Fantabulous Friday Freebie: Thanksgiving Cupcake Wrapper Sample + Recipe

Weekly Wrap-Up:
Make Your Own Monday: Chevron Paper
Trendwatch Tuesday: Chevrons
Project Wednesday: Subway Art on a Shutter

Soooo..... Thanksgiving is really next week?  You aren't kidding me?  I know any moment I'm going to wake up and it will still be October.  Pinch me... please!

No?  Well, I suppose it's time to face reality.  And that reality is that I'm way behind on just about everything!

If you are feeling like me, be sure to check out the VDBC Annual Holiday Gift Giving Guide for quick and easy gift ideas.  It's so huge, we had to do it in two parts!

VDBC Annual Holiday Gift Giving Guide - Part 1

VDBC Annual Holiday Gift Giving Guide - Part 2

If you are going ahead with this "Thanksgiving is next week" concept, I might as well help out with a little recipe and a little free sample.  Who doesn't love free samples?  Oh, and there's going to be another BOGO deal in the mix, too.

First, I'd like to share with you the easiest and most delicious muffin recipe you'll ever taste, make, or lick the bowl from.  It's No-Measure Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins.  It took longer to type that name thank it does to make them.  Seriously easy and hilariously delicious.  I'm also sharing my secret muffin baking methods.  I guess they won't be secret anymore.  But it's too good to keep to myself.

You may have seen as similar recipe floating around the pinterest-sphere.  That recipe insists that just the cake mix and pumpkin will make great muffins.  I'm sure they'll be fine, but I think the eggs are my secret ingredient for getting fluffier muffins.  I wouldn't make them without the eggs but you certainly can try.

And as for the chocolate chip addition... welll, duh!   What doesn't taste better with chocolate chips?  Okay, maybe a few things wouldn't but just go with me here.  They totally enhance the muffin experience, so put them in.

FYI, you can also substitute other cake flavors.  Spice is my favorite, though.

Pin It

No-Measure Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 box Spice Cake Mix
1 can Pumpkin
2 eggs
1/2 bag of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400° F.

Combine the first three ingredients in your mixer and beat.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Fill muffin tins and bake for 10 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350° F and bake for 15-20 minutes longer.

Remove from muffin tins and cool on a wire rack.

Jan's Tips for Big Muffins

You know you want big muffins with a high dome, right?  But every time you make muffins they come out looking like measly little cupcakes, barely risen out of the pan.  Here's my secrets for getting the highest, fluffiest dome on a muffin.

1. Fill your muffin cups almost full (not 2/3 like some recipes will tell you).  This will require that you have a fairly thick batter.  If your muffin batter has a cake batter like consistency, add some more flour until it's more like brownie batter.

2. Fill any empty muffin cups with water.  The recipe above will make about 14 standard sized muffins.  If you only have 1 muffin tin that makes a dozen muffins, don't fill all the cups the first time around.  Leave a few empty and fill the empty ones with water.  A nice humid oven is good for muffins.

3. Bake the first 10 minutes on a higher temperature.  Then lower down to the regular temperature for the rest of the baking time.  Why does this work?  I have no idea, it just does, so I go with it.

Seriously, just look at the size of the dome on that muffin!

Now, what's a delicious muffin without a pretty wrapper?  I couple of weeks ago I tried making Pumpkin-Apple muffins using some pretty autumn patterned cupcake papers.  Wow, what a mistake that was!  The muffins stuck to the wrappers like undeserved fame on a Kardashian. Won't make that mistake again!  For Thanksgiving, how about cutting out some "post-baking" decorative Cupcake Wrappers!

This one is from my Cupcake Wrappers - Thanksgiving set.  So easy and so pretty!  Just pup the muffin inside and you've got instant eye candy.

Before I give away a little free sample, I want to let you know that if you buy the whole set of Thanksgiving Cupcake Wrappers from the Sam & Hailey Designs store this weekend, you'll get my Thanksgiving Placecards set absolutely free!  More fun and easy Thanksgiving decorations for free? Why yes, thank you!  I'll have seconds! Remember to get the deal, you'll need to put both of those products in your cart at the same time.  Don't make me have to track you down to give you your free file!

Okay, on to your free sample!  Gobble up this Pilgrim Hat and Leaf Cupcake Wrapper right now!

Boring but Important Legal Stuff: My terms of use are included in each zipped download. If you have any questions about how you may use this file, please read it. By clicking to download the file, you are agreeing to abide by the terms. If you'd like to share it, please don't. Rather, send your friends a link to this blog post. Once it's no longer available as a freebie, you might be tempted to share it with someone. Please don't! 'Nuf said!

This design will be up until Monday. Get it while it's hot! Click to wrap up your favorite file type:

Sorry!  This download has expired!  Look for this design and plenty of others in the Sam & Hailey Designs store!

