WOW.....my muse has even been a changing.....ME!!!!

Good morning peoples!! WOW....Mother Nature has been in a tezzie here lately, hasn't she? In the past month we have had TWO computer monitors zapped by one of her serious leaking sessions. (that's a thunderstorm peoples...in case ya didn't know) I have to admit that the first one was a bit of a dinosaur and we were blessed that it lasted as long as it did AND the second one was WELL found at a yard sale for $5 and ya really can't beat that. (even if it did only last about two weeks) The mister and the Chazman went out yesterday to try and find another $5 one and OMGOSH...they DID!!! This one came from the thrift store and *giggle giggle* is exactly like our old original dinosaur but HEY, it works and that makes me happy happy!! Happy that I can once again thrill ya'll with tales of my muse. Plus, I have missed YOU!!

She has been a busy lil thing too in more ways than one. (shaking head) First, the newest witch ooaks where the witch WAS going to be a sweet Glenda (like the one from the wizard of Oz) has turned into Glenda the Glitch. HEHE....that suggestion came from one of my human muses, Johanna. Thank you thank you!! I'm not going to give to much away just yet as I want to make sure you come back to read the final posting of their story. Come back everyday to keep following along with their WIP images too though, please!! I will show some WIP images now to catch you up to just where I am at the moment. (so much can happen in a week..geez)

Apparently LuLu wanted center stage for this shot. Lil Diva!! Glenda seems to be wondering why she's in the back ground herself.

Notice Glenda's hand behind her back? What's up with that??

 Candy corn, candy apple, popcorn ball, Abba-Zaba candy bar (vintage candy...ya'll are probably to young to remember it. HEY...even I'm to young to remember it. hehe) and some peanut butter taffy.

Purrrrfect goodie stash in purrrfect bucket.

 LuLu stands from the bottom of her foot to the tip of her bunny ear at 6 inches.

 

Bahaha..looks like she has her tongue stuck out in this one but it's a piece of fur from her hood. She does actually have her mouth a little open and if you look close (in person) you can see her teeth and tongue.

Now you know where little Miss LuLu got her cute bunny pj's from at Christmas time. It was her Halloween costume first. ^_^   I'm really happy with how she turned out. I must admit it was FUN making the candy and pumpkin too. I found this design looking through some links of vintage candy containers. It wasn't a trick or treaters carrier in the images but an actual candy container. I think it turned out just purrrfect for LuLu!!

Today, I'm going to be working on Glenda and even though she has (looking around) turned out to be more like the wicked witch of the west, she's still going to be dressed in style. HEY...I already had my material picked out for her costume when Ms Muse decided to change her from good to ummm not so good. Oh well, even bad girls like to look good. (no pun intended there) WIP images as she comes along in future post.

Now....as for what my title means....that my muse has even changed....ME!! Most that have been coming to visit under the old Southern ooak knows that for several years I have been just letting my hair turn it's natural grey. Most thought it was actually frosted which was a good thing for me but I KNEW it wasn't so back to the grey issues. HAHA!!  Several weeks ago I decided that I didn't want to be grey anymore (or rather my muse whispered in my ear I didn't) so I colored it. WOW...what a difference it made and WOW...what a shock looking in the mirror every morning at first forgetting that I wasn't grey. It's back to what my color was when I was younger and I do like it but "THE MUSE" thought I still needed something apparently and we went and got a haircut. WOW again.....I look like a completely different person and I must admit that I really do like it. I now match my whimsical, quirky inside self. Want to see the transformation? For once I'm glad my muse was pushy. Well...she and my friend, Ricki but she pushes in a loving way not the bossy way. ^_^

We have a new member of the family now too which is why this post has taken me about 3 hours to complete...haha....when it shouldn't have taken more than thirty minutes but ya gotta luv on them when they want it. You know how cats can be. ^_^  Yeppers, we have a new little kitten and when I say little I do mean L I T T L E. Her name is Piwacket Jinx Purrsalot. (the Chazman helped name her. Can ya tell?) She will be called Piwacket though and is already coming when she hears her name. She is a black tortoise shell and has these HUGE ears and six toes on her front feet. I have already been warned that since she does have those "thumbs" that she will be able to get into cabinets, drawers or just about anything we can get in to. What FUN!!! Thank goodness I have my big glass cabinet to keep all my ooaks in. Even I have a hard time opening that and the handles are high up on the doors. She's looking at me right now and I can just hear her thinking "Yeah. right mom, just keep on thinking that. hiss hiss hiss".

