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CRAFT | Fall DIY Pumpkin with Scotch® Duct Tapes

Thursday, September 26

Hi PNPF friends!!

I'm really excited to share with you today a super easy Fall Decorating Idea.

The good folks at 3M invited me to create a Fall craft idea using the Scotch® Colors and Patterns Duct Tape. I went right to work on updating a favorite craft I shared previously that you all fell in love with!!

Remember the DIY Vintage Farmhouse Pumpkin I created from bands of mason jars? Well this project just got easier (and dare I say "weather resistant") when I replaced the vintage paper I originally used to decorate the pumpkin with Scotch® Colors and Patterns Duct Tape. 

I chose to use the "Lace Vegas" pattern for the pumpkin base and then I used the "Pearl White"  to make a couple of pumpkin leaves to finish it off. 


Soooo cute, right?! I'm loving the "Vintage Glam" look of this new version! And there are so many different options of the Scotch® Color and Patterns Duct Tape to choose from, you have the ability to create a variety of pumpkin finishes that will go with your personal decor and holiday festivities.

Check out the step-by-step photos below and reference the written instructions at the bottom of the post to inspire you to make one of your own.

















PHOTOS 1 and 2 (Gather Supplies)
Wax Paper (to adhere the duct tape too for easy cutting)
Scotch® Patterns and Colors Duct Tape (for the pumpkin as well as decorative leaves)
Scotch® Precision Non-Stick Titanium Scissors (awesome scissors for cutting duct tape and creating leaves)
String (for tying the mason jar bands together - This will not be seen)
Mason Jar Canning Lid Bands (I used 21 half pint bands for this project.)
Hot Glue Gun - to secure pumpkin stem
Cinnamon Sticks (not included in the supplies photo - these will be the stem of your pumpkin - approx. 5-6)

PHOTO 3 (Prep and Cut)
Pull out a sheet of wax paper approximately 12 inches in length.
Start laying down strips (side by side) of the Scotch® Patterns and Colors Duct Tape you have selected for your pumpkin. You'll need approximately 7 or less strips of duct tape.
Cut each strip of duct tape into 3-4 smaller strips. (depends on how much of the band you want to cover and if you want any to overlap onto the top of the band).

PHOTOS 4 and 5 (Peel and Stick)
Peel away the strips of Scotch® Patterns and Colors Duct Tape from the wax paper and wrap around the mason jar bands using the lips of each band as a guide. Fold and flatten any excess tape onto the flat side of the mason jar band.

PHOTO 6 (Gather and Sort)
Once all of the edges of your mason jar bands have been wrapped in Scotch® Patterns and Colors Duct Tape gather them together for stringing. If you happen to have varying patterns on each band like I did, take the time to group the like-bands together so that you can then avoid grouping the same patterns together while you are stringing them - unless you like that look?

PHOTOS 7 and 8 (String and Tie)
Run a string through the centers of each band and then tie the ends tightly together to form a ring; the body of the pumpkin.  For uniformity, make sure the bands are all facing in the same direction as you are stringing them together.

PHOTO 9 (Trim)
Trim the leftover string so that the ends are inside of the pumpkin and can no longer be seen.

PHOTOS 10 and 11 (Add a Stem)
"Spice Up" your pumpkin by adding a group of cinnamon sticks the middle to create a stem.
They should be wide enough to fit snuggly in the "hole" of your pumpkin.
Add a generous amount of hot glue to one end of the cluster of cinnamon sticks.
Immediately insert them into the center of your pumpkin. If necessary, add more glue to secure.

PHOTOS 12, 13 and 14 (Create a Leaf and Secure)
Fold over a 3" piece of the Scotch® Patterns and Colors Duct Tape you've chosen to use as a leaf.
Use your Scotch® Titaniam Non-Stick Scissors to cut out a pumpkin leaf from the folded piece of duct tape. Secure the leaf to the pumpkin stem using hot glue.

PHOTO 15 (Get Creative)
Add another leaf using a different Scotch® Patterns and Colors Duct Tape for a splash of color.
Or just stick with two of the same color leaves - like I did with the very first photo in this post.

I hope you've been inspired to run out and recreate this fun little project.
Feel free to mix and match the many different Scotch® Patterns and Colors Duct Tape to create a fun mix of unique and fun pumpkin patterns.
I would LOVE to see your spin on this favorite Fall craft of mine so PLEASE come back and share your results!!

In the meantime, check out the Scotch® Patterns and Colors Duct Tape selections on Facebook,
Twitter and Pinterest!!


