Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Always Remember-- A free printable from Lauren McKinsey

If you've ever lost a precious loved one, or know someone who has, the freebie from Lauren McKinsey this week may be a perfect way to always remember your loved one and bring some peace  The printable is designed for children to help them through the grieving process so that they can celebrate wonderful memories.

















Lauren shares her own tragic loss here, and has always wanted to do something to help her two boys remember their father and navigate through their own grief. While this process is different for every person, Lauren shares what has worked for her family.

Here are a few photos from the collection:




















To download your free printables, click here or on the photo below.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Free Halloween Printables from Lauren McKinsey

Are you ready for H-OWL-oween?  Whether you are or aren't, you will definitely want to add Lauren McKinsey's latest printable Halloween collection to your printable files' stash!  This "Happy Owl-oween" collection is adorable and so versatile!  Be sure to download your FREE Hershey kiss stickers by clicking the image below or here.















Here are more darling examples of this new collection.










Tuesday, October 15, 2013

25 DIY Halloween Ideas

If you are a Halloween addict, you've come to the right place.  If you're anything like me, you have to refrain from setting up the Halloween décor in August because you don't want to be that person, but when September 1st hits, anything goes.  I blame my mom for my Halloween obsession.  After all, I was an October 1st baby and the birthday treat she always sent with me to share with my class was a tray of her delicious homemade jack-o-lantern shaped sugar cookies with orange frosting and chocolate chip detailing. 
 
 
Halloween will be here before you can say, ‘BOO!’ I thought it would be fun to create some cute Halloween crafts, gifts and party favors this year using the printable Haunted Halloween package from Anders Ruff. I called upon one of my favorite crafty side-kicks, Vivian Kerr, to help me scare up some inspiration for your little ghosts and goblins.    Anders Ruff’s printables make it so easy!  A big thank you to Andrea Pasion Photography for beautifully capturing our spooky projects.
 

 
We have come up with 25+ SPOOKtacular projects to share with you.  Today's post will be projects 1-12.  Stay tuned for Post 2, for the rest of the projects.
 

PROJECTS #1-2:  Altered Candy Bar Wrappers

SPOOKtacular DIY Halloween Projects   Pt. 1

Need a fast treat that is ‘too cute to spook’?  Grab a couple of your favorite candy bars (we used the large sized Hershey bars, but any sized flat bar would work) .  Print some of Anders Ruff’s coordinating digital papers, treat labels & tags.  Add some scraps of ribbon and recreate this look in minutes!  (The Haunted House is a Paper Bliss sticker set.)
*****

PROJECTS #3-4:  Altered Beverage Jars/Carrier

SPOOKtacular DIY Halloween Projects   Pt. 1

We love projects that involve using recycled materials.  This is one of our favorites.  We had our friend save her Starbucks Frappuccino bottles & lids for us.  Creating these cute bottles is easy.  Wash & dry the bottles thoroughly.  Add a coat of black spray paint to the lids.  Fill with various Halloween candies.  Use any of the adorable Anders Ruff beverage wraps, or trim the treat wrappers down to size and secure to the bottle with strong adhesive.  (We like Stampin’ Up’ Sticky Strip.) We also added some raffia, a tag and some coordinating papers from AR’s collection to complete the look.  As you can see from the picture, we also refashioned the cardboard Starbucks drink carrier by covering it in coordinating paper & reducing the AR letters to decorate the front!
*****

PROJECT #5:  Altered Paint Can

SPOOKtacular DIY Halloween Projects   Pt. 1

Mini paint cans can be filled with all sorts of ghoulish delights and are easily decorated using printable elements from Anders Ruff’s Halloween collection, scraps of coordinating ribbon and fabric.
*****

