Jack o lantern faces for pumpkin carving will help carve up the best Halloween pumpkins! Free printable pumpkin carving templates make it easy! Be inspired with these pumpkin carving ideas.

Jack O Lantern Faces Pumpkin Carving Templates

These pumpkin designs will help you create the best Halloween pumpkins ever. From scary pumpkin faces to funny pumpkin faces just download your favorite and get ready for fun pumpkin carving!

The pumpkin carving templates are in one file. Download the file. You don’t need to print them all, just choose on your printer to choose the page you want.

Download  Jack O Lantern Faces Pumpkin Carving Templates

How to Use Pumpkin Carving Templates

• Download the pumpkin carving templates, print in black and white on regular copy paper.
• Cut out the dark areas and then use the remaining white paper as a template.
• Trace area with a Sharpie marker to make lines easy to see. Carve right on the black line to cut it away.
• Save time! If you don’t want to spend the time cutting out the dark areas, place the stencil on the pumpkin and use a thumbtack to pierce the edge of the design. Remove the paper and follow the dotted line as the cutting line.

Pumpkin Carving Hack!

See our pumpkin carving trick. We use a common household tool to help us hollow out the pumpkin. You are going to have fun with these free pumpkin carving patterns for sure! Print them off as many as you like and get carving! I love to see a front porch full of carved pumpkins, don’t you?

Looking for more cool designs that are more than jack o lantern faces? These pumpkin carving stencils include a skull, bat, spider, haunted house, black cat and more jack o lantern faces.

Celebrate Halloween with these Halloween Decorations and these spooky Halloween Dinner Ideas. After the kids get done carving up some amazing jack o lantern faces they might like these Halloween coloring pages.

The post Jack O Lantern Faces For Pumpkin Carving appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

When you can’t remember how many quarts in a gallon try this great memory trick!

Click on the image if you would like to print!

Use the gallon eating the quarts trick.  It goes like this:

• In a gallon, there are four quarts.
• In a  quart, there are two pints
• In a pint, there are two cups

So visually the large G shows four Q (quarts) inside, and two P (pints) fit inside the Q, and two C (cups) fit inside the P. Keep this diagram in mind and you can easily figure out that there are four cups in a quart, 16 cups in a gallon, and so on.

How many quarts in a gallon?

• There are 4 quarts in a gallon

So by looking at the image, you can easily  see there are four quarts in a gallon and also answer these questions:

How many cups are in 1 gallon?

• There are 16 cups in a gallon.

In the US we figure 8 ounces per cup. So  6  8-ounce cups equal one gallon. If you want to drink a gallon of water, you would need to drink 16 8-ounce cups of water.

How many cups in a half gallon?

• There are 8 cups in a half gallon.

Measurement Conversion Chart

• 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 16 cups = 256 tablespoons = 768 teaspoons 
• 1 quart = 4 cups
• 1 cup = 16 tablespoons 
• 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons 

How many ounces in a gallon?

• There are 128 ounces in a gallon.

Here are the common units of capacity from smallest to largest

1. Fluid ounces (fl oz)
2. Cups
3. Pints
4. Quarts
5. Gallons

Now you will be able to answer any measurement questions and know how many quarts are in a gallon. Hope you like this trick!

The post How many quarts in a gallon appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

This safe DIY slime recipe is completely worry-free. Super easy and FUN! My daughter says it is so addictive!

I recently learned that liquid starch may contain borax. We found out that contact lens solution can act as the binder instead of the borax.  This recipe produces a stretchy smooth extra fluffy slime and uses contact solution instead of Borax.

Slime Ingredients

It doesn’t take many items to make slime. Just a few ingredients you probably have in your pantry and you can make super stretchy fluffy slime!

You will need:

• washable school glue
• food coloring
• Baking Soda & Contact Solution

Baking soda will combine with the boric acid in contact solution to make borate, the same crosslinking solution that Borax contains. This mixture becomes the slime activator. The saline solution needs to contain active ingredients like sodium borate and boric acid. So yes, even this slime has a touch of borax.  Borax powder and liquid starch can also be used as the slime activator

• shaving cream – this will make your slime super fluffy

How do you make slime fluffy?

It is easy! Make your homemade slime fluffy with shaving cream. Not the gel kind, go for the original shaving cream.

Slime Recipe

Now let’s learn how to make fluffy slime the safe way.  This borax free slime recipe that is perfectly slimy! Your kids will be playing with it for hours and making slime over and over again. All you need are simple ingredients found in your pantry. There is no need to add water.

• 1/2 cup washable school glue
• food coloring
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup shaving cream
• 1 tablespoon contact lens solution

Measure glue into a bowl. Add a few drops of food coloring.  Once it is the desired color add a few more drops. The shaving cream will make the color lighter. Mix in baking soda then shaving cream, Stir in contact lens solution and mix. The mixture will start to come together. Remove mixture from bowl and knead with hands. The slim will be sticky. The more the slime is played with the less sticky it becomes.

How do you make slime?

Let us show you how to make slime in six easy steps. This is amazing homemade slime that is safe and borax powder free.  We make slime with shaving cream to make it fluffy.

1. Measure 1/2 cup glue

2. Add color. Add more food coloring than you think you need. The shaving cream will make it lighter.

3. Add in 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda and mix.

4. Next, add 1/4 cup shaving cream. This slime ingredient makes this fluffy slime!

5. Stir in 1 tablespoon contact lens solution.

Mix all the ingredients until mixture starts to come together.

6. Remove from bowl.  The mixture will be sticky.

Keeping working and will become perfectly slimy and not sticky the more you work with it.

The girls added a bit more color so it would be really bright! It is best to add the color with the glue.  It was more difficult to mix in the color at the end. Now you know how to make slime!

Have your children experienced the slime craze? We can’t get enough slime. We have made green, purple, blue, pink……………………..one gallon of glue worth of slime at our house has been used. Don’t stop with plain school glue. Glitter glue makes a great galaxy slime!

