Thanksgiving Table Scape

Helloooo!! In my head, that sounded just like Julia Child.

I trust everyone has had an easy transition into November, what with the Daylight Savings and all. I haven't, but is that really surprising? It was dark at like 4:30 yesterday afternoon. So naturally, I didn't realize what time it really was and OF COURSE we had dinner before 5.

ANYWAY. On to fun things! Like eating! YAY!! Specifically, I'm referring to eating Thanksgiving dinner, which, is there anything better than that? I declare that there is not. So I've created a really fun, easy, interesting and INEXPENSIVE tablescape for the Annual Thanksgiving Holiday Gut-Stuff, which is how I like to think of it.

You may have seen last week's post on my Thanksgiving Trivia Cornucopia over at CraftGossip. This post is an addendum to that post, so be sure to check it out if you haven't already. I made a cornucopia filled with cool, fall-type thingies. Feathers, squash (squashes?), holly berries, golden roses, turning leaves, pine cones, corn husks, etcetera. It's all in there.

All of it. It's right in there.

Because it's the centerpiece, I thought it'd be neat to use elements from the cornucopia to liven up the individual place settings. Soooo, I did. For really funsies, I set each place with clear glass plates, and then placed red and gold fall leaves underneath.

I also hollowed out a couple mini-pumpkins with an apple corer and used them in place of traditional candle holders.

Instead of napkin rings, I tied each napkin with a ribbon and tucked a different element from the cornucopia into each bow.

I like how well everything coordinates without being so matchy-matchy. There's a lot of wonderful texture, beautiful fall color and the best part is how easy it is to pull together. It's a lovely departure from a traditional holiday table setting without seeming too casual.

What are your Thanksgiving plans?

Happy Anniversary!

Hello all you sexy crafters! This is our one year anniversary here at Crafty Butt, and I can't believe the cyber police haven't arrested me yet on charges of craftular incompetence.

When I started writing this little bloggy-poo I never imagined anyone would read it, and yet every day you people continue to amaze me by coming back (probably to mock me, but I won't dwell on that). I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I'm taking the day off to celebrate and raid my kids' Halloween stash before they get home from school, but in the meantime, I've written a guest post for Craft Gossip. You should totally check it out; it's awesome (relatively speaking, this is me we're talking about here).

So here's to another year of hot glue and chalk paint!

Cozy Sweater Candles

People who know me know that I can't knit. Actually, they probably wouldn't know whether I can or not, since knitting isn't something I talk about with people who know me. Or with anyone, actually. Since I can't knit. Ahem.

But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate lovely cable-knit sweater. And who doesn't, really? I love 'sweater weather' and I defy you to find anyone who doesn't. Sweaters are so rad we use them as weather adjectives.

After all, we don't say 'Bermuda shorts weather' because Bermuda shorts are horrible.

I think I may have gone a bit off the rails there. Anyway, sweaters are awesome, and I've fashioned some little sweaters for my candle holders because candles are awesome too. 

The no-knit tutorial is after the jump!

DIY: Chalkboard Cheeseboard

This project was inspird by this slate and bamboo cheese board. And although it's sort of reasonably priced, it's only available in the UK. In quantities greater than 25.

But I don't live in the UK. And I don't really need 25 cheese boards. I mean, cheese is delicious and all, but I have to draw a line somewhere.

So I made this:

More hot cheese board action after the jump!

Chalkboard Menus

First of all, this is officially my first new post of Autumn and I'm sure you're all sick of hearing about it as excited as me! I'm celebrating by gorging myself on homemade cinnamon rolls, although that's pretty much how I like to ring in every Monday morning, regardless of the season.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled shenanigans!

This week's project is a DIY menu chalkboard: 

As ever, the tutorial is after the jump!

Dollar Store Autumn Garland

Alright, so it's almost FALL Y'ALL!! Autumn officially begins this week, although that hasn't stopped me from sweating in my cutest Fall cardigans since September 1st. So I thought it'd be fitting to do a fun, cute, easy and CHEAP project in honor of my favorite season:

More after the jump!

No-Sew Burlap Table Runner

This week's project was really easy, really quick, and most importantly really CHEAP.

Burlap table runners (and DIY tutorials to show you how to make one) are pretty easy to come by, but they all require sewing. Which is fine, whatever, I guess. It's not that hard to sew a straight line. But DUDE. Sewing burlap is a pain.

It's very coarse and difficult to handle and it likes to bunch up and be crooked. So I've come up with a no-sew alternative. Dig it:

There it is, peeking out from
behind the creepy Halloween cloth.

Tutorial after the jump!

DIY Hurricane Lamps

Okay, so I know I just did a candle post, but I CAN'T STOP. Seriously, how cute and versatile is this??

And of course, as ALWAYS, the materials are available at the dollar store. Specifically, Dollar Tree. So each hurricane lamp costs $2. I love this kind of adorable, dirt cheap, easily updated decor.

Tutorial after the jump!

Bonjour! Mug

I know I keep harping on Fall and how it's almost here and I'm so GLAD the heat is nearly over and how excited I am that we're looking at the backside of Summer, but this is my blog and I can repeat myself if I wanna!

One of the best things about cooler weather is that I get to drink hot chocolate like it's going out of style. I drink it almost every evening, from October to March and before you ask, the answer is no, I do not get sick of it.

Part of the fun of hot chocolate is drinking it from a fun mug. Like this, the Bonjour! Mug.

Burt Reynolds a souhaité sa moustache
était si masculin comme cela.

This is a fun, easy and CHEAP project that you can do in no time flat.

Follow me after the jump!

Thursday Miscellany: Homemade Jelly

From my Grama Hammons. She's the coolest.

