Tricksters and Treats

Happy Halloween!

We were so lucky that the weather held out for our little Trick or Treaters.  I had already threatened bribed the boys with money to go buy candy at Target if it rained because I sure as heck wasn't going trick-or-treating in the pouring freezing rain.

Well, no worries because it was nothing but chilly, and Perry offered to walk the walk this year leaving me at home to greet all the little cuties in costumes for the first time in 12 years.  I loved it!

Our clan was pumped for the occasion (and cooperative with a little photo shoot because I finally got smart and took the pics when they came home from school instead of when they were dying to head out for candy).

I love that they are old enough to be pretty much in charge of their own costumes. 

boy #1: the nerdy gangsta

boy#2: the crazed (and possibly rich, judging by the bling around his neck) Bruins fan

{Don't ask me what that finger symbol thingie means.  I'm just hoping it's not gangsta slang for some swear word!}

boy#3: a raffle ticket 

He came up with this idea completely on his own.  Lately, he's been a bit obsessed with arcades.  A bit.

And it's not just any old raffle ticket either:

Bwaaahaahaa.

Yup, they were a motley crew, alright.

We now have enough candy in our house to...hmm, I can't think of anything non-cliche.  Just trust me, it's A LOT!

And while we're on the topic of treats, these were completed and delivered (thanks to my crafty partner in crime, kd!)

And in case you would like to make your own bug jar for next year, I shared the PDF I created on Scribd for you to download.  

Credits: 

Original Idea

Mason Jar Graphic

Label Graphics

Creepy Crawlicus

Each year around this time I start thinking about a little goodie for the boys to give to their friends for Halloween.  I won't be able to get away with this do this much longer (one boy topped out when he reached middle school and another is heading there next year).

These cuties showed up in my Pinterest feed.  They are adorable as Valentines, but wouldn't they be cute for Halloween?

Source: dandee-designs.com via Michelle on Pinterest

So I hunted around for a mason jar printable and found one here.

I wanted to recreate the vintage and creepy "specimen in a jar" effect:

A little ribbon and some cooler spidery toys and the look will be complete!

Now to get busy making 50-something for two classes. . .

Halloween Treats Tutorial

I love getting ready for Halloween.  The decorating, the costume making, ...the CANDY!  Ok, yup that might be my most favoritest part.

Every year, I create a little goodie for the boys to take into their classmates.  It will be sad when they are too old to do this (like my middle-schooler this year).

Here are this year's treats for my youngest's kindergarten class:

Here's what you'll need:

And here's how you make them:

click on photo to see larger

 10. Fill with treats and give!


Enjoy!

Countdown to Halloween

Somewhere along the way I had come across a cute little advent calendar made out socks.  

I tucked it away into the crafty-project-ideas file in my brain (the one that seems to be expanding and pushing out the fifth-grade-math file so that I can no longer help my oldest son with his homework--I digress).  

Well, the other day, as I was making the rounds in my local Target, I came across a bunch of cute baby socks in the dollar bin.  

{light bulb!}

How about a Countdown to Halloween calendar?

This project couldn't have been any easier.  Let's walk through it:

ONE: cover spring-style clothes pins with Halloween themed paper

TWO: print numbers 1-13 on cardstock, and use various sized circle punches and stamps to create layered accents; glue these to the socks (i just used my white papercrafting glue)

font=Nasty found here or download and print my number sheet here

THREE: find a stick that is long enough and thin enough for the clips and clip the socks on

Four: hot glue some ribbon bows to the stick and hang

Easy, right?!  Now all that's left is to fill the socks with treats or notes for your little ones beginning on the 19th of October.

Have fun!

{linking this project up at Skip to My Lou}

A Little Halloween Treat

I am in denial that Halloween is a week away, and while the boys don't have costumes made yet, they will have some adorable treats to hand out to their classmates.

 The idea for this l'il cutie came from this creation at Splitcoast Stampers.  Here's the how to:

1. Cut orange cardstock 2.75 x 8.5" (you can get four pumpkins per sheet).
2. Score at 3.75, 4.25, & 4.75" to create a pleated bottom.
3. Fold in half and run through paper crimper to add ridged texture.
4. Optional: ink edges and ridges with orange ink to add more dimension.
5. Use slot punch to create slit at top (or use a razor blade to cut a slit).
6. Use Sizzix Pumpkins #2 die to cut jack-o-lantern face from black (or stamp the face, or hand cut/draw your own design, or use patterned paper and ditch the faces all together!)
7. Cut scrap of brown folded in half for stem.
8. Hand cut green leaf, and score down center.
9. Cut thin strip of green and wrap around a pencil to create the vine.
10. Fill a cellophane or plastic bag with small treats and adhere to inside of pouch.
11. Slip stem through slit, add leaf and vine, and glue closed.

Then be crazy like me and repeat this process 60 times.  I have enlisted some little helpers to put these together, and they are loving it.  Thank goodness the child labor laws don't apply to Moms!

Day 7: Halloween 2004

I'm a bit late posting Day 7's layout. It was mostly done last night, but I just couldn't bring myself to focus enough at 12:30 am to sew on the buttons. Here's my tip for sewing buttons on a page: lay them out where you want them to be on your page and poke through the button holes with your needle (place the layout on a rug or on a piercing mat). Then sew through. This keeps your buttons from shifting around while you are sewing.

Halloween Treats

42 drink mix water bottle hangers ready for delivery:

Halloween Workshop

A chill is in the air and fall is definitely right around the corner. This year you have a choice of Halloween treats from four adorable and easy to make projects. Simply order SU!'s Ghostly Greetings designer series paper for $9.95 plus tax and s/h ($11.45 total) and bring the additional supplies to class. See below for all the details. Please register for this class via email by September 22nd so I can order the paper. Class will be held in The StUdio on Tuesday, October 7th at 7:30pm. If you can't make that date, let me know and we can arrange another time.


ps I didn't have the new SU! paper on hand for these samples, so your projects will be a whole lot cuter (and more colorful)!

Folded square box:

With just a few scores of the paper you can make this cute little holder for candies or other small treats. One paper pack yields 48 boxes. Additional supplies: 12" trimmer with scoring blade, ribbon of your choice, adhesive, black, orange, and white paper (approx. 2 sheets of each, or purchase from me for $.35 ea)

Crayon Holder:

This little holder is the perfect size for snack-sized Kit Kats or 4 crayons (thanks, Darcy, for the brilliant idea!). One paper pack yields 72 boxes. Additional supplies: 12" trimmer with scoring blade, adhesive, black, orange, and white paper (approx. 4 sheets of each, or purchase from me for $.35 ea)

Drink Holder Hanger:

It's hard to tell from the picture, but this box hangs from the top of a water bottle to hold powdered drink mix. One paper pack yields 48 treats. Additional supplies: 12" trimmer with scoring blade, adhesive, black, orange, and white paper (approx. 2 sheets of each, or purchase from me for $.35 ea)

Pouch:

No adhesive or scoring necessary. This little pouch folds up in a snap. Bring your own ribbon to hold it together. One paper pack yields 48 pouches. Additional supplies: ribbon

Note: you supply the treats to fill the boxes and pouches.