Well....the little Pi has gone to sleep so I think now's a good time to start working on my witch. I hope that ya'll will come again and soon. So happy to be back under the old Southern ooak!!

Until next time...........Hugs,
Regi

35 Lil mummies in a box...ready to wreak havoc!!! Muahahaha

Finally....FINALLY...I have finished all 40 lil mummies. What a project and one that I swaney just kept growing and growing..hehe.  The Chazman is very happy that he will have a surprise to take to the class Halloween party later this month and if my lil man is happy....then...I am happy, happy, HAPPY too!!!

If you are new here and would like to have your kiddo say "I want my mummy umm I mean mommie to make some too" then just click HERE to see my How To post.

I could not believe that I actually got 36 of these lil fellas to fit inside the box. That is the real number that the Chazman needed but he wanted a few extras. The extra ones will just travel in a paper bag. Not just a plain bag either. HEY....ya'll know me and ya know I can NOT send a plain old paper bag. HEHE

I'm using my old painted box that I have been using for several years now and it's going to work perhaps this one more time for us. I need to start saving boxes again because you never know when ya need one. Love to recycle!! I did do some touch up and added some new images so it doesn't look to banged up. If it does though then that will only add to the character. I mean the mummies are traveling from Egypt!!  HeHe

The worse part of the box was the original outside flaps.....soooo...I made them the inside flaps this time. I covered them in a cardstock newspaper print and added some cute little tags over that. Now when the box is opened they won't see where I have pulled old images off......several times!!

So here are the inside flaps that are now the outside flaps. Have I confused ya yet? 

Added some cute little side images. 

The end package....all ready to be hand delivered!! The little mummy tag has written on it "Open at your own risk".  I so hope the kiddos will enjoy their mummy candy containers. Each one is filled with Smarties, a Skellie Pop and a bag of bones...candy bones that is. Muahahahahahaha (evil laugh or perhaps just a giggle)

Now that these guys are totally and completely finished I can work on the Tooth Faerie assistants. So far I have a monkey, cat and frog all sewed up. A dragon is all stuffed and patiently waiting to be put together. I'm going to make a rabbit and a bear and then I can start painting them. I still won't be finished with them because I have to make their little pouches. The pouches that will hold those baby teeth as they come out that need the Tooth faerie to collect. Ya don't know what Tooth Faerie assistants are? Come back to visit and find out. ^_^

Until next time.............Hugs,

Regi

Whatcha doin?

I'm rather nosey curious, aren't I? I admit it...I am...but HEY if ya don't ask ya won't know!! What have I been up to, you ask back? Well...let me tell you ^_^  I have been working on more Halloween tags for here at home. I'm trying to really decorate for the Chazman this year...he is really getting into the whole decorating theme. LOVE IT!! I made tags for containers I have in the kitchen.

You'e already seen the Vampire Blood decanter but I decided to offer some real treats too. The large jar in the back..yes..the one with the blue top...it's tag says "Bat Ears...Dried and Salted" (To improve your hearing)  It has dry roasted peanuts in it. See...even this quirky whimsy can come up with a few good ideas, ri iight??  The smaller one that is obviously empty at the moment WILL have some malted milk balls added to it. It's tag says, "Bat Droppings" hehe.

