LITTLE GREEN GOBBLIN'S ~ A PERFECT AND EASY HALLOWEEN APPETIZER

My clever and crafty friends Jaime and Lisa over at Sprout Boutique turned me on to this one:

These simple, delicious, elegant and Halloweenishly green appetizers are made using just four simple ingredients:  blue cheese, cream cheese, seedless grapes and pistachios.

Pistachio Blue Cheese Grape Appetizer

(a.k.a. "Little Green Gobblin's for the holiday's sake)

1 3-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 oz. blue cheese, crumbled

1/3 cup finely chopped pistachios

1 large bunch seedless red  grapes (40 to 60 grapes)

In a small bowl combine cheeses.

Wrap a little of the cheese mixture around each grape to form a ball.

Roll in chopped nuts.

Cover and chill grapes for 30 to 60 minutes before serving. Can be prepared a day ahead.

Pin It Now!

JON & KATE ~ THIS COSTUME'S GREAT!

Halloween brings out such creativity in people! And it can help to relieve our pop-culture induced angst too.

Take for example, my friend Chris (known him since elementary school ~ reconnected recently on Facebook):  His lovely wife Michelle has been often told that she looks like Kate Gosselin.  Okay, so it's a step up from being an Octo-mom look-a-like, or told you have the fashion sense & IQ of the Housewives of Orange County.  Nonetheless, Michelle could do without the comparison.  When Chris and Michelle are out together the problem becomes compounded:  "Hey look, it's Jon and Kate!" (even though Chris bears no resemblance to Jon except the fact that they're both Asian).   

But then, this Halloween, Chris and Michelle needed costumes.  It took some convincing, but once Michelle was on board, her creativity took over.  The couple went to Kohls and Ross to buy "Gosselinesque fashion" (Chris coined this new term).  It was even Michelle's idea to cut out the little kids and attach them to sticks so they could each carry around four kids at all times.  Heavens!  Just look at that picture ~ Michelle's hair is spot-on! 

Chris said, "It was pretty interesting how many people were looking at her all night saying "Wow, she really looks like Kate!". " 

I love their creativity, their sense of fun, and ability to laugh at themselves, at pop-culture and at stereotypes. 

Will you be dressing up for Halloween?  Do tell...

Pin It Now!

THE CUTEST HALLOWEEN COSTUME ~ MAIDEN VOYAGE

Last year my friend Maureen blew everyone away with the Hot Air Balloon costume she crafted for her daughter. Maureen has very generously offered to share with us her inspiration, her tips and how-to for this absolutely delightful costume that is sure to "carry you away..."

FOR MORE OF THE 

"BEST HALLOWEEN COSTUMES YOU CAN MAKE YOURSELF" CLICK HERE.

Rook No 17: This wasn't the first time you've come up with an amazing original costume. So, Mo, tell us: where do you find your inspiration?

Maureen: I usually get my inspiration when I find a unique costume idea that is original and makes me laugh. I find the ideas online, from books or magazines.

Rook No. 17: Do you work from books, online tutorials, or templates? How do you do it?

Maureen: I wing it! I look at a picture of what I am trying to make and try to figure out how to construct the costume. If I think I can pull it off, I draw out my plan and start collecting materials.

Rook No. 17: Could you take us through a step-by-step of how you created the Hot Air Balloon Costume? 

Maureen: Here is my list of materials and instructions...

Hot Air Balloon Costume DIY Instructions

XL Balloon
Basket
Ribbon
Yarn- off white, 'bumpy' yarn
Old dress with straps that you don't mind cutting up. Works best with straps that adjust.(Like overalls)
4 Brown paper lunch bags
Jacket
Scarf
Knit hat
Kids scuba mask

1) I found a 36" balloon at First Impressions Party Supplies in Monterey. (I was told this type of balloon is typically used for car lots when they want to advertise a big sale..)

Note from the Rookery: our favorite online source for specialty and big ol' knock-your-socks off balloons is "Balloon Lovers Corner".