DIY Patio Lights

I've done a few posts already featuring different DIY lighting projects, but this one is a little different. It's EASY. Like, no tools required WHATSOEVER. I give you:

DIY Patio Lights!
 If you already have twinkle lights on hand (and who among us doesn't have a giant ball of tangled twinkle lights in the garage right now?) this project will cost you one dollar, plus tax.

Follow me after the jump!!

Thursday Miscellany: The Little Things

Summer is finally slowing down for my family (and it's a good thing, because I am about to collapse) and I'm starting to look forward to all the great things about Autumn. Like cooler weather, watching the leaves change, spending more time in the kitchen, football, holiday dinners, new sweaters... I'm beginning to drool here.

And so, in the spirit of retrospection, this edition of Miscellany is dedicated to some of the little things that have made me immeasurably happy this Summer. Things like my hanging bud vases, which were a STEAL from CB2, by the way.

We grew these from seeds.
Super cool.

This bag of peaches from my lovely neighbor Bob.

Voted Most Likely to Become Cobbler.

 A lazy dog day, which for Dexter is very, very rare.

He didn't even try to lick the camera.
He must be sick.

This new glasses chain that I bought at Dollar Tree. My optometrist has been gently suggesting that I should consider bifocals, because I'm constantly putting on and taking off my reading glasses. Like, CONSTANTLY.

But I'm only 32, dangit!! I've got plenty of miles left on my eyes before they require bifocals! But a glasses chain? With pretty beads? That is a compromise I can make.

I bought several, in assorted colors.
Fashion!

And finally my brother-in-law, who loves to annoy me in small ways that amuse him. For example, at a BBQ we hosted recently, he drew mustaches on all the faces in my Harry Potter 2011 Calendar.

I hate to admit it, but it's actually an improvement.

And how about you? What little things are bringing you happiness today?

I Hope You Kept Your Fat Pants

We all have two sets of clothes: the clothes that fit now, and the clothes that are a size too small that we intend to fit into again someday. Well, I hope you've also got some of your old "fat pants" laying around somewhere, because you're about to need them.

I usually leave the cooking to the professionals over at Where the Hell is My Spatula? but this recipe is too good to keep to myself. And here's the best part: it's embarrassingly easy. Like, your guests will be super-impressed and they'll be begging you for this recipe, TRUST, but you won't want to give it to them because it's so simple it's almost profane.

Desserts this delicious and beautiful should be harder to make! This recipe is so easy and idiot-proof it almost feels like cheating.

Get in on the secret after the jump!

Craft Hack: DIY Rustic Chandelier

I know I'm prone to saying this, but I'm saying it again today: This is probably the coolest project I've ever done. It was really fun and surprisingly simple, and the end result is exactly as I'd hoped it would be.

I give you the Rustic Chandelier Knock-Off.

I saw a picture of something similar a few weeks ago and I thought that, while it was really cool and I totally wanted one, the price tag was just a teeeensy bit steep. I mean, it IS really interesting and unique, but dang. This chandelier from Rustic Designs costs $2,800. Yes, that's the correct number of zeros there. Two thousand, eight hundred dollars. That's almost three large for a chandelier made of branches.

Not bloody likely.

I knew I could make something similar, if not exactly the same, for a couple thousand dollars less.

See how I did it after the jump.

christmas candy shoppe

So I have about a million of these mini apothecary jars. I use a few in the bathroom: The vintage pharmacy labels are from The Graphics Fairy. Just printed them out and podged them on. Easy peasy. And there's a tutorial for the apothecary jars from Dollar Store Crafts. If you've got a tube of E-6000 glue, you've got everything you need. Yeah, two bucks apiece. Awesome. They're too easy and too cute.

And I'm sure to keep a few on hand to fill with treats and give away for those last-minute hostess gifts or birthday presents that always seem to slip my mind. Tie them with a bow and you've got a sweet little gifty.

But my favorite use for these guys is my tiny little candy shop. I put several on a shelf and fill them with seasonal candy:

I know a shelf full of candy is risky with kids around, but believe it or not, they almost don't even see it anymore. Guests love it, it's adorable, and it changes easily through the seasons. I filled them with candy corn and mini Hershey's during October, and those little candy pumpkins during Thanksgiving. Summer will find them bursting with Skittles and Red Vines.

What's that? Oh, yes, I suppose I do need to dust. Rude of you to mention it, though.

centennial park, redux

Walked to the park again today, just Axel and Darby and I. It was a very clear, sunny day, but it was darn COLD. I'm hoping against hope that Summer has finally given up for the year.

Gorgeous day. I love Fall.

3 projects, 7 dollars

Bookpage wreath:
Floral foam wreath, $1
Glue, on hand
Book pages, on hand
Total: $1
Sheet Music Mirror:
Mirror, on hand
Mod Podge, homemade
Sheet music, printed from home computer and antiqued with tea
Total: $0

Menu Board:

Board, on hand (leftover Halloween decor)

Chalkboard paint, $3

Acrylic paint marker, $3

Chalk, $0.67

Total; $6.67

Altogether, the menu board was the most expensive project, but since I only used a very small amount of the chalkboard paint and the acrylic paint, those costs will be offset by their use on many other projects. And since Oriental Trading Company lost my original shipment and sent me a new one at no cost, and since the lost shipment eventually found its way to me, I kind of got twice the paint for half the price.

Score!

I've been really addicted to all the cool Fall projects on the boggerwebs lately. I'm sure these few projects are only the beginning of a long term illness for me.

centennial park

Good gravy, do I ever love Autumn.
Got these leaves from the park on Saturday. We took Dexter and the kids to play and the leaves were so beautiful. Little jewels. The deep purple leaf was my favorite. It was so windy and mild. If only the soccer players weren't hogging the dog park, and if only we'd brought a kite, it would've been perfect.
As it was, it was very close to perfect.