Tips for Homemade Slime

• We have found that using different glues only produce slightly different textures of slime. So try different glues….. like clear glue and glitter glue!
• Use food coloring, liquid or gel to make colored slime. We have even used glow in the dark paint!
• Don’t worry if it is sticky at first.  The more you work with it the less sticky it becomes. How do you make slime less sticky? We have found adding a bit more of the contact solution does the trick.
• The food coloring will stain hands. We have found that it comes off in about a day.  If this is worrisome just wear gloves.
• Be creative! This is a great kids activity that allows them to experiment with great results.
• Children’s hands can be sensitive. Always wash hands after playing with slime.
• Is your slime too sticky? Don’t worry here are all the ways to make slime less sticky.

Slime Video

Here is a cool slime video on how to make glow in the dark slime. No need to stop playing when it gets dark outside, this recipe will light up the night.  A cool fun kids activity that will bring hours of fun!

How to make Slime with more slime recipes

I think we have the best slime recipes for you scroll to the bottom to see them all!  Too cool.

If your kids can’t stop learning how to make slime they will love these amazing slime recipes. Who would have thought there were so many different kinds of slime!

How to make slime 5 different ways!

Look! Slime you can see through. Changing the type of glue you use can make slime so clear you can see through it.

Clear Slime Recipe

Mesmerize kids with this slime that glows in the dark. This recipe uses glow in the dark paint. Now, though you can also purchase glow in the dark glue.

Glow in the Dark Slime

This slime/gak uses liquid starch. While liquid starch contains a bit of borax it is much more friendly to the skin. I was shocked to see on the news where kids were actually getting burns from the borax. This two-ingredient slime should be just fine.

How to make Gak

It only takes 3 ingredients to make this butter slime. The addition of clay makes this slime hold its shape.

Butter Slime Recipe

If you don’t have glue you can make slime without glue. This slime uses 3 in one shampoo. It isn’t as stretchy as regular slime but is still fun to play with. Warm hands do cause this slime to melt.

How to make slime without glue

We are always looking for more recipe variations and are going to try this 3 ingredient slime that uses salt. It is as much fun to watch this goo being made as it is to make so check out this video.

Now you know how to make slime! If your kids love slime they will LOVE oobleck. Have you ever made it?

The post How to make Slime appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

Have you ever wondered how to make slime without borax? This gak / slime recipe is only two ingredients and is Borax free!  Yep, only two ingredients and you will be able to really impress your kids and keep them entertained for hours!

How to make slime without borax

Updated! I saw on the Today Show how Borax can burn kids while making slime.  I was shocked at the severity of the skin burns and checked to make sure my slime recipe was completely safe. Which it is! To be extra cautious always have kids fully wash their hands after playing with slime. 

Borax Free Slime Ingredients

Whether you call it gak or slime it is still the same thing and easy to make. You might already have these simple ingredients at home! This slime / gak recipe is easy and really works!

• liquid starch
• white school glue
• liquid food coloring
• zip loc bag

How to make slime easy without borax

The best part it is a safe slime recipe.  This recipe is borax free. Why? Sometimes Borax can cause skin burns, so just to be safe we opted for a different recipe! We can’t stop making this slimy stretchy concoction at our house. Make this super easy two ingredient recipe with your kids knowing it is safe.  Read below for the gak recipe with step by step instructions on how to make.

To make simply mix equal parts of liquid starch and glue together. We placed 1/4 cup of liquid starch and 1/4 cup white school glue into a sandwich bag and added about 3 drops of green food coloring. We do have the best luck with Elmer’s school glue.

Next, add in 1/4 cup glue into the bag.

Mix well. It will start to form a solid blob. There might be a  bit of liquid that will not mix in, just remove the blob of slime and discard the bag with the extra liquid.

Take it out of the bag and have fun! Slime is so mesmerizing! It is hard to keep from touching it which makes it a wonderful sensory activity.

Here is a printable slime recipe!

What does liquid starch do to slime?

Glue is a liquid polymer made up of long, repeating, and identical strands. This means that the tiny molecules in the glue are in strands like a chain. When you add the liquid starch, the strands of the polymer glue hold together, giving it a slimy feel. The liquid starch contains sodium borate and acts as a cross-linker that connects all the long strands together. They mix until the substance is less like the liquid you started with and thicker and rubberier like slime!

Where do you buy liquid starch?

We find our liquid starch in the laundry section at the grocery store. We use Sta-flo starch like this.(affiliate link). Looking for more ways to impress your kids?  Now that you have liquid starch for making slime you can also use the liquid starch to make the coolest marbleized paper.

More Easy Ways to Make Slime!

Now that you know how to make slime without borax check out all these slime recipes? I have found  14 of the best slime recipes. You will find magnetic, mood changing, bubbling, spaghetti and more slime recipes!

Here are the ones we make again and again at our home. You will find that most all of these slime recipes show you how to make slime without borax powder. Liquid starch does contain a little bit of borax and contact solution contains boric acid. I think you will find that the following recipes are safe and won’t irritate the skin. However, always make sure to wash hands after playing with slime.

Clear slime needs to set a few days but is super stretchy and CLEAR!

Have you tried butter slime? It is more like a stretchy clay.

This fantastic fluffy slime is a huge hit at our house!

Check out my glow in the dark slime recipe. Now you know how to make slime without borax you can even make it glow!

Yes, you can make slime WITHOUT glue!

Here are the best tips for making slime less sticky

More Kids Activities

I have loads of more kids activities to keep children engaged and learning.  No reason to be bored!

Keep kids laughing with these kids jokes and these funny knock knock jokes.

Boredom Buster Activities These activities utilize your computer, paper, and printer!  Make fun paper toys for hours of fun perfect for a rainy day.

50 Kids Crafts and Activities This large list of kids activities keep kids engaged in crafting and playing! These are perfect ideas for summer fun!

Don’t forget to fill out a summer bucket list!

Here are over 100 fun summer activities for kids!…..

and if you love crazy concoctions try making oobleck! It is amazing!

The post How to make slime without borax and only two ingredients! appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

Here some great Family Halloween Costumes. It’s officially October and Halloween is right around the corner.  Are you thinking about Halloween Costumes?  I love a unique creative costume idea.  Some of my favorite costume ideas have been Family Halloween Costumes where we dressed together with a fun theme.

