DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   This great tutorial was found at  www.lifeartcollide.blogspot.ie  .  Being a home haunter and loving Halloween, this  hit me right between the eyes, as something I've always wanted to do.  These are really cool and would make great pics to have around during Halloween. Make Your Own Freaky Family Portraits For Halloween Making your own freaky family photo arrangement is super simple using PSE (Photoshop Elements). You don't need any previous experience manipulating photos to create these fun portraits. Over the summer I scoured garage sales for used picture frames, never paying more than 50 cents per frame! Believe me, people were more than happy to get rid of them. I often went home with an armload for less than one dollar. Here are some of the before and after examples I used. The pictures are greatly altered in the final product so the original person is unrecognizable . To find suitable photos hop on the net and type "Victor...

Nightmare Before Christmas Jack in the Box Scary Toy Tutorial Supplies Needed: 1-Dollar Tree craft pumpkin 1- USPS Priority Mail Box 7"x7"x6" (free @ USPS)            1- Semi-rigid Aluminum Flexible Hose            1- Pink Foam Insulation Square 7"x7"x2" cut            12" PVC Pipe Segment           Air Dry Clay           Acrylic Paints           Sand (or Something to weight the bottom of the box)           Exacto Blade Approx. Cost:  $5 or less (Depending on what you already have at home) Time Invested:  3 hours

 This great idea was found at  www.thepaintedhive.blogspot.com  .  There are many, many uses for this.  Think big and good luck! MAGIC Decal Transfer Tutorial with Free Printables! As I'm sure some of you may remember, a little while back I posted a tutorial for  DIY waterslide decals . Amongst other things, I mentioned how wonderful they are for creating custom embellishments without the need for any fancy pants equipment. Yep, waterslide decal paper is a truly fab product, though as great as it is, there is one major drawback - it is not particularly durable. So, whilst it's perfect for ornamental purposes, it's not ideal for more practical applications....until now that is! Magic decal coating paper  is a complimentary product designed to be used in conjunction with standard decal paper to make the finished transfers durable - yes, even  dishwasher  resistant! If you're already familiar with magic decal coat...

This recipe comes form  www.studiodiy.com  .  These looked very nice and festive! Ingredients 200g almond flour 200g powdered sugar 80g egg whites 80g egg whites 200g regular sugar 80 ml water 1 vanilla bean pod, seeds scraped out 2-3 drops of peppermint extract Red food coloring (optional) Crushed Candy Canes (optional, for finishing) Directions Heat oven to 355F Separate egg whites ensuring there is absolutely no egg yolk. You may set the egg whites aside for 2-3 days in a refrigerator to “age”. Measure out egg whites into two small containers with 80g in each.   Measure out almond flour and powdered sugar; add to food processer or spice grinder and pulse. Once the sugar and almond flour is a fine texture, sift 2 times; add the vanilla seed scrapings, peppermint extract, and 80g of egg white, set aside.   Cook sugar with water in a pot over medium heat with candy thermometer. Gently swirl the water and sug...

    In Irish folklore, the Banshees are known as the ancestral spirits of the Fairy world. Their history extends way back into the dim and mysterious past.     Banshees are among the oldest Fairy folk of Ireland, associated as strongly as shamrocks and potatoes. Banshees, also known as Bean-Sidhe, were appointed to forewarn members of Irish families of impending death. Her prescence alone brings no harm or evil, but to hear a Banshee in the act of keening is to have witnessed the announcement of the death of a loved one. The Banshee's wail pierces the night and its notes rise and fall like waves over the countryside.     It is said that Banshees never appear to the one who is to die but to their loved ones. In times gone by she was seen washing human heads, limbs or bloody clothing until the water was dyed with blood. Over the centuries this image changed. The Banshee now paces the land, wringing her hands and crying. Sometimes ...

    Fiestas Patrias  is much like the American 4th of July in that it celebrates the creation of an independent country free of their colonial masters. Mexico's celebration of independence doesn't celebrate the actual day of independence but the call to be an independent nation. On September 16, 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo the parish priest of the small town of Dolores, issued his call for Mexicans to rise up and overthrow Spanish rule. This call for independence is known as " El Grito ", the cry, and is widely celebrated all over Mexico today. Today it is simply rendered as " Mexicanos, Viva Mexico " and the crowds answer back with loud cries of " Viva Mexico " and much celebrating. In Mexico City the president gives the " El Grito " to thronged masses gathered in the Zocolo and the same act is repeated in small towns and big cities across Mexico. Today in Mexico the " El Grito " is delivered on Sept. 15 around 11 PM fol...