The Annual Creative Captions Contest with Free Vintage Clipart

D: Drusilla Duck was one mean Mother Ducker!

Last October I shared these sweet images from my set of vintage alphabet blocks and asked readers to create witty captions for them for a chance to win a prize.  I was completely bowled over by the creativity, cleverness, and wickedly funny contributions that were shared!  

I'm in great need of some comic relief these days, and with the hustle and hubbub of the holidays nearly upon us, I think we could all use a lighthearted chuckle.  So, I'm pleased to announce that the contest is back for another go-round.  

Rules?  Not too many rules really.  Just keep it clean.  Innuendo is fine (even encouraged), but let's swear off  swear words, eh?  You can enter as many captions as you'd like.  Contest closes at midnight PST on Wednesday, November 3.    I left last year's entries up to help get your gears turning.  Enjoy and have FUN!

Rook No. 17 Creative Captions Contest 2010

Calling on the witty, the clever, the irreverent & silver-tongued: You're invited, encouraged, and hereby goaded into contributing captions for any  of the images below.

The authors of my two favorite captions will win bragging rights and will each get a 1-year subscription to Better Homes & Gardens Magazine

TO ENTER YOUR CAPTION, SIMPLY CLICK THE HIGHLIGHTED AREA THAT SAYS "CLICK HERE TO ENTER" BELOW THE LETTER YOU WISH TO CAPTION.

"Aunt Annie Anteater attracted ants with an alembic of apple alcohol." Polly @ The 5th Sister

"Billy Bear begs bee for a bucketful of beehive’s burden" ~ Polly @ The 5th Sister

"C is for Confused: For the last time kid, I'm NOT your mother!" ~ Rook No. 17

E "An elephant's life is not easy...how am I going to get out of this hammock?" ~ Holly at 504 Main

"F is for: Flagrant Flamingo Fishes for Flamboyant Faries." ~ MJ @ Dirty Little Confessions

"G - Giselle the Giraffe Googled Gaby The Goose with Gusto" ~ Ms Bibi

"G - In the tight confines of the freight car it was entirely likely that Gert would get Goosed"

"H: Better run faster the dude I stole the jacket from is coming." ~ Holly at 504 Main

"I - 'Eat your heart out' is a figure of speech Irv, a figure of speech!"

K: "He's your son...do something about it" ~ Holly at 504 Main

L: "Lunch" ~ Holly @ Hip, Stylish & Totally Cool Weddings

"M - Miner McClosky agonized over whether or not to have his Mole removed"

"O: Did you realize how fast you were hopping...Drivers License and registration , please." ~ Holly at 504 Main

"O: Obvious -- the best way to hunt at night is not to approach one's prey with a flashlight."

S is for Saying Goodbye ~ Saul and Selma said goodbye to the country, and inched toward the City. There no one would question their love!

"U: Does this horn make my butt look big? " Honey Mommy

"W is for Wisecracker: Excuse me Miss, do you have any Grey Poupon?" ~ Me

Z ~ Zane Zebra hangs his head in remorse, "A Brazilian wax? What was I thinking?"

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The Witch, The Devil and Miss Dottie ~ Memoirs of a Trick-or-Treater Scared Silly

When you were a child, was there one house in your neighborhood where the people there put a little something extra into the trick-or-treat experience?  Maybe it was some extra spooky decorations (back in the day before you could purchase movie quality Halloween props at your local big box store).  Perhaps it was a simple mask or some creepy organ music cranked up from a cassette deck?  This post is dedicated to the purveyors of TRICKS (as well as treats) from my childhood, for whom there will always be a special place in my heart...

It is often said that things appear much larger through the eyes of a child.  I'm sure this was the case with my first Halloween memory.  I was five years old, trick-or-treating in our neighborhood in Culver City, CA.  There was one house that all the children spoke about with trepidation -- "The Witch's House".  I have no memory of what this house may have looked like by day.  It must have gone through some sort of magical transformation at night.  By day, an average single-story, 1960s construction house, by night ~ a putrid, glowing green Gothic mansion with no less than 500 steps twisting and turning up to the threshold.  I never made it up those steps.  I stood about half way, petrified, yet unable to look away as the other children continued on, knocked on the door, and were greeted by an eerie cackle, and the exact likeness of the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.  I'd love to go back in time, see that house, those steps, and that witch, and see just how much my 5 year old imagination embellished!

