A Not So Spooky Halloween Party-Inspiration Board/DIY Ideas

::I warn you..feeling especially sarcastic right now. maybe it's because as I start writing this both girls are napping at the same time. i'm in a good mood..and my snarky side is coming out.::: ok. you've been warned.

Since having kids, holidays are even more fun than before!

I'm not one to get into the creepy super scary parts of Halloween..

but I want to take the fun part of it and create special memories with my girls!

What I could live without during this time of year is when horrified/confused sophia asks at the store what is that?!? and it's a 'bloody thing' and you are wishing you cut through a different isle....even the toy/drag them out before they touch everything isle would be better than this.

If you are in the same boat as me..and want to make Halloween a fun and imaginative time for you and your family/friends..without going too scary/wierd.........
then this inspiration board is for you!

The veggies that look like chopped off fingers are on another blog.........sorry. :) haha.

I've covered everything from food to decor to games!

All DIY. Hope this post inspires you!

Enjoy Picking and choosing ideas to incorporate into your own

'Not So Spooky Halloween Party'

1. Party Table Display via Better Homes and Garden & The Celebration Shoppe

2. Owl Cupcakes via One Charming Party

3. Pumpkin Bowling via Jeanetics

4. Pumpkin Costumes via Living with Lindsay

5. Boo Letters via Eighteen 25 - Guest blogger Jen Johnson

6. Mini Caramel Apples via Allyson Baker Design

7. Ritzy Halloween Spiders via Sprinkled with Flour

8. Sand Witches via Lisa Storms

9. Ghost Smore Favor via Southern Vogue

10. Bats across Wall via Made

11. Pumpkin Balloons via Martha Stewart.com

12. Veggie Dip Pumpkin via Pinterest

13. Boo Pumpkins via pinterest/ohhowposh.com

14. Pumpkin family via all you.com

15. Donut Tower via One Charming Party

Trick your kids...then they get the Treats!
Veggies and Fruit are more likely to be eaten if displayed cute/fun- it's been proven.. by a series of very professional studies.

Veggie Cups and Fruit Kabobs via Annie's Eats
Fruit Cups via bit-o-me Vegetable Display via My Bride Story

I like the idea of using popsicle sticks rather than skewers...Fruit Kabobs are always nicer when you don't have to worry about injuries.
Fruit on popsicle sticks via delicate construction

Cute and Clever Pumpkins - I love pumpkinnns! going to pick them out..decorating them..the whole deal. And I love these ideas. Plus they make great props in photos with cute babies.
Smiley Pumpkins via Good Housekeeping

Masked Pumpkins via Good Housekeeping Black and White Painted Pumpkins via country living
Funny Faces Pumpkins via Family Fun Pop Pumpkins via Happy Mundane

Fun Party Favors/Activities
Milano Cookie Ghosts via blonde-designs
Halloween Play Dough via The Idea Room


Goo! Because what parent doesn't want their 3 yr old to have that in their hands?! sounds awesome. (It's a party!! let them live a little. you'll survive the goo. your car seat might not..but it's washable.)
Goo Tutorial via dollarstorecrafts.com
Pop goes the Pumpkin game via marthastewart.com Favor Bag (Decorate and Fill!) via laJollamom

DIY Invites- I love these designs! I'm all about e-vites..but if you want to do something extra special these would be so fun to get in the mail!
Bat Ribbon Invite via Parents.com Paper Bat Invite via One Charming Party



More Sweet Treat Ideas-
Candy Corn Krispy Treat Pretzel Pops via Love from the Oven
Owl Cupcakes via One Charming Party
Candy Corn Cupcakes via The Curvy Carrot
Halloween-Push-Pop-Peeps via Love from the Oven
Happy Halloween Cake Bunting via Every day is a Celebration & Domestic Charm
Smore-Ghost-Marshmallows via Blondie and Brownies

Mini Caramel Apples via Allyson Baker Design


My Sophie would be happy with 1 marshmallow for halloween...She thinks they are just amazing. even the tiny tinyyyy ones. haha. (I make those a big deal. don't judge.)
Halloween Marshmallow Peep Treats via Love from the Oven

Pumpkin Cakes with Nutella Filling
via Kirbie's Cravings

And because I will use any party to have an excuse for cute striped paper straws..
i love these black and orange ones together.
via Domestic Charm

Found on:
The Busy Budgeting Mama: A Not So Spooky Halloween Party-Inspiration Board/DIY Ideas

Mummy Head Tut.

