Keeping the Castle » Projects and Crafts

10 Ways to Decorate with Gourds & Pumpkins

Karen Weideman — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:48:02 +0000

When decorating for fall, try using gourds and pumpkins. This will you allow you to have decorations that can last through the entire season.

Seasonal centerpiece – Turn a large pumpkin or squash into a bowl. Fill it with ornamental gourds and small pumpkins.

Autumn chandelier – Suspend burnished miniature pumpkins and gilded maple leaves from a chandelier with thread.

Curvaceous container – Turn a narrow-necked gourd into a vase by sawing off the gourd’s tip.

Floating Beauties – Fill an assortment of glasses with water and float mini pumpkin gourds inside.

Table centerpiece – Start with a fall wreath that has been decorated with leaves, pine cones, or flowers. Fill the center with small pumpkins, gourds, pine cones, etc. Fill in empty spaces with miniature corn, ribbon, and/or fall flowers.

Pumpkin votive candles – Carve out small pumpkins and insert votive candles.

Place cards – Tie a ribbon around the stem of the gourd and attach a name card. For a more decorative look, arrange the gourd on a napkin with acorns and sprigs of berries.

Make a stacked arrangement - Stack gourds into a clear glass cylinder vase. Use gourds of different sizes and shapes.

Leaf pattern – Use a linoleum cutter to cut out a leaf design on a pumpkin.

Glowing gourds – Decorate your pumpkins and gourds in gold and silver for a glittering display.

How do you decorate with pumpkins and gourds?

image sxc.hu

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How to Upholster a Headboard

Karen Weideman — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:20:12 +0000

Are you looking to add some color to your bedroom? Do you like to have a lot of matching and coordinating fabric in your room? Do you need a new headboard? If so, then you might be interested in this project from Better Homes & Gardens.

Better Homes & Gardens always has great do-it-yourself projects and home improvement ideas. BHG has step by step instructions on how to upholster a headboard.

To make this headboard you’ll need plywood, foam, and about 7 yards of fabric. Check out BHG’s step by step instructions.

image from Better Homes & Gardens

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12 Creative Crafts that Recycle

Karen Weideman — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:20:08 +0000

Better Homes & Gardens has come up with some neat crafts made with recycled materials. The picture frame shown below really caught my eye. It is made from magazine pages and cardboard. I’m thinking that this would be a colorful and creative way to bring an old picture frame back to life.

There are 12 low cost recycled craft ideas, which include:

fabric scrap balls
patterned paper book covers
yardstick frames and vintage tin crafts supplies organizer
painted jewelry box
homemade license plate art
magazine page frame and storage box
paint cans turned organizer
beaded luminarias
paper covered jewelry boxes

Some of these crafts use items that you might have lying around the house such as cigar boxes, magazine pages, paint, glass telephone line insulators, and paint cans.

Which project do you think you’d like to try?

image from bhg

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12 Fun Patriotic Craft Ideas for Kids

Karen Weideman — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:12:28 +0000

Better Homes and Gardens has some patriotic craft ideas for kids. You kids might enjoy making one of these:

patriotic windsocks
custom koozies to insulate beverages
fireworks art
a bubble wrap hopscotch course
pride pins
a patriotic candy display
a candy flag
loyalty rings
star-spangled bubble wands
a flag necklace
patriotic paperweights
all-American sweatshirts or t-shirts

Which craft project do you plan to try?

image from bhg

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Free 4th of July Crafts and Recipe Book

Karen Weideman — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:55:56 +0000

FaveCrafts.com has put together a collection of patriotic craft projects to decorate your home or to wear. Some of the craft projects include sewing, crocheting, or making things from paper. There are some 4th of July craft projects for kids. The free eBook also includes a 4th of July recipe collection to help you create a great spread.

Get your free 4th of July Crafts and Recipe book.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom.

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27 Patriotic Crafts from Martha Stewart

Karen Weideman — Sat, 23 May 2009 10:20:38 +0000

I was surfing around Martha Stewart’s website today. She always has such great ideas and so we know that there will be Memorial Day ideas on her site.

Martha has not disappointed us. She has 27 patriotic crafts on her website that you can view for free. For quick viewing, you can see thumbnail images of all of the crafts. These Can-Do Cans caught my eye because it is a simple project which reuses and transforms every day cans as a decorative piece.

Do you have any Memorial Day craft ideas to share?

image from marthastewart.com

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10 Ways You Can Enjoy Your Yard this Summer

Karen Weideman — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:27:02 +0000

Summer will be here before you know it. Now is the time to be thinking and planning ahead for ways that you can enjoy the great outdoors this year. Here’s some ideas to get you started.

