Decoupaged Pumpkins

     Five years ago my children painted plastic pumpkins at an art class.  We enjoyed displaying them  for a season or two.  After that, I just couldn't find a way to incorporate them into my fall decor.  (I know, I should be able to work something out with a brightly striped pumpkin and an FSU pumpkin, right?)  But, like most moms, I just couldn't bear to get rid of them.  Until this year. Well, sort of.  

     The minute I opened the fall container full of all my decorations I saw the pumpkins and thought, "decoupage!"  (I think I've been on Pinterest a little too much. hehe!)  I asked my boys if they were okay with me covering up their art work.  They said, "Oh, sure, mom." 

What I started with: scrapbook paper, Modge Podge, a brush and a pumpkin.  The best part: I had all these things already on hand!  FREE!

I covered sections of the pumpkin with Modge Podge.  I then painted torn piece of the paper on top of the wet sections with glue.  I definitely recommend tearing the paper and not cutting it.  It looks so much better, and lays better.

Ta-Da!  My pumpkin!  I painted the stem to match the green on my fireplace screen. I'll show you my entire mantle decor soon!

This is the other pumpkin.  I gave it to my mom.  This is how she displayed it.  Cute, huh?

     In doing this little project, I discovered something.  I love decoupaging!  I'm wondering what I could decoupage next?  Decoupaging is a great way to take something that has "good bones" and make it look new again! 

Chess House: A TOS Review

 

    

     Do you know how many points a pawn is worth?  What is "castling?"  Do you know that bishops must always move at a diagonal?  Which piece in chess moves in an "L" shape?  I would have looked at you with a blank stare if you had asked me these questions a few weeks ago.  Now I know all those answers and much more thanks to Chess House.  Our family received the  Starter Chess Learning Kit  in hopes that the guys in the family would refresh what they already knew about chess, and hopefully learn even more.  For me, I was curious to find out the basics of the game since I knew absolutely nothing.

What's included in the Starter Chess Learning Kit:

Full Chess set with vinyl mat

Elliott's Chess School #1 Pawn Level DVD 

  Storage bag

     When we first opened this product I was immediately impressed with the quality.  So many things are cheaply made these days...but not this!  The bag is well constructed, the chess pieces are made of a heavier plastic with green felt bottoms and the mat is nice and thick.  There are elastic straps inside the bag to hold in the rolled-up mat.  The mat unrolls nicely.  No worries about it curling up. There are 2 pockets inside the bag for the chess pieces, so they all stay well contained.  We traveled with our bag in/out of our van for almost 2 weeks.  I loved how well it traveled.  No concerns about smashing a cardboard box or bending the chess board.  Definitely a "grab and go" kind of game!

     A word about the DVD:  The DVD includes 10 short episodes.  (5-10 minutes each) They begin with the very basics, then each build upon the other.  My boys (and my husband) loved the DVD!  I thought the way it was done was very "cool" and up-to-date.  Elliot did a great job communicating.  It is not at all "childish," though he speaks clearly enough for a child to understand.  I really like the way he asks questions along the way to keep you involved.  He always reviews what you have learned at the end of each episode. My kids are already asking for the next level (Knight Level) for Christmas!

 

How we used the product: 

     Since my boys were pretty familiar with the game of chess, we watched the first five episodes all in a row*.  This was a great review for them.  They then played a game of chess.  After that, they watched 3 episodes, then played a game.  Lastly, they watched the last 2 episodes and played another game.  Now we are in the stage of just playing the game and re-watching parts of the DVD for clarification as needed.  This is very helpful.  The use of this product has definitely made my kids (and husband) want to play more chess.  Now, after dinner time the question is which kid gets to play dad first!   (*For a beginner, I would not recommend moving this quickly at all.  I would watch one episode at a time, then do one of the activities in the DVD booklet.  After getting the hang of  the concepts, then play an actual game.)  

The mat comes labeled, so this really makes it nice for beginners and coordinates with how Elliot teaches on the DVD.

So hard to decide which move to make!

Age range: The age range is ideally suited for around 6-12 years, but it is great for anyone older who has never played chess or has just beginner knowledge. 

