How to Make a BOO Basket

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. & it's advertisers. All opinions and ideas are mine alone. #BOOItForward #CollectiveBias

This year seems to be flying by, and with Halloween just around the corner I knew I should get a jump on the fun to enjoy all of it! I put together some fun BOO'ing baskets to surprise family & friends with to share the Halloween spirit.  So here's all the info and fun ideas you'll need to make your own!  

Start by gathering your supplies. I went to Walmart to grab some big bags of candy mixes & some cute little sodas. Then go: here to print your the BOO'ing papers to put in your baskets.

Print out the 2 papers, then cut out this "We've been BOO'd sign. Fold the "You've been BOO'd" greeting card (page 2) and tape openings together. Include the card and sign when gifting BOO bundles.

Start with a container.  There's lots of different options to choose from, and most can be purchased for just a dollar or two. Metal baskets, fun fabric containers and a festive sider web bowl.

Choose your filling.  You can use taffy, sparkly balls, shredded paper or just use candy as the filler!

Then gather some fun add-ins.  Little extra things to put in the basket last.  Suckers, a sign, paper straws, glow sticks of fake creepy creatures!

Here are a few baskets I created to give you some ideas for your own BOO'ing fun.

 After you've filled your baskets up, include the papers and door-bell ditch your friends and neighbors with the BOO kit!

#booitforwardsweepstakes

Fall Wood Banner

I'm over at The CSI Project guest posting a DIY for this festive fall decoration. Hop on over: here to get the full details and directions!

Goodbye Summer

It's the last weekend of summer, guys! Although we've still got summer weather well through Halloween.  But I'm sending official summer on it's way with one last fruity DIY.

Using your favorite sculpting substance, roll and trim into a semi-circle then press into an oven safe bowl and be sure to pull the flat edge up just a little to create a rim.

After baking for the directed time & allowing to cool overnight start painting!

I mixed a little light pink in with the red.  Then add those cute black seeds and touch up with white any mistakes you may have made. All done!

Modern Tic-Tac-Toe Game

Who wants to play tic-tac-toe?!  This wood-stained and gold-leafed set will have all adults wanting to play this fun game!

I picked up the plain piece of wood & letters at Hobby Lobby.  I "stained" and sanded the wood.

Measure & tape off the board before painting the lines.  While you're waiting for them to dry, gold leaf the letters with your choice of product.  I just used some Martha Stewart gold sheets & a tape roller! Easy Peasy!

 It's pretty & so stylish that you'll want to leave it to on your coffee table as decoration.

Fall Party with Festive Flavors

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. & it's advertisers. All opinions and ideas are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #BakeInTheFun

It is officially September & that means Fall is in the air!!  Some might be sad to see summer go, but I love when fall finally comes. Cooler weather, crisp evenings, pumpkins, colored leaves and most important the the delicious treats that accompany the season!  To celebrate the beginning of fall, I gathered some treats that embody the "fall-flavor spirit".

 I stopped by Walmart to get everything I needed in one place.  I grabbed some M&M's® Pecan Pie & M&M's® Milk Chocolate Harvest, Mott's® Applesauce, Snapple® Apple, Pillsbury™ Moist Supreme® Caramel Apple and Pillsbury™ Creamy Supreme® Cream Cheese Frosting. Be sure to use your M&M's® coupon on your purchase! (And while you're at it, enter the fun giveaway! MARS Bake In The Fun Sweepstakes)

 

They are the perfect festive ingredients & products to help celebrate fall. And then I threw in some other things that screamed fall to create a fun, festive party table full of desserts.

First let's make the cake cups.  I baked Pillsbury™ Moist Supreme® Caramel Apple with M&M's® Milk Chocolate Harvest in the batter. And I substituted Mott's® Applesauce for oil to make it even more moist and delicious. Using a circle cookie cutter, cut out piece of the cake. Layer the cake, then pipe Pillsbury™ Creamy Supreme® Cream Cheese Frosting, then another layer of cake and top with frosting and finish off with a few more M&M's®!

Pecan pie, Pumpkin pir, candy corn, carmel apples, cake cups & Snapple® Apple for drinks made this a perfect fall celebration with delicious festive flavors!

Be sure to check out more delicious Fall-inspired recipes here. I'd love to hear your favorite! What's does Fall mean to you?

Never Apologize for Being Awesome

A few Sundays ago our lesson at church took a little bit of a detour (in the best way possible!), and we ended up talking about what each of us is really good at, but sometimes we're so shy or humble that we won't admit we're actually good at something or multiple things.  I loved it and it was just the boost of confidence I needed at the time.  Whatever you're good at, own it! Maybe you're good at cooking, or listening, or reading or just being awesome.  Because we're all awesome in our own way, and we shouldn't have to apologize for that!  So print this out and never forget to be awesome.