A Witch's Tea Party

The best time for a witch's tea party is after dark so all the little monsters are sleeping and the witch's can rule the night! A Moonlight Tea please! 

It's all about the treats! Pumpkin Bundt cake, aged eggs, and jello worms recipes found on Pinterest.  And ghostly meringues from my friend were to die for! 

A little witch's brew and loose leaf tea for Tea Leaf Fortunes

My extra hats for guests who forgot theirs, and a few broom they brought.  We used our brooms to do a game of pass the broom (just like musical chairs) ;)

A horrible picture, but tiny bats cut out and perched on the edge of a tea cup were such a cute detail, and easy too!

And of course a photo booth! Another very fun game was a version of bobbing for apples, but one that doesn't mess up your makeup.  Marshmallows in a bowl of water, 3 players take a straw and the first to get the most marshmallows out (by sucking them up with the straw) wins!

More ideas on my pinterest Witch's Tea Party board:

https://www.pinterest.com/randomkaren/witches-tea-party/

My plans for next year:

Make a backdrop as cool as this: https://www.etsy.com/listing/229234897/prohibition-paper-moon-backdrop-and?ref=shop_home_active_3

Make some lovely bones: http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/snow-violent-sugar-skulls

Food for thought

http://www.gotquestions.org/argument-existence-God.html
One of the most objective arguments I have found so far.

Moon

What a world....

Someone said it the way I wanted to but can't!

Why MEDICALLY abortion is a no go:

http://thetorchblog.net/?p=996

BEST COMMENTS:

Fred says

August 14, 2016 at 11:21 am

You are pro birth like many others and not pro life. Here are the 3 questions I ask the many “pro-lifers”

1) Do you donate to any pro life organizations that help with unwanted babies?

2) Children need figures in their lives that will Mentor them and help them develop socially and emotionally (i.e loving parents). Now before I go on I’ll say this, I understand there are parents now that don’t provide that however,I’ll argue and say that those parents went in thinking they will provide all that and unconditional love while the people that want abortions know that they won’t so don’t try to use that argument. Anyways, would you be willing to be a mentor to these unwanted children during your free time without pay?

3) Many of these unwanted children are in a vicious cycle of being adopted and then “returned” or never get a chance to be adopted. The orphanages don’t have money to provide them with healthy and nutritious meals, clothing, and even safety. Things like this require money …so are you willing to have our taxes raised so the government can better equipp these orphanages?

You see what I mention requires actual work involved. Many pro lifers are all talk with no action. This is why I call you all part time pro lifers or just pro birth. Have you ever asked “I wonder what happened to those unwanted born children? Of course not, because if it’s out of sight it’s out of mind. I give you credit for no longer performing abortions, and your form of action is teaching about preventative measures. However, what are you doing to contribute to the many that were never wanted and those people who were forced to have that child?

Lastly, there is potential for life to exist after conception. Yes, I know cells will signal to develop a brain, heart, liver etc… but before it does it is just a culmincation of cells. You are creating guilt for something that hasn’t even developed. You manipulated the facts using your knowledge on human physiology. FACT baby is inside the woman. FACT 2 the baby needs the mother has a host (until we have the tech that won’t require this). Maybe that’s what you part time pro lifers should do. Invest money to a group of scientist that can develop a machine that can host the unwanted culmination of cells.

(P.s this article is very well written as opposed to mine because I’m typing on my phone, quickly, if I may add. Judge the 2 opposing views by the points mentioned and not by punctuation or sentence structure. )

Reply

• Andrew says

  August 14, 2016 at 9:04 pm

  Fred,

  I’ll be happy to answer your questions.

  1) Yes. Substantially.

  2 & 3) Red herrings. Your questions have nothing to do with the question, “Is this a life?” or “Is abortion murder?” Otherwise, the logical extension of your inquiry is that killing babies is a reasonable solution to the problems of “unwanted” children. By that logic, why not keep the babies and kill the older kids that are harder to foster? If death is better than being unwanted, then there is nothing morally preventing us from killing the kids we can’t foster. I don’t even want unwanted pets to die. let alone babies.

  If the question is, “What do we do about the problem of un-mentored or unwanted children?”, then I would suggest that we focus on proven solutions that don’t involve murder. Birth control, two-parent families, and abstinence might be good places to start.

  I am all for women having a choice – in fact as the article states, they have many choices. However, once you have another human living and growing inside of you, you’ve made your choice (except in the rare incidence of conception by rape, which the article addresses). Your choices now are to keep and raise your baby or give it up to one of the thousands of couples looking to adopt.

  Lastly, your argument about the “culmination” of cells was destroyed by the writer of the article already. If your argument is that without the mother, the fetus will die, then we have opened the door to infanticide. Sadly, infanticide has its proponents, though I don’t believe you are one.

  I believe you are a well-meaning person who has bought into these pro-choice arguments, as flaccid as they may be. Let me invited you over to the other side. Use your passion, wit, and intelligence for life. It’s much more satisfying to stand with those who oppose this barbaric practice than it is to stand with those who would defend ripping a baby from the protective womb of its mother and then selling it for parts.

  Come on over. I’ll leave the lights on for you.

Parenting is not for the faint of heart

Ok so feel like I wasn't adequately warned for parenthood so - you people without children!
Do you really want to have your hands, furniture, and floor covered in someone elses poop? And not just sat nicely on the surface but thoroughly rubbed into said furniture?

