Fall Greetings!

My love for paper has sought me to find new crafts to utilize my vast paper stash.  I don't know why I have never done this before but I thought I would try my hand at at card making.  I love Christmas and really love Christmas cards so I thought I would try a few fall ones to get the hang of it before I started mass mailing them out to friends and family.

To start I got what I thought I would need together. 

Card Stock
Paper cutter (scissors would work)
Paper punches
Glue gun
Ruler
Butter Knife (used to score so the paper would fold easier)

I used a pre-made for measurements

For my first card I made a leaf banner.

I think it turned out super cute.  I will totally admit though that I am not a calligraphist.  I am sure you would have deducted this by the end of this blog anyways but thought I would just through it out there now.  This card was really simple.  As I finished it I just kept going and made more and more.

Here are the steps for this Fall Leaf Banner Card.  The beginning steps you can use in making all the cards. 
Step 1: Cut the paper to the size you want.  I know this is a duh step, but technically it is step one so there you go! The average greetings card size is 5.5" x 8.5".  Most of the cards I made were 4.25"x 8.5".  Just worked out that I could get more cards per piece of card stock.  It's all just a personal preference. 

Step 2: Scoring the paper

Yes, I know there is a tool that will do this.  However, my motto is why spend money if you can find something that works for free.  Once I measured the paper and marked the middle I used a ruler and ran the blunt side of the knife.  It doesn't need to be deep just deep enough to make a slight crease.  I did this on both sides.  It helps the paper fold easier and helps keep the paper from tearing when folding.

Step 3: I didn't take a picture of this step but I measured the card and cut another piece of card stock in a different color 1/8" smaller on each side.  

Step 4: Leaf Placement

I used the Martha Stewart Leaf Punch and hot glued the leaves to the smaller piece of card stock. 

Step 5: Add the String.  I used hot glue again but make sure you use a really small little dab on the top of each leaf.

Step 6: Secure string ends to the back of the paper.

Step 7: Glue the page to the previously cut card and DONE!!

Okay, so yes I know that a lot of these steps are self explanatory.  Sorry about that but I just the kinda girl that likes steps and directions.  Here are some more of the cards I ended up making.  I will spare you all the steps since I think they were pretty simple.  If you have any questions I would love to answer them for you!

Scallop Punch out Leaf Wreath Card

Peak-a-boo Fall Leaves Card (Pictures didn't turn out as cute as it really is)

Leaves Peak Through Card

Hanging Leaves Card

Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

Last night after a MOPS meeting I decided to make a healthy alternative for the breakfast at the meeting for today.  The planned donuts definitely were not going to be good for my diet.  Since I didn't make this decision until about 10pm it needed be something super quick and easy.  I will warn you that yes this is another pumpkin recipe.  But I will warn you it is super good.  I tried them out on a small group of friends today and even ate about 3 or 4 right after they came out of the oven last night.  They are pretty healthy and low fat so don't feel too bad when you end up eating quite a few all by yourself too!

You will need:

2 c. whole wheat flour
1 egg
2 egg whites
1/3 c. white sugar
2/3 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c apple sauce
1/2 c. almond milk
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt
1 15oz can pumpkin
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

To be honest I just mixed all of the ingredients together.  I know you're supposed to mix together the dry and the wet separately but I have two small kids under 4 years old and it was pretty late.  So, whatever saves time and still turns out good works right?  My thoughts exactly. 

I baked some in mini muffin pans and some in a regular sized muffin pan.  The smaller ones took about 12 minutes and the larger ones about 15 minutes at 400 degrees F.  They popped right out of the tins and are really light and fluffy.  I hope you guys end up liking them as much as I do!

Happy Cooking!

