{Getting Crafty} Chalkboard Vases

It almost seems silly to do a tutorial on these vases, they are so easy!

I saw this idea and thought it would be cute to make wine bottle vases,

source

 but when I discovered that chalkboard paint came in a spray paint, I decided to cover the entire bottle with it.  It seemed much quicker and easier to accomplish.

Some how I consumed happened upon a half dozen wine bottles.  Being the lazy type, I spray painted the whole bottle, label and all. 

I did two coats of paint.

I let them dry and followed the instructions on the can to cover the whole area with chalk and clean off before using them as chalk vases.  I bought one stem of sunflowers from Michael's to fill the vases so this whole project was tres cheap and packed a lot of punch on the food table.

 We were able to spell out her name for her birthday party.

I reused them on my spooky Halloween mantel like this.

The trick will be to work them into every holiday's decor...

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{Recipe} Spiced Pumpkin Mousse with Gingersnap Layers

This is what my daughter wanted to have instead of a traditional cake at her recent birthday party.

Ingredients:

(or most of them, I usually forget at least one in the photo)

Don't be scared by the unflavored gelatin!  You'll also need gingersnaps.

I doubled the recipe for our party.

In small saucepan, sprinkle 1 1/2 tsp of unflavored gelatin over 4 1/2 tsp of cold water. Let stand until softened (about 1 minute). Beat in 3 egg yolks and 3/4 c. of  sugar.

Cook and stir over medium heat until thermometer reads 160F and mixture has thickened, about 5 minutes.  Transfer to a small bowl; beat until cool and thickened, about 3 minutes.

Beat in 1 1/2 cups of  pumpkin and 3/4 tsp of cinnamon, 1/4 tsp of ground ginger, 1/8 tsp of ground cloves.

Refrigerate for an hour until set.

In a small bowl beat 1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream with 1 1 /2 tsp of vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.  Fold into pumpkin mixture.

Crush 18 gingersnap cookies.

Layer the crushed cookies with the pumpkin mixture in a trifle bowl ending with the cookies.

Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until set.  Add more gingersnaps around the bowl (we used mini ginger cookies from Trader Joe's) and serve.  Doubles as a delicious birthday cake!

Linking up with:

Your Best Pumpkin Recipe

Annual Pumpkin Parade Party

Seasonal Sundays

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Another CSN Giveaway and Please Vote For Me!!!

First off...
{insert squeal!}

If you have the time and would like to vote for me, please do so here.

*edit* I had the wrong link, it should work now.

 Like they say, it's a thrill to be nominated but I'd love to win a photography challenge!  It is Election Day after all!!

Now on the the giveaway...

Surprise! I've got another great giveaway from csnstores to share with you!  With the holidays approaching, I've been in the market for a few new dining chairs to go with our set.  I'd love something like this sleek upholstered number.

or maybe I could a little wild with these zebra print chairs.

This giveaway is closed!

The lovely people at csnstores.com have graciously offered to give one of you lucky readers a

 $40 gift card!!

Here's how to enter (up to 4 entries per person!)

Check this out...

1)Leave me some comment love, make sure to leave me your email address

2)Follow me, if you are already a follower, let me know and leave another comment

3)Go over to csnstores.com and let me know what you'd get with your gift card

4)Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

That's four chances to win!!

Winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, November 9th @ 7pm EST

Good Luck and Happy Shopping!

PSST...want 4 MORE chances at a csnstores gift card.  Head over to Life in Rehab where Sunny is also giving away a $40 csnstores gift card.!!!  Her blog is lots of fun too. 

Linking up with:

Follow Me Back Tuesdays

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Simplicity Photo Challenge - {Portrait}

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