Here's Mummy Bear with his friend Hap the Happy pumpkin. (yes...the Chazman has to name then all) and the tag that goes with this grouping. Poor bear must have eaten the honey even though it plainly stated it was "POISON". Silly old bear!!!

Love my little ceramic pumpkin with it's ring of ghosties. It was my grandmothers...she gave it to me over 30 years ago. The glass vintage container sitting with it holds...drum roll please...dadadadadadadada...(taking breathe)....dadadadadadadad....."Fur of the Were Wolf". HEY...ya never know when that stew might call for a pinch. ^_^  BLECK!!!

I love vintage and old things...can ya tell? Huh Huh...can ya? This glass stopper bottle was my great grandmothers and for now it's holding "Wanda's Witches Brew". The owl is one of the vintage Halloween postcards that I have on file....printed out on cardstock.  Decorating can be so easy!!

My dang printer ran out of ink so I had to make these by hand but that's alright because they actullay go better with the white ghosties. The tall glass container has red twizzlers and the sign says " Bloody Skeleton Bones". The open glass container will have chocolate wrapped eyes and it's tag says "Fresh Plucked Eyeballs" and the last container will have homemade peanut butter roll cookies and it's tag says "Witches Warts". HEY...I could use some of the Werewolf fur to make them look like warts....just kidding!! I'm afraid the Chazman would eat them anyways. YIKES!!

The Chazman loved them all when he saw them this afternoon after we came in from school. Of course he wanted to know where all the goodies were that went with the tags. Ahhem...I will have to get some and make sure that I have lots of extra. Ohhh have ya'll met the Chazman yet? Here he is. Can you guess which one is him?  HEHE

Until next time..........Hugs,
Regi and the Chazman!!

Free Shipping!!

I did it yet AGAIN!!! Let time fly on past!! I didn't realize that my last post was last Wednesday...YIKES!! I do so appreciate YOU stopping by to visit with me and I sure want to be here when you do..so please forgive!!

Not much going on under the old Southern Ooaks trees since Wednesday except drawing out twenty-five stinky feet, twenty-five blue, blue eyes and twenty-five candy container toppers. Then having to cut out twenty-five pairs of stinky feet, twenty-five pairs of blue, blue eyes and twenty-five candy container toppers. Did I happen to mention there were TWENTY-FIVE of each to deal with. WHEW!!! The Chazman has a big class this year. I'm soooo not going to complain though as I have the feeling this will be the last year to make them for his classmates. That doesn't mean I can't make them to give out at the door next year..hehe!!

This is what twenty-five of each looks like...that's a whole lot of drawing, water coloring, outlining and then cutting out. Again...WHEW!!!!  I mentioned in my last post that the Chazman had said that some classmates didn't want to tear their mummies so I made a topper for them this year. One side (tab) will be glued to the holder and then I will put a small string tie on the other side so that they can just untie it to get to their "TREATS".

Figured since I made them where they can keep them that they needed a way to remember just where their TREAT came from. Mummies live in sarcophagus or perhaps in dark caves so I thought the bats appropriate. Now...all I have to do is get them all wrapped up...HAHA...get it....mummies...WRAPPED up!! I just kill myself sometimes with my quirky sense of humor. ^_^

Since this month is the month of my birth. (not celebrating it anymore...to ancient) I am having FREE SHIPPING in my Etsy shop starting today until October 31st. You want to go look....you want to order something...you just have to have something..oh yes YOU DO. (is my subliminal message working?) When placing that order (you just have to have) simply enter FREEFLY for free shipping.

Until next time..............HUGS,
Regi AND the twenty-five stinky feet, twenty-five blue,blue eyes and the twenty-five candy container toppers.

