Haunted Wreath, a MegaCrafty Rerun

I just hung this wreath up on my front door. I made it last year and posted about the process on my other blog.

It started as a grapevine wreath that I spray painted black. The house is one of those wooden ones you can get unpainted in the craft store (I glued and wired it to the wreath). The ghost and gravestones and made from polymer clay.

If you'd like to see some of my original posts about it here are the links:

Painting the wooden house

Final Wreath

How to deal with rain on Halloween!

One of the biggest disappointments to me is when it rains on Halloween. I dislike it as much now as I did when I was a kid. Last year it rained (we had had a long streak of no rain on the 31st so it was probably about time).

I get annoyed that certain decorations I planed can't go out. And worried that we'll be left with a mountain of candy because we'll have fewer trick-or-treaters. (For the record that year we had to make an emergency candy run- so the rain didn't seem to keep them away).

But as a kid I was always disappointed because rain usually spelled disaster for my much anticipated costume. It's hard to wear a raincoat or even carry an umbrella without thinking it would ruin the whole "look".

A while back I posted a project on my other blog for painting your own umbrella. It got be thinking that this could be a perfect solution to a rainy Halloween night. Umbrellas can be found cheaply at the dollar store. With a little fabric paint you can turn it into a custom, costume worthy accessory in no time!

Shopping Trip!

This weekend I made a trip to the Halloween Outlet (it's a place I've wanted to visit for a while now). It's not that far from me (about an hour and a half) but I had no idea it existed until about a year ago.

It's open year round- but tis' the season, so I took a detour coming home from another trip.

They actually have two entrances! The haunted one and the kid's one.

I love any store than has an entrance like this!

When I got through the haunted entrance there was a big sign that said "No cameras" so I didn't take anymore pictures. But they have a website if you'd like to check them out.

It was a fun trip and I left with a long wish list. (Frankly I think my husband is shocked that I left with only 1 bag of stuff). I think I was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of Halloween that surrounded me. Next time... it'll be a different story!

Really big coffee filter webs

Just a quick note- more of a follow-up to my coffee filter cobwebs.

After much searching I was finally able to locate some commercial sized filters. And because they were so much larger I was able to incorporate an extra arm in the middle.

Regular web cutout pattern:

Large filter pattern:

They made gorgeously intricate looking webs!

Ghost Lollipops

I couldn't decide between the ribbon tied version of the "loose draped" version, but I think if I had to pick... I'd probably go with the "loose draped" version.

What do yo think?

Both are cute and they're really easy to make. I used coffee filters (which seem to me my crafty materials choice of late) to cover lollipops.

For this tied version I simply used a small piece of black ribbon to hold the filter snug around the pop. Then added a ghostly face with a black marker.

To make the "loose draped" version I started out by smoothing the filter over the pop the same way I would for the tied version and repeated that once or twice more until the filter kept it's shape. Then I drew the face.

To secure the filter on the pop's wrapper I added a little drop of non-toxic glue. If you didn't want to add glue on the wrapper you could also use just a flour and water paste or even frosting I bet.

They make a nice way to disguise plain old lollipops- and look good all bunched together into a ghostly gathering.

Bat Treat Holders

I'm always trying to think of new ways to package Halloween goodies for the trick-or-treaters. We get a lot of them so I want something cheap to make, relatively easy to produce, but that still packs a lot of wow factor.

And this batty bunch might just do the job!

Here are the materials you'll need to make some for yourself:

• Black Card Stock- One 8.5 x 11 sheet for each bat you'd like to make (If you wanted to make these as a decoration you could use construction paper. To hold treats you'll want the extra thickness that card stock gives you.)
• White card stock- 1 sheet will be enough for a whole colony of bats
• Black yarn- cut into 4-6 inch lengths (these will be the loops to hang your bats)
• Clear envelope sticker seals
• Googly Eyes (optional)

Other things you'll also need but probably have on hand- a sheet of card stock to use as a template (something the contrasts with black), scissors, stapler and staples, glue and a pencil.

I started by making a template. Making sure to use a bright sheet of paper so it would be easy to see (and trace) against the black card stock.

I rolled the paper into a cone that I thought would be big enough to fit a few treats.

Next I cut a straight line across the top of the cone.

(You'll be left with this nice leftover bit of paper- don't throw it away, you'll use that too.)

The cone will need to be trimmed a little more on the sides- so I marked how far over I needed the edge to go by notching it with my scissors. I'll be able to get rid of some the excess on the sides and smooth out my cut along the top.

See nice and smooth now.

Then I took that leftover piece and fashioned a wing shape that I liked. Once cut out this is my second template piece.

