Halloween ~ Paper Lanters

I know... I know!! Halloween is only on the 31st of October... But in the midst of all my Diwali planning and preperations... The girlies & I decided to do some Halloween craft... These are simple things, that we can make and keep.... ready for Halloween celebrations... *smiles*

Now isn't this spooky?? 3D lanterns *smiles*...

Its simple to make as well... We drew ghosts, witches and pumpkins on white or orange paper.. Cut them out!! We used old jars for the candle holders... wrapped them around with the paper... and then stuck the cut out of the witch, ghost or pumpkin on top of it... And viola... is our 3D lantern...

My girlies think... these are very pretty!! What do you think??

Do you remember the tutorial for the above paper lanterns?? We made these for Yva's Alice in Wonderland birthday party... If you haven't seen the party pics... here is Part1 and Part2.. We had a lovely time... *smiles*..



So the girlies made these lanterns... in orange paper and drew pumpkin faces on them... What do you think??

So tell me what you think of our 3D lanterns and the simply paper lanterns??

Paper lanterns

Do you remember making these lanterns in school?? Celebrating birthdays is a joy... but its more fun when the decorations, artwork, etc... is done on your own.. Normally, we recycle the same decorations used for earlier or prior year parties.. I have a box of these... that we tweak or amend a little bit to go with the theme!!

For our 'Alice in Wonderland'.... Mad Hatters tea party... we wanted these paper lanterns.. So last weekend, the girls & I got together to make a few...

Here is what you'll need....

• coloured paper or craft paper
• ruler
• scissors
• cylindrical glass. But I couldnt find one, so we used the ikea tea lights. You can also use vases.
• pencil to draw the lines
• double sided tape
• a few tea lights

1. Fold the coloured paper into two (half lenght). Draw equal lines. Makes the lines approximately 1/2 inches apart and stop 1 inch from the edge.

2. Give these to your kids to cut... Cut along the lines. Leaving the edges!

3. If you are using glass, stick tissue paper or lighter paper on the glass first. This will make it easier to sick the lantern on it. Use double sided tape on the length of the glass and stick the tissue paper firmly.

4. Unfold the coloured craft paper and stick a small peice of double sided tape along the top and the bottom.

5. Stick them together, or wrap it around the glass.

6. If you've stuck the craft paper together and are using smaller tea lights. Then light the tea light and then place the lantern on top. (this is what I did)

7. If you are sticking the lantern to an existing cylindrical glass, then light a candle and carefully insert it in the glass.

.... Aren't these so cute... and so easy to make. We've had these around the house all week long.. They are gorgeous!! I'm linking to a few blog parties!!

As for our Alice party... they will be hung with other hanging decorations... watch out for pictures!! *smiles*

Tanu's table top

I can’t tell you how thrilled I am about ‘August table top’. Its awesome to see your pics and know a little about you…

Here is Tanu’s table top. When I saw the pics I had to post it instantly.

You do know how much I love lanterns, don’t you?? So the minute I saw this.. I simply had to post it!!

Tanu's images are so gorgeous... serene and calm...

‘Cozy Corners’ is our subject for September. So bring in your photographs and a little story about your Cozy Corner. I cant wait to start this link… *smiles*

lamp & lantern love...

I’ve had a lampful week… *smiles* I received this mysterious looking package with a lamp (similar to the one below) in it… Sorry I don’t have a pic for you of my lamp… so I’ve stolen Kamini’s pics…


You can buy this lamp from Matsya…. Neha is an bundle of talent… and I admire her talent..

Anne from work, got me this lantern from her Oman trip… I was touched that she remembered me when she saw this lanterns … and above all remembered how much I love lanterns…

I love to show off my lanterns & lamps…. So one more pic for you… Linking to Funky Junk Interiors & My Romantic Home

Today and for this week, it will sit on my coffee table. I’m wondering if I should put this lantern at the entrance of my house or the old one. Suggestions please…

Lantern love …

Its long weekend for me… Can you hear my big smiley face???

