October 19th!

Happy October 19th!

  I feel like a failure this Halloween, I have missed a few too many days now. I hate that I have become so busy this last year. If it isn't one thing, it is another. It is very stressful because I love having a little bit of time to do my thing. I also feel like I haven't really gotten to fully enjoy fall. We did have one super nice day the other day and we got over to the Cider Mill, it isn't fall until you get to enjoy cider and cider mill donuts from the Cider Mill. Still working on trying to get things ready for our Hallow-House-Warming. I haven't had the time to work on the basement or upstairs so those areas are off limits but the main floor is coming together. I still need to get my menu together and finish my costume. I decided to take the easy route with a costume this year and decided to go as the puppet from the Saw movies, I needed something fast and as cheap as possible since I have had to buy so many other things recently. As stressful as things have been the last two years I am very much enjoying where it's head. I promise one of these days I will get all my ducks in a row and make this a way better blog. I hope everyone is enjoying their fall of 2012. 

HALLOWEEN CRAFTS

Ghostly Book Pop-Ups

Make a spooky centerpiece from a stack of old books and some pop-up ghostly shapes. To make this project, cut two basic ghost shapes from pages in the middle of a book, leaving the bottoms attached to their pages. Hold up each ghost with a touch of tape. To complete this haunting centerpiece, use a hole punch or marker to make eyes for each ghost.

Pumpkin Garland

Take a step back in time with a vintage-inspired garland. Search the Internet for free vintage Halloween clip art. Print your favorite images on cardstock, cut out, punch a hole on each side, and string together with orange ribbon. Hang the garland on your fireplace mantel, inside a window, or along the edge of a table as shown here. (PS: Our table is covered with a length of sheer black Halloween fabric over an inexpensive white plastic tablecloth.)

DIY Paper Bat Artwork

This colorful specimen board is sure to draw attention when hung in your home for Halloween. To make, use a die-cutting tool or a bat punch to make 24 bat shapes from assorted scrapbooking-paper colors and patterns. Bend the wings slightly to create a multidimensional look. Cover a 12-inch cardboard or plywood square with even-weave fabric, taping excess fabric on the back. Stack two adhesive dots on the back of each bat, and press bats onto the fabric-covered square. Remove the backing from the frame, and attach specimen board to the backing with hook-and-loop squares.

Spooky Bat Silhouettes

Haunt your house -- or at least your windows -- with paper bats flying every which way. Cut several sizes of bats from black poster board. Tape fishing line at different spots on the backs and heads; hang the lines from a drapery rod or cup hooks.

Bat Mobile

Trace our bat templates onto black card stock; cut them out and fold them according to template instructions. Make a small hole in the center of each bat with a tack. Poke a piece of thread through each hole, and knot it. Tie the bats to a found branch (painting it black is optional). Then hang the branch from two pieces of thread secured to the top of the window with flat thumbtacks.

Hanging Vellum Halloween Lanterns

1. Print and cut out a lantern template (see the second page of the owl and witch templates for the correct hanging-lantern templates). Trace template four times, side by side, on black paper as shown (use 2 sheets if needed); with a bone folder, crease where sides meet. Cut out.

2. Print 4 copies of a design (try the cat, hissing cat, moon, owl, or witch clip art available above) onto vellum; a laser printer works best. Cut each piece just larger than frame "windows." Tape vellum into frame. Form into lamp shape; tape edges.

3. Cut a 26-inch length of wire. In the middle, twist a loop. Poke the wire ends through paper to make 2 holes at edge of lantern. Use pliers to roll ends of wire to secure. Use monofilament to hang 2 battery-operated votive candles, taped end to end, inside the lantern.

4. Use twine and removable adhesive hangers to suspend the lanterns.