Halloween Party Ideas

Hellllooo!!!  I hope you are all having a fun-filled Halloween weekend!  Sorry I haven't been around much this week.  I have been super busy getting ready for the kids' Halloween parties.  We had one On Friday for Connor and one again on Saturday for Matthew.  {Note to self: Do not have two parties in a row again!} I know these ideas aren't particularly helpful for this year but it is never too early to start planning for next year!

INVITATIONS

I love coming up with fun invitations and think that it really helps to get the kids excited for the party!  Here are Matthew's coffin invitations.

And I made little Frankenstein invitations for Connor's party. The hair folds up for the party details.

DECORATIONS

I didn't do anything too fancy for the decorations other than move around some of my Halloween decorations to add to the tables.  I bought the felt treat bags from Target and filled them up with some Halloween goodies.  Ghosts for Matthew...

And Frankensteins and Pumpkins for Connor.

I made this tiered stand and planned to make a cheese spread with some crackers.  Since I ran out of time, I just plopped in some pumpkins and added some pumpkin candies.  My favorite little yarn spiders guarded the pumpkins.

For the cups, I added some vinyl to jazz them up a bit.

I love these striped paper straws and added a cute ribbon bat to the top {idea from Lisa Storms}.

FOOD

Food is definitely one of the most important elements in a Halloween party and there are no shortages of fun food ideas out there!  The food was a little different for each party but I basically used the same decor items for both. 

Witches' Brew

This is my kids' all time favorite drink!  Just mix together raspberry sherbet and some cranberry pop {or you could do some cranberry juice with 7Up}.  It fizzes up fabulously and looks just like a witches' brew.  I put it in a witches' cauldron and dished it out with a black ladle.

Witches' Hats

Using some icing, place a Hershey Kiss on the middle of a chocolate covered digestive cookie, pipe some icing around the kiss, and add some sprinkles.  Super quick and easy!

Mummy Cookie Pops

Cover oreo cookies with white chocolate, add some eyes, and pipe white chocolate overtop.  And isn't everything always more fun when it is on a stick? {idea from How Does She?}

{the tin and Mummy countdown can be found here}

Witches' Eyeballs

I found these little witches' cauldrons at Michaels and filled them with grapes.  To make them a little more tempting to my junk food loving goblins I added a peeps ghost on a stick.

Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows

Dip some marshmallows in melting chocolate and add some fun sprinkles.  Place in a mini cupcake holder and add a stick.

Worms In Dirt

Again, another fast and simple dessert that is a big hit with the kiddies!  {I even remember having these when I was little!} Fill clear cups with chocolate pudding and add some crushed oreo cookies on top.  I just added one worm to the top but you can also layer your worms into the pudding.

Veggie Plate

I always try to have some kind of veggie plate on hand at the kids' parties.  Usually it is just the carrots that end up getting eaten anyways so this pumpkin plate works out great.  I did stack a few cucumbers on each of the eyes as Connor loves cucumber {and I think he was the only one that had any}

Ghost Sandwiches

Use Halloween cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes for the sandwiches.  I was planning on adding a little detail to the faces but, again, ran out of time!

CRAFTS

I always try to do a craft or two at our parties for a {somewhat} quiet activity.  It's always a little more challenging with the little guys but worked great for Matthew's friends.

We bought some mini pumpkins for the kids to paint and found some glow in the dark paint {which the kids loved}.  We also made these really easy paper plate ghosts.

You just need to glue the streamers and some arms onto the back of a paper plate, glue another plate over the back of the first paper plate to cover up all the mess, and add a face.  For the younger kids, you can cut out the eyes and mouth from black cardstock and just have them glue them on.  Older kids can cut out or draw on their own faces.  You can also do a face on both the front and back of your ghost depending on where you are going to be hanging it. 

GAMES

I didn't end up playing any games at the little kids party as they were having more fun just playing on their own.  We did three games for Matthew's party to burn off some of that crazy "7 year old boy" energy {this was definitely needed!!}

Pumpkin on a Spoon Relay

We used the mini pumpkins that we were going to paint as our pumpkins and used some large mixing spoons to place them on.  We set up a little obstacle course in the yard that the kids had to run around without letting their pumpkin fall off the spoon.  Lots of fun to watch!

Toilet Paper Mummy Race

We divided the kids up into two teams - one child was the mummy and the rest got a toilet paper roll.  Be prepared for some toilet paper fights afterwards!