Family Halloween Costumes

Here are a few ideas worth your time, with a little planning, you can create these fun Halloween costume ideas too!  It is really fun to plan together and come up with ideas. Bonus you will get a lot of attention dressing in a theme together. Make sure to do it while they are little once they get a bit older they will have ideas of their own and most likely you won’t be all together as a group which is necessary for this to work. If you are looking for costumes for babies, you will love these DIY Halloween Costumes for babies.

Family Costume Ideas

When you need a group Halloween costume these ideas will make you the hit of the party.  Our family loves dressing up and here are some great family costume ideas!

Kiss Halloween Costumes

Kiss Halloween Costumes by Skip to my Lou

These Kiss Halloween costumes are really very easy to pull off.  We made our own shirts by cutting out the KISS logo in sparkly vinyl but you could buy them on Amazon. The face makeup is easy for even a novice like me.  A black wig pulls everything together. We used painted cardboard cutouts for the guitars. Your kids will love making these. Be sure to take your own Kiss picture like we did here. I love my husbands face in this photo. We even used this photo for our Christmas cards and said hugs and KISSes.

Flintstones Halloween Costumes

The Flintstones by Skip to my Lou

This was another easy costume for the family. You can buy a Fred Flintstone costume but since I like to sew handmade costumes I found it easy to put together. If you don’t sew do not fear you can buy them online too!  Just make sure you have a pebbles in the family. Our little Bella sure made the theme work out the best! She was such a cute Pebbles!  I can’t believe how little she is here, she is a pre-teen now! They grow up so fast.

Cops and Robbers by Living Locurto

Cops and Robbers is a classic costume idea. It doesn’t get easier than this!  All you need are black clothing, nylons, a white bag and a cop costume. You can choose whether you allow the toy gun. I think this costume idea is adorable. You can easily put it together in a day. We all need a little last minute costume idea!

Circus Act. Deck the whole family out in a circus theme with your littlest one as a lion if you want to make the neighbors chuckle.

Where’s Waldo. Got stripes? This Waldo idea is the easiest costume to pull off at the last minute.

Mary Poppins by Make it and Love it

Mary Poppins is one of my favorite characters.  This would be very cute if you have three kids, or more. After all, there are more characters you could create Halloween costumes for. These costumes do require some extra work but she walks you through each one with a step by steps sewing tutorial. They really come out beautiful and could be passed down through your family. Just allow a few weeks to sew and put this together.

Wizard of Oz Halloween Costumes

Wizard of Oz Family Costume by Me and My Insanity

If you are a fan of the Wizard of Oz (and who isn’t?) this is a very fun family costume. You can purchase almost every costume so you don’t need to know how to sew.  I think the tin man is my favorite in this family but they all turned out very cute. Be sure you don’t miss the details that can make this family costume really stand out like the crown on Glenda, the witches green face, Dorthy’s red sparkly slippers (not pictured) and tin man’s axe. It is those little details that pull this together.

Rapunzel and Flynn Rider Costume Ideas by Make it and Love it

What little child doesn’t like Rapunzel? It is really easy to pull of this Tangled theme family costume.  You can easily find many beautiful Rapunzel costumes or make your own.  You little ones will feel extra excited for Halloween dressed in these fun characters. I think you could have a lot of fun with Rapunzel’s hair and I think the extra touch of drawing a goatee on Flynn is adorable. Seriously, the Flynn Rider Costume is spot on!

The Monsters Family Costume

Peter Pan and His Lost Boys. Peter Pan is out to play, and he’s brought his famous Lost Boys with him! This family costume is sure to please, just as long as you don’t cause too much mischief.

Where the Wild Things Are Costume

Bee Keeper and Bee Hive Costumes

Lions, Tigers and Bears OH MY (this one is perfect for the Dad that doesn’t want to dress up LOL)

Family Halloween Costume Ideas

Here are some family halloween costumes not pictured (but would easy to pull off)

• Frozen (what kid wouldn’t love this one). Don’t miss my no sew frozen cape.
• Super Mario Brothers- Video games can also give a lot of inspiration.
• The Avengers
• Legos
• Bubble bee (perfect for baby) and his Bee Keepers
• 101 Dalmatians- this allows for such a great number of people and Cruella is just amazing to create.
• Peter Pan- this one has such a great cast! Captain Hook, Wendy, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, and the gang are just so cute.
• Monsters Inc.
• Winnie the Pooh
• Stick Figure Family- Glow sticks make this one really stand out.
• Alice and Wonderland- This turns out so cute. Alice is also cute on her own.
• The Incredibles- because who doesn’t want to be a superhero? Be a superhero family!
• Dr. Suess
• Scooby Doo and Gang- this is so easy to recreate.

There are so many more, just think of your favorite movie and characters! I would start by seeing how many people in your family you need to include in your family costume and then look through your favorite movies, popular celebrities can work too (especially for teens). Disney movies work very well. But we have enjoyed cartoons too (like the Flintstone’s pictured above).  I would pay attention to what your kids are already into because they they are likely to use the costume to play in it over and over. Halloween is the best time of the year and we all get to be someone other than ourselves for a day so have fun!

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The post 20 DIY Family Halloween Costumes appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

I can’t wait to share this darling witch costume with you. Just a few supplies and a couple pre-made items and you can have the cutest witch on the block. We love dressing up for Halloween at our house. We especially love good family costumes. Be sure to check out our favorite costumes. Can you believe I got my family to dress up as KISS? You might also like these costumes for babies.

This year Bella wanted to be a witch and I came up with this easy no sew witch costume.  So a witch it is! This costume was simple to make and could easily be made in an evening.  I think the striped tights really make this outfit.  Find all the extras (hat, broom, socks in the Halloween section in most any store.  A unique witch hat is a good investment because you will end up using it year after year. Everyone needs a last minute costume up their sleeves.

Witch Costume Supplies

To make this costume purchase a witch hat, socks, and a broom. My daughter loved picking them out.

