DIY Glitter + Chalkboard Pumpkins

I love creating something new to add to our holiday decorations each year. Whether its Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas I love creating things that will bring the joy of the season into my home. With Halloween and Thanksgiving falling in back to back months, I try to keep my decor versatile. I love it when some of my Halloween goodies can roll over into November to help celebrate turkey day.

I've been seeing chalkboard pumpkins all over the place, so I knew I needed to jump on the band wagon. You know how much I love chalkboard paint. I've used it on my walls, my coffee table, and basically anywhere else I can work it in. Its just too fun! So how could Halloween be any different?

I purchased some fake pumpkins from Joann Fabric and Craft Store. They were 60% off. I shouted "Yippe!" in the store when I saw that sale sign and then people stared at me doing a happy dance in the Halloween Aisle. I have no shame when it comes to sales. I get way too excited. It's always a good time when you get to embarrass your kids at the craft store :)

I busted out my fabulous chalkboard paint and painted my large pumpkin. Once it completely dried, I adding a fun Halloween Phrase. I love the fact that this can be changed throughout the season. "Boo", "Happy Halloween", "Spooky", "Fall", to name a few. Get the littles involved and let them come up with some wordy fun too!

Once my chalkboard pumpkin was finished, I decided to add a little bit of glitter to my other two pumpkins. I used Elmer's Glue and basically "drew" with my glue to create my design. I then added my glitter. (I did this over the sink. This made the clean up a breeze). I then sprayed both of my glitter pumpkins with a clear coat of spray sealer. This helps the glitter to stay exactly where it should be..on the pumpkin.

These pumpkins are simple, yet classically fun. Oh and when Thanksgiving comes around, change out your "Boo!" for a hand print turkey. You can never go wrong with an old school hand print turkey :)

Here is a fantastic coupon from JoAnn Fabrics so you

 can make something fun too!

XO Danielle

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Cream Cheese Pumpkin Pie with a Nut Crust

Greeting Blissful and Domestic readers! My name is Samantha H and I blog over at CustomTaste.blogspot.com. I have been a huge and avid reader of Danielle’s since the very beginning of my blogging days so when she was looking for guest posters I pretty much jumped at the chance. My blog focuses on easy, healthy and frugal meals that anyone can make. I also dabble in helpful tips and what is going on in the food world. So come and pay me a visit so you can see for yourself that eating health does not have to be hard on you or on your wallet.
 

 Shopping List

1 Block of Cream Cheese

2 TBSP Sugar

¼ Cup Full Fat Coconut Milk*

1 Flag (1 TBSP Flax Meal: 3 TBSP Warm Water)

¾ Cup Pumpkin Puree

2 TBSP Flax Meal

2 TBSP Unsalted Butter

Crust

¾ Cup Ground Nuts

1 TBSP Cinnamon

1 TBSP Salt

1 TBSP Coconut Oil

Hardware

Food Processor

Mixing w/ Whisk Attachment

Medium Sized Pie Dish

Measuring Cup, TBSP, and TSP

Spatula

Small Bowl

Time 1 Hour 50 Minutes

Prep 7 Minutes

Cook 40 Minutes

Cool 1 Hour

Yield 8 Servings

Time To Get Baking!!!

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees

First crush your nuts with the food processor along with cinnamon and salt, they should be between fine grounds to granola*

Pour 1 TBSP coconut oil into the pie dish

Pour the crushed nuts on top

Mix and spread out to the sides of the pie dish

When the oven reaches the right temperature put pie dish on middle grate and cook for 15 minutes

Meanwhile cream sugar and butter together*

After the butter and sugar come together drop in pumpkin, cream cheese and coconut milk*

Whisk together until smooth

When time is up remove pie dish from oven

Pour wet mixture into pie dish.

Make sure to scrape down the sides

Using spatula evenly spread

Bake for 25 Minutes

After baking let cool a little before transferring to fridge for 1 hour

Serve and enjoy.

  

Serving

1 slice with topping you choose

Storing and Reheating

Cover pie dish with wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 week

Nutritional Information

Calories 288

Fat 25g

Carbs 14g

Protein 6g

Cost Information

Recipe Cost:$4.58

Cost Per Serving:$0.57

Tricks

*Make sure your butter and cream cheese are room temperature or you will end up with chunks in the pie

*For the coconut milk I use the canned kind. If you put it in the fridge before using it will get creamy and make the pie super light feeling. My brand is Thai.