Spider Web Bulls Eye

From my little goblins to yours, I hope you all have a fun-filled and safe Halloween tomorrow night!

I linked up with Itsy Bitsy Paper, Be Different Act Normal, Tidy Mom, Crafty Scrappy Happy, Somewhat Simple, Delightful Order, Lil Luna, Night Owl Crafting, Home Stories A to Z, Today's Creative Blog, Embellishing Life and Under the Table Dreaming.

My Sunday Sparks {No. 14}

Wow! It has been a crazy busy week trying to get everything ready for the kids' Halloween parties {yes, that is parties with an 's'!} and I am finally getting a chance to go through the rest of everyone's fantastic projects from this week's Creative Spark. Can I tell you all again how fabulous and creative you are?  I love seeing what you have been up to!

I have seen many chalk board makeovers but this one from Shabby Art Boutique is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!!  Isn't it gorgeous?

Oh my! These German Chocolate Brownies from I Heart Naptime look so yummy!!  I do have some extra caramels in the cupboard that need to be used up...

I seem to be featuring Jaime from Crafty, Scrappy, Happy a lot lately but her projects are just so fabulous!  I just love this chair re-do {and isn't that dresser amazing too??}

Heidi from Craft Monkey shared this colorful fall wreath.  Those colors are just so 70's-liscious!

Check out this fabulous Trains, Planes, and Automobiles party from Twin Dragonfly Designs. Definitely every little boy's dream party!  Lots of super fun food ideas!

And since we will be carving our pumpkins this afternoon, I had to feature these fun pumpkin carving parties from Priscillas.

And Backless Shirts.  Pumpkin carving parties always sound like so much fun!

Thanks so much to everyone who linked up to The Creative Spark!  For those of you that were featured here or on my facebook page, feel free to grab a featured button from my sidebar.  I'll see you later today with some pictures and party ideas from our Halloween parties this weekend!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Frankenstein Invitations

Does anyone know where this week has gone?  Things have been so busy this week I haven't had a second to post!  I have been meaning to get Connor's Halloween party invitations up for about 2 weeks now.  Better late than never though, right?

Remember the Frankenstein Treat Bags that I was making for Matthew's class?

Well... I still had a bunch of materials left over so I decided to make some Frankenstein invites too.

MATERIALS

• green, black, white, and orange cardstock
• black baker's twine
• black glitter
• circle punch or circle Coluzzle
• paper scorer
• black pen or Sharpie
• black ink
• clear drying glue
• pop dots

DIRECTIONS

• Cut a piece of green cardstock 5 inches x 9 inches.  Score at 7 inches.  Ink your edges with black ink.
• Cut 2 pieces of black cardstock 5 inches x 3 inches. Place the 2 pieces together and cut small triangles in the bottom for hair {3-4 triangles}.  Make sure that they do not go up more than 3/4 inches.
• Glue your black pieces on either side of the short green flap.
• Cut circles for the eyes from the white cardstock {I used the smallest circle on my Coluzzle}.  Ink the edges with black ink.  Using a black Sharpie draw smaller circles for the insides of the eyes.  Cover the black section with glue and add black glitter.
• Use a small hole punch and punch a circle for the nose.  Attach with a small pop dot.
• Cut out a shape for the mouth from the black cardstock.  I added little teeth to mine as well.  Cut out the bolt ears and glue to the back of the invite.

• Using the baker's twine, add some stitching.
• Write up your invitation on a word processing program and print out.  The top section needs to be less than 1.5 inches and the bottom section needs to be less than approximately 2 inches.  Cut out and ink the edges.  Mount on orange cardstock.  Glue to the invite.

• Add some baker's twine and a little tag to the top of the card for the child's name. 

And now it's time to PARTY!!!

I'll see you tomorrow for My Sunday Sparks.  Have a great night!

I linked up with Itsy Bitsy Paper, Today's Creative Blog, Embellishing Life, Under the Table and Dreaming and I Heart Naptime.

The Creative Spark {No. 14}

Wow! Can you believe that it is already Tuesday again?  I don't know where the days go but it is time to see what you all have been up to!!  Feel free to share anything that you have created.  Crafts, DIY, decorating, scrapbook projects, recipes - anything goes!




Want to link up?

• Link directly to your specific post {not the homepage}.
• Please add The Creative Spark button to your post or blog {the code is in my sidebar}OR place a text link at the end of your post. I would love for you to help me spread the word!
• Check out some of the other fabulous links. A few nice comments always inspires us to create more!
• Follow along with facebook to see if you have been featured throughout the week. I will also be posting My Sunday Sparks every week to showcase your work so don't forget to check back!