Get a grill – If you already have a grill, then get it working. Clean it up and change any needed parts. You also might want to get a grill cover to keep the rain and weather from causing damage. I don’t know about you, but once summer rolls around I enjoy cooking outside. It keeps me from heating up the house and there are so many foods that taste great when cooked on the grill. Have some friends over, grill some meats and veggies, and have fun!

Start a garden – I’ve been meaning to start a garden these past few weeks, but I just haven’t had the time. Last year I enjoyed peppers and tomatoes and this year I plan to plant more things. Starting a garden is on my priority list for next week. Come summer, I’ll be enjoying fresh vegetables off the vine. They seem to taste so much better when you’ve grown them yourself and it definitely saves on your grocery budget.

Put in a deck or patio – Decks and patios can be expensive, but you can save a lot of money if you build them yourself. Decks and patios can be used for years to come and they make such a great hangout spot for your summer get togethers.

Plant some flowers and plants – It’s hard to enjoy your yard when it doesn’t look good. Plants and flowers are one of the easiest ways to spruce up a yard. Personally, I like perennials because they come back each year, don’t require a lot of fuss, and they’re a more thrifty choice. Check with your local stores for tips on plants and flowers to plant in your area.

Image: sxc.hu

Consider the little things – Sometimes minor changes can make a difference. Is your garden flag tattered and faded? Does the outside light provide enough light? Changing minor things can make your yard more appealing and comfortable for you and your guests.

Get some lawn furniture – I have always wanted some nice outdoor furniture. Maybe one of these days I can make this purchase. I have a big deck this year so it would be nice to sit outside under and umbrella and have lunch. If you already have outdoor furniture, then now is the time to get it cleaned up and ready to use. If it looks a little worn, then it may be possible to clean it with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or perhaps you could just replace or recover the cushions.

Hang up bird feeders – Even if you don’t have much money this year, chances are you can afford a bird feeder. There’s something very peaceful and calming about watching beautiful birds outside your windows.

Consider some outdoor storage - To put it nicely, outdoor junk is very unattractive. I can’t stand to see things lying around the yard. If you don’t have a shed or outbuilding, you might consider getting one. If you can’t afford a building or if you don’t need something that large, there are other storage options such as storage benches and deck boxes.

Get the bugs under control – It is hard to enjoy the great outdoors if there are pests flying around. You certainly don’t want your guests to be eaten up by bugs while they’re visiting. You may want to try citronella candles or torches. Also, keep in mind that there are also some pretty neat traps and repeller gadgets out there now.

Think about some decor – From arches and trellisis to ponds and fountains, there is something out there for everyone. Look online or drive around different neighborhoods and look for things you like.

These are some of the things you can do to make your yard more enjoyable this summer. What suggestions do you have to add to this list?

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Free Easter Craft Book

Karen Weideman — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:12:36 +0000

Favecrafts has put together a collection of Easter craft ideas from the craft blog community. Best of all, it’s free!

Each craft includes step by step instructions and photos.

Download the Easter Craft Book

image from Skip to My Lou

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Reinvent Your Lampshade

Karen Weideman — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:26:49 +0000

Do you have a tired looking lampshade? Do you want to change your color scheme but your lampshades don’t match?

Check out these fresh ideas from Better Homes & Gardens. BHG has several different ideas for giving your lampshade a new look. Some of them are easy, such as gluing on some paper or embellishments, and some of them involve sewing. Choose the style that works for you.

image from bhg

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Valentine’s Day Fun

Karen Weideman — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:17:29 +0000

Looking for ways to save money (or not spend it) for Valentine’s Day? Take a look at 10 Ways to Save Money for Valentine’s Day at Thrifty Mommy.

Thrifty Mommy also has 50 Links for Valentine’s Fun. Check out the recipes, craft ideas, printables, and more.

Little Fun; Little Learning has several Valentine posts with fun ideas for kids.

Want some new music for you and your honey? Win a Michael Buble CD from Career and Kids.

Play Library has links to several printable Valentines for kids.

The Tangled Thread has free Valentine’s day crafts for kids.

The Kitty Blog has Valentine gift suggestions for cat lovers.

Tree Hugging Family shares Eco-Valentine’s Day Ideas for Kids and Sexy Green Valentine’s Gifts.

Chocolate Bytes has some Delicious Chocolate Ideas for Valentine’s Day.

Layers Upon Layers gives us some craft project ideas.

These Tuxedo Chocolate Dipped Strawberries are cute, but they look very time consuming.

Do you have any Valentine links to share? Please leave them in the comments.

image courtesy of skiptomylou

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