Falling for Crafts Challenge #7: Holiday Fun!

I have a confession to make.  I hate Halloween.  I really do.  Even as a child, the only part I liked was dressing up {some things never change...I still enjoy getting in costume!}.  I don't like to be scared and I don't like disgusting or gory things.  Not to mention that as a Jesus-follower, the whole thing just doesn't feel quite right.  I know we're the minority, but hubby feels the same way.  Which is why we celebrate a little differently.  We still dress up {albeit reluctantly for the hubs}, and we still take Little Crafter trick-or-treating, but instead of focusing on ghosts and witches and goblins, we do our own version of El Dia de los Muertos, which is how they celebrate in Mexico.  Instead of being scary, it's a sweet, special time to remember loved ones who have passed away by telling stories, eating foods, and doing activities that remind you of those people.

More on that later.

In the meantime, since we're just days away from Halloween, I figure that the challenge for this week should be open to all things related to the holiday.  So, the theme for Challenge #7 is:

Holiday Fun

You can share your costume ideas, yummy treats or treat bags, decorations, pumpkins, whatever you want.  But if you really love me, you'll spare me the gross and scary things and stick to cute ones.

And if you're like us and celebrate a little differently, I'd love for you to link up your own unique traditions.

Here are a few things I've seen around the web that might inspire you:

Even I will admit that this thumbprint Halloween art from Sweet and Lovely Crafts is cute.  A great project for Little Crafters everywhere!

Freshly Completed has a great fool-proof way to win a pumpkin carving contest...carve the judge's face right into it!  Just tweak the photo in Picnik {she shows you how} to make it a carving template, and voila!  This is the face of her bishop...

Lindsay over at Diary of a Crafty Lady made these adorable dragon hoodies for her daughters!  Little Crafter was determined to be a dragon this year, and this would have been a great way to do his costume. {Instead, he saw one in Old Navy that he fell in LOVE with and there was just no leaving the store without it}.  Anyway, this is a cute, easy costume that will make any little guy or girl roar with excitement!

Greene Acres Hobby Farm has a great recipe for pumpkin dip/pumpkin pudding using cool whip, pudding mix, and pumpkin! 

Well, that's about all the Halloween this girl can handle...and that pumpkin dip is making me hungry.  I'm going to go get a snack, you go get busy posting about your holiday fun and link it up here!

Pretty Please...

- follow me via GFC

- post my party button somewhere on your blog so others can come play too!

- stick around and visit at least two or three of the other projects

Feel free to link up as many times as you like!  No commercial sites, please.

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Have fun!  Can't wait to see what you make {unless it's gross. ;)}
Happy Crafting, guys!

Challenge #6 Features: Thinking Pink

Hey, friends, it's FRIDAY!  Which normally means it's time for a new challenge in the Falling for Crafts series...BUT, this week, I'm co-hosting the Crafty Scrappy Happy Me party with the fabulous Jaime, which means our schedule is a little out of whack.  If you missed the party, be sure to stop by and link up all your latest projects and fun things...no theme this week, just link it all!  Next Friday, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled program with a brand new challenge just in time for Halloween.  But in the meantime, let me share a few features with you from this past week's Think Pink party!


I'm such a fan of these bright, fun Tissue Paper Flower Lanterns from Procraftination Station.  I totally think I need a few of these.  Where would I hang them?  I have no idea.  But I still need them.  Don't you?  That's why they win the "Must Make It Award".

Have you ever seen anything as cute as these Reversible Car Seat Strap Covers from Sew Rockin'?  Well, besides that adorable baby...?  That polka dot fabric is fabulous, and the other side is a sweet solid pink for when the baby pukes all over this side you're in the mood for a change.  The tutorial is great and shows you how to make your own...I'm thinking of doing some for Little Crafter's big boy carseat just cause they're fun.
Sooo...this is the "Doubly Adorable" Award winner for this week.

You are going to LOVE this Cupcake Pin Cushion Tutorial over at NatSprat!  It's fairly easy if you're handy with a sewing machine, and boy, oh, boy is it ever adorable!  Look how the pins are the sprinkles...ha!  I've been doing a fair amount of sewing in the past few months and my old pin cushion is just begging to be replaced with one of these!  NatSprat, the "You Put the FUN in Functional" Award is all yours!
{boy, I have fun making these up...giggle}

Wouldn't you have loved playing with this Dress up Cart at Bear Rabbit Bear when you were a kid?  Heck, who are we kidding, wouldn't you love to play with it now?  It's just darling, and it even has a mirror on the side so you can admire your outfit...nicely done, Melanie!  You win the "Mama Wants to Play" Award.