Treat or Treat Smell those feet!!! ^_^

I made these cute Li'l Mummies last year for the Chazman's school Halloween party and they were a BIG HIT!! I thought that I would reshare with ya'll on how to make some for your kiddo's party this year. Make these and they will be screaming "I LOVE MY MUMMY" ummm I mean mommy ^_^

Isn't he a cutie? Soooo simply to make and I'm going to prove it to you. By request of a friend (one that doesn't want to be named...I think she plans on making them and wants her child to think she did it all on her own...LOL...I don't mind...I love to share) I'm going to do a tut for you. OMGOSH...a tut....on a mummy....get it????  Tut...Mummy.....King Tut!! OK so I'm quirky...ya knew that already...let's get started.

Here are the supplies you will need. Most you may have on your messy desk already. You will need.......

Card stock paper

Pencil

Fine point marker

Watercolor pencils (small brush) or crayons

Scissors

Crepe Paper (or creepy paper as the Chazman calls it)

Toilet Tissue holder

Assortment of Candy

Now.......... if you aren't one to save those empty toilet tissue holders (GASP...I can't believe that everyone doesn't) then no worries. You can make some using your card stock paper. A toilet tissue holder is a tad over 4 inches long...that makes a good mummy body....so here's what you do..

If you do have ONE toilet tissue holder then place it on your cardstock paper and mark the length or if not then take a ruler and mark off 4 inches. 

Cut your paper and then roll around the empty holder or if no holder then just roll up until you think it looks like a toilet tissue holder. Imaginations people...imaginations!!! ^_^  You can tape the seams or glue them. Me personally...I would tape them...much faster!!!

Since this is a "Trick or Treat...Smell my Feet" mummy then we need some stinky feet. I like to do one original pattern on cardboard (that way I can keep it for future use) and just trace the outline and fill it in where I need to. This is if you are doing several of something...which I am in this case.....24 to be exact. You are more than welcome to copy and save my pattern and use if you like. Remember..I like to share!! To make your original pattern, take your holder and place it on the paper and trace around the bottom. Then simply add some toes. Also, something I did a bit different with my original pattern this time was to add three tabs to it. Add one at the back and two at the sides so that you can glue or tape them to the roll a whole lot easier. Repetition sure does make you readjust things..hehe  I go over my pencil tracings with a fine point marker. Then I use my watercolor pencils to add some "age" around the toenails. For the eyes I just do a bubble (make sure you measure on the holder how big you need to make the bubble) and then draw my eyes inside it. I use my watercolor pencils to add some color to them. Crayons will work just as well for this...especially if little hands are helping you. 

After you have cut out the feet and bubble face....you place the feet on the holder. I like to add a small piece of paper under the feet inside the holder to give it some support for when you add the candy. Don't let it come out on the side with the toes...there will be enough support for that side. I then take a piece of the crepe paper and glue it across the feet and up the sides of the holder. Turn over and glue on your bubble eyes. 

I know everyone has their way of doing things but I always like to give the right way  suggestions and tips that I have come across. Do not open the crepe paper...I mean...yes you have to open it but do not take the wrapper off of it. It is easier to use if you cut the center and pull the paper out like a tissue box. I pull about 3 arm lengths out when making one mummy...seems like a lot but wrapping a body takes some paper. Even the small bodies..^_^ Also, if you don't just happen to have any laying around, I found mine at Wal-Mart in the party section for .97  If you have a Dollar Tree close by you can get a double pack for $1...even better!!

Now back to mummy. Take the end of your long piece of crepe and fold into a triangle and put glue on it. Place just inside the holder off to the side. 

Now place the candy inside the holder. I put about 4 different kinds inside...it's really all up to you but you don't want it to heavy. Once the candy is inside then you take the crepe paper and wrap it twice around the openings...start the wrapping at the bottom and going up the other side to the top and back over. You can pick up the mummy while doing this but sit it back down once you have it started so that you can tighten the paper some around it. Be gentle!!

Once you have wrapped the openings then you can start to wrap the body. I wrap one time all around the holder with the crepe paper flat. You will have to twist the paper near the eyes. We don't want to cover up his eyes...now do we? Once you have wrapped the body completely then you will take the crepe paper and fold it in half and start to wrap it again. The folding makes it look more like mummy wrappings. Keep wrapping until you get to a small tail that will hang over the top of the mummy.