Queen Hatshepsut

I call my mummy Queen Hatshepsut, but recently found out that she was not a queen at all. She was a pharaoh! In fact, I discovered recently on Wikipedia that she is often referred to as the first great woman in recorded history! She was married to Thutmose ll and upon his death proclaimed herself pharaoh and reined for an amazing 21 years!
Here is her mummy:
Isn’t she gorgeous?? I think this is my favorite Halloween decoration that I have (and believe me I have MANY). She looks so stunning as a centerpiece on my coffee table, and now I can’t imagine Halloween without her!
This project is so easy. As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t consider myself crafty, but this was a fun and easy project. Seriously… anyone can do this in less than 30 minutes!
Here’s What You Need:
Materials:

• 1 Styrofoam Wig Head/Holder (Value Village has tons of these at Halloween for $2.99).
• Cheesecloth (1 package is plenty)
• Paper towels (a durable/heavy duty brand).
• Coffee or Tea (as dark as possible)
• White craft glue
• Scissors
• Paper
• Matches
• Black felt pen

Directions:

1. prepare a solution of coffee. Just a regular cup of coffee will work with a few grounds in it for extra measure… I’m not a coffee drinker and have no idea how to make coffee… so I just guesstimated. It might have been a little strong…. Anyway, then just take several pieces of the paper towel as well as a good chunk of your cheesecloth and dip it into the coffee. You don’t need to keep it in long to have it absorb the stain. Take it out and leave it somewhere to dry – I didn’t even rinse it. Another method that would work well would be to put the coffee into a spray bottle (the coffee doesn’t have to be hot) and spray the paper towels. Notice how some areas are darker? I let some of the grounds really soak in and just brushed them off when the paper towel dried.
2. Leave paper towel and cheesecloth lying flat until it’s about 90% dry. Then cover the wig head with the white glue… just smear it all over generously.
3. Layer the paper towel pieces around the wig head, overlapping each other until the entire head and neck is covered. I didn’t worry too much about the paper towels bunching and forming folds slightly as you wrap them around the head… I think this adds to the “mummification”! Okay, now your mummy head is done! Let dry overnight.
4. Now for the museum sign: cut out a small rectangular piece of paper and fold in half. Then on one side, use the black felt to give it a border. Then write your mummy’s name in the center. Take your match and burn some of the edges to give it a well worn look {like it’s been buried in a tomb for centuries} and you are finished!
5. The stained cheesecloth can be used as a mummy “scarf” around the base of the neck when your mummy is on display.
6. Enjoy your new mummy!
7. 

Found On:
Mummy Head Tut. | uglyducklingtransformations

Kitty Litter Cake for Halloween Recipe

Recipe for Kitty Litter Cake for Halloween. This clever Halloween cake recipe, that frightfully resembles a well used kitty litter box, is actually delicious, despite its appearance. Worth a click for the photo alone.

Ingredients

• 1 spice or German chocolate cake mix
• 1 white cake mix
• 2 large packages vanilla instant pudding mix, prepared
• 1 large package vanilla sandwich cookies
• green food coloring
• 12 small Tootsie Roll candies
• You'll also need:
• 1 new kitty litter pan
• 1 new kitty litter pan liner
• 1 new pooper scooper