Don't forget about that BOGO deal!  Only good through Monday!

Time to get crafty, people!

Linked at:

Color Swatch Thursday: Pumpkin Patch

Halloween is upon us!  Don't forget to take lots of pictures at the pumpkin patch.  I always seem to get there without my camera.  At least I have a semi-decent camera in my iPhone.  It does the job in a pinch.  After you get those photos, don't just let them languish away on your computer.  They will feel so neglected!  Time to preserve those memories in a scrapbook.  And I've got just the right color scheme for you to use for it, too.

This weeks color swatch is: Pumpkin Patch

I snapped this photo of the price display at the farm last Saturday.  They always get the most perfect pumpkins for their display.  I only seem to be able to find malformed ones that look like some bald guy's head.  Oh well!

You can download an Adobe Swatch Exchange File for this color scheme from Adobe Kuler.

This swatch set includes some vibrant oranges, of course, but also a nice dark chocolatey brown, a splash of soft green, and don't forget the blue of the sky on a gorgeous day at the farm!

I hope this inspires you to make something. Feel like making something with this color swatch set?  Feel free to post it on your blog and leave a link in the comments section below.

Time to get crafty, people!

Double Project Wednesday: No-Carve Pumpkin + Halloween Wreath

Are you excited for Halloween yet?  My kids are, as usual.  Hailey has decided that she wants to be a Black Cat.  I think I can handle that!  A friend of ours has a tail and ears she can borrow.  I just need to pick up a black body suit and tights and she will be good to go!  Samantha, on the other hand, has it in her mind to be Pocahontas.  Not necessarily the Disney Pocahontas, but a Native American girl.  She's been reading the American Girl books and one is about a Native American girl.  That's where the idea for the costume came from. That leaves it to me to pull it off! Last year I made princess dresses for the girls.  Hailey was Cinderella and Samantha was Tiana {from Princess and the Frog}.  They were so cute!  Once again, I neglected to blog last Halloween {did I just take the whole year off, or something?}, so I guess I should share some pictures from last year.  The photos aren't very good. I don't know why I continue to insist I can take good pictures with my phone.  I guess you just go with what's handy.

So, although I am completely capable of sewing a Native American Girl dress for Samantha, I'm totally not wanting to do it.  Last year I wasn't really working and so I had a ton more time to do things like that.  I need to just do it.  I shouldn't allow work to keep me from doing the things I love with my kids.  In later years, Sam might not remember what she was for Halloween this year, but she will remember that I took the time to do this service for her.  I'll have to keep it simple, though.  Last year I think I went a little over the top.  Gotta keep it all in perspective.

Okay, now that I've made you look at some pictures of my kids, it's time for some quick and easy Halloween decorating ideas!

Project #1 is: No-Carve Pumpkin

First up, the easiest way to decorate a pumpkin.  You will need a cutting machine for this project.  If you don't have one... well.. why not?  Maybe just become best friends with someone who has one.

I don't particularly enjoy carving pumpkins.  My main reason is because of the mess.  Now, if you know me, you'll know that my house is one big pile of mess.  I always point out my lack of housekeeping skills when people say how creative I am.  Perfect, I certainly am NOT.  The truth is, I don't like the mess of the pumpkin guts because I don't want to have to clean it up!  We got a large pumpkin at the farm last Friday and I've agreed to allow carving as long as it's done outside and I don't have to clean up after it.  I'm trying, just barely.

I prefer pumpkins in their natural state.  Then I can bake them into pies.  Mmmmm... delicious! My solution is to decorate them with vinyl!  I think it took me longer to get out the vinyl and cut it off the roll than it did to cut it and apply it.  I'm not even writing a tutorial on this.  Just do it!

I used the tree, raven and bat from one of my new designs, Page Scene Haunted House.  You can use whatever design and you'll be done in no time!  It certainly adds an extra element to my creepy shelf.  This is on top of my piano music bookshelf.  My students are loving it!  The effect is especially cool on a white pumpkin.  I wonder if these are good for pie?  I guess we will find out!

Project #2 is: Halloween Wreath

Here's another relatively quick and easy project idea.  No vinyl, this time {shocking, I know!} but I did use my cutter to make the banner.  I'm sure you could use a pre-made banner or even cut your own by hand if you don't have a die cut machine.  I went with a little E.A. Poe theme.  By the way, you can read all about the popularity of Ravens on this weeks Trendwatch Tuesday and also watch a great rendition of Poe's The Raven while you are at it.

