Happy Halloween!

My kids in thier costumes.....oldest to youngest.

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whew!.... It was a blast! Costume parades at school on Friday, followed by parties, and lots and lots of candy...

Get up and do it all again on Saturday. Trick or treating to every house within walking distance, followed by the traditional Chili and Scones dinner, then we watch movies til midnight and eat candy til we are sick. Wrappers cover the floor, suckers are stuck to the carpet in random places, and tiny m&m's all smashed and scattered everywhere.

Hmmmmm, glad I didn't mop.

Ahhh, I love Halloween!

YUMMY!

Warning.....Danger ahead..... This is going to make you hungry!

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You got it! You know what is coming.....

Getting closer......

Can you smell the wonderful aroma?......

Just look at all that oooey, gooey, goodness.....

Now comes the fun part......

Adding the sweetness....

And the crunchy.....

More sweetness.......

And more sweetness, we just can't get enough......

This one is mine I say..... MINE, ALL MINE!

Everyone here is full of Smiles!!!

My Amazing Mother

Today I have to brag a little about this wonderful woman I am lucky enough to call Mom. She is such a creative person. Just look at some of these great halloween displays found at her house...

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This tree is so cool! It is a sagebrush painted black and has spiders and bats hanging from it! I can't wait to make mine. I will be attempting this today.

Here are some pictures of her wonderful pumpkins sprayed black and silver. Aren't they beautiful? Her house is so amazing, she has such an eye for display.

This is the quilt I am working on for her. She embroidered nine bird blocks. I added the appliqued corners and sewed the top together. After halloween costumes are finished, I hope to finish adding the bows to all four corners of her pretty blue bird quilt.

Just look at this block, with beads, and sparkles.

Here is a close up of her amazing embroidery. Tiny little stitches, and all so perfect. Mother is such an inspiration to me. I have to give her credit for most of my projects, they are almost always a take on something she has already done. Thanks Mom for being such a amazing example to me, I don't know what I would do without you!

A Winner!!!

AND the winner is........

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****Bev, of Bev's Bits n' Pieces***

she said.."We usually invite friends or neighbors who don't have family nearby to share Thanksgiving. Hope I win one this time! These are just too cute!"

Thanks everyone for participating in this fun giveaway! Bev, email me with your info cori(at)chitterchatterdesigns(dot)com.The winner was chosen using Random. org.

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My final tip for Halloween Costumes...

Let the kids choose what they want to be.

My kids have come up with the most amazing costume ideas. They are so willing to participate in the process when they are engaged in giving suggestions about thier idea. I just love being challenged by them. I never pass up an opportunity to learn something new. Listening to them gets you out of your box, challenges your skills, and gives you knowledge and experience that you never would have had the chance to discover. My challenge to you.... Don't be afraid to try something new, take on a challenge and don't judge yourself about the outcome. Everthing you do is a step onto whom you will become.

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Thanks to everyone for reading this little blog of mine, and look forward to some pictures of my new project next week, along with this year's Halloween Costume Challenge!

Another Giveaway!

Winner will be drawn Friday, October 23, 2009.

Introducing a new pattern to add to my growing collection.

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Sweet As Pie Pincushions
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This pattern got a little out of control, so much so that it graduated from a tutorial into a full grown pattern. This pattern is available through my website, Chitter Chatter Designs or you may ask your local quilt shop to carry the pattern. The display can be found at Quilts Etc., in Sandy Utah. An extra thank you goes out to Janice who encouraged me to get this one finished! The pins are also available on the website under the title "PIN"cess Pins.
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The giveaway is.... this pattern along with a fat quarter of crust, and a few fruit swatches to make the pictured flavors of pie, and a package of "PIN"cess Pins courtesy of the girls. All you have to do is... leave a comment about your favorite Thanksgiving Tradition. Those of you overseas are included as well, so maybe your comment could be about your favorite family get together traditions.
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Thanks so much everyone for your interest and support!

