November 21, 2012

{Reflection} Fall and Thanksgiving Projects

Happy Thanksgiving! The day is upon us tomorrow, can you believe it? There is so much to be thankful for this year: my family, my friends…including you! This year has been so much fun sharing my evening and weekend adventures with you and connecting with all of you in so many ways. I’ve made some great friendships and A Night Owl and this community has really enriched my life. Thank you for that!

Before we get into the full swing of Christmas fun and decor (yes, I’m starting tomorrow and have some FUN things to share from the get go), I thought it would be fun to do a recap of all of the Fall and Thanksgiving projects we did this year! Let’s take a look, simply click on the feature image to visit the full post!

Thanksgiving

 

 

Fall

I hope you enjoy the day with your family and friends. And thank you again for your readership, your support, your encouragement. May your holidays be happy and blessed!

 

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November 19, 2012

{Project Home} Tulle Thanksgiving Wreath

Hi friends! Today I’m sharing with you our Fall-colors inspired Tulle Thanksgiving Wreath! I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is already upon us! There is so much to be thankful for this year. I originally shared this project and tutorial with Sara over at Mom Endeavors for her Cornucopia of Creativity series, but I wanted to be sure to share with you just in case you missed it! But be sure to check out the amazing projects that have been shared at this series, they’are all so terrific!

So as you know, I’m a big fan of all things tulle, but since I don’t have any girls, I use tend to use tulle on wreaths instead of tutus. Tulle is a great alternative to yarn wreaths if you are running short on time and patience! So here’s how you can make your very own fun and festive wreath…

What you’ll need:

  • Wreath form (I used a 14″ form)
  • Brown, burgundy and gold tulle
  • Wooden initial
  • Martha Stewart Copper Liquid Gilding
  • Burlap ribbon
  • Hot glue

And the steps:

  • Cut similar lengths of the three colors of tulle (for a 14″ form, I cut mine to approx. 16″ inches long)
  • Simply tie each length of tulle around the wreath form, alternating colors, until the form is covered
  • Paint your wooden initial with Martha Stewart Copper Liquid Gilding (opt.)
  • Hot glue the wooden initial to a length of tulle and tie onto the wreath where you would like the initial
  • Cut burlap ribbon to the desired length to hang your wreath (I also painted the burlap ribbon with the liquid gilding so that the color matched the copper initial)
  • Hot glue the burlap ribbon to the back of the wreath, and you’re done!

And here’s how it turned out!

What do you think? I love the colors, they all remind me so much of Fall and of Thanksgiving. The wreath is also versatile and could be hung anytime during Fall or Winter! If you enjoyed this tutorial make sure you check out our collection of tulle wreaths so far this year! Next up, Christmas. Can you believe it?

linked up here, create & inspire, tatertots & jello, the 36th avenue, tip junkie, i {heart} naptime, frugal girls, home stories a to z, savvy southern style

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November 17, 2012

10 Thanksgiving Printables

We’ve had some fabulous Thanksgiving printables linked up at the Create & Inspire Party that are great for last minute gifts and Thanksgiving decor! Are you ready for Turkey Day? Here are a few prints that’ll help you along!

“Give Thanks” Printable by A Night Owl

Thanksgiving Menu by Smart School House

Blessed Thanksgiving Banner by Sugar Tot Designs

Fall Babe Printable by Meeha Meeha

Thankful Printable by The NY Melrose Family

Free Thanksgiving Printable Tags by Twigg Studios

Woodsy Thanksgiving Printables at Rags to Stiches

Thanksgiving Thankful Cards {Printable} by Life with Lovebugs

Grateful Journal Sheet by Second Chance to Dream

Thanksgiving Place Cards {Printable} by Life with Lovebugs

Enjoy!

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November 15, 2012

{Thrifty Thursday} A Beautiful Acorn Upcycle

Hi friends! Today we’re sharing with you an easy, yet elegant, Thrifted Acorn Upcycle that is perfect for your Fall or Thanksgiving decor! This thrifted find was purchased way back in July. I knew exactly what I was going to do with it for this holiday season.

With simply adding some ivory spray paint to this acorn I have a whole new look. I opted for a light spray coat on the lid so that the brown wood tones could still show through. I decided for a nice, thick coverage on the bottom for some variation. This was applied in several layers with drying time in between. Not a difficult project and an amazing acorn result.

It’s always fun to see what just a little paint can do! What holiday DIY is your favorite this year?

Rachel of Just Us Three Designs and Harding Family Happenings is a contributor for A Night Owl.

linked up here, create & inspire, tatertots & jello, the 36th avenue, tip junkie, i {heart} naptime, frugal girls, home stories a to z, savvy southern style

 

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November 12, 2012

{Project Home} A Thanksgiving Mantel

Hi friends! Today I’m sharing with you our simple Thanksgiving Mantel! It’s about time, you know, since it’s less than two weeks away. Can you believe it? I’ve been trying to hold myself back from starting on Christmas and taking time to realize Thanksgiving and all it means, but oh boy it’s been hard! I blame Pinterest!