I know you guys, you thought I was kidding when I said, I’m going back to Home Centre to pick the red ones!! Didn’t you? Do you remember my post on my yellow lanterns??

I’ve managed to bring home 10 red ones…(yaaayy!!) I’m so pleased… I couldn’t find the aqua and green ones… So have to go to the other Home Centres… Yes!! I’m obsessed… but I have a fabulous idea in my head… and will show it off in the cooler months… *smiles*

At Outlet mall, (some weird shop…. I don’t remember the name!), I purchased these table cloths… for Diwali or Christmas… for AED 10 (nearly $ 3). So, Thursday night was test drive ….. *smiles*… Will you join me for Christmas?

Happy Friday to you all!! Once I was done… with prettifying my table......

… I decided to surprise the girls with a mini table set up…

This was my centre piece… All ready for my girls to have a meal… I simply love candles…

The girlies had a friend over for dinner and sleep over…. And were pleased to see the table all done up for them… (little did they know) *grin* Do you like my tablescape??

These are my everyday table mats…. Yellow & orange being prominent… Ofcourse you know I love these colours…

And these are my everyday plates… I’ve got them in orange as well…

Are you falling in love with my lanterns?? Wait for my winter posts…. *grin*

Rusty look...

So… how was your weekend… my lovelies?? I had a great weekend… I spent considerable amount of time sketching out what I want to do around the house… I haven’t finished as yet… but just getting started makes me feel good!!! I haven’t even reached the ‘to-do’ list stage!

Walking around the garden this morning, I found these… My love for lamps, lanterns and candles is pretty visible here…

A few years ago, I was obsessed about things getting rusty… so I’d paint everything… but now.. again and again… But now… I am loving the old – rusty look… are you? I have a few wind chimes that I’ve painted… but now am simply leaving the rust as is… and am loving it… *smiles* Are these Funky Junk Interiors or what?? Can you spot the rust??

I searched high and low for a mosaic top table… and when I spotted this in the classifieds... I simply couldn’t resist.. I’m not great with second hands… but I wanted this table soooooooooooooo bad!!

I picked it up.. without even thinking.. The top.. which I show you regularly is simply gorgeous.. but the base & chairs are a bit rusty… This is on my not yet created ‘to-do list’… I was thinking of painting it yellow… but now have settled for white.. Will show you pics when I’m done… (not very soon!)

Oh… and I have to tell you the story of my two lanterns… These are real old!! I spotted them at a vegetable vendor on my way to Fujeirah… I asked if he would sell them to me.. The guy was shocked, laughed and said… I could take them for free… I finally took them from him and paid him a small bit… He laughed… But I became two lanterns richer… I totally love them – one green & one blue… and both a little rusty!!

Do you like my rusty look??

Weekend news..

I had a great weekend… wandered into Home Center on Friday to find this…

Gosh.. I have such a soft corner for lanterns.. I can’t tell you!! Even worst.. this was on sale for AED 2.50 (which is less than USD 1)… So what would you do if you were in my place??!!

Exactly!!! There were 10 on the rack.. and I picked them all… *smiles*


And I asked the shop keeper for more… but they didn’t have any.. There was one green one.. So I just had to pick that up as well.. Why put someone else through the grief of finding this one piece and searching for more.. like I did??!!


The girls and I … had to test them.. as soon as we got them home… So we put candles in them.. and hung them off the branches of the trees in our garden..

As the sunset they looks stunning…

Now.. on Saturday, I happened to be in another Home Center.. and saw the same things in Red, Green & Aqua… The red was gorgeous and they had only 4 pieces… So I simply had to buy them.. *smiles*

I'm enjoying the MM & MM & Outdoor Wednesday posts...
This morning, I had a thought… I’d probably need more for Diwali & Christmas.. I should go back and buy a few of the Aqua ones as well… What do you think??