I looked all over the craft store for a black wreath but couldn't find one.  I purchased a plain grapevine wreath about 20" in diameter for a few dollars.  I figured since I was painting those little pumpkins to look like mercury glass, I could just spray paint the wreath while I was at it.  It definitely took a lot of paint to get in all the nooks and crannies of the wreath.  I think it turned out great.  I love the glossy look of the paint.  I used a few of my painted pumpkins in the wreath, too.

I also decided to use some autumn flowers I got on sale to add to the wreath.  For extra creepyness, I painted them and a few leaves black, too.  I didn't want to add a lot, but I love how these few little things add to the wreath overall.

My only word of warning on this project is... while it may seem like an easy task to spray paint a few flowers and leaves, you may be surprised when you blast that first leaf with the paint and it flies away.  You will then be tempted to just pick up the leaf and hold it while you spray it.  Trust me when I say, this is really not a good idea.  Unless, of course, you want to be best friends with a cotton ball and bottle of nail polish remover followed by a scrub brush for the next hour.  Better to use a stick or something to hold the leaves and flowers in place while you spray them.  I'm sure I'll remember to do that next time.... right.

Do you need a tutorial for this one?  I used hot glue to assemble everything.  The banner is made from my Flag Banners 3 design with some letters added.  The patterned paper is from Teresa Collins and the solid is Colormates Treasures.  I tied it all together with some homemade bakers twine.  Easy peasy!  No tutorial necessary  just get out some of your supplies and get inspired.

Do you feel creative yet?

Time to get crafty, people!

Linked at:



Eighteen25

Make Your Own Monday: Faux Mercury Glass Pumpkins

Ahhh... Monday again... most people are not a fan of Monday's and I'm not really either.  It means I have to get up at 5:45 and wrangle the girls to the bus.  But I do enjoy the absolute quiet that settles over the house when I get back from the bus stop.  It's still early enough at 6:45 to have that super quiet feel.  Love it!

This past weekend we went to Apple Annie's in Willcox, AZ for a day of fun.  We had such a great time last year that we had to do it again!  This time we wen't with some of our older kids, Trevor with his wife, Molli, and little girl, Alana, and our other son, Alex.  We had lunch in the orchard, bought some yummy fudge {which I had for breakfast today, shame!}, got happily lost in their ginormous corn maze, ate some shaved ice, and went on a hayride to pick pumpkins.  They day was only marred by Hailey splatting face first in the pumpkin patch {those vines are prickly!} and someone making off with the big pumpkin Trevor and family had picked out.  Overall though, it was a great day!  I took some cute pictures that I just had to share.

Eat a hotdog in the middle of an apple orchard? Why yes, I think I will, thank you very much!

The girls got to make their own jump ropes with a rope maker.  They thought this was awesome!

The apples of my eye, for sure!

The corn maze was awesome.  There was a bridge we came upon in the middle of it that allowed you to see the whole thing from the top.  Towards the end, Victor and I were "accidentally" separated from the others.  We could hear them but they didn't know where we were.  It was too funny to hear the girls talk about what would happen if we got lost in there.

Gotta share cute little Ali hanging out in the pumpkin wagon.  She was starting to get pretty tired.

 Hailey in the pumpkin wagon being... well... Hailey.

My favorite picture of the day: Ali trying to help herself to the Tip Pumpkin.  Hahahaha!

Okay, now that I've forced you to sit through a slide show of  our family outing.... on with the show!

I've decided to try a little something new on my blog.  I want to attempt a new Monday series called "Make your Own Monday."  This series would focus on making your own versions of popular products for less, plus some interesting tutorials on crafting techniques, with the occasional project thrown in.

Today you are going to learn to Make Your Own... Faux Mercury Glass Pumpkins

I came across a tutorial on the blog-o-sphere for doing this recently.  I'll be darned if I can find it again!  In looking around there are several tutorials out there for creating a mercury glass effect.  Some are more authentic looking than what I've done, but they seemed a lot more involved.  I like how easy this method was and it looks pretty cool.  I might try some other methods later.

Essentially, you start out with a cheap-o pumpkin {or other object there's no saying this has to be pumpkins} and end up with a cool-shiny-mottled-silver-and-black pumpkin.

^-- This... to That.. --v

What you'll need is some pumpkins or other objects, a can of shiny black spray paint, and a can of shiny metallic silver spray paint.  I discovered later that there is a product called Krylon Looking Glass Mirror-Like Paint.  If I do this again, I'm totally trying that instead of the regular metallic silver I used.  Don't forget the newspaper and most importantly, folks, do this outside! Do I need to tell you that?  Yeah, I probably do.  Maybe not YOU specifically, but it's those other people who've never spray painted before.  I was a little woozy after doing this outside! Spray painting inside is just right out.

You can see in this photo the difference between just painting  them silver.  The little gourd at the front is just spray painted silver.  The one next to it has the mercury glass effect.  Totally different, don't you think?

