Halloween Project -- Make EEK Blocks!! {tutorial}

Hello tatertots & jello FANS! jen here from CraftOManiac.{EEK} I AM SO STOKED to be visiting here on Jen's lovely blog today. She is to darn sweet to allow me to share with you my "EEK" blocks. I love jen so much.

SO here are my "EEK" blocks. 

Here's what I did to make them: 





In the collage you can see basic step by step instructions. 

• I purchased the wood blocks and other wood pieces at Roberts Crafts. 


• I started with painting the blocks with white acrylic paint. 


• Then using my Cricut and my Platinum Schoolbook cartridge I cut out the letters out. 


• I placed the vinyl letters on the blocks and then painted over the vinyl with charcoal acrylic paint and a little white paint mixed in. 


• I then removed the vinyl and sanded the blocks and the toppers as well. 


• I finally painted, sanded, and hot glued on two round wood balls to the base of the larger "E". 

This was a super easy project approx. 45 minutes or so. 

 

THERE YOU HAVE IT. I just love Halloween, and love to craft for it as well. I would sure love for you all to come visit me on COM. Thank you again jen, you are truly the best. winks-jen

Thanks Jen!! I love those little feet. 

Such spooky fun!!

Jen is one of the sweetest people I have "met" in blogland. We haven't actually met in real life yet, but I can't wait to meet her! She creates whimsical, happy projects. And another thing I love about Jen is she loves Halloween as much as I do!! Here are a few of my favorite "Jen" projects!

Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops 

 Halloween Witch Wreath

Chevron Earrings

Jen also has a cool linky party on Monday. 

Be sure to hop over to  Craft-O-Maniac and give Jen a big hello!! 

xoxo

PS -- I'm getting so excited for Halloween! I'm sharing 16 of my favorite Ghost Projects at The New Home Ec today. Come be inspired!! 



PPS -- It's Friday!!! You know what that means. It's almost time for the Weekend Wrap Up Party!! I LOVE seeing YOUR projects!! It's the time each week that recharges my creativity. I hope you will join in. The party starts at 6 pm MST. 

See you then!!

This post sponsored by

Halloween Eye Chart Pillow & Printable!! {plus file sizes to print it BIG!}

You may know this about me --

I am a Halloween fanatic.

I get so excited when Fall hits!!!

I have loved seeing eye chart projects lately and I thought it would be so fun to make one for Halloween!! I made a Halloween Eye Chart Pillow for this spooky season, and then, just for fun I made a printable to share with YOU!



{and.. scroll down to the end to get the FREE **Printable** Eye Chart Files!!}

To make the pillow, this is what I did: 

1. 
   I created the eye chart in my Silhouette Studio program.
   
   


2. 
   I flipped the lettering so that it was backward.
   
   


3. 
   I printed out the lettering on Heat Transfer Paper.
   
   


4. 
   I ironed the lettering onto white canvas.
   
   


5. 
   I cut out the chevron material – 1 inch longer in width and length than the pillow form.
   
   


6. 
   I pinned the lettered fabric to the chevron front panel and used a zig zag stitch to sew the pillow together.
   
   

Now I have a fun little pillow for this Spooky Season!!

And -- I made a printable version to share with you!

All you need to do is click on the download button and you can print off a copy for your home.

And I included a little chevron just for fun!!  

You can choose between Orange or Grey.

Here's the orange version:

Halloween Eye Chart (Orange) tatertotsandjello.com



And here's the grey version:

Halloween Eye Chart (Grey) tatertotsandjello.com




PLUS, I have also included a way to print these off BIG!!

Here is a link to the .JPEG files -- so you can send these down to Costco or similar and get them printed out in a BIG size!!

The one I printed fits PERFECTLY in an Ikea 19 3/4 x 15  1/2 frame (IKEA Ribba (200.783.33)). You can send the file down to Costco and they can print it up THE SAME DAY. It cost $6 to print!!!




Here's the full collection of PDF printables, hosted on Scribd.

  Just click the download button to download the PDF. If you're going to print these at Costco or some other photo processing shop, you might prefer to use the .JPG or .PNG files, linked below the Scribd files.



 Note that there are five (5!) versions. The first is a "fancy" version that includes all of the classic eye chart numbers and frippery.



