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Thanksgiving Pumpkin Candle Holder / Floral Arrangment Centerpiece

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1452559_727376160625808_984816409_nI have always enjoyed decorating for the holidays and Thanksgiving just does not have many options available in the means of store bought decorations to choose from. So I am always so very happy to find cheap and really cool ideas to decorate with – and ones that do not take a lot of time.

This decoration uses small small pumpkins just big enough to put a clean soup can in and dried or fresh flowers and/or a pillar candle. Place the can on the top of the pumpkin and trace around the can to make a guide for cutting. You will want this to be tight so cut just within the line. Cut the pumpkin and remove the guts and seeds (don’t throw those seeds out – see how to prepare them as a delicious snack below) so the pumpkin will last longer. You will also want to scrap the insides of the pumpkin to not leave any wetness that prompts rotting.

Now gently push the cleaned can down into your hole you cut. You want it snug so that the can will not push through into the pumpkin. It will defeat your end design of the arrangement.

FLORAL: If using fresh put clean water in and place your fresh flowers in. Place a wide bow around them at base next to pumpkin to finish off the look. Is using dry do the same without water.

CANDLE: Place the candle within the can and place flowers and filler around base. To keep the candle from going to far into the base wad up aluminum foil to fill in to make the height of the candle where you desire it.

SEEDS: Rinse in a strainer and remove any slippery substance and also the strings or guts of the pumpkin. I actually soak them for a few hours in water I have brought to a boil and added salt to so they absorb the solution to make a nice salty seed. You do not have to if you don’t want to. Bake them spread on a cookie sheet at 350 and turn every couple minutes until you smell that nutty smell and see teh edges of the seeds turning brown. Turn oven off and let them cool with the oven. When cool bag and eat as a delicious healthy snack.

Log Slices For A Hardwood Floor

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ddd

I am absolutely in love with these floors. They are so artistic and creative. I especially love the lower one on the right hand side because the slices overlap each other and it butts up to the rest of the floors seamlessly. Having a design element in a home that is both artistic and no where near a norm for a home is a complete conversation starter. I could also see this done in a backyard for a pathway or to use instead of decking/porch. I have always been inspired to love elements that are very natural and to see nature enter a home like this is great.

Sand & Glue Bowl

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Mix clean sand and white craft glue to obtain an oatmeal type of consistency (add small spoonfuls of water but no more than two). Clean sand can be obtained from a beach or at a craft store. Blow up a balloon or a beach ball (we had more success with a beach ball as the balloon if too tight can pop while doing this) and rest the tied end into a bowl. Start at the top and pour the liquid and allow to run down. Make sure there are no gaps – you do not want a spider web effect. Dripping is allowed. Allow to dry overnight. Repeat process to create a thick three or four layer effect. Now on the last layer you will watch for it to be almost hard – then you will flip it out over to rest on what used to be the top. You are going to do this to create a flat bottom. Too early this will form in a huge puddle  – too late and it won’t form. Its cheap and that is good because if you mess up try again.

Doll House Book Shelf

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969141_641977829165642_1930924082_nThis conversion of a wooden bookshelf to a doll house will create a time of fun for your special little girl. This design is a little intricate – but it could be made fairly easy and made so that the added components could be removed later to go back to just a book shelf. Picket fence can be added to the bottom, dividers can be added to in between the shelves to divide them into room. Here they removed the top and added a pitched roof with new tongue and groove back. They cut out squares in the sides and inserted premade squares that are divided to look like windows. The back and insides could be painted out to look like little rooms with wall paper (decorated scrapbook pages) paint with stencils or sponge paintings. How about a little metal for the walls in the kitchen. The top pitch (if you make one) could be covered in large tongue depressors (available at craft stores).

Lumiary Painted Mason Jar

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luminary light candle stars paint project craft mason jarClean a mason jar and dry – then wipe with a clean cloth and rubbing alcohol. This is important for the preparation of the glass to make it accept the paint. Use star stickers (or any shape stickers) and apply to mason jar in a design or random. Try not to touch the glass with your fingers anymore then absolutely necessary, the oil from your fingers can make it so the paint won’t stick. Paint with a variety of colors as an all over design or put cap on mason jar and dip one end in one color paint and dry – then dip the other in paint and dry. If you paint the bottom first and then the top and dry with the mason jar right side up the top paint can drip in streaks over paint on the bottom.  It is best to use acrylic paint but you will need to seal this with polyurethane so a design painted by a child with finger paints would work as well – and would make a nice gift for a parent or grandparent.