2) I bought a basket at Michael's craft store (half off!) and cut a hole in the bottom to fit around my daughter's hips.

3) I took an old dress with straps, and hot glued the bottom of the dress to the bottom of the basket. This way, my daughter could 'wear' the basket and it would stay upright.

4) I tied yarn to the basket and fastened it to the knot at the base of the balloon to make it seem as if the rope was holding up the basket.

5) To make stripes on the balloon, I used colored ribbon & carefully double taped them from top to bottom.

6) For sandbags, I crumbled and stuffed four brown paper lunch bags each with a plastic grocery bag (so it would be light) and hung them off the four corners of the basket.

7) To give my daughter an 'aviator' look, I dressed her in a jean jacket to hide the strapped dress, added a scarf and fastened a kiddie scuba mask (that I painted black) to a knit hat.

So there you go! I think that's everything...

Rook No. 17: Thanks so much for sharing your talent and project with us Maureen. Any final tips for the would-be-home-costume-maven?

Maureen: Use any materials that work! Glue guns and velcro are your friends.

Have you come up with a fun and original Halloween Costume this year?

Please share!

 

Pin It Now!

BOUTIQUE CHIC DIY CHEAP SERIES ~ SKELETON CREW

COST: Under $2/piece
TIME: 15 minutes/piece

DOLLAR STORE CHEAP TO BOUTIQUE CHIC IN A FEW EASY STEPS...

Can you roll paper into a cone? Can you fold an old fashioned newspaper hat? Well, grab your hot glue gun and lets get going...Here's what you need:

• Glitter skulls (found mine at the Dollar Tree) Can't find glitter skulls? Buy a cheap plastic skull, cover with craft glue, then glitter liberally.
• Vintage sheet music and/or book pages (I pick up old dictionaries that are falling apart and would otherwise be thrown in the garbage at the end of a garage sale)
• Craft glue
• Ultrafine glitter, silver
• Glue gun
• Paper cupcake liners
• Tissue Paper Fringe ~ it's called Festoonery, but you knew that already didn't you, you crafty devil? If you don't have festoonery in your bag o' tricks, follow the easy tutorial below to make your own

First, open up 4-5 cupcake liners. Put a dot of glue in the middle of each paper, then stack.

Glue stack to the bottom of glitter skull to form a sort of Elizabethan Collar

Make a hat using old paper.

Add embellishments like fringe, glitter and velvet ribbon.

Glue hat on to skull. Now, that's one dapper looking dead guy!

Your final step is to fluff and glitter the ruffled collar. It may sound messy, but the best way I've found is to dip my fingertips in the craft glue, then brush lightly over the edges of the ruffles, shaping as I go. Dust with glitter and allow to dry.

The possibilities are endless...

The Piper

The Clown

The Nurse

The Gentleman...
Easy-Peasy Tissue Paper Fringe How-to

Cut and stack four pieces of tissue paper (about 1.5" wide)

Staple together along one entire edge.

Next, using pinking shears, cut fringe.

Crumple, Crinkle, and Flounce the Fringe (It's the latest dance craze!)

HAPPY CRAFTING! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Pin It Now!

BOUTIQUE CHIC DIY CHEAP SERIES: HALLOWEEN WREATH

ASSEMBLY TIME: approx. 15 minutes

TOTAL COST: approx. $15

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• HALLOWEEN SPIRIT (without it, what's the point?)
• (1) A grapevine wreath from the craft store (got mine at Michael's for $4)
• (2) Silk Japanese Lantern Stems (got mine at Pier 1 Imports, $2.99/stem)
• (2) Silk or dried cattail stems (on sale at Michael's for $1.67/mixed fall bunch)
• Dried Corn Stalk fronds (picked mine up off the ground in the pumpkin patch parking lot)
• wire or hot glue
• A few vintage inspired Halloween ornaments. If you don't have any cute little ornaments just laying around your house, here's a tip: Download some free vintage Halloween images from Matthew Mead. Cut out an 8.5" x 11" piece of cardboard from a cereal box (recycling ~ love it!). Most printers will print on this thickness of cardboard. It gives a nice vintage look, and has a good weight to it. Print on blank side (obviously). Cut out. Cover commercially printed side with craft glue and coat with glitter ~ voila! Your ornament is complete!

