The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #22 It's Halloween! Just Tell 'im It's PUMPKIN!

            Here's the second project for challenge entry on           The Funkie Junkie Challenge Blog ,and like the first project; this one is making a bit of fun of our real lives here. It's all good, though, since laughter is the best part of life. And we do a LOT of that here. In this case... it's about food. Now, in our family; we like to eat. And most of us really LIKE to cook as well. Me, I cooked for 26 years with very little eating out while our children were small. Family life is just too busy when school gets into the picture.  Add sports, Band, Scouting, and Church (not just on Sundays, you know!)… and we're talking life getting REAL. Raising kids is not just all those activities, though, since it's all about quality time spent with your kids. We just happened to add everyone else's kids along the way when we did things with our kids. For some strange reason, all this can make a family very HUNGRY. And being a Mom at home all those years meant spending a loooooooootta time in the kitchen area of our home. Life for me was more like: make breakfast, then clean up; make morning snacks, then clean up; make lunch, then clean up; make afternoon snacks, then clean up; make supper, then clean up; make evening snacks, then clean up. And you'd THINK it'd be over with until breakfast...AHahahahahahahaha! Right. I'd wake up to find more dishes in that sink AGAIN.

             So it's little wonder why: when the ChiefHubby suggested eating out, or eating at the Ballpark stand, or 'grabbing a snack over there'; Momma jumped for it! And further more, my dear little chickadees (I know they all troll on me), I tried very hard to feed you good, healthy foods. And little do you know what is in store for you as your own babies grow. MmWhaHahahahhahaa!! (That evil Grandmother laughter feels so GOOD getting out!) 

                   Giving up that Ruling Spatula was so darned LIBERATING!! Once the chickens all left this coop and bought their own, the ChiefHubby took over the cooking more and more as the years went by. I grew up with my Dad doing most of the cooking, and ChiefHubby's Dad did the same. I was MORE than HAPPY to just do all the cleaning up afterward! Oh, sure; there was a period of time during which I had to actively 'train' him to make LESS of a mess than using every pot and pan in the entire house... and from the camper as well...*throat clearing*, but he eventually got the hang of it. There was one more thing that I no longer need to worry about: sitting on the side of the table or bar that was CLOSEST to the KITCHEN. Moms do not 'sit' at the table. Moms get up and get this or that... CONSTANTLY. And now that it's just the two of us (I like that now, but that Empty Nest thing, while it was happening...really sucks), with a Grandbaby or two at a time- I can handle actually eating and getting the FOOD!! I've been a smaller person for the most part of my life (and getting back to that after the past 3 yrs of gaining) and used to say that it was due to the fact that everyone but me always breathed their food in. I just never got any!! I'm an enjoyer of food. I eat veeery 

s l o w l y. I tend to CHEW my food. Ok, so I even chew my ice cream...plain smooth chocolate. Kill me for that; fine.

                However it goes in any home, no matter how good a cook you are- whether from practice or talent- you're bound to make a stinker of a mistake. Mine was making chili and accidentally adding the kind of beans you use for baked beans. It would have gone over totally unnoticed ... if only I had tossed out the cans to the recycle bin BEFORE they all came into the door and saw them on the countertop. Too late; the damage was SEEN. So the TASTE was ruined. I learned from that point on- no matter what- DO NOT TELL 'EM WHAT'S IN IT. If you're trying to make PUMPKIN; get rid of all the evidence and...

                           JUST TELL 'EM IT'S PUMPKIN!

Remember those TH Thinlit Dies Pumpkin that I used for

TFJBChallenge #21 Treats Not Tricks? 

(Click Here)

I had extra pieces that I just had some fun building up layers by using pop dots.

That formed the idea in my Pumpkin Head...lol

Started with these papers...

… and added in some TIM STUFF!!!

Making the background to be heavier was simple- double up on

this 2-sided paper from 7Gypsies.

Soooo reminds me of one of my fave old shows: The Twilight Zone!!!

A sheet from Tim Holtz Holiday Stash Paperie (old from years ago)

gave me the basic blue sheet color.

Some serious sanding, then inking up with Distress Inks shown above,

and adhered to the 7 Gypsies backing... Abracadabra! *wink*

Making my own grave stones!