Gorgeous.  That was my first thought when I saw this Autumn Wreath over at Broken Treasures.  Then I read the post and learned that she made all of those roses.  Out of paper!  What?!  I totally thought they were real.  Wowsers.  Looks like the "You Rock My Socks" Award winner for this week. 

I really want to make a bunch of these Clutch Style Gift Card Holders for Christmas!  After all, sometimes those make the very best gifts...and they always fit!  Crafting Rebellion has a great tutorial to show you how to make these little beauties...check it out!  I did, and this gets the, "I came, I saw, I pinned!" Award.

'Cuz that's exactly what I did!

The "Little Crafter's favorite" Award goes to this Barnyard Cake from Ode to Inspiration.  Because it has a cow.  Which he has learned how to spell {along with the ever-so-appropriate, "Moo"}.  Meanwhile, isn't it awesome?  I'm so impressed!  In fact, the entire farm theme party is just adorable...be sure you click on this one to see all the fun details, snacks, and decorations!

It's time for this week's coveted "Amy's Favorite" Award.  Raise your hand if you saw this one coming...Beachy and Pink Bathroom Decor from Simply Cottage Love.  One glance and I was in love.  You know how I feel about beachy decor to begin with, and I think the pink adds a fun twist to what you normally see.  So fun!  And now I want to go to the beach......waaaaah!

Annnnnd...here's this week's most viewed post: Boobies, Anyone? The Salvage Collection has a great kick in the pants for all of us to remind us how important it is to take care of ourselves and be aware of our health.

Falling For Crafts Challenge #6: Think Pink!

Welcome to

Week 6 of the Falling for Crafts Challenge

here at One Artsy Mama.

This week, I wanted to change things up a little bit and take the opportunity to join in Breast Cancer Awareness Month by choosing the theme...

Think Pink!

Pink is everywhere this month; even my Ravens {and all those less cool teams in the NFL} are sporting it!

It's a chance to stand together and honor the survivors and those currently struggling with the disease, and to remember those who fought it.  I'm sure every one of us can think of friends and family members who have been affected by breast cancer.  I want to dedicate this week's challenge to those women.

What's next?  Well, it's up to you!  Just link up any kind of pink craft, project, or recipe you create!

It doesn't have to be fall-related, just PINK!

Here are a few inspirations:

This Pop of Pink bracelet is one of the first bracelets I ever made.  I love those cracked glass beads!


Betcha this pink popcorn with white chocolate recipe from erincooks.com is just as yummy as it is pretty!


The holidays are quickly approaching...look at this Christmas centerpiece using pink ornaments!


I am loving this wreath from made!  A great combo: fall acorns plus pink!


How adorable are these necklaces by Kim Vallee, made with real gumballs?  What a great kids' project or party favor!


Now it's your turn!  If you're linking up, please follow along and also grab a button so others know about the party!  If you don't have a blog, share your pics with me on the One Artsy Mama Facebook page!

Let's see your pink!

PS: Stop by tomorrow to see my pink Jewelry for the Cure and enter a GIVEAWAY!

Challenge #5 Features: For the Kids!

It's Thursday again, which means it's time to feature some of the amazing projects linked up to this week's Fall Kids' Craft Challenge!  There were 107 crafts, activities, and recipes shared this time around...which made me do a little happy dance!  It also means that my job gets harder and harder when it's time to choose which projects to feature.  Here are a few that caught my eye...and I've also shared a bunch more on Facebook; be sure to stop by there and check out some of the other fun ideas!

Ok, so here goes...
The "Immensly Interactive" Award goes to:
Danielle at Blissful and Domestic for her Halloween Scavenger Hunt.  She left cute clues for her kids all over the house that eventually led to these goody baskets of candy, craft activities, and other treats!  Such fun!  I want to play!  Danielle, can you leave some clues for me and buy me some goodies?  I like chocolate...

Beth at Through the Eyes of the Mrs. shared these Personalized Pumpkins she made for her son's teacher and classmates.  Aren't they adorable?  She not only painted their cute little faces on, she made them from scratch; cutting the shapes, drilling the holes, and doing everything herself!  That's why she gets this week's "Totally Talented" Award.

