Fall is on the way and I have a project that will make for some cute fall decor. You take simple foam pumpkins and dress them up with yarn. I love the texture it ads to the pumpkins and you can easily customize the colors to match your decor.

Here is what you will need!

• Foam pumpkins pack 
• Assorted yarn, chunky or thick yarn works great!  The amount of yarn needed will vary depending on the thickness of your yarn.,  The thicker the yarn the less it will take to cover the pumpkins.  I used 3-6 yards depending for each pumpkin..  I used yarn lots of yarn remnants  that I had on hand.  I have heard that the Dollar Store is also a great place to get yarn.
• Small tree branch pieces about 1 inch long or cinnamon sticks
• Apple corer or potato peeler
• tool to help push yarn through hole, I used a fondue fork.
• Scissors

Remove stem from pumpkin.   Using a potato hollow out the center of the pumpkin.  You will want to hollow out about 1/2″ of a hole.

It’s time to grab your yarn.  Tie a knot at the end of the yarn and push it through the hole and pull out the other side.  Continue to add the yarn through the center hole by pushing, pulling and wrapping until you have covered the entire pumpkin.

One your pumpkin is fully covered, cut off the excess and push the knot end through the bottom of the pumpkin and add the stem on top.

It’s the kind of project you can do while watching TV.  It’s seriously so easy and so cute!  

The post DIY Yarn Pumpkins appeared first on Gather Lemons.

I love using my Cricut machine to make custom gifts and personalized items for me and my family. I used the Cricut Joy to make 3 bags to hold different things like travel supplies, make-up and markers.  If you are interested in getting a Cricut machine but don’t know which one is best for you, I recommend checking out this post where I highlight the benefits if each specific machine.  I have owned all three versions of the Cricut machines now and I think all of them are a great options for different reasons.

I think the Cricut Explore Air 2 Craft Cutting Machine is the perfect all-around machine. Right now you can score a great deal on the Cricut Explore Air 2 Bundle it’s priced at $259. I am loving the convenience and portability of the Cricut Joy too. You can get FREE shipping with code DECSHIP.

Here is a peek at the supplies I used in order to create these fun bags using the Cricut 3pk Cosmetic Bags.

For this bag I used the image My Happy Face Compact (#M175786CA) from Cricut Design Space and the Cricut Joy Holographic Smart Iron-On  in Dahlia.  I love how the holographic nature of the iron on makes it look like different shades depending on how the light hits it.  

I finally used Infusible Ink for the first time ever and I am hooked!   For this one I used the Cricut 2pk Joy Patterned Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets  in warm splashpad and cool splashpad.  Unlike an iron-on transfer or vinyl application, where artwork is attached on top of a the material using adhesive, Infusible Ink heat transfer becomes one with the material itself.  It’s so cool!  For this project I used the Spark Joy (#M228E788B) image from Cricut Design Space.

Lastly, I created a bag that was perfect for all my travels to hold things like charging cords, power adapters and things like that.  I used the Wanderlust Adventure Awaits (#M3AC9627) image from Cricut Design space and use the Cricut Joy Everyday Smart Iron-On in black and parchment.

For regular iron-ons an iron will work, but if you are looking to use Infusible Ink or to just make things easier the Cricut EasyPress 2 9″x9″ is something you will want.  The Cricut Joy Starter Tool Set is a handy thing to have too!

The Cricut Joy is a great option for labeling too!  You could use it to create labels in your kitchen like I did for my baking supplies.

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I thought it would be fun to add something living to my faux tree this year.   I made a few of these Succulent Christmas ornaments for my tree.  These would be great to gift to anyone that loves plants too!

Succulent Christmas Ornaments

• 2 inch potted succulent (find at your local hardware store, and some grocery store floral department or buy from Amazon)
• Plastic open face ornaments (I bought mine at Amazon)
• White sand
• Cactus mix soil
• Decorations: mini pine cones, berries, glitter, ribbon are just a few great options

First you will need to remove succulent from pot and remove as much dirt as possible.  Run the roots under water to remove any excess dirt.

