Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Kid's Craft: Halloween Eyeball Wreath

In case you missed it . . . this is what I posted for the wonderful blog called, Honeybear Lane:


Today I want to show you how to make this "spooktacular" (yep, I went there!)  eyeball wreath with your kiddos! (I have to admit, even I got addicted to gluing eyeballs in place!)
Here's it is:
 What you will need:
Wreath form: I used a toy inner tube, but a foam pipe insulator would be perfect (Home Depot, Lowe's Ace)
googly eyeballs
black ribbon or scrap fabric (double the length of your wreath form)
Ribbon in orange to hang the wreath
black tulle (optional)
Elmer's Glue/ Tacky Glue or Hot Glue- any will work
Paint brushes (I used q-tips and poured the glue out on a piece of foil for the kids to dip)
Two Straight pins
 This is the foam pipe insulation that I referred to above. Form it into a circle with the slit on the outside and tape together.

Choose a starting point on your wreath and pin your fabric or ribbon into the foam. Wrap your fabric around the wreath form and pin in place.
 It should look like this so far . . .
 I wrapped a small piece of foil at the top of my wreath so that the kids wouldn't glue any eyeballs there because that is where the ribbon will be placed.
 As you can see we didn't dress up for this craft session . . .These are pictures of the kiddies, totally engrossed.
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 We added all the eyeballs we had at the time. Then I went to the store and added more. I also added a bit of ribbon to hang the wreath and a little black tulle to add texture.
Super easy and fun! I did this with my 5, 7 and 9 year old. They all loved it! Hope your little ones do too!

As always, It has been a pleasure!
Happy Crafting!
-Amy

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Edible Kid's Halloween Craft: Monster Popcorn Hands!

 Time to celebrate the season by making spooky monster hands!You only need three things to make this treat!
 Grab your favorite little helpers and these items:
 Popcorn - Candy Corn - Vinyl Gloves
 Super easy . . . pop pop corn and let cool, pass out gloves, put some candy corn inside and have the kiddos shake them down . . . two or three may gather in the same finger hole, so space evenly.
 It should look like this: (love that smile)
 and that one too . . .
 Then add popcorn and shake it down into the finger holes as well. You might have to do a little crunching to get it to fit. Don't worry, it will be okay. Tie the top in a not or close it off with a bread tie.
 Enjoy . . .

 and be a little silly . .


Happy Halloween and
Happy Crafting!
XOXO,
 Amy

Halloween Kid's Craft: Make A Mummy, Frankenstein and A Jack-O-Lantern!

Decorate your house with cute creations made by little hands! Your little ones will love this activity! Even my two year old (who helped make the Frankenstein) tells everyone that Frank belongs to her! These are relatively simple to make. The kids did most of the work, but there was a little preparation before we began!
Here we go! 
Meet: Mummy, Frank and Jack!!!

 These really are so cute!
For all three, This is what you need: (Or see a break down below)
Three baby food glass jars (but jars of any size will do- even plastic!)
Emer's Glue or Mod Podge
Paint Brushes
Hot Glue Gun
Green, Orange, white and Purple Tissue paper, cut into thin strips the length of your jar
medical gauze
black felt
googly eyes
two push pins (painted black if you can't find black)
a black sharpie pen



you will also need some willing participants!
First, the Mummy:
I used:
baby food jar 
White tissue paper (pre-cut to size of jar) or medical tape
elmer's glue
paint brush
2 googly eyes
medical gauze
If you are using tissue paper, paint inside the jar with glue and then add white tissue paper. If using medical tape, tape the outside of the jar.

 Then add eyes with elmer's glue.
 Here are the kiddos painting the inside of the jar with glue before they stick the tissue paper to it.

 When eyes have dried add a little glue to the outside of the jar and wrap gauze to it.
 Your mummy will look lovely!

Next, Frankie!
I used:
baby food jar 
Lime Green tissue paper (pre-cut to size of jar)
elmer's glue
paint brush
2 googly eyes
Small strip of black felt (enough to be his hair)
2 push pins painted black
black sharpie marker for mouth and scar
Hot Glue



Paint inside of jar with glue and add green tissue paper. Make sure it sticks well to the side so you see nothing but green in the jar.

I cut the sharp part of the push pins off so I could hot glue the flat side to the jar ( maybe you can find something that doesn't need to be cut)

 Cut out hair to your desirable length and shape, I gave mine some jagged bangs. glue on your googly eyes, use sharpie to draw moth and scar!
 I love Frank!
 Lastly, we have Jack. The easiest one. 
I used:
baby food jar
orange tissue paper, pre-cut to the size of my jar
black felt, pre-cut eyes and mouth
 Paint glue onto the inside of jar and attach orange tissue paper to it. Let your child glue on the pre-cut jack-o-lantern face and let dry completely and you are done!
 g


Love these guys! I hope you do too! Happy Halloween!