When I was six, my family moved up North to the quiet golf resort community of Pebble Beach.  Most people in our neighborhood were retired, and the rest of the homes were second homes, visited only during the warm part of the year.  There weren't many children in the neighborhood, so trick-or-treating was a very low-key affair.  But there was this one house -- The Devil's House -- that was the topic of much excited discussion between me and my brothers in the weeks leading up to Halloween, and was always the highlight of our night.    


Here's how the scene played out at the "Devil's House":  After much debate and cajoling, one of us would meekly knock on the door and immediately retreat back to the rest of the group.  The door would slowly creek open and a gnarled red hand would appear.  Then suddenly, the door would be thrust open, and the face of "The Devil" would appear.  This man, who to us looked about 9 feet tall, in his red rubber mask, never spoke a word, but merely beckoned us with one taloned finger, while holding a full-size candy bar with the other.  He could have offered us a single tiny Tootsie Roll, and we still would have eaten-up his performance (but the big candy bar sure was a nice payoff for being scared out of our wits)!

My last special memory is of our neighbor, Miss Dottie, a widow who lived down the street.  She didn't wear a mask, play spooky music, or scare the wits out of anyone.  In fact, she did quite the opposite.  Miss Dottie provided me with my first "Martha Moment".  When you trick-or-treated at Dottie's, you didn't just stand their at the door, you were invited in.  The grown-ups were offered a glass of wine, and there were bowls of popcorn and delicious lemonade for the children.  Was the lemonade fresh squeezed?  I don't know.  Was the popcorn imbued with magical properties?  Probably not.  But, what I recall is that the lemonade and popcorn were the most delicious that I ever tasted.  The house had a warmth and spirit that was magical, and it was the first time in my life that I remember thinking how wonderful hospitality and being a generous hostess could be, and how I wanted to be like that when I grew up.

With all of these memories, all it took was a mask, some makeup, or some warm salted popcorn to create this Halloween "magic".  The "Witch", the "Devil" and Miss Dottie knew this sort of "magic" was possible.  They set the stage, lit the lantern, and carved out a very special place in my heart.

Who are the special "spirits" from your childhood?

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This post is linked-up to Halloween Happenings over at my favorite source for the best blogging tips:

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HALLOWEEN ALPHABET BLOCK GUEST POST & FREE CLIPART

I must admit, I'm just two pigtails shy of being as giddy as a schoolgirl -- Today my very first, official guest post is being hosted!  Yippidee-doo-dah!  


So set down those bonbons; put "Real Housewives" on pause (tee hee), and pay a visit to Bekah at Reflections...on Living Creatively.

HALLOWEEN ALPHABET BLOCK DIY PROJECT

You'll get the lowdown on how to make your own custom ABC blocks and can download some free vintage scrap sheets as well!


While you're there, be sure to leave Bekah a comment to let her know you dropped by, and check out some of her "Best of" page.  If you're an avid reader, you won't want to miss her "Bookshelf". Pin It Now!

QUOTH THE RAVEN, "MAKE SOME MORE" ~ POE INSPIRED HALLOWEEN CRAFT

I've been a tremendous fan of Edgar Allan Poe ever since I read The Cask of Amontillado in a high school English class.  I went on to devour many of his short stories, poems, and knew my husband was "the one" when he took me to a stage adaptation of The Telltale Heart for our first date.  So, I thought it only fitting that one of my Halloween crafts this year pay homage to the master of the macabre.

To make your own dark-winged harbinger, follow the easy instructions below:

Materials

1 papier mache skull (I purchased mine from Michael's for $1.99)

Book pages from Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven (free download below)

Matte Mod Podge

DecoArt Americana Staining Antiquing Medium (found at most craft stores)

DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint in "Cocoa"

1 faux black bird (I found mine at the Dollar Tree)

Fine black glitter

27" off white crepe paper streamer (cut into 3 9" lengths)

Black thread, needle

Paper mask (download below)

paint brushes, paper towels, hot glue gun, scissors

Step 1:  Tear strips of book page printouts and attach to skull using Mod Podge (Reserve  one piece that says, "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore" -- set aside for later).  Continue until entire skull is covered. Dry.  

Note:  I used an image of a raven from my Poe collection as an ornament between the eyes (free download below).  Also, I used Poe's signature for the mouth (free download below).

Step 2:  Mix 1 part staining medium with 1 part Cocoa paint.  Using a paper towel, rub a small amount of stain mixture on skull to achieve desired antiqued look. Use dry portion of paper towel to buff the entire skull and remove any excess antiquing medium.  Dry.

