Magic in the Making´¯`•.¸¸.☆Pumpkins and Potions, Fairies and Goblins

Magic.  When it comes to the subject, I want to believe in it so badly my heart will deflate should anyone ever manage to prove it doesn’t exist. But I feel confident that day will never come.  Magic is evident in every dew drop, blooming flower and sparkling star in the night sky.

I have my children believing that I, myself, can perform magic.  Not in a cheap stage show kind of way, but in a Glenda the Good Witch way. I don’t choose to use these abilities often. They are saved for those rare, special occasions. *wink*

Holidays – any holiday time – is a time when magic is especially heavy in the air around our little manor.

As we prepare to carve our pumpkins this year I get ready to zip onto the internet and run the usual search for the kid’s favorite character of the year. Intricate carving is what they generally crave and the design is just a click away on the digital highway. You can see a few of our pumpkins from years past hidden in the backdrop of my blog here.

This year I spy my daughter studying our unusual finds in the most peculiar way. Leaning up against the counter, she is oddly still for her typical hyper state.   Slipping in next to her, I study her face and see the look of someone in deep thought and consideration.

“Mommy,” she says in her sweet little five year old voice, “Do you think the garden fairies have a warm enough place to stay at night?”

“I suppose they do honey. They ARE garden fairies after all. Places like our yard are their natural terrain. They have plenty of warm and safe places to stay. What are you thinking?” I ask her softly.

“Instead of carving Smurfette in my pumpkin this year, can we make a house for the garden fairies?” She grabs the pumpkin directly in front of her, pulling it closer for better inspection.

“We sure can. Are you positive you want to do that?” I eye her closely for any hint of hesitation, but get none. We are good. She nods vigorously while pulling the second pumpkin into her tight embrace, squeezing them both close to her chest. She is happy with her decision.

My son wants to turn his pumpkin into Wheatly, a small round computer from the game Portal 2. But he sets that idea aside and helps his sister draw up designs for little fairy cottages. Before you know it, we have miniature organic homes set up for magical creatures in our yard. I have used my magic to make the wishes of a little girl a reality. I think the fairies will be pleased! What do you think? Have you ever made a house out of your pumpkin?

Plans for Wheatly have not been abandoned. That project should get underway this weekend. I can’t wait to see how it comes out! I bet the fairies will find it fascinating. Fairies are interested in many wondrous things around them. Our pumpkins are no exception.

For more great crafting ideas with pumpkins for this upcoming holiday, check out Angela Peart’s post “How Creative Can You Get?”, Tameri Etherton’s post “Getting Crafty with It!” and  Angela Wallace’s post “It’s Pumpkin Time!” You are bound to find just what you’re looking for.

Note: You can see our pumpkins were made by simply pinning or gluing moss and other natural materials to our Cinderella pumpkins. White pumpkins were carved out for the roof to give it a mushroom appeal. Small cut of fabric made curtains for one, while tooth picks created blinds for the other. Check out the wee huts we made a couple of years ago for our pesky house elves.

Speaking of magical creatures, although we delight in our fairies and even have fun with our sometimes troublesome elves and leprechaun, house goblins are something you want to avoid. They can be downright nasty.  They smell bad, have bad manners, and all around aren’t very nice. They have even been known steal your snacks. My son had the solution to our goblin this year. We made up some potion bottles those little troublemakers that they can’t resist. Once we fill them with the right elixir it will be off to la-la land for them and a little relocation if you know what I mean.

So take heart. If you’re plagued by goblins that leave messes no one will own up to, backing up toilets and spilling food and drink all over your carpet, there is a way. They can be silenced, removed.  Of course, I can’t promise they won’t find their way back. They may have your house tagged as their ground zero and zoom in on it like a homing beacon. I haven’t solved that one yet. But I’m working on it (sending my eldest to the lab now).

26 thoughts on “Magic in the Making´¯`•.¸¸.☆Pumpkins and Potions, Fairies and Goblins”

  1. Anthony V. ToscanoAnthony V. Toscano

    Debra, This place, this website of yours, is so pretty that it makes me want to be a child again. Your children are fortunate to have you as a mother. You of course don’t need me to tell you this, but you’re helping them to create memories they’ll cherish for as long as they live. And by the way, I love carving pumpkins, although my Jack-o’s and Jacquettes turn out to be stuffy replicas of my stuffy self, whereas yours are good for a tickle. Much enjoyed. Even more admired.

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Anthony, you are anything but stuffy. 🙂 The little houses are really very easy to do if you avoid the nasty hard core Cinderella pumpkins. LOL Thank you for your sweet compliments. I try. Although any parent can tell you it is hard work. And I am afraid our sweet pumpkins won’t last long in this weather. They never do. Poor fairies. It’ll be a short stay they’ll be gettin’.

      I am so happy you could stop by. 🙂

  2. dressupformedressupforme

    This was totally unexpected! You made me feel the butterflies tickling my stomach like I was 7 years old again. 😉
    What a wonderful pumpkin house! It’s super pretty!
    When I was small me and my cousin used to believe that there are little fairies living under the bed or other secret places in my room. And when my cousin stayed over, we would make beds from them out of orange peels. What a small bedroom for them that was! 😀 We used one bigger piece for the bed, then put a tiny square for the pillow and a larger peel of orange for the covers. And in the morning we would find candies right next to their beds!! What a storry teller my dad was!…;)
    Thank you for reminding me about those beautiful times! 😉

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      I simply adore that story! I adore your dad and am tickled that I was able to refresh that memory for you. It is possible those fairies have simply moved from under the bed to inside the walls. 😉

      Thank you for stopping by Vaiva! By the way, I love all the colorful eye candy on your sight.

