Eightymillion

A DIY craft and photography blog. Dogs included.

How to create your own hashtag pumpkin for halloween

Here’s a simple DIY project that you can complete in less than 10 minutes. That’s right 10 minutes and under $10 bucks!

Last week I was in the grocery store staring at this huge pallet of pumpkins. Surprisingly they caught my eye since I never really got into the whole pumpkin carving tradition. Perhaps because they seem to spoil so quickly once being cut into.

I’ve seen where people decorate with puffy stickers and various other characters but that didn’t fit my style. That’s when an idea popped into my head.

A hashtag pumpkin. That’s it! I’ll create a hashtag pumpkin only I’ll substitute the knife with a paintbrush.

I ran to Michaels to pick up some paintbrushes and black acrylic paint. Grabbed a 5×7 piece of white paper from the recycle bin and I was all set.

After gathering the supplies, I’ve listed in the image above, here’s what you do next.

  1. Wipe off the pumpkin with a damp paper towel to remove any dirt.
  2. Squeeze a nice amount of paint onto the piece of paper. Depending on how many pumpkins you’re creating will determine how much you need. Using the paintbrush, practice your hashtag on the paper first. This step is not necessary but I found it helpful in deciding which paint brush to use.
  3. Then simply apply the hashtag to the pumpkin.
  4. Allow the paint to dry and you’re done! You can also turn the pumpkin around and paint another hashtag on the backside.

Simple right? And the best part is that it’ll last longer than a carved pumpkin. #winning

Total cost for this project was approximately $8.85. The pumpkin was @2.99, paint .89 cents, brushes 2., and the various gourds were .99 cents each.

Stay tuned for more creative DIY projects. I’ve got several ideas where I focus solely on my obsession with hashtags. 🙂

Until the next project…

DIY Landscaping Tips & Ideas: Hosta Plants

Over the next couple of months I’ll be sharing some tips and ideas with you that I use in my own flower garden(s).  I can show you that with a little imagination and a few bucks your flower beds will look awesome.  Who doesn’t love a fun DIY project?  Especially when it involves being outside in the fresh air.

First up, hosta plants.  I love hostas!  The simple fact that they’re low maintenance is all I need to hear.  Plus, when they outgrow their space you can just chop them in half (or fourths) and plant elsewhere.

I had this little area of grass in front of my garage.  It was a nuisance to mow so it was given a new look.  My neighbor was selling hostas at her garage sale for $1.  Score!  My parents decided to update their landscaping and no longer needed the lava rocks they were using.  Another score!

I wait until the end of Winter (when all of the snow melts) before trimming the dead leaves off of the plants.  And that’s it.  Mother Nature takes care of the rest.

UPDATE:  5-30-15

As you can see in the image below the hostas are doing well.  Exceptionally well!  There are four plants total in this space, but one of them is hidden so I should relocate that one.  Come Fall, the other three will be divided up and placed in other areas around the house.

DIY Tutorial: Confetti Heart Valentines

Have you ever thought of placing confetti inside of the greeting cards you gift to others?  Sounds crazy right?  An ex of mine (yes, I’m giving him credit) use to give me cards that had confetti inside. When I opened them up a handful of hearts would fall into my lap. They were those shiny sequence ones you can buy at the store in the party section.
Why spend money on something you can make at home for less.  And it’s a great way to use up any paper scraps you have lying around.
Gather your choice of paper and a heart shaped Fiskars punch.  Punch out the desired amount. Personalize your card with a message and then place the confetti along the crease of the card.
When you go to put the card inside of the envelope do so with the folded side first.  That way the confetti won’t fall out inside of the envelope when the recipient removes it.
This easy tutorial not only works great for your Valentines Day cards, but for any occasion. Birthday celebrations, New Babies, Congrats, Just Because, etc.  Be creative and use various shaped punches. Do you recycle your magazines after you’re done reading them?  Keep one on hand.  It’ll make some colorful shiny confetti.

DIY Inspiration: Alternative Packing Materials

Remember the last time you got a package ready to ship in the mail?  After your done filling the box there’s a few gaps.  What do you do?  Grab some packing peanuts, bubble wrap, or maybe some crumpled up newspaper.  It all works.
How about using fruit flavored snacks?  They come individually wrapped and will fill those little gaps perfectly.  I came up with this idea awhile ago as I was getting a box ready to ship to my niece and nephews who live out west.  An inexpensive little addition to the package that they love.  The kids are HUGE fans of Star Wars and Curious George, so these were perfect.
Do you have any other ideas for alternative packing materials?  Please share in the comment section below.  Thanks!
Until the next word…
~Jennifer

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DIY Inspiration: Outdoor Patio Idea

I look at my yard as an extension of my house.  Complete with all the comforts on what’s inside. Here’s a simple DIY project I put together in less than 10 minutes. 
Along with the comfort comes the maintenance.  Adam purchased a brand new grill last week.  I wanted to come up with an idea to not have to move it off the lawn every time the grass was cut.  It was such a hassle to do last year.
I love patio bricks.  All the creative shapes and colors.  I went for the simple look here.  Picked out twelve of them and placed them in a square. 
They were laid in the grass right after I mowed it.  If you want you could remove some of it to help them settle into the ground a little more.  I figure over the years they’ll do just that along with help from the weight of the grill.
I left enough space that the lawn mower can move comfortably around each side.  And it works like a charm.
Pretty easy!  And it costs less than $25.

