Quick Halloween Crafting

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While I love quilting, sometimes it's nice to balance more extensive sewing projects with some almost-instant gratification, while flexing my creative muscles. 

To get my fix of holiday decor, without breaking the budget (aka still have $ left for a fabric) or making the project too complicated for my kids to help, I headed to Dollar Tree.

I'm pretty sure this cauldron of cuteness took me less than half a minute. I filled one of their trick or treating buckets with white shredded paper. Then I topped it off with some chocolate eyes, table tennis balls (to mimic bubbles), and frog bath toys. You could also trade in the plain table tennis balls for eyeball ones, or add extra items like a rat or spider. The practical thing about this, is that it doubles as a bucket of treats for trick or treaters. Just drop a frog and some candy in their bags as costumed kids come to your door.

Cauldron of Cuteness

My next project involves a glass bowl, a glass candle holder, candies, and a candle. Making this one was as easy as setting the candle in the glass candle holder, and the glass candle holder in the bowl. Then I slid the candy in between the glass candle holder and the bowl, first positioning the larger items, and then filling in with the smaller ones, shaking things around to help them fall into place.

Spooky Filled Candle Bowl

Wonderland Quilt Along: Layout

It's time to pull all our Wonderland Quilt Along blocks together. Grab the layout pattern. First it's a good idea to make sure your blocks haven't shrunk. Trying to stretch them as you piece your top together will make a lumpy, pleated situation later on, so it's best to add in a little now if things are coming up too short.

Unfinished Sizes:
Hookah Hose 20 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Mushroom: 10 1/2" x 20 1/2"
Hookah: 10 1/2" x 20 1/2"
Rabbit: 8 1/2" x 18 1/2"
Bottle: 4 1/2" x  10 1/2"
Cake: 6 1/2" x 10 1/2"
Key: 10 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Teapot: 10 1/2" x 10 1/2"
Teacup: 10 1/2" x 5 1/2"
Suits: 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" each or 6 1/2" x 24 1/2" together
Flamingo: 12 1/2" x 24 1/2"
Roses: 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" each or 8 1/2" x 24 1/2" together
Cheshire: 12 1/2" x 24 1/2"

Quilters Meet & Greet

Welcome to the 2018 Online Quilters Meet & Greet! Check out the source of all the fun at Benita Skinner's Creative Space. Then hop on over to the participating blogs for inspiration and to get to know all the participating quilters. What's more, there a wonderful Grand Prize that you can earn a chance to win from each blog you visit. The winner will be selected October 1.

I suppose it's proper that I introduce myself. This is what my family and I look like when we're all cleaned up and coordinated. I'm a stay at home of this crew (Bryce-8, Linnea-5, Cade-2, Declan-1). My primary responsibility is to make sure that I have four kiddos intact at the start and end of each day. It's harder than it sounds! Before that, I was a first and second grade teacher. Now I have redirected my teaching prowess toward adults with whom I share my passion for quilting.

While I focus mainly on the modern aesthetic here, I love all forms of quilting. I'm an avid fabric collector and project starter. I adore quilting as a creative and social outlet, and much appreciate a brief distraction from diapers and dishes. I've been quilting for over a decade and have the honor of being an Aurifil Artisan and Quilt Photography Company Brand Ambassador.

Around here, I've gathered up some fun opportunities for you. If you're like me, and always in the mood for a fresh project and opportunity for show and tell, peruse my Linky Party Listing and directory of free Quilt Alongs. Speaking of Quilt Alongs, I'm hosting the Wonderland Quilt Along at this very blog. It's not to late to check out the tutorial posts, join the Facebook group, download the patterns, and finish your quilt in time to win some sweet prizes including a large spool collection of Aurifil thread.

I'm so happy you've stopped by and hope you'll do it again. An easy way to do that is to follow me on Bloglovin' or via e-mail using the sidebar.

I also hang out on Instagram and Facebook, if that's more your speed.

Don't forget to snatch your change at the big haul: