Holiday party!

Pin It Now! I have internet! After 9 grueling months I have internet. YAY! I want to share the invite I made for the holiday party I'm throwing for Mr.Wright's students.

I am having SO much fun planning this party. I hope to make it my best yet. I have a whole board on my pinterest with fabulous ideas, check it out.

Can't wait to catch up on blogs and share more stuff! I'm working on a sparkly craft and will share it later on.

xoxoxoxo

B :)

Super cute family tradition idea!

Pin It Now! [caption id="attachment_1474" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Photo from TheSubrubanMom"][/caption]

I have been searching the internet for Christmas gifts already. I have compiled a GREAT list of very cost effective, creative and highly rated toys for kiddos and everyone on my list actually. I'll be sharing that later, but in the meantime check out this SUPER cute product I found on amazon. It's called The Elf on the Shelf.

The product is a story book and a little elf.  The idea is to tell the kiddos that Santa sent the elf to watch over the kids and the elf reports to Santa each night. Us parents are supposed to move the elf into a new spot each night so it looks like he "left" for the North Pole and came back. There are over 200 positive reviews on amazon and many claim how excited kiddos were each morning to see where the elf was in the house.

Isn't this just the cutest idea ever for a family tradition for young kids?? I'm ordering one right now and thought I'd share :)

xoxo

B

New Year’s Eve Table on a Budget!

Pin It Now! This year will be rather tame compared to years past.  We have two babies now and no grandma to stay overnight and babysit.  Even though there will be no fancy party dress, fun venue to attend or loads of friends surrounding us to ring in the new year I still plan to make it special.  Now since it's just the family this year, it would be wasteful to splurge on a bunch of party decor.

So my inner budget spirit came out today and here's what I created:

I love the colors blue, purple and silver for NYE.  I found the ornaments for sale for $2.50 and I had the tissue paper at home.  I made a table runner out of tissue paper as well as place mats.  I put some ornaments in a tall vase to give the table dimension.

Then I had a genious idea.  Lighting is crucial and so of course I wanted candles on the table.  However white candles would be too boring.  I read a tip in a book I'm reading, Lulu Powers Food to Flowers (an awesome entertainment/party planning book btw!) to add tealight candles to water for a simple yet chic decoration.  So I did that and then also added blue food coloring to the water.  Simple!  I do still need to verify if that is safe.  I don't think food coloring is flammable.

I then printed some Happy New Year Tags to use as namecards and it came together nicely.  Now if I were actually hosting dinner I would glam it up much more.  I would use a black table cloth (maybe white),  add silver tinsle to the table, use silver charger plates, blue or purple colored wine glasses and find some pretty napkins to match the theme.  I'd also add party hats and such to the table for some fun.

I REALLY like what Chris at Celebrations at Home did for a backdrop for one of her beautiful parties:


I think the clear beads would look really cool hanging from my table or even laid out on it as well.

Hope everyone has something fun and special planned for New Year's!

xoxo

B

A Wright Christmas

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I would have to say this was the best Christmas I've had so far.  The entire month of December was just really fun, festive and crazy busy.  And now I'm pooped.

I'm very happy to report that my Christmas Eve dinner turned out amazing.



I grilled some filet mignons and made Ina Garten's Gorgonzola Cream Sauce.  *drool*.  It was perfection.  Absolute perfection.  Gorgonzola has a very pungent flavor, however in this sauce it's not overpowering at all.  I did use a little less gorgonzola and a bit more parm cheese though.  It was the perfect compliment to a perfect cut of meat.  Perfect perfect perfect!  Did I mention how perfect it all tasted?

 Also made steamed crab legs (tradition to have crab legs for Christmas Eve dinner), scalloped potatoes and homemade apple and sausage stuffing. 

Then Paula Deen's pumpkin pie for dessert.



Her recipe really is the best pumpkie pie recipe.  Ever.  The end.

We decided this year that after Christmas Eve dinner we would open all our gifts, except for the ones from Santa.  That's how they do it in Europe and if you think about it, makes more sense.  Jesus' birthday is on the 25th.  Let that day be about the celebration of him, right?  So technically I should have opened my gift from Mr. Wright on Christmas Eve. 

 However!

