Make Mod Podged Book Page Pumpkins

I'm excited to show you guys my Thanksgiving decor using dollar store materials. I was able to turn some rather unappealing foam pumpkins from the dollar store into these cute book page pumpkins that spell out THANKS.

Supplies Needed:

• Foam Pumpkins ($1 each from the dollar store - I used 6)
• White Paint (on hand)
• Paint brushes (on hand)
• Mod Podge (I used Satin finish - on hand)
• Foam applicator (on hand or $0.30 at Michaels)
• Book (on hand or $1 at dollar store)
• Black paint
• Brown paint
• Permanent Marker
• Font You Like (I used Harrington)

How I Made Them:

Here is a sample of the font that I used. In the video, I said I decided to use lowercase letters. I ended up changing my mind and went with all caps. The font name is Harrington.

I just pulled the font up in front of me on the computer as a guide and free-handed it onto the pumpkins.

This project is really easy, but it does take some time if you're going to make multiple pumpkins. Get your whole family involved (one person painting, one person ripping book pages, one person mod podging). In addition to window sill, mantle or table runner decor, these could make fun place settings. Write a guest's initial on their pumpkin and let them take it home after dinner.

For my Portland Peeps: Einstein Bros Bagels Pumpkin Promos

Portlanders: Get a free Pumpkin from Kruger’s Farm Market, and a Free Pumpkin Baked Treat with Purchase at Einstein Bros!

We all know that fall is here and with that comes the return of the beloved pumpkin! Pumpkin pumpkin everywhere. Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin bagels. The list goes on. What better way to welcome the season than with TWO pumpkin-centric promos from Einstein Bros Bagels?

#1: The Pumpkin Baked-Good Promotion 

When? October 17th --November 13th

Einstein Bros Bagels has eight delicious, seasonal pumpkin offerings to roll in the holiday season. From October 17th to November 13th, Einstein Bros. Bagels celebrates pumpkin season by offering patrons a free Pumpkin Baked Good with any purchase. 

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#2: The Pumpkin Giveaway Promotion

When? October 17th --October 31st

Until October 31st, stop by your local Einstein Bros Bagels and ask for a coupon for a free pumpkin of up to 10 pounds from all Kruger’s Farm Markets. 

(Coupons are available only while supplies last.)

 Kruger’s Farm Market has been a long-standing beacon of sustainability and farm-to-table freshness. With the expansive farm (including the pumpkin patch and corn maze!) on Sauvie Island, and two urban farm stands in the city, Kruger’s Farm Markets brings local and fresh to Portland.

To redeem your coupon, visit any of the three Kruger’s Farm Market Locations:

Sauvie Island Farm

17100 NW Sauvie Island Rd., Portland, OR 97231

503.621.3489. 

Open daily from 9 am-Sunset

Hawthorne Farm Stand

Under the tent at 22nd & SE Hawthorne, Portland, OR 97214

503.235.0314. 

Open daily from 9 am-8 pm

St. Johns Farm Stand

7316 N. Lombard St., Portland, OR 97203

503.289.2535. 

Open daily from 10 am-8 pm

To learn more about Einstein Bros Bagels visit here. For a list of their 13 Portland-area locations, visit their store locator. For more information about Kruger’s Farm Market, visit their website here.

Portlanders, it’s time to put on those layers and seize the [free] pumpkin!

This post is sponsored by Einstein Bros Bagels. I was compensated for my time spent putting this post together and for letting you know about the great deals happening at Einstein Bros Bagels this fall. Love of pumpkin and recognition of a great deal are my own.

Pumpkin Cake and Recipe

I have a confession.

I'm not a huge Halloween fan.

I know. I feel like I just uttered the words that might make the craft blogger police come knocking.

But honestly? I can totally live without the creepy, scary, gross you out stuff that's become popular. I don't like to be scared. Or grossed out. I like my food to look like, well, food - not witch fingers or worms. Is that so wrong?

But I still love Autumn. And one of the number one reasons is pumpkins. I looooooovvvveeee pumpkins! So much cuter and family friendly than a zombie brain don't you think? So if I show up at your party with a pumpkin cake instead of something looking like it had a bad run-in with the undead, I hope you'll still be my friend.

I made this cake for a Halloween party last year and it was deceptively easy. And also nutritious (it has 2 cups of pumpkin in the mix!).  Here's how I did it:

Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients:
Cake

• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• 2 cups fresh pumpkin puree*
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp ground all spice
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 3 eggs (or however many called for on the box)
• 1 Tbsp organic canola oil

Decorations

• 3 green "Airheads" candys (for stem)
• 1 container prepared frosting, colored orange (Sur la Table is one place you can get Natural Decorating Colors if you're avoiding synthetic food dyes)

*I used the technique I taught here to make my fresh pumpkin puree (it's actually really easy). If you don't have afresh pumpkin on hand to puree, use a 14 ounce can of pumpkin instead.

Extras Needed:

• A tall glass oven safe bowl to bake in (I used The Pampered Chef Classic Batter Bowl)

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 325°F. Prepare tall glass bowl for baking by greasing and flouring it. Set aside.
2. Combine all cake ingredients using a hand mixer. Pour into prepared bowl. 
3. Bake for about 1 hour, 10 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in center comes out clean. Run knife around edge of bowl and turn out onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool at least two hours or until completely cool to the touch
4. Decorate cake by frosting with the orange frosting. Use up and down strokes to simulate pumpkin ridges with the frosting
5. Make the stem and leaf by putting airheads in a glass bowl and microwaving in 5 second intervals until pliable. (Be careful not to heat it too hot or it may stick to and burn your skin!) Mold candy like playdough to make a stem and leaf shape. Lay over top of cake.

I'm sharing this with:

* Get your Craft on at: Today's Creative Blog*

(links to products within this post are my affiliate links and I may receive a portion of any sales resulting from your click. I promise to only link to products I personally recommend. Thank you for supporting Carissa's Creativity Space) 

Better-Than-Canned Pumpkin 101

Last week I had the opportunity to share a guest post over at The Green Kids Guide (edited 2012: Green Kids Guide is now Healthy Home Magazine. This link below has been updated). If you are like me and are always looking for ways to help eliminate BPA exposure (or just like learning new cooking techniques), come check out my post, "A BPA-Free Halloween is as Easy as...Pie!" where I'll teach you how easy it is to make fresh pumpkin puree instead of having to get it from a BPA-lined can.

PLUS you'll get my recipe for chocolate pumpkin spice cake....which is a fabulous way to sneak some fresh veggie nutrition into your husband's or child's diet and they will love you for it!