Thanksgiving Tablescape

I am so excited to host Thanksgiving at our house for the first time! I love getting together with family to celebrate all that God has given us. The Autumn harvest theme and delicious food is perfect to remind us of the abundance we have!

Thanksgiving is by no means all about decorations, but I love the look of elegant Thanksgiving tablescapes with earthy tones, candles, pretty details, and mixed metals. I think they portray the plentiful blessings we are celebrating! However, I wanted to achieve the look without breaking our holiday budget. I tried to work with what I had, could make, or found at the dollar store and thrift stores.

I wanted to share a few Tips that were helpful to me!

Layering- We are using our everyday white plates, but layering them creates a formal look. I added these little dessert plates I received as a gift for some detail.

I also stacked wood slices to create height to the table.

Nature- I love to mix earthy and rustic details with pretty or elegant ones.  Pinecones are all over the ground right now, so they made perfect and FREE materials! I scattered a few, and used some for place card holders as well. (Soak your pinecones in water, then dry out in 250F oven for 45 minutes to clean and dry them out!)

Dollar Store- I think Mercury glass and mixed metals are gorgeous aspects of Fall decor. However, they can be expensive. I found these candle holders at the Dollar Store! You never know what you can find there, or at a thrift store. I have also seen tutorials to create your own mercury glass such as this one! The green highball glasses are thrifted.

Repurposing- Candles are another item that can be pricy, so I reused the unity candles from our wedding for the table! They added the perfect amount of height. I also used a piece of cheap fabric as a tablecloth.

Details- There are also small details you could add that are inexpensive, but create a special occasion feel to your table. One such detail is paper straws! They come in so many colors and patterns, and are such a cute addition to an event.

Another special detail is place cards. There are so many simple DIY ideas out there. You don't even have to spend a dime on them! It was so fun to make these Turkey place card holders with pinecones and feathers. :)

Cloth napkins also add a formal special occasion feel to your table. These do not have to be extravagant. I purchased a pack of neutral napkins from HomeGoods last year for under $10. They work for almost any occasion and season!

My splurge was the adorable little felt acorns from My Posh Designs. 

Holiday tables do not have to be fancy or extravagant to make a meal special. But, if you enjoy pretty details and decorations for your events, the look can be achieved without spending too much time and money! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with loved ones, I know our family sure has much to be Thankful to the Lord for this year!

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2015 Christmas Cards

I'm so excited to be launching our first Christmas Card collection this year! I love seeing all the different card designs we get in the mail from loved ones, and displaying them through out the season.

There are 4 different designs available for order individually or in sets. You can order an assortment, or all one design! Kraft Brown envelopes are included. The cards are available for pre order today, and will be shipped the week of Thanksgiving!

You can place an order any time, but those who pre order TODAY ONLY, will receive 10% their order!

Pricing:

1-12 cards: $2.50 each + shipping

12-24 cards: $2.25 each + shipping

24 or more cards: Contact me for pricing

To Order:
Contact me at Jacqmurdock@yahoo.com with the quantity, your name and address, and specify which designs you'd like to receive. 

How To: Apple Stamped Tissue Paper

I love the details of pretty gift wrap, but I don't like to spend a lot on it. I'd rather invest more in the gift I'm giving, so I usually purchase a package of plain Kraft gift bags and add my own details to achieve a more elaborate look. 

It's apple season, so the fruit is readily available as a craft supply-- apple stamps! As a child, I was fascinated when I discovered the star shape the apple core makes when cut in half. I loved it so much, I started stamping things with it!  I still use the method now to jazz up plain tissue paper!

You will need:

1 Apple

Knife

Craft Paint in desired colors

Paper Plate

White Tissue Paper

Newspaper or Scratch Paper

1. Cut the apple in half horizontally. Remove the seeds from the apple core. I used a toothpick to do this. You want the "stars" as hollow as possible to create a stamp. 

2. You can use the entire apple halves as stamps, but I prefer to cut some of the excess off. Cut around the core to create a circle or pentagon shape. Pour desired paint colors onto paper plate. 

I love the olive green and blush pink trend that's popping up everywhere for fall!

3. Lay out a sheet of tissue paper completely unfolded onto of newspaper or scratch paper. The paint will bleed through, so protect your surface.

Dip the apple stamp into the paint.  I used a sheet of scratch paper to blot some excess paint out of the stamp before stamping the tissue paper. Carefully press the stamp down on the tissue paper and pull straight up to remove. Repeat randomly all over the tissue paper. 

Use one color of paint at a time. Rinse and pat the stamp dry between each color. 

4. Once you've filled the sheet of tissue, allow it to dry. Then, fold up your pretty new patterned paper to store, or use right away with a coordinating color!

These simple stamps add such a fun detail to plain gift wrap. The gift bag could be stamped too! This project is so easy, it would be great for kids to try too!

Pumpkin Cake Donuts with Cream Cheese Glaze

I love how pumpkin spice treats just taste like Fall! Plus the flavors go so perfectly with cream cheese  frosting. There is nothing like pumpkin donuts and hot apple cider for breakfast on a chilly Fall morning. 

These donuts are so quick to make, and very easy to eat...too many! ;)

Donuts:

1 Stick plus 3 Tbls softened Butter

2 2/3 Cups Sugar

4 Eggs

1- 15 oz can Pumpkin

2/3 Cup Water

3 1/3 Cups Flour

1/2 Tsp Baking Powder

2 Tsp Baking Soda

1 1/2 Tsp Salt

2 Tsp Cinnamon

2 Tsp Cloves

Cream Cheese Glaze:

4 oz Cream Cheese melted

2 Cups Powdered Sugar

1/4 Cup Milk

Directions: 

Heat Oven to 400F. Grease donut pan. 

Blend flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices in a mixing bowl and set aside. 

Mix sugar and butter together. Add eggs, pumpkin, and water and mix until just combined. 

Add flour mixture and mix.

Spoon batter into a ziplock bag, and seal bag. Cut off one corner of the bag and pipe batter in a donut pan. 

Bake for 10-12 minutes. Test with a toothpick or fork to make sure donuts are cooked through. 

Set donuts on a cooling rack and allow to cool. 

To make glaze, beat melted cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk until smooth.

While donuts are still slightly warm, dip each donut in glaze and allow to dry. 

Makes about 2 dozen small donuts. 

How To: Gold Starred Pumpkin

I have been adding fall touches around our house, and I think my favorite autumn element is pumpkins! I adore little white pumpkins and stout Cinderella ones. I decided to add a gold touch to my white pumpkin with stars. 

You will need:

White Pumpkin

Gold Craft Paint

Paint Brush

Tape

Scissors

Printer

Computer Paper

1. First, I googled "star outline" to use as a template. I saved the image in a Word document and repeated the star 12 times to give me enough stars to cover the pumpkin. Print the template.

2. Cut squares from the paper with one star on each square. Do not let any of the points touch the edge. 

3. Cut the stars out of the squares without cutting into the square from the edge. The best way to do this is to fold the paper in half and make a snip in the center of the star to get you started. 

4. Tape  each star stencil in various spots around the pumpkin. Add tape to each side to make the stencil lay as flat as possible. 

5. Using a paintbrush, carefully blot gold  paint over each stencil. I also painted the stem gold. 

6. Give the paint a few minutes to start drying, then carefully remove each stencil. I removed the stencils before the paint was completely dry in case there was any smudging to wipe off. Wipe off smudges with a damp paper towel. 

I love how this turned out for an indoor decoration!