 I've got mad negotiating skills and a severe problem with patience.  So after a few hours of begging, I got to open my gift a tad bit earlier :)

Mr. Wright did VERY good this year and got me the best gift.  I didn't even know how much I would love it.  I call it my super duper fancy new cookbook.  But most people call it an ipad.  I found the COOLEST app for those us foodies out there.  It's call My Recipe Book (click the link to see an overview).  Basically you can import any recipe you find online into the app.  You can also manually add recipes from your own cookbooks.  I think it can pull recipes from ebooks too, though I haven't tried that yet.  You can organize all your recipes by catergory, modify recipes to how you like them, add notes and my favorite feature?  You can select all the meals you would like to make for the week and add those recipes to the grocery cart.  It then provides you with a grocery list that you can email to yourself!  You can also search your own recipe database for a meal you'd like to make in 20minutes.  I think they make this app for iphone too!



I love that I can bring it anywhere with me. 

There are some seriously cool apps.  I downloaded an Elmo book that is a visual audio book.  Meaning there is someone who reads the book aloud as we turn the pages.  But that's not what is cool about it.  What is cool is  I can also read the pages of the book and record my own voice!  Which is really neat in the event I'm ever away.  Which is basically never b/c what reason do I have to ever be away?  BUT.  If the occassion ever did arise, my babies could have a story read to them by "me".  Or if Mr. Wright ever leaves for a work trip or something he can do the recording too.  OR!  Maybe if I get to meet Obama one day I could ask him to record one page for me.  Hmmm.  See this gift really is the coolest gift ever.  Only problem is Mr. Wright and Little Wright also think it's the coolest new toy.

 I am now on the ipad lovers bandwagon and can see why so many people love em'.  The sweet thing about this gift is hubby used some of his bonus check to buy it for me.  Awww.

Then, to top if off we had a very snowy, white Christmas! 



I really can not remember the last time I had a white Christmas.  Or if I've ever had one THIS white.

Honestly, the best part of this holiday season though is that I have a happy and healthy family.

 

This is the first picture I've posted of Mr. Wright!  Yup, that's the man I'm stuck with forever :)

Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday!  Oh and Happy Kwanzaa!

xoxo

B

Vin chaud for when it's cold

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In Germany they have glühwein. In France they have vin chaud (warm wine). I'm sure there may be technical differences between the two, but when I was in France I loved the vin chaud much, much better than glühwein. It reminds me of a winterized sangria. It's quite delicious and is sure to warm you from your head to your toes. And make you feel really happy too!

Ahhhhh. C'est la vie!

I just eyeballed the amounts, but here is what I used:
bottle of dry red wine (cheap works great!)
brown sugar
clementines very thinly sliced
apple chopped into small pieces
dash of cinammon
cinammon stick for garnish (optional)

Place all in a pot and bring to a simmmer.  Add a little bit of each ingredient at a time, taste and adjust.  Serve warm and enjoy life as the french do.  Enjoy!

xoxo

B

Christmas in Germany and France

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German Christmas Market

Magical. Cold. Festive. Charming. Quaint. Beautiful. Warm-cider-wine-that-warms-your-soul. Breathtaking. Memorable. Colorful. Twinkley.  Delicious. Surreal. 

Just a few words to describe Christmas in Europe.  I've been to 4 different markets this year and each one has gotten better and better.  It's a very different experience to be in Europe for Christmas.  It feels more special.  Less commercialized.  More memorable in some ways.  Perhaps it's just the novelty of cobblestone streets or being surrounded by an array of foreign speakers with lovely accents or the ancient architecture of nearly every building reminding you of the rich cultural history or the street performers playing their accordians and clarinets. 

[caption id="attachment_1022" align="aligncenter" width="518" caption="Noël à Strasbourg"][/caption]

 European countries in and of themselves are oozing with cuteness and charm.  But add Christmas sparkle and music and it's just dreamy. 

 Nearly every city and town in Germany participates in a Weinachtmarkt, or Christmas market for us English speaking folk which takes place outside.  Where it is cold.  Freezing cold to be exact.  (about 20 F tonight) And there is nothing better to warm your hands and your soul then a steaming cup of Glühwein. 