Grab your ornament, add a layer cactus mix soil and top off with white sand.  Nestle the succulent into the sand.  Use some decor to spruce it up, like  mini pine cones, berries, glitter balls whatever inspires you.  Finish off with a ribbon on top.

Care instructions: mist once a week to keep succulents happy.  They are very low maintaining and can pull the moisture it needs out of the air.  But, misting will keep them super happy.  These will stay healthy and happy through the new year.  You can even replant them after the new year if you like.

Merry Christmas!

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Have you been wanting to get a Cricut machine, but don’t know which one is right for you? I am sharing the benefits of each machine so you can decide which will work best for your situation. Overall, I think the Cricut Explore Air 2 is the best overall machine for everyone. However, if you are an avid sewer and you want to expand what your Cricut can do, consider the Cricut Maker. Short on space or like to craft on-the-go, then the Cricut Joy may be perfect for you. Here is the run down on each machine and the best deals you can find on each one.

I truly love my Cricut machine, is is one of my all-time favorite purchases I have made. I use it to make gifts, custom tees for our Disney trips, home decor and more.

I’m going to let you in on a little tip when purchasing through Cricut, if you sign up for Cricut Access you will receive 10% off your order.   Cricut Access is $9.99 for the monthly plan and you can cancel at anytime.  If you purchase Cricut Access before or while you purchase your machine, you will receive and extra 10% off.

The Cricut Maker is the ultimate craft cutting machine!  In addition to cutting cardstock, vinyl and iron-ons, it also cuts fabric and thicker materials up to 3/32″. The Cricut maker has an adaptive tool system, so your machine can do even more things as new tools are released.  Using the knife blade attachment you can cut balsa wood and thick leather.  They recently released a Foil Transfer blade so you can add Foil Transfer with your Maker now too!  The retail price on this machine is $399. Recently we’ve seen some great sale prices on the Cricut Maker.

Here are some current deals we’ve found on the Cricut Maker:

Cricut – Cricut Maker $249.99 (reg $399.99)

Cricut – Cricut Maker + Essentials Bundle $309.99 ($533.42)

Cricut – Cricut Maker + Everything Materials Bundle $329.99 (reg $647.82)

HSN – Cricut Maker with Vinyl, Iron-on and Tool Bundle $299.95 (reg $399.95)
(New customers $20 off with code HSN2021) 

The Cricut Explore Air 2 is a great machine for crafting!  You can cut paper, vinyl, faux leather, and tons of other materials.  It can’t cut thicker materials like the Maker can, but this machine is the perfect option for so may crafters.  This is the machine I would personally recommend if you are planning to cut cardstock, vinyl or iron-ons.  It really can do so many things!  This machine also comes in a variety of colors to match your decor.

Check out the following deals on the Cricut Explore Air 2:

Cricut – Cricut Explore Air 2 $199.99 (reg $249.99)

Cricut – Cricut Explore Air 2 + Essentials Bundle $259.99 (reg $383.42)

Cricut – Cricut Explore Air 2 + Everything Bundle $279.99 (reg $383.42)

HSN – Cricut Explore Air 2 with Vinyl Variety, Tape and Weeder $169.99 (reg $227.99)
(New customers $20 off with code HSN2021)

Target – Cricut Explore Air 2 Craft Cutting Machine $149.99 ($227.99)

The Cricut Joy is great if you don’t have a ton of space or if you want to craft on-the-go.  With the Cricut Joy you can cut continuous shapes up to 4 inches wide and 4 feet long.  One of the best features is mat-free cutting which means you can cut up to 20′ of Smart Vinyl in a one shot. If you are nervous about getting started with a Cricut machine, short on space or like to craft on-the-go, this machine would be perfect for you.  The retail price of this machine is $179.  Since this is a new machine, we probably won’t find big discounts on it right now.

