Your Monday Quickie * Follow The Yellow Brick Road, Witches

I don't know about you, but things around Casa Callahan have been running behind for weeks.  Last week's stomach plague didn't help me catch up either.  So, it wasn't until this weekend that we got around to decorating for Halloween.  While it's not my big decorating holiday (hello, bring on Christmas!), The Hubbs and bonus daughters love it and they go all out. We've got lights and carved pumpkins and some creepy skeleton hanging from the front porch light that starts shaking and moaning when you move past it. But I can't help but feel like we're missing something.

I have a good friend in Atlanta who takes things to a serious level when it comes to Halloween.  First, she's queen crafter (remember when we made the decorated coozies with the bonus daughters (and later while at fishing camp in Canada)?  Her idea. And when we used the Clorox pens to create sayings on tshirts? She was there helping craft once again).  You should see her front porch, complete with bats, witch hats and skeleton "pink" flamingos in the bushes.  It's a sight to behold.
She's such a super crafter that she was the brainchild behind the backdrop for a seven year old's birthday party with a Wizard of Oz Theme recently.  And while I realize that it wasn't exactly Halloween in Oz when Dorothy was there, it was fall, in Kansas I think. And I think they used to show the movie near Halloween each year.  And the flying monkeys were friggin' scary as hell.  So it seems appropriate that on the week of Halloween, my friend Jody and I give you some possible decorating ideas.  With that, I'm turning today's blog over to Jody.

HI, blogland.  First and foremost - let's get this out of the way now. I do not like social media. I think it is weird that people want to share random things with others. Also, I have a thing about privacy, but that can all be for another time.  I heart my Wendy in a true and deep way and I support her need to share and create an environment of sharing, so I am compromising my dislike for social media (Ohhh the martyr that I am).

Jody dressed up as an Asian dude at some museum in Chicago when visiting me there a zillion years ago.

I do LOVE crafting and themed parties, and dressing up, and general silliness and merriment. So much so, that I convinced one of our other besties, Susan, that a Wizard of Oz birthday party would be awesome for her daughter's seventh birthday (I'm not sharing the seven year old's name because that would really break my rules. Rest assured she is awesome and hilarious and smart and well-deserving of said party). Susan reluctantly agreed to the extravaganza once I told her I would help craft all the things.  

Enter Pintrest.  We love and hate "The Pinterest" because it can be a time suck. We love and hate it in spite of all the cute ideas. And we love and hate it because it makes us freakishly competitive with strangers over how “cool” our lives are.  But mostly I hate it because there are rarely any directions on how to execute anything other than cooking---and ewww gross to cooking (*editors note (which is me, Wendy) Jody is not into the cooking thing, but luckily her husband Jake is. This keeps them from starving or living on frozen pizza). This is why Pinterest sucks.

So, amazing pics of Yellow Brick Roads can be found, and I needed one for the party.  Directions on how to actually make said road, that make sense and are achievable? Not so much.  But I. . . . I bring to you instructions on how to make a yellow brick road for a seven year old's birthday party.  Instructions that any normal person can execute. This is why I am awesome!!

Things you need:

• 1   Roll (or rolls) of brown craft paper
• 2    Yellow paint
• 3.    Giant Sponge
• 4.    Plastic sheeting
• 5.    Plastic paint tray liner thing
• 6.    Time
• 7.    1 really old banana, or other object on kitchen counter with a little weight to it
• 8.    Football game on TV

Step 1-  Park your husband or significant other front of the football game—you will need to spread out and will not want any comments from the peanut gallery while making this. Make sure he has beer and snacks to keep him out of your hair for at least an hour. If your kids that will be in your hair, I am lite on solutions for that one, as that is not an issue in my life. Benadryl?  Maybe "learn about football with Dad" time? Play outside in traffic?  I'm out of ideas here.

Step 2- Cover your work space with plastic sheeting. Turns out I had some leftover super ugly wrapping paper my neighbor's kid had been selling door to door. It worked like charm.  I am fortunate enough to have a fair amount of kitchen counter space to work with. Dining/kitchen tables may also be an option. The floor works too, but you will probably get stiff and there is a high likelihood of “accidental premature walking” on said road.

Step 3- Unroll brown craft paper.  Doing this in sections is the way to go. I was able to do four feet at a time.  I would not go much longer than that, because it can get hard to move it around by yourself if you have anything longer than that. Use the almost rotten banana or whatever else you have on hand as a weight on the end.

Step 4- I bought Tempera Paint at Michael's (you could also order it online here). It is non-toxic and cleans up with soap and water. SHAKE IT A LOT. Odds are it has been on the shelf forever and has settled a bit. Pour about a quarter of it into the paint tray liner thingy.

Step 5-  Get the giant sponge a little damp—I found slightly damp to slightly dry worked best—bone dry was no bueno and super wet was no bueno.  Dip your sponge into the paint, scrape off any excess and apply to the paper.

Step 6- “Bricks” should not be uniform in appearance or application. Vary the pattern a little on each row.  Remember munchkins and monkeys have been treading on these forever. :-)

Step 7-  Let it dry a bit. As long as you didn't saturate to the paper, you should be able to move it to a secondary drying location in about 15 minutes.  It will take about another 25(ish) minutes to dry all the way.

Each section (depending on size) will take about 15 minutes to complete and then add in the drying time. I went through a roll and "some" of craft paper and just about three bottles of paint for about 35 feet of yellow brick road. Measure first.

The effect was kind of awesome and fed my freakish need to be a competitive crafter.  Better work has been executed. However you have never seen a more impressed group of  seven year olds! 

Until next time- Craft strong and Craft On!!

Personally, I think it would be totally awesome to have a yellow brick road leading up to my front door for the trick or treaters on Friday. First, I have to find my Glenda the Good Witch costume. Or maybe I'll just dress The Hubbs up as a flying monkey.  Either way, you're welcome.