The wet black spray paint under the light coating of silver really gives depth and dimension to this project.

Here is the tutorial.  If you are having trouble reading it or would like to save it for later, just click on the image to open it larger.

As always, if you make something based on this tutorial, feel free to post it on your blog or in the VDBC gallery and post a link down in the comments section!

Time to get crafty, people!


Linked at:



Eighteen25

Color Swatch Thursday: Black, White & Orange All Over

What's Black, White & Orange all over?  A tiger?  A zebra hiding in an orange crate?  No!  It's today's Color Swatch set!  I loved the colors of yesterday's Project Wednesday project that I had to make a palette out of it for you.


This weeks color swatch is: Black, White & Orange All Over

You can download an Adobe Swatch Exchange File for this color scheme from Adobe Kuler.

This one just grabs you with it's bold graphic colors.  When using this color palette, I'd suggest sticking with the black, whites, and greys for your major color scheme.  Then, add in pops of the bright oranges.  I think you'll love the look!

Time to get crafty, people!

Project Wednesday: Button Pumpkins

Seems like all I can talk about lately is pumpkins!  Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins!  Have you heard enough?  No?  Oh, good, because I'm going to talk about them again.  Actually, maybe I've only been thinking about pumpkins a lot and not talking about them.  Anything is possible in this jumbled brain of mine.

What's so great about pumpkins anyway?  Well, they are very tasty, for one.  Pumpkin Pie is probably my hubby's all time favorite dessert.  Next birthday, I'm going to make him a Pumpkin Pie instead of cake.  He's not much of a cake-eater.  And pumpkin cookies?  Yum Yum!  The other day I made the most delicious Pumpkin & Apple Muffins.  Mmmmmm!  My house smelled amazing.  I even used homemade pumpkin puree I had frozen last year and instead of the oil I used homemade applesauce I canned a year or two ago. Pure heaven and I felt so frugal using all that homemade goodness!

Aside from pumpkin's tastiness, which no one can argue, what else is so great about them?  I think that it is their place in {at least American} society as a true icon of Autumn.  The fit in just about any autumn theme.  Perfect for Halloween as jack-o-lanterns, but also perfect in any Thanksgiving arrangement, too.  Maybe that's why I don't like carving them.  I don't want their useful lives to be over once the thrill of Halloween Night has passed.  They are the all-purpose, go-to, decorating essential for the Autumn season.  Don't you agree?

We are heading to the Pumpkin Patch this Saturday with our girls, two of our grown boys, a daughter-in-law, and our darling granddaughter.  I'm so excited!  We first went to Apple Annies in Willcox, AZ last year and became hooked.  Who wouldn't love to spend the afternoon with your family on a farm, picking pumpkins, riding in wagons, eating kettle corn and lost in a corn maze? It was awesome and I'm sure this year will be even better with some of our non-residential family along. Last year I snapped some adorable pictures of the girls.  I can't believe I didn't blog the event last year.  {Hanging head in shame}.  The girls were so cute in the corn maze.  The walked a lot of the way holding hands.  Now, THAT doesn't happen every day around here!

Okay, so the title of this post promised you a project!  I'm sure you are wondering where the heck the project is, already!  What's with the discourse on the virtues of pumpkins and the meandering down memory lane?  Sorry! You know how I am.


Today's project is:  Button Pumpkins

This is a fun and easy project you can do with kids.  My girls were a huge help in sorting and re-sorting the buttons many times over.  They had a ball and a project got made!

For this project, I used my Itty Bitty Pumpkin Patch file to cut a stencil.  You can use any kind of stencil you'd like, or hey, even free-hand it.  I'm not going to judge you.

We discussed the resurgence in the popularity of buttons a couple of weeks back on Trendwatch Tuesday.  I think you'll agree that this new trend has many applications.  We've been seeing Button Monograms for a while and this technique would be an easy way to make those, too. Maybe closer to Christmas I'll have to make some monogram ones up for a Christmas project article.

For my Button Pumpkin, I used a 6" square piece of masonite-type fiberboard as the base. I have a bunch of these pieces left over from a project I did last year.  Gotta use what you have, right? You could use cardboard, chipboard, a frame, a piece of wood, or just about anything you have laying around.  The size doesn't matter, just as long as you have enough paper to cover your board, you are good.  Notice I used the black and white paper for the background. If you didn't read yesterday's Trendwatch you might want to!  I think this project would be fine if you just wanted to do the outline of the pumpkin instead of leaving this eyes and mouth clear.  

Here are the instructions. Click the image to open it larger on your screen.

I hope you enjoy this little project!  It's easy and quick, just like I like them!

Time to get crafty, people!


Linked at:



Eighteen25