Pick up the Cricut Joy at the following retailers:

Cricut – Cricut Joy $169.99 (reg $179.99)

Cricut – Cricut Joy + Essentials Bundle $189.99 (reg $238.93)

HSN – Cricut Joy  $129.00 (reg $159.00)
(New customers $20 off with code HSN2021)

QVC – Cricut Joy $129.00 (reg $159.00)
(New customers $15 off first order with code HOLIDAY)

QVC – Cricut Joy Smart Cutting Machine & 17-pc Accessory Kit $199.99 
(New customers $15 off first order with code HOLIDAY)

Here are some examples of projects you can create with your Cricut machine.

Custom Disney Tees

Return these Books book bag

Faux Leather Keychains

Disney Treat Coin Purses

Make-up Bag

The post Which Cricut Machine Is Best + Best Deals appeared first on Gather Lemons.

My daughter can’t get enough of the expensive bath bombs from LUSH, so we finally decided to make our own.  I thought it would be a fun project to do together and in the long run it will save her tons of money.  Making bath bomb is a great thing to give as gifts too.  The process was surprisingly easy and lots of fun too!

Bath Bomb Ingredients
Recipe found at ouroilyhouse.com

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup citric acid
• 1/2 cornstarch
• 1/4 cup epsom salt 
• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
• 15-20 drops of essential oils (I used orange)
• 1 tsp vanilla or 1 tsp of water
• spray bottle with water
• bath bomb mold
• bath bomb colorant (this Bath bomb mold & color kit is a good option) 

Mix all dry ingredients in medium bowl.  Stir until all mixed together.  Add in melted coconut oil, essential oils and vanilla. Whisk together.

With spray bottle,  Mist mixture with water until it holds together when you squeezed in you hand.  Prepare molds by greasing them with coconut oil.

You can make bath bombs natural without coloring, but I personally like a bit of color so I divided the mixture into four bowls and add four drop of colorant and massage the mixture with my hands until it was an even color.  Then I simply add layers of color to the bath molds and press the mixture into both sides of mold and finally press the two side together.

Allow the molds to sit for 24- 48 hours in order to completely dry.  Once dry they should pop out of the molds and are ready to enjoy!

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It’s probably common knowledge that our family loves our Disneyland vacations. We also love to make fun Disney tees for our trips. If you own a Cricut machine, customizing your own Disney tees is such an easy thing to do. It can also be pretty cheap!  I’ve made lots of our Disney tees out of t-shirts that I’ve picked up at the Dollar Store (for a dollar) or tees that I found on clearance at Target for 70% off.

Cricut has several licensed Disney and Star Wars designs, but I also like to search Etsy for some creative Disney svg designs that I can use on our vacation tees too.  You do not have to purchase images, you can make your own or use free svg images found on the internet.

I recommend the Cricut Explore Air 2, it’s an excellent machine to start you on your crafting journey. If you love to sew you may want to look into the Cricut Maker as an option, it cuts fabrics, leather, balsa wood and more with the expandable suite of tools.  I also suggest getting one of the Cricut Air + Everything Bundle because it will truly give you everything you need to get started on making a bunch of different projects.

When it comes to purchasing my iron-ons, I buy from several location and I usually always wait for a sale when I am buying from Cricut or Michaels

Cricut – watch for sales!

Michaels – I purchase both the Cricut brand & Siser HTV

Etsy – I purchase here when I want several different color sheets

Here is a peek at several shirts I made for the next time we visit the Disney parks.

Oh Boy Mickey Tee

• Mickey Mouse Oh Boy! svg from Etsy
• Cricut black glitter iron-on
• Cricut red glitter iron-on

I’m Here for the Churros Tee

• I’m Here for the Churros svg from Etsy
• Siser EasyWeed Heat Transfer Vinyl Cream
• Siser EasyWeed Heat Transfer Vinyl Tan
• Siser EasyWeed Heat Transfer Vinyl Brown
• Siser EasyWeed Heat Transfer Vinyl Chocolate Brown

Mos Eisley’s Cantina Tee

• Mos Eisley’s svg from Etsy
• Cricut black iron-on

Fixer Upper Tee

• Fixer Upper svg from Etsy
• Cricut navy iron-on
• Cricut burgandy iron-on

Space Ranger Tee

• Deluxe Space Ranger svg from Cricut Disney – Toy Story 4 set
• Cricut Teal iron-on
• Cricut Green Apple iron-on

Here is a quick peek at how easy it s to make your own custom tees with the help of the Cricut machine.