[caption id="attachment_1024" align="aligncenter" width="412" caption="Glühwein, cheers!"][/caption]

If you've never heard of Glühwein (vin chaud in France) or even tasted it, you are missing out!  It tastes like warm red wine mixed with apple cider.  I believe that is essentially what it is.  

Of all the markets I've been to thus far Strasbourg, France is by far my favorite.  I think I may be bias in a few ways.  For one I understand the language better.  I took 5 years of french once upon a time and remember enough to get by and converse decently.  (Except for the one time I told a guy I am a toilet.  I'll share that story another time).  But also the wine is much better than German wine in my most unprofessional sommelier opinion.  I could guzzle the vin chaud in France.  But aside from all that the city is just beautiful.  And even more so during Christmas. 

[caption id="attachment_1026" align="aligncenter" width="491" caption="Noël à Strasbourg"][/caption]

 The buildings, streets and churches are dripping with seasonal decor and the city is illuminated at night by the pretty glow of thousands of Christmas lights. 

[caption id="attachment_1031" align="aligncenter" width="491" caption="Noël à Strasbourg"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1032" align="aligncenter" width="491" caption="Noël à Strasbourg"][/caption]

The vendor huts (for lack of a better term) offer so many different types of trinkets and goodies.  From ornaments and candles to chocolate and woodcrafts. 

[caption id="attachment_1028" align="aligncenter" width="430" caption="Noël à Strasbourg"][/caption]

Check out what I bought.

 You put little tea light candles inside them.  So pretty! 

 I am offcially warm and fuzzy inside with Christmas cheer.  And not just because of all the vin chaud I drank :)

Hope everyone is having a Happy Holiday season!  Christmas is only 12 days away!

B

Peppermint Nutella Cookies

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I have a few confessions.

1) These cookies are semi-homemade

2) Despite the fact they are semi-homemade they were still yummy.

3) It only took me 2o minutes to make these and only 2 dishes to clean! (the cookie pan and a knife)

4) It's noon and I'm still in my pajamas.

Ok.  I feel better for being honest.

I've mentioned before how I suck at baking.  But that was before I started using my food processor.  Which seems to be a magic machine that mixes all the ingredients together to create perfect pie crust and sugar cookies. (And salsa, pesto and soup, but those have nothing to do with baking of course).

Yesterday when I was strolling through the frozen section and I saw a tub of Otis Spunkmeyer Sugar Cookie dough.  Even though I don't fear baking so much anymore, I still couldn't resist the idea of a super easy cookie. 

I considered them for a minute and then thought, nah I'll make my own from scratch.  But right as I was about to walk away I saw boxes of candy canes. 

And then I had an epiphany. 

I've been wanting to make a cookie involving nutella somehow.  Because nutella is just one of the greatest foods to exist in my opinion.  Sugar cookies, nutella and candy canes?  How could that not taste heavenly?

So the verdict?

Yup.  They were good.  And they were easy.  And the fact that there were only 4 left this morning, says it all. 

You could of course make a homemade sugar cookie.  But for those of you in a crunch for a time or who don't have a baking cell in your body, the premade stuff works nice.

All you need is:
Sugar Cookie Dough
Nutella
Crushed candy canes or peppermint sticks

Bake cookies according to directions.  Let cool for 5-10 min.  Spread nutella on each cookie.  Sprinkle with crushed peppermint.

Enjoy

B

Homemade hand print ornament…easy!

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Now that I have two little ones, the holidays seem even more special.  As we get older as a family I want our tree to be a reflection of memories of years past. 

I remember making a handprint ornament when I was a kid and thought it would be fun to do with my own kiddos this year.  Something we can put on our tree each year to remember how small they were when we lived in Germany. This is such an easy way to create a memory and a keepsake for your Christmas tree!  It would also make a great gift for grandparents.  I found the recipe here.

I didn't use food coloring, but instead just painted the handprint after the mold had dried.

Enjoy!

B

Breakfast Burrito Buffet for the Holidays

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I have a good idea for a breakast brunch this holiday season!  A breakfast burrito buffet!

It could be as fancy or as simple as you like.  The reason I like the burrito buffet idea is because it's simple and doesn't take much time at all.  Here's what I included in my buffet:
Homemade salsa made the day before (store bought is ok too, but I highly recommend homemade!)
Breakfast sausage
Bacon
Eggs
Breakfast Potatoes
Shredded Cheese
Flour tortillas
Saricha hot sauce (best stuff ever)
Orange juice in fun champagne glasses

Guests can add whatever they like, roll up and enjoy.  MMM!

