Elle Design Cottage

Trick-or-Treat and a Halloween Tradition

I wanted to make the boys new trick-or-treat bags this year, and miracle of all miracles, I actually got them made before Halloween.  The pattern was a freebie from Craft Apple called The Lindie Bag.  You can get it here if you want to make some.  For the boys trick-or-treat bags, I just omitted the inside pocket since they won't be needing that.

 

I love the lining fabric as much as the outside:

   

Now, some of you are probably thinking they look pretty small, and they are, but I'm o.k. with that.  My kids aren't hard core trick-or-treaters...yet.  They get tired pretty easily and give up early if its too cold on Halloween. 

We also have a Halloween tradition at our house that has worked great!  We let our kids do the whole trick-or-treating thing and when they come back with their haul, they dump it out and choose the 5 pieces of candy they want the most (any any non-candy items).  Then, they put the rest it in a plastic sack and leave it on the front porch for Mr. Halloween, who looks just like Jack Skelington from The Nightmare Before Christmas, in case you didn't know.  Anyway, Mr. Halloween comes in the night and takes the candy and leave a surprise in return.  This year, we're hoping for enough candy to trade for a Lego set.  If the kids want to eat more candy than the alloted amount, we just tell them that there won't be much left to trade with Mr. Halloween and they have no problem putting the candy back in the bag!  SOOOOOO worth it!  No candy rationing for days on end, no "Owwww, mom my teeth hurt!" from cavities, and no sugar shock! 

So, here's wishing you all a fun & happy Halloween! 

So, it's been a while...and an announcement!

Sorry for the blog break, but dang, I've been busy!  Compliments of the recent blog break, I will soon be posting something I've been working on for more than a year.  This has been in the back of my mind for quite some time and I'm just now turning my vision into the real thing.  So, check back real soon for the unveiling of Elle Design Cottage's new product line. 

(As I'm typing this extremely short post, I ask my son to go check on his little brother, just make sure he's o.k. playing in his room.  His response:  "Ugh, Mom...you worry too much."  So, there you go.  I guess maybe I do worry too much.  Thank heavens for a 6-year-old to put me in my place.)

Outlet Covers: My first tutorial and Freebie Friday

As I tried to clean up my craft room this week, I came across some simple unfinished wood shapes that I bought a long time ago.  I know when I bought them I thought I'd come straight home and make them up.  Well, probably more than a year later, I'm finally getting to them. 

So, I decided to attempt my first tutorial.  Now, mind you, I know I'm not the best writer, so please bear with me.  Hopefully this is really an easy enough project, you won't have to depend on my writing skills to make some of these super cute outlet covers.  ***See the bottom of the post for a giveaway announcement***

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Any shape unfinished wood shapes
• plastic outlet safety plugs
• Mod Podge (I prefer the matte finish)
• scrapbook paper
• foam brush
• small piece of sandpaper or scrapbook sanding tool
• hot glue gun & glue

1.  Trim your paper down to just larger than the wood shape you're using. 

2.  Using your foam brush, put a thin layer of Mod Podge on the top of the wood shape and press onto the wrong side (white side) of your scrapbook paper.   Let the Mod Podge dry for about 15 minutes.

3.  Trim away the excess paper from around your wood shape.  I use an X-acto knife and a self-healing mat or cutting board to do this.  Just place your shape paper side down/wood shape on top and trace/cut away the excess.  Your edges will be rough, but we'll take care of that next.  If want a certain image centered on the shape, hold your image up to the light as shown below.  The dark space is the wood shape. 

4.  Using your sandpaper or sanding tool, lightly sand around the edges of your wood shape.  I always sand from the paper down to the wood so that it doesn't lift off the shape.  Hope that makes sense :)  I love the look of the sanded edges.  Here's what it looks like:

5.  Almost finished!  Now just put another thin layer of Mod Podge over the sanded wood shape.  If you want to put on more than one layer, just wait about 15 minutes between coats.  Otherwise you'll end up with bubbles. 

6.  Hot glue one plastic safety outlet cover to the back.  Embelish as desired. 

 

Now, so you can get a good visual...here's the outlet before...

SO BLAH...and after...

I love how this one turned out!  Use large enough shapes like this one, and both outlets are covered.  (I do not recommend putting buttons or small embelishments on these if you plan to use them in a room where a wee little one can get a hold of them as they pose a chocking hazard.)  These also make really cute magnets, just glue a magnet on instead of an outlet cover. 

NOW FOR THE GOOD PART...FREEBIE FRIDAY!

If you want to win a set of 4 of these cuties, just leave a comment on this post by Wednesday, July 16th at midnight.  I'll be giving away 2 sets of 4...one of the Thomas the Train, one of the pink/chocolate flowers.   The winners will be choosen using Random.org on Thursday, July 17th. 

Thanks for stopping by and bearing with me through my first tutorial.  Now go make something cute!