You upload your design to the Cricut Design Space, it will pretty much walk you through the entire process. Most of the designs I chose used more than one color of vinyl so I will show you how to do multiple layers if you aren’t familiar with how it works.

You can select what color you want each part of the design to be and design space will tell you when you need to load that color vinyl into your Cricut machine.  When making iron on projects you need to always make sure you mirror the image, so it will be the correct direction after it is ironed onto your fabric.  When laying your iron on vinyl on your Cricut mat, place the glossy side down.  I like to cut the image out with cardstock first to make sure I have the correct size I want.  This way I’m not wasting any vinyl.

When you use layers you will want to iron on the bottom layer first and then work your way up.  With the Buzz Lightyear shirt that means I need to iron on the green part first.

I lined up the next layer (the teal one) on top of the green one and ironed that on.  You can use a regular iron or the Cricut Easy Press.   Once all layers are added, you are done!  You have a cute Disney tee that was customized by you with the exact design and colors you want!  Making Disney tees is almost as addicting as Disney vacations!

Take a peek a few of my other Cricut creations.

Library Book Bag

Faux Leather Key Chains

Disney Treat Coin Purse

The post DIY Custom Disney Tees appeared first on Gather Lemons.

With so much down time at home these days I have been getting crafty with my Cricut.  My most recent project is a bag specifically for books that we need to return to the library. I keep the bag on a hook in our laundry room and the kids know when they are done reading a book they are supposed to place it in the bag. We haven’t quite yet got down the “put it in the bag” part of the plan, but we are working on it.

I love the idea of having one central place where we can store our library books and then when it’d time to return them we just grab the bag and go.

My husband went to a trade show and got this plain white tote bag as part of his swag.  I knew I could dress it up with my Cricut machine to make it a prettier.   I used a floral printed iron and and cut out the words  “RETURN THESE BOOKS.” with an all capital block font.

Next I use my Cricut Easy Press to iron the image onto the bag.  The whole process took less than 30 minutes and I am super happy with the results.

Using my Cricut Maker to make iron-ons for bags and clothing is probably one of the things I use my Cricut for the most, it’s so much fun to personalize your own items.   Cricut currently has a sale on some of their popular machines if you are interested in taking the plunge and getting a Cricut machine for yourself. I seriously love mine!   The Cricut Explore Air 2 is only $179 for the machine, they also have some bundle options that will also save you money on some supplies too.  Here are the different options for the machines,  I have previously owned the Cricut Explore Air, but upgraded to the Cricut Maker last year.  

Cricut Explore Air 2

Cricut Explore Air 2 Bundles

Cricut Maker

Here are a few other Cricut projects I have created:

• Darth Vader Drawstring Bag
• Disney Treat Coin Purses
• Faux Leather Keychains
• Dollar Store Travel Notebook

The post “Return These Books” Library Book Bag appeared first on Gather Lemons.

These are a quick and fun holiday treat!  Kids love making them and mom’s love that there is no stress and no mess.  In the end you have a fun and cute treat you can eat.  Win Win!!

Candy Christmas Trees:

• 1 bag of Rolos
• 1 bag Christmas Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Mini’s
• 1 bag Christmas Hershey’s kisses
• ribbon
• glue dots

Start off with one rolo, then add two Reese’s minis using glue dots in between each item to secure them.

Finish off with a Hershey’s kiss at the top and add a cute holiday ribbon.   See, I told you they were super easy to make.   My son had a ton of fun putting these together.  It helped keep him entertained while I did some cooking in the kitchen.

The post Candy Christmas Trees appeared first on Gather Lemons.

I love the fact that my kids are older so they can be in charge of their own stuff on our Disneyland trips and other vacations. My youngest prefers to carry a drawstring bag over a backpack, so we decided to make a special one for our most recent Disneyland trip. He’s a big Star Wars fan and Cricut has some cool Star Wars designs, so this Darth Vader image was an easy choice.