Coming up with the names was fun...

and painting them, then using my TH Thinlits from a Destash Sale

(SHOUTOUT: THANK YOU!!)

make the stones come to life...hehe

There needed to be one tiny detail on one gravestone- 

flowers left by a grieving...dead person?? 

I really WISH that I had taken pics of making the trees from the

TH Alterations Pine Tree Die.

I must've forgotten as I didn't find any in my file.

I'd cut two sets of the pines- one from green,

and one from brown

( all from TH Corestock Paper 8x8).

I used my TH Tonic Scissors to trim the brown trunks of the pines and

ran them through my Big Shot with TH 3D Lumber Impresslit.

Sanded the green pines and fussy cut the trunks out, then 

inked them up with Forest Moss Distress Ink.

They made WONDERFUL looking little pines!

While they were meant to be in the background of the cemetery here,

I think I may do them again and use them for a Christmas project!

And here's the result...

FRONT

BACK

Closeups...

The bouquet...before Spidey got to it, anyway.

The... goop... that I'm working myself to the BONE to make and serve...

WITH LOVE, I might add.

He's not scared of all the stuff going on,

Oh, no. He's afraid of what I am feeding him!

Ben Ded 4 Yrs = Been dead for years.

I. RESTING = I'm just resting my eyes!

Undertha Dirt...she was really pretty before that. So I HEARD, anyway.

Hahahhahahaaa!

Later thought made me wonder if I should have spelled her last name as DERT?

Perspective view - from the BOTTOM- of the buildup going on...

… and from the TOP.

The TH IdeaOlogy Moon from the Halloween Ephemera...

YOU'D be mad too,.. if YOU were made to sit in the upper corner with your nose in it!

lol!

While this took time (hence my usual last-minute posting),

it was a lot of FUN to make this work.

Here's why:

Yep: I've gone and joined the WIGGLES COMMUNITY!

Please join in on any Challenge at

The Funkie Junkie Challenge Blog

and take a look at some of the AWESOME TALENT in there!

YOU could be a WINNER- simply by random drawing with YOUR entry!

(Sponsored by the ever-wonderfully-stocked 

The Funkie Junkie Boutique

from where you'll find the above 

Tim Holtz Pumpkin Thinlit Dies

and the FREEBIES: TH Bat Die Cuts and TH Distress Inked Ribbon

(THANK YOU, LINDA!)

THANKS! for checking in again, and till next time:

STAY SAFE &

HAPPY BLOGGING, &

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #22 It's Halloween...Well Kept in the Pumpkin Shell!

Halfway through October and I am knee deep in things going on and projects. I'd slow down with that last part except my ArtMuse is running on so many ideas I'd like to try out-; you know, those photos of cool things other people have posted that you're thinking look sooo easy to try, but all you've done so far is keep the photos on your phone. *sigh* And, I have no less than NINE Americana Blankets going in some form of finishing, for the nine babies that are popping up all through the many sides of our family. With only one set of twins in there... I think it hadda be in the water. My own kids count for 2 in there, also, so I guess I'll hold the cuteness blame. lol 
We just finished with our church's annual Trunk or Treat outreach and fed 580 people during Sunday's event. It takes a few handfuls of people weeks and months to get ready for that. My part is not yet over, as I spent all day uploading the hundreds of photos I took. Never can have too many of any event. And I will burn the midnight oil- as usual- to get them all posted to the site for the families looking to share their photos. I used to do an "Old Time Photo Booth", but as we grew in popularity, it became almost impossible to sit every family, especially the year we broke 800 attendees! Now, I simply use my cellphone and/or my Canon rebel. This year, I had the huge joy of having 2 of my almost-three-Grandbabies there with us, and it was overwhelming for the oldest- 2 yo Peanut. All the games, huge blowup runs, and toys/candy and food (all free to everyone who shows up)… and all he wanted was to be left to play in the 8ft X 8ft Ball Pit. He simply had a ball!! 
        Selfishly, the best part of this past week, was getting out in my boat for the last sail of the year. Then she got pulled out and winterized- along with everything else that took the better part of 2 weeks for the ChiefHubby and I. When I think of how much work it takes to take proper care of all we have...I remember that we are so BLESSED to have those things, as well as be able to care for them. With that thought, it makes the work go easier and faster. The ChiefHubby just reached the milestone at work; 30 years at Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) and is about the 50th person from the top as far as seniority list. They were built 31 years ago and the first 30-yr-people just began being honored 10 months ago. So joining him for another luncheon event was nice. (They did the same for his 25th.)
        All these things have been on my mind this summer, and it actually led up to the idea for this project. I'm burning my candle at both ends with The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog currently going on- with TWO entries. I know; I'm nuts. And I blame that on the Halloween moon! I can do that. hehe! So let's get down to it... PHOTOS ONLY with a little note here and there! I'm pretty sure you can figure out most of the details by photo.