Start out with ye olde grapevine wreath, available at any craft store. Begin by sticking a few cattails into the wreath. Bend to shape if necessary. Secure with wire or hot glue. Pretty boring so far...I know...

Next, stick in some of your corn stalk fronds. Secure with wire or hot glue. We have a little contrast going, but how about some color?

That's where the japanese lanterns come in. Snip from bunch into smaller clusters and arrange by tucking in to wreath. Secure with wire or hot glue. Ahh, now that's starting to look better...

Dry-fit decorations, then wire or hot glue into place. Fill in gaps with additional corn stalk, cat tails, or Japanese lanterns as you see fit.

Ready to hang and greet guests with Halloween cheer!

Pin It Now!

OH BABY! APPAREL GIVEAWAY...

One winner will be drawn at random on Sunday, November 1
Your choice of

100% Cotton, made in the USA, babygags onesie, black
“I suck, therefore I am.”
Size 6 mo. –or- 12 mo.

Retail: $22

~OR~

100% Cotton, made in the USA, babygags Toddler Tee, black
“TRASHTALKER In his contemplations on what is real Plato uttered: “If a baby talks trash in the crib, and no one is there to hear, did the baby really talk trash?” 450 bc, Greece, Diaposium”
Size: 24 mo.

Retail: $22

TO ENTER: FOLLOW ROOK NO. 17 (PUBLICLY), THEN COMMENT BELOW TO LET US KNOW YOU DID IT. EASY AS THAT. IF YOU'RE ALREADY FOLLOWING (THANK YOU), JUST POST A COMMENT.

Pin It Now!

THINK PINK!

I've been blessed, not once, not twice, but thrice with the fabulous "Over the Top" award and I'm positively tickled pink! So, in honor of October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I'm putting my own unique spin on the award:

Over The Top: Think Pink Edition

I'm giving this award to bloggers who go over-the-top with their selfless contributions to our world

My gratitude goes out to:
I am the Glue & Tattoos & Teething Rings

for bestowing the honor

The rules to this award are simple (and optional):

1. Please feel free to pass it on to others that you'd like to recognize for "making the world a better place"

2. Encourage your readers to visit the official Breast Cancer Awareness website with this link: http://www.nbcam.org/

Without further ado, the Over The Top: Think Pink Edition Award goes to:

Vashti @ Grains of Sand ~ She directs a non-profit organization in South Africa and writes beautifully and poignantly. Utterly inspiring and very real.

Joy @ This Too Shall Pass has an honesty, depth and sincerity that I relate to. Check out her post "I'm a Kiva Girl" that talks about the great organziation Kiva.org!

If it seems like there's a lot of tail-wagging going on, it's because Holly and Charisse of Life Laugh Latte have thrown us a bone in the form of a "Lafawnda Picked You: Great Blog Award". Bow-WOW! If you haven't already had the pleasure of meeting Holly & Charisse, "make a hot cup of coffee, pull up a chair, and hang out with your two new girlfriends!" They have insightful and humorous articles about friendship, family, faith, things they love and things that make them laugh. They do a weekly "reality show" that is sure to keep you howling!

I'm tossing the frisbee to:

Bibiana at Free Guide for Busy Moms

Lysa at Pierogi & Popcorn

Jen @ Our Sweet Life...all things baking, kids, and life related

Pin It Now!

FREE VINTAGE ALPHABET CLIP ART

Heres a set of charming vintage nursery blocks from my collection.  Please feel free to download and use for non-commercial purposes. 

You're welcome to share your projects on the Rook No. 17 Facebook page.

 

Vintage Nursery Alphabet Blocks A-T

Download HERE

Vintage Nursery Alphabet Blocks U-Z

Download HERE

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pin It Now!