I love how quickly you can customize a project with the Cricut Air 2 or Cricut Maker machines.  The Cricut machine is so user-friendly.  It knows which items need to be cut in layers and it does all the thinking for you.  You can customize what colors you want to use and it will tell you what color of iron on needs to be loaded into the machine.  

I was able to make this Darth Vader drawstring bag in under 20 minutes.   Here’s what you need to do to make one too.

• Drawstring bag (I bought mine at Hobby Lobby)
• Black Iron-On
• Silver Iron-On
• Darth Vader Cricut Design (You can buy the images individually in Design Space, you don’t have to buy them all).

Add the Darth Vader image to Design Space and make it the size you want to fit your backpack.  I often cut the image on cardstock first to make sure I have the correct size.  This way I am not wasting iron-on material.

Simply follow the directions on your in Design Space and on your Cricut machine.  Always make sure to “mirror image” when you are working with iron-ons, this will ensure your image comes out the correct direction once it is ironed on to your project.  I have (and love) the Cricut Easy Press that I use for ironing on my designs.  It’s so much easier to use than and iron because it has a digital read out so you know when it’s the correct temperature and the large square base makes it easier to iron the entire design.  First you iron on the silver material and then lay the black on top and iron that on.  It’s really that easy!  It’s so much fun customizing gifts and items for you home.  Here are a few other projects I’ve created with my Cricut.

Faux Leather Key Chains

Disney Treat Coin Purse

The post DIY Darth Vader Drawstring Bag appeared first on Gather Lemons.

What you need:

• wax paper
• small white pom poms
• thin ribbon
• Saf-T-Pops lollipops
• Glue dots

Unwrap two lollipops and stack them on top of each other.  Arrange the lollipops so the handles make a set of bunny ears.   Add wax paper around the lollipops.

Tie them off with a thin ribbon and trim the excess wax paper.  Add a pompom with a glue dot for the tail of the bunny.  These are cute and super quick and easy to put together.

The post Bunny Lollipops appeared first on Gather Lemons.

You can makes these fun coin purses representing your favorite Disney treats.  Just use blank canvas coin purses and use your Cricut to embellish them with Disney treats, like Dole Whip, Mickey ice cream bars or popcorn.  I love how quick and easy it is to customize items with the Cricut Air 2 and the Cricut Maker.

My favorite snack is the Dole Whip!  Which one is yours? Here is everything you will need to makes these cute coin purses.

• Cricut Machine
• Round Canvas Coin Purse
• Iron-On Vinyl (I bought this variety pack via Amazon)
• Cricut Easy Press or Iron
• Disney Treat svgs from Etsy (see below for each specific image  I used)

Disney Dole Whip

Mickey Popcorn

Mickey Ice Cream Treat Bar

Here is the quick and easy process to making these fun coin purses.  Start with the canvas coin bag.

Use your Cricut machine to cut out the iron on pieces.  Make sure you set your Cricut to mirror image so the images will be correct when you iron them on.   I love how the Cricut know which colors and stages to cut things out for the design.  I had everything I needed for this project with three cuts.

First I ironed on the red portion of the popcorn bucket.

Next I added the yellow for the popcorn.

Lastly, I aded the Mickey and popcorn word.  I have said this before, but I absolutely love my Cricut machine because it helps me make customized shirts, home decor and more.  It’s especially fun to make Disney inspired items.

The post DIY Disney Treat Coin Purses appeared first on Gather Lemons.

These cute bunny treat bags would be fun to make with the kids.   They are simple to put together.  You can give them as gifts or even use them as decorations around your house.   

Here is what you will need:

• Paper lunch size bags (white or a pastel pattern)
• Ribbon
• White Pom Poms 
• Silk Cherry Blossom stems
• Glue or Glue Dots
• Treats (or stuffing if you just want to use them as decorations)

Simply cut out a section of the top of the bag to make bunny ears.  Open the bag and add some Easter treats, or stuffing if you plan to use them as decorations.  You could even just crumple of some paper or a plastic grocery bag.   Glue on pom pom for tail. Tie it closed with a ribbon, and add a small stem of flowers into the ribbon.

