Halloween decoration: Pumpkin jar filled with Pepperidge Farm Goldfish

This falls under the so quick and easy you won't believe it category. Hey wait that should be a hashtag. I will be using that one!

Step 1: Fill clear pumpkin shape container with Pepperidge Farm Goldfish.

I did however put all my jack-o-lantern bowls, candle holders, salt and paper shakers and a mug with it as a collection seems to have formed. Hmmmmm how did that happen?

Skinny scarf turned into a Halloween pumpkin for the season

I have an entire tote of skinny scarves. I was addicted to knitting them as I loved the instant gratification they offered and I loved wearing them. I miss them and thought I should figure out what else I could use them for when I wasn't wearing them. Well, this fuzzy multi-tone orange skinny scarf made a great pumpkin.

The best part of this project is it is made in about 1 minute and can be undone in about 30 seconds. If you want to wear it there is no damage to the scarf.

 

Simply roll up the scarf and pop a few pins in to keep the end rolled up. I stuck a small piece of a branch in the top to form a stem.

I can't wait to see what else I can come up with with the 4,000 (not really) skinny scarves in the stash.

Yarn ball pumpkin fall decoration inspired by Conan O'Brien's Bill Tull Holiday Tips segment

If you watch the Conan O'Brien show and have seen the Bill Tull Tips segment you will appreciate the simplicity of this fall decoration that consists of yarn balls and sticks to make pumpkins. Literally this project took me less than 5 minutes!

Simply go out to your yard or your nearest tree and clip a branch into small segments.

Go to your yarn stash and pull out your orange balls of yarn. Tuck the label inside/under the ball and pop the stick in the center top.

Boom, pumpkin!

P.S. if you wanted to get fancy, cut shapes out of black felt and attach them on to the yarn balls to form Jack-o-lanterns.

When the season is over simply wrap the label back over the yarn ball and return it to the stash zone and pop the sticks in the yard.

How to make a dress from a recycled tank and skirt inspired by one in the book Built By Wendy Dresses

To continue my thought of "build it, it will come" regarding spring, I made another little dress out of a short tank top with pretty embroidery, a way too big but awesome madras plaid skirt and some recycled lace trim using a design from the book Built by Wendy Dresses (a wonderful collection of dress designs and patterns) as my inspiration.
And yes, that is "not my cat" Pumpkin that just seems to know when I am out in the yard getting my picture taken in one of the outfits that I made. I think this is the 4th or 5th shot he has insisted on being in!

So here is the tank and skirt before it went under the knife and the inspiration dress-"capri sundress" from Built by Wendy Dresses.
First I cut the hem loose to give me that extra inch of fabric.
Then I cut two strips as big as I could between the bottom edge of the skirt to just under the pockets and front zipper.
I then pieced them together in one long loop and serged the edges.
I gathered one side and sewed it to the tank.
All that was left to do was sew the lace to the plaid section.

If you are craving making yourself some cute little dresses for the season you will have tones of great styles and patterns to choose from in:


Built by Wendy Dresses: The Sew U Guide to Making a Girl's Best Frock
By
Wendy Mullin

From the Publisher Potter Craft:

Product Description Want a fast and easy way to look completely put together? Throw on a dress! Now, with the help of Wendy Mullin of BUILT BY WENDY, sew your own custom-fit creations—25 in all. Dresses are as useful—and as crucial—to your wardrobe as your most beloved pair of jeans. You can throw one on in summer or winter, for a night out in heels or a day in beaten-up boots: It’s maximum style for minimum effort. That’s why Wendy Mullin, designer of Built by Wendy—label of choice for fashion-forward actors, musicians, and artists—has created a book of DIY dress designs that are simple to sew but pack plenty of fashion punch.

All of the featured dress styles are based on three basic dress shapes: the sheath, the shift, and the dirndl. These three full-size patterns are included in the book, complete with step-by-step instructions for how to use them. From those basic dress shapes, Wendy offers multiple customizations, giving a total of 25 different dress options.

Beginner sewers will find all the basic information they need to get started. More advanced sewers will see precisely how slight pattern adjustments, such as changing a collar or sleeve or switching fabric, can create limitless possibilities for unique looks. Built by Wendy Dresses covers the basics and beyond—and proves that dresses are a girl’s best friend. About the

Author WENDY MULLIN founded Built by Wendy, a NYC-based line of women's and men's clothing and accessories in 1991. In addition, Wendy authored Sew U and Sew U: Home Stretch and designed a line of sewing patterns for Simplicity. For more information visit www.builtbywendy.com.
And just because he is so darn cute, another cat picture, he was ready for his close-up.

Sweater Surgery Pumpkins

These little babies couldn't be easier to make. I used a rib knit sweater and simply cut different size tubes. (sleeves are a good source to start with)

Then did a gather stitch at each end. Before pulling the gather stitch closed at the second end I stuffed it with batting.

I sewed a few stitches from top to bottom causing the pumpkin to be a bit more pumpkin shaped.

I cut small squares of different green wool felted sweaters and rolled them into tubes for the stems. If you need more pumpkin goodness check out this post over at Craftside for some tiny needle felted pumpkins that I made.

Crafting and cats......enough said.

I was reading Tammy Powley's post over at her blog at About.com and let's just say this picture and

this picture sum up everything she was talking about. Is it just me and her??????? And this isn't even my cat! It's my neighbor's but we looooooove him!

The second before I snapped this picture Pumpkin was all nestled in all snuggled down on the rubber stamps but he new as soon as I saw him-I was not loving his local......