Estate sale finds and Halloween crafting

Last year, I purchased a box of award ribbons from estate sale land. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them, but I loved the colors and thought I might be able to use them in some type of display at Halloween.

I recently dug through my craft room and found a few things to add to my ribbons.

I'm really happy with how they turned out and they are now part of my Halloween bunting.

I'm using mini clothes pins to hang some of my Halloween treat bags in between the ribbons. After 25 years of Halloween parties, I can't stop tweaking and creating new displays. Have a thrifty/crafty weekend, friends.

Decorating my garden shed

Even though we got a late start on our backyard garden, we were fortunate to harvest all sorts of mixed gourds and jack-be-little pumpkins. 

Our humid and hot summer made for perfect growing conditions. 

I decided that my garden shed needed a little fall decorating.

I haven't spent much time in my special space, so I got busy Sunday afternoon clearing out the cobwebs.

Now that it's clean again, maybe I'll bring a book outside and enjoy my cozy sanctuary.

I'm looking forward to visiting my blogging friends and seeing your fall decorations.  Have a great week!

My 2016 Halloween Tree Reveal

It’s that time of the year when I start getting the antsy to unpack Halloween decorations.

I spent most of last weekend getting our annual full-sized tree decorated.

Handmade ornaments mixed with lots of vintage Halloween picks collected from estate sales, fill the branches.

For those of you who have followed me as long as I've been blogging, you know that our family {loves} Halloween!

NOT the icky, scary, gross-kind of Halloween, but the fun, vintage, Orange and Black Halloween! This year, marks our 25th annual Halloween party.  

I can hardly believe we've been doing this for 25 years.   

As you can see, my Halloween tree is extra full this year.  It’s definitely our favorite time of the year!! Happy "early" Halloween!

Feeling crafty!

I've been needing some crafting time BADLY.  My latest Instagram obsession is Heidi Kenney from mypapercrane .  Although I will never quilt, or knit or sew, or design amazing fabric (and she does all of these things and more) she made an absolutely awesome wreath that I couldn't stop thinking about. 

You really need to go visit her blog if you aren't following her on Instagram.  Her wreath version is different from my own featured here.  She's so clever!

You can find all sorts of faux gourds at Dollar Tree and Dollar General right now and then it's a matter of getting creative with paint and putting together some type of wreath base.

The possibilities are endless!

This is just such a fun project. Happy fall crafting!

PS.   I'm so behind on blog visits.  The new university semester start up always kicks my butt, but I promise to start visiting again.  Pinky swear. 

College Adventures!

Thank you for all the kind words regarding the death of my father in law.   Each night, we keep expecting the phone to ring and for him to ask about in our latest West MI happenings.  It's going to take time.  Sigh.

In the midst of sadness, we are also celebrating major milestones... such as Emma's move to college!

On Monday, we transported a very full van to the GVSU Allendale campus.  Her dorm room is apartment style and it's pretty darn amazing!  Thank you Jenny (our awesome niece) for suggesting that Emma request her former building.

Emma is living with her best friend.

They have a private bathroom.

Decent floor space.

And a mini kitchen.  Yes!  They've successfully cooked a few mac-n-cheese meals already!

Josie has had fun visiting and checking out her big sister's college desk/study space.

It's been a week of new transitions for everyone.

Josie has missed her big sister like crazy and Emma's cat (Luna) continues to sit outside of her bedroom door each night waiting for her to come home.

Overall, we're so excited for Emma's new college adventures.  She's going to do amazing things!  

Go Emma, go!!!  Welcome freshmen GVSU class of 2020!