It's starting to feel like Halloween

October. The launch of Halloween month. Time to decorate. 

I was inspired by a wand sign in Gatlinburg and a Pinwheel on a blog. Saturday I went around the task of collecting some items to do a Halloween display. 

First thing I went looking for was a chalkboard. I found this one at Walmart for .97 cents. Purple is one of the new Halloween colors so I bought it. This would save me from having to paint or trim a wooden one. 

So I glued some orange buttons on it that I had at home and wrote on the chalk board.

I made a little star wand from some items I already had around the house. 

And here was the finished product.

While I was out Saturday, I stopped by the 50% off Scrapbook Store in Governor's Crossing and picked up some scrapbook paper and some embellishments. This was my first pinwheel so it isn't perfect, but at least I know I can do them and I learned a few things along the way by trial and error. This was made from one sheet of paper that cost .25 cents and one embellishment that cost me .20 cents. I glued it on a dowel rod I already had at home. 

The bottom two pinwheels are simply 2 embellishments glued on top of each other and a button added to it. I had the buttons and dowels so it was just 4 embellishments at .20 cents each. 

I had some raffia and ribbon and this cute little jar at home so I decided it would make a cute vase for fall. I stuck the pinwheels in it. 

Here was the finished product. 

I picked up this whimsical witch at The Dollar Tree for, of course, just a $1.00.

I had a little wooden Jack-o-lantern that I wanted to put in the display. Here is my finished Halloween display. Total cost was $3.53 and that included the tax. Not bad. 

Then I remembered I had bought some material to make a no-sew runner for the coffee table. It was simple. My niece Amy gave me the idea. Just cut your runner 2" bigger all the way around that what you want it to be. Fold it under and hem using Heat-n-Bond hem tape. I added a twist. After I was done, I went back and folded the corners under on the two ends so I could have a point on each end. I ironed them in place with the hem tape as well. Stuck my Jack-o-Lantern we've had forever in the center and surrounded it with my two new Pyrex candy bowls and wah-lah! I'm loving it. 

This got me in the mood to put out the rest of my Halloween decor. 

I had to bring out my favorite ghost cookie jar. One of my clients back in 2003 sent me a cookie jar for every occasion. This was the one she sent me for Halloween. 

Here is my little $1.00 scarecrow I've had for years and my little wicker pumpkin I bought at a yard sale this summer. 

I had so much fun decorating. I really enjoyed making the runner. I'm going to make a few more for Thanksgiving and Christmas for some various tables. I may have to work on those one evening this week.

A most precious baby boy

I can't believe two years have come and gone. My youngest grandson, Colby James, is 2 years old today. 

Such a beautiful baby. He had a head full of dark hair. Such a beautiful baby boy. 

Check out those beautiful eyes. 

I can't believe how little he was. They grow up so fast. Here he is with his cousin Amy.

Mamaw's little man the first time he went to church with me. What a handsome baby.

This is one of my favorite pictures of him. He looks so deep in thought. 

Doing what he does best....playing with his cars. 

Me and Colby. He holds such a special place in my heart. Even when he is grown with kids of his own, he will still be Mamaw's baby. I guess that is how it is with the youngest grandchild. 

Playing goofy golf. He is all boy. Every time you see him he has a car or some kind of ball in his hand. He is always ready to race or play ball. It is so cute. 

Doing the other thing he loves best....eating. After four picky and semi-picky grandchildren, it feels strange having one that eats so well. He loves just about anything you feed him. 

Can't wait to take him this week for his birthday trip with Mamaw and then go to his party. The big 2. 

Happy birthday my precious Colby. We love you.

All you need is a little faith....

Tag Youre It Jewelry

Beaded Bliss Creations

S Celeste Designs


So She


Laurie B Designs


Rock The Rules Jewelry


Two Chicks and a Basket


Molly McCormick


Crafts by Joyice

Some things I want to do....

These are so adorable. I saw them at a store in Gatlinburg. It is nothing but an Altoid candy tin covered with paint or scrapbook paper and some ruffles. Inside is a little note pad and small pencil. Inside the cover is a little poem about praying. 

One of my favorite blogs is Two Junk Chix. You need to pop over and check out their post for Halloween Wands. I have got to make some of these. 