The physical hardship of parenthood gets the spotlight, but you NEED to know this - the emotional and mental hardship of parenthood is 100 times worse than any poop. Just think really really hard about this parenting thing that supposed to be for everybody - lies! This should be a occupation for only the most valiant of heroes not normal people or weird people like me! Not something society pressures everyone into doing! The emotional and mental hardships, these are the ones that really get to you if you are a parent really trying your best to do this right. The worry alone is enough to give a person an ulcer.

The only reason you should be having kids is if you want a lifelong lesson is selflessness, patience, and forgiveness!


End rant

Instant tree house idea

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fit-74-10-dodge-crew-cab-pickup-6-5-short-6-1-2-bed-truck-cargo-net/145257335

One of these that's heavy duty, tie it up high in the tree.  Add pillows and blankets for instant tree house of the bohemian variety.  Or camo tarp for a quick deer stand :)

Leaf Corset For Cosplay Halloween Fairy Costume LARP

Inspiration: Beautiful Elf drawing by one of my favorite illustrators, Tony Diterlizzi, in the book  Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You.  Go buy this book now.  You won't regret it.

I used leather for the construction, since it is rigid, yet my machine will still sew it.  

Add paint.

Finished outfit with skirt

https://www.etsy.com/shop/karenskontraptions

Crayons and chocolate

Making custom crayons is easier than candles.  This same process should work for chocolate as well, though I have yet to try it.  Definitely on my list of things to do! Anyway here's how it goes:

1. Peel off labels and break crayons into 1/3rds, if they aren't already broken up.

2. Melt in saucepan on low, swirling pan or stirring with a popsicle stick occasionally.  Turn off heat when all melted.

3. Roll out play dough (Make your own play dough if you are making chocolates with a food safe recipe like this one: http://domesticsuperhero.com/2013/03/28/the-best-homemade-playdough-recipe/).  Press your object into the play dough to create an indention, then gently remove it.

4. Pour melted crayons into the indention. Let dry 10min

5. Remove from play dough and wash with cold water. The back of the crayons will be flat.

Finished Birthday Candles showcase

https://www.etsy.com/listing/384802722/birthday-candles-with-faces-funny-party

https://www.etsy.com/listing/399887499/10-birthday-candles-in-rainbow-colors

https://www.etsy.com/listing/386391300/over-the-hill-candles-set-of-10-black

Idea - chicken pen

http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/raising-chickens/chicken-manure-fertilizer-zm0z13amzkon.aspx#axzz2cmrqrB2L

  Next project.... I will have to do my own drawings for it though, my set up will be a little different.  We have 6 bantam chickens and 2 chicks.  We also have a multitude of raccoons, opossums, skunks, and hawks that like to eat our chickens.  If it weren't for the hawks we could let them free range.

Recycled Birthday Candles - part 3

When your candles are completely cool remove them carefully from the play dough and wash with cold water. Use an old toothbrush to gently remove any play dough stuck in the wax.

Let dry and ta da new candles!

If you like my candles and would rather buy them instead of make your own please visit my etsy shop at: www.etsy.com/shop/karenskontraptions

Recycled Birthday Candles - part 2

3.  While the wax is melting take your crayon/sculpture and press it into the play dough so it is flush with the surface.  Gently remove by trying to lift the object straight up and out - a butter knife or toothpick is handy to ease it out.  There should now be a negative void of your sculpture pressed into the play dough.

4.  Use an old pair of tweezers or 2 toothpicks to remove the wicks from the now melted candles.  Lay them flat on the play dough or wax paper so they can dry a bit.  As soon as they are dry lay them into the playdough, centering them in the void and leaving a 1/8in pressed into the top surface.  (better pictures soon to help illustrate this)

5. Pour the wax very carefully into the void till flush with the surface.  make sure the wick stays under the wax.  Leave alone to cool for 10-15 min.

Recycled Birthday Candles - part 1

   So here is how it's done!

1.  Make your designs with polymer clay or even an air dry clay.  Mine are the peach colored smiling candles in the picture here.  Or use a new crayon as your item lol to make crayon shaped candles. Carving designs into a crayon would be a fun way to do it too.

2.  Everyone and every tutorial will tell you that you need a double boiler b/c it is safer, and supposedly the wax will catch fire if you use a saucepan.  I've never had this happen and I never use a double boiler for candles or crayons.  I figure this is because I watch it constantly when the heat is on and never melt large quantities of wax, also if it gets too hot I turn the heat off (you can tell because the wax will start to evaporate) it stays melted for a long while without heat.  So I use a saucepan, but only do this at your own risk.  Use something you are not going to use for food - cheaper little ones from the thrift store are good.  Melt down old birthday candles of similar colors on low heat.

Use play dough as a mold for candle making and more! - Introduction

Making unique homemade gifts is a cinch and so much cheaper than buying something new.

                                     Homemade crayons made from recycled broken crayons

   Contrary to what everyone says you really DON'T need to go to the craft store to buy all your supplies.  My favorite crafts use recycled items or ingredients you find in the kitchen.  Garage sales and thrift stores are also great options that save you money.
   The crayons above were made using old broken crayons, simply melted down and poured into a mold to make a new, gift worthy set of crayons. Add some packaging and you have a gift that looks designer made, and the recipient of the gift will appreciate how much love you put into it.
   Do you need any art skills to pull this off?  Only if you feel like it.  I am a sculptor so I made my own forms for these crayons out of polymer clay.  But it is just as easy to use a toy or figurine to make the impressions for your mold and certainly faster.  I used an adorable elephant card holder I have to make the mold for these elephant shaped crayons: