Halloween witches!

I LOVE seeing what others do with the ideas we share and my e-books.  Check out the witches THE CINNAMON STICK made using my e-book:

You can see more of their Halloween open house photos on their blog HERE

As you can see by how many of them they made, they are fast, easy and pretty inexpensive to make.  See the e-book HERE

I sure miss living in the ‘burbs’ and having a kid at home this time of year.  Halloween decorating is so much fun!  One year Elliot and I cut out over a HUNDRED bats from construction paper and hung them throughout the stairwell entrance to our four-plex.

And I took a BIG box (big enough for a person to fit into; but didn’t have a person in there) and set it right next to the door.  Took a shirt and gloves and stuffed them and let them partially hang out. Set a pair of boots beside the box.  Took a scrap piece of a 2×4 and tied clear fishing line to it and ran the line through the side of the door.  When the trick or treaters knocked on the door; I pulled on the string and it REALLY sounded like someone was trying to get out of the box!

Next to the door was a handmade tombstone (used the innards of empty cereal boxes for the headstones) that read, “Here lies the trick or treater who knocked on the wrong door!”  And then on the small landing half way up to our upstairs apartment I build a scarecrow.  Strapped him on a hand truck to keep him upright and tied a piece of fishing line to one of his hands and made him ‘wave goodbye’ as the kids went down the stairs.

Of course, the obligatory ’spooky sounds’ tape was playing.  Under the lower stairwell I had tied a sheet to an old box fan  and turned it on the create a ghost!

Ahhhhh . . . . those ere the good ole days!

Halloween Candy Corn Sundae ‘how to’ slide show

 

Check out the how to slide show for these fun candy corn taffy sundae’s on my friend Lynne’s blog!

http://thewreathartist.blogspot.com/2008/10/halloween-candy-sundae-slideshow.html

And while you’re there, be sure to check out all the other great stuff she has!  Lots of  great items for craft shows!

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I am busy setting up Christmas in the store right now, and today we are moving to our new space at Stars Antiques.  No time for projects just now.  But I WILL have Christmas pictures soon!

OUR WEBSITE : www.cscrafts.com/aj.html

OUR BLUJAY STORE :  http://www.blujay.com/folk_art_originals

 TO PURCHASE OUR ONE OF A KIND HANDCRAFTED PRODUCTS, E-BOOKS AND CRAFT SUPPLIES; PLEASE VISIT OUR ETSY STORE : 

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5876981

~ primitives ~ trash to treasure ~ shabby chic ~ cottage ~ Paris apartment ~ repurposed home goods ~ repaired ~ restyled home decor ~ reused ~ recycled art ~ handcrafted gifts ~ one of a kind ~ artist originals ~ second hand style ~ junk market style ~ flea market style ~ beautiful junk ~ beach cottage décor ~ unique home décor ~ vintage home décor ~ unique gifts ~ custom made gifts ~ custom made home décor ~ personalized signs ~ Sophie’s Cottage ~ grubby candles ~ how to craft books ~ Shabby Paris apartment ~ baby gifts ~ personalized gifts ~ AJ Finsand ~ upcycled ~ rebuilt ~ flea market chic ~ gift baskets ~ custom orders ~ vintage ~ collectibles ~

Oregon autumn

I just LOVE this time of year!  The cool, crisp nights.  The misty mornings.  The leaves drifting on the breeze.  And warm afternoons that make you want to close your eyes and face the sun and just ‘bask’ for a few minutes and relax.  ahhhhhhhh . . . . .

Here are pictures of some of the ‘prettied up’ pumpkins and gourds I’ll be listing in our Etsy shop over the next few days.  I’d really prefer to just sit down and list everything all at once, but ‘they say’ it’s better to list a new item every day to keep your shop more noticeable; which is of course, better for sales.

  So, I’m going to give that theory a try.  These are all ‘one of a kind’ creations, and ONLY available on our Etsy shop.  I can also ‘custom create’ something for you in a certain color or theme if you’d like, just ask!

OUR WEBSITE: www.cscrafts.com/aj.html

OUR BLUJAY:  http://www.blujay.com/folk_art_originals

VISIT OUR ETSY STORE: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5876981

~ primitives ~ trash to treasure ~ shabby chic ~ cottage ~ Paris apartment ~ repurposed home goods ~ repaired ~ restyled home decor ~ reused ~ recycled art ~ handcrafted gifts ~ one of a kind ~ artist originals ~ second hand style ~ junk market style ~ flea market style ~ beautiful junk ~ beach cottage décor ~ unique home décor ~ vintage home décor ~ unique gifts ~ custom made gifts ~ custom made home décor ~ personalized signs ~ Sophie’s Cottage ~ grubby candles ~ how to craft books ~ Shabby Paris apartment ~ baby gifts ~ personalized gifts ~ AJ Finsand ~

Here’s what’s new in SOPHIE’S COTTAGE ~ August 20, 2008

Traditional and not-so-traditional fall colors are scattered throughout the front of the store.