I set the table up first. It makes things much less stressful this way. If you want to create a festive holiday table, gather items from around your house or even purchase a few pieces for your buffet table.  This can be as fancy or simple as you like.  But I do recommend at least having some fresh flowers.  Flowers and brunch just seem to go together.

Arrange the plates and servingware where you'd like them to go.  I put out the shredded cheese, salsa and tortillas on the table ready to go while I prepared the potatoes, sausage, bacon and then the eggs.

I recommend cooking the eggs last because everything else can hold up fine for 30min or so whereas eggs get cold.  And cold eggs are just not good.

Next time I will add avocados and jalapenos though.  Some fresh fruit on the side would be nice too.

A burrito buffet is so versatile and can easily be made into your own.  For example add sauteed vegetables like red and yellow peppers with onions for vegetarian guests.  The world is your oyster.

Hope everyone is having a happy holiday season!

xoxo

B

Prettify Your Thanksgiving Table in 20 minutes

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It has taken me longer than I intended to finally create the designs for my Thanksgiving table.  I've been a busy little bee.  But better late than never, right?  So  friends if any of you are looking for a simple, inexpensive way to jazz up your Thanksgiving look no further.  Simply print my pdfs on cardstock using a color printer (a home printer works just fine) and then cut.  Easy peasy. 



You'll need:

2" scallop or circle punch (if using the tags). 
Double sided tape or glue(for candle label)
Scissors
Card Stock
Color Printer
Hole Punch and Ribbon (for banner)

Here's the ThanksgivingPrintable.  If you have Adobe Pro you can insert text for the name tags.  Otherwise use a fine tip permanent marker.

Included in the package:

12 circle tags with saying "Thankful", "Grateful" and "Blessed
Candle Wrapper
Name tags (can be used as labels for your food and dessert)
"Thankful" banner

Hope someone can find a use for this :)  and if you do, please let me know! :)

xoxo!

B

More Thanksgiving Table Ideas & Printables!

Pin It Now! Gosh.  I just love creative people.  I love designs.  I love pretty things.  I love people who make pretty things that I can look at and want.  Isn't this kids Thanksgiving table just too cute for words?   It comes from the creative mind of Paula at Frog Prince Paperie.

 A big part of holidays are the memories that stem from childhood.  We always remember Grandma's pumpkie pie or someone's traditional dish.  But I bet kids would also always remember how festive and beautiful Thanksgiving was.  And this is a wonderful (and easy!) way to create the ambience.



The best part of this party display is how easy it is to make yourself.  In the comfort of your own home.  You just need card stock, scissors, a printer and a 2 or 2 1/4"  puncher, either scalloped or round. These are readily available at any craft shop, or anywhere scrapbooking supplies are sold.



I am in love with this Giving Tree as a center piece.  So adorable and fun for kids to share something they are thankful for!

Paula has more details on how she created the table and craft ideas on her website.  She also has several creative printable party ideas!  Definitely worth checking out :)

xoxo

B

Free Thanksgiving Printable Party!

Pin It Now! A month or so ago I hosted a brunch birthday for one of my friends. Lots of the little details like the cupcake toppers, banner and cupcake wrappers were printed at home. It is so simple to create a unique and festive party! If you are hosting Thanksgiving at your house or having a kids Thanksgiving party of any sort you MUST check out this party kit from Paper Glitter.


Gorgeous isn't it?  This entire kit is free!  FAH-REE people.  All you need is a few craft supplies and you have a fabulous party.  I have ordered from Paper Glitter and even won a free kit.  She includes all the instructions on how to print and assemble the party supplies.  It doesn't get any easier than this.

I'm going to use this for a preschool Thanksgiving get together in a few weeks!  I'll be posting pics of course :)  Hope everyone is having fun planning for the holidays!

xoxo

B

Pumpkin Parfaits

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I haven't made a dessert in a really long time.  Most desserts I want to make involve flour.  And anything that involves flour is an automatic disaster in my kitchen.  I can't bake.  One of these days I think I will try and learn.  But until then I'm cool with stuff that doesn't involve much flour.  Like these grogeous, beautiful and very pretty pumpkin parfaits.