Complement these items with a t-shirt turned into a vest embellished with eyelets and ribbon.  Spools of tule and a Halloween table runner make the spooky skirt.

Witch Costume

First, start by making a vest from a t-shirt. This ribbon and grommet enhanced t-shirt give the witch that perfect whimsical touch…… and it is no sew!

Lay t-shirt out flat.

Cut off sleeves and shorten the shirt if necessary.  Leave extra length to trim points in the front of the vest at the end.

Cut a slit up the front of the shirt.

Cut each side of the neck at an angle.

Grab an eyelet tool and 8 sets of eyelets.  Fold each side of the front of the shirt under about an 1 1/2″.

Evenly space grommets down each side.

Lace it up with some cute ribbon.

The skirt for this costume starts with a DIY tulle tutu and is topped with a lacy spider web table runner.

DIY Witch Costume

Our witch needed a fancy skirt so we used this tutorial on how to make a tutu.  However, in that tutu tutorial, I purchased tulle off the bolt from a fabric store.  Now having made the tutus both ways, I think the tulle off the bolt makes a more durable tutu.  Both methods do work. We made our tutu a bit more fancy by attaching a spiderweb table runner over the orange tutu.

Start with tulle and an elastic headband or piece of elastic. I used two rolls of tulle but could have easily added more.

Decide how long the tutu is to be, add a few extra inches for the knot and double this amount. Cut lengths of tulle.

Place elastic headband around your thigh. Fold the length of tulle in half and place under the elastic headband.

Reach under the loop.

Pull the tails of the tulle through the loop.

Pull tight.

Continue all the way around the elastic headband.

This tulle tutu is great as is or embellish it with a lace spiderweb table runner. All you need is a table runner, black ribbon and Peel-n-Stick Fabric Fuse.

Measure waist and add a few inches for tying. Place Peel-n-Stick on back of the ribbon. (leave a few inches free of tape for tying or securing with no-sew velcro. You will love this product.

Remove paper backing from Peel-n-Stick.

Gather table runner along sticky ribbon securing table runner to the ribbon.

Place lace spider web skirt over tulle tutu.

More DIY Halloween Costume Ideas

This frozen cape turned out really great. In fact, we did it about 30 mins before a party.  You won’t believe that it is also a no sew project. You can change the color for your cape to make this work well with a lot of different Halloween costume ideas.

This butterfly costume is really bright and fun.  You can make it in an afternoon with very few supplies!

Easy butterfly costume

A little chef costume would be adorable. Whip up a child’s chef hat with this easy tutorial.

This duct tape bullwhip is the perfect addition to an Indiana Jones costume.

The post No Sew Witch Costume appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

It’s Monday show us what you’ve got. It is time to link up your crafty goodness! Please don’t forget to link back! — a text link at the bottom of your post, or link somewhere on your blog is okay!

By linking up to Made By You Monday. You give permission for one photo and a link to be featured in a post, and on social media.  This is to promote you and your site.

The post Made By You Monday appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

This butterfly costume is perfect for my coloring loving girl! With just a few simple supplies she was able to color her way into a beautiful butterfly. This no sew Halloween costume couldn’t be any easier and could be made in an evening!  We love easy DIY Halloween costumes at our house. Last year we made a no sew  witch costume. Both these ideas are great costumes for girls. Here are some great family costume ideas.

Really it is all about the wings! This wings costume could easily become any butterfly you like.  A monarch butterfly costume would be amazing too. Just simply color monarch butterfly wings.

Butterfly Costume Supplies

• a black long sleeve shirt
• black leggings
• thin white muslin fabric (about a yard)
• Elmer’s Painters
• black extra wide Sharpie
• 2 large pom poms
• 2 black chenille pipe cleaners
• 1 headband
• glue gun and glue sticks
• glow in the dark fabric paint (optional)

How to make a butterfly costume

Not only is this costume easy enough to let your child participate…. it is easy to wear.  The wings attach to their shirt and allow for total arm movement.

Place arm of shirt up at an angle. Take fabric and cut a wing shape. Cut fabric to match angle of sleeve and side of shirt.

Copy this shape so there are two symmetrical wing shapes.

To make coloring the fabric easier, iron the fabric wing to the shiny side of freezer paper. The freezer paper will stabilize the fabric and can be easily peeled away when  finished.

Draw a design on the wing with a Sharpie marker. Repeat for other wing making sure design is symmetrical.  Holding the fabric up to a window will make it easy to trace.

Color away! If you want your butterfly to glow in the dark outline with glow in the dark fabric paint.

Hot glue wings to back edge of arms and sides of shirt.

Twist pipe cleaners to the headband and hot glue to secure. Hot glue a pom pom to each end of pipe cleaner.

How easy was that! There you have it a beautiful butterfly Halloween costume.

Costume Ideas

We love Halloween at our house. Here are some of our favorite family costume ideas.

And here is our no sew witch costume from last year!

Loving these easy and DARLING halloween costumes that use a box.

Doll in a box costume

The Claw costume

The post Beautiful Butterfly Costume – EASY No Sew idea appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

Cucumber Salsa is another delicious recipe from my friend Di. You must try her Monster Cookie Dough Dip and I promise you her Chicken Salad is amazing!

This recipe is perfect for using up a bumper crop of cucumbers or just to grab a few cucumbers from the store when you need a bite of summer. Friends will love this fresh zesty salsa.

Cucumber Salsa Ingredients

Chipotle Rotel, cucumbers, ranch dip mix, garlic, and vinegar come together to make a delicious salsa. It is hard to believe such a few ingredients create this fresh salsa.

Cucumber Salsa Recipe

Grab these simple ingredients and you are ready to make a great salsa. It is super easy yet super delicious. Mix together the following ingredients. Be sure to grab a can of chipotle Rotel to get the rich smokey flavor in this salsa.

• 1 can chipotle Rotel
• 2 cucumbers, seeded and diced
• 1/2 package Ranch Dip Mix
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2-3 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar

Let sit for two hours to allow flavors to mingle! Serve this salsa with tortilla chips or corn chips.

Enjoy this printable recipe below. Please let me know what you think in the comments!