These Lil' Monster Cupcakes from The Seven Year Cottage get this week's "Monstrously Adorable" Award.  Aaah!  Seriously, they crack me up.  Shredded coconut, colored toothpicks, gumdrops...they're just genius!  I love everything about them, except that I would have a really hard time eating them when they look so darn cute {and they're watching me}.

Rachel at Joyfully Weary made Fridge Jack-o-Lanterns with magnetic sheets.  The best part is, you can totally rearrange the faces to make them as silly as you want!  I really want to do this...and I know a certain little someone who I'm sure would agree.  This deserves a "Hands-On Fun"Award, don't you think?

These Apple Candy Monsters from Pam's Party and Practical Tips were this week's second most popular link and the "Crafty Chef" Award winner.  They have such personality, don't you think?  I would love to make one of these {and eat it too!}

 This week's "EyePopping Fun" Award goes to an Interactive Monster Wreath from Creating Sarah.  At frist glance it looks harmless enough, but when you try to grab that free candy, the monster comes alive!  The eyes fly open, teeth drop down, and I don't know about you, but I'd drop the candy and run!  Check out this post to see how it works!  Genius!

I am totally in love with this Family Art Project from Creative Carmella.  So, of course it gets the coveted "Amy's Favorite" Award.Each family member used their handprint to make a tree {even baby Liam who's less than a month old!!} and fingerprints to make colorful fall leaves.  Beautiful.  What a special keepsake.  If you visit this post before Saturday, you can also enter Carmella's giveaway to celebrate 200 followers {I think it's especially nice of me to mention this since I entered and really really want to win her gorgeous handmade necklace!}

And since I always give an "Amy's Favorite" Award, I thought was only fair to create one more speical award for this Owl Babies Craft made by Rachel and her kids at I Heart Crafty Things.

As soon as he saw this, Little Crafter started shouting about how much he wanted to make one.  He has since reminded me "I want to make the owls" on at least three separate occasions, out of the blue.  It's on my "to do" list.  And it also wins the best award of all, "Little Crafter's Favorite."

Finally, the "Most Popular" Award for the week goes to Reading Confetti for these cool Handprint Bats.  Isn't it a neat effect on the ceiling?  Wow!

I think this week's party just may be my favorite so far since it has given me soooo many fun ideas for things I want to do with Little Crafter!  Thanks again for sharing your projects with me!  Be sure to check out some of the other links too; you'll love them.  And don't forget to come back tomorrow for a brand new challenge!

Happy Crafting!

PS - I'm really having fun giving away made-up awards each week...hope you're enjoying it too. :)  To make it even more fun, and make the repeat awards really as coveted as I say they are, I made up some cute little buttons for them.  If you're a current or previous winner of those particular awards, feel free to grab one!

Fall Craft Challenge #5: Kid's Craft or Activity

Welcome to Week 5 of the Falling for Crafts Challenge here at One Artsy Mama!


You all continue to amaze me with your awesome ideas!  Thanks so much for sharing them with me and with each other.  Are you ready for a new challenge? 

This week's theme is...a kids' craft or activity.

It could be a game, a craft, a costume, a baking project...anything at all that is kid-friendly.
If you don't have children of your own, or they're all grown up, you can still play; just make something you could give to a child {like the treat bags featured below} or a grownup craft that is still appropriate for little hands to help with {you know, no power tools, nothing toxic...haha}.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

These pumpkin treat bags from Martha Stewart.com would make any kid {or grownup} smile!

This Tree of Thanks will help kids remember to be grateful as the holiday season approaches.

Yup.  A Mr. Potato Head pumpkin.  Enough said.

Simple flowerpots turn into Jack-O-Lantern Candy holders with just a little acrylic paint!

Ok, ok, I know I have to show self-control and not post ten thousand of my favorite kid craft photos, so I'll stop here.  But if you want further inspiration, check out a few of these other links too; some are from Pinterest, others are recent posts of things Little Crafter and I have made and done:

Egg Carton Bats

Stained Glass Fall Leaf

Glitter Pumpkins

Monster Mirror

Fall Scavenger Hunt and Collage

No-Sew Pumpkins

Fall Tree Collage

Painted Pumpkins

Now it's your turn!
Recreate one of these ideas or come up with your own kid-friendly craft/activity.  If you don't have a blog, send me a photo via Facebook or email so I can see what you made.  If you do, post about your creation and link up here.  Please be sure to follow this blog and to add my button somewhere so others can see that you're playing along and come join the party.

