Fall 2012 Press Kit
Welcome to the Party!
At Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores®, we're celebrating Fall & Halloween with exciting new sewing and crafting ideas! We gathered the grown-ups and their kids then hosted a party for each group. The adults had a blast at their Halloween bash and the tweens had a great time at their Fall get-together. Read what the party hosts had to say about the handmade crafts & decor.
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project instructions
Pick-Your-Potion Centerpiece
Loved it to death! This spectacular centerpiece was one part wicked witch, two parts mad scientist and a big dash of fun! Everyone got a kick out of the names on the bottles and wondered what was inside each one. A sorceress never tells!
Skill Level 1: No experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:2-3 hours plus drying time
Spooky Silhouette Embroidery Hoops
The bewitching bats, sinister spider and menacing mouse were welcome guests at our party! They looked especially eerie hanging in the window with moonlight penetrating through the lace. We can't wait until next Halloween to hang them again!
Skill Level 1:
No experience necessary
Approximate Crafting
Time:4 hours
Boo-tiful Birdhouses
It was so easy creating our very own haunted miniature village! We painted unfinished wood birdhouses black then added on swirls of white paint and sprinkles of black glitter. Everyone liked how each house had a slightly different design!
Skill Level 1: No experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:1 hour plus drying time per house
Haunted House Napkin Rings
Dinner was a smash! Food was fabulous and the handmade napkin rings were a hit. The hand-drawn haunted houses impressed everyone, even the guys! From now on, these nifty napkin rings will be coming out every Halloween.
Skill Level 1: No experience necessary
Approximate Crafting
Time:1 hour each
Chalkboard Paint Wine Glasses
I never knew chalkboard paint was so versatile! The party was more fun sipping on "Witches Brew" and "Sock Sweat" from these cleverly crafted glasses. We all raised our ghoulish goblets and made a toast to a spellbinding night of tricks & treats!
Skill Level 2:
Some experience necessary
Approximate Crafting
Time:1-1/2 hours plus drying time per glass
Serving Bowl Funkins™
I absolutely adored this and so did everyone else! Zebra print fabric and black glitter gave this plain pumpkin a glitzy makeover. I had to refill the candy every five minutes – people could not stop taking treats from this spooktacular serving bowl!
Skill Level 1: No
experience necessary
Approximate Crafting
Time:4 hours plus drying time
Ghostly Dress Decor
An unexpected guest crashed the party! This ghostly visitor didn't say much but loved to "hang around"! We all took a picture with her before she floated off. Actually, we took her down at the end of the night then scared the kids with her in the morning!
Skill Level 2: Some
experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:2 hours plus drying time
Skeleton Scarecrow
For someone who's dead, this guy was the life of the party! And he acted like a gentleman all evening! We'll definitely invite him next year, but maybe we'll ask him to stand outside and greet our guests as they arrive.
Skill Level 2: Some experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:3 hours plus drying time
Funkins™ Toss Game
The kids cleverly described this as "cornhole with pumpkins". They all went bananas when the lights were turned off and the pumpkins started glowing! This fun-to-make project with an unexpected twist made the party a real blast!
Skill Level 2: Some
experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:Weekend project
Funkins™ Toss Game - Alternate Image
The kids cleverly described this as "cornhole with pumpkins". They all went bananas when the lights were turned off and the pumpkins started glowing! This fun-to-make project with an unexpected twist made the party a real blast!
Skill Level 2: Some
experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:Weekend project
Paisley Floor Pillows
Everyone loved lounging around on these comfy floor pillows. The kids may not have realized what paisley was at first, but by then end of the party, it was their favorite shape! I also loved how they noticed that the pillows matched the cup sleeves and cake.
Skill Level 2: Some
experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:2-1/2 hours
Embroidered Cup Sleeves
"Wow, these are way cooler than plain cups," my daughter's best friend said. And the other kids all agreed. They each liked having a cup with their own one-of-a-kind sleeve! The embroidery gave each one a personal touch that the kids appreciated.
Skill Level 2:
Some experience necessary
Approximate Crafting
Time:3 hours per sleeve
Masks & Mustaches
The cameras came out as soon as everyone saw these fun disguises! The girls picked out their masks, the guys chose their mustaches, then the posing and picture-taking began. They'll be posting, sharing and liking these pics for a long time.
Skill Level 1:
No experience necessary
Approximate Crafting
Time:1-2 hours each
Paisley Peacock Cake
The whole gang was immediately impressed when we brought out the cake – even the boys! "I want to learn how to decorate a cake like that," someone said. My daughter helped me make the paisley designs and really enjoyed it!
Skill Level 2:
Some experience necessary
Approximate Crafting
Time:5 hours
Velvet Pumpkins
"These are the prettiest pumpkins I've ever seen," one girl said. Even though the pumpkins were made for the party, my daughter asked if she could decorate her room with them afterwards. Knowing they would look great, I said, "Of course you can!"
Skill Level 2:
Some experience necessary
Approximate Crafting
Time:2-3 hours per pumpkin