Looking for more yummy appetizers and good things to serve friends? I love this buffalo dip and this Vidalia onion dip is always a hit. Kansas Caviar is another crowd pleasing favorite.  I have to say my go to quick and easy appetizer is taking a brick of cream cheese and spreading prepared pesto over the top and baking. Check out my Baked Pesto Spread.

When I have a party I usually always whip up some Chex mix. Everyone loves it! Looking for something sweet? I just had a party and my friend brought her white chocolate popcorn. WOW, guests were calling for days asking for the recipe.

What are your party faves?

The post Cucumber Salsa appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

Best Margarita Recipe

This is not your classic margarita. Beer is used instead of triple sec. Sprite fills in for the simple syrup and frozen limeade replaces lime juice. All the ingredients mix together in a large pitcher. Serve over ice in a salt rimmed glass with a wedge of fresh lime.

How to make a margarita

The ingredients are easy to keep on hand! So you can have a delicious margarita anytime. Your friends will be happy you are so prepared. I cut down on the calories in this margarita by using diet Sprite. You will never know the difference.

Another citrus drink we love is the Moscow Mule.  We even have a fun variation of the mule drink that adds cucumber. It is super refreshing. Here are more easy drink recipes that you might enjoy!

For an easy appetizer recipe, that is perfect for any party try this warm basil pesto cream cheese spread. All you do is spread prepared basil pesto over a brick of cream cheese and heat in the over. Delicious and easy!

The post Best Margarita Recipe I Promise! appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

25 friendship quotes to share with your friends to let them know how special they are.  If you need an extra special quote for your bestie you will like these best friend quotes.  I am sure that you know how having a good friend can make you happy.

Friends Quotes

Good friends share in our greatest moments of life.  They laugh with us and they cry with us.  They celebrate with us and they grieve with us.  It is impossible to count the times a good friend has shared in your fun or has just been there walking alongside you through the storm.  The world is a better place when you have found the people who make up your friendship circle!  Nothing can make you feel better than offering care and support to.  Make someone’s day with these care package printable tags.  What an easy way to brighten someone’s day. If you find yourself needing to thank a teacher these cute sayings help to make a clever gift. Let your child know you are thinking about them with this camp care package. Each saying attaches to a candy bar to make an inspired gift. Or maybe you want to share a cute friendship gift. It is always nice to let someone know you care. All these ideas along with these friend quotes should help you do just that.  If you need some motivation I also have 25 motivational quotes to inspire!

Did you know that finding and keeping good friendships can also add to your health?  Studies have shown that friends can make us happier, less stressed, and improve our general health.  When hearts connect our health improves!

25 Friendship Quotes

I have collected 25 quotes about the beauty of friendship.  I hope that you will be inspired to spend time growing the friendships that you already have, or maybe cultivating some new friendships.  Use these great friendship quotes in a letter or a text. You can share one inside of a homemade card, or use these free printable friendship quotes as a tag on a gift that you will be giving. You can even save the images on your phone and text to your friend.

These inspirational friendship quotes are great for kids to be sharing too! They can be printed out to decorate a locker, painted on a wall, or used in their own creative art.

• Friendship is the comfort of knowing that even when you feel alone, you aren’t.

• A good friend is one who understands your strengths and weaknesses and still cherishes you for who you are.

• Good friends are like stars: You don’t always see them but you know they are there.

• A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17

• Friends become our chosen family.

• Friends don’t let friends do silly things… Alone.

• The greatest gift of life is friendship. Hubert H. Humphrey

• My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me. Henry Ford

• A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. Walter Winchell

• Of all possessions a friend is the most precious. Herodotus

• A friend is someone who stands by you when you encounter difficult situations and is always there to celebrate your achievements.

• The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. Elisabeth Foley

• A friend is someone who knows everything about your life and still loves you.

• Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.

• Friends are the people who make you smile brighter, laugh louder and live better.

• Walking with your friend in dark is far better than walking alone in the light. -Helen Keller

• A circle is round, it has no end. That’s how long I want to be your friend.

• A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

• Friendship isn’t about whom you have known the longest… It’s about who came and never left your side.

• If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you. Winnie the Pooh

• A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.

• A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down. Arnold H. Glasgow

• If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together… there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart… I’ll always be with you. Winnie the Pooh

• Growing apart doesn’t change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I’m glad for that. Ally Condie

• One measure of friendship consists not in the number of things friends can discuss, but in the number of things they need no longer mention. Clifton Fadiman

• Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose. Tennessee Williams

• Friendship is like standing on wet cement. The longer you stay, the harder it’s to leave, and you can never go without leaving your footprints behind. Moi

• Best Friends Listen to what you don’t say

• When I count my blessings I count you twice.

• True friends are never apart, maybe in distance but never in heart.

Friendship Gifts

Here are some cute friend gifts!

• An eos lip balm printable lets someone know they are your sunshine.
• Kids and adults can have fun making friendship bracelets for each other. I
• If you know a friend that could use some sunshine this Box of Sunshine Care package is amazing.

More Friend Quotes to share inspiration

If you or a friend need a bit of inspiration print off these inspirational sayings, cut them out and place them where you will see them as a visual reminder. They too make great best friend quotes. Isn’t our support and encouragement the biggest gift we can give our friends?

• Positive Affirmations
• Inpirational Life Quotes
• Find more quotes!

I hope you love these friendship quotes and all these ideas to celebrate good friends!

The post 25 Beautiful Friendship Quotes appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

Make the whole month of October fun with these Halloween Lunch Box Jokes. Halloween jokes for kids are silly and sure to get a giggle from your child. Don’t forget to start the season off right by booing your friends! Here are all the free You’ve Been Booed Printables you will need.

Halloween Jokes for Kids

Get kids into the Halloween spirit with these Halloween jokes for kids! The best part is you can print them out and put them in your child lunch to share a laugh!

