no carve pumpkins!

It’s that time of year again! Bust out your crafting supplies for bats, cobwebs, skeletons and PUMPKINS! These amazing tutorials show you how to skip the hassle of carving a pumpkin and just focus on making your pumpkins pretty. And they will last the whole season this way! 

Glue Guns Forever
Every crafter knows the wonders of a glue gun, and there couldn’t be a better tool for no-carve pumpkins. From beads and ribbon, to paper bats and buttons, the world of gluing-things-on-pumpkins has never been so diverse.  

Color Explosion 
Who says you have to have an orange pumpkin? Painting, melting or splattering a pumpkin with color is a great (and easy) way to add some fun pops of untraditional color to your porch.   

Boo-tiful Words
Use your words with these sassy worded pumpkins. Whether it’s a classic "boo", or something more trendy, letting your pumpkins speak their minds is just the right choice. 

For more pumpkin inspiration, check out our Pinterest board.

easy appetizers

With a whirlwind of activity happening during these holiday times, we wanted to make a board of quick and easy appetizers. Whether it's your turn to host or you've been invited to an event, all of these dishes will be crowd pleasers, and quick to make!

Sausage Pineapple Bites
This might be the easiest appetizer next to store bought dips and chips. Sausage, pineapple chunks and toothpicks are all you need to wow guests with a spicy sweet bite!

Classic Cheese Ball
Make your guests nostalgic with this crowd-pleasing cheese ball. With a little work and a pretty plate, this appetizer won't take long to disappear.

Apple Pie Bites
If you are a fan of something sweet, this twist on dessert will make you happy. Keeping it simple with just crescent rolls, apple slices, pecans and a few spices. Guaranteed to make any sweet tooth satisfied. 

Visit this issue’s Pinterest board for more appetizer suggestions.

home for the holidays

We've put together some of the best things you can do to welcome your guests during the holiday season...and all year round! Check out this list of other essentials.

Wi-Fi Password Art
Because it's the 21st century, everyone will want to be on your Wi-Fi while visiting. Don't make them ask for the password, display it in their room for easy access.

Toiletry Essentials Basket
Without a doubt, someone will forget something essential while packing for their stay. Make it easy and have a basket in the bathroom with extras; toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, shampoos, conditioners, etc. Your guests will thank you!

Extra Blankets
Everyone has different comfort zones when sleeping. Have plenty of extra blankets for guests to choose from while staying with you. Place them in a decorative basket to make them easy to find. 

Visit this issue’s Pinterest board for more ideas on making your guests feel warm and welcome.

no carve pumpkins!

Ever been faced with carving a pumpkin on Halloween while juggling costumes, dinner, and the doorbell already ringing? Why not try one of these easy fun ideas that can be done way ahead of time? We have compiled another list of no-carve pumpkins that are as cute (or even cuter) than their chopped up cousins. 

Melted Crayon Pumpkin
Although this may sound weird, a melted crayon pumpkin is a cathartic way to create very pretty pumpkins! All you'll need is crayons, a blow dryer and some time. 

Painted Donut Pumpkin
If you want to get a little more creative, making your pumpkin into a delicious donut pumpkin is an unexpected and whimsical idea! 

Push Pin Pumpkin
Probably the easiest and fastest no carve pumpkin is the push pin pumpkin! Just get some simple pushpins (colored or not) and make some fun designs in your pumpkin. Done! 

Visit this issue’s Pinterest board for more no-carve pumpkin fun.

holiday card displays

This time of year our mailboxes tend to be full of wonderful holiday cards, and by next week we are always struggling on how and where to display them all. We hope the DIY article on card displays is fun and helps you enjoy all of the faces of those you love

Pick your space 
Whether you have a whole wall, the side of your refrigerator, the back of a door or a cabinet to hang your cards, you will need some space to display your array (hehe).

Pick your craft tolerance
Although making a display can be done by any novice crafter, it is good to know your tolerance when choosing what style to go with. Glitter a no go? Make sure to pick up washi tape instead of glittery ribbon. Don't have a hot glue gun? Thats ok, create something that Scotch tape can hold up. 

Pick up some supplies and get to it!
Some of you might have these supplies lying around the house. Holiday ribbon and a few clothespins is all you need to create a simple display. But if you want to get more creative, here are some alternative options:
-Washi tape
-Small ornaments 
-Craft paper
-Battery powered fairy lights

Visit this issue’s Pinterest board for some fun and easy display inspiration.

thanksgiving centerpieces

Want to avoid a #pinterestfail on your Thanksgiving table this year? A fun fresh centerpiece doesn't have to be hard or over-the-top, promise! Follow these three simple steps to put something together before the big day:

Pick your vessel(s) 
Vases, mason jars, pumpkins, oh my! Decide on the base for your decor and don't forget to think about scale. If your containers are smaller, you may need several to pull the table together. Remember that odd numbers look best, so go with 1, 3 or 5 to please all the eyes at the table.

Pick your “filling”
Candles or flowers are always a hit, but you can also add other fun seasonal touches to create something extra special. My mom loves to do cranberries and some other cute ideas include nuts, corn, leaves, pinecones, and even small gourds. When it doubt, head outside and see what is lying in your yard :-)

Pick your accent
This step is optional, but if you are feeling adventurous, pick up some twine or burlap to add a fun rustic touch to your centerpiece. Ribbon can be fun too!

Visit this issue’s Pinterest board for some fun and easy centerpiece inspiration.

no-carve pumpkins

Ever found yourself on Halloween night with the sinking feeling that you’ve forgotten something and come to realize it was to actually carve your pumpkins for the big night? Or maybe you managed to carve them a week or two in advance only to find that on the big night you have a pile of decomposing mush on your doorstep. Oh, must just be me :-) Of course, perfectly carving the night before would be ideal but real life takes over sometimes! Enter no-carve pumpkin decorating. They are super cute and there are so many options that can be done as early (or late) as you want with way less clean up. Here’s your essential no-carve roundup:

Think Mr. Potato Head
Channel your inner child and just stick things from around the house on your pumpkin! A pacifier with some sharpie eyes makes an adorable baby or use candy corn, buttons, or even felt cutouts to make fun patterns. Grab the hot glue gun and let your imagination run wild - the funnier the better.

Wrap it Up
Wrap a pumpkin? Yep! Try ribbon strips from top to bottom or tulle around the whole thing, twine to make a fun spiderweb, or gauze for an adorable pumpkin mummy. Fast, fabulous, and the best part - no mess!

Paint Perfect
If you are feeling a bit more adventurous get out the white glue and paint! Polk-a-dots, stripes, or just paint the whole thing! We love the idea of chalkboard paint for a spooky option and then using glue to write your family monogram (or cute message) and sprinkling it with glitter. What a fun OUTDOOR activity for October!

Visit this issue’s Pinterest board for ideas, inspiration and tips.