PROJECTS #6-7:  Pumpkin Lantern & ’TREATS’ Banner

SPOOKtacular DIY Halloween Projects   Pt. 1

Re-create the pumpkin lanternsby tracing a leaf pattern on one of the green AR printable papers.  Add a green chenile stem vine (twist around a pencil to get the corked look) and a brown chenile stem.  Simply print out the TREAT sign, mount on black cardstock, punch holes and add ribbon or twine to hang.
*****

PROJECT #8:  Trick or Treat Tote Bag

SPOOKtacular DIY Halloween Projects   Pt. 1

Vivian designed and sewed this adorable trick or treat tote bag.  Don’t you just love the bat she printed from Anders Ruff’s Halloween collection onto iron on fabric transfers?
*****

PROJECT #9:  Altered Gum Case

SPOOKtacular DIY Halloween Projects   Pt. 1

Easily transform an inexpensive pack of gum into an adorable Halloween favor.  (Here we used Extra Dessert Delights brand gum, in an Orange Creme flavor.)
*****

PROJECT #10:  Altered Tic-Tac Box

SPOOKtacular DIY Halloween Projects   Pt. 1

Who knew a scallop punch, circle punch, a button and a few elements from AR’s printable package could make an ordinary box of Tic-Tacs look so fun?!
*****

PROJECTS #11-12: Halloween Push Up Pops

SPOOKtacular DIY Halloween Projects   Pt. 1

We love coming up with unique ways to display desserts. How fun would your Halloween dessert table look with push up pops, cake pops, suckers and more coming out of coffins lined with styrofoam? Or, use the coffins to house other frightening treats. (We spray painted coffins, lined them with coordinating AR papers, topped the coffin lids off with AR’s darling treat labels cut to size and displayed our orange ice cream push up pops inside.)
*****

Check back for Part 2 of our spooky projects!

VENDOR CREDITS & RESOURCES {for Parts 1 & 2}:

Jennifer Carver & Vivian Kerr: Styling
Anders Ruff Custom Designs:  Halloween Printables
Andrea Pasion Photography:  Photography
JoAnn Fabrics:  fabric for aprons/chef hats/tote bags, paper-mâché coffin boxes, pumpkin lanterns (from Martha Stewart kit), sucker sticks, buttons, craft foam (for lining coffins)
Michael’s:  raffia, Halloween ribbon, jute/twine, cellophane bags, mini paint can
Stampin’ Up:  craft punches, cardstock, Snail adhesive, Sticky Strip, gold thread
Wal-Mart: black spray paint, glossy photo paper, Avery full-sheet sticker labels
Cash & Carry:  glassine bags
JB Prince:  push up pop containers
IKEA:  metal tins
Party City:  candy, suckers

*****


 



Monday, October 7, 2013

Free Turkey Printables from Lauren McKinsey

If you're like me, you like being a step ahead on your holiday preparations.  I know Halloween hasn't even happened yet, but I am dying to share Lauren McKinsey's new adorable Turkey collection she's debuting for Thanksgiving.  What's even better?  You can download FREE little turkey toppers for the next two weeks!  Just click the image below, or click HERE.

 

Shop the whole Little Turkey collection here.




Sunday, October 6, 2013

ONE (1) ACT OF KINDNESS

A year ago, a beautiful friend lost her sweet daughter while they were in FL for a “Make a Wish” trip. While Mia was here, she brought such joy and happiness to everyone she met, having overcome great obstacles of her own to accomplish what many take for granted.

Her mother’s simple wish to remember and honor her precious daughter is this—On October 8th, DO ONE (1) ACT OF KINDNESS in Mia’s name. Just one. One kind thing to bring joy and happiness to someone else the way Mia always did. It’s a simple thing really, to do an act of kindness for someone. If you don’t know Mia’s family, but know me and would do this one thing as my friend, I will be forever grateful. Choose one kind act. Do it.  Comment below with what you did in Mia’s name, and I will link the family to your acts of kindness so that through you, they can see Mia’s goodness still blessing others. 

 To read more:
http://mcdonaldfam.blogspot.com/2013/10/love-for-mia.html