• Why is a ghost a messy eater?  He is always gobblin.
• Why don’t mummies take vacations? They are afraid they will relax and unwind.
• Why didn’t the skeleton cross the street? He didn’t have any guts.
• How can you tell a vampire likes baseball? At night he turns into a bat.
• What is a witch’s favorite subject in school? Spelling.
• Why are ghosts bad at telling lies? You can see right through them.
• What kind of mistakes do ghosts make? Boo Boos.
• What is a ghost’s favorite street? A dead end.
• Why are graveyards so noisy? Because of all the coffin!
• What do spiders like to do? Fly fishing.
• What is a mummy’s favorite kind of music? Wrap music.
• What do you call a witch at the beach? A sand witch!

Halloween Lunch Box Jokes

Download and print the Halloween Jokes for kids in color on white cardstock. Cut them apart and you will be ready to slip them into your child’s lunch. They make fun little lunch notes to your kids! It is so good for them to know you are thinking about them while they are away at school.

This post has been updated and a new file uploaded to fix the printing issues.

Download here Halloween Lunch Box Jokes Free Printable

If you think these kids lunch jokes are funny don’t miss these kids jokes!

• Hilarious Kids Jokes
• Funny Jokes for Kids
• Printable Food Jokes for kid’s lunches
• Easter Jokes for Kids
• Knock Knock Jokes for Kids

The post Halloween Jokes for Kids {Free Halloween Lunch Box Jokes} appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

The 2019 Printable Calendar is here!  Each year I share a printable calendar. You will find the prettiest free printable calendars here on Skip to my Lou.  If this year is the year to meet goals and live life to the fullest you might like my free printable weekly planner to keep on track. My free goal planning worksheets should help you map out success and growth. Remember a goal without a plan is just a wish!

Printable Calendar

2019 Printable Calendar

This year’s monthly calendar is lovely.  I love the painted florals. These monthly calendars are a great way to organize important events like birthdays and anniversaries.  They would also be a beautiful way to keep track of something that you are thankful for, each day for an entire year!

Download Printable Calendar

I hope these calendar templates will encourage you to simplify your life and stay organized.

Don’t forget everyone works better on a full tummy and this printable weekly meal planner is a great way to help keep your family fed. If you need some new recipes check out these meal plans. I also have nearly a year of weekly meal plans with recipes, and weekly ideas your family will love.

And as 2017 comes to an end don’t forget to help your family record all those special details of the year.  This Year in Review Coloring page will help you do just that and make a darling keepsake!

2018 Printable Calendar

{ 2018 Calendar Download}

{ 2018 Calendar Download}

2017 Calendar

I hope you will find the 2017 printable calendar extra special. This inspirational calendar I hope gives you a special lift each and every month. Something to remind you to not be afraid to be great and that you are enough.

They look like chalkboard quotes. A new inspirational quote to keep you motivated every month. Print in color on white cardstock. Cut apart.  Punch holes at top for hanging or your local copy shop can place a spiral binding across the top.

If you would like to print the calendar on colored paper I have also included a black and white version.

2017 Printable Calendar – Color

 Black & White  printable calendar

Here is a look of all the pretty calendars!

And don’t forget to fill out your year in review!

2019 is going to be a great year!

Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to get crafty ideas, recipes, sewing tutorials and more delivered right to your inbox. Follow Skip to My Lou on FB and Google+ to find out the latest news! Join me at Pinterest and Instagram for an extra dose of fun!

The post 2019 Printable Calendar (UPDATED) appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

Have you ever wondered how to make to make tissue paper flowers? Making flowers out of tissue paper is a fun and easy craft. Little kids can do much of the work in making these and school-age kids can actually make these themselves.

Tissue Paper Flowers

DIY tissue paper flowers are super easy and make a beautiful display, especially for parties!  Think how beautiful these tissue paper flowers would be at weddings, bridal showers, baby showers or even a birthday party.  If you find yourself without flowers for May Day, they would be perfect in a May Day Basket.    The color combinations are only limited by your imagination!  The supplies are easy to find and very economical.

How to make tissue paper flowers

Here is how to make tissue paper flowers in just ten simple steps.  Here is what you need to get started.

Tissue Paper Flowers Supplies

• 5 – 6 sheets of tissue paper (two each of three colors)
• thin wire
• scissors
• chenille stem

How to make paper flowers video

Make flowers out of tissue

1.Stack 5 sheets of tissue paper on top of each other. Two sheets each of two colors and one sheet for the center of the flower. If you want a bigger center, add another sheet to the center.

2. Cut the stack in half.

3. Make one stack, sorting the colors together. Trim the center color of the flower (top 2 sheets) about two inches on each side.

4. Cut slits along each side.

5. Accordion fold the tissue paper.

6. Twist a piece of wire around the center of the folded tissue paper.

7. Round off each end with scissors.

8. Open up the tissue paper.

9. Starting with the top layer of tissue paper, carefully bring each layer to the center.  Tissue paper can tear easily, so you may need to guide a child with this step.

10. Place a chenille stem around the middle and twist to make a stem.

Beautiful tissue paper flowers in minutes!  A flower to keep, or a gift to give!  Why stop at just one?  This DIY tissue paper flower is such an easy project, you can have your very own garden in no time.  Beautiful and full of color, it will brighten up the space of classrooms, parties, holidays.  The bright colored flowers are cheery and would make a great pick-me-up bouquet for a friend having a hard week, or as a gift for a neighbor “just to say hi”.  You could take a couple of flowers to someone during their hospital stay, or brighten up the space of a loved one in a nursing home.

More Decoration Ideas:

• Valentines Day:  use red, pink, and white
• St. Patrick’s Day:  use shades of green, white, and black
• Easter:  use pink, yellow, blue, green, and any shade of pastel
• July 4th:  use red, white, and blue
• Halloween:  use orange, yellow, white, and black
• Thanksgiving:  use orange, gold, yellow, and brown
• Christmas:  use red (think poinsettia)
• Baby showers:  use pink and white or blue and white
• Graduation:  use the school colors

If you are looking for more fun craft ideas here are a few of my most popular tutorials.  Reversible tote bag, DIY Stepping stones or even this DIY bird feeder.  All of these projects are a fun craft that you can complete with a school-age child.  They also make great gifts!  Who doesn’t love a sweet handmade gift?