You might see a couple of familiar items in this mantel! First, I drew inspiration from our beautiful Free “Give Thanks” Printable. I love the color of the kraft paper and the simpleness of the white banners. I also added in our new DIY Knock-Off Pottery Barn Birch Candles.

I kept with the color scheme and feel my adding in a simple grapevine wreath, our twine “S”, and a few other accessories. And no A Night Owl mantel is complete without an owl, right? And here’s the finished product…

All in all I am so happy with how it turned out! It’s simple and understated, but I love the natural feel. I think this is really what I’m leaning towards for Christmas this year too. What do you think?

linked up here, create & inspire, tatertots & jello, the 36th avenue, tip junkie, i {heart} naptime, frugal girls, home stories a to z, savvy southern style

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November 10, 2012

15 Thanksgiving Projects to Do

We’ve had some fabulous Thanksgiving themed posts and projects linked up at the Create & Inspire Party that are really getting me in the mood to finish up our house! What about you? Are you ready for Turkey Day? Well if not, here are some great projects to inspire you…

Pilgrim Treat Boxes by A Pumpkin & A Princess

Burlap Turkey by Life on Lakeshore Drive

Thanksgiving Handprints by The Chirping Moms

Thanksgiving Shirts by The Chirping Moms

Beaded Napkin Rings by Create.Craft.Love.

Thumbprint Turkey Napkin Rings by Fancy Frugal Life

Thanksgiving Mantel by Create.Craft.Love

Thanksgiving Tablescape by A Place for Us

Fall Wreath by JuliaKendrick.com

 

Easy Fall Wreath by Crafty in Crosby

Flower Turkey by Crafting in the Rain

Thankful Instagram Banner by A Night Owl

Thanksgiving Turkey Washi Tape Forks by Hoopla Palooza

Thanksgiving Turkey Treats in a Glove by Hoopla Palooza

Tulle Pumpkin Wreath + Tutorial by A Night Owl

 

Enjoy!

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November 5, 2012

A Thankful Instagram Display with PostalPix

Hi friends! Today I’m sharing with you a quick and easy way to display your favorite Instagram photos to show all those things your thankful for this Thanksgiving season. Now you know I love Instagram displays, whether it be our Instagram Mantel or our Easy Fall Frame that fit in so nicely with our Fall Mantel! I take so many pictures with Instagram, it just makes sense to print them out to display in our home! And I get so many questions on where I like to print my Instagrams, and here’s your answer: PostalPix!

PostalPix is one of my favorite apps on the iPhone (and it’s coming soon to Android)! Simply download the app to get your pictures printed and mailed directly to your home. You can choose from premium luster sheen prints, aluminum prints, and more. They offer a variety of sizes and square prints, perfect for your Instagram photos!

And this Thankful Instagram Display is just so easy to make and I have to say that I really love seeing these pictures hanging in our dining room. They really do speak to what I’m thankful for in life. And you could make your own, in just minutes! So get to ordering your PostalPix prints and here’s what else you’ll need…

What you’ll need:

  • PostalPix Instagram prints
  • Twine
  • Clothespins
  • Thumbtacks
  • “Thankful” Letters
  • Fall leaves to cover thumbtacks

And the steps:

  • Measure the lengths of twine you would like to hang
  • Tie the ends so the twine does not unravel
  • Using the fall leaf covered thumbtacks (I simply glued them on), pin the twine to the wall
  • Using the clothespins, hang your “Thankful” letters and pictures accordingly

I just love it. What do you think? Is what you’re thankful for this holiday season captured in your Instagrams? If so, go check out PostalPix today and get to printing and posting them up! You can find PostalPix on iTunes, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest! And that’s not it! Enter the PostalPix Giveaway going at this week’s Instagram Blog Hop! Good luck!

This post is sponsored by PostalPix; however, all opinions are unsolicited and my own.

linked up here, create & inspire, tatertots & jello, the 36th avenue, tip junkie, i {heart} naptime, frugal girls, home stories a to z, savvy southern style

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November 4, 2012

Tulle Pumpkin Wreath + Tutorial

Hi friends! Today I’m going to share with you another one of my tulle wreaths I’ve made recently, a festive Pumpkin Tulle Wreath! I originally shared this project and tutorial with Vanessa of See Vanessa Craft for her Halloween series; however, one thing I love about this wreath is that it is appropriate for Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving! It’s currently still hanging on our kitchen pantry door even after all of the Halloween has been put away, and it’s just so cute! Want to make your own? Well here is the tutorial:

What you’ll need:

  • Wreath form (I got mine from the dollar spot at Target!)
  • Orange tulle
  • Green tulle
  • Brown foam sheet
  • Ribbon to hang
  • Hot glue

And the steps:

  • Cut similar lengths of the orange tulle (you can see from the picture my pieces measured about 14 inches long)
  • Simply tie each length of tulle around the wreath form until most of the form is covered
  • Cut out a “stem” from the brown foam sheet and hot glue it to the wreath
  • Hot glue a small piece of green tulle on the back for leaves
  • Lastly, hot glue a ribbon to the back to hang the wreath, and you’re done!

