Halloween Tablescape

This month is just flying by so quickly, don't you think? I feel like there's not enough time to get anything done.  Even my ten year old was commenting on how fast this month has gone, go figure.  I've been soooo tired lately, I think it's my body saying...."Maria, slow down".......

I haven't had time to visit any blogs, I've been so busy.  I miss visiting your blogs these last two weeks and feel like a junkie needing her fix, haha.  I'm walking around all jittery and looking for every opportunity to look at home decor and craft magazines.  I'll have to make some time soon to come over and visit you or else I may just implode.....did I ever mention I'm a craftaholic?....yes, it's about time I admit it.  "Hello my name is Maria and I'm a craft-a-holic"..... BIGTIME!
 
I love creativity and I get it through visiting your blogs.  I follow the most AMAZING blogs in blogland.  If this is your fist time here, please feel free to visit my list of followers and you'll see what I mean.

For today, I'm showing my Halloween tablescape.  I kept it pretty simple:

I totally forgot the flatware, oops! I guess we'll eat with our hands and fingers, haha!

I got the skull plates at the Party Supply Store.  They are made out of melamine, very cute an shiny.  They have a matching bread/dessert plate.  They were very economical at $3 a plate.  I purchased half a dozen little plastic cauldrons and placed candy inside for each guest:

Even the red roses are in the Halloween spirit! look at them acting all creepy:

to make the pretty glass Halloween vase, click here

and let's not forget the mouse, eek! 

I added some caution tape down the center of the table:

and a styrofoam chain on the light fixture for added drama:

cute fluted champagne glasses to drink grape soda in, you don't have to drink champagne from them exclusively.  It's fun to use them for soda:

the rest of the pictures are tables from the Los Angeles County Fair, tablescape show room.  This first table is themed with A Nightmare Before Christmas, Disney movie:

check out the witch's boots:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE AND I SINCERELY WISH YOU  A CREEPY, SCARY, GOOEY, SPOOKY WEEKEND!





I'm joining Susan at Between Naps On The Porch for her Tablescape Thursday linky party. To see more tablescapes, please visit the party by clicking the linky button below:

Anniversary

Yesterday we celebrated our 14th Wedding Anniversary.
Wanna know our secret?
love and respect for each other and a whole lot of memories

Did I Ever Tell You You're My Hero?

I set up a beautiful table to celebrate the occasion. The menu included; won ton soup, Chinese chicken salad, kung pao chicken, beef broccoli, fried rice and for dessert, chocolate cake.  These are all family favorites.  Take out from our favorite Chinese food restaurant.

These cute bowls are from Marshalls, they have a black mark on them that says Palm

Wine cork to rest our chop sticks

Cio-Cio San, Madame Butterfly, joined us in this special occasion

I used red ribbon run down the length of the table for a pop of color

I got the chargers at Party City Store

I love the detail on the chargers, they are so perfect for my taste

"Love is the crazy glue that keeps a marriage together for a lifetime and I'm crazy in love"-maria

I hope you enjoyed my anniversary table, may you all have a blessed day.




To see more tablescapes visit Susan at Between Naps On The Porch: Click the button below

The Winner! and ATC Swap

Before I announce the winner of my giveaway, I'd like to thank all of you who took the time to enter and tell me what you would order from CSN.   I love entering giveaways in blogland as there's always a good chance to win since there's usually not a lot of entries.  CSN was kind to offer this opportunity to Bubblegum and Duct Tape and I couldn't pass it off since I knew it would be fun for all and one lucky person would win.    

Now, on to business.  The winner of my $45 gift certificate to CSN stores is....

I checked the comment number with the Random number about fifty times to make sure I didn't mess up, lol.

Kim of AGypsyAngel!!!Congratulations Kim, please send me your email address


Now on to my ATC

I found a new hobby!! As if I need a new hobby, right?.  I love this new hobby of mine because it allows me to be artistic.  In fact, after I finished my very first ATC, I felt like an artist.  I had never felt that way before, I always saw myself as a crafter but now I feel like an ARTIST!

I swapped my ATC with the lovely Penny (AKA Pellie) of  Palaver From Pellie and Genghis Khat .  The theme was "Dark" and her title is "Deep Into The Darkness"

She used embossing powder that makes the crow shiny and textured.  It is so beautiful, she did a fantastic job

She sent it in this pretty card

Thanks Pellie, you are one awesome ARTIST!

If you'd like to give ATC's a try, visit Blissful ATC Swap, or click the button below:




Thank you all for coming over to visit and I hope you have a spooky day!

Altered Books for Halloween Decor

What other modern housewife out there can sing an aria or rap to 80's rap music?  I hope I'm not the only one out there.  I guess I'm a bit eccentric that way.

I once challenged my four teenage nephews to an impromptu rap.  Can you imagine their expression when I started rapping New York, New York by Grandmaster Flash!  They had never heard the song and really thought I was making it up.  Specially when I changed it to: L.A, L.A big city of dreams, everything in L.A ain't always what it seems.  You might get fooled if you come from out of town but I'm down by law and I know my way around.....etc....I sang the whole song and the look on their faces was priceless.

I love to sing arias.  A while back I was singing Madam Butterfly, "Un Bel Di Vedremo" Italian aria. I was supposed to have been alone in the house that afternoon.  Unbeknownst to me, my husband and two boys came home early, they were supposed to be at the park.  I was in the middle of my aria, singing as loud as my voice could sing.  With such great emotion and despair.  Feeling the passion and heart broken sadness that Madam Butterly felt herself, when suddenly, they busted the door open thinking I was "screaming in pain".  I didn't know whether to be happy that they worried about me or upset that they thought I was "screaming in pain" when I was singing my beautiful aria......in the privacy of my own home.....alone.  Now that my boys know that mommy is not in pain when she's singing opera and she has not gone crazy when she's cleaning about the house rapping to Run DMC, I can finally sing any song that my little eccentric heart desires.

What are some things you like to do that you think might be a little eccentric? I know you all must have at least one thing on your list of  "I will never do that in public".  It's what makes us all "different" but in a good way.  Who knows, maybe deep down you're looking for the opportunity to have an audience to share your eccentricities with!!!


Now on to my crafts:
I have another fun Halloween project today.  These altered books are so easy to make and they can be used as home decor or as party giveaways for prizes....scariest costume, most original costume, funniest costume, etc..

Here's what you'll need: an old book you don't want

My favorite glue, Mod Podge

Acrylic paints, I love crafts that require this stuff

some extra heavy gel

First, apply Mod Podge on the pages and form them like so:

Next, once the Mod Podge dries, paint the pages with acrylic paint using  a brush:

Then decorate with Halloween decorations.
In the picture below, I used a craft knife to carve out a square.  I then applied the Extra Heavy Gel and let dry.  I used a glue gun to adhere my skeleton parts to the inside of the square:

The one below was done using rubber stamps:

here's a close up:

Hope you liked my altered books and I hope you have a spooktacular day!






Joining these linky parties: