B-Movie Star

Here's a few ideas I've seen around the web for updating your decor for fall.

The first ones are from Mad In Crafts - she has a fantastic tutorial for making these.  (and a good warning - don't burn the fake leaves!!) She has lots more easy and lovely ideas on her blog, so check all of them out!

She shows you how to get a similar look from Pottery Barn inspired decor - so easy to do, and it looks so nice and would be a wonderful centerpiece! I just love all the things she does with leaves!

This next one would actually be awesome for Thanksgiving - or any harvest party! Jelly Bean Indian Corn! The tutorial to make it can be found at Kelley Highway. Wouldn't these be so awesome as party favors - or even tuck a card into each one and use them as a name card holder! I am so planning to make these for Thanksgiving!

So it's summer, and the insects are out in full swing - and that includes those pesky mosquitoes! Man, I hate those things! I know when you go out early in the morning or in the evening to do your gardening, watering, what-have-you, because you're trying to beat the heat - THAT'S when those little buggers are most active! Guess you can't win - you're either hot or bitten, take your pick!

I know there are plenty of insect repellents on the market, but most of them seem kinda "iffy" as far as the chemicals they are using. I hate when they leave you smelling so unpleasant and feeling greasy. If you don't shower right away the smell can get on your furniture or bed clothes . . . yuck! Here are a few ideas that I ran across at Re-nest to keep the mosquitoes away:

1. Make friends with bats. Some bat species can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour! You can attract these beneficial bug eaters by installing a bat house in your yard. Visit Bat Conservation International for installation advice and to buy a shelter or get plans to build your own.

2. Grow catnip (and other plants). Plant some catnip (Nepeta cataria) in your garden; not only will it repel mosquitoes, but you'll get some pretty flowers, too. Other mosquito-repelling plants include rosemary, marigolds, citronella grass, and lemon balm.

3. Light a candle. If you're averse or allergic to citronella, or want something more beautiful (and, yes, more expensive) than the typical citronella candle bucket, you might like these mosquito repellent candles from Hillhouse Naturals. Made with soy and ingredients like eucalyptus, lemongrass, and mint, they come in concrete containers that can be reused as planters.

4. Buy a natural bug repellent. Conventional repellents contain the chemical DEET, which may be toxic and harmful to the environment. We've had good luck with the plant-based Repel Lemon Eucalyptus. For more alternatives, see the Daily Green's list of 7 Natural Insect Repellents.

5. Or blend your own. For a DIY mosquito repellent, you'll need essential oil and something to mix it with, like vodka, olive oil, or witch hazel. For best results, combine a few different essential oils such as lemon eucalyptus, citronella, cinnamon, cedarwood, and juniper.

They have a recipe at Mother Earth News if you feel like making your own repellent:

Herbal Insect Repellent

2 1/2 teaspoons total of any combination of the following essential oils: basil, cedarwood, citronella, juniper, lemon, myrrh, palmarosa, pine, rose geranium and/or rosemary (available at health food stores)

1 cup 190-proof grain alcohol (available in liquor stores)

Place ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously. Transfer to small bottles for storage. To use, rub a small amount on any exposed skin (test first to be sure your skin will not be adversely affected by the repellent) or dab it on clothing.

Experiment a little to find which essential oils work best with your body chemistry. If you’re lucky, you also will like the way they smell; otherwise, add a few drops of peppermint oil to fine-tune the fragrance.

And if you're feeling REALLY inspired and crafty here's a recipe from Positively Splendid, via  Tip Nut so you can make your own repellent candles (click on the image to go directly to the tutorial!)Good luck - I hope this helps keep you bite free this summer!

I ran across this today, and I just love the idea. I love doing little kind annonymous things like this - it probably gives me way more happiness than the person who is on the recieving end - that is the great thing about kindness though, it comes back to you so quickly and is usually doubled in size.  If you want to download a free copy of the Kindness Lolli-Flowers head over to kind over matter and you can, as they say, "Leave them around town, on door steps, you or your children can pass them out to your neighbors, give them to your grocery store or post office clerks, teachers - & the list goes on! Just print, cut, insert your favorite lollipop -- & give!"

So simple and wonderful - head over there!!!!

At the florists where my niece bought me some flowers they included a bottle of room spray. You can choose whatever scent you like and they will create the spray for you. You can take your bottle back and get refils when you run out. I thought that was a pretty cool idea, so I researched how I could make my own. I found this recipe at Re-nest and it's very simple and you can personalize it to whatever scent you like.

• 1 oz gin, vodka, or rubbing alcohol
• 6 oz filtered water
• 20 – 40 drops of essential oil (any scent you like!)

Simply mix in a spray bottle and spray around for instant freshness. This mix will keep well for at least a month.  I've been using bergamot, which smells very orangey and citrusy - it's cheerful and clean smelling without being overpowering, but I think Jasmine would be nice, or lavender for a bedroom would be relaxing - and since you're making your own, you can change it up whenever you like!

Need some quick tombstones to "liven" up the yard on Halloween (or would that be "deaden" up the yard?) Anyhoo . . . over at Evil Mad Scientist they show you how to make your own tombstones! Quick and Easy - just the way we like them!

I made these treat bag labels for my nieces and nephews and I thought you might like to use them to make some treat bags of your own.

Just click to download the free treat bag labels, print them out, (I recommend using cardstock, but paper will be fine, too) cut them out, fold and staple or tape onto plastic baggies or brown paper sacks filled with candy or other treat.

Your trick or treaters will appreciate that personal touch!

As a kid some of my favorite Halloween decorations were these little orange jackolanterns my mom made from construction paper. I didn't know for a long time that they were homemade - yet they were just simple paper jackolanterns with faces drawn on with magic markers.

If you have similar talents for constructing Halloween decorations, here are some great links to templates that you can print out and construct.

Cannon's website has lots of cool masks and decor. [More]

It’s important to plan ahead if you are making your own costume, don’t wait until the day of Halloween to start making your costume because you’ll always have some unforeseen problems that you probably could have avoided with a little bit of advanced planning. It’s best to plan early, and then double check all your supplies early on in the day so you can make a quick last minute trip to the store if you need to.

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This adorable skeleton can be yours - you just have to make him!

Aren't they so adorable?

The tutorial to make your own - surprisingly simple - is here at The Small Object!

These are so cute and seem really easy to make. Angry Chicken tells you how on her site.