Frugal Fright

I have a thrifty tip for Halloween decor.  If you grow your own pumpkins, you should try etching on them.  This must be done while they're still growing.  A paper clip end works great, or a safety pin.

This photo was a few weeks after being scratched.  It has already gotten a hard scar where scratched.  But notice the color of the pumpkin, it's not turned yet.  The pumpkins should be scratched just before or about when they are full sized.  This is a bit of a guessing game.  The real trick is that the pumpkin has time to heal up.  So take that into account.  A good estimate is late summer.

This creates a cheap decoration, considering pumpkin seed packets are $3 on the high end.  You can do several of these on a plant.  I only did two this year.  In the past, I've done my kid's names.  I think you could scratch a bat, Oct 31, or almost anything festive!

These flat orange ones are super easy to grow, but the deer seek them out.  I spray with Liquid Fence once or twice a month.  They are called Rough Vif d'Etampes.  I ordered a packet & have used one or two seeds a year for a health plant that gives me several pumpkins. 

MY FALL DISPLAY:

Creepy Garden

Here one of my Halloween garden displays.  It will be much more eye catching when the burning bush(behind the owl) turns red.

The old bed frame is leaning against my clematis vinepole.  I thought the rust made it kind of gothic.

It almost looks like little owls.

I added a plastic spider to my burlap grass pot.  Kind of spooky, huh?

The mum looked okay before. Since the original photo above,  I have added some baby pumpkins.

My little boy helped me harvest the pumpkins.  He has a worm in his hand.  They were such a delight to him, hiding under the pumpkins.

I bought the white pumpkin at the local farmers market.  I just HAD to have one.  I was feeling so special, getting the only one.  Then as I drove away, the lady set out another one.  Tricky.

I did grow one small white pumpkin, as shown on the cart above.  Since this photo, it did get tucked in next to the big one. I've very proud of it.  You can see it in the last photograph.

The little dianthus can handle some frost & is still doing well.

The awesome owl is from Oregon.  A metal worker called Weird Harold made great creations.  I have heard he is no longer there.

Thanks for looking.  Keep checking the blog for MORE pumpkin & fall ideas.  I love fall.

Happy Oct. 1st

Good morning & Happy October 1st!  Please head over to my other blog for a spooky window craft.  Here is a peek:

                                      The link~ Create & Show



Mini Broom

A quick post here today.  Sneaking this in before work.

I spent $2.50 on a 23" broom at a thrift store.  This puppy had Halloween potential written all over it.  What do you think?  Would you have bought it?  Maybe after you see my wicked little project, you'll say "YES".

Linking up to Junker Newbie for Would You Buy It Wed.

Broken Beauty

Do you ever feel sorry for broken pieces & commit to giving them a place in the world?  You know, kind of like the toys from the Island of Misfits on Rudolph?

I love morning glories, really really love them. 

 My aunt gave me a repaired delicate old pitcher.  It found a place in my bathroom & makes a perfect holder for a few commonly used items.  I know it doesn't exactly match the color scheme.  I still love it there, it's useful & I get to see those lovely painted blooms every day.

Isn't it gorgeous?  Marie said it was marked $7 at a sale.  She looked at it & the gal just gave it to her because of the cracks.  

Blue Doile

At a garage sale this summer, I acquired some odd little doilies.  It was a sale that sold a brown paper bag full of anything for $5.  What ever you could fit in, was included.   These little blue blended beauties were long and odd.  Could they have been chair arm covers?

For my mom's birthday I wrapped her gift in a brown Kraft paper (sold by the roll at Walmart).  Then, it was rolled in a sweet little old doile.  Some fancy ribbon & raffia finished it off.

Don't forget to get creative when wrapping gifts.  If the colors are hard to work with.....stick with a nice brown background wrapping paper.  

Linked up to Junker Newbie~ Would You Buy It Wed.

Clean Orange & Chippy White

Here is a quick post of a very clever idea.   Mix a crisp, clean, brightly colored dresser....with a chippy white card file.  This photo is from the Mall of America Scrapfest.  Try to image how cute this combo would be in a household setting.

Where can I get one of these files?  It's amazing. 

Are you wondering about the Smash book?

It's kind of a retro style scrapbook.  The video on YOUTUBE explains it very well.  It's a book of random thoughts, clippings & snippets.  This seems to be the book made for Junkers!  Book themes can include recording a pregnancy, garden journal, or just pure randomness.  Here is a blog, dedicated to her Smash project.

Yes, I did buy one.  Maybe I'll post some personal Smash updates. I chose the Eco Style.

If I've tempted you to Smash, here is the website.