Directions

1. Prepare cake mixes and bake according to directions (any size pans).
2. Prepare pudding mix and chill until ready to assemble.
3. Crumble white sandwich cookies in small batches in food processor, scraping often. Set aside all but about 1/4 cup. To the 1/4 cup cookie crumbs, add a few drops green food coloring and mix until completely colored.
4. When cakes are cooled to room temperature, crumble into a large bowl. Toss with half the remaining white cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding. Important: mix in just enough of the pudding to moisten it. You don't want it too soggy. Combine gently.
5. Line a new, clean kitty litter box. Put the cake/pudding/cookie mixture into the litter box.
6. Put 3 unwrapped Tootsie rolls in a microwave safe dish and heat until soft and pliable. Shape ends so they are no longer blunt, curving slightly. Repeat with 3 more Tootsie rolls bury them in the mixture. Sprinkle the other half of cookie crumbs over top. Scatter the green cookie crumbs lightly on top of everything -- this is supposed to look like the chlorophyll in kitty litter.
7. Heat 3 Tootsie Rolls in the microwave until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake; sprinkle with cookie crumbs. Spread remaining Tootsie Rolls over the top. For the coup de gras take one Tootsie Roll and heat until pliable, hang it over the side of the kitty litter box, sprinkling it lightly with cookie crumbs. Place the box on a newspaper and sprinkle a few of the cookie crumbs around for a truly disgusting effect!
8. Further notes: I had a reader write in saying this recipe only needed half the amount of pudding. I personally liked the cake with the amount given in this recipe. But feel free to use this as a loose guideline, use more or less as you see the need. Also, since the layer of cookies (with the chloropyll green specks, covers the top, you could really use any flavor or flavors or cakes underneath. Last but not least, you can also opt not to crumble the cakes, but rather layer them in the pan with the layers of pudding in between (much like you would layer a trifle into a trifle dish), sprinkle the top layer of pudding with a heavy layer of crumbled cookies. Same effect, different texture entirely to the dessert.

Recipe created by FabFood on Jul 23, 2007

Kitty Litter Cake for Halloween Recipe

Erie Eyeball Wreath

Erie Eyeball Wreath

To create this eerie embellishment, you'll need about eight dozen glow-in-the-dark rubber eyeballs ($7.99 for 12; amazon.com) and a 12-inch foam wreath form ($2.59 for three; createforless.com). Wrap the form in black crepe streamers and secure with straight pins. Poke a hole in the back of one eyeball with the sharp end of a flat-headed pin; then insert the pin's flat end into the hole. Using a thimble to protect your finger, press the pin halfway in. Push the sharp end of the pin into the form. Repeat until the wreath is full and hang as desired.

Read more: Halloween Craft Ideas for Kids - Halloween Craft Projects - Country Living

The Great Pumpkin Cake

Goblins and ghosts are one thing at Hallowe’en, but a full-page glossy photo of Rose’s Great Pumpkin Cake is in quite a separate realm of terror. If you plan to make it, that is. Or, more specifically, if you’ve rashly promised to take that very cake to a Hallowe’en party in full knowledge of the fact that you have never before made either a caramel crème anglaise or an Italian meringue, and that these very tasks now lie between you and the burnt orange silk meringue buttercream that covers this cake so smoothly and so beautifully in that horrifyingly daunting photo on page 127 of Rose’s Heavenly Cakes.
Not only did I promise this cake to my friends and hosts for Hallowe’en this year, but I felt doubly bound to attempt this cake in gratitude to Rose for having very kindly lugged the pumpkin-shaped cake pan halfway across the world in her baggage for me earlier this year.
“I can’t wait to see the look on your children’s faces when they see this cake,” she told me. What she didn’t tell me was that I would be required to boil a supersaturated sugar solution not only once but twice during the process of making the cake’s burnt orange silk meringue buttercream.
Well, there wouldn’t be much for my children to look at unless I somehow managed to overcome my fear of boiling sugary syrups.

When broken apart and concentrated in a supersaturated solution, sugar molecules are unstable. They want to come back together again at any chance to return to their previous crystalline structure. An unclean pot, any jarring or stirring of the supersaturated solution at the wrong time, can send them back to their original crystalline pattern and dry state, crystallizing the mixture and ruining the whole candy batch. (From Baking 911)

