Eagles NFC East Pumpkin -Contest Entry

We decided to have a pumpkin contest at the office this year. It was the first time so nobody knew what to expect, but the rules were 'anything goes'. After kicking around two traditional Holiday icon ideas for a while I woke up Monday morning and knew exactly what I'd do...

HA, Go Birds!!!

I tied for 1st Place🎃

I hope you all had a fun Halloween! Now, let's grab whatever marked down candy we might need for holiday baking season...

Have a great weekend:@)

Philadelphia Eagles Pumpkin & Free Stencil

My son had a volunteer pumpkin vine grow out of his compost bin this year. It was a very happy plant:@) He ended up with 15 pumpkins ranging in size from cantaloupe to about 10" round. Unfortunately the vine died before they all had a chance to get orange. But I saw an opportunity to carve an Eagles Green Jack-O-Lantern:@) What I didn't realize was, just how hard the green makes it to see the little dots to follow the outline of the design...

The pumpkins:

Never afraid to share a bloggy blooper... I had some carving issues, and the cheap little plastic etching tool was not a good idea after all. Wish I borrowed some of my son's wood working tools, they would have gone through the pumpkin like butter...

But warts and all,

the Philly Boo Crew approves:@)

Another logo option, as I was looking around I found some free stencils provided by the Eagles themselves HERE... There are small, medium and large sizes. All you need is a printer, or as I've done many times. simply place a piece of paper over your computer screen and trace the pattern. 

Happy Halloween Season🎃

Trick or Treating in Barbie's World

Barbie promised the kid dolls that if they ate dinner, they could do a little Trick or Treating early in the evening. The weather was beautiful, and as the sun was just beginning to set, it was still warm out so coats weren't needed. The kids were running around and excited (and just a bit hyped up on sugar). Until they stopped at Ken's... They were a little apprehensive approaching this spooky house...

But Frankenstein was the perfect host...

This year's costumes were a glamourous witch, little pumpkins, and a baby chick:@)

DIY Halloween Craft links:  Barbie Pumpkin No-Sew Poncho ~ K-Cup Frankenstein Mask ~ K-Cup Boo Bucket ~ Felt Pumpkin (or any day) Jumper Free Pattern (for Barbie, Curvy Barbie, Chelsea and Kelly dolls)

~This chick~ says Halloween can be fun for everyone!

Previous Halloween Dioramas:

Trunk or Treating Diorama

Halloween Party 2021

Loading Huge Pumpkin onto Jeep

Pumpkin Picking with Anthony Diorama-2023

Halloween at the Farm Diorama 2022

BOO!

Have a Happy Day🎃

Halloween Piggy Inflatables

I never really thought of pigs being a part of Halloween, but found this Three Little Pigs inflatable yard decoration at Walmart and was curious to see what else might be out there... 

Is it cold outside? I have a feeling this inflatable costume would add a layer of air insulation and help keep everyone warm:@)

And this Riding Piggy costume is hilarious and would be great as long as it's outside and you have lots of room to walk (and turn) around. The tail cracks me up...

This post is just a reminder to treat yourself to a little Halloween fun this weekend. Whether it's buying a caramel apple, picking out a pumpkin, watching a seasonal movie, or simply going for a walk to look at the neighbor's decorations.

Have a Happy Day🎃

Halloween Tiered Tray 2025

I changed out the Tiered Tray for Halloween. Lots of orange, black, and pumpkins. Just a mish-mash of odds and ends for some holiday fun:@) I still have to say, this $12 Aldi tiered tray is a great size! A reasonable price and it has turned out to be one of my favorite year-round areas to decorate. 

New table runner from Amazon, 

love it:

The left side is a pack of tray decor from Aldi. I think the cat has a lot of character:@) Thrift store candy corn tree and jack-o-lantern tea light. My son cut me a couple circles of wood from a tree he cut down, they make great risers for tray items.

And my tray still has to be functional... Salt and pepper grinders, food picks, napkins and a little candy bowl. Luminara wanna-be pilar candle $1 from thrift store. Even if nothing else is lit, I usually have this flickering away:@)

Small Fenton hobnail glass vase, my neighbor was doing a little purging and asked if I wanted it:@) It's holding the food picks.

Cute even if not fully lit and on a diet:@)

Happy Halloween Season🎃

Barbie/Ken Frankenstein Mask from K-Cup

I love to re-purpose k-cups any time I can, and here's a fun little craft for the kids. Or for an adult to make for doll play... These Frankenstein Masks, or Costumes, for Barbie and Ken can be as simple or elaborate as art skills -and patience- allow. I've made two, one an open face and the second has eye holes and more green. If this is a Halloween or birthday party craft, I suggest an adult have all of the k-cups pre-cut and let the kids color and decorate them. I used Sharpies for the boldest color. 

Bucket head and jagged bangs:

More of a hat look...