 

Step 3:  Remove plastic eyes from faux bird.  While still on the paper base and using a paint brush, cover entire bird (except legs) with Mod Podge.  Hold bird over a small dish or piece of newspaper and cover liberally with fine black glitter.  Shake off excess and return to container.  Allow bird to dry.  Once dry, remove legs.  Using hot glue gun, glue bird to the top of the skull.

Step 4:  To make the collar, stack the three 9" strips of crepe streamer on top of one another.  Sew a running stitch down the center of the streamer.  Leave enough thread on both sides to gather later.  Trim one side just under the stitching.  Trim other side to approx. 1/4".  Pull both sides of thread to gather.  Tie around the neck of the bird.  Separate and fluff as desired.

Step 5:  As a final touch, cut out and glue mask.  Using scissors or a craft knife, separate the bird's beak into a top and bottom piece so you can insert the reserved strip of paper (the one that says "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore").  Glue in place.

Below you'll find free downloads for this craft.

Click on the image above to copy the .jpg image of the mask(s)

Click on the image above to copy the .jpg image of Poe's signature

Click on the image above to copy the .jpg image of the Raven

Below you'll find the book pages needed for the decoupage:

The Raven POE Pin It Now!

Easy Felt Trick or Treat Bucket -- Guest Post from ModistaModesta

Please join me in welcoming Sonia of ModistaModesta as a guest blogger here at Rook No. 17.   Sonia taught herself to sew at the age of 11, which she soon followed with quilting, cross-stitch, embroidery, stamping, scrap booking, and beading. That's one crafty bird!  She works for Cochenille.com, a company that produces software for textile artists.  This talented mom has a degree in Fashion Design and currently has some of her original PDF sewing patterns available for sale online (click HERE). 

Today, Sonia has generously offered to share her 

FREE tutorial (and pattern) for making a felt Halloween Bucket!

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Hi I'm Sonia from ModistaModesta and I'm very glad to be here as a guest of Jenn's. I hope you enjoy the following tutorial:

After spending hours hunting down or sewing the perfect halloween outfit, you don't want to accessories it with a big orange plasitc pumpkin do you? You don't need to be an expert sewer to make this Easy Felt Trick or Treat Bucket.

Click here to download the sewing pattern and Ghost, Pumpkin and Bat graphics.

You will need: 1/2 yard of Felt - the color of your base fabric Small pieces of Felt of the other color you want to use 1/2 yard or so of Wonder under

Fabric Markers (optional)

Fabric Glue (optional) Get Started: Print and put together the pattern pieces. Print and cut out any clip art images you will use. Cut 1 Bucket body piece on the fold Cut 1 Strap on the fold Cut 1 Bottom circle (single)

Working with Wonder Under: When you purchase it at the store you can ask for a sheet of directions. Wonder Under is webbing that has glue on both sides. It allows you to glue fabric on fabric. This process is call Applique. First take the clip art images you cut out, place them upside down on the side that has the paper (the other side will feel bumpy). Trace your images:

Cut them out:

With your iron on Wool setting iron your graphic to the wrong side of your fabric. If you dont' have directions you just put your iron down and press firmly for 5 to 8 seconds then pick up and move to another section of the image until you have ironed the entire image.

Let it cool, and then remove the paper backing from your fabric:

Position your fabric image right side up on the bucket where you would like it arranged. Iron in the same manner as before to glue it to the bucket body.

If you have images that need some extra detail you can use fabric markers to draw it in:

Sewing the Bucket: Fold the bucket body right sides together. Pin the side seam, and Sew it:

Pin the circle bottom on to the bucket bottom, and Sew seam:

Fold strap in half lengthwise, and stitch a long seam along the edge:

Pin Straps to bucket:

Sew Two rows of stitching on the strap, the first along the top edge of the bucket and the second along the bottom edge of the strap. Repeat for second side of strap.

(optional: if you don't want to use the wonder under - you can use fabric glue, I have used it in the past, It's fast but I don't like that the edges will curl up if you don't get enough glue along the edge of your fabric images. So if you use glue make sure to get a lot along the edges.) You can get really creative with your images drawn or use transfer sheets, or have your children draw on a paper cut it and turn it upside down to transfer it to the wonder under backing.

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I've linked-up this tutorial at Fabric Fun Thursday!

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