Take some glue and apply to the top and then press the tail over and let it hang down the side. I like to cut it and make it look like old strips of wrapping.

Mummy should look like this...or close to it. Now he would be great to give like this but the Chazman wanted a tag with the saying "Trick or Treat...Smell my Feet" on him. So I sat down and drew out a tag...a simple one and you are more than welcome (AGAIN) to copy and use mine. I ran mine through my printer so it is two sided. One side with the saying and one side with the cute scrapbook Halloween paper print. (the one behind the finished mummy pic) I also aged the tag..well..it is going on a mummy!! I just tied it around the mummy and it's that simple.

Don't ya think it's an easy project? Ok ok...maybe if you copy and paste and take all my babblings out then it would be but I just have to babble.

New note:  The Chazman said that some of the kiddos didn't want to tear it open to get to the candy  last year. They wanted to keep their Li'l Mummies....Ahhhh..made my heart swell ^_^.  I'm thinking that this year I will make just a circle for the top....make sure it has a long flap piece on one side to glue to the roll. Wrap it in some crepe paper by itself before attaching to the roll. Once mummy is all wrapped...take and poke a hole in the top piece on the opposite side of the head and the top of the mummy and pull some twine through and make a bow. That way they can flip the mummy's top, eat their candy and keep their mummy intact.  I have "GULP" twenty-five (25) Li'l mummies to make this year. I'm happy to do it because I know there will be a time coming (soon) that the Chazman will think he is too big for mummy mommy to make things for him to take to school!!!

Even newer note: It seems the Chazman does NOT think he is too old just yet for mummies to be made to give to his classmates this year. I told him (very excitedly) that I would love to make some and how many did I need to make. He said "Ohhhh only about 35". Good Golly Miss Molly...today is September 25th (2013) so I had better get started.

Until next time.........HUGS,
Regi

Trick or Treat...Smell my feet

I just love this time of year...Halloween is so much FUN!!! The Chazman's class is having a party on the 31st and he wanted me to "make" something for him to take. OF course, it couldn't just be cookies or cupcakes. I'm a good cook...I love to cook...cookies and cupcakes would be a good thing, ri iight?? He wanted me to come up with an idea that would be different and unique. One where his classmates would slap him on the back and say "WOW...Chazman...this is AWESOME". Hmmmm, after he made that statement he decided he might not want a slap but perhaps a shoulder tap or high five...that would work. He said some in his room could probably hit hard. OK I"m getting off on one of my tangents again...sorry!!! I sat down with my "idea book"...that's a big notebook that I keep ideas in...hehe...no...really....it is. Well...I can't keep ALL my muse whisperings in my head. She already has it so full that my body has expanded to keep some of them stored. ANYWAYS....several years ago (about 20 to be exact) I had made some candy containers for a friend  to give as party favors at a Halloween party. They were a hit....well...who wouldn't like to take their "MUMMY" home. HAHAHAHA...I just couldn't resist...sorry...AGAIN!! The Chazman thinks they will be a hit this time too.

Isn't he a cutie? Soooo simply to make and I'm going to prove it to you. By request of a friend (one that doesn't want to be named...I think she plans on making them and wants her child to think she did it all on her own...LOL...I don't mind...I love to share) I'm going to do a tut for you. OMGOSH...a tut....on a mummy....get it????  Tut...Mummy.....King Tut!! OK so I'm quirky...ya knew that already...let's get started.

Here are the supplies you will need. Most you may have on your messy desk already. You will need.......

Card stock paper

Pencil

Fine point marker

Watercolor pencils (small brush) or crayons

Scissors

Crepe Paper (or creepy paper as the Chazman calls it)

Toilet Tissue holder

Assortment of Candy

Now.......... if you aren't one to save those empty toilet tissue holders (GASP...I can't believe that everyone doesn't) then no worries. You can make some using your card stock paper. A toilet tissue holder is a tad over 4 inches long...that makes a good mummy body....so here's what you do..