This step SO reminded me of those car tracks my Sons had back in the day!

I not only found a way for the strip to fit in there,

but it also made a NONSTOP design!

And this is what I came up with...

We're always joking that I'm a "very well kept Wife...in my Pumpkin Shell",

and indeed; my ChiefHubby does work hard to provide everything I need, and most things I want.

I'm very thankful for GOD's gift of provision!

The top is not quite closed all the way.

That's due to my haste to get all the photos done at once;

below, you will see a photo of the opening- one of the first pics I took

and forgot to set the lid back on tight.

My bad. Sorry.

And here is the inside of the Pumpkin Shell home!

A couple of rocks seemed the perfect way to stand it up.

Some closeups...

As in October reality here; we fight the spiders and cobwebs everywhere!

Seems like they take a 'last gasp' of trying to survive for the winter. UGH!

I found an LED candle I liked better...Thanks, Hobby Lobby!

A TH IdeaOlogy Frame w our photo from 2016 shoot. Yeah, we need to update.

Oh! You saw the surprise in there...

It lights up!

And that's all she wrote!

THANKS for stopping by to play in my Pumpkin Shell!

And a HUGE THANKS to: 

The Funkie Junkie Boutique

for sponsoring these FUN TIMES where anyone can join in

-and randomly WIN a PRIZE!

and to:

All those oh-so-sweet comments left for my previous projects.

You guys all ROCK!

Stay Tuned for ENTRY #2: next post!

The Funkie JunkieBoutique Challenge #21- Treats Not Tricks.... Goodie Treaters

   October is a favorite month of mine; simply because I was born on Sweetest Day (October 18th) in 1965. I'm not shy about my age because I can wear it like a crown- as a Memaw! Halloween is a favorite holiday for all our kids & while our boys were growing up, we kept it fun for them with weenie roasts and camping. When they were young, we'd have three or more of their Cousins around and things often happened: The Amish Werewolf, trips back to the cemetery here on our ridgeline, and changing our name from Larimore to Scarimore. On the flip side- less scary side- we were usually involved in our church's Trunk or Treat, and it has grown from 100 people to well over 800 attending. Try serving 800 people in 3 hours... HamnBeans, chili, hotdogs, and at least one prize per kid. Not to mention the candy and activities- the blowups are the fave. This year, we cut it down to just serving hotdogs and chips, because it takes days to make that much soup & we always end up running out around the 700th person- with hotdogs left over. The kids love the hotdogs best, of course, and we're trying to see if serving will go faster this way. Of course, the smell of those soups next to the corn fields is an awesome experience! 
        Since the T or T always takes place the third Sunday of the month, we still get to have Trick or Treaters at home, too. While our boys were growing up, we celebrated on both nights of the 30th and 31st- one at home and one 'away". Our door always had two tons of Trick or Treaters come knock on it. I always had to start buying bags of candy ( chocolate bars; aka "the good stuff") at least 2 months in advance. Each grocery day, I'd stick two more bags into the freezer. We'd easily go through ten bags in one night. The ChiefHubby would walk up and down the neighborhood with his late Cousin-in-law, Roy (married to my Bestie/his Cousin, Cindy), both sets of boys, plus the rest of the kids their age out here , and gather bags full of goodies that included cans of pop and brownies or bags of chips to munch on along the way. I'd stay at the door and pass out the treats while trying to guess the Tricksters! Then on the other night, we'd take our boys around to all the Grandparents' homes or others who asked to see their costumes. There were always parties in between and hay rides with friends. In more recent years, we've sadly had little to NONE coming to Trick or Treat at our door. The generation our kids grew with, all moved away. By the time our boys were in the HS marching band, I had begged for my trees out front to get T-papered, but other parents thought that was mean of their kids to do to me. I wouldn't have minded one bit! I'd have made them clean it up, but it would've been an honor to have our house- which basically was 'the neighborhood house' for all the kids to gather- with T-paper in the front yard. I don't ask, nor hope, for that anymore though. My time passed and now it's up to my GRANDKIDS to have it done to their parents' house. This old woman has enough to do, nowadays. And now the neighborhood is once again growing small kids whom I've loaded up on the candy for. If they don't come get it; I may gain back some of that so-far-27-pounds-lost-with-16-more-pounds-to-go-says-my-Doctor. My MOUTH won't mind, but my SCALE will.
   So yeah, it's safe to say that we enjoy Halloween. It's all about the KIDS and the CANDY!! And,
there's a little kid inside each of us- ready to snag a bite out of our little ones' "Boo Bag". The theme for my deadline to the The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog calls for making some kind of container to hold candy for a Trick or Treater; leaving the tricks behind and concentrating on a cute way to present the candy prizes. This was right up my path because I already had a plan for making some for my Grandbabies, as well as some for my Sunday PreSchoolers. The 'trick' was to make something that was Haloweeny, but not exactly scary for smaller kids. 