Cost of product: The Starter Chess Learning Kit is $39.95

Similar products: Go HERE to check out all their chess sets.
Elliott's Chess School DVD #2 Knight Level

Fall Decor at My Mama's House

Last week we went to visit my parents for a "Fall Break" of sorts.  I just had to do a feature on all my mom's fall decor.  There was something in every room....but here are a few highlights.  Enjoy the tour!

A crow atop a tower of old crocks

One of my favorite pieces my mom has (maybe because I bought it for her...hehe!)  I'm still kicking myself for not buying one for myself the same day.    I purchased it at an end-of-season sale for around $7.  Now you know why I'm really kicking myself! 

My mom has a knack for using stuff she's had forever and using it in a new way.  I had not seen this light-up ceramic owl since my childhood.  I love how cute it looks!  And owls are BACK!

The butcher block in the kitchen is always decorated with the seasons.  I love how my dad made the rolling pin towel holder.  Underneath is a crock full of old rolling pins.

Duck decoys on wood slices

I love  the scarecrow nestled in with the quilt and old school book reader. 

At the backdoor: scarecrow, pumpkins on wood slices, old wooden crate decorative cabbage and mums

Don't you just love the cute little pilgrim boy carrying a pumpkin? 

My First Try at Chalkboard Art (Pinned it/Did it)

One of my Pinterest boards is Bulletin Boards and Chalkboards.  I recently gave this pin a try:

 

Here is my attempt: 

 (I used a different translation, the NIV.)

I had a lot of fun...and I think making art out of scripture helps with the memory part.

 I have a chalkboard in the laundry room. In the past I have used it as a place to keep notes and a To Do List.  I decided that since I spend a lot of time in there either washing clothes or ironing, the chalkboard would be put to better use as a place to write scripture that I wanted to memorize.  I have found that it works great!  Why haven't I thought of this before? 

My Little White Church

Last year while on vacation I saw a decorative "church house" in a gift shop that I just loved.  I just wasn't willing to pay $200 for it.  It was also very colorful, and the color palette in my home is a little more toned down.  So, on that same vacation I started hunting for antique pieces to incorporate into my "church house."  My plan was to collect interesting pieces over time, and then have my very handy dad make the church for me.  (He's sweet that way!)

I found two old door plates at an antique store.  I immediately knew these would be the doors to my church.  My dad just happened to have some knobs that fit inside of them perfectly!

The round metal piece was also found at the same antique store.  It is from an old Victorian lamp.  I had no idea how to use it, but bought it because I just liked it. 

 The finial on top is extra-special.  It took a year to come across the perfect piece for the steeple of my church.  This past May my family went "picking" (yes, we love watching American Pickers!) in some old buildings on the farm.  My sweet husband looked for 2 or 3 days. (He loves "picking!")  He would bring things out that looked like they might work.  Nothing really suited me until he brought out this piece.  I knew immediately it was the "piece de resistance."  It was made by my great-grandfather.  I knew because he always had a floating ring on his pieces.  I also really loved the dark color of the wood.  

The white bell was from a wedding my parents attended.

Don't you just love the roof?  My dad cut all of those pieces. Yes he did.  (Thanks, Dad!!)

The inside lights up, just like the one at the gift shop.  

 I couldn't decide about the windows until I was sitting in church one day.  (Still listening to my preacher-husband's sermon, I promise!)  I noticed the shape of the windows of our church.  I thought, "That's it!"  How special to have that incorporated into my little church.

This key was also a find the day we went "picking."  My dad says it's the "Key to the Kingdom!"

I just love my little white church.  I have it in my living room near my "wall of crosses."  I love that I didn't just buy it in a gift shop.  Each piece has a story and meaning to me.  It took over a year to bring it all together, but it was worth it.  I look forward to getting creative with it during the upcoming seasons.  Any ideas for what I could do, blog peeps?

Preschool Sunday School: Jesus and the Children (Mark 10:13-16)

Art Center: Drawing self portraits

Puzzle Center: Matching Children

Puzzle Center: Jesus and the Children Puzzle 

 

Nature Center: Making Fingerprint  Designs

Adding Details

We looked through the magnifying glass at our fingerprints.  God made our fingerprints special!

"Jesus loved people and helped them." 
Matthew 14:14

Free Digital "The Old Schoolhouse" Magazine~~~September/October Issue

Check out the

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine: September/October Issue.

I enjoyed reading Preparing Healthy Foods on a Budget  and Choosing the Best Electives.