Sneek peek at a few of the new items for the pink ‘Shop for the Cure’ display:

Yummy smelling little jar candles in pumpkin spice, sparkling cider, apple cinnamon, cranberry orange, sugar cookie, butter toffee and vanilla.

Cinnamon refresher oil for your potpourri or rosehips.

OUR WEBSITE: www.cscrafts.com/aj.html

VISIT OUR ETSY STORE: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5876981

~ primitives ~ trash to treasure ~ shabby chic ~ cottage ~ Paris apartment ~ repurposed home goods ~ repaired ~ restyled home decor ~ reused ~ recycled art ~ handcrafted gifts ~ one of a kind ~ artist originals ~ second hand style ~ junk market style ~ flea market style ~ beautiful junk ~ beach cottage décor ~ unique home décor ~ vintage home décor ~ unique gifts ~ custom made gifts ~ custom made home décor ~ personalized signs ~ Sophie’s Cottage ~ grubby candles ~ how to craft books ~ Shabby Paris apartment ~ baby gifts ~ personalized gifts ~ AJ Finsand ~

Re-done word ornies

Got these ornies for a gingerbread themed Christmas tree I did at the store a couple of years ago and had a bunch left over. 

The wire hanger on these is screwed into the back (instead of being threaded THROUGH the wood) so they were a perfect candidate for a RE-DO!

I sanded the fronts down using my belt sander.  Gave them a fresh base coat of black; then a topcoat of mustard, orange or antique white and then sanded a little more to distress them.  A quick coat of matte varnish, (the DecoColor pens will bleed if you don’t varnish first!) then I lettered them with a DecoColor pen, and topped them with another coat of varnish to take away the shime of the pen.

Halloween sayings on the orange ones, Thanksgiving sayings on the mustard ones and Christmas sayings on the white ones.  And I added a little strip of corrdinating homespun fabric to the wire hangers.

The white Christmas ones are tucked away for now.  HOPEFULLY I’ll remember where I put them come time to set up the Christmas trees in the store.  And I’ll probably add a rusty jingle bell to them . . . IF I can remember where I hid my bells!

 OUR WEBSITE: www.cscrafts.com/aj.html

VISIT OUR ETSY STORE: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5876981

~ primitives ~ trash to treasure ~ shabby chic ~ cottage ~ Paris apartment ~ repurposed home goods ~ repaired ~ restyled home decor ~ reused ~ recycled art ~ handcrafted gifts ~ one of a kind ~ artist originals ~ second hand style ~ junk market style ~ flea market style ~ beautiful junk ~ beach cottage décor ~ unique home décor ~ vintage home décor ~ unique gifts ~ custom made gifts ~ custom made home décor ~ personalized signs ~ Sophie’s Cottage ~ grubby candles ~ how to craft books ~ Shabby Paris apartment ~ baby gifts ~ personalized gifts ~ AJ Finsand ~

JFF

JUST FOR FUN!

Some Halloween bottle brush trees.

 

 OUR WEBSITE: www.cscrafts.com/aj.html

VISIT OUR ETSY STORE: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5876981

~ primitives ~ trash to treasure ~ shabby chic ~ cottage ~ Paris apartment ~ repurposed home goods ~ repaired ~ restyled home decor ~ reused ~ recycled art ~ handcrafted gifts ~ one of a kind ~ artist originals ~ second hand style ~ junk market style ~ flea market style ~ beautiful junk ~ beach cottage décor ~ unique home décor ~ vintage home décor ~ unique gifts ~ custom made gifts ~ custom made home décor ~ personalized signs ~ Sophie’s Cottage ~ grubby candles ~ how to craft books ~ Shabby Paris apartment ~ baby gifts ~ personalized gifts ~ AJ Finsand ~

Pumpkins ~ plain and fancy . . .

I wasn’t planning on making any of these big ‘porch pumpkins’ (as I call them) again this year.  No specific reason other than ‘been there done that wanna try something new!’  But then a customer requested some, and as long as I was making a special order for a set of three, I may as well make a few extra.  The first picture is the custom made set, just plain orange. 

She specifically requested a tall (27″) skinny one and then two more sized however I thought best rounded out the group, and in brighter oranges.

The other pumpkins that Michael cut out for me (I draw the shape freehand onto the plywood and he cuts them with a jigsaw.  I just don’t like them to be TOO perfect!) I decided to paint in some ‘different’ colors, like the heirloom pumpkins I see in the country magazines.  Okay fine, they are colors other than JUST ORANGE, but I still wasn’t too thrilled with them.  So I rummaged through my box of foam stamps and decided to lightly stamp a design on them!