Can't wait to see what you create!

Challenge #4 Features: Pumpkin-mania!

Wow!  You all just impress and inspire me more and more each week!  The first challenge had 16 participants, the snack challenge had 37, and last week there were 62 gorgeous door decorations linked up.  This week, you blew me away by sharing 94 amazing projects that are all about pumpkins!

Once again, there is just no way to showcase all of my favorites.  I'm sharing ten eleven {sorry, couldn't control myself} here today and I'm going to share more on Facebook, so be sure to keep an eye out there for some more amazing ideas.

I couldn't resist these Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes from The Domestic Sugar Bake Shop!

Too, too cute!  The cupcakes themselves are pumpkin spice flavored, the frosting is cream cheese, and the decorations, well, those are {literally} the icing on the cake!  One "Clever Chef" Award coming right up!

Saved by Love Creations has a great tutorial for how to make these elegant crackle pumpkins using paint, Staz-On ink, and a flexible crackle stamp.  I think the blue is a great touch too.  I'm thinking this one needs the "Easily Elegant" Award.

This Button Pumpkin from Doodle Craft gets this week's "Too Cute" Award!  A great project to make all by yourself or with some little helpers...I know a certain someone who would have fun with this!

I really really want to eat these Pumpkin Pie Spiced & Sugared Nuts every time I look at this picture.  Mmmm!  Joyful Homemaking shares the recipe, which is the recipient of my {totally made-up} "I'm Drooling" Award.

I'm all about these Pumpkin Topiaries from Nashville Pug.  The painted urns look great and I love the effect of the stacked pumpkins...my fave is the polka-dotted one!  Wish I had a porch {and house!} big enough to do something like this out front. Totally deserving of the "Festive and Fun" Award.

I smiled the whole time I read this post from Tips from the Heart for the Home.  Robyn and her adorable boys made their own bakers clay {she shares the recipe}, cut out and sculpted fall shapes, baked them, took a nature walk while they cooled, then painted them.  Aren't these mini-pumpkins adorable?  I totally pinned her post so Little Crafter and I can steal the whole idea from start to finish!  And so, Robyn, you get my first ever "Artsy Mama" Award.

Strictly Homemade gets this week's "Glam and Genius" Award for this Temporary Ruffled Pumpkin Shirt.  She made the pumpkin, attached it to black felt, then hand sewed the felt onto the t-shirt with black thread.  Not fall anymore?  Just cut the threads and you have a plain black t-shirt again!  Not to mention, she can reuse the pumpkin on a bigger shirt in years to come as her gorgeous daughter grows!

Pam's Party & Practical Tips gets this week's "LOL" Award.  Because I literally laughed out loud when I saw this mummy pumpkin made with white paint, googly eyes, and an adhesive bandage.  Oh. my. goodness.  I begged her to link up, and I'm so glad she did!

These Pumpkin Snickerdoodles from Greens and Chocolate are really making me hungry right now.  I totally love snickerdoodles, and I would eat or drink just about anything with pumpkin in it, so they're a win-win for this artsy mama.  Hence, they win this week's "Tasty Treat" Award.

Squeeeeal!  Donene at Easy Peasy Grandma is the winner of the coveted "Amy's Favorite" Award for this adorable pumpkin hat.  It took me forever to choose which adorable picture to use from her post...if you don't visit any other links, you have GOT to click on this one and see the other shots of this little cutie pie pumpkin.  I just want to hold him and squish his little cheeks!

....and this week's "Most Popular" Award goes to...Johnny in a Dress!

You all were just as excited about her Pretty Pumpkins as I am!  I love how she shows four different ideas for glamming them up.

I just have to say it again, WOW!  You all are such an inspiration to me!  Thanks so much to each and every one of you who linked up and who took the time to visit some of the other projects and share encouragement too.  My apologies to anyone who didn't receive a comment from me; I'm still having some Blogger issues...there are certain blogs where I type a comment and then it just disappears!  Frustrating indeed.  Anyway, know that I viewed and enjoyed each one of the submissions and that if I didn't get to tell you firsthand, I am impressed and inspired by your creativity.

Keep crafting and stay tuned for tomorrow's brand new challenge!