DIY Jack O Lanterns with Oranges

It's gourd season, but gourds are messy, and expensive in Hong Kong. We went with oranges instead. A great family craft that's quick and easy.

Before:
Just 2 oranges and a clementine.

I cut off the tops and scooped out the orange guts into a bowl. Best results were when we scooped along the membrane, for a clean separation that didn't leave juices behind. The faces we did with sharp scissors. 

I bought some Vanilla scented tealights from Ikea, and our whole house smelled like delicious orange creamsicles. Very autumnal. I suppose you could also rub some cinnamon on the inside of the orange, or stick some cloves in for an even spicier, holiday scent. Delicious! 

After:

Baby didn"t quite turn out as well as Mama and Papa, because he was the exact same size as the tealight. Oh well. Baby went to bed soon after and we stayed up scaring the neighbors.

DIY Cake Topper

I made this cake topper in the likeness of the bride and groom for my friend Amber's beautiful wedding on the Sunshine Coast, right outside of Vancouver, Canada!

I think it turned out pretty cute! And it gave me so many more ideas too. There's no limit to the custom variations and possibilities for decorating this way, especially with simple to put together elements like the mini-bunting and the banner.

You could...

• liven up a potted plant with cut-outs mounted on popsicle stick
• stick back-to-back stickers or print fun stuff on cards and cut them out to mount on toothpicks for more festive cupcakes 
• it would be fun to find and scan pictures from a favorite children's book, print them on card stock and do this for a book-themed birthday party
• besides the obvious floral foam chunks, things like big balls of yarn and string also make good bases for sticking pointy things into, for centerpieces or flower arrangements that are a bit different