DIY Halloween Decorations

Creating your own holiday decor is often much more satisfying than purchasing, and it is usually a bit cheaper. I made a few Halloween decorations this year that I wanted to share.
The first one is a wreath.

This project was a tad time-consuming but it was a fun way to spend time while autumn arrived.
What you will need:
Foam wreath
1-2 yards of orange felt
Fabric pins
Spooky accessory of your choice

I picked up my wreath in the dollar section at Target, this was just a little 7" inch wreath which was a perfect size for the area I planned on hanging it in. I only used about 1 yard of felt for this small wreath.

First thing to do is to create a 3 inch circle template out of cardboard. Use this template to trace circles all over your fabric.

After cutting out the circles, fold them in half twice and stick a fabric pin in the point.

Then you can start placing them on your foam wreath, I started on the outside and worked my way in. It definitely creates a better texture if you place the crimped circles in all different directions.

There is no need to cover the back of wreath, unless you plan on hanging it in the window. To hang my wreath I just pinned a ribbon to the back. The finishing touch is a fun Halloween accessory! I chose a 3 dollar little owl from Michael's, but the possibilities are endless; a crow, a spider, or a witch would all be adorable on this creation. Now enjoy of years to come!

Candy Corn has become my new obsession this year. It is a such a classic, iconic decoration for Halloween I was very excited for this project:

All you need are a few foam cones and colored twine or yarn! 

Just start wrapping your cone with white twine and work your way down to the yellow. I wrapped the twine over it's ends a few times so it would stay secure without securing it, and pinned the last stray end underneath the cone.

All About Zucchini

This summer provided me with an enormous amount of Zucchini.

 This gave me the opportunity to try out some delicious zucchini recipes. Here are some of my favorites (many of them were recreated multiple times this summer).

Zucchini Walnut Bread

I know some people are apprehensive to put Zucchini in bread, but the amazing thing about this squash is that it does not have much of it's own taste. It just creates a banana bread texture.
This is a bread machine recipe that is easy and quick.
You will need:
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup shredded zucchini
2 eggs
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Put ingredients in this order in your bread machine, set to quick bake. Vola! You have a warm tasty loaf of bread to share with friends and family. This bread is also tasty with peanuts or no nuts.

Black Bean & Zucchini Quesadillas

What you need:

1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained

2 tablespoons salsa- I did not have salsa on hand so I just chopped up my garden tomatoes and added Salsa Brava Hot Sauce

1/2 cup finely chopped zucchini

Tortillas

Shredded cheddar cheese

Preparation:

Combine beans and salsa in a small bowl; mash with a fork. Stir in zucchini.

Butter or oil a tortilla, lay on warm skillet.

Put bean mixture on tortilla and sprinkle with cheese. Cover with another buttered tortilla.

Cook until cheese is melted and both sides are golden brown. 

Zucchini with Corn and Cilantro

This has become my favorite summer snack. It is so delicious and healthy!

What you need:

1 teaspoon olive oil

3 1/2 cups cubed zucchini

1 cup frozen whole-kernel corn(I used about 2 cups of corn)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

1 teaspoon fresh lime juice(also tasty with lemon juice)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

Heat oil in large skillet. Add zucchini and corn; cook, stirring occasionally, 7 to 8 minutes or until zucchini is crisp-tender.

Remove from heat, and stir in cilantro and remaining ingredients.

Enjoy with your favorite chips!