-Samantha


Thanks so much Samantha! That looks so dang yummy! I am all over anything with pumpkin. Thanks so much for sharing! Find Samantha on her blog.


XO Danielle

Hi, dear friends! I'm Kelly and I blog over at Eyes On The Source on all things Home, Health and Kids! I am so pleased to meet and be with you today, thank you Danielle for allowing me to share with you all! I recently moved from Illinois to Florida and it does not feel like fall here even a little bit...but pumpkins are starting to show up in the stores so it must be time for some tasty pumpkin treats! And if we can make them healthy ones, well that's even better! 

Pumpkin Quinoa Oat Bars

 

Ingredients:  

1 1/2 Cup Oatmeal  

1 Cup Quinoa  

1 cup Walnuts 

 Apple Pie Spice (Cinnamon, All-Spice, Nutmeg) to-taste  

1 large Egg  

3/4 Cup Pure Pumpkin (canned)  

1/3 Cup Honey  

1 tsp Vanilla extract  

1/2 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips  

Coconut Oil to grease pan 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease and 8x8 pan with coconut oil. Pour Oatmeal, Quinoa, Walnuts and spices into a blender or food processor and pulse until well blended and chopped.

  

In a large bowl, beat the Egg and then add the Pumpkin, Honey and Vanilla. Mix well and then add blended dry ingredients.

 

When mixed well, add the Mini Chocolate Chips. Press and smooth into the greased 8x8 pan.

  

Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes or until bars begin to brown. Let cool a bit before cutting.

 

  

 I think they taste best served warm, mmmm! The chocolate chips are for my hubby! However, if you prefer an even healthier version with no chocolate chips, add other nuts, seeds or some dried fruit instead. And if you prefer egg free recipes, add a little more pumpkin or 1/4 cup of applesauce instead of the egg. What is YOUR favorite Fall food?

 ~Kelly

 For more recipes, inspiration and such, I'd love to connect with you on FACEBOOK! Or you can visit me at Eyes On The Source! Have a blessed day!

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All I have to say is yum! My little turkeys would gobble these up! Thanks so much for sharing Kelly!

XO Danielle

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No Carve Halloween Pumpkin Craft

Hello, my name is Katie and I blog over at ChooChoo Skadoo Quilts. Come by for a visit and you will find quilts, crafts, tutorials, recipes, fun giveaways and sew much more. I am so excited to be here with Blissful and Domestic.

A little about me. I am married to my best friend who enables my crafting and sewing. And a mom to 2 little rascals. Jack (6) and Easton (3). Our first little girl, Haiely, will be here in October. So exciting!!! I spend my spare time sewing and crafting. That is when I have spare time. lol.

Now onto our project. I first came up with this idea a couple years ago when I made my "BOO" pumpkin. I have wanted to make a second one and this was the perfect excuse.

For this project you will need:

One pumpkin, fake or real. Mine is fake and I got it at Michael's

An assortment of buttons

Wired Ribbon

Adhesive or glue. (I use 6000 glue. Its just like hot glue but with out the heat.)

A marking pencil/pen that will show up on your pumpkin

With your marking pencil decide where you want your letters to be and lightly write them onto your pumpkin. I have done "BOO" and on this one I did "EEK". You can write whatever you chose.

Then start gluing your buttons on over your writing.

Do one letter at a time. This will help you balance out your different colors. I also threw in some spooky spiders.

When you have done all your letters it should look like this.

Next tie your bow. I didn't do anything fancy. You can tie your bow how ever you think looks best. I Googled how to tie a bow and did the simplest one they had.

I put a button and a spider in the middle of mine.

I had to hold it on for a while. It kept falling off.

Postion it where you want and glue it on the back of the middle knot. I also used straight sewing pins to help keep it how I wanted it.

Congratualtions! You now have an adorable pumpkin for your Halloween Decor.

Thanks so much for letting me come by and visit with you fine folks today!!

Please come follow ChooChoo Skadoo at the Blog, Pinterest, and Facebook.

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Thank you so much Katherine! Your decorated pumpkins are perfectly cute! You can do Halloween themed or Fall themed. I love that! Thanks again for sharing!

XO Danielle

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