Make These Awesome Costume Party Masks!

Costume party season is just around the corner, and these easy to make masks can add the perfect touch to your party attire.

These masks look much harder to make than they actually are, so your friends will think you're an artistic genius!

You will need:
Cereal box cardboard
scrap paper (for pattern)
Sturdy scissors (not fabric scissors)
Thin dowel (or elastic)
Bits of ribbon, trims, and tulle
White glue
Hot glue

Begin by creating a template. I made mine by folding a paper in half, and sketching half of the mask. I cut that out, then opened it up and tried it on. I did not get it right the first time. Experiment with eye placement, and give yourself room for your nose.

For each mask, cut two pieces of cardboard (the "inside piece" slightly smaller than the "outside" piece) and glue them together. It's important to use two pieces, because when you glue the two layers together, you will be able to shape the masks to fit the curve of your face. The moisture from the glue will make the cardboard pliable, and allow you to curve the cardboard without causing creases and bends.

I like to form my masks around a vase or pitcher that is roughly the right size. You can hold it onto your form with an elastic band. I check on it a couple of times to make sure the cardboard pieces are making good contact with each other.

When the masks are completely dry, give them a coat or two of gesso, if you have it. Otherwise, mix a little glue and paint and use that. This will give you a very hard, paintable surface.

Now, for the fun part! Grab some paints, or fabric, and trimmings, and decorate your mask to match your costume.

You can even add a "beak" for a Venetian inspired mask. I also decided to reinforce the cardboard at the bridge of the nose.

For the other mask, I added butterfly wing veining using hot glue, then gave the whole thing another coat of gesso to make it paintable. After your masks are decorated, add a narrow dowel to one side, using hot glue. Attach ribbons and trims, as well. If you don't want to use a dowel, punch a hole on either side, and attach a piece of elastic.

The masks turned out beautifully, and have received lots of compliments!

They are perfect for Halloween, but hang on to them for those Mardi Gras festivities, as well!

For another (not so) spooky project, try this lace applique owl!

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Thanks so much for stopping by!

Easy Pocket Card Tutorial

A few weeks ago, I shared how to upcycle leftover occasion specific note cards into beautiful all-occasion cards. This week, I'm sharing how to use the cards to make pockets cards.

The same technique will work for making pocket cards from scratch or from blank note cards. Pocket cards are a great way to add little surprises to your card -- you can create tags, or add a gift card, or maybe a set of movie tickets.

An Arts and Crafts Limestone

At this time, last year, we were in the process of making some big life decisions. Do we stay in the Pacific Northwest? Go back to Colorado? Stay in the same job? Take a job in Colorado? Take a new job in the Pacific Northwest?  We traveled back to Colorado, where I met with my old boss from the design firm where I'd worked, and where we touched base with many dear friends. We visited our oldest son, who had just opened a new business, and spent a little time hanging out with two of my husband's sisters, who also lived in Colorado. We knew our daughter's husband was soon to be transferred to Colorado, as well. While we were in our old hometown, we discovered "The Lion House" was for sale.

A five thousand square foot limestone, the hundred plus year old Lion House is a local landmark. We made a quick call to our real estate agent, and toured the property.

Pretty Fire Starter Gifts From Recycled Scentsy Wax

A year or two ago, my sister-in-law, Carinae, turned me on to Scentsy products. I was explaining to her that sometimes our beach house gets a slight musty, closed-in smell when we haven't been there in a while. While we do keep it heated and dried out all winter, and keep the air circulating all summer, it's hard to shake that hint of  Pacific Northwest mustiness.

Carinae explained that Scentsy wax pots are heated by those tiny little nightlight bulbs. Well, I leave nightlights on all the time, especially when we have guests, so I ordered several. Carinae recommended some scents that she thought would be a great counter to the musty smell.

The Scentsy does its job well. When we walk into the beach house, we now smell something refreshing and citrusy, or something cozy and piney, or something Christmasy!

Upcycle Leftover Sets of Notecards, to Create Useful, All-Occasion Cards

We've all got them. Maybe they're stuffed in a drawer somewhere, maybe they're in a closet, or maybe they're in the "donate" box in the mud room.  Every thrift store has them, too. They are the (often unopened) event specific thank-you cards. "Thank you for the wedding gift", "thank you for the shower gift", "thank you for the baby gift", etc.

The other day, I was looking at a package of these notecards at the Goodwill, and it occurred to me that these cards can be upcycled as card bases for all-occasion cards!