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