Getting My Crochet on......

I' m trying out some new hats this year.

 

My first one is a Minion that Jace helped me design.

 

Pretty cute on Jace!

 

 

 

 

Next I made some super cute Candy Corn Hats for dolls and for kiddo's.

 

I found this pattern on Simply Sweets Crochet on Ravelry.

 

I'm planning on making a costume to go with the hats.

 

 

 

I love this little Cupcake hat!  It fits a preemie or an American Girl sized Doll.

 

The pattern I used is from Repeat Crafter Me's blog.

 

She has the most amazing crochet patterns and they are all free!!!

 

God Bless Sarah for sharing her amazing talents with us!

 

 

 

The Minion and the Knights Mesh hats I designed on my own after looking at photo's that other talented people posted.

Jace with his Knight's Mesh hat on.

 

I'm planning on making a costume to go with this hat too.

 



I'm having so much fun making these hats!

 

I've already started making some different ones and I can't wait to start designig

 

costumes to go with the hats!!

Saturday Savings

I decided to start a new "thing" on my blog called Saturday Savings. 

 We have had a really rough last couple of years financially

and have learned ways to save some money.

 

 

 

I'll start with the kids Halloween costumes.

I've been doing this for years now, and we did it again this year.

We try to make the kids costumes out of clothing that they can reuse throughout the year

instead of just buying an expensive costume that they will only wear once.

 

Here's some examples:

 

Ezie's suit is the same suit that we bought from the thrift store for $3.00 last year for Mallory's hobo costume.  The shirt we got from the local Resource center for free, the hat from a wedding, and I had a new pair of pantyhose in my drawer for the mask.  We did buy him a gun for $6.00.

 

Total for Ezie:  $6.00

 

 

Mallory's Dorothy outfit was a little more expensive, but it can all be worn separately throughout the year.  We decided to make an apron instead of a dress so that she could use the apron for cooking.  The fabric cost me $6.00 for the apron, she had a white shirt, we bought a pair of capri white leggings at Wal-mart for $5.00 and the shoes at Payless for $10.00.  I had the ribbon in my stash.   

 

Total for Mallory:  $21.00

 

 

Jace's Tin Man costume included buying him a long sleeved t-shirt for $4.00, a pair of sweat pants for $5.00, a funnel for the hat cost $1.00, the oil can (watering can) cost $6.00, a can of spray paing for $1.00 and we had the hat. 

We made the heart out of an old pocket watch, the plastic lid to a coffee can, duck tape, and old chain and spray paint.

 

Total for Jace:  $17.00

 

 

 

So for all three kids we spent $44.00 on costumes and these things can be reused throughout the year:

 

apron, capri's, shoes, t-shirt, sweat pants, watering can, funnel, hat, panty hose

 

The suit can be donated back to the thrift store or saved for another year.

The gun was the only thing that was kind of a waste of money,

but the boys have had fun playing with it....so that is worth the $6.00.

 

 

I don't know the exact cost of the kids costumes from last year, but I'll try and remember.

 

 

Ezie's costume was a reuse from Mallory's costume the year before.  I had made a cape out of a cheap black sheet and the mask I'm not sure where that came from.

 

Mallory's suit came from the thrift store for $3.00, the suspenders, shirt and tie were another couple of dollars.

 

Jace's Powe Ranger outfit I got off of Ebay for a couple of dollars.

 

I think Halloween that year was under $10.00 for all 3 of the costumes.

 

 

We have had kids be babies that we used jammies for, bomb victims that we just used old clothes for and burned a few holes in, Catholic school girls that we used clothes we had on hand, G.I. Joe with clothes that we had on hand and I was a chef one year with clothes that I had on hand too.

 

 

 

a Zombie baby

Reusable: Jammie's and hat

Bib was an old stained one that we bloodied up

purchased a pacifier.

 

Devil and Witch

clothes that they could wear again, made capes and bought cheap accessories.

 



 

So my Saturday Savings Tip is:

 

Try to make costumes out of things you have on hand or things that can be reused and then accessorize those items.  You'll come up with some really cute and creative costumes and feel good about what you've created!

 

Trick or Treat

Our Halloween started off at Jace's school for a

Halloween Parade around the town.

 

 

Jace as the tin man with his oil can for candy.

 



Ezie as a faceless gangster.

 



 

Mallory as Dorothy.

 

 

 

All three of my kiddo's.

 

 

We went trick or treating for 2 1/2 hours with two of my grandsons,

Owen as a Dragon and Anthony as a Star Wars character.

 

 

 

 

We had fun and then on the way home Jace wanted to know

how many more days until Halloween would be her again.

 

Actually, I would rather repeat Halloween then have Christmas!

Zombies in Story Book Land Swap

Val from YarniGras

 

 had a another fun swap for Halloween this year.....

 

Zombies in Story Book Land!

 

I haven't done a swap since last Christmas.....can you believe it????

 

My partner Jennifer wanted a Beauty and the Beast Zombie

 

so here's what I came up with.

 

 

I made a Belle Zombie doll and she's holding a Zombie Chip cup

that has some sparkling red stuff in it (blood maybe???).

 

 

 

I decided to do a Belle hosts a Zombie Ball Theme for my package

so I made a dish of felt treats for the guests.

 

Apple Slice Cookies with Poison Sprinkles

recipe provided by the Evil Stepmother

 

Broken Heart Cherry Tarts

recipe provided by the Queen of Hearts

 

and

 

Magical Mushrooms with Hallucinogenic Icing

recipe provided by Alice in Wonderland.

 

The treats can be used by Jennifer's kids to play tic tac toe on the fabric board I made.

 

 

 

 

 

I made a ribbon chandelier with glitter balls and glittery spiders hanging down from it.