If you do have ONE toilet tissue holder then place it on your cardstock paper and mark the length or if not then take a ruler and mark off 4 inches. 

Cut your paper and then roll around the empty holder or if no holder then just roll up until you think it looks like a toilet tissue holder. Imaginations people...imaginations!!! ^_^  You can tape the seams or glue them. Me personally...I would tape them...much faster!!!

Since this is a "Trick or Treat...Smell my Feet" mummy then we need some stinky feet. I like to do one original pattern on cardboard (that way I can keep it for future use) and just trace the outline and fill it in where I need to. This is if you are doing several of something...which I am in this case.....24 to be exact. You are more than welcome to copy and save my pattern and use if you like. Remember..I like to share!! To make your original pattern, take your holder and place it on the paper and trace around the bottom. Then simply add some toes. I go over my pencil tracings with a fine point marker. Then I use my watercolor pencils to add some "age" around the toenails. For the eyes I just do a bubble (make sure you measure on the holder how big you need to make the bubble) and then draw my eyes inside it. I use my watercolor pencils to add some color to them. Crayons will work just as well for this...especially if little hands are helping you. 

After you have cut out the feet and bubble face....you place the feet on the holder. I like to add a small piece of paper under the feet inside the holder to give it some support for when you add the candy. Don't let it come out on the side with the toes...they will be enough support for that side. I then take a piece of the crepe paper and glue it across the feet and up the sides of the holder. Turn over and glue on your bubble eyes. 

I know everyone has their way of doing things but I always like to give the right way  suggestions and tips that I have come across. Do not open the crepe paper...I mean...yes you have to open it but do not take the wrapper off of it. It is easier to use if you cut the center and pull the paper out like a tissue box. I pull about 3 arm lengths out when making one mummy...seems like a lot but wrapping a body takes some paper. Even the small bodies..^_^ Also, if you don't just happen to have any laying around, I found mine at Wal-Mart in the party section for .97 

Now back to mummy. Take the end of your long piece of crepe and fold into a triangle and put glue on it. Place just inside the holder off to the side. 

Now place the candy inside the holder. I put about 4 different kinds inside...it's really all up to you but you don't want it to heavy. Once the candy is inside then you take the crepe paper and wrap it twice around the openings...start the wrapping at the bottom and going up the other side to the top and back over. You can pick up the mummy while doing this but sit it back down once you have it started so that you can tighten the paper some around it. Be gentle!!

Once you have wrapped the openings then you can start to wrap the body. I wrap one time all around the holder with the crepe paper flat. You will have to twist the paper near the eyes. We don't want to cover up his eyes...now do we? Once you have wrapped the body completely then you will take the crepe paper and fold it in half and start to wrap it again. The folding makes it look more like mummy wrappings. Keep wrapping until you get to a small tail that will hang over the top of the mummy.

Take some glue and apply to the top and then press the tail over and let it hang down the side. I like to cut it and make it look like old strips of wrapping.

Mummy should look like this...or close to it. Now he would be great to give like this but the Chazman wanted a tag with the saying "Trick or Treat...Smell my Feet" on him. So I sat down and drew out a tag...a simple one and you are more than welcome (AGAIN) to copy and use mine. I ran mine through my printer so it is two sided. One side with the saying and one side with the cute scrapbook Halloween paper print. (the one behind the finished mummy pic) I also aged the tag..well..it is going on a mummy!! I just tied it around the mummy and it's that simple.

Don't ya think it's an easy project? Ok ok...maybe if you copy and paste and take all my babblings out then it would be but I just have to babble. I LIKE it...hehe!! Now...if you will excuse me I have 19 more mummies to make. Have FUN!!!

Until next time.....Happy Halloween Hugs, Regi

This post is linked to a great spooktacular blog hop....hop on over and see all the other awesome artist.