THIS POST IS A COLLABORATION WITH SCOTCH COLORS AND PATTERNS DUCT TAPE. PEN N' PAPERFLOWERS HAS RECEIVED PAYMENT, TRADE AND/OR PRODUCTS FROM SCOTCH® BRAND IN EXCHANGE FOR PROMOTING. WITH THAT SAID, ALL OPINIONS STATED HERE BELONG TO PNPF. To see more creative projects, visit www.ScotchDuctTape.com.

BEHIND THE SCENES | Fall Family Picnic and Fun Fall Craft

Wednesday, September 25

I wish I could give you all a peek into my brain sometimes although that would actually be pretty scary considering how scattered my brain is a lot of the time.

Come to think of it...if I just took a photo of my messy office that would be like getting a glimpse into my brain because the two look a lot alike. (organized chaos). *wink*

I have some fun things coming which means I'm doing prep work behind the scenes to make sure the "fun" actually happens.

Neighborhood Fall Family Picnic

I somehow got put in charge of organizing this for our neighborhood.
All along I have been thinking I'm keeping things pretty simple...
BUT NOW with only one weekend away...all of a sudden things are becoming frightfully overwhelming. Eeeps!!

I'm re-creating the Rustic Popcorn Bar for the Family Picnic and I'm SO HAPPY to say I'm stocked up on things I need to make that happen thanks to this box that arrived last week...  


Details of this fun craft coming tomorrow...

  A little something I created for a special project at the end of the week.
More details to come - and if you let me know which one art print you prefer...
 I just MIGHT be offering it up as a free printable/download. *wink*


And since we are on the topic of "Rainbows" with the Art Print I just shared...

I'm also working on Ella's 5th birthday party coming up in November.
(FREAKING out that she is turning 5!! Nooooo!!!) *sniffle*

I let her pick the theme about a month and 1/2 ago and guess what she's chosen?
A "Rainbow Unicorn" party!!
(Not surprising since she's obsessed with Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle  
from My Little Pony and she's constantly drawing and painting rainbows everywhere). 

I'm actually excited about it and can't wait to dive into the party preps.
Thank goodness I had already started working on the invitation last month - 
otherwise I'd be FREAKING out right now with all of the other fun stuff I've got going on!

I'll be back soon...
just wanted to give you a quick update on what's going on around here! *wink*

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Talk about coincidence...
The folks at Kernel Seasons reached out me to tell me they still receive tons of customers from the Rustic Popcorn Bar I did featuring their products. They wanted to thank me and asked if they could send a box of new flavors and seasons. I absolutely accepted since I was already planning the Family Picnic! Awesome timing!! Thanks Kernel Seasons!! You Rock!!

RECIPE RADAR | Mini Cast Iron Skillet Desserts

Monday, September 23

It's Fall Ya'll!! (said in my best southern accent)!!
Yep! Yesterday marked the first official day of Autumn and my mind went immediately to Fall Desserts. (go figure).

To celebrate, I decided to do a round up of delicious recipes using a method of baking that has a Rustic, Fall-ish vibe to them...











Itching to grab yourself some mini cast iron skillets now?
You can find 3.5" Mini Skillets HERE
or some 5" Mini Skillets HERE!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
These little skillets aren't cheap by any means...
and the budget J likes to keep me on will absolutely effect how quickly I'm able to collect the set of 8 I'm dreaming of!!

STYLING | Cupcake Delights Cupcake Challenge Table

Friday, September 20


If you follow me on Instagram you'll know that I spent some time over the last couple of weeks knee-deep in preparations for a table I was styling for my favorite Cupcakery around: Cupcake Delights!

Judy, from Cupcake Delights participated in the annual cupcake competition charity event sponsored by Dress for Success of Greater Orlando.

I was lucky enough to be have been asked by Judy to help make her cupcake table presentation pretty.
Despite the not-so-great lighting/photo conditions...
I managed to salvage a few of the photos with intense editing and I wanted to share the turn out with you...(as long as you pinky promise not to grade me on photo quality and look past some of the graininess on some of these images)! *wink*














It was a really cool experience having Jillycakes, (featured twice on The Food Network's Cupcake Wars and Season 6 Winner), on our right and a delightful group of ladies from Serendipity Sweets on on our left.

Overall it was a fun experience and although we didn't win BEST OVERALL and BEST FLAVOR like last year, we still had a great time participating in this event for a good cause!