The two 8.5 x 11 ones are above, and here's the PDF version of the "fancy" one in 8.5 x 11. After that I've linked all the sizes in PDF, JPG and PNG.

Halloween Eye Chart 8.5x11 (Orange Fancy) tatertotsandjello.com





If you don't want to use the scribd links above, you can download the PDF versions to print at home using these links:

8.5x11 "Fancy" Orange PDF

8.5x11 Orange PDF

8.5x11 Gray PDF

(Bigger sizes won't work for PDF)



 If you're planning to print these at Costco or another photo printing place, I recommend you use these JPG files. Warning: they're huge files, especially the ones for the large frames.

8.5x11 "Fancy" Orange JPG

8.5x11 Orange JPG

8.5x11 Gray JPG

Big Frame Orange JPG

Big Frame Gray JPG



 And if the JPG files aren't working for you, you can also use these PNG file links instead. Warning: they're fairly large files, especially the ones for the large frames.

8.5x11 "Fancy" Orange PNG

8.5x11 Orange PNG

8.5x11 Gray PNG

Big Frame Orange PNG

Big Frame Gray PNG







+++++





***Coming up tomorrow -- my Halloween Wreath {there might be some chevron and glitter involved, just sayin....}

PS -- It's
Autumn and time to think about Fall get-togethers, Tailgating and
Autumn revelry. Here are 19 of my favorite Fall Centerpieces that I am
spotlighting at The New Home Ec :)  

Get your Fall party on!!

And be sure to check out Eighteen25's Halloween Spooktacular - where I shared this project originally. It's such a fun party!! 

xoxox

This post sponsored by

"Summer Social" Guest Project -- Free Fourth of July Party Printables!! {tutorial}

 

Hi TT&J Readers! I'm thrilled to be a guest today as part of Jen's Summer Social Series, while she lives it up in London. I love Jen, and I hope she's enjoying herself!



I'm Kami, and I run the blog: NoBiggie.



It's a lifestyle blog that includes all my favorites: crafts - cooking - thrifting and my family.

 

I'm a big fan of the 4th of July, and today I thought it would be fun to share with you a free printable that can help make the 4th more festive. Here's what the free download looks like when you print it out.

 

Here's what you'll need to get started:
- scissors
- some sort of 4 inch circle cutter (paper craft punch, cutting dies or scissors will work too)
- a paper slicer for straight lines (scissors can work here too, if that is all you have)
- a low temp hot glue gun (this speeds up the process)
- a stapler
- cellophane bags
- red, white and blue candy

 

Step 1. Gather all your supplies to start
Step Step 2. Use your paper slicer to cut the turquoise strips
Step Step 3. Use your circle cutter to cut the 4 inch circle - I used a big craft punch from Michaels
Step Step 4. Use your scissors to cut out the tiny flag

 

To make the Paper Medallion:





Step 1. To make one paper medallion - use two turquoise strips
Step 2. Accordian fold the strips: back and forth folds
Step 3. Adhere the two strips together making one long strip and then adhere again forming a circle
Step 4. Add a big spot of hot glue to the center

 

Next - hot glue all three pieces together.

 

Here's the fun part: the candy!

I found all these red, white and blue candies in the bulk food section of my local grocery stores. (Winco and Maceys...if you live in Utah)
 

Now add a few of each type of candy to each bag. For fun, you can also add something fun for the 4th like a party popper. Once everything is in the bag, fold over the top and staple it closed.

 

I love that you can really make this printable paper craft your own. As you can see, out of the 4 that I made, they are all different. The one below is my favorite. :)

 

You could also stick one on a giant lollipop OR you could add a toothpick, and make them cupcakes toppers. 

Get creative and have fun!

 

Click here for the 4th of July (free) printable download:

If you make these, I would to see it! You can upload it to the NoBiggie Facebook page.

Happy 4th!

Thanks Kami -- those are so fun for the Fourth!!! 

Thanks for being my Summer Social guest! 

Kami is one of my very favorite people in blogland and in real life.

I love her ideas!! 

{Check out the cute Train Party she threw for her little guy this Summer}

{I love this Make Stuff art that she made for her craft room}

{And Kami turned her living room into her craft room - I love that!!}



I could go on and on, but let me just leave it at this -- she is wonderful!!!

Be sure to check out No Biggie and say hi!!!