It’s kind of hard to see the designs on the bigger pumpkins in this picture, but you’ll see them in the close-ups to follow.  The small pumpkin that the design shows up best on in this picture is actually my least favorite of the whole batch.  (but just you watch!  It’ll be the FIRST one to sell!) On the rest of them I used a shade of paint just a tad lighter or darker than the color of the pumpkin so the design was more subtle.

And here’s the second set of three (because you KNOW I always have to do things in odd numbered groupings!)

For the ‘ridges’ on the pumpkins I just used the ‘edge’ of my orbital sander while I was sanding the surface.  I sanded and made the ridges BEFORE I stamped on the designs. 

The ‘curly vines’ beside the stems are made from rusty rebar tie wire, wrapped around a dowel.  Drilled a hole (1/16″ bit’) put a dot of tacky glue in to hold them in. 

Michael ‘wrinkled his nose’ at the idea of the fancy pumpkins and liked the plain ones better.  It’s not that I don’t LIKE the plain ones, I just wanted something DIFFERENT!

So, whaddya think?  Are the fancy pumpkins gonna be a HIT or a MISS???  Have you ever seen anything like them done in wood like this?  I’ve seen the ‘carved looking’ ones in resin, but mostly with fall or Halloween themes on them.  All the ‘Paris apartment’ themed stuff I’ve been doing for our booth at Stars was kind of the inspiration for these.  I may even do some in black/white for the space!  Do I dare do a turquoise one?!?!

 OUR WEBSITE: www.cscrafts.com/aj.html

VISIT OUR ETSY STORE: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5876981

~ primitives ~ trash to treasure ~ shabby chic ~ cottage ~ Paris apartment ~ repurposed home goods ~ repaired ~ restyled home decor ~ reused ~ recycled art ~ handcrafted gifts ~ one of a kind ~ artist originals ~ second hand style ~ junk market style ~ flea market style ~ beautiful junk ~ beach cottage décor ~ unique home décor ~ vintage home décor ~ unique gifts ~ custom made gifts ~ custom made home décor ~ personalized signs ~ Sophie’s Cottage ~ grubby candles ~ how to craft books ~ Shabby Paris apartment ~ baby gifts ~ personalized gifts ~ AJ Finsand ~

The witch is IN! e-book now in our Etsy shop

 

The witch herself is for sale at our Hillsboro store.  You can also buy the e-book in our Etsy shop (link below) and make your own!  Be the first on your block to have your very own unique witch!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14195436

OUR WEBSITE: www.cscrafts.com/aj.html

VISIT OUR ETSY STORE: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5876981

~ primitives ~ trash to treasure ~ shabby chic ~ cottage ~ Paris apartment ~ repurposed home goods ~ repaired ~ restyled home decor ~ reused ~ recycled art ~ handcrafted gifts ~ one of a kind ~ artist originals ~ second hand style ~ junk market style ~ flea market style ~ beautiful junk ~ beach cottage décor ~ unique home décor ~ vintage home décor ~ unique gifts ~ custom made gifts ~ custom made home décor ~ personalized signs ~ Sophie’s Cottage ~ grubby candles ~ how to craft books ~ Shabby Paris apartment ~ baby gifts ~ personalized gifts ~ AJ Finsand ~

August 1, 2008 ~ Here’s what’s new in the store.

FALL AND HALLOWEEN HAVE ARRIVED AT SOPHIE’S COTTAGE!

And of course, a Halloween tree!  (sorry about the bad photo!)

Some new gift baskets filled with bath/body products:

Ane even some gifts for your four legged friends!

These are the COOLEST things ever!  A doggie water bottle (with a clip even) and a flip down BOWL so they can easily drink!  Perfect for the dog on the go!

Mini alphabet rubber stamps sets make a great gift for the crafter, scrapbooker or cardmaker.  There are a DOZEN different font styles!  Fun to mix and match!

NEW CALENDARS ARE IN!  16 month 2009 calendars.

Gifts for baby:

AWESOME vintage white chest of drawers

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OUR WEBSITE: www.cscrafts.com/aj.html

VISIT OUR ETSY STORE: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5876981

~ primitives ~ trash to treasure ~ shabby chic ~ cottage ~ Paris apartment ~ repurposed home goods ~ repaired ~ restyled home decor ~ reused ~ recycled art ~ handcrafted gifts ~ one of a kind ~ artist originals ~ second hand style ~ junk market style ~ flea market style ~ beautiful junk ~ beach cottage décor ~ unique home décor ~ vintage home décor ~ unique gifts ~ custom made gifts ~ custom made home décor ~ personalized signs ~ Sophie’s Cottage ~ grubby candles ~ how to craft books ~