They really are so simple to make.  As long as where you live they sell canned pumpkin.  And where I live canned pumpkin is scarce.  Thankfully my good friend Mama with Flavor was nice enough to give me one of her cans of pumpkin!  I owe her my life now :)

Wouldn't these be beautiful on a Thanksgiving dessert table? Ooooh or for a fall brunch!  Or dessert for a dinner party!

Please make these :)

xoxo

B

Ingredients

• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin (2 1/4 tsp)


• 1/4 cup cold water


• 1 (15-oz) can pure pumpkin


• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar


• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon


• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg


• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger


• 1/8 teaspoon salt


• 2 1/4 cups chilled heavy cream, divided


• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, divided


• 20 gingersnap cookies, coarsely crushed

• 
  

  Equipment:

  
  
  8 (6- to 8-oz) glasses

• 
  
  Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small saucepan and let soften 1 minute. Bring to a bare simmer, stirring until gelatin has dissolved. Whisk together gelatin mixture, pumpkin, brown sugar, spices, and salt in a large bowl.


• 
  
  Beat 1 cup cream with 1/2 tsp vanilla until it holds soft peaks, then fold into pumpkin mixture gently but thoroughly.


• 
  
  Beat remaining 1 1/4 cups cream with remaining 1 tsp vanilla until it holds soft peaks.


• 
  
  Spoon about 1/4 cup pumpkin mixture into bottom of each glass, then sprinkle with some of cookies and top with about 2 Tbsp whipped cream. Repeat layers once, ending with cream.


• 
  
  Chill until set, at least 2 hours.

Cooks’ notes: Parfaits can be made 1 day ahead and chilled.

Recipe by Gina Marie Miraglia Eriquez via Gourmet.com

Thanksgiving Table Ideas

Pin It Now! Thanksgiving is next month!  Is anyone else as excited as I am?  This year will be my first year ever hosting Thanksgiving.  It'll be a small group, but people I absolutely adore and I want to make it special.  I think Thanksgiving is a holiday that deserves special attention to detail.  I think that if you are hosting dinner at your house you should set the table and have a center piece and set a mood.  The whole shabang.  Holidays are about memories and a huge party of those memories is the ambience.  Ambience helps create emotions and feelings.  People will always remember how your dinner and setting made them feel that year.  I don't want Thanksgiving at our home to ever be boring or simple.  Simple is any dinner any night.  I want to have candles and beautiful fall colors and a table setting that is inviting and meant for conversation.

This year I want to incorporate a semi-elegant setting with golds, browns, oranges, yellows and a little bit of red.  Here's my inspiration board:



1) I love the beautiful centerpiece and candles in this table setting.  This person did a lovely job at creating a festive atmosphere.  I think my only concern with this setting is that the centerpiece is so tall that people across from eachother couldn't hold a conversation.

2) Love the colors and the lanterns. (picture credit)

3) Good Housekeeping shared this creative idea for a candle centerpiece.  Nuts in jars!  Love it.

4) I think the leaf place settings are adorable.  And I love that the napkins are tied with brown ribbon.  I love details! (picture credit)

xoxo

B

Halloween! Party Ideas and free printable!

Pin It Now! I'm excited for Halloween this year! I've never cared much for the holiday, but since becoming more interested in crafting and party planning, I see more of a fun side to the holiday. It's just another reason to have a party and get together with friends.

 There are so many wonderful blogs with incredible ideas. Here are a few I stalk for creativity:

I adore livinglocurto.com Amy's site offers free printables, craft ideas and creative party inspirations you will love love love.

Another blog I <3 is Paperglitter.  Linette is another very creative designer who also has Halloween freebies. Looove freebies :)  Her art is purdy.

Kim over at Tomkat Studio is very inspiring and just plain awesome. Her creativity and attention to detail are what make her designs truely unique and fun to look at. Her blog is what really got me interested in parties and decorations. I love cooking and having friends and family around and to me ambience is such an important part of making memories and events even more special.

So between all these amazing ladies and my own very basic and amateur experience in graphic design I came up with this:

Not too terrible for a first attempt, eh?