PS -- We went to the museums yesterday  - they were amazing! And I brought some crafting things with me to make a little journal of our trip. I have been working on it every night. I just can't stop crafting - lol 

Have a great day!!

xoxoxo

Guest Project: Cinco De Mayo -- make Deep Fried Ice Cream!!

Happy {almost} Cinco de Mayo, friends!

I'm Jami from Ain't She Crazy!

 

I want to
thank Jen for giving me the opportunity to share one of my favorite
Mexican recipes with all of you. Now, I don’t think I have a drop of
Mexican blood in me, but that doesn’t stop me from celebrating with
those who do!

Besides, in my family, any occasion can be used as an excuse to make a fun dessert.

So let’s get started -- Mexican Fried Ice Cream.

First, you
will need to collect your ingredients. (The sprinkles are optional, of
course.) I didn’t realize until after I took this shot that nearly
everything in this recipe was made from Great Value brand foods. I just
want to let you know, that was not intentional, so just ignore the
labels, please.

You will also need some food storage bags, such a sandwich “baggies” or gallon sized bags that do not zip. (There are probably a dozen different ways to make ice cream balls, but this is the way I do it.)

Part 1

Stick your non-dominant hand inside one of the bags.

Scoop the ice cream into the “gloved” hand.

 

Now invert the bag so that the ice cream is inside the bag. Squish it into something that resembles an ice cream ball.

   

Leave the
ball in the bag. Start with a fresh bag for each ice cream
ball…scooping, shaping and inverting the bags, until you have enough
servings, then toss them all in the freezer. You can leave them there as
long as you want to, but at least until they firm up a little. You can
easily make these up ahead of time so that the dessert seems effortless
at the time of serving.

Part 2

This is the part where you can really get the kids involved. First, get them excited about the project:

Next, have them pour some of the frosted flake cereal into a zip bag.

  (You may notice I had to label mine “DO NOT EAT”

 to keep the older kids out of it long enough to make this recipe!)

Sprinkle the cereal generously with cinnamon.

You’ll want enough that you can taste it, but not so much that it is spicy. Feel free to taste as you go!

 

BE SURE TO ZIP THE BAG COMPLETELY!

Then, just
have them use a rolling pin over the bag, rolling or pounding, until the
flakes are crushed up. They like this part a lot!

Part 3

Remove  the ice cream balls from the freezer. Pour the crushed cereal mixture into a plastic bowl that has a tight fitting lid.

(Can
you tell, these pictures were taken after dark? Sorry, but my helpers
could not wait until tomorrow to try their creation, so we forged on.)

Unwrap the ice cream balls one at a time and drop them into the bowl.

Close the lid and shake until well- coated.

   

At this
point, again, you can place all the coated balls into a container and
store them in the freezer until it is time to serve dessert. This is the
way I prefer to do it, otherwise, the process feels pretty slow.

Part 4

Now
comes, the best part! If you really want to impress the kids (or
adults), you can fry up some tortillas, coat them in a cinnamon-sugar
blend (I keep mine in a shaker in the spice cabinet.) and quickly stuff
them into your bowls so that they harden in the bowl, forming a crunchy
shell for the ice cream. This is a cute and yummy effect, but also one you should practice before your
guests arrive, as it can be rather messy. When I make these for my
kids, we usually skip the frying thing, but it does add a little “wow
factor”!

Now
all that is left is to place an ice cream ball into the shell (or
directly into the dish!) Drizzle plenty of honey over the top…

And top it off with whipped cream and a cherry, if you like.

 

Here’s what it looks like when you skip the tortilla:

Delicioso!

I hope you all have a great Cinco de Mayo and that your family enjoys Mexican “Fried” Ice Cream as much as we do!

Yummy! 

My kids will have a ball making that. 

I have been following Jami for quite a while.

First of all, she is funny! She is also so talented. And she's a great cook!

  Here are a few of my favorite projects she has made:

{Planted Garage Sale Chair}

{Pink Lemonade Cupcakes}

 

{Toddler Book of Colors}

 

{Cornbread Taco Bake}

Be sure to stop by Ain't She Crazy and say hi! 

xoxo

 PS -- 

The winner of the $50 to

Word Whipped giveaway

is:

#33 -- April!! 

Congratulations!! An email has been sent to April. 

And, the Pier 1 gift card giveaway has been extended until tonight {5/4} if you still want to enter.