The post How to Make Tissue Paper Flowers appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

I am happy to partner with Disney Book Group to tell you about the newest book in the Mother Bruce series and show you how to make an easy Santa hat so kids will be playing Santa this Christmas.

Everyone’s favorite curmudgeonly bear is back in the new book Santa Bruce. This time he and his goslings are gearing up for Christmas! A case of mistaken identity has him playing Santa Claus to all of his new woodland friends. The illustrations and one-liners make this book one that kids and adult will like! Let me show you how to make a Santa Hat so your child can play Santa too!

Have you seen this children’s series about a bear? Bruce is a lot of things. He is a bear. He is a grump. He is a pretty decent cook. And he is a mother. One thing Bruce is not? Santa Claus. But that doesn’t stop the whole forest from lining up to give him their Christmas wishes when he becomes the victim of mistaken identity—again.

Kids will howl with laughter as award-winning author-illustrator Ryan T. Higgins delivers another hilarious story about this bear who just can’t catch a break.

We all can dress up and play Santa with this DIY Santa Hat! Sew it together in minutes.

Santa Hat Supplies

• 3/8 yard fleece fabric
• 1/8 yard fleece fabric with fur look
• 1 large 3 inch pom pom
• Kids Santa Hat Pattern

How to make a Kids Santa Hat

Download template and print on white copy paper. Cut out the pattern pieces and assemble pieces according to the numbers.

Cut out the pattern on the fold of the fabric. Cut a piece of trim 22″ long. I used the entire 4.5 inches with of the 1/8 of the yard fleece.

Sew 1/4 inch seam along the edge of the folded red triangle.

The edge of the fleece trim over about a half inch and stitch. I used a very long stitch length, about 5.

Fold the trim piece right sides together and stitch along the end. Use 1/2 seam.

Turn the red hat inside out. Place the white trim inside the hat. The right side of trim will be next to the wrong side (inside) of the hat.

Stitch around the top of the hat with 1/2 inch seam.

Fold the trim to the outside and sew the pom to the hat.

You’re done! Your child can be Santa this entire holiday season.

This little one is going to make a great Santa!

It is always fun to celebrate the season with a good book. One of our most loved family traditions is inviting friends over in their pajamas to drink hot chocolate and read Christmas books.

Be sure to check out Santa Bruce.  Ryan T. Higgins (ryanthiggins.com) is the author and illustrator. He is NOT a grumpy old black bear, but he DOES like making books about one—starting with the best-selling Mother Bruce, which received the E. B. White Read-Aloud Award and the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor. He lives in Maine with his wife and kids… and too many pets.

The post Kids Santa Hat appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

Is there anything cuter than Baby Halloween Costumes? Halloween is just around the corner but you still have time to create special baby costumes.  Babies dressed up in cute costumes make Halloween fun!  Here are some of the Cutest Halloween Costumes For Babies you have ever seen.

Baby Halloween Costumes

You are going to love these costumes for babies. From DIY baby costumes to newborn Halloween costumes, to costumes for crawling babies. You are going to love these cute baby girl Halloween costumes. Don’t forget the boys. You can also find a darling Halloween costume for a baby boy.  Have you ever seen anything as cute a skunk costume for baby?

DIY Baby Costumes

Popcorn Baby Costume

This simple DIY is perfect for a newborn baby.

Baby Aerobics Instructor

Flash back to the 80’s with this darling get up!

Garden Gnome Hat

The hat makes this costume!  Isn’t he cute?

Baby Mousetrap Costume

Have her ride around in style in this mousetrap costume!

Baby Cow Costume

Play of the constant need for milk with this cow costume.  The udders are amazing.

Baby Owl

This baby owl is total magic!  Pretty easy DIY.

No time to make a costume?

Infant Halloween Costumes

This newborn mermaid costume is perfect for a photoshoot or Halloween.

There is something about a newborn pumpkin costume that is a rite of passage. This one is especially cute.

This pea in the pod is so cute. It would be especially cute with twins!

Costumes for Crawling Babies

This squirrel baby costume is so cute. and would be perfect for little crawling babies. It also would keep your baby pretty warm on a cool Halloween night.

This infant penguin costume is so cute! Those tights make the whole outfit.

Who won’t be crazy for an owl crawling around! This owl baby costume is especially cute.

Baby Girl Halloween Costumes

Look at these cute infant girl costumes.

This infant cat costume would look so cute crawling around your home! Four legs never looked so adorable.

This pink baby piggy costume will make you squeal. Isn’t she cute?

Your baby girls will be bursting with this flower baby girl costume.

Baby Boy Halloween Costumes

An infant puppy costume is a perfect costume for any baby boy and this one has got to be the cutest I have ever seen.

This little monkey baby costume will make you go bananas!

This little baby skunk costume is perfect for your little stinker.

Cute DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids

I hope you love all these cute baby costumes. If you have older children too. Here are a few DIY Costumes (both no sew) I have featured here on Skip to my Lou.

DIY Frozen Cape

Witch Costume

Butterfly Costume

Looking for family costumes? These family costumes are really cute. If you are hosting a Halloween Party try using these printable soda labels or these printable halloween bingo.  I’ve also rounded up 10 cheap Halloween decorations to keep you under budget.

The post Baby Halloween Costumes appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

Share a little love with these origami heart sucker covers. They are super simple to make…but super cute. I think you will really like this easy origami idea. In just a few steps you can learn how to make an origami heart!

Origami Heart

I have a few other ways to gift a sucker for Valentine’s Day. You might like these printable ‘beary’ special lollipop covers or these printable sucker for love lollipop wraps. If you like to pair a cute saying with a small gift I have 100 printable Valentine ideas for you to browse. So many fun ways to celebrate.  

Origami Heart Supplies

For each origami heart, you need:

• 1 triangle cut from a 7 inch square of scrapbooking paper or origami paper. (origami paper is thinner) For this project the scrapbooking paper works great.
• a sticker
• a flat sucker

How to make an origami heart

Let’s get started making our paper heart. Cut a 7 inch square from scrapbooking paper.  Cut the square in half to make two triangles. One triangle makes one sucker cover.