 

 

 

 

Here's everything,

 

Belle, chandelier, treats, tic tac toe board, some crocheted eyeballs

and a little goodie bag.

 

I hope Jennifer likes everything!!

 

 

 

I really had fun making it all

 

and

 

 Special Thanks to Val for hosting another really fun swap!!!

Zombie Doll Swap

Val from Yarni Gras had a Zombie Doll Swap that I joined. 

It was so much fun and got me started on a doll kick again.

My partner was Susan from Shabby and Frills and this is her very first doll.

Can you believe it?!?!?

I think she did such a fantastic job and this doll!

Here is the rest of the goodies that she sent me. 

 Candy, a pumpkin scrubbie, 2 Halloween dishcloths, tissues,

a mummy ornament and a wooden pumpkin container. 

I made out great!!

Here's what I sent to Susan.

A Zombie trick or treater

 and when you remove the costume there is an Annie Doll.

I also made a banner out of a quilt block



and then made her a twashi, a matchbox ornament,

and a little bag to put it all in.

Thanks Val for hosting the swap and

Thank you Susan for a wonderful time swapping

 and I LOVE my doll you sent!

My Sweet Sister and Some More Trick or Treaters

Yesterday I got an unexpected package in the mail. My sister Robyn sent the kids an I a one way swap package. She said she's been enjoying seeing all of our swap stuff so she decided to make one up herself.

Robyn called it a

S-Somewhat

W-Wicked

A-Aunt

P-Package

She sent all kinds of goodies for me and the kids. Mallory was still at school when we opened it so her goodies are wrapped up still. Isn't the spider web picture frame cute?!?!?? Robyn is very crafty and made that for me.



This is my oldest grand "Baby" Sabrina

Here is her little brother Austin as Tigger.

He had a honey pot for his candy bucket.

and then Anthony as a doggy.

The kids were all so cute!

My Goblins and The Secret Sinister Sister Swap

Here are 3 of my little trick or treaters. Mallory was Sally Stitch which is a character that has been on the tv show Ghost Whisperer, Ezie is a skeleton ghosty scary looking guy, and Jace is himself, The Red Ranger. It was in the 50's but rained the whole time we were trick or treating. It was still fun and the kids did great! We all had fun and have been on a sugar high ever since!

I was in Genevieve's Secret Witches Sister Swap and my partner was Vivian. Vivian's package almost made me cry. I had two of the most amazing swap packages in one week. I feel so spoiled and my living room is very Halloweenish with last years and this years swap packages.


This is what the box looked like when I started. I was beginning to think it was bottomless....

I just kept pulling little packages out.

Viv made this gorgeous witch doll. OMG! I literally almost cried. I had no idea that Viv made such nice dolls. She is very proudly displayed in a special spot in the living room.

Then there was all these wonderful goodies. A Halloween idea book and magnet, candy, ribbon, a scarecrow bag, a yummy smelling pumpkin candle, a couple of ornaments and the cutest dressed skeleton. OMG! I have so many ideas running through my head for next year after receiving this package!

I sent Vivian a duplicate package to what I sent to Debbie for the other Halloween swap.

Here are the two Kitty's together.

I thought they were pretty cute......until I received the witches from Debbie and Viv.

I am knew to making dolls.....and well, they definitely are not!

I can't wait to make some more dolls and get more creative.

I have a lot of room to grow that's for sure.

Thanks to the kids and Earl for a great Halloween.

Thank you to Genevieve, Samantha and Ramona for hosting such fun swaps.

and finally

THANK YOU SO MUCH

to Debbie and Vivian for being such wonderful swap partners.

A Halloween Swap

I was in a couple of different Halloween Swaps, I'll show one today and the other tomorrow. I got spoiled in both of these swaps. My partner in the Wicked Halloween Swap was Debbie Martinez. She sent me this wonderful package. There is a wall bright and spooky wall hanging and little witches cupboard and then the most amazing witch doll.

Isn't this witch wickedly gorgous!

then Debbie also included this mask, hair tye, and a really cool and spooky scrapbook.


Here's part of the package I sent to Debbie. I made a little Raggedy Kitty, a glittered Raven, a couple of stuffed grunged pumpkins and a BOO Banner. I also sent her some bags of goodies.

Thanks for a great swap Debbie. You definitely spoiled me with your great package.

A Halloween Party Hosted by A Fanciful Twist

Once upon a scary night there was a girl named Dorothy and a Cowardly Lion and they were on there way to a Halloween party.

They were so excited, but a little nervous about the walk to the party.

Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion had to walk through the woods.

The wind was blowing through the trees and making scary sounds which frightened them

.....but they kept on going.

Next, they had to walk past a scary building that had the windows broke out.

Dorothy was hoping that nobody was in there peaking out at them!

They kept on going though.

Next Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion had to walk by a cemetery.

They were pretty nervous and ran as fast as they could.

Dorothy was beginning to think she was lost when she came across an ODD looking little man.

He told her that the party was just past the jack-0-lanterns.
So they kept on going.

They found the jack-o-lanterns and they were shaking with fear by now....

but they kept on going.

Finally,

D0rothy and the Cowardly Lion arrived at the party,

but,

there was this horrible looking creature by the door who wouldn't let them in.

The Cowardly Lion was so scared by now

and really wanted to see his friends and get something to eat.

Then a gangster came to the door and told Dorothy they could enter.

and finally,

Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion were at the party!

There was food and games and all there friends were there too!

Chef Shrek had Rat Kaboobs

the other guests were all tangled up in spider webs

and there was even a priest trying to chase away a demon!

Here are some pictures of the other party guests.

Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion had so much fun with at the party, even though the walk there was pretty scary! Make sure you check out the Vanessa's blog and all the other guests Halloween Parties today.