Easy Trick or Treat Bags

I was looking for some inexpensive trick or treat bags for my boys that would be easy for their little hands to carry and yet big enough to hold a good stash.  There are several options out there, but a trip to my local "Hancock" fabric store inspired me to make some.  I picked up some pre-cut felt squares that were 5 for a dollar.  I used my embroidery machine to add names to the bags and then simpley sewed them up inside out, leaving the top open.  I used some black ribbon I had left over from another project for the handles.  The last detail added was some cut out angles along the top with my pinking shears for a playful touch.  The boys seem to like them and for only 50 cents a piece and about 45 minutes of my time, I am also happy.

Industrial Pumpkins

Can you guess what I used to make this crafty little pumpkin.  Well, if you guessed a dryer vent hose then you would be correct.  I saw this idea recently on the www.theletteredcottage.net "fall link party".  It just so happened that my husband had some left over dryer vent hose, so all I had to purchase was a can of spray paint.  The tricky part of this project was figuring out how to attach the hose to form a circle.  I started out trying duct tap, which ended up looking really bad, even with a coat of paint.  I was just about to give up on the idea when my industrious husband took some extra small zip ties and "zipped" them up.  This left some holes where the zip ties puncture the foil, but they are not terribly noticeable and they can easily be covered up with some leaves.

What do you think is this tre chic or tre tacky?  Right now, I think it is pretty fun and my little boys think they are neat and that is all that really matters.

More Touches of Fall

I  added a few more touches of fall to decorate the house this weekend.  I trimmed a branch from my Japanese maple tree and brought it inside to add some color to my kitchen and main floor bath.  The maple leaves vary in color from red, to gold, to burnished green.  I also picked up three small "tiger" pumpkins at the store.  I got all three for less than $2.

These little touches really have me feeling the spirit of fall.  I am currently working on a craft project that uses some unusual household  materials to make decorative pumpkins.  I will get back with a post on how this turns out.