Goblin Potion

With all of the fabulous, yummy Halloween goodies out there, it can be a little hard to get the kids {and their Mommy!}to eat healthy.  We have had this Goblin Potion for dessert a few times now and the kids love it.  I guess it is technically a drink but we eat it with spoon so I am calling it a dessert!

Orange Layer: Combine and Blend

• 1 cup orange sherbet
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 cup canned peaches

Purple Layer: Combine and Blend

• 1 cup vanilla frozen yogurt
• 1 cup mixed berries

The above measurements are rough estimates to make about 4 servings.  They layers should be quite thick so that they do not run together.  Add some ice cubes if your layers aren't thick enough and add a little more juice or milk if it is too thick and not blending. We have a Magic Bullet so I prepare the orange layer in one glass and the purple layer in another glass.  Super fast!

Layer the orange and purple mixtures into glasses and serve immediately.

ENJOY!!

I linked up with Lil' Luna, Embellishing Life, Under the Table and Dreaming, I Heart Naptime, Lolly Jane, Be Different Act Normal, Crafty Scrappy Happy, Tidy Mom, 30 Handmade Days, Whipperberry, Somewhat Simple, The Shabby Creek Cottage, The 36th Avenue, Delightful Order, Southern Lovely, Tip Junkie and Today's Creative Blog.

My Sunday Sparks {No. 13}

Hey everyone!  I hope you all have been having a fantastic weekend!  Time for another round of fabulous features from last week's Creative Spark.

I seriously L.O.V.E. this countdown sign from Corner House.  It's a little late to make one for Halloween but I think I might just have to use this for a little Christmas countdown inspiration! {Yes, I mentioned Christmas already!}

Here's a spooky potion bottle from The Letter 4.  Jamie was even sweet enough to create a free printable to download!  It would look fabulous with some other black and white Halloween decor.

I think I may have mentioned a time or two how much I dislike the taste of candy corn.  BUT, I must have some of this candy corn soap from Creating Home.  Is that not sooo cute???

Amanda from The Ivy Cottage transformed her garage into this totally amazing craft studio.  I don't think I can even look at my garage after this!

Becca From Gardners to Bergers has been working on a fabulous photo frame wall and shares how to create these DIY eye charts.  So many fun possibilities!  I also love how she incorporated her thermostat {or is it an alarm?} into the design.

Thanks again to everyone who shared their ideas and visited!  I love seeing all of the new blogs coming out!  If you were featured here or on my facebook page, feel free to grab a button from my sidebar.  I look forward to seeing you all again on Tuesday night for another Creative Spark!

Well, I am off to re-start my dreaded bathroom cabinets.  TSP, sanding and priming today.  Oh how fun!

Our Pumpkin Lunch

Last weekend the kids were running around the house in their Halloween costumes all day and wanted a Halloween lunch. I do not enjoy spending time in the kitchen and I'm definitely not a great cook. Luckily, my kids are very easy to please!  The menu is simple but the kids loved it!

Toasted Cheese Sandwiches

1. Butter one side of each of the pieces of bread. I very lightly toasted the pieces of bread that I was going to be cutting the face out of, to make it easier to cut.  Cut out a fun face. 
2. Place one piece of bread butter side down on a baking sheet, add a layer of cream cheese or ricotta cheese, top with cheddar cheese, and then top with your face {butter side up}.  I'm sure there are lots of variations of fillings that you could come up with but this is my kids' favorite.
3. Bake at 300 F for approximately 10 minutes.

Veggie Plate 

{This wasn't as cute as the one found on Pinterest but we can only eat so many veggies!}

Milk

Add a little green food coloring and suddenly the milk is a whole lot cooler!

Yes, I told you it was simple but that is my favorite kind of meal!  And here are my hungry little puppy dogs chowing down.

The kids thought that these pictures were the funniest thing ever!

Sometimes we just don't have to get fancy to impress our kids!

I linked up with Itsy Bitsy Paper, Lolly Jane, Be Different Act Normal, Crafty, Scrappy, Happy, Tidy Mom, 30 Handmade Days, Whipperberry, Somewhat Simple, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Delightful Order, Southern Lovely, Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog, Under the Table and Dreaming, Craft-O-Maniac, The DIY Showoff, CRAFT and I Heart Naptime.