And I saw this sign at one of the stores in Gatlinburg, but can't remember which one. I am going to make my rendition of this and put it on display with my Halloween wands. How cute would that be. 

I may make some crafts this weekend. We'll see. Hope everybody has a good weekend. 

A trip to Gatlinburg

My father-in-law and sister-in-law came to visit for the past couple of days. We went over in Gatlinburg. Here are some pics of the fall decorations in town and some cute items I saw when we went in the the various shops in The Village. Enjoy!

I fell in love with Ms. Rake.

Some possible suitors for Ms. Rake??

These items were in some shops that we went in. I just love the turtle.

They had so many painted ponies that it was unbelievable.

This was one of my favorites. 

One store had so many nesting dolls that I was in 7th Heaven.

But if you will look at the prices you will understand why I just looked and didn't buy.

My sister-in-law has a gorgeous red kitchen with roosters in it. She went nuts over these.

We had a wonderful day together and I hate to see them go home this morning. 

Just some random stuff....

...Was sitting on the couch with my yarn the other night and without thinking rolled this little ball while I was on the phone. So I glued the end and stuck a stick in it and now I have a cute little pumpkin. Hmmm, I need to think about what I can do with it. 

Looky, looky, looky! I started crocheting! Do you know what I'm making? Well, don't worry, neither do I. I only know how to do a chain stitch for now. But my friend Anya said she would show me how to turnaround and go back the other direction to actually make something. 

Was watching TV the other night and decided I wanted some peanut butter candy. So I jumped up and made a batch. It is delicious. 2 cups sugar, 2/3 cup milk. Cook over medium heat to the soft ball stage. Add 1 heaping tablespoon of peanut butter and 1 tsp vanilla. Beat until it thickens and pour in a butter platter or pan and let cool. It hardens up some so it is not fudgy and doesn't need refrigerated. But it is delicious. 

We had a water leak a week or so ago and I have been taken showers until the maintenance guy could get here to fix it. I got to run water with my new faucet Tuesday night and I love it. The knobs are so much bigger than the old faucets and I love the look and feel of them. I can go back to my bubble baths. 

You know I am still on the great Hamilton Beach mixing bowl hunt. I want the large one and keep finding it for $12 - $15 but I didn't really want to pay that much. I just found this one on auction on E-bay for both of the bowls. Entire set is $19+ and that includes shipping. That is not a bad deal and I would have the matching set and it wold be less than $20 and I could quit hunting for it. I am on the fence about it. I have about 4 days to decide before the auction closes and to see if anybody else has bid. We will have to wait and see. 

...My father-in-law and sister-in-law are visiting so I am taking the day off to go to Gatlinburg today. We like to walk around the town and check out all the unique shops. Hopefully I'll find some cute things to report back on tomorrow.



We are going to take a drive up into the mountains to see if the leaves are changing yet. We will probably swing up into the Chimney's to check out.



Well, heading out for the day. Hope everybody has a great day. 

Wacky Wednesday

Sometimes I see things when I am out and about that are just a touch on the wacky side and bring a smile to my face.

This past week, Hubby and I stopped at the local Co-Op simply so we could check these out. He thought they were storage buildings of some kind and I thought they were children's playhouses. Nope. We were both wrong. They are chicken coops. Yes, that is right...Chicken Coops! When did chickens start living in such style. If I were a chicken and had a house like this, you would never hear anybody say I flew the coop. I told Hubby it almost makes me want to raise chickens just so I could have one of these cool little houses for them. He said knowing me, I would probably try to decorate it for them. 

When I was at Walmart, I found the cutest fleece blankets. They have some really wild and wacky patterns. I love the geometric designs, the peace signs, the animal prints. They are really cute and they are only $2.88 each. I have so many fleece blankets already, but I am debating going back and getting some of these just because of the variety of patterns. The grandkids would love them. 

But the wackiest thing I saw this past weekend had to be my four year old granddaughter, Shelby. I went shopping with my daughter and we were looking at Halloween costumes. We hear "Look at me. I'm a pop star." and when I looked over at her, this is what I saw. 

Yes, I am pretty sure that gets first place prize on Wacky Wednesday.