Lisa Storms

thanksgiving

Time is sure flying by quickly.  Ever since summer ended, it's all been a blur!  Hard to believe Thanksgiving is almost here, but it is and I'm getting my sweatpants ready to celebrate the day!

I wanted to share some links to a few Thanksgiving projects I have around the web while I still have the chance!  Kid's Tables at Thanksgiving are not only functional, they can be super cute! All of the details and photos for this table I designed can be found here at Fiskars.

And here at Fiskars I also designed a place setting for the adults.  The colors and textures here just make me happy!

Sticking with the place setting theme, I have some Thanksgiving paper piecings in the current December issue of  Scrapbooks etc.  The patterns are available to download on their site.  This turkey makes an adorable crayon holder for the kid's table.

And this Mayflower turns into an unexpected napkin clip when glued to a craft stick and clothes pin! 

Now that I've concentrated too much on the table, I figured I should share some fun hats for the kids to make that I made here for Parents.

Now it is time for me to switch to birthday planning mode to prepare for my daughter's Dance Party!  I will be sure to come back and share the fun details, and of course some Christmas inspiration coming up soon.  =)

halloween eyeballs

I figure I can squeeze in one more Halloween post before the big day.  So I might as well pack it full!  This one's all about eyeballs.  They can be made so many different ways which makes them a very versatile, classic Halloween icon.

Let's start with a super quick treat.  Have you ever needed to bring something to a Halloween party, run out of time, and need something easy?  This will do the trick.  Twist open an Oreo (these are double-stuffed) and twist on a Lifesaver candy at the center with an upside-down chocolate chip or dab of frosting in the middle.  Pair them up on a dark platter and you're good to go!  Add red decorating gel to make them bloodshot if you have time to amp up the gross factor.  Tip:  Use the "empty" side of the cookie to scrap off any brown leftover on the white.   Then, of course, dip in milk and enjoy.  If you like Oreos, that is.  Which I don't.  But I'm weird.

Here are a few other eyeball projects I've done that are sprinkled around the web.  First up, turn apple prints into eyeballs like this Halloween bag I created for Better Homes & Gardens.  You don't have to make a bag (though you have to admit this one is cu-ute) ... just have the kids stamp with regular paint on black paper!

Another fun way for the kids to make eyeballs is using fingerprints like this Halloween invitation I made for Parents.

For simple, last-minute decorations, tape cardstock eyeballs to dark furniture like I've done here for Fiskars.

And one more project I couldn't help but share isn't just plain eyeballs, but instead illustrates another way eyes can be creepy.  When I was young, my grandma had a painting in her living room that seriously creeped me out.  I felt like the eyes would follow me.  This inspired me as an adult to create spooky Halloween framed photos where the eyes really *are* mischievous.  The directions for how to turn innocent photos into haunting decor can be found here at Better Homes & Gardens.

I won't ramble any further, but as you can see I love using eyeballs for Halloween!  Now that I'm getting the hang of this blogging thing, I will have much more to share soon for Thanksgiving!  I love this time of year where the holidays are lined up one after the other.  Always something fun to look forward to =).