Happy Crafting!
XOXO,
 Amy

Monday, October 15, 2012

Halloween R.I.P Cupcakes- Cute and Yummy!

Still as cute and yummy as last year when I made them! I just thought I would do a few throw back posts from last year at Halloween  time, just in case you didn't get a chance to see them. Looking back on it now, maybe you could add a little bit of orange sprinkles or crumble some chocolate cake on top to make it look like turned earth. Here is my post from last year:
How cute are these to satisfy your Halloween craving?
While I was waiting in a doctor's office (something I do a lot since I have four kids) I saw this cute little recipe for a chocolate cake with "RIP" Headstones made out of cookies. I loved the idea and wanted to make it, but I thought cupcakes would be easier. No cutting and serving and plates and forks to worry about that way:)

So I guess I cheated a little bit because I didn't make the cake or frosting from scratch, but I did add an extra egg and a teaspoon and a half of vanilla to a white cake mix. And besides, My friend who is an expert at making cupcakes and frosting from scratch says she likes store bought chocolate frosting better than homemade anyway:)

So you will need:
Cake mix- whatever flavor is your favorite Prepare as directed adding extra egg and teaspoon and a half vanilla extract
Cup cake liners
2 cans Chocolate frosting
Milano Cookies from Pepperage Farm (Vanilla wafers would also work)
Basically you make your cupcakes according to the directions on the box. Let cool completely (put in freezer for a half hour if needed)
Fill a zip lock bag with chocolate frosting and cut a very tiny slit in one corner to pipe "RIP" onto cookie.

Frost cup cakes, cut a slit in the top of the cup cake with a knife for the cookie to be inserted into the cupcakes.

note: if you use a chocolate cake recipe you can crumble a little of the cake in front of the headstone to look like freshly turned dirt. I didn't do this because I used a vanilla cake.

So Yummy and so fun!
Happy Crafting!
XOXO, 
 Amy




Saturday, October 6, 2012

Marshmallow Chocolate Chip Cresent Rolls: 3 Ingredient to A Quick Treat!

 This is so yummy and easy to make and if you have it ready and waiting for your kids after school, they just might tell you all about their day!
Simply buy a can a crescent rolls, fill with marshmallows and chocolate chips, roll them up (seal them good!) and cook them according to directions! I also sprinkled them with powdered sugar!!


I found this recipe on Pinterest via http://www.northerncottage.net/.
See my board: Cookies and Other Yummy Things, here.
Enjoy!
XOXO,
 Amy

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Wedding Decor: Vitorian Burlap And Lace Theme: Simple DIY Details Revealed

(All the links Lead to Tutorials)
The gentle stroll down the aisle, the heart felt smiles and tears of joy; there is just something about a wedding. I think it is the promise of  love and the hope for a happy future. The promise to have each others back through thick and thin. We were lucky enough to add a new woman to our family last weekend! 
 Isn't She lovely?!
 My husband has NINE brothers and (yep, ten boys) and this wedding happened to be for brother number nine. I got a call two days before the wedding from my mother-in-law. It was a plea for help. She and My sister-in-law were in need of some desperate decorating help. The wedding theme was somewhat vintage with a heavy emphasis on lace and burlap decor. They had been lucky enough to borrow most of the decorations and needed some help setting the stage for romance.

Look at this cake: beautiful right? I didn't make it, but I did make that lovely lace and burlap banner behind it (with the help of a great friend! Since I only had two days to pull all of the decor together, I called my friend Ashely- who is eternally creative- and explained to her all the things I needed to have done! My oh. my can that girl work miracles!)
 The wedding was at a house near by at the home of another SIL (remember I have nine BIL'S). Her house is huge, but relatively empty as they haven't lived there long. We moved my entryway mirror on over to their house and set it up behind the cake table . . . see my beautiful fabric banner?? (see tutorial) It was the perfect touch.
 I had nothing to do with this candy favor table but I still thought it was adorable!
 Cute little cookie tray . . .
The wedding colors were red, black and white ( well she said the color was burgandy, but all the decore she chose was red, so I am saying it was red::)
Cafe Rio Catered . . . Yum!
We used my kids dresser for the sign in table . . . I spray painted an old dressed mirror to sit on top of the dresser
Lots of pictures were used as decor . . .

I made two wreaths and chalkboard welcome sign (see tutorial here) to garnish the entry. See Wreath tutorials here:
Wreath One: See Wreath tutorials here:
Wreath 2: See Wreath tutorials here:
Close up of Wreath 2:

Dresser and Mirror for guest book . . .(see tutorial) for spray painted mirror
Burlap and lace banner, monogrammed pillow (see tutorial), spray painted bird cage . . .
These pictures really don't do it all justice. It was dark and my camera can't really handle poor lighting, but you can get a little idea of what it look like and trust me when I say it was so beautiful!




Happy Crafting,
XOXO,
 Amy