The post Bunny Treat Bags appeared first on Gather Lemons.

It is the time of year for making holiday crafts. I like to create crafts that my kids can help with too and this one was simple and fun. My 8 year old could easily help with the project. This craft wasfrustration free, which is what I am looking for in my holiday craft projects. Even better, the end result is super cute and they make a great addition to our tree.

This is what you will need. I purchased everything at our local craft store (Micheal’s). I always use a coupon at Michael’s and I had a coupon for an additional 25% off my entire purchase including sale items.

• Wood craft ornaments (pre-painted, lots of shape options)
• Tiny Treasures tiny wreaths and string of beads
• Gold lettering (or if you have a Cricut you can make your own)
• Tacky glue or hot glue
• Small square of sandpaper

First, I used the sand paper to go over each ornament in order to give them a more weathered and rustic look.

Pic out the saying you want that include the letter “O”.  For example you could use Noel, Joy, Hope or Ho Ho Ho.

Line up the stickers on the ornaments for placement, then add your decorative “O”.  I used the wreaths or beads to make  the “O” on my ornaments.  With glue secure the “O” in place and then secure the stickers to ornament.  You’re all done!  It’s that easy.

The post Easy Handmade Ornaments appeared first on Gather Lemons.

My kids love to dye eggs but honestly, I do too!   I found this fun and clever way to dye eggs that makes them a gorgeous Robin Egg blue color.   It happens naturally with red cabbage.  Can you believe it?  It still blows my mind that red cabbage made these eggs turn an absolutely stunning blue color. I added a little edible gold paint to make them look like gorgeous robin eggs.

You can make them too, here is what you need:

• head of red cabbage
• 7 cups of water
• 5 tsp white vinegar
• 12 boiled eggs
• edible gold paint
• 1/2″ stiff paint brush

Prepare the dye by cutting up a head of red cabbage and adding to large sauce pan.  Add 7 cups of water and bring to boil.  Once it has reached boiling stage reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes.

Strain cabbage and reserve the liquid.   Add liquid to deep dish and add 5 tsp of white vinegar.

Gently add eggs to dye liquid.   Allow eggs to sit in cabbage liquid for 1- 2 hours, rotating every 30 minutes.  The longer you allow them to sit the darker they will become.  I like to take them out gradually to give a nice variance of color.

Once you pull the eggs out of the dye, lay them on a paper towel to dry.  The eggs will darken as they dry, it seriously cool. Your kids will think you are magic.

Once dry, dip a stiff brush into edible gold paint and flick onto eggs. You do this by using your fingernail and going across the paint brush.

Natural dyes are amazing and the possibilities are endless!  You can use all sorts of different foods to dye eggs here are some other options, beets (pink), spinach (green), coffee (peach).  Enjoy!

The inspiration for this project was found on Pinterest via Honestly Yum.

The post Natural Easter Egg Dye: Robin’s Egg Blue appeared first on Gather Lemons.

These Valentine Soda Fountain Candy Treats are super cute and fun and easy to make.  It would be a fun project that the kids could help with too.  These treats are also, easy on the pocket book, I was able to get almost everything at the Dollar Store so the cost was less then $5.00 each!

Here is what you will need to make 2 Soda Fountain Candy Treats:

• 2 sundae glasses
• 1 lb of taffy
• 2 bags of candy hearts (my bags were 7 oz)
• small bag of chocolate hearts (you only need 2 pieces)
• 1 straw (cut in half)
• ribbon (optional)
• 1 Styrofoam ball (cut in half)
• Glue Dots
• hot glue gun

Fill glasses with heart candies.  Cut your styrofoam ball in half.  The size of the styrofoam ball will depend on the size of glasses you use.  You want the ball to go to the edge of the cup, but not hang over.   I used a 3 inch ball.   Secure the foam to the top of the glass with Glue Dots.

Use hot glue gun and glue taffy over the entire surface of the Styrofoam dome.   The candy will still be good to eat, the wax paper will protect the candy from the glue gun.   Add straw, and glue a candy heart on top.  You can finish it off with a bow if you wish.

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