I am in awe of anyone who can successfully make fudge and toffee in their home kitchen. When I phoned my Mum several months ago for a bit of motherly sympathy after yet another batch of my fudge crystallized and crumbled, she helpfully told me about the wonderfully shiny, brittle toffees and smooth, creamy fudges she remembers her Gran making for her when she was a little girl. Thanks, Mum! Grrrr.
Perhaps I have the wrong sort of sugar. My sugar has either overly-friendly or pathologically co-dependent molecules that stubbornly stick together regardless of the care I take to keep them apart. I must have sticky sugar. Yes, that’s it – I definitely have the wrong sort of sugar.
Or perhaps I have the wrong sort of weather …
It was procrastination rather than thoroughness that led me to read and re-read Rose’s instructions multiple times through on Saturday morning. The cake itself had baked beautifully the day before and I even tried to convince myself that it would look fine just sandwiched together with a bit of marmalade. After all, once it was covered in buttercream, you wouldn’t be able to see those lovely pumpkin grooves anymore.
In my heart of hearts though, I knew what I had to do. With trembling fingers, I carefully placed my super-sensitive sugar into the centre of a saucepan and poured the water around it. I drew an ‘X’ through the sugar and ensured that not even one single crystal dared to venture stickily towards the edges of the pan. I stirred as the sugar dissolved, I held my breath as the solution boiled … and I watched helplessly as the caramel crystallized.
“IcantdothisitsnotfairwhydoesthisalwayshappentomenobodylovesmeeverybodyhatesmeguessIllgoeatWORMS!”
Some kindly spirit must have had the worms’ best interests at heart because the whole thing wasn’t quite such a disaster the second time around and I was finally able to set aside my burnt sugar crème anglaise and turn to the Italian meringue.
This time, I managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by knocking the saucepan as my super-clear, supersaturated solution was boiling. Despite being so depressingly frustrating, it was actually quite a mesmerising sight watching the crystals starting to form so insidiously in one section of the pan, then rising and falling on the boiling crest of the sugary bubbles as they linked hands with increasingly more of their crusty friends.
How time flies when you’re boiling sugar. I had donned my apron that morning at 10.30 am. It had only taken me five hours to successfully get my burnt orange silk meringue buttercream ready for slapping on the cake!

As I painstakingly applied lines of darker orange to mark the segments of the pumpkin’s outer skin, M watched me thoughtfully.
“Is it supposed to look like a pumpkin, Mummy?” she eventually queried. I think she must have inherited her knack for saying the right thing at the right time from her Granny .
I only had a short time left now before the witching hour, which was when I risked having my pumpkin turn back into a coach if it was still unfinished (magic can be a tricky thing at Hallowe’en). My twirling cocoa tendrils and garish, green marzipan leaves were still a little floppy, but I arranged them artlessly on top of the cake before jumping into my witch’s dress and cape. I grabbed hold of my broomstick, a couple of little witches and an even smaller warlock, and we all set off together down the street with the Great Pumpkin Cake in tow.

No Hallowe’en party would be complete without an unearthly danse macabre …

… and a suitably ghoulish feast.

And the Great Pumpkin cake?
It was delicious – moist, subtly spiced and perfectly complemented by the smoothest buttercream I have ever had the pleasure of rolling around my tongue. Every forkful was savoured with relish …

… right down to the last crumbs.

Although Melinda and I are self-confessed Fallen Angel Bakers, you can see further renditions of the Great Pumpkin Cake by members of the Heavenly Cake Bakers group this month as they work their way through all of the cakes in Rose’s book. My thanks go to Marie for steering the project – it was certainly encouraging to know that I wasn’t alone in my buttercream trepidation!

Found on:
The Great Pumpkin Cake « A Merrier World

Funny Halloween Prank - Fake Trick Or Treater Prank - Trick Or Treat With Timmy

Funny Halloween Prank - Fake Trick Or Treater Prank - Trick Or Treat With Timmy - YouTube

Mini Mummies

Mini Mummies

I like to come up with funny & original Halloween crafts for my kids – this project is super easy and perfect if you’re looking for a party activity…

Mummies made from rubber coated flexible wire and strips of muslin are easy to make and a look cute hanging around the house for Halloween.

The bendable wire frame allows you to position your mummy any way you like.

Relaxing Dude Mummy.

Yoga Mummy.

To make these you will need: flexible wire (I used a flexible garden tie that I picked up in the dollar spot at Target - but I have seen these at dollar stores too. If you can't find this - look for any flexible wire at craft stores), wire clippers and muslin.

Using the flexible wire, make the frame for your mummy body.

Tear muslin into 1/2-inch strips. I do the "snip and rip" method to speed this up; make a small cut and then rip the rest of the fabric.

Wrap your wire form with muslin strips. Add strips by tying ends together. End muslin with a knot and trim ends.

Let your mummy hang out.

Mini Mummies | Family Chic

Ghost Poop

Here is an easy craft. You deserve it after making the costumes, carving the pumpkins and staying away from the candy. This is fun and just disgusting enough to delight any seven year old boy (even if he is 35).

Download the label here. Print on cardstock and cut out one label (there are 4); fold in half lengthwise. Fill a cellophane bag with miniature marshmallows and staple label over the open end.

You may never look at marshmallows the same way again.