And here’s how it turned out:

Isn’t it fun? I’m also going to be sharing an awesome Thanksgiving Tulle Wreath over at Mom Endeavors this week during her Cornucopia of Creativity Series, so make sure you stop by to say hi! What Thanksgiving crafts have you been up to lately before everything becomes ALL Christmas?

linked up here, create & inspire, tatertots & jello, the 36th avenue, tip junkie, i {heart} naptime, frugal girls, home stories a to z, savvy southern style

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November 3, 2012

{Printables} Free Give Thanks Print

Hi friends! It’s time to update our mantels and homes for Thanksgiving, and as always that means a new FREE printable for you! And what better message than “Give thanks with a grateful heart?” We hope you print, display and enjoy! Simply click on the image below to access the downloadable file. (Please do not share/copy/or sell this printable. You may “pin” it, but please source correctly. You may not claim it as your own or alter the image. It is for personal use ONLY! This image is property of A Night Owl and Just Us Three Designs.)

Let’s be thankful each and every day!

Rachel of Just Us Three Designs and Harding Family Happenings is a contributor for A Night Owl.

linked up here, create & inspire, tatertots & jello, the 36th avenue, tip junkie, i {heart} naptime, frugal girls, home stories a to z, savvy southern style

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November 2, 2012

Quick and Easy Mini Pumpkin Bites

Hi friends! Do you love pumpkin like I do? Well today I’m sharing a step-by-step on how to make these tasty Quick and Easy Mini Pumpkin Bites! These are especially fun for the little ones. My kids still struggle with a whole cupcake or dessert (and I struggle to manage them afterwards!), but both of them love to get these mini pumpkin bites here and there. So much better for all involved, trust me! Or these would be perfect little appetizers for guests over the holidays. So let me share with you how we whipped these up!

Mini Pumpkin Bites
Print
Recipe type: Dessert
Author:
Serves: 50
Easy to make mini pumpkin bites!
Ingredients
  • Betty Crocker Pumpkin Bar Mix
  • Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Mini Cupcake Liners
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 1 Stick of Melted Butter
Instructions
  1. Mix Betty Crocker Pumpkin Bar mix with 1 large egg and melted butter
  2. Line a small pan with mini cupcake liners
  3. Pinch off a small amount of dough into mini cupcake liners
  4. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes
  5. Spoon frosting into pipe and top mini pumpkin bites with cream cheese frosting




Aren’t they adorable? And super tasty too. You know that’s what I’m all about! Now I have to admit that this batch is long gone, but with how easy these are, I can see more in our near future!

linked up here, create & inspire, tatertots & jello, the 36th avenue, tip junkie, i {heart} naptime, frugal girls, home stories a to z, savvy southern style

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November 1, 2012

Thanksgiving Meals with Unilever Spreads


Hi friends! It’s that time of year again, time to start thinking about the menu for Thanksgiving. Today I’m sharing with you two Thanksgiving staples in our home: a delicious Potato Casserole and yummy Texas Pecan Drops that you too can make this Thanksgiving!

Now these recipes typically call for butter, but did you know that you can substitute butter in recipes for Country Crock spread? Country Crock is a better choice than butter with 0g trans fat per serving, no hydrogenated oils and 70% less saturated fat, 30% fewer calories than butter and no cholesterol! I made the switch with the dishes below, and they turned out fantastic! Here are the recipes, I hope you enjoy!

Potato Casserole
5.0 from 2 reviews

Print
Recipe type: Side Dish
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 1 bag frozen plain hashbrown potatoes
  • ½ cup chopped onions
  • ⅓ cup melted Country Crock spread
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 pint sour cream
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Topping:
  • 2 cups crushed plain corn flakes
  • ½ cup melted Country Crock spread
Instructions
  1. Mix all of the above (minus topping ingredients) in a large bowl.
  2. Spread into a greased casserole dish.
  3. Bake in oven at 350 for 30 minutes.
  4. Add melted Country Crock to crushed corn flakes and be sure all flakes are coated.
  5. Spread topping on casserole and bake at 350 for 30 additional minutes.

 

Texas Pecan Drops
5.0 from 2 reviews

Print
Recipe type: Dessert
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 48
Ingredients
  • 1¾ cups Country Crock spread
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1½ cups chopped pecans
Instructions
  1. Cream butter and sugar together.
  2. Add vanilla and stir in flour.
  3. Add pecans.
  4. Drop a heaping tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.

Yummy, right? What’s on your menu this Thanksgiving? Do you have recipes that call for butter? If so, you should give Unilever Spreads such as Country Crock a try! It’s an easy way to make those high calorie meals just a little bit better.

Thank you to Good to Know & Unilever Spreads for being a sponsor. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

linked up here, create & inspire, tatertots & jello, the 36th avenue, tip junkie, i {heart} naptime, frugal girls, home stories a to z, savvy southern style

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