And, of course,  I think the table design turned out pretty fab too! *wink*

The colors of the table matched the pink and green in the Cupcake Delights logo and I added splashes of gold to compliment the gold sugar sprinkled on the "Feeling Tipsy Caketini" cupcake Judy submitted for the judging part of the cupcake challenge. It was the perfect cupcake to submit since this year's theme for the charity event was "Cupcakes and Cocktails"!

Again, playing off of the theme of "Cupcakes and Cocktails" I used mini glass dessert cups throughout the table because they look like mini martini glasses. You'll see them on the front of the table holding some cupcakes, on the tops of the 2 stacks of cake pedestals, in the front row on The Pastry Pedestal Platforms and then I also used them to support The Pastry Pedestal Platforms by placing 4 underneath each platform so that I could add beading around the edges and have them dangle off! Pretty! Pretty!

I made the fabric banner you see hung on the front of the table and will be sharing the easy DIY next week! I also made the gold sparkle accent picks used on the "Feeling Tipsy Caketini" cupcakes which turned out to be exactly the right touch for these "Tres Leches" center-filled chocolate cupcakes topped with a Tres Leches frosting.

Thanks for the invitation to assist you with your table, Judy!
I loved helping out!!

TWO IMPORTANT THINGS as you are enjoying your weekend...
1. Don't forget to snatch up the brand-new Pastry Pedestal Platforms at the Pre-Sale price!
2. Enter to win the FABULOUS French Macarons book by Mindy Cone! (the winner gets a set of Pretty Party Skewers too!!) Oh yeah!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Since Ella (my 4 year old) was such a big helper with the table preparations leading up to the Cupcake Challenge...

Photo from my Instagram Feed of Ella helping add the Cake Pedestal Ribbon

I thought it would be fun to have J bring her to the event to see what it was all about as well as for her to see how the table came together.

You'd think that being in a large room filled with 10+ cupcake vendors Ella (& any kid for that matter) would've been excited to sample everyone's cupcakes! Right?

Well...as J and I walked Ella around to the different cupcake tables asking her which ones she'd like to try she kept saying she just wanted to go get Judy's cupcakes. We kept encouraging her to try other people's cupcakes, reassuring her she'd still get to have Judy's cupcakes too. She finally broke down in tears...passionately stating, "Please! don't want anyone else's cupcakes. I really only want Judy's cupcakes!"

I couldn't believe it!? I knew right then and there Ella is a die-hard Cupcake Delights fan...
and who could blame her! Once she's had the best - why would she want anything different? Ha! *wink*

SHARE | Blog Book Tour + Giveaway for GOURMET FRENCH MACARONS by Mindy Cone

Wednesday, September 18


Baking macarons has been on my Promise Me list I made back in February! I put it on my list knowing it would be a challenge because everything I have ever read about the process makes it sound like baking the perfect macaron is nearly impossible to achieve.

So, over the last 6 months, I have been bookmarking, pinning, reading and researching things I could find hoping to find the perfect resource to help me bake my first batch.  I can honestly tell you I am no longer apprehensive about the process because I have found the perfect tool to help me achieve my goal of baking the perfect macaron...


I am so completely excited about this new book, Gourmet French Macarons written and photographed by Mindy Cone of Creative Juice.  Mindy is an entertaining, food, and party stylist and her new book contains 75 unique and creative designs to make your French macarons delicious AND adorable for any holiday, season, or life celebration.

The pages are chockfull of details, secrets, tips and tricks for the entire baking process!
Not only does she break down the basics for baking macarons, she's included a CD with the book that contains 75 printable templates for creating unique, festive macaron shapes instead of being confined to the conventional circular shape! You can make apples, pumpkins, ghosts, trees, flowers, animals, cupcakes, and many other shapes to fit each season, holiday, or life celebration.







If my little schpeel or these beautiful photos weren't convincing enough to join me and snatch up this must-have cookbook and try your hand at baking your own batch of french macarons...

This adorable and informative video will do the trick...take a peek...

If you fell in love with Mindy, like I did, from watching this video...
I promise you will fall in love with the book too!

I promise to share my results from whipping up my first batch soon!!

In the meantime, if you're feeling lucky - WIN YOUR OWN COPY! 
I'm giving away a Gourmet French Macarons cookbook AND a set of Pretty Party Skewers!!
I think they'll go beautifully together!! Don't you?

Contest starts today and ends on Friday, September 27th!
Good Luck everyone!!

A special thanks to Mindy Cone for working so hard to create a beautiful way to share macaron baking secrets with all of us!! LOVE the book!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I want to throw everything else I have on my schedule out the window and just get to making some macarons!! That's how excited I am to get going on these!
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