This is a staged party, which is why there isn't much food. :) I wanted to get some pics up for friends wanting ideas for a Halloween party. I plan on having the real deal within the next few weeks.

I made these circles for cupcake toppers and other labels for jars and such. I found the cute witch and bat designs for free from Gerberpernert.

halloweenprintable (Click for a free pdf download of the witch and bat cupcake toppers.)

I then created the trick-or-treat banner using adobe illustrator. If you'd like to print out your own banner, I highly recommend checking out tomkat, livinglocurto or paperglitter.

The tissue paper pom poms were soooo easy to make!! Seriously! If I can do it a monkey can do it. Online instructions say to use wire. (click here for an online tutorial) But I didn't have wire, so I used pipe cleaner and it worked perfect.

I'm a radical.

But not really.

I used stuff around my house to set up the table. I had some empty glass jars and glasses that I filled with halloween candy and also used martini glasses.

The Bewitchin' Brew wine label came from Centsational Girl. I love her too.  And the orange soda bottles are just A&W tangerine cream soda.  I also saw orange Crush at the store.  Both are equally festive for this time of year.  I stuck a trick-or-treat label on the bottles to give em' more charm.



ohhh. And I almost forgot. The chocolate dipped pretzels! Aren't these just so stinkin' cute? They tasted yummy too. If you like sweet and salty anyway. Which I do. Perfect. Simple. Easy. Cheap. Heck yes! Click here for instructions.

And for a final touch... printed pictures of spooky characters like Frankenstein or Dracula. I just did a google image search and printed them off. Voila!

Super easy Halloween party that is also budget friendly.

　

Enjoy!

xoxo

B

　

 

 

 

 

Chocolate dipped pretzels

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I made these for my Halloween Party. These are easy.  They are cheap.  They are quick.  And they are yummy.  Perfection.  Such a great idea for gifts, parties, fundraisers, giveaways...

Here's what you'll need:

1 (11 1/2 oz.) pkg. milk chocolate chips
Pretzel Rods (as many as you would like to make)
Mini pretzels (optional)

1) Use a double broiler to melt chocolate chips until smooth.  Remove from heat but keep chocolate over hot water. Dip half the pretzel rod into chocolate and coat evenly.

2) If using sprinkles, spread sprinkles out on parchment paper.  Roll the chocolate dipped rods in the sprinkles and coat.

3) Place pretzels on waxed paper-lined cookie sheets. Chill in refrigerator until coating sets (15 minutes). Gently loosen from wax paper. Serve immediately or store in refrigerator.

4) optional: If you have a lot of chocolate left over (because you didn't make many rods, like me) then dump a bag of mini pretzels into the remaining chocolate.  Stir very gently.  Then lay the chocolate pretzels on parchment paper and repeat step 3.

tip from Bon Appetite cookbook: If you don't have a double boiler, place a metal mixing bowl atop a saucepan of simmering water—but do not allow the bottom of the bowl to touch the water. You want indirect heat, not direct.

Halloween Spider Craft

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Isn't he cute?!  Unlike the real life creatures that have been taking over every corner in our house lately.  This little guy is super easy and doesn't require many supplies. 

You'll need:

-Styrofoam balls (whatever size you like)
-Black pipe cleaners
-Google eyes
-Push pins in various colors (for the nose)
-Glue
-Black craft paint
-Wooden skewer
-pom poms for the legs (optional)
-fishing wire if you plan to hang these guys
-Sponge paint brush
-Wire cutters (to cut the pipe cleaner in half)

Directions:

1) Take a styrofoam ball and poke a skewer into it.
2) Using your foam paint brush and black paint, paint the ball.
3) Volunteer your kiddo to hold the skewers while they dry.
4) Depending on the paint you use the dry time could be anywhere from a few hours to overnight.  I let mine sit overnight to dry.  I poked the skewers in a grapefruit!  (using a sharp knife cut off just a tiny bit of the bottom of a grapefruit too help keep it from rolling)
5) Once the balls are dry, glue the eyeballs one, stick the pushpins in for the nose and then poke in the piper cleaner for the legs.  I cut the pipe cleaner in half since my styrofoam balls were smaller.  If you are making a big spider you could probably just use the entire pipe cleaner for the leg.  Glue on pom poms to the legs as variation.

The only spiders ever allowed in my house!

xoxo

B