The templates can be traced onto your black paper and cut out.(Purple bats would also be really cute I think!)

Now that the pieces are cut out it's time to make a bat...

To make the body fold your large piece of paper into a cone shape. While holding this cone shape secure with one hand, add your black yarn by making a loop and resting both yarn ends on the back of the cone where the seams meet. Staple the seam so the cone keeps it's shape and the ends of your loop are secure.

Next well attach the wing piece. You have the option here to go with a staple or to glue the wing in place. Staples are speedy but glue gives you a nicer finished look. For me, speed is important, I have a lot of treat bags to make so I stapled the wing in place- covering the yarn loop to make it look neater. (If I were to doing this to make an ornament I'd probably glue the wing to hide the staple and the yarn all together.)

Now that your bat is mostly built it's time to work on fine details.

Using one blade of my scissor I scored a curve (sort of half oval shape) on the front and back of my cone. To do this I needed to squeeze the cone a little flat- thats ok because you don't want to be an actual round cone anyway, it looks more bat-like a bit flatter.

I've scored it so that once it's filled with treats I can close the top like two flaps and seal it.

Next it's time to add a face.

I made a mouth using a black permanent marker. And glued on two little triangles of white paper for fangs. (you could also draw these on with a white paint marker)

I also tried a few options for eyes:

googly

and paper (which I think is my favorite).

Once you have your bats filled with treats fold the flaps along the score lines to close.

Last but not least seal with a clear envelope sticker.

And voila- a cute colony of Trick-Or-Treat Bats! I like to hang them from these "trees" I made from branches and let the kids choose their own.

P.S. I'm doing a giveaway today on my other blog- Mega•Crafty. Head over there to enter for a chance to win a wilton cupcake/dessert stand, and some scrapbook materials (including some really cute Martha Stewart stickers)!

Enter the Mega•Crafty Giveaway!

DIY Kids Costume Ideas

With just about 6 weeks left until Halloween, it's not too early to start thinking about costumes. To help with that task here's a roundup of fun homemade ideas I've seen around.

If anyone ends up making one of these I'd love to see pictures!

Frankenstein- Check out FamilyFun for this great (and easy to make) idea. (I especially love how they made the forehead.)

Firefighter- Activity Villiage had this is an adorable idea, simply using a raincoat and some duct tape. There's even a link for instructions on making your own helmet if you want to.

Also from Family Fun- How about being an Ipod!

Check out this super simple pumpkin made with a sweatshirt by Mia Cronan from Kaboose.

I love this gorgeous butterfly costume from Martha Stewart Living. Aren't those wings beautiful!

How about this super cute gingerbread cookie costume from Family Fun. I might have to make this for myself this year! And wouldn't a flour sack make a perfect trick-or-treat bag to go with it.

Better Homes and Gardens had this how-to for a spider.

I can't believe how cheap and simple this lego costume from FamilyFun looks to make.

This hula dancer idea from Martha is too cute! Although probably not practical if you live in an area where it's chilly (or downright cold) for Halloween.

Robots are always popular. Here's a great version by Mia Cronan from Kaboose.

Here's another version of the classic pumpkin, given a dramatic twist by FamilyFun.

And last but not least, go batty with this costume from Martha Stewart. This is the most clever bat costume I've seen! It uses an umbrella for the wings. I love it!

Have a great weekend! And if you've got some great costume ideas please send them to me- I'd love to do another roundup.

Coffee Filter Cobwebs

This is an easy technique similar to making a paper doll, and I love the results. The slightly translucent coffee filter makes the perfect cobweb.

Here's how you do it:

First fold a large filter in half, then in half again, and in half again so you end up with a wedge.

Lightly mark your web shape with a pencil.

I usually make 4 bars going across.

Then I mark out the edges. This just helps me to keep where I'm going to cut on track.

Now that your web is marked out you'll need a craft knife to cut out all the areas in the center.

The areas that are scribbled in are the ones I'm going to cut.

A sharp knife blade really helps get through all those layers of the filter cleanly.

Once you have all the areas cut out with the craft knife take your scissors and round the outside edge to match the arms of the web.

Now unfold and you have a great web to decorate your house for Halloween.

You could stop there, but these also make an awesome banner.

To make a banner, start by cutting each web in half with scissors.

Using a piece of white thread as long as you want your banner glue on each section of web.

I placed a dot of glue on each edge and in the middle of every web section and stuck the thread into the glue.

Keep going until you have a banner as long as you need. And that's all there is to it. I love how this came out and can't wait to hang them all over the house!