LOGO's

If you need to add a complicated logo to your costume, such as this costume; a member of the CARS movie pit crew, this is a great idea.

Since the costume will only be worn for a day or two,this is an easy and cheap way to get that complicated sign or logo on your costume. Simply print out the logo on your printer at home on regular ol' paper. Cut out the logo. Put vinyl over the top and outline stitch the paper logo. Cut away the excess vinyl and TA...DA!
You are finished!!!

You can also print this on regular fabric, preferably white, by taping the fabric to a piece of cardstock. The printer will print onto the fabric and WALLA... you have your logo!

Remember that this is not safe to wash, the paper will clump up or fall off, it is not colorsafe on fabric either, but it's a fast and easy way to make a quick costume.

Good luck and happy stitching!

Painted Faces

I thought it would be fun to share a few of my most used Halloween tips. We love Halloween around here, the kids really enjoy the costumes. The first tip I thought I would share is the painted face, since most of the schools and church parties will not let the kids wear a mask, the painted face is sometimes the only option.

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Have you ever bought those face paints at the store with the pictures of the beautiful painted faces only to get it home and have your little one's face break out in a rash?

(Been there, done that!) ......Or upon applying "kid safe" makeup, find it smeared all over her face, hands, and clothes, (that stuff is impossible to get out!) and your beautiful fairy looks as if she has become a blur?.....Or go home and wash the face of your sweet little thing, only to discover that she will be a smurf for a few more days because it has stained her skin and hair blue?

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I have come up with a wonderful solution to all of those problems! My idea was born out of desparation. My kids are so light and blond... and halloween characters are so..... dark and black! So, I use acrylic paint mixed with a little face lotion. I would say 2/3 Paint, 1/3 Lotion. The acrylic paint drys fast on the skin, and becomes like a second skin. It does not smear, or rub off, but rather will peel off if they play with it. It also comes off with a little soap and water, and leaves no marks or stains! The lotion helps to make the paint more plyable so that it does not flake off. If you just use the paint, it tends to look crackly and will flake off easily after a while.

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The key to painting baby's face is.... do it while they are sleeping. Not only is this entertaining for you, (the paint brush tickles) but there are no little hands pushing away the brush.

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For kids 3 or older, let them watch in the mirror, they will hold pretty still if they get to see what you are doing!
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I have used this technique to paint cleopatra eyes, swirly lines and tatoo's on a genie, witchy stars and eyebrows, and I think the witchy green face looks the best done this way. I have even used it in my baby's hair (vampire picture above). It washed out with a little shampoo.

You name it, and I have probably painted it!

I hope this tip will help you with your little one's costumes.

Winners!

I have decided I have to give away five of these pies, here are just a few of this new obsession of mine.

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****Martina, Janet, Petra, WendyB, and Tozz****

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You won a pie pincushion of your choice!!!

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Email me with your info; cori(at)chitterchatterdesigns(dot)com
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On another note, I am getting ready for halloween around here, I thought it would be fun to show you a few pictures for costume ideas this week. I will be posting some pictures of the kids in thier costumes from previous years, as well as our progress with this year's costumes.

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Thanks to everyone for entering, and giving me ideas to add to the collection!

Angel Swap

I still can't stop making these.... I am going to have to give away more than one! Maybe five? I have run out of crust, but a trip to the fabric shop will fix that problem today!

Don't forget to leave your comment on the last post for a chance to win one of these pies just in time for Thanksgiving!

This one is off to my angel partner.... I love the red apple, it turned out cute! Hope you have fun with this stuff secret angel!

It's time for Pie!!!

I think I have a problem....

I can't stop making these....

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I was going to do a tutorial,

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But there are so many!!! Guess they have to graduate into a full blown pattern!

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I need to have a giveaway! I will pick a winner of one of these cute little pincushions complete with "Pin"cess pins on Monday, October 12, if you leave a comment telling me what is your favorite kind of pie! And of course,... you get to choose which one you want!

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I have to have one of each!

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At least they are calorie free!!!