And a pull on mask:

I purposely used the most beaten up, dirtiest, well worn, black jacket I had to add to the Frankenstein look. Thrift store grab bag rescue:@)

My Barbie Pinterest Board here.

What I did:

1. Pull foil off of k-cup, tap out coffee grounds, pull out filter. Wash and dry k-cup.
2. The bottom of the cup will be the flat top of the head.
3. Using sturdy scissors, kitchen shears are best, cut off the ridge that had the foil glued to it. But leave two 1/4" pieces at the sides for the illusion of neck bolts.
4. If making open face mask, cut out enough of the cup in a rectangle shape to show the dolls eyes.
5. Make jagged cuts for the bangs.
6. If making eye hole mask, cut an arch between the bolts just high enough to expose the mouth and tip of the nose. Cut eye holes (I used a hole punch. Can use Exacto knife or utility knife.
7. Color with Sharpies as desired.

♻Let's recycle creatively and 

Have a Happy Day🎃

Pumpkin Schmear, Jello Cake, Mummy Dip & What's Your Halloween Name?

Well folks, here we are, the last weekend before Halloween. Is it just me or did October fly by? So in the spirit of having a little holiday fun I thought I'd share a couple -frighteningly good- ideas from the archives... This Pumpkin Schmear is a great way to start the day, and who doesn't like bagels?

Having a party? May I suggest a colorful, and tasty, Jello Layer Cake. This is a fun alternative to poke cakes and it's easy and very festive:@)

How about a Mummy Avocado Dip,

a tad healthier and cute!

And just for fun...

Have a spookily good weekend:@)

Inspirational Friday

 

Have a little Halloween fun this weekend:@)

Barbie This and That... Halloween & Christmas

We're at that fun time of year when there's a ton of things going on... Halloween, football, Thanksgiving coming up, cooler weather, and the stores are putting Christmas out. This will be my third post of Dollar Tree Halloween ideas for Barbie. And even though it's been a few years, most of the items are still available. I picked up a pack of skeleton hands figuring I'd come up with ~something~ to make for Barbie... Even the dollhouse gets a few Halloween decorations:@)

My inspiration from Walmart,

Candle Holders:

What I started with:

And I have some leftover for future crafts...

These felt cut-outs make a quick Ghost Costume. I glued some ribbon at each shoulder, and some at each side will help tie the costume on. I was surprised to find out that the eyes and mouth were already cut and just needed to be popped out. There are 12 pieces in each pack, so that's enough for 6 dolls for a sleepover, or if your girl is having a Halloween party. Easy, fast, and cute:@) And of course, you could cut a ghost shape out of felt and draw the face on with a Sharpie too...

The cut-outs:

There are six more crafts here, and another five or so here.

I stopped at the thrift store and found this Santa pants ornament/gift bag and had a feeling it would fit Cousin Rube:@) I cut the bottom of each pant leg open, slid it on up over his belly, and wa-la... The big man is now ready for some Christmas fun:@) 

What I bought for 50¢:

🎃🎅Make something just for fun and

Have a Happy Day:@)

Pumpkin Crescent Rolls with Marshmallow -Breakfast Danish

I wanted to try something new, yet easy, for breakfast... These Pumpkin Crescent Rolls with Marshmallow made a nice Sunday breakfast pastry:@) I even assembled them on the parchment lined baking sheet making clean-up a snap. Simply smear the pumpkin mixture all over the roll, add a few mini marshmallows, roll up, sprinkle with some sugar and spice, and bake. Pour a strong cuppa and breakfast is served. Thinking holidays? Use colored sugar or switch out the sugar/spice topping for a glaze for a fancier presentation. This is a nice way to use up some leftover pumpkin puree.

Tip: I made these in my traditional oven. If you have access to a convection oven, I feel crescent rolls get even flakier in a convection oven.

Have a little pumpkin mixture leftover? Add to a coffee cup, pour in coffee, sweeten with some of the sugar/spice, whipped cream topping is always nice, and enjoy a cup of pumpkin spice coffee:@) Don't want the puree in your cup? Add pumpkin to the filter in the basket of a drip coffee maker.

Pumpkin Crescent Rolls with Marshmallow

For each 8 count tube of crescent rolls:

1/2 C pumpkin puree-may have a little left over

up to 1/4 C brown sugar-I used half

1 tsp pumpkin spice

24 mini marshmallows-more if desired

Cinnamon or pumpkin spice and sugar for tops

1. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix pumpkin, sugar and spice.
3. Unroll dough, spread pumpkin mixture all over dough.
4. Add three mini marshmallows to widest end and roll up into crescent shape.
5. Place on baking sheet and sprinkle top with sugar spice mixture.
6. Bake at temperature and time recommended on package.
7. Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheet for a couple minutes before serving.