With the wrong side of the paper facing up, fold top corner of the triangle to bottom edge. Write a little note inside if you like!

Fold up the right edge of the triangle to center.

Repeat, folding the left edge of the triangle to center.

Flip paper over. Fold top points down.

Flip paper back over and slightly open to insert sucker.

Fold back up and place a sticker where the two sides meet.

Flip over and fold down the top and side edges on both sides.

A sweet treat for someone special. These origami heart sucker covers are a great easy origami project for kids to make for their friends.

They are the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Origami Heart Video Instructions

I hope the above step by step instructions with photo tutorial was easy to understand.  You can learn how to fold a heart from a square of paper. Just watch this how to make an origami heart video.

Money origami heart and easy ways to fold money for gifts

A fun way to gift money is to fold it up! Look at this cute money heart. Who wouldn’t want to receive a box of these or how about turning them into a garland?

Easy Dollar Bill Heart Origami

Here are a few more fun ways to gift money!

• Creative Ways to Gift Money
• How to make a money tree with origami flowers
• Make an origami bow tie for the Father’s Day Card
• Printable Graduation Card with dollar bill diploma
• DIY Origami Gift Card Holder

The post Origami Heart Sucker Covers appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

DIY Halloween Decorations are one of my favorite ways to celebrate Halloween.  Whether you have little ones excited to decorate or not, these crafts for Halloween shared this week are sure to give you some great ideas!

DIY Halloween Decorations

This glittered BOO sign is a fun touch for the front door.

DIY Halloween Banner from Shaken Together just needs to be printed and tied together.  The hard part has already been done for you. I love the vintage feel.

Spider Wreath from Kaminski’s Creations

Really there are so many fun ways to welcome guests with these Halloween Porch Ideas. I love the floating witch hats!

These witch legs are so fun!  Kids will love how bright they are and not too spooky.

This DIY Halloween Candy Wreath is such an easy way to BOO your friends and family!  Her only tip is that you shouldn’t hang it on their door if it’s a hot day.  You don’t want their tasty treats to melt!

Making these DIY paper spider web is a great way to let kids make decorations and decorate for Halloween.

Halloween decorations for the table

These bloody candles might be too much for your Halloween table, but if you need something REALLY spooky they are perfect.

Flying Bat Napkin Rings from Delightfully Noted

How crazy easy but great Halloween party cups!?!

These spooky potion bottles make a great Halloween centerpiece for your table.

Grab a mason jar. This head in a jar is terrifying!

Homemade Halloween Decorations

These easy ghosts globes are made from cheesecloth. They come together easily. She even made a dementor.

DIY Pottery Barn Skull Vases from My EnRoute Life

Halloween Terrariums from Today’s Creative Blogs

This DIY candy corn garland from Women’s Day encourages snacking, so you better buy an extra big bag of the Halloween treat this year!

Halloween decorations for the yard

These eyeballs in a tree are a funny idea for the daytime. How about painting them with glow in the dark paint so they would be spooky at night for the trick or treaters.

Decorate your front porch with this DIY Halloween sign is so “eeking” cute, you’re bound to get compliments from everyone who stops by to knock on your front door.

Need a place to store Halloween candy? Make the countdown to Halloween even more fun by hanging this candy door hanger. Treat yourself to a bite every day it’s on display!

This lighted Halloween ghost isn’t too spooky but makes a cool display! It is also simple to make with a tomato cage. Princess Pinky Girl is so clever!

Making homemade Halloween decorations became a tradition when our kids were preschoolers.  They’ve grown up a bit, but they still like to take part in the spooky festivities! If you are looking for more fun DIY Halloween Decorations check out my Jack-O-Lantern Votives, Hanging Lantern Ghosts, and these Paper Witch Shoes.  We love Halloween around here, so you will certainly be able to find some great Halloween decorating ideas throughout the blog.  Happy crafting…and Happy haunting!

And of course, now you need something fun to eat! Check out these Halloween Dinner Ideas.

The post DIY Halloween Decorations appeared first on Skip To My Lou.

t’s Monday show us what you’ve got. It is time to link up your crafty goodness! Please don’t forget to link back! — a text link at the bottom of your post, or link somewhere on your blog is okay!

By linking up to Made By You Monday. You give permission for one photo and a link to be featured in a post, and on social media.  This is to promote you and your site.

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This free easy rose crochet pattern is the perfect project to add a little beauty to your world. You know that I love crochet flowers! I am always looking for beautiful crochet flowers! This crochet rose pattern works up quickly.

Crochet Rose

Crochet Rose Pattern

This simple rose pattern would be a perfect embellishment for a crochet hat or crochet headband. Try them on a hair band or clip for an extra pretty hair accessory.

Free Easy Rose Crochet Pattern

Using crochet hook size I and worsted weight yarn, chain 51.

Row 1

In the second chain from hook sc. Chain 2, skip next chain, sc in next chain.  Repeat sc, chain 2, skip sc, sc in next chain across.

Row 2

Turn, chain 1. In chain 2 space 3 HD crochet, chain 1, slip stitch (all in chain 2 space). Slip stitch in next chain 2 space, chain 1, 3HD, chain 1, slip stitch. In next chain 2 space, slip stitch, chain 1, 3 HD crochet, chain 1, slip stitch. In remain chain two spaces alternate 4 HD crochet and 5 HD crochet across until end of row. Fasten of and weave in ends.

To form rose start with the 3 half double crochets end and roll up into a flower shape. Use a yarn needle to stitch flower together on the back side.

It is simple to make different sized layered rose flowers by adjusting the beginning chain, just keep it an odd number. The purple flower was 41 chains. The red flower was 31 chains. The small hot pink flower was 21 chains with a size H crochet hook.

If you love to crochet please visit my free crochet patterns database. You will find hundreds of beautiful crochet patterns.  You can even upload your own crochet patterns! Please do! I am always looking for things to crochet!

Crochet Flowers

Here are some of my favorite crochet flowers.

Big and beautiful crochet flower

Crochet Sunflower

Learn how to crochet this simple crochet flower.

The post Free Easy Rose Crochet Pattern appeared first on Skip To My Lou.