have had friends dress their baby up as a bee and then get little bee keeper costumes. this year it was going to be "star wars." they could pick any character i could buy as a costume. can't you just see it...a little ewok, boba fett, princess leia, master yoda. i had it all planned out and, miraculously, the kids were happy to play along.

then i looked at how much this little venture would cost me. i was looking at close to $150.00 for one night. that's when i decided my obsession was a bit ridiculous. it is dark when my kids "trick-or-treat." no one notices how cute they are except for me and while the cuteness does bring me a bit of joy, so does buying them winter clothing.

so, this year i've gone practical. i'll have one boba fett, two characters recycled from last year's "narnia" and one recycled dinosaur from three years ago. it won't be coordinated but it will be affordable and for one night of candy swapping, i think that's the smarter move. i think that matching costumes might be one of those luxuries i have to give up while having a big family. what about you? to match or not to match...i'd love to hear your stories.

carving forever pumpkins

i grew up in a home where every holiday was celebrated. there were decorations for each important and not so important day of the year. my parents continue to decorate to this day. here is one of my favorite of their fall decorations, forever pumpkins with the names of each grandchild.you can carve anything into these pumpkins and then pull them out for years to come. love it!

here are the steps:

• purchase hollow, fake pumpkins, 3 inch stencils and a hot knife (pictured).

• stencil the letters or drawings on the pumpkins.

• use the narrow, sharp blade of the tool. carve out your letters being careful not to create a narrow space that will break off. (this means that you may have to adapt some of the letter shapes.)

• cut off the lid of the pumpkin. clean out the pieces inside. use a small battery operated votive candle to light the inside of the pumpkins. enjoy!