Light Pumpking Pie Dip

I have been eying a few pumpkin pie dips on Pinterest and really wanted to try one.  So today at the store I got everything I thought went in it.  Well I guess I should have read the recipe before I went to the store.  Each recipe I found called for either cream cheese or yogurt, neither of which found their way into my shopping cart.  Plus I figured not using either of these would also help cut out some calories.  So after some research I decided to just wing it.  It turned out GREAT.  So good in fact that I had two apples :)

I used:

1 can of 15 oz pumpkin
2 c. Light Cool Whip
2 Tbs. Brown Sugar
4 packets of Splenda
2 Tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Nutmeg
1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/4 tsp. Ground Cloves

I think is going to become a new fall staple in my house! Tomorrow I will be trying it out on some friends so hopefully they will enjoy it as much as I do!  Happy Dipping!

Fall Leaves

Today's craft is a leaf garland.  After making the pumpkins for the mantle I decided a leaf garland would be a nice touch.  I have cut out most of the leaves already, using a pattern I found online at http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/coloring-pages/fall.html.  Instead of cutting it out I actually just blew it up in Power Point and traced it off the computer screen.  The letters I cut using my Cricut and the Zoobaloo cartridge.  I am just trying to decide if I want to sew the leaves together or tie to a string and then hang.

Here's the finished garland! I think it turned out great. Now I just have to keep a diligent eye on my kiddos to make sure no one pulls it down in attempt to get a up close look at it!

 Tutorial:

I am sure you have probably figured out how to make this from just looking at it.  But since I like steps and details here they are:

You will need:
Colored card stock
scissors
leaf template
string

Directions:
Cut out different colored leaves, I chose to use the same size except the ones that have the letters on them, which I used a slightly larger size, but that's up to you.

After cutting all the leaves out I punched holes in the stem or bottom of the leaf for the ones without the letters.  I strung them together using some string and used the hot glue gun to secure the string to the back of the leaf with a bit of glue.

This was super simple and quick craft that just gave a little festivity to the house!

FALL FALL FALL!!!

So I finally going to start this blog and try and figure this out as I go! I enjoy writing and find that it can be very therapeutic.  And with two little ones at home and a deployed hubby therapeutic is something I can definitely use.

Living in Georgia the season of fall is definitely not something we experience until maybe around the end of October.  However, being from New York I am used to fall starting in September.  So as this is the first week of September I have found myself in a very festively fall mood.  And pumpkins are definitely FALL to me.  So yesterday I spent my "free" time making these adorable little pumpkin balls.  I had originally planned on hanging them or making a garland but I think they turned out perfect as mantle and table decorations.

I know that there are TONS of online posting about these little paper balls and I have previously seen them as Christmas decorations.  But for any of you out there I will post my little tutorial and some things that I noticed that may help you in creating your own little pumpkin patch!

I started with an assortment of fall colors and then decided to add some patterned paper for little ones which turned out cute and gave a them a little flair.  When making larger ones or ones with skinner pieces I found that they look best when you use double sided card stock since in these cases you see the inside of the ball.

So here's what you will need:

Card stock or some sort of paper
scissors (I used a paper cutter so that's what I will show)  
Pipe cleaners
Brads


I used various lengths and widths of paper making mine so that they would be different sizes. 

First I took a piece of scrapbook paper or card stock and chose my height.  Then cut strips in even widths.  This one I used 1 inch strips.  After you cut the strips punch a hole at the top and bottom of each strip.  I found that using a three hole puncher would cut through more strips at once making it a little speedier.   

Then put a brad through the top holes and another though the bottom holes to secure them together.

 Pull the strips out and around to make them into the ball! At first don't be surprised if they look a little off.  Once you get them all done they will look better.

To make them look like pumpkins I just cut small leaves out of green paper and used pipe cleaners to make the stems.  Green pipe cleaners was what I had on had so it's what I went with.  Hook the end of the pipe cleaner around the top brad and then tie it around the paper leaf.  Curl it and you're done!

I hope you enjoy these! I LOVE paper crafts and these were a great little craft that I could start and come back to, which I did many times! Since I always have stashes of paper around the house they were free!

Happy Crafting!