  3. Krystal WadeKrystal Wade

    I love the pumpkins! So cool. And magic does exist! 😉

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      It totally does! What would this world be without it? Gag. Thanks for the compliment on the pumpkins. We had a lot of fun. So glad you could stop by this morning Krystal. 🙂

  4. ElisaElisa

    How awesome is that! You are a wonderful mother! Those houses are just darling; I can’t wait to show my oldest girls those pictures.

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Thank you Elisa! Our pumpkins don’t have faces so I wonder what the Scribe will say. Hmm. Too bad we didn’t capture any fairies in the picture. Now that would have really been something!

      FYI – If the Scribe likes to paint, if you click on the text link just above the picture of the potions bottles it will take you to a picture will all the information you need to recreate them. My little Crazy Head LOVED these and couldn’t get enough. She started swiping her brothers because he wasn’t working fast enough. Little project hog. LOL

  5. Angela WallaceAngela Wallace

    OMG, the fairy houses are so adorable! Your daughter is a genius. Thanks for the mention. 😀

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      You are welcome Angela! Yes, my kids are their father’s children. I’m quite convinced their flashes of genius come from his side. 🙂 He would agree. Ha ha

  6. Sara GrambuschSara Grambusch

    Aw, the poor, cold garden fairies. That is so adorable she was concerned for them. Those pumpkin are OBVIOUSLY magical. They seriously are amazing. I am without pumpkin-carving talents.

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      I know, we couldn’t leave them out there in the cold. That would just be too sad. And WHO am I to argue with the almighty self-sanctioned fairy guardian? Just a light sprinkling of fairy dust daily will keep the magic aglow and continue to draw them to the little huts. If you use a typical pumpkin, the cottages are fairly easy to create. Simply draw where you want the windows and door to be and after you have your pumpkin hallowed out, cut free alone your tracings. Be sure to use a pumpkin carving kit. It will make all the difference! Glad you could stop by Sara.

  7. Tameri EthertonTameri Etherton

    Your daughter is adorable and I love the fairie houses! They are so cute and what fun to make them. I’m definitely going to have to give them a whirl, as well as the potion bottles. Gorgeous! All of your ideas are so fabulous. Love them all.

    Thanks for the shout out! I’m off to figure out how to make me some fairie houses and get some pretty bottles.

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Hi Tameri! You know I had to post these after I told you we made some in previous years. When dealing with the Cinderella pumpkins, it will take some muscle and a really good knife to chop up and loosen the center since they are much more dense than your traditional pumpkin. Be prepared. But you can see the end product is worth it. Scrap the insides out as close to the outer shell as you can. It will make cutting through for the windows and doors SO much easier. I used a scary big knife to make the first initial cut, then moved to the traditional pumpkin carving kit.

      The potion bottles are straight forward. And as you can see, even my five year old can paint pretty stripes. You should have seen how many ribbons and trims she ended up added to her end products. WOW! We don’t call her Crazy Head for nothing.

  8. artistlynneartistlynne

    I LOVE this!! What a “magical” blog!! The pumpkin fairy houses are amazing as are the potion bottles. WOW. You are a really good “Magical” Mom!

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Thank you! You know I try. Magic is where it’s at! ☆ I must come from good stock. 😀 We’re just passing along the magical gene.

  9. Francelia Belton (@FranceliaBelton)Francelia Belton (@FranceliaBelton)

    Hi Debra: What a wonderful gift your kids decided to give your garden fairies! I’m sure they (the fairies) appreciated it. Maybe they’re even having house warming parties now…:)

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Oh! Wouldn’t that be lovely? Little fairy house warming parties! Maybe we will have to set the camera up on a timer and try to capture a few snapshots. 😀 What fun! Thank you Francelia for your lovely words and inspiration! ❤

  10. Suma SubramaniamSuma Subramaniam

    Debra: This is just so creative. You are such a gift to your children. The garden fairies are so lucky to have your children making them such beautiful homes in the garden. Thanks for sharing.

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Thank you Suma! Maybe someday we can make them out of something more substantial so that the little houses will last and the fairies can use them all year around. 🙂 I am so glad you could stop by!

  11. Prudence MacLeodPrudence MacLeod

    Yes my dear, you can indeed perform magic. Rock on lady witch. 🙂

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Thank you Prudence. I will do that. My magic and I will ROCK ON! 😀 Thank you for touching my blog with your most beautiful magic as well. 😉

  12. K.B. OwenK.B. Owen

    What a great relationship you have with your kids! It’s so cool that they have this imaginary world to explore. Amazing what a pumpkin can do!

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Thank you Kathy. The kids and I had great fun making those faerie cottages. A little imagination can go a long way whether you’re just looking for something to do or simply exploring your own back yard. It’s all great fun! So glad you could stop by. 🙂

  13. Melinda VanLoneMelinda VanLone

    OK see that right there makes my heart ache that I don’t have children! What a gift you have given them…the ability to use their imagination is a precious thing. And yes, I’m sure the garden fairies were quite pleased 🙂

    Reply
    November 14, 2011
    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Thank you Melinda! I really appreciate that. I do think the garden fairies had fun while the pumpkins lasted. We are thinking of making something a little more permanent for them in the future. 😀

      Reply
      November 14, 2011

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