When I was a kid, split pea soup was one of the few vegetable soups I actually liked.  Whenever we traveled back home from visiting the relatives, we’d always stop at Pea Soup Andersons for a hot bowl of their famous soup.  Split pea has always been one of my favorite fall soups, but as a habit, I’ve always bought the bag of green ones. Isn’t if funny how we do that, always buy the same things at the grocery store out of habit. 

We’re having cool morning fog lately, and cool weather always gives me a hankerin’ for soup so this week it was split pea. This time, I ventured out into new territory and grabbed the yellow versions instead. That’s me, livin’ on the edge! Green split peas beware, your yellow sisters are convincing me that they’re a tad bit prettier in the bowl. 

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That time of year is here again – we’ve got guests visiting from all over just about every weekend until the end of the year. With all the festivities planned over the next few months, I wanted to make some wine glass charms to help keep everyone’s glass identified during all the celebrating.

I first found out about an embossing powder called Amazing Glaze that hardens to a resin from my friend Cathe, she had used it to to make a memory pet tag and decal penny pendant in the past and I really wanted to try it out!  I ordered the powder, some pendant bases and earwires, then came up with several versions of DIY wine glass charms. The first are these blingy sparklers which will work for just about any occasion.

With the right supplies, these are so easy to make!  Find some earwires, pendant bases, and some Amazing Glaze, and you’re in business (my sources below).

The sparkling gem versions were made with simple colorful glitter from my stash that was layered along the bottom of the pendant base, then topped with a small amount of the powder glaze (seen below). 

Using aluminum foil beneath, I simply baked the first layer of powder inside the pendants in a 350 degree oven for two minutes and allowed it to cool for 5 minutes. Then I applied two more thin layers following the same technique, 2 minutes in a 350 degree oven until the powder melts and turns clear.

It hardens into a resin to make these little gems for your wineglass!

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Yes, it’s true, I’m a crafty gal around the holidays and now that October is here, it gets me excited and feeling all warm inside. But that could just be my glue gun permanently affixed to my hip which I might as well just leave plugged in until December 26th. 

I’m happy as can be to be hosting a Fall Crafts Link Party today as part of the ongoing series with my blog pals Sarah, Layla, and Rhoda. So glad you’re here, have an hors d’oeuvre! Or better yet, enjoy the virtual eye candy in the form of all the crafty goodness you’ll see linked below. 

Sometimes I think we’ve all gone and done everything we possibly could to a pumpkin, I’m wondering what will be next. As much as I like them in their natural state, I’m always a fan of a little embellishment – I love ‘em gilded and painted too. My first craft you got a glimpse of yesterday and I really bent over backwards man. They are what I call Distressed Pumpkins and they are so easy, there’s no real ‘how to’ necessary.

I’ve never tried this with latex paint, but Chalk Paint is famous for its easy distressing qualities, so I used the ‘Old White’ and it worked really well. Simply paint with one coat then sand with a fine sanding wedge to reveal the skin underneath. 

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This is a story of a DIY project that’s kind of like a good chick flick. It opens with the main character – she has a good life, a great idea, and even better intentions, but as a result of her brazen personality and wily cleverness gets herself in trouble and ends up in a miserable position which requires that she completely change her thinking. She ponders her mistakes, comes up with a simpler plan, changes course, makes amends, and in the end she gets her man.

I’m not kidding, the story of my fall wreath is a scary parallel. Sit back, grab a beverage, and listen to my tale. Once upon a time there was a fair maiden who had a grand idea. Let’s call this fair maiden Kate. She had long flowing chestnut hair that glistened in the sun and in this fairy tale, she’s a Size 2.

Kate lived in a town surrounded by rolling hills and fields of natural grasses {cue the slow motion twirling in a peasant cotton skirt to Sting’s ‘Fields of Gold’}.  The adjacent fields made her think that a fall wreath crafted out of natural grasses was a totally brilliant idea. Her source of inspiration was none other than this this wheat wreath by the reigning Queen Martha. Inspired, she wandered into those nearby fields of gold and gathered her grasses while she may. 

Back at the castle, the maiden took her basket of glistening golden grasses, clipped them and attached them to a basic cardboard wreath form with floral wire, much like she had in the past with this lavender wreath. 

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Happy Labor Day Weekend all!  We’re spending it with my folks hanging out by their swimming pool, doing a lot of relaxing in the sun.  BOTB will return next weekend, meanwhile I’m popping in to say hello and link up with Nester’s wreath party tonight.  

Like all grandmoms, my mom loves pics of her grandkids, so I crafted a simple photo wreath with a cork base for her to to hang above her desk.  

I saw a photo wreath online somewhere many months ago and absolutely loved the idea. This version has a cork back to make it easy for Mom to change out the images as the grandkids grow and change.  This is crazy easy to make, here are the simple steps:

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