Eat well and Have a Happy Day:@)

Barbie dia de los muertos Lollypop Holder -Halloween

I wanted to use a dollar store Plastic Skull as a Lollypop Holder and decided to mix a Barbie Halloween party idea with dia de los muertos... I allowed myself to spend $5, skull, two headbands and the groovy eyelashes:@) BTW, if you have the patience for false eyelashes or extenders, God bless... Goggly eyes and Sharpies were from my craft stash. The face art can be as elaborate as desired, stickers and rhinestones are a couple good ideas. Turns out these skulls may be a bit too ghoulish to properly get the Barbie vibe... But I do think it's a fun idea, especially for a Day of the Dead party.

I drilled holes into the plastic to hold the lollypops, a small Dremel size bit worked well. Then hot glued the skull to a plate so it would stand securely. 

Wrapped candies (preferably) scattered around the plate would complete the look, or maybe create a Halloween charcuterie tray with the skull as the centerpiece... (Best perhaps without the hair.)

🎃Make something just for fun and

Have a Happy Day:@)

October 1st at Cousin Rube's Farm -Barbie Diorama

As with most nurseries, early fall is all about pumpkins at Peace and Pancakes Farm. It also means cooler weather and heartier appetites for the -all you can eat- pancake breakfasts on the weekends:@) This helps draw in big crowds as everyone stops by to pick up their prized pumpkin, and anticipates Rube's Halloween decorations and events. Barbie decides she'd like this huge beauty for the front yard...

So the guys rolled it onto a blanket to carry it to the Jeep... And Ken thought he was only going out for a nice breakfast:@) He sure hopes someone is around to help unload it when they get home😉

Jack-O-Lanterns have a long history and have been carved from many things. I've included a little background below... One of the guys grew habaneros and brought some of the peppers into the office. This lone little orange one was left on the counter in the kitchen, so I brought it home to draw a silly face with a Sharpie, and knew it would be a great size for some Barbie pictures:@)

Looks like two pumpkins are coming home after all:@)

Barbie says, 

that's one spicy jack-o-lantern😂

Wikipedia:

A jack-o'-lantern (or jack o'lantern) is a carved lantern, most commonly made from a pumpkin, or formerly a root vegetable such as a mangelwurzel (beet), rutabaga or turnip. Jack-o'-lanterns are associated with the Halloween holiday. Its name comes from the phenomenon of strange lights flickering over peat bogs, called jack-o'-lanterns (also known as, will-o'-the-wisps). It is suggested that the name also has ties to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a drunkard who bargains with Satan and is doomed to roam the Earth with only a hollowed turnip to light his way.

🎃Make something just for fun and

Have a Happy Day:@)

Dyed Popcorn Candy Corn Gift

Here's one more thing to add to my candy corn round-up post of the other day... I've made several colorful DIY dyed popcorn projects and have to say, this Candy Corn Popcorn is kinda cute. I suggest using white kernels as the colors are brighter. My orange layer started with yellow pop corn and red dye, but I think white might be better. I happened to have some disposable icing bags and decided to use the cone shape as a wink and nod to the traditional candy corn shape. The popcorn would be cute simply layered in a jar too, folks will get the idea. Now, in a perfect world I would have had orange and yellow ribbon... But this is my reality, so I used what I had:@)

They make nice little Halloween

 non-candy gift packs:

I've also made an 

Orange and Green Dyed Popcorn here.

📌My Popcorn for all Seasons Pinterest Board here.

Dyed Popcorn

1. Place kernels in sandwich baggie. Add drops of liquid food coloring and smoosh around until desired color is achieved. Paste dyes do not work as well as the drops.
2. Allow kernels to completely dry. You might want to pour onto cookie sheet in single layer to dry.
3. Package as desired.

Make something just for fun and

Have a Happy Day:@)

Mini Verse Mystery Ball Beetlejuice Edition -Barbie Halloween

I just had to grab one of these Mini Verse Halloween mystery balls at Walmart, Beetlejuice edition:@) Honestly folks, I was really hoping to get the cake (and do wish we could just buy what we want...), but ended up with these cute little skull glasses and what they call Bug Punch. I chose to save the gummy worms as a bag of doll size candy instead of using it in the drinks. ~~The story line: Barbie and Ken are going to see the new Beetlejuice movie, and are sipping a SkullTini before the show... 

The idea here is, you get all the little (and I do mean ~little~) pieces and you, or your kids, create the goodies. The whole project takes a few hours to dry, but kids will enjoy making it. This big kid, however, would prefer to buy the completed item:@) But I do keep getting suckered into picking a ball up when I see new, and especially holiday, editions at the store.

The possible varieties:

My best tip for these toys… Give the liquid glue -much more time- to dry than suggested in the instructions. My whipped cream topping kept sinking into the glass and got so wet and ugly it could barely be used. I ended up washing them and painted one white to better mimic whipped cream. But I do like the different looks of the drinks, and there are ice cubes in the glasses:@)

A quick pic in the late afternoon light...

🎃Grab it when you see it,

just don't say it three times...

And Have a Happy Day:@)