My Best Pasta Sauce Recipe

I like to keep a variety of meals on the menu but this one stuck with me.  A couple of weeks ago I threw together a few ingredients and I must say this is one of my favorites.
Remember when I shared my sauce recipe for spaghetti?  This one is better.
Here’s what I used:
*One 24 oz. jar of Chunky Ragu Pasta Sauce (My favorite is Tomato, Garlic & Onion)
*One 14.5 oz can of petite cut diced tomatoes
*Italian seasoning (probably around a tablespoon-who measures?)
*Sugar (again, I didn’t measure)-I like my Italian dishes sweet!
*Chopped onion (add as much as you like)
Mixed everything in a pot and simmered on the stove on low for about 1 1/2 hours.  Prepare your choice of pasta noodles and mix together.  Yum!.  It’ll taste even better tomorrow.

DIY Inspiration: Make Your Own Band T-Shirt (For Concerts)

I’ve taken my creative ideas to a whole new level.  A handmade t-shirt designed by me!  And yes, I did wear this to the show last September.  Which reminds me, I never shared my pics, did I?  I promise a post this week.
Back to the shirt!  I went to see Motley Crue and KISS at Alpine Valley with a group of friends.  Knowing I was going to purchase a band shirt from the merchandise booth didn’t help me decide on what to wear to the show.  I really wished I had all of those in which I purchased from previous shows that I attended back in the 90’s.  I had looked around locally for one with no luck.  Online venue were selling out.  What’s a girl to do?
Make my own t-shirt!

Here’s what you need:
*Black t-shirt (I got mine at Michaels craft store for $2.00-it was on sale)
*White fabric spray paint (Michaels again.  Used a coupon so it cost me $6.)
*Stencils (I already had these on hand, but check your local Dollar Stores)
*Masking tape
**You may use any color you wish.  I’m just sharing what I used for this project.
The How To:
First wash the t-shirt.  This was my first time using fabric spray paint, so I followed the directions as stated. 
Using the ironing board I spread the t-shirt out flat.  Any flat surface will work.  I have a couple of t-shirts that have the stripes on the sleeves, so I thought I would create my own with this one.  I used six pieces of masking tape on each sleeve.  Three on the front and three on the back.  I simply eyeballed it when it comes to lining the tape up.  I don’t worry about perfection with stuff like this.  So, you may use a ruler if you want to make sure the stripes are evenly spaced.
I picked out the stencils that I needed to spell out the band name.  Using the masking tape I placed them on the front of the shirt where I thought they looked okay.  Repeat, I’m not picky with accurate placing.    

I applied the fabric paint to give it a blotchy look.  Make sure to shake the bottle well before using.  I let it dry overnight and then removed the masking tape. 
Both Motley Crue and KISS were using the hashtag #TheTour on Twitter, so I thought it was only proper to promote that on the back of the shirt.  I used a fabric pen for the wording. 
That’s it!  A simple project that cost me $6.  I was surprised at the quality of the t-shirt given the fact that I only paid $2. for it.  It’s still in great condition and I wear it a lot.
When you wash the t-shirt I recommend that you turn it inside out first.  And I only dry it for a couple of minutes in the dryer.  Enough to pull the wrinkles out.  
I have more shows planned this year.  Might just have to make another one.
Until the next word…
~Jennifer  

DIY: Homemade Organic Dog Treats

Last week I tried this new dog treat recipe for my boys.  Two ingredients and all organic.  And the results were a HUGE success!  I found the recipe here. It’s nice to come across another crazy dog Mom.  I enjoy being able to make them something in the kitchen rather than purchasing something from the store with a lot of ingredients.
The recipe gives you the freedom to chose what flavor you want to make.  My boys loves apples and bananas, so this was the first choice.  I will be trying others.  Each jar of baby food cost $1.29.
I picked up the Organic whole wheat flour at my favorite store for $1.50.  I already had the cookie cutter in my stash, but was looking for something a bit smaller.  Like bite size.  Keep reading…  
Another bonus for this recipe is that I’m only mixing two ingredients together.  That’s it!

I gave the boys a little sample by letting them lick the lids.  You will see that they were okay with the flavor.
I was thinking out loud on what I could use as a cookie cutter to make the treats smaller.  Adam suggested the top of a pop bottle. It worked like a charm!  I dipped the top in flour after every other impression. 
The dough rolled out with a texture similar to pizza dough.  I used a little extra flour on the counter just in case it started to stick.  Next time I’ll know not to use so much.
Due to using a smaller cookie cutter I didn’t set the oven as high as the recipe called for because I didn’t want them to burn.  For the bottle cap size I set my oven between 275-300. I baked them for about 10-12 minutes.  Use your best judgement depending on the size of treat your making and how your oven works.
They couldn’t wait to try them.  Actually as I type this post their supply is completely gone.  I’ll be choosing another flavor for another batch.
The whole batch made 12 1/2 dozen and cost roughly $4.15.  Your batch will vary depending of the size of cookie cutter you use.
Kinda looks like a made dog kibble (food).
So, what flavor would your beloved dogs like?  I’m thinking sweet potato might be next.
Looking for more easy dog treat recipes?  Click here.  Have fun and spoil your dogs every day of the year!  (Because they deserve it).