Fall Mantle

It seems like everyone but me has a fireplace mantle to decorate for the holidays.

Actually, when me and the hubby were "house shopping," we almost bought a house with a fireplace.

And a large kitchen with a built-in island.

A living room the size of my house.

Unfortunately, the owners put renters into the house right before we were going to close on the house. Renters need 60 days of notice before kicking them out on the street in our state.

Would I buy a house only to have random people living in it for two months?

No...not a chance.

Anyways, back on track!

Since I have no fireplace in my house, I decided that my new entertainment center had a pretty good fireplace-type mantle on it.

That'll do.

;)

So I decorated my "mantle" for Autumn.

I also want to show you the subject of my next project:

Just a basket.

I'm going to turn this basket into something hugely functional.

If you're an organizing freak like me, come back to see what I did with an ordinary basket!

I'm also well aware that my house needs a good dusting. Holy wah, dust bunnies multiply faster than real bunnies.

;)

P.S. 10-in-10 recap will be coming as soon as a link-up is available from the host!

More Fall Kids Projects

I don't decorate for the seasons much.

I'll throw Christmas decor up a week before Christmas and take it down the day afterward.

But Fall....

...oh how I love Fall.

Here's a few more Fall-themed projects to do with your kids.

Stuffed Pumpkin

1. Cut out a circle in some orange felt.

2. Punch holes around the perimeter of the circle with a paper punch.

3. Weave some green ribbon through the holes.

4. Pull slightly on the ribbon until the felt makes a bowl shape.

5. Stuff the bowl with cotton.

6. Pull the ribbon tight and tie off.

Painted Pumpkin

 This one's pretty self-explanatory.

Just paint a pumpkin (or a mini-gourd, like we did).

My daughter chose purple.

<3

Fall Trees



This one is probably best for school-age children that are able to follow directions better......

Anyways, just trace your child's hand (you can use brown construction paper and cut it out like we did on the right).

Make Autumn leaves by either gluing on fake leaves, or using finger paint to paint them on.

Posts that I'm dreaming up for the future:

-A peek at some woodworking I've been doing (but won't be able to show you until after Christmas!)

-My Fall "mantle"

-A spinach recipe the kids will love!

-A 10-in-10 recap

10-in-10 Day 6 ; Ooey Gooey Witches

I'm rocking at this 10 projects in 10 days thing!

Today is Day 6: Clean both vehicles.

Check!

Yesterday was Make a Halloween Treat.

That's what I'm going to show you today.

Ooey Gooey Witches

Place caramel apples on a cookie sheet.

Place an ice cream cone upside down over the stick (I used the Oreo kind).

Use raisins for the eyes.

Candy corn for the nose.

Mini chocolate chips for the mouth.

Twizzlers Pull-N-Peel for the hair.

The kids love this treat so much! The hair take a long time to put on, but it's worth it!

Well, since I'm a bit ahead of my 10-in-10 list, and I have the day off work, I'm going to leap into tomorrow's task: sign the kids up for swimming lessons.

10-in-10 Day:2 ; Kiddy Fall Wreath

Sorry I didn't post last night.

I haven't had more than 5 hours of sleep a night for the past 2 weeks, and I'm really starting to feel it.

I did NOT get my day 2 goal done: winterize the inside.

I took out my window film, decided that I needed my hubby's help (but he get's home late from school), so I decided to wait.

While waiting, I decided to try out an adhesive remover (for the stairs) that my father-in-law brought home (from my sister-in-law's house).

This stuff instantly liquefied the glue. It's amazing. 10 times better than the adhesive remover I had bought.

The problem is that apparently my Menards doesn't carry it. Or at least I couldn't find it.

Anyways, after spending a few hours working on the stairs, by the time my hubby came home, my back was on fire.

There was no way I was going to put on window film.

Oh well....

BUT I do have another kiddy project to share with you!

Find a good maple/oak leaf and trace around it on construction paper for a template.

Make a bunch of yellow/orange/red leaves from construction paper with your template.

Cut the hole out of the middle of a paper plate.

Glue all the leaves on.

Punch out a small hole, attach some ribbon, and hang!



I have lots more projects to share, so keep coming back for tons of inspiration!

10-in-10 Day 1 & Kiddy Ghost Project

Here we are at the end of Day 1 on my 10 projects in 10 days challenge.

Day 1: Winterize the outside.

Mmmmmkay.

I brought some potted plants in.

I flipped the birdbath and planters.

I started taking the arm cushions off my wicker patio furniture.

This guy jumped out at me.

Done.

After making the hubby carefully check every single cushion for "friends," I now have a pile of cushions that need to be washed before stored.

Did I get all the winterizing done?

No.

But it's a good start.

Anyways, I have a cute Halloween project that you can do with your kiddos.

Paint the bottom of your kid's foot with white paint.

Press firmly onto black construction paper.

Add googly eyes and draw a ghoulish smile.

Hang and enjoy your ghost!