                     Let's take a look where my Muse led me...

My choices were not just limited to those shown here,

but it seemed like a good start!

(FYI: I am still on the lookout for a good deal on the Tim Holtz Alterations Die; Pumpkin Parts!)

I didn't get to Tim's new Paper Stash in time for this, plus;

with kids ages 2 years to 5 years... it needed to be as simple as possible.

"Cute" was just expected to show itself as I went along.

While the burlap 12x12 pages were easy-peasy to cut and manipulate, 

I learned one thing NOT to try with it; punchers just don't fit.

But Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors worked VERY well!

Just a tiny snip and I was able to put the twined ribbon in both sides easily. 

The TH Alterations Die Pillow Box is a Movers/Shapers die, so any M/S smaller dies

will make any of their shapes you wish to add as a window on the box.

With small kids... keeping it simple will save this Teacher's sanity! 

The TH Thinlits Die, Layered Jack-O-Lantern has 10 pieces to each pumpkin head,

but the effects are worth it. I made an extra one with my originally-planned pop dots

for a future project. But, after some thought that these will be for 6 certain Grandchildren...

4 of them being aged 2 years and younger (one is due November 18th)…

my Annoying Muse said "ditch the pop dots from these", and I obeyed.

Using Velcro "tabs" from the label part of the TH Pillow Die, I was able to make it

stay secure for the traveling to the homes the combined 3 sets of grandkids live in.

The black cardstock I used, closes with Velcro and looks like "chalkboard" 

after adding the names to them with TH Distress Crayon in Picket Fence!

2 of the burlap boxes will have Baby Mummums (rice crackers) in them since one baby

will be just under 7 months and the other not even born yet as of Halloween.

And here's the FUN part I remember so well from 9 years of being a Room Mother;

FILL 'EM FULL!!

I used green ribbon and regular plastic treat bags to keep the candy fresh and

easy for Mom and Grammy Fasha to pull it out of the boxes.

And this is the result...

The burlap Treaters are soft and yet firm,

while the pillow box Treaters are easier to open by little fingers.

Names on the pillow boxes will happen after the kids show up to Sunday School

that morning, since not all are 'regular' and we may have guests, too.

There's more coming up in this month, and I've been working my booty off to get it all

done! I was able to finally decide on a couple of new dies- THANKS to

The Funkie Junkie Boutique

having just what I wanted- AND their generous SPONSORING of

a $25 Gift Certificate won from the random drawing 

(Challenge Winners)

with my entry

TFJB Challenge #18 Let's Do It Again!

THANKS! to all readers: for taking the time to check in on my posts,

and for the AWESOMELY SWEET comments!!

I really do LOVE you all!! REALLY!!

I hope to see some NEW CHALLNGERS take the plunge,

and enter their projects - no matter what YOU think of your talent...

and I really think you will amaze yourself with what you can do...

